Is Brad Smith the unluckiest AFCB player?

Brad Smith is likely to be involved in some big matches for Australia in the next few days. First up is Saudi Arabia on Thursday 8 June, then Brazil on Tuesday 13th June before Germany on Monday 19 June. It's a tight schedule, but Brad must be relishing the chance to get some minutes in on the pitch, as he found it tough going in England last season with the form of Charlie Daniels to contend with.

Brad Smith warms up at Dean Court.

It must have crossed Brad's mind that it should have been a good move to come to AFCB and to play more games in the Premier League than he was getting at Liverpool. All he is seen though is James Milner deputise for Liverpool's lack of a fit left back, and at Bournemouth he has seen the number 11 shirt or rather the back of it in most games, as he looks on from the sidelines. He must have done something very bad in the past you'd think and yet when he has played for the Cherries in the cup games, he has not looked out of place. As far as the Premier League goes though, it's just five appearances last season two of which were as sub.

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The difficulty he has had is getting a run of games and he knows that Charlie Daniels is always going to make a fight of it for the left back position. Eddie Howe always wants two quality players for every position, but even Howe must have thought that Brad has been unfortunate not to make more appearances for the Cherries. Ange Postecoglu, Australia's head coach, has to trust that Brad Smith is just as good as he was when playing for Liverpool, because he can't have seen him play many games in the last year.

Whether Brad is happy to stick his time out at AFCB or not, he will be needing to play well to give himself some confidence and to try and get Eddie Howe to give him more of a chance. The match against Saudi Arabia is likely to be his best chance to really shine in an offensive manner, but he'll also want to show what a good defender he is when the Brazil and Germany matches come up. He is on test for sure in these games and if he does well, it could give him a run in some of the friendlies that AFCB are starting to line up this summer.

AFCB were out of Liverpool game at half time

Eddie Howe admitted that AFCB were flat in the first half. They could not get in the game and there was a real possibility that Liverpool could have posted a very big score against AFCB. These are thin margins and it is always simple to look at the end result and thinking great we have won, but Eddie Howe must also consider how close the side was to being beaten out of side. It won't be the second half that will be played so much in the training rooms at AFCB, it is that first half against Liverpool when very little went right for the Cherries.

I'm pleased of course that AFCB won the game and did it in such a dramatic way. Yet, there are real things that AFCB and Eddie Howe didn't get right. Adam Smith was exposed at left back and struggled to work out how to stop Clyne and Mané racing past him, while on the other side even the experience of Simon Francis was not enough to keep James Milner from running riot in the opening minutes of the game.

It wasn't looking to good as AFCB and Liverpool went in at the break.

Many have pointed at Artur Boruc for the goals that went in during the first half, but I put them more down to poor communication more than anything else. Centre backs and goalkeepers need to shout when they feel they can or can't get to the ball and with no calls it simply leaves things open for attackers to grab the initiative. The second goal was a little more strange in that Artur really didn't need to come racing out as early as he did, but his decision was probably influenced by his decision not to come out quickly for Mané's opening goal. You can't win some times as a keeper. You have to make instant decisions and you are not going to get them all right.

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It was an amazing goal by Origi in the end for that second Liverpool goal. He had great composure to score from such an angle and at pace with Steve Cook also running back to try and cover the goal. At 0-2 it was just a matter of how many were Liverpool going to score. They were more powerful and faster to every ball. Arter and Gosling were almost spectators and unable to influence the game as Liverpool were pushing attacks down the wings and over the top.

It was quite something for AFCB to turn things around straight away at the start of the second half, but it will be very important for the rest of the season that they did. Now they see themselves in the top half of the table again, and that was not looking very likely at all at 2.15pm last Sunday when AFCB were 0-2 down. 

Fraser's stampede clips Klopp's title charge 4-3

Match Report

AFCB 4 v 3 Liverpool

4 December 2016

Attendance: 11,183

Liverpool fans unfurl their flags.

