This is a fan’s personal view of AFC Bournemouth from the outside looking in. It reports on the daily official activities reported by the club and comments made by individual fans on social media and fanbase websites. Life as an AFCB fan is never dull. As a life-long supporter of the Cherries, it is the friendliness of the staff, fans and my enthusiasm for the club that inspired me to write this blog.
The dice have been rolled for Callum Wilson and it wasn't Spurs, Man United, or Newcastle that have stirred the pot, but Aston Villa has seen the first bid for Callum rejected. According to SkySports, Bournemouth has rejected a £15m bid from Villa for Wilson and, it's likely, this will only add more fuel to the fire with other clubs now alerted to the fact that the bidding war has begun.
Could a deal for Callum Wilson be sorted this week?
I imagine it is quite a nervy time for the player. While he has the ultimate decision of agreeing his own personal terms with clubs, he could well find that Bournemouth agrees to a transfer fee and he is forced to go to talk with a club, despite wanting a move elsewhere. Callum Wilson would surely love to play Champions League or at least European football, but if Aston Villa is the first to make a formal bid, then it will be intriguing to see whether the big six clubs are interested in Callum or not.
I am not sure what Aston Villa was hoping for by making such a low bid. Perhaps they are trying to force the hands of others to see if they are keen on Callum? Anything under £25m is unlikely to attract any interest from Bournemouth, as Callum signed a new contract at the start of last season. Whether Aston Villa will make a serious bid will reveal the club's true intentions. They won't get Callum for a steal.
Callum may have to wait on the likes of Spurs to see other sales go through before they can respond with a bid for him, but Newcastle United or West Ham United might feel forced to act now. The wages that Wilson said he wanted may not have frightened of clubs, but the heavyweights have refrained from bidding early.
The transfer money is what AFCB will need fairly soon though if they do want to reinvest in new players. JT will want to make the squad his and put his mark on it, and he'll only do that by bringing in new signings, or else AFCB will be viewed as Eddie Howe's depleted squad.
In other news, AFCB plays West Ham today at the London Stadium.
There would be few regular football fans expecting Bournemouth to get the better of Man Utd, even if Bournemouth are at home and United have had their problems. But with the early kick-off there is a real possibility that the Cherries could be in fourth place by the time the three O'Clock games kick off.
Eddie Howe is within touching distance of the top four places - can AFCB make history today by getting there?
In such a scenario, AFCB would not just have had a good start to the season they would have to be considered more seriously as a team that may well have enough about them that they could keep on the heels of the title contenders. In all seriousness, I don't think even the most optimistic Bournemouth fan really expected the Cherries to be in a position to perhaps deliver a massive blow to Man Utd's top four ambitions, but expectations are rightly growing about what Eddie Howe's team can achieve.
While home record has looked like disappearing at times to Everton and more recently Norwich City, it is still intact. It is something that the players can really fight for on Saturday and may well give them the extra-incentive not to lie-down to Mourinho's men. Man Utd have shown an up turn in form which would make it all the more impressive if Bournemouth were to get the three points. I also expect Eddie Howe will have got into a few of the squad players after the midweek match against Norwich and he'll want to see far more quality from those he picks for this match.
The stage is set perfectly being the early kick-off. It is hard to imagine a week when the focus has been so much on Bournemouth since the Championship promotion run-in. But a win against United and I don't think we'll see Eddie Howe have much respite from the cameras next week.
Eddie Howe seemed rather dejected that Man United had managed to find it fairly simple to block the way to goal when the Cherries tried their utmost to get back into the game having gone one-nil down. He had great admiration for Chris Smalling and Phil Jones who managed to master Callum Wilson's physical presence.
Eddie Howe only had words of acknowledgement and respect for Man Utd's two central defencders.
Man Utd's defenders also managed to keep the Cherries out by only picking up one yellow card whereas AFCB's discipline went a little with three bookings. The frustration did get to a few of Bournemouth's players as they were getting into shooting positions but not a lot was coming off when they needed that final ball. The spaces were just quickly closed by United's defenders and if AFCB learn anything from the game it should be to defend a little more like United did. BBC Radio Solent' John Williams had another phrase for Man United's play "boring", although he did admit it was effective. While half of the attraction for people watching Bournemouth is that they like to entertain, there is part of the game that is aimed at destroying and breaking up good play and it is a side of the game that AFCB are still more novice at than some.
What was impressive about United is that David De Gea was hardly needed. In the end he had to make two saves. But AFCB were not so far behind United in that respect with United only getting four shots on target. AFCB have found goals hard to come by this season. They now have a total of 41 goals this season which does not compare that favorably with 55 last season.
