AFCB give a performance but still need a result

Bournemouth have probably got the the level of performance now that they needed to find when they began the restart. They have been sleepwalking towards relegation and it may well be too late now to wake from their sleep. The annoying feeling is that it has been a missed opportunity to try and stay in the division. After the home win over Brighton, the crowd really felt that the club was together and going to give the last few games a real go,. But we have seen a flat AFC Bournemouth since the restart and it is likely to cost them their Premier League status.

It's time for a clear out.

The defeat to Manchester United could have been a very different result if the penalty had not given Man United a way into the game and even at 3-2 Bournemouth could have drawn level at 3-3. The belief was not really there from this team though, and it was not a big surprise to see Man Utd claw their way back and start to extend their lead.

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Bournemouth are a team that have gone on a win less run for nine games in the league which is relegation form by anyone's book. Four clean sheets all season are simply not enough, and while we have now seen a performance, it is wins that we needed. For a while the other teams around Bournemouth have given them a chance by not picking up points, but now Bournemouth look consolidated in 19th place.

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Picking the club up is going to be a big project before next season. The board needs to get the players out quickly that they are going to sell, and to bring in some good young layers that are ambitious. Bournemouth need players that have the same hinger and desire as we saw back in 2014-15 and it may take a while to find that calibre of player. My worry is that many of those players were not actually bought by Eddie Howe, but in the Paul Groves era. So, Howe still has to show that he can buy better than he has in recent seasons.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Better defending still needed for the Cherries

Is Kelly more suited as a centre-half?

Watching Lloyd Kelly play his second starting game for Bournemouth was not so much a surprise, but nobody expected him to play at centre-half. While the left back position is what he is recognised for, he showed that he is more than capable of becoming a permanent centre-half, and it may well be his best position on the long term.

Official AFC photo.

Eddie Howe tends to look at defenders who initially play as wing backs, and sees if the are more suited to becoming centre-halves. He did it with Tyrone Mings and then Nathan Aké and even though we have only seen Kelly for a few games, I already believe he could become the best centre-half for Bournemouth.

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It is vital that the club holds on to players like Kelly if they do get relegated. He has the stature of a player that finds the Premier League very much to his suiting, but in the Championship he would probably be well above the standard of many others. I became a bit nervous when I an Wright was saying what a god prospect he was on Match of the Day. Anymore strong performances like he had against Man United and the scouts will come circling for him.

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Bournemouth have had a lot of problems at left-back and Rico found Greenwood a little too hot to handle at times. But Kelly got right in the groove at centre-half and read many of the through balls to Anthony Martial very well. He got blocks in and wasn't afraid to make strong challenges. One of those did lead to the free kick from which Fernandes scored, but on the whole it was an impressive performance and leaves Howe with a decision to make when Steve Cook is available again.

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Kelly was probably asked to fill in next to Aké as a favour rather than what Howe would have done if Cook had been available. He'll probably be shifted to left-back next match, but it might well not be his best position. He has the height and intelligence to play at centre-back, and if there is a fire sale before next season gets underway, it could be a massive bonus to have Kelly playing at centre-half next season.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Strong start to second half proves AFCB's fight is back

Are hard fixtures a big problem for AFCB?

Much has been said about the run-in with AFCB judged to have the toughest run-in of games left. They have to play four sides in the top six and the lowest placed team they will face is Southampton, who are almost safe already. But is it a bad hand or really an incentive to AFCB to get points against the better sides?

Many City away might be more of a training session than a real attempt to earn points

Bournemouth do like challenges and this season has been harder than ever. To get points against the best in the division is hard at the best of times, but the Cherries don't have such a bad record against some of the sides they still have to play. We all know that Man City is a game that many will have already written off but Bournemouth have come close to getting a point against them in the past. Bournemouth can't go into any game thinking they have already lost and will just have to take that game as an opportunity to raise their game higher than it has ever been before.

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The match against Spurs at Dean Court last May was won by the Cherries by a goal to nil and while they have a new manager, Jose Mourhino has not always done well against Eddie Howe when he was at Chelsea. Eddie Howe can also proclaim that his side beat Man united 1-0 at home this season, so the away game may not hold as much fear as it might have in past seasons. The match against Leicester could also be a bit of a thriller with end-to-end goalmouth action, which has become characteristic of these games.