AFCB are not supposed to go and beat title contenders are they? Liverpool were unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games. Well, strike that. While AFCB had not beaten Liverpool in nine attempts since 1927, there had to be a first time and this was a sensational second half comeback, after Liverpool had dominated the first half and had gone into the beak 0-2 up. Mané and Origi had put Liverpool in command after two balls over the top had caught Artur Boruc out, but the game started to change when Ryan Fraser came on for an injured Junior Stanislas on 55 minutes. He won a penalty with his pace running at James Milner and Callum Wilson cut the deficit to 1-2. Although Liverpool came racing back with a sublime top corner finish from Emre Can, nobody would have expected AFCB to play with such attacking flare that they would threaten to take all three points. But once Ryan Fraser scored his first ever Premier League goal and Steve Cook turned sharply, before hitting his venomous strike, the Cherries were all level at 3-3 and in added time a further right footed shot from Steve Cook had Karius spilling the ball like a hot potato and Nathan Aké was on hand to scramble the ball home for an amazing Bournemouth winner!

Francis and Henderson in the middle.

A minute's silence for the Chapecoense team.

Brad Smith and Adam Federici were the unlucky players to be dropped form AFCB's starting line up, but that allowed Jack Wilshere and Artur Boruc to return to the side. What fans did not expect was to see Adam Smith go to left back. Stanislas had lined up on the left wing and Josh King on the right for AFCB. AFCB had relaid a new pitch and we had new dugouts to admire as well.

The teams had a fabulous new pitch to play on.

Liverpool also made a couple of changes with Lucas and Origi making starts instead of Matip and Coutinho.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

The conditions looked great with a brand new pitch and afternoon sun but Mané had to shield his eyes from the sunlight as an early ball flew in his direction on the half way line. Firmino saw his shot blocked by Steve Cook, but Liverpool had AFCB stretched from the start. Aké was getting his tackles in, but Milner was steaming down the left wing and easily getting a cross in that Steve Cook put his head to. Smith, Gosling and Wilshere were chasing shirts and not getting near to the Liverpool players and when Arter caught up with Emre Can all he could do was foul him.

Clyne then played a curled ball in from the right that Origi looked certain to score from, but the ball sped off his foot and wide of AFCB's goal from six yards! What followed was a series of four corners for the Merseysiders, from the right side, who laid siege to Artur Boruc's goal. Just to ensure there was not something wrong with the other side of the pitch they tried one from the left side too. 

Even when King won a free kick from Milner, the ball came straight back with Firmino having a blocked shot. Possession was already at 65 per cent for the fluorescent yellow shirts and the breakthrough came from a hopefully lofted ball from Emre Can over the top for Mané to run on to in a sprint with Aké, while Boruc was slow to come out. Mané stabbed the ball past Boruc and it was 0-1 on 20 minutes.

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Just as it couldn't get much worst, Harry Arter lost the ball and Mané nipped in to take the ball before Henderson and Can played in Origi down the right. Smith was unable to get back and Boruc came racing out of his goal. While Origi rounded Boruc it seemed too difficult an angle for him to score, but he bent his shot and found the bottom corner of the goal with Steve Cook unable to get in the ball's way. AFCB were 0-2 down and there was just 23 minutes gone. I was fearing the worst.

The home crowd were not exactly happy about the way the Cherries were playing and they weren't slow in letting the players know. Wilson almost found a way round Clyne, but slipped just when he might have had a sight of goal.

Even when Wilshere won a corner for the Cherries and Natahn Aké seemed to have had his legs taken by Firmino from under him there was no resulting penalty. From our angle it looked a pen all day long. Although Josh King saw an effort scrambled away for a corner, AFCB were not finding any way into this game. But a 0-2 deficit at half time seemed a reasonable escape, as it could have been more if Liverpool had found more of a cutting-edge.

All over?

The players troop off at half time.

