King did well to keep his cool

Josh King has nerves of steel. Leicester City players were determined to do everything they could to slow things down and create mischief before King finally would be allowed to take his penalty kick. Some would say it is fair to do and to gain an advantage in that way is all part of the game, but to me it shows another poor side of the game where players are out of control and don't respect the game or the fans that have come to see entertainment not theatre.

Josh King has started to score the goals again.

I am not saying that Leicester are any worse than any other team at doing this. AFCB's players would probably try the same things if they were having to ace a penalty, but it doesn't make it justifiable. What ever happened to the spirit of the game? Even when players go down injured and play is stopped by the opposition kicking out the ball it usually leads to protesting.

The incident in this match though could have been swiftly dealt with by Lee Probert, but he let matters proceed until Kasper Schmeichel made it impossible not to be booked, as he protested about where the ball was being placed and not retreating his 12 yards. But Josh King didn't mind and didn't get wound up. He wanted to take the kick, but kind of switched off to whatever Leicester were going to do, even when Harry Maguire started pointing and protesting again that the ball was not on the spot. Most players would have been disturbed by the time in which it took to be allowed to take the kick, but not Josh. He put it away very cleanly and without any fuss.

I was pleased to see there were no squabbles over who would be taking the kick and that it was dispatched so efficiently. The pressure was on King even more because AFCB had not been in a position to get ahead in a game for quite some time and the more a player thinks about such things will make them hesitate or change their mind. So to keep his nerve in those moments was excellent by Josh. 

StrataBet have analysed Josh King's shooting this season pre-Leicester City. Goals are in green, woodwork in yellow, defended light brown, saved in orange and missed in red.

Beat Leicester and Europa League is on for Cherries

The match against Leicester City this weekend is big not just because Bournemouth want to get points to secure their Premier League status, but picking three points off Leicester would start to open the door towards an outside chance of catching Burnley and trying to finish in the top seven. The games may be running out, but each match now is having massive implications on the final standings of the table.

The King Power stadium.

Leicester City have stumbled of late at home having had a couple of draws to lower placed teams in Crystal Palace and Stoke City. If they lose more momentum now they will have invited AFCB into the race for a Europa League place and that in itself heaps more pressure on Claude Puel and his team as they have perhaps most to lose in this game.

There has been a bit of a swing in focus for Leicester City which was overshadowed by the Mahrez transfer that never happened to Man City, but now that February's games have almost gone their fans are starting to look a bit more critically at what is happening on the pitch. A 5-1 hammering by Man City could happen to any team, but it could well have knocked Leicester's confidence and AFCB will be hoping to catch Leicester at the right time.  Under Puel, Leicester have started to play with more possession and in the midfield they have good passers like Iborra and Adrien Silva who could now start.

Both Kasper Schmeichel and Asmir Begovic have had a hard time of it of late, but they will probably be the players looking to play better than anyone on the field and while both teams have been conceding and scoring in equal measure in recent games a score draw seems a likely outcome, which could just leave the race for a European spot tantalisingly close, but just out of reach for the Cherries. I would expect most AFCB fans would be happy with survival and a decent top 10 finish, but if the opportunity comes for three points at Leicester, AFCB's priorities could ramp up and provide much more interest in the last few games for the run in.

If you are making the trip today I wish you a safe journey. Hopefully AFCB can repay the travelling fans who have had a difficult last couple of weeks. UTCIAD!

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Match Stats
Data powered by StrataBet Data
This week Cherry Chimes has been given the opportunity to use some excellent data gathered by StrataGem for this match.

• AFCB have created 291 chances this season (10.39 chances/game). On average, they have scored one goal for every 8.56 chances created.

• Leicester City have created 266 chances this season (9.50 chances/game). On average, they have scored one goal for every 6.49 chances created.

Possible Leicester City Line up 
provided by StratGem Data

• AFCB have conceded 346 chances this season (12.36 chances/game). On average, their opponents have scored one goal for every 8.24 chances created.

• Leicester City have conceded 362 chances this season (12.93 chances/game). On average, their opponents have scored one goal for every 8.42 chances created.