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The games that might indeed trip AFCB up are likely to be matches against Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and Wolves in my book. I think there is often some over confidence in these kind of games where both teams believe they can win the game and a moment of hesitancy can decide the result.

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If Bournemouth do stay up they will have done it the hard way and will need some big results against good teams, but if they can do it they will take confidence from having survived.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Fraser's want away attitude could backfire on Cherries

Is Steve Bruce turning it around at Newcastle?

Newcastle United might only be three points above the relegation zone, but they have had most of the stat of the season playing the top teams. Having picked up four points from their last two games, it is tempting to think that Newcastle are on the right track.

The home form of Newcastle United is pretty good of late. They have picked up a draw against Wolves and beat Man United 1-0, just like Bournemouth, as well as picking up score draws against Brighton and Watford. In fact, they haven't been beaten at St James' Park, but they have been drawing a few too many games. One win though and they would close up to a point behind Bournemouth.

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So, I don't see this as a bottom side against a top side. The two teams are probably going to be quite evenly matched. Newcastle played very much on the break against West Ham in their last match and only had 30 per cent possession. But on the break they were fast with Allan Saint-Maxim making incisive runs down the middle of the pitch. Joelinton has also kept his place in the starting line-up, even if he has only scored once in 11 games. Paraguayan Miguel Almirón has also been consistently picked by Bruce in midfield alongside JonJo Shelvey.

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Where Newcastle have been less successful is in keeping goals out. They tend to concede a goal a game consistently. Looking at the last home game the Toon had, they gave Wolves as many shots as Newcastle had themselves and Wolves had five shots on target. Against Man United they also conceded possession at 32 per cent but kept a clean sheet and had as many shots as United. Brighton too had the majority of possession at 72 per cent and it is likely that Newcastle are setting up this way to try and catch teams on the break.

For Bournemouth there will be an enforced change with Jefferson Lerma suspended for one match, but we have seen Dan Gosling training this week and Lewis Cook will also have his eyes on a starting spot next to Philip Billing. Let's also not forget that AFCb are going for a record fourth clean sheet in a row in the Premier League today, such has been the form of Nathan Aké and Steve Cook.

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Newcastle United Home Form
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AFCB Away Form
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Possible AFCB Line-up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Francis, Kelley, Mepham, Gosling,  Danjuma, Solanke

AFCB TV Preview

Josh King hits United where it hurts

Josh King will have been extremely happy to have netted against Man United. While they gave him the chance to develop his career, it is always sweet to score against a team that you no longer play for. Goals have not been flowing for Josh in the last few weeks, but he'll be pleased to have broken his draught and even more pleased that it didn't come form the penalty spot.

Josh King is starting to get some goals.

There has been some punditry blaming of Man United's defending for the goal, but Josh had a lot of work to do to make sure he got away when he had his back to goal. King did have a good amount of time to do his manoeuvre in the box, and he talked about it to BBC Radio Solent saying that you always have more time than you think. Still Wan-Bissaka was right behind him and it was a little fortunate that when the defender went for the ball he only succeeded in helping lob it towards goal and right on to King's right foot.


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The finish has been highly applauded, even though it was at close range. But the ability to swivel quickly and keep focused on the ball, knowing you have a defender trying to get a block in and a keeper narrowing down the angle is always going to be a stressful moment for a striker. King kept his head well and just trusted in his ability.

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Josh was very much in the game and was not finding it difficult to get plenty of the ball. The important thing was that in this game he managed to get into a good shooting position and while Bournemouth only had five shots on target all game, Josh was always creating and trying to get into position for a clean shot. If Josh is happier playing up front then I hope he gets to stay there as he is going to perform at his best when he is happy about where he is playing.

It doesn't get much better than beating Man Utd

My feelings were the same as Eddie Howe's when the players come off the pitch having beaten one of the richest and most acclaimed clubs in the world, you should celebrate! Okay, United are not the team that one European Cups and back-to-back Premier League titles, they are a shadow of those teams. But they are still Man United and you can only beat what is in front of you.

The Minute of silence before the game was perfectly observed.

Looking at the league table today, it is Man United that will be feeling that they didn't perform and not the Bournemouth players. The Cherries needed a big win over a so-called top six team and they may have only nicked it 1-0, but the players beat Man United all over the pitch in winning tackles and making it difficult for them to play their game.