Second half

We all hoped that Eddie would do something about Adam Smith at half time as he was being ripped apart at left back, and sure enough there was a change. Ibe came on for Josh King who had looked a bit flat, while Nathan Aké moved over to left back and Smith went to right back, leaving Francis and Cook as centre backs. Straight away the side looked more balanced and Jordan Ibe was holding off players well, which started to get AFCB into the game.

AFCB fans had started to get fed up of referee Robert Madley who had not played advantage at times, while now booking Simon Francis for up ending Milner. There was a big cheer though when Henderson was yellow carded for fouling Junior Stanislas. The bad news though was that Stanislas could not continue with his injured ankle. Ryan Francis was hurried on and took his place.

It was a game changing substitution. Within minutes Fraser was running at James Milner in Liverpool's box and the wee man was chopped down and won a penalty. It was an easy decision for Madley to give. Wilson stepped up and slotted home to the keeper's right. Klopp was given a talking to by the referee, but on we went with just a bit more hope. Boruc was soon called into action to smother the ball at the feet of Origi.

AFCB were trying to feed Fraser the ball whenever they could now. Yet, Liverpool were not done and with Firmino speeding down the right he pulled a ball back for Emre Can on the edge of the box and his first time shot rifled the ball into the top right corner, past Artur Boruc with a flash - 1-3.

That was that then. Lucas ran back for the restart clenching his fists as if it was all over - points in the bag. What unfolded next was probably AFCB's best 30 minutes of any game it has had in the Premier League. 

It was hardly the most inspiring of efforts at first from Harry Arter as he ballooned shot well over the bar. But when Lallana had taken to the field to replace Mané, there was a fire that suddenly roused the AFCB players. Callum Wilson finally started to run at defenders and found Ryan Fraser just inside the box where he blazed a powerful shot that Karius did well to tip over.

Liverpool also came close though when Milner won a corner against Francis and the corner kick was almost taken over the goal line by Boruc as he stepped backwards! The thickness of the ball's skin was just about all that saved AFCB from going 1-4 down.

Gosling was then replaced by Benik Afobe to add a further striker for Liverpool to have to worry about. The impact was immediate with Wilson driven wide, but still able to spot Afobe rushing in. While Benik's touch bounced the ball away from him it fell kindly to Ryan Fraser on the 18 yard line. A quick step inside the defender and the Scottish winger had scored his first goal in the Premier League, beating Karius with power 2-3. AFCB were back in this and the home crowd knew it with 16 minutes to go.

The noise suddenly ramped up several notches. AFCB fans were giving their team every bit of belief they had. They did not have to wait among for another goal. Lovren fouled the ever lively Ryan Fraser and Fraser sped down the right to deliver a cross a bit behind Steve Cook. Still, Steve put in a swift turn brought the ball down and this incredible centre back smashed his volley into the goal to make it 3-3 - unbelievable (it was like watching Brazil!). It was redemption for Steve Cook after his mistake at Arsenal the previous week. He was down on his knees sliding at the Family stand with the rest of his team-mates quick to mob him. 

The excitement was hardly subsiding. This was now anyone's game and Wilson put Afobe in one on one against Karius only for the keeper to pull off a great save as the ball flew over the bar from Afobe's shot.

Liverpool came back into it now, pushing AFCB back. The Cherries were happy to use Fraser's pace on the break, but referee Madley was not playing the advantage when he did get free. Emre Can at least was carded. With 90 minutes approaching a corner towards Afobe was punched clear by Karius, but the ball was being sucked towards the Liverpool end.

With five minutes of added time to go, it just felt like there was a final line to be written. Who could be a hero? Origi took a shot on the volley from a corner, but it sailed well over. We were back down the Liverpool goal and Steve Cook wound up his long throw.