• AFCB have scored 34 goals this season (1.21 goals/game).

• Leicester City have scored 41 goals this season (1.46 goals/game).

Possible AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Surnam, Pugh, Ibe, Mousset, Defoe

• AFCB to win 47.37% based on Leicester's home games and Bournemouth's away games for the last two seasons in this league.

• Average goals scored and conceded by these teams = 2.80 goals (calculation based on the goals each team have scored and conceded this season).

AFCB Away Form
LDDWL

Leicester City Home Form
LDWWD

Just not Bournemouth's day

Hard luck stories only tend to stick with teams that don't do enough to win games. At some point AFCB need to turn the hard luck stories into wins and while Leicester City will not be among the favourites to be relegated, but at the moment they are in a similar position to Bournemouth so it isn't great that the Cherries could not beat them at hime. When your team is at home it has a great advantage, but when they can't make that advantage count there is reason to ask where will the points come from?

AFCB's players in front of the North stand.

This was not Bournemouth's day for one main reason - they didn't cause Kasper Schmeichel enough moments of desperation to win the game. Yes, they started well by Jermain Defoe hitting the bar and Marc Pugh had more than one chance in the first half to put the Cherries ahead. But these chances faded and Leicester themselves had an excellent chance to score themselves when Vardy knocked a ball back for Shinji Okasaki who had time to pick is spot, but fired wide from close range.

Why the shooting has not been up to scratch is anyone's guess, but in recent games the shots on target have been low and Bournemouth have not been hitting their shots with much venom. Eddie Howe looked to find a solution in bringing on Jordan Ibe  and Benik Afobe and while Ibe had some impetuous in getting forward, Bournemouth had the perfect goalscorer on the pitch in Jermain Defoe for most of the game and didn't supply him well enough or early enough to help him make the difference between the teams.

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Josh King as well may look back on his game and wonder why he wasn't packing in more shots against a Leicester City defence that looked all at sea in the first 10 minutes. If it had been a boxing match the fight would have been stopped by half time, but in this game you can cling on and hold out at the back for 90 minutes without creating much and still get a point - Leicester did exactly that.

Some would say good game management on their behalf but when AFCB have been to places like Goodison and the Emirates they have not shown the same kind of game management to earn them points. There is a lesson to be learnt from this.

Cherry Chimes contributes to The Daily Mail - The Fans' Verdict

A clean sheet but no winning shot for Bournemouth 0-0

Match Report

AFCB 0 v 0 Leicester City

30 September 2017

Attendance: 10,444

The captains line up with mascots and the officials before kick off.

Bournemouth fans will rejoice at their first clean sheet of the season, but will be equally frustrated at the failure of the team to slip at least one goal past Kasper Schmeichel in a game that they dominated from start to finish. Had Bournemouth been picking up points elsewhere on the road this result could be seen more positively. The fact is that the team is still second bottom in the league and they can't have too many games like this when they have all the play and can't get on the score sheet.

However, it was pleasing to see Lewis Cook get his first start in the league this season and for him to play so well. A bit of luck would not go a miss when we hope that referees pick up penalty offences. Even though Graham Scott was not in the mood to make the 12-yard calls, Bournemouth should have buried Leicester in the first 20 minutes let alone being given 94 minutes to finish them off. 

The two teams before the game.

The team changes includes Lewis Cook coming in for Dan Gosling and Marc Pugh replacing Jordan Ibe. Steve Cook stayed on the bench and rumours are that he had been kept up all night after his partner gave birth to their second child. 

There are more pictures of Match Day Gallery.

Leicester get ready.

Jamie Vardy appears despite his decision not to join up with the England squad next week.

Leicester fans Ron and Gary give their pre-match thoughts on Leicester City and the game.

There was intent from the Cherries from the off with Simon Francis playing a long ball up to try and get Jermain Defoe in on goal. It appeared that Bournemouth would score when King flew up the right wing moments later and sent in a low cross that Defoe directed on goal, but it came off the underside of the bar and when Marc Pugh lashed his shot back from the left side, it hit Simpson, apparently on the arm. But Pugh and Stanislas' protests did not sway referee Graham Scott who would only award a corner kick.

