Central-defence depth is not great at AFCB

Tyone Mings was honest in saying that AFCB just didn't click as the team given a chance to play in a big cup game. It is surprising that the side did not find they could pick up the pace and find ways of penetrating Millwall's League One defence, but the more disappointing aspect I think Howe will take form the game is that the defenders were not able to keep Millwall out, and to let three goals in was not the half of it because it could have been more.

None AFCB's back four at Millwall are unlikely to play up at Hull City.

For Jordon Lee it was a game that he will have probably not enjoyed, but it gives him a standard of where he needs to get to and all young players get defeats along the way, so I'm not too surprised that Eddie decided he needed to come off at half time. Brad Smith also had a difficult game at left back and had an awful head clash that will probably keep him out of the team now for a while. Smith does get forward but his final ball is often lacking and his shooting is something that is well behind that of Charlie Daniels, so he has room for improvement. 

It was the centre-back pairing that was not working though. Tyrone Mings and Marc Wilson should have been a strong link in the side and yet they were far from settled all game. The movement of Morison and Gregory was good enough to have our defenders scrambling and the player that caught the eye the most was Fred Onyedima who was terrific on the left wing for Millwall. Mings and Wilson had to be authoritative and give confidence to Lee and Smith on either side, but they were getting pulled out of position too easily, and when AFCB started chasing the game, with Marc Pugh having to play at right back, you kind of felt that the day was not going to end well. 

Meanwhile, Monpellier midfielder Morgan Sanson is reported to be on AFCB's wanted list, according to Sportwitness.

Was Cherries Bristol U21 side a for-runner for Millwall Cup fixture?

The U21 game against Bristol City was an outing for quite a few players that may well have the chance of running out on 7th January against Millwall in the FA Cup. It was no surprise that Eddie Howe was attending to see how the players got on with a Bristol side that found the Cherries a bit too tasty considering it was a 0-7 drubbing.

While the African Cup of Nations is going to take Max Gradel and Benik Afobe out of the squad for an unknown period of time, depending on their respective team's progress, it was noticeable that Stephen Purches' side was still mainly made up of players that have been unable to get a run in the first team of late. 

Will Eddie rotate the squad when it comes to the FA Cup?

AFCB line up v Bristol U21 yesterday
Allsop, Lee, M Wilson, Mings, B Smith, Gradel, Hyndman, Worthington, Mousset, Ibe.

Subs: Jordan, O'Connell, Surridge, Grabban.

Will Eddie give Ryan Allsop a run out instead of Federici? I imagine Ryan has been working hard and he should be keen to get a game against a side that is a League One side. It is where he has been playing last season so it is the sort of challenge he should be ready for.

Last season we did see Jordan Lee play in the FA Cup third round against Birmingham and I felt he had a very good game that day. I like the thought of Tyrone Mings and Marc Wilson perhaps teaming up as a central pairing as well as Wilson will have the experience while Mings will be learning his trade as a centre-back. 

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The midfield may see some tweeking yet though before the Millwall Cup tie. Emerson Hyndman has not really got his Bournemouth career going so it will be fantastic to see how he goes in a cup game, although I fancy he may be partnered with a wise head like Andrew Surman. Surman spoke to me before the Southampton game and said he would be back training this week so there is a good likelihood that he could be available by 7th January or even for the match away at Swansea. I also saw Junior Stanislas pre-Southamton down in the dugouts and he was certainly moving about without too much discomfort so he could also be ready for the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

I have heard that Lys Mousset may have been murmuring to the French press that he has not been given enough game time, but this will be his chance to make an impact. It is a time when he needs to bring his best football out as with a couple of players away on international duty there will be spaces in the first team up for grabs. Do your talking on the pitch would be the message I'd give to Lys.

Anyone know where Tomlin will be Saturday?

Lee Tomlin has had one of those weeks. I can't say if he has blown his opportunity to play at AFCB again or not, but if the club does not include him in the squad at Fratton Park then we'll know the reason why.

Social media is not always a player's friend these days and if Lee has fallen foul of it he won't have been the first or the last to have misjudged the situation in a rash moment of finger typing. Lee would certainly be a strong candidate to be picked for the FA Cup against Portsmouth if he was fit and was in everyone's good books. He needs games, everyone understands that, but I wonder if he'll be able put his head down now. Josh King was picked for the U21 match in midweek along with Juan Iturbe who rattled in a hat-trick, so with that kind of competition for places Eddie will not be short of options for Saturday's match if Lee is given time out to reflect on matters.

Out of favour Lee Tomlin is already being linked with
Leeds Utd and Hull City of the Championship and now Bristol City as well.

While the FA Cup may be seen as a proving ground for players though I'd like to see some of the other youngsters get a chance on Saturday. Jordan Green or Brandon Goodship could be among those who could make the bench and might get some exciting news this week if they train well. Now that Yann Kermorgant has departed, and Tokelo Rantie was injured at Birmingham, there should be doors opening for others. It is only right that hard work and ability be rewarded and we have already seen Jordan Lee and Matt Butcher benefit from playing in the last round of the FA Cup. We can see that Callum Buckley had a few minutes in midweek against Gillingham's U21 side as well as Keelan O'Connell and Jordan Lee. The big plus points though was to hear that both Josh King and Tommy Elphick came through the game okay.

The management of players is always a key aspect of running a successful football club and while Eddie Howe must reconcile the desire for the club to progress in every competition, he also has to balance that with giving the players that deserve it the opportunity to play. I think the squad selection for the Pompey match will be keenly observed.

Transfer Window swaps!
Just in case you do want chuck a few AFCB players out of the squad, have a go at the betway Premier League 16 Swap Shop. You can Tweet and Facebook your three swaps - not sure about the starting 11 for AFCB or the limitless budget, but it's just a bit of fun.

Lee and Butcher make great debuts for AFCB

It was not really known who Eddie would pick to start against Birmingham in the cup, but we knew there would be changes. The position of left back though has been Charlie Daniels all season barring a few minutes and so it was perhaps a surprise to see Matt Butcher come into the side playing slightly out of position there. He was joined in an experimental back four by Jordan Lee at right back who had captained the U21 side in midweek and that meant Adam Smith could also have a rest head of the West Ham game on Tuesday.

Matt Butcher gets a call up to the first team.

Eddie Howe made it very clear that he was very pleased to blood these players in the FA Cup and he also admitted that it was very hard to find games when he could give youth its chance. For the fans it is great to see players like Matt Butcher and Jordan Lee get their chance and they did not let anyone down. The back four was perhaps the one section of the team where fans would not have expected to see so much rotation, but the manager will be delighted that Matt and Jordan came through the test well as Birmingham attacked with real quality down both wings.

Jordan Lee at St Andrews.

Listening to Matt and Jordan's interviews it was only late on when both players knew that they would be starting on Saturday. Matt Butcher said the team did some work on shaping on Friday that gave him a good indication that he would start, having also played at left back earlier in the week against Colchester rather than in his usual midfield role. Jordan was also pleased to be playing with Sylvan and Baily and his game was quite an exciting one in the first 20 minutes up against Solomon-Otabor, but he grew into the task and got forward himself as the game developed.

Jason Tindall on the team news with debuts for Jordan Lee and Matt Butcher.

While AFCB continue to buy in big signings it is hard for the U21 to see an easy path through to the first team, but there are many players that are getting closer to the first team now that have come through the youth system. In the future I hope that we see more of them make the jump into first team games. It is a big jump up in class now that AFCB are a Premier League team. Jordan Green and Josh Wakefield were also on the bench for this FA Cup match and perhaps they will get a chance in the Fourth round.