At first Liverpool coped with it but a second attempt was to follow with Cookie asking the crowd to raise the noise level. Little did we know that Ibe would get the ball back to Cook who began to wonder nearer the goal and the 18 yard box, and on his weaker right foot, he took aim and fired in a shot that bounced just before the keeper. Karius fumbled it and Aké was quick to react. At first he only nudged the ball away from the keeper, but his second touch scrambled the ball over the line 4-3. AFCB had done it. The ground erupted in jubilant AFCB fans who all chanted and praised the team for what had been a tremendous comeback.

Did that really just happen?

Afobe and Clyne.

Boruc is pleased with the result.

Liverpool fans look bewildered - how did you lose that?

Summary

If football was a recipe that had great ingredients and was cooked up to a fabulous finish every game it would be something like this. You can't know sometimes how something is going to turn out. It may start off horrible and nothing falls in to place at first, but sometimes you can rescue things and Eddie Howe started to put some corrective forces into the game at half time and by the time Ryan Fraser had energised the right wing of the team, AFCB just went from strength to strength. It was a magnificent turnaround and yet there was a sense that the Cherries might just do something special when up against a big team like Liverpool if they could get a bit of wind behind them. Once that momentum started, it was too much for Liverpool to handle and the points were swept away from the title contenders by a side that never gave up hope despite being battered in the first half. AFCB truly grew up in this game - the rest of the Premier League may start to fear what Eddie Howe's side is capable of now. This was proof that AFCB are a good Premier League side, but some of us already knew that.

Simon Fraser thanks the North stand.

The staff greet the players.

Nathan Aké makes it two goals in three games for himself.

AFCB

Boruc, Francis, Cook, Aké, Smith, Arter, Gosling (Afobe 75), King (Ibe 45), Wilshere,

Stanislas (Fraser 55), Wilson

AFCB Subs
Federici, Mings, Pugh, Afobe, Smith, Fraser, Ibe

AFCB Ratings

Boruc 5, Francis 6, Cook 9, Aké 9, Smith 6, Arter 6, Gosling 5 (Afobe 6),

King 6 (Ibe 6), Wilshere 7, Stanislas 6 (Fraser 10), Wilson 7

Liverpool

Karius, Clyne, Lucas, Lovren, Milner, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can, Mané (Lallana 69), Origi, Firmino

Liverpool Subs

Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Lallana, Ejaria, Woodburn, Alexander-Arnold

Referee Watch: Robert Madley - 5/10 he had difficulty in playing the advantage and it took him to late in the second half to start evening up some free kick decisions against Liverpool.

FA Cup draw tonight on BBC 2 7.10pm
AFCB Ball no 1
Saints Ball no 35
Eastleigh Ball no 60

Can Howe get the better of Rodgers?

If this was a boxing match then Eddie Howe would probably not be given a third re-match having come away twice with a bloody nose from Brendan Rodger's team. Luckily for us it is only the next in the series of games between the two managers that will be followed with another at Dean Court later in the season. Rodgers is two up if we look at the last two cup meetings between the teams, but Eddie Howe will want to break his duck sooner rather than later.

Eddie is confident his players will rise to the challenge.

Rodgers has not been put under great pressure when his team has played AFCB as the seasiders have not yet managed to get a lead in a game. In the last Capital One match between the sides, it was the left side of the Cherries' attack that had pushed hard for a breakthrough. Yet, come half time Rodgers found a solution and had Liverpool cutting out that route to goal much more successfully. Eddie Howe has to find new things to come up with that can find weaknesses in Liverpool's game and I would think that the Stoke City v Liverpool matches from this last week and at the end of last season have been carefully studied.

Liverpool will be a different proposition with new players like Christian Benteke and Jordan Ibe in their team. Danny Ings could get some minutes of course and new signing James Milner is going to be a player that AFCB will have to get on top of if they are to stop the Liverpool Juggernaut.

It took Arsene Wenger 13 games to get the better of Jose Mourinho, but I'm hoping that Eddie can get one over Rodgers a bit quicker than that - third time lucky? 