Bournemouth were far faster to every ball and were cutting Leicester apart. Defoe suddenly found himself free again in the box and when the ball came to Pugh we expected the net to bulge, but the winger pulled his shot horribly wide!

Josh King was first to make Schmeichel actually have to make a save, before Defoe also found Schmeichel quick to react to a ball Defoe just lost control of as he turned, attempting to shoot, in the box. Bournemouth kept coming though with Junior Stanislas also firing wide on nine minutes.

Simon Francis would have Jamie Vardy in his pocket all afternoon, even if he was adjudged to have made a foul on their first clash.  The home crowd yelled penalty again when Josh King went down in the box after 12 minutes after a pass through by Adam Smith.

Everything was happening in Leicester's half, but the breakthrough hadn't come. On 20 minutes when Pugh was given the first yellow card for catching Marc Albrighton. It seemed harsh when Leicester had made the majority of the fouls up to this point. A Leicester corner was punched well clear by Begovic and AFCB set off again.

King and Pugh were storming through the Leicester ranks, but Pugh again pulled his shot wide. While King was getting fouled the Leicester players were not getting carded. King came close to scoring as we approached 40 minutes, but Schmeichel made the save with his legs at the near post.

A bigger chance fell to Marc Pugh seconds later when he drove a shot that kept rising and went a foot over the bar. He couldn't believe he hadn't scored. While Bournemouth kept the pressure up with a corner the frustration was shown when Daniels had a blast from 30 yards out before we reached half time all square at 0-0.

No goals despite all Bournemouth's attacking play.

Second half

Ibora came on for Okasaki at the start of the half. Bournemouth carried on where they left off forcing corners before Defoe hit a weak shot that was easy for the Leicester keeper to get hold of. After Pugh's cross, Junior Stanislas came closer having hesitated at first, when he could have shot before making a shot that Schmeichel got down well to on 55 minutes.

Jermain Defoe was pole-axed in the box, but again Scott saw nothing in it.

Vardy then got Bournemouth fans worried when he stretched the Cherries defence and then Okasaki dragged his shot wide of the right post on the hour.

Bournemouth were soon back on it when Pugh drifted into a central position before unleashing a 25-yard drive that just slipped past the left post. Leicester responded with a Demarai Gray effort that went well over.

On 68 minutes Andy King was subbed for Kelechi Iheanacho and Pugh made way for Jordan Ibe a minute later.

Lewis Cook was controlling more and more of the game by now and he pulled out a special shot shot that just went over after good work from Jordan Ibe. With 70 minutes gone it wasn't looking like AFCB would get the breakthrough.

Josh King was still  making life hard for Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire but his next shot deflected wide off the post.

Leicester brought on Mahrez for Albrigton on 75 minutes and when Defoe went over again in the box Bournemouth fans hoped that Graham Scott would give this one - but no he waved his arms saying no penalty.

A rare Leicester attack headed by Gray saw Ndidi fire a shot that was deflected wide for a corner. Afobe replaced Defoe with seven minutes to go. Stanislas brought another save from Schmeichel - it just wasn't happening. Even Surman was coming forward now and hit a solid strike that Schmeichel had to save.

As the clock started to run down, Aké made a superb tackle on Vardy. Fraser came on for Stanislas with 88 minutes gone. Surman made a mistake that saw Vardy get a chance to shoot but he put his shot wide - it could have been a huge mistake if Vardy had scored. Even with four minutes of added time and a corner to each team the game headed to the conclusion that we all suspected from mid-way through the second half - 0-0.

A clean sheet but only a point for Eddie.

Perhaps Defoe asks Vardy why he is not joining the England team next week.

Summary
Lewis Cook fitted in extremely well in central midfield and will surely keep his place for the next game, having won sponsors man of the match. Simon Francis and Nathan Aké were hardly troubled at the back and also had very strong games. Perhaps the defence has finally become more robust, but it is hard to tell when Leicester offered little in the way of attacks. Shooting remains a weakness and while the shots are at least being fired they lacked direction on this day. It would have been the perfect performance if one or two of the shots had been harder for Schmeichel in the Leicester goal. A point though is better than a defeat, and the Cherries have to find another few improvements during the international break to keep the points coming.