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Sometimes Bournemouth need to be a bit more in the faces of the opposition. The fact that it was a niggly game that was always simmering perhaps gave AFCB more of an impetuous to get over the winning line. Bournemouth still like to be thought of as underdogs and it gives the team a real sense of desire to get one over the bigger team - the fans feel it - and the players feel it.

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The atmosphere kept building against United. It was probably a horrible arena for them to play in as the home support was very strong. What Bournemouth managed to do was to find a bit of quality in the final third which hasn't been happening in the last few games. Bournemouth needed that and now they'll want to carry it on to the next game.

Chimes to Camera: AFCB 1 v 0 Man Utd

Can AFCB take advantage of Man Utd heavy programme of games?

It will be windy today, and AFCB will be a showcase as the early game.

With only two places between Man Utd and Bournemouth we could expect a tight game in this early kick off. United will be thinking they have overcome their bad run of form with a good win against Norwich last weekend, and a strong Carabao Cup performance to knock Chelsea out away from home. But three games in a week might mean some changes for Solskjaer to contemplate and Rashford is not going to score free kick rockets every time he steps out on the pitch!

The real plus for Man United last week was to see Anthony Martial not only come back, but to link up really well with Marcus Rashford. Man United had a potent attack again. Once United had a focal point they looked a much better side. The fears and in complacency might not yet have faded from their game completely though. If they find AFCB hard to breakdown then they could yet go back into their shell again.

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Solskjaer probably hopes that by playing game after game he will get his team to run into form. It has been happening so far this week, but what happens when they don't find things easy? It was pretty much a full strength side against Chelsea in midweek. Brendan Williams might not get a start, but we can expect Martial to be pushed up front to start against Bournemouth and Fred is likely to start in midfield. Pereira was also a sub in midweek and could come into the starting line up.

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But this is not a Man United that should hold too much fear for the Cherries. Pogba is out until December with an ankle injury, so they don't have quite that same central power unit. But McTominay has been sensational for them. The defence has also started to do better with a goal a game conceded. United's record is pretty similar to Bournemouth's start so I wouldn't be overly shocked if Bournemouth drawing record was continued for another game. But one home win is something that Eddie Howe would of course like to improve on.

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Man Utd Away
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AFCB Home
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Possible AFCB line-up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Francis, Kelly, Surman, Billing, Danjuma, H Wilson

AFCB TV PREVIEW

Can Eddie get Ryan Fraser to sparkle again?

The AFCB fans have always been pleased at how well Ryan Fraser has played and how he has progressed under Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall's teachings. We all know that there needs to be a level of trust and friendship, and not just professional work ethic to make relationships work. The transfer issues that arose in 2019 over Ryan's Fraser's future have stifled his game and there needs to be a real desire from Ryan to enjoy what could be his last season at AFCB, if Eddie and Jason are going to get the best out of this talented winger.

Can Ryan get his goal scoring up from one goal this season?

I don't blame Ryan for keeping his options open to see what clubs might come in for him. He had a terrific season in 2018-19, but he risks losing it all if he doesn't get back his performance levels. I thought he did okay against Watford, without pulling up any trees as they say. He was in and out of the game a bit, and that's been true of a few games this season. He hasn't really started as many games as he would have liked I am sure, but keeping him on the sidelines doesn't seem to have done the team much good at various times either.

A flying and fully fit Ryan Fraser is as good as any left winger in the league and I miss not seeing him rip teams up in the manner to which we have been accustomed to. He can take games away from teams with his quick bursts and his eye for goal, but we are just not seeing it at the moment. It's no doubt more frustrating to Ryan than anyone else, but if Bournemouth want a good placing this season they need to find a way of getting Ryan back concentrating on his game.

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It probably hasn't helped that Scotland have also been performing under par and Ryan is not seen as a new player at that level anymore. He needs to be playing regularly for AFCB and chipping in with some goals and assists. Well, he won't get a much bigger stage than when Man Utd come down this weekend in the early kick-off. This could be the game we have been waiting for when Eddie Howe rally does get Ryan to play some sparkling football again. 

Should Callum be flattered by Man Utd interest?

Bournemouth know they have a very hot property in Callum Wilson. The team is designed to give him the best chance of scoring goals and that ability to do exactly that has already brought him several England senior caps. While Chelsea have been potential trackers of  AFCB frontman, the ante might have just got a lot hotter with Man United sending admiring eye's towards AFCB's number 13, according to SkySports.