Struggling away up at Anfield was not quite the match Eddie Howe had wanted to see, but his team were well mastered by a Liverpool side that could go on to win the European Cup this season, and just being able to be on the pitch and play against these players is what AFCB's players have to gain experience from. It will be no different against Man Utd who will aim to dominate AFCB's players, but the things that Howe and the players can learn from these games are important for future games against the top six which the club hopes to have.
Eddie has to piece together where it is going wrong at the moment.
Bournemouth have picked up just two wins against top six sides this season and both Arsenal and Chelsea are at the bottom of that top six. It is more of a top four this season and while Bournemouth have lost narrowly to Spurs and Man City in some of those fixtures they have found it difficult, even when getting a goal up against a top four side. So playing Man Utd at home will be another tough examination.
Eddie Howe only has a few days to pick apart what didn't go as well as it might at Anfield, but the match against Man Utd gives the team another chance to make more of a go of it against a top team. The two matches (Liverpool and Man Utd) will probably remind Howe of the Christmas period, when the Cherries had their worst run with poor results against the same teams, even if AFCB's performance at Old Trafford was one of their best. I don't think we can expect AFCB to play well against Man Utd though just because they did up at Old Trafford. Bournemouth have to earn the right to play their game n the way they want to and Man Utd won't make it easy for them. AFCB should pick up a few pointers from the Liverpool defeat though ahead of this next match with United. They can't stand off players like Pogba who can hit long forward passes with great accuracy and they have to press together and get Defoe into the game, while King must bring other players into the game when the ball is hit up to him. There are certain parts of the game that have to be done well to get the team involved in the game and being progressive, and there were too many negative factors that kept popping up against Liverpool. Howe has to change that around now and find ways of playing positively against United. Win a Cherry Chimes T-Shirt Send in your score prediction for AFCB v Man Utd for a chance to win a Cherry Chimes T-Shirt. Tweet your score to @CherryChimes to enter. If we have more than one correct score we will pick a winner from the hat.
It is simple to say now bounce back from the last game. Doing it though will need character and better application and sometimes it is hard to turn a switch on when you don't know which way to turn it. The Cherries have played some sparkling football at times in the past few months and there has not been a lot wrong with how they have been playing. It is all about points though and while other teams keep finding ways to pick points up it is vital that AFCB make the most of games when the odds are in their favour.
AFCB have a great chance to put a bit of distance
between them and the bottom three today.
Home matches are of course what I am talking about. Getting a result against Norwich was always going to be a big game whatever the result against West Ham, but the mind certainly focusses when your team is no further away from the bottom three having used up another home game. I think the players will be told to try and remember what they have done well against teams like Man Utd and Crystal Palace in being hard to beat. They need that kind of attitude against Norwich as much as trying to score, because they are very good at getting their noses in front and having something to defend. AFCB will always attack and aim to entertain, but they have to play to a very high standard in their passing and movement to make that work. When that work rate slips a fraction we have seen AFCB suddenly have to turn and defend, and the organisation of getting men back in the right places to defend well is quite a science in its own right. In some games AFCB have done it well and in others they have looked too open. The second goal that West Ham scored against the Cherries was a case in point as it was just a throw in the corner, but the cover was not there for Boruc when the ball came across the six yard box. Now it is a new game, new hope and a chance to get back on track. The boys need a win so let's get behind them from the start. UTCIAD! It is also important to support the Bournemouth Food Bank if you can - please bring tinned food items to the ground to help those in need. Transfer Watch I am a little worried it might be the last game when we get to sing Yann Kermorgant who is attracting a lot of attention from Reading FC.
It should have come a surprise to beat Man Utd at Dean Court, but after last weeks heroics at Stamford Bridge it is becoming a regular occurrence to see AFCB defeat a side that is used to pick up all the silverware. Luis van Gaal will have known that Bournemouth have score more early goals than any other side in the Premier League this season, but Junior Stanislas gave David de Gea the unenviable task of picking the ball out of the net after just two minutes and there was nothing Man Utd could have done about it. The ball flew in the goal straight from the corner. The Cherries were ahead and even when Fellaini managed to scramble an equaliser in on his knees on 24 minutes, there was still belief that a possible upset was on the cards. Indeed, another set piece was to decide the game when a low struck corner kick from Matt Ritchie drifted past Juan Mata at the front of the box and Josh King had time and space to turn and shoot past David de Gea to record the second big win for the Cherries in the space of eight days.
AFCB players line up.
There was no need for Eddie Howe to make changes to the starting 11 that had played so magnificently at Chelsea last week. On the bench though there was a recall for Mac Pugh, Eunan O'Kane and Tokelo Rantie while Sylvain Distin returned from illness. There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.