Bournemouth players thank the crowd for their support.

AFCB
Begovic, A Smith, Francis, Aké, Daniels, Stanislas (Fraser), L Cook, Surman, Pugh (Ibe), King, Defoe (Afobe)

AFCB Subs
Boruc, S Cook, Gosling, Fraser, Ibe, Afobe, Mousset

AFCB Ratings

Begovic 6, A Smith 6, Francis 7, Aké 7, Daniels 6, Stanislas 6, L Cook 8, Surman 7,
Pugh 6, King 7, Defoe 6

Leicester City

Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs, Albrighton (Mahrez), King (Iborra), Ndidi,
Gray, Okazaki (Iheanacho), Vardy

Leicester City Subs

Chilwell, Iheanacho, Hamer, Amartey, Iborra, Mahrez, Slimani

Ref Watch: Graham Scott 1/10 - disastrous performance. He missed so much in the box and booked Marc Pugh without booking any one from the opposition who committed more fouls and that were just as badly timed as Pugh's foul.

Cherry Chimes' October Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month. It's out today, with special story - Howe keeps his cool on first few games of the season.

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The Cherries secure ninth place with 1-1 draw against Foxes

Match Report

21 May 2017

Leicester City 1 v 1 AFCB

Attendance: 32,000

The scarf's were not really needed on a warm day at the King Power.

The Cherries can be well satisfied with a ninth placed finish in their second season in the Premier League. They afternoon looked like they may even do better than that when Junior Stanislas got them off to a lightening start with a goal in the first minute. Despite Dan Gosling stretching Jasper Schmiechel to the edge of his limits, the Cherries could not get the second goal that their dominance really warranted in the first 20 minutes. Leicester started to compete better and Slimani had an afternoon when he was going to put chance after chance wide beginning with a couple of headers. The second half saw Leicester improve further until Jamie Vardy knocked in the equaliser almost standing on the goal line. There was a Premier League debut for Matt Worthington in AFCB colours when Ryan Fraser was subbed and although Vardy had a goal disallowed for an offside and Slimani put a free header from close in wide in the last 10 minutes, Jordan Ibe wasted the best chance to win the game just minutes from the end when he had a poor first touch on a Stanislas through ball. 

There were plenty of fans about to pack the stadium.

We might have to find a smaller ball to kick off with.

Typical Eddie had said he didn't want to change the team too much and yet Andrew Surman and Ryan Gosling returned along with Ryan Fraser to the starting line up, while Ryan Allsop was give his first Premier League start in goal.  

AFCB get ready to take on Leicester City.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

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There was a great atmosphere in the stadium with giant football balloons and other inflatables being traded like a tennis match between the fans and the Leicester stewards who joined in the fun  like a pantomime. But the action on the pitch swiftly captured our attention with Steve Cook passing a ball up the left wing to Lys Mousset who took on two Leicester defenders before sliding a ball across to Ryan Fraser who took a hefty blow. The referee played on though and Mousset snapped a shot off that rebounded off a defender into the path of Junior Stanislas, who came flying in from the right side to slam home the opening goal in under a minute! That's AFCB's 100th Premier League goal.

It was like a riot in the stand, but a happy one for the Cherries' fans who were delighted with the start of the game. Pugh thrilled fans next with a sharp ball pulled back across the six yard box that was calling out to be put away. 

Leicester countered with Mahrez having a shot blocked before Chilwell shot wide. AFCB were finding joy on the left with Daniels whipping in another low ball that Pugh cleverly stepped over but Fraser did not read in time.

When Surman was brought down 35 yards from goal Junior Stanislas took the free kick but smashed it into the Leicester wall. Leicester's reply came from Slimani who hit a rising shot over. Leicester win ton the first corner on 18 minutes as their pressure grew. Benalouane luckily headed wide after a Steve Cook deflection. In came the next corner and that Mahrez took from the right and Fuchs got up well and Slimani couldn't quite stretch far enough to meet it at the back post.