Is Callum Wilson too good for AFCB to keep hold of?

Should Man United come in with a big offer in January, Callum Wilson would have a big decision to make. Should he follow in the footsteps of Ted MacDougall and smash his salary and AFCB's transfer record? Usually, the answer would be a straight yes, but he'll have to consider if he wants to be a part of what is a Man United rebuilding job. Yes, Man United are a massive club, perhaps the biggest in the world, but in January they could be looking at struggling to make the top 10 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be ousted of hoping that a signing like Wilson is his best hope of staying in the job. Joining Man United is not like joining any other club and Callum would have to reconcile himself with the pressure of such a big move.

Being a big fish in a little pool is perhaps what he has become at AFCB. The transfer fee would go along way to smashing AFCB's profits for the season and they could be near to safety come the end of January. But losing Callum would be a huge blow for the club and Eddie Howe's aspirations of building the team around Wilson. While AFCB might be able to say no to a low bid, they may have to reconsider if there is a sudden bidding war for Callum's services.

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AFCB's main job before January should be to scour world leagues for another Callum Wilson just in case. The striker department is the hardest to get right, but AFCB may have to concede at some point that Callum Wilson has grown too big for the club. Should Callum be flattered, yes he should, but it doesn't mean that Man United is the best club to move to in its current state of uncertainty.

In other news, having won Council approval, it's all go for AFCB's Canford Manga Training complex!

Brave battling from Aké at United

I thought Nathan Aké had a mixed game at Old Trafford. He may have felt a bit embarrassed by the way Rashford out manoeuvred him and Diego Rico in the first five minutes at Man United, but he came back to flash a good header past de Gea, before the end of the first half, and was worthy of being protected towards the end of the game when he had done his fair share of the work.

Nathan Aké got shown a trick or two by Marcus Rashford at Man Utd.

The value of Nathan Aké is being felt this season, even if he might not have reached quite the heights of what he achieved in 2017-18. He does not like losing and he hauls his body up and down the pitch as much as any centre-half trying to win headers and battle for balls where he is not always favourite. He has been ever present on the pitch this season apart from the last 10 minutes at old Trafford, and it is essential that AFCB keep hold of him during this January window.

I believe Aké would be even better if Howe can bring in one or two more world-class players in either January or the summer. He and Jefferson Lerma seem to ooze quality for me and it is not unnoticed that those are AFCB's biggest two transfers.

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At Old Trafford Nathan limped off at the end of the game, but if he has to miss out against Watford Bournemouth do have Jack Simpson and Tyrone Mings who can come in and Howe has to start looking at options at this point of the season.

Howe needs to make wholesale changes for Man Utd

I felt the team looked very tired against Spurs and not really up for the fight. There have been a lot of games and Howe usually says he will use the squad, when the players need to be rotated. Well, looking at the fixtures with only a couple of days between the Man Utd and Watford home game, is it time that Eddie played the sensible card and threw his lot in with the Watford match and took at hit against Man United by fielding a weaker team?

Tyrone could be back in line for a start against Man Utd.

It doesn't seem the Bournemouth way, but there needs to be changes after a 5-0 defeat. If you say such a loss is okay and the same players can go again, it doesn't send a good message out to the squad in general and other players that are trying to make their mark. Okay, it's Man Utd next and probably a team that you would not want to play a wakened side as another pounding score line will dent morale further. But at least it would mainly be different players and some of Bournemouth's regulars would feel slightly more detached from the result.

I see no reason why Artur Boruc can't be given a start as he is a big occasion man as Howe has said. And Tyrone Mings and Jack Simpson have been patient enough and put in good performances whenever they have been called upon. Meanwhile, Jermain Defoe just hasn't played any football and  his experience would be good to utilise in a place like Old Trafford. But it might be time for Lys Mousset to get a full 90 minutes. Why nit? Let's see what he can do.

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The bonus from doing a few changes is that the team would have fresh legs for Watford and they know that is a game where they have a better chance of picking up three points. But keep on playing the same players with just a couple of days rest is asking for trouble.

AFCB TV Preview

 

AFCB possible team line up

AFCB Subs: Begovic, Simpson, Rico, Daniels, Stanislas, King , Defoe.

Charlie Daniels has to recover his form

The match at Wembley was a difficult one for Charlie Daniels. He was clearly culpable for the second goal and found himself detached from Kyle Walker-Peters time after time. It was sad to see, because Charlie hasn't become a bad player, he just hasn't got the legs to keep pace with some of the very best anymore in my opinion.