This is Anfield sends Rival Lines to Cherry Chimes

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Liverpool FC v AFCB
17 August 2015
Blogger Interview: This is Anfield
Twitter @MattLawson 
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Last week I had the pleasure of talking to Matt Ladson, who writes for the This is Anfield site, and he was happy to give me the full low down on what had been happening at Liverpool over the summer and what we can expect in terms of the players that might give the Cherries a rather tough evening at Anfield on Monday night.

CC: What is the general feeling like with Anfield fans for the new season having seen Gerrard and Sterling depart?

TIA: It's less about those two departures and more about the seven who have arrived. If we'd signed these 7 last summer, we'd have been a hell of a lot better off last season.

The general feeling though is that optimism is pretty low. I myself get optimistic when thinking about a new attack built around Coutinho and Firmino, but there are doubts over Benteke and we can only hope Sturridge returns and stays fit. Then there's the feeling that Rodgers doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes, and has started with Lovren ahead of Sakho, and playing 4231 - a formation that hasn't worked for us since 2009.

CC: How well did pre-season games go for Liverpool?

TIA:As well as pre-season games can go. Not sure why anybody even takes notice of them to be honest, 20 years ago I doubt we even knew the results of most of them. We played pretty crap teams in every game.

CC: Is James Milner the best bit of incoming business that Liverpool have done this summer or does he not excite you?

TIA: Best business, time will only tell. Firmino could be that if he provides the spark and unpredictability we need, even if we have paid a lot for him. Milner though is more efficient business and is definitely a good signing given our squad make-up at present.

CC: How highly do you rate Danny Ings and do you expect him to get more of a chance than Rickie Lambert did in a Liverpool shirt?

TIA: I think he's a good player, but he'll probably end up like Lambert, yes. Which is a shame. I don't understand why we keep signing players who clearly need to be playing regularly to get anywhere near their best form, yet have no plans to play them regularly. Ings will play in Europa, the cups and whenever we're short up front. I hope he forces his way in later in the season.

CC: Christian Benteke reportedly cost £32.5 million. It is expensive to buy from another Premier league club, but would you have preferred a striker from a foreign league?

TIA: Possibly, but then Rodgers has made it clear his desire to sign Premier League proven players - which is a complete myth that this will somehow help the transition. Torres and Suarez are the best two forwards we've signed in the last decade, both came from abroad and didn't need time to find their feet.

CC: Liverpool have had some goalkeeping problems in recent seasons so wa it not much of a surprise to see a young keeper like Adam Bogdan sign for the reds?

TIA: Bogdan's 27, he isn't young. [Ed - not a bad age for a keeper surely?] I can't understand the signing. It's pretty unambitious. If Mignolet gets injured or loses form again, we're not much better off than last season.

CC: You had a win at Stoke last weekend so does that take the pressure off in any way for Liverpool's first home game or would you expect a lot of criticism if you did not get a result against a newly promoted side?

TIA: Somewhat but there will huge expectation to win this game - especially knowing the fixtures that follow these opening two. Getting six points from these two opening games will be essential to keep the pressure off during that run.

CC: A lot has been said about Liverpool's difficult opening fixtures but are you particularly worried about the first 10 games?

TIA: Yes and no, there's that whole idea that the 'top' teams aren't usually in top form early in the season so arguably it's a good time to play them. But then Rodgers should be worried because a poor run in those 10 games will see huge pressure on him.

CC: Brendan Rodgers has brought in Sean O'Driscoll to his coaching staff who is another champion of the 'play from the back game' - had Liverpool been drifting away from their famous passing game?

TIA: Not at all. In Rodgers' first season we passed too much. In his second season we were quicker to get it forward but not long ball, more quick counter attack. Last season we had no identity at all. More concerning is the signing of Benteke and if that will lead to that; Mignolet to Benteke must have been one of our highest pass combinations vs. Stoke, hopefully this isn't a trend.

CC: How do you think AFC Bournemouth will get on in the Premier League?