AFCB thought they might have extended their lead in the 24th minute when  Adam Smith got behind the Leicester defence and pulled a ball back for Dan Gosling who let fly from the edge of the box with a superb curling shot that needed all of Schmeichel's agility and skill to keep out of the top right corner.

Gosling was having an excellent game in shepherding Mahrez and coming out on top most of the time. Mousset was getting involved but was annoyed at hitting a shot straight at Schmiechel on the half hour.

Adam Smith was then knocked for six as he ran into Andy King who took all of Smith and nothing of the ball.

Mahrez is starting to show promise hitting a shot that Allsop saves well. A left wing cross the gives Slimani a headed opportunity that he puts wide of the far post. A corner follows with Slimani stopping low with a headed effort that narrowly runs past the post.

Another chance sees Ndidi head the ball right onto Allsop's chest and the keeper gratefully falls on the ball. Benalouane gets a yellow card. It's 0-1 to the Cherries at half time but it's been a tight game.

AFCB subs at half time.

Second half

There is bright sunshine at the start of this half. Allsop has to come off his line quickly to beat the advancing Vardy to a ball. Leicester have come out fired up though and on 51 minutes the game is even after a right side cross is headed on by Slimani and Vardy has a simple stab over the line from a yard out with Allsop unable to get there in time.

The goal had been coming and the Cherries' attacks had dropped off form their early good start. 

AFCB then win a free kick as Ndidi makes a foul. Surman takes it some 25 yards out and its deflected wide. Simpson then picked up a yellow card on 56 minutes for a trip on Fraser. Stanislas takes this one and has to retake it having put the first one right at Schmeichel before the referee was ready. The second attempt hits the wall.

Leicester made a sub on 58 minutes with Benalouane coming off and Amartey coming on. Jamie Vardy then thinks he has put Leicester in front, following a rebound from s Slimani shot but he's offside and it's disallowed.

Bournemouth try and stem the flow with Afobe replacing Mousset and Ibe coming on for Pugh in a double substitution.

Leicester come close again as Mahrez shoots and Allsop fumbles the save but Francis is behind him and clears from the goal line. Another chance falls to Slimani but he's volleyed wide!

Mahrez next has a bicycle kick blocked and  before Vardy heads an effort that Allsop puts over.

Another Leicester sub sees Demari Gray replaced Marc Allbrighton. Jamie Vardy was still causing problems for the Borunemouth defence and Francis picked up a yellow card on 71 minutes. 

The corners kept coming for Leicester with King winning a corner off of Francis. Ndidi then pulls his shot wide from 25 yards.

Chilwell has a shot blocked by Adam Smith and another corner follows. Mahrez then picks up a yellow for pulling down Gosling on the break.

Leicester still looked favourites to get a winner but Slimani misses a golden headed opportunity that he puts wide from about eight yards out. He's had a bad day in front of goal.

Satnislas on the right gives AFCB another breakaway and he's found Ibe on the left through on goal, but the winger has over cooked it with a poor first touch that's gifted the ball to Schmeichel. That was dreadful! AFCB could have won the game there.

Chilwell gets a yellow card for a foul on Gosling who has been a real star man for the Cherries. It ends 1-1.

See you next season!

Summary

While Bournemouth started this game imperiously with some sharp attacking football, they slowly saw Leicester come into the game and probably have the best of the chances. Eddie will look next season to see how they can improve on making the most of the games when they get a goal up early. The team has lost a lot of points after scoring first in games this season. But this was a wounded Leicester side that were not going to lay down in their last home game. Allsop had a heavy work load and AFCB had to withstand a lot of pressure in the second half. They have learned how to hold out in such circumstances and they might have even won the game. Still, the fans enjoyed the game and the banter with the Leicester fans. It was a good end-to-end game and no shortage of goal-mouth action.

Job done, well done AFCB on a cracking season!