Charlie can up his game.

What does Eddie Howe do though? Daniels has been a first-rate servant for the club and I can only praise Daniels for what he has done for the club. But against Wolves he also made a poor judgement that cost Bournemouth their first goal. It is not just Charlie though. We have seen Steve Cook have similar games, and the mistakes are as common place as ever when Bournemouth are playing teams that can punish you for choosing the wrong pass or making a poor clearance.

If Charlie watches back his game against Spurs, he'll find it hard to enjoy many moments. He did try and make up for his mistakes though and came close to scoring with a header in the first half, while he launched a rocket of a shot in the second half that everyone half expected to take the net off the goal. Sadly, it wasn't to be.

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Charlie has to come back from this, but he has to do it soon. We need a big performance if he is to play against Man Utd. It may be that Diego Rico is given some games to give Charlie a break, but I feel the time has gone when AFCB can rely on Daniels to play quite so many games. Something needs to change in AFCB's defence. It doesn't have to mean dropping Daniels, but he has to get a better game in if he is going keep his place for much longer. 

Have Bournemouth got their groove back?

If Bournemouth had lost their groove from the early part of the season, there was pleasure in Eddie Howe's voice after the victory over Brighton that it might have returned. It's true that David Brooks was outstanding and creating havoc, along with the entrance of Ryan Fraser, but was the rest of the team playing fluently enough to say that AFCB's form is fully back?

AFCB still have a bit more to find to hit their early season form.

If we analyse the games of Callum Wilson and Josh King against Brighton it may be not so clear that the attacking side of Bournemouth's game was quite at its very best. Both battled well, but didn't give Matthew Ryan too much to do in Brighton's goal. Junior Stanislas was also taken off first, and the closest he came to scoring was a free kick that drifted wide. It was Brooks that emanated confidence and excitement and Bournemouth have to hope that now spreads to the rest of the team.

When AFCB play without fear they are not worrying about missing or getting caught out as they bomb forward. They are only concentrating on getting the ball into the danger areas and getting a shot on target. When they do this with pace and energy, it is hard for any team to keep up with them and that is what has been missing in recent weeks.

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Whether Howe has the right balance yet though among his front players I'm not so certain. The movement of King does not seem as nimble as usual, and I'd like to see Lys Mousset given a go. But it's the creativity and final ball where AFCB need more improvement. Apart from Brooks individual first goal, and the cross provided by Ryan Fraser for the second against Brighton, Bournemouth did not create a terrific amount against Brighton. In fact, it was just three shots on target all game for Bournemouth. Getting this figure up is a necessity if they are going beat Spurs or Man Utd.

Tottenham Home Form
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AFCB Away Form
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Score predictions
Send in your score predictions for Spurs v AFCB to @CherryChimes by 9 am on Boxing Day. We will pick a winner from the correct entries to win a Cherry Chimes' T-shirt.

Spurs press conference

Are AFCB over their wobble?

In the last five games AFCB have won just one game and have lost four. I think we can call it a wobble in form or a period when the team has found it difficult to pick up points, but if this period was characterised by the best teams in the league, can we expect an improvement of results in the next few games?

AFCB have to start piking up points against mid-placed teams.

The fixtures against Wolves and Brighton might have been viewed as favourable matches to pick up points at the start of the season, but the form of both of these teams has picked up just as AFCB get ready to play them. You could call it bad luck, but AFCB have to start building their own luck, and if they need a target hitting 25-30 points before the end of the year would be a fabulous achievement.

Bournemouth have not drawn that many games this season but playing these teams that are of similar stature could start to increase the likelihood of a drawn game or two. But defeat to Wolves and Brighton would leave the Cherries facing another tough couple of games against Spurs and Man United, needing to get points just to get themselves back into the top 10 before the end of the calendar year.

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So, I don't think we can underestimate the importance of the next two games for the Cherries. Bournemouth can either be fighting for a European place or be looking at holding on to mid-table positions come the start of next year. Traditionally, AFCB tend to pick their game up at this important stage of the season, and they will certainly need to improve on their current form, which is only better than Watford and Southampton.

Let's hope the wobble is soon a thing of the past. It would be a shame if Bournemouth struggle to build on their good start.

Express and Star - match preview for Wolves v AFCB