TIA: I think your opening game will pretty much sum up your season; do well, earn respect, but ultimately not score enough goals. If Eddie Howe can find a system that ensures goals, then your chances will be much better. I think you'll get a few surprise upsets against big sides, but equally struggle when the squad is thin.

CC: Are Liverpool going to make the top four this season?

TIA: Probably not, but much may depend on how the transfer window ends. If United lose de Gea and fail to sign a centre-back, I can easily see us finishing above them. They have huge weaknesses. It will be a close run.

CC: How do you expect Liverpool to line up against the Cherries?

TIA: Either the team that started vs. Stoke, or the team that finished vs. Stoke. My (and most fans') preference would be for the latter.

Mignolet - Clyne - Skrtel - Lovren - Gomez - Can - Milner - Henderson - Firmino - Coutinho - Benteke

CC: Any players that are definitely out of the game?

TIA: Sturridge, Flanagan, Allen, plus the unwanted trio of Balotelli, Borini and Enrique

CC: What is your score prediction for Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth?

TIA: Liverpool 3-1 Bournemouth

CC: Thanks for coming on Cherry Chimes Matt. You can see more about how Liverpool fancy their chances against the Cherries at This is Anfield. I don't think there is a good time to play Liverpool but if they are not quite in full swing yet we might hope that AFCB can get something on Merseyside, but it would probably be AFCB's biggest result ever. Philippe Coutinho has already shown the kind of form he is in last week at Stoke. Let's see if the Cherries become a bit better known themselves after this 90 minutes, perhaps they can give Brendan Rodgers just a bit of a headache.

Please also see my return interview with This is Anfield, where I answer Matt's questions to me on AFC Bournemouth ahead of the match.

AFCB couldn't have a harder test than Liverpool

Liverpool have splashed out on new signings this summer and look like a team that will be challenging the top teams once again this season. Brendan Rodgers has to start getting results after the disappointment of recent times and they have made a good start with an away win at Stoke City. Now they have their first home match and the Cherries will be entering a stadium where they will be tested in every aspect of their game, but if they can get a point it would do marvels for AFCB's confidence.

Liverpool fans at Dean Court last season.

The key problem for Rodgers over the summer was in finding a suitable replacement for captain Steven Gerrard. While Stephen Henderson was the man in waiting to take the captaincy, it is the signing of James Milner that will have strengthened the side in midfield. Milner is ideally suited to Liverpool with his high work rate and the stability and consistency that he will bring to their side. He's an honest player who gives everything and was arguably one of Man City's best players last season. 

Roberto Firmino has also been signed from Hoffenheim in midfield who is the big name that could add the special star bit of flare that Liverpool have been in need of to support the kind of qualities that Coutinho has. Arguably Liverpool have not had enough of these star players, but the transfer funds have been well exercised with £28 million for the Brazilian. That has also been outstripped by the Christian Benteke deal for £32.5 million and we know that the former Aston Villa man is a real handful up front. 

Liverpool have also added quality at the back with Nathaniel Clyne's £12.5 million transfer from Southampton. The full back is seen as an English international that has a big future. Having also signed Adam Bogden in goal from Bolton and Joe Gomes from Charlton it should be quite a new look Anfield side.

The second signing for Liverpool over the summer though was a very familiar face to AFCB fans. Young Danny Ings has his big move from Burnley and now has to start delivering with star players. It should bring on his game but playing time could be restricted for him. 

Whatever side that the Reds put out we can be assured that it will be a far more expensive side than the Cherries 11, but being the underdogs does not have to mean a predicable result and the Premier League new boys must also try and make it as difficult as they can for the names of Merseyside.

AFCB News: It is great to hear that Ryan Fraser who is on loan at Ipswich has signed a new three-year deal with the Cherries today!

You can see my interview with Liverpool website This is Anfield. Tomorrow, I will be following up with a Rival Lines with Matt Lawson of the This is Anfield site.