Leicester City

Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane (Amartey 59), Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, King, Ndidi,
Albrighton (Gray 73), Vardy, Slimani

Leicester Subs

Zieler, Wasilewski, Musa, Amartey, Kapustka, Gray, Okazaki

AFCB
Allsop, A Smith, Francis,  S Cook, Daniels, Stanislas, Gosling, Surman, Pugh (Ibe 63),
Fraser (Worthington 74), Mousset (Afobe 62)

AFCB Subs
Ramsdale, B Smith, Cargill, Ibe,Worthington, Afobe, Surridge, 

AFCB Ratings

Allsop 6, A Smith 7, Francis 6,  S Cook 7, Daniels 7, Stanislas 7, Gosling 8, Surman 6,
Pugh 6 (Ibe 3), Fraser 7 (Worthington 5), Mousset 6 (Afobe 4)

Referee Watch: Lee Mason - too soft in his approach at times when he let things go, but at other times played advantage well. Disallowed Vardy goal was said to be onside on second viewing by reporters! 5/10.

Rival Lines: "I wouldn't mind Kasper Schmeichel at Utd," Old Trafford Faithful

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Man Utd v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Old Trafford Faithful
Twitter: @OTFaithful

This week I had a good conversation with Jason at the popular Old Trafford Faithful website ahead of AFCB's trip to the theatre of dreams. United are starting to get their act in order and a strong finish to the season could still see them winning three cups and perhaps a top four Premier League position, so the gulf in class to the Cherries seems as immense as ever. But does that make United fans pleased with Jose Mourinho?

CC: If Utd won both domestic cups, but didn't win the Europa League and come fifth in the Premier League, would you still see this as a successful season, having missed out on the Champions league again?

OTF: I think we’ve been so lucky as Manchester United supporters recently, and our hunger for success is huge. The last three years have been a real reality check for us, and winning the FA Cup after going trophy-less for a few years was absolutely superb. The EFL Cup win this weekend was so sweet, and I’d be overjoyed if we win retain our FA Cup title. Surely, that has to be considered a success?

CC: Man Utd have a heavy schedule and Jose Mourinho has not been slow in letting everyone know about it, but are their many Utd players that should be getting more game time who will benefit from this situation?

OTF: Jose has chopped and changed quite a lot recently and everyone is getting plenty of minutes. Sergio Romero has been the biggest benefactor recently and he’s more than taking those chances. I’d love to see Luke Shaw get a look-in, but Jose just doesn’t fancy him...

CC: When do you think the season rally started for Man Utd this season, because it wasn't a great start and why do you think the team were slow starters in the League?

OTF:  Zlatan Ibrahimovic without question. I dread to think where we’d be without his goals in the big moments. He’s been wonderful for us. In terms of someone who has really got things going for us, I’d look firmly in the direction of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. He’s brought some flair and creativity to the table, and he’s really began chipping in with goals and assists.

BB: Has all the talk about Rooney's record club goal talk and media gossip about China actually taken some of the attention off of how well Mourinho now has the side playing?

OTF: First of all, I’m delighted that Wayne Rooney has broken the record. He’s given his absolute all for this club for well over a decade, and he deserves it. Jose is the master of distraction and taking the eyes of the media off his players and it seems to be working well right now. With that said, I wouldn’t mind Rooney leaving for China as the performance levels haven’t been there.

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CC: Has Mourinho fully won over the Man Utd supporters or does he need a couple of good seasons to be considered a special manager for the Red Devils?

OTF: We love him. Since the day the appointment was made I think we all knew he’s the right guy for the job. His track record speaks for itself and he’s already one of the best bosses this country has ever seen. We’re lucky to have him, and I’ve no doubt the glory days will return under his guidance.

CC: If David de Gea leaves this summer would you be in favour of Kasper Schmeichel being signed by Utd?

I like Kasper Schmeichel and I think he’s a proper top quality goalkeeper. The thought of David de Gea leaving is absolutely frightening though. In my eyes, he’s the best in the business and it’d be impossible to replace him. I wouldn’t mind Kasper at United, and he’d surely attract a lot of attention if the unthinkable happens at Leicester.

CC: In the last three Premier League matches for Man Utd you have faced mid-to- lower placed teams in Watford, Leicester and Hull. Clean sheets have followed in these games, so the real test for Utd will come when they play the top five - or do you worry about them slipping up against a side like Bournemouth?

OTF: We’ve dropped plenty of points against those lower placed teams. Look at Stoke City both home and away, and even Burnley at home earlier in the season. There is always a little bit of a worry but that’s just the pessimist in me!

CC: Ibrahimovic never seems to do much running, but the ball comes to him like a magnet in the box, so do you see younger strikers at the club picking up things form him or is he just unique with a very different game to the likes of Rashford and Lingard?

OTF: I think one of the reasons we brought Zlatan in is purely down to the effect he can have on our youngsters. Imagine being a 19-year-old kid like Rashford learning from one of the best in the business? It’s insane.

CC: Who would you say has been Utd's best defender this season and is it an area where you'd like to see changes next season?

OTF:  Eric Bailly. 100%. I didn’t expect much from him when Jose made the move over the summer, but he’s been absolutely sensational. He’s quick, always on the front foot and he just doesn’t give the opponents a sniff. That said, we look rather light in that area with just Bailly, Jones, Smalling and Rojo - particularly when Rojo and Smalling have been playing so poorly recently.

CC: What do you make of AFC Bournemouth's prospects for staying up this season?

OTF: Ask me this a fortnight or so ago and I would’ve said it was a foregone conclusion that you’d stay up. Now, I’d be a little concerned to say the least. Their form has to be alarming for the fans, and they haven’t been good defensively recently. Now I’ve said that, put your money on Bournemouth keeping us quiet this weekend...

CC: I don't think Old Trafford Faithful are alone in not wanting to bet who is going to face the drop this season - hopefully AFCB will put in an inspired performance to get more points on the board soon. I was glad to hear that Kasper Schmeichel is now seen as a worthy keeper to come to Man Utd now, at least in the opinion of Jason at Old Traffod Faithful, but I wonder national papers have not pressed this question a bit more of late - especially seeing how well he has played in the Champions League. AFCB of course are perhaps thinking of a change in the goalkeeper line up next season and we could do with Artur Boruc marking his retirement from the Poland team with a shot stopping master class in front of the Red Devils. Many thanks to Jason and please see what he makes of their League Cup win at Old Trafford Faithful - I get the feeling he fancies Utd beating two south coast teams back to back!

Are Leicester back to their best?

It's typical timing you might think if the Foxes have just found their stride ahead for the match against AFCB. They have not looked solid all season, but a fantastic turnaround in fortune in their last outing against Man City suddenly has everyone wondering whether they are now going to start climbing their way up the league.

Leicester City's last trip to Dean Court.

Their away form has been pretty poor. It is one thing to win at home and another to get three points in away games as AFCB have seen this season. Home support is a big help and Leicester's fans have never deserted them despite the difficult season they have had in the Premier League. Of course they have Kasper Schmeichel back between the sticks and goalkeepers do make a huge difference, especially when the team feels more complete with the main man back in goal. Jamie Vardy also netted a hat-trick against Man City, and that's another main man doing the business for them. Don't forget Riyad Mahrez as well, who is again pulling the assists out of a hat.

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The question is, what will Leicester City be like if they go a goal down at Dean Court? That has to be the question that Howe will hope his team can set Leicester City, and while everything went brilliant for the Foxes against Man City, the only way anyone will know if it was not just Man City having an off day is to see how Leicester get on against a Bournemouth side that are hard to beat at home.

AFCB have their own problems and the gap between the two sides is not big anymore. This will be a great game for the neutral, but a nervy one for both sets of supporters.

Probable AFCB team
4-2-3-1
Boruc (GK), Francis (RB), S Cook, Aké, Daniels (LB, King (RW), Arter (CM),
Gosling (CM), Pugh (LW), Wilshere (FW), C Wilson (FW)

AFCB Subs
Federici, B Smith, Mings, Fraser, A Smith, Ibe, Afobe

AFCB Home Form
WWDLW

Leicester City Away Form
LLDLL

You may also see some of my replies to Questions on the Leicester Till I Die site today.