Man Utd players decide to wear a complete white strip.
The excitement builds before kick off.
Man Utd were a much changed team as they had Chris Smalling and Darmian out after their midweek game and in came Valera, McNair, Borthwick-Jackson and Carrick.
Mata and Martial to kick off.
Man Utd fan Phil talks about the Red Devils
pre-match on Cherry Chimes' FanCam.
The game started with Josh King attacking up the left side and winning a free kick. A corner then quickly followed. What know one expected was for Junior Stanislas to swing his right foot so accurately that he put a curve on the ball that saw it bend beyond David de Gea, who was more worried about Dan Gosling, and into the top right corner of the goal off of the far post. De Gea may have got a hand on the ball but it was not enough to change the trajectory. The home crowd roared with delight! The Cherries were 1-0 up in less than two minutes. Junior celebrated with Harry Arter who had had a tough week with a bereavement - the reason why the AFCB players were wearing black arm bands. Just as the crowd settled back down though, Artur Boruc was forced to make a double save. Adam Smith had tripped Memphis Depay and from the free kick first Fellaini had a point blank shot that Artur Boruc turned away only to get up again to make another save to his left, at full stretch, from a header from McNair. It was amazing agility and it kept the score at 1-0. The Cherries were finding it hard to keep possession or get more than one or two passes in before losing the ball again. A brief chance came to break the Man Utd pressure when the Cherries had a free kick 30 yards out, but Stanislas shot well over. Junior was the man to watch and he inexplicably then made a back pass towards Andrew Surman on the edge of AFCB's box that never had the legs. In stole Martial who just had Boruc to beat and yet he blew his lines and steered his shot wide and right of the goal. What a let off! Just when Junior had got over that shocker. He got his game together again, Josh King found himself through against de Gea on 22 minutes. Arter had clipped in a beautiful ball between McNair and Varela that Josh was first to. King decided to go around de Gea, taking the ball from the left to the right of the keeper, but de Gea somehow managed to snatch the ball from him when it had looked like a certain goal. The Cherries were made to pay for the missed chance too. Memphis found himself through on a long ball from Carrick that Adam Smith was slow to react to, but Boruc stretched out his left leg and made a blocked save. The ball cannoned out to Mario Fellaini who could not keep his feet, having made contact with Boruc, and was on his knees. The midfielder managed to keep his momentum going forward though and stabbed out his right foot to jab the ball into the net, past Adam Smith and Steve Cook on the line - it was 1-1. AFCB were still winning corners and Stanislas put a shot wide from won after 27 minutes. It was then that Jesse Lingard pulled up with a hamstring pull and Andreas Pereira had to replace him - more injuries for Utd. A snap shot from Stanislas again went wide on 33 minutes as the Cherries looked to get back in front. Adam Smith was having a real battle with Memphis on the wing but he was not giving up. The moment when the Cherries might have gone ahead again was when King broke on the right and crossed for Ritchie who snapped his shot right at de Gea who could make the save.
It's been a brilliant first half with both teams creating lots of chances, but it's all square at 1-1.
Second Half The second half began with Man Utd on the attack and then forced all the way back to their keeper. Simon Francis then showed that he is not just an average centre back by making a darting run up the right side and into the box, past three Man Utd players. His shot forced de Gea into a near post save. The resulting corner was hit low and Josh King came from near the far post to the middle of the box, spinning off Daley Blind. He had an inviting chance and buried the shot neatly in what was a move from the training ground. He did it without any fuss to put the Cherries 2-1 up on 54 minutes. AFCB were in full flight now. Arter burst from defence and found Josh King running at goal. King checked in the box and made a chip that went just wide of the far post and over Junior Stanislas. Man Utd also had their chances though and Fellaini saw his shot in the box kept out by Boruc and then cleared by Adam Smith. The Cherries subbed King on 65 minutes for Glenn Murray, but the Cherries shape stayed the same. Murray had a superb chance to wrap things up when on 70 minutes he bust into the box, checked onto his left foot beating McNair, but hit his shot over the bar with de Gea to beat. Just a few moments later, Stanislas won a corner and this time the ball from the corner kick deflected off a Man Utd player and fell to Murray, but he was leaning back and clipped his shot over from six yards! Man Utd brought on Powell for Fellaini on 74 minutes. Harry Arter was starting to see more of the ball now and shot wide on 80 minutes as he came forward. When Surman went down though three minutes later, Arter managed to get himself booked and was sent over to the touchline. Eddie Howe put his arm around the neck of Harry before he let him back on. As Harry went over to the right side of the pitch he was then subbed for O'Kane to come on. This was all eating up the time. Martial had a chance to dance around a few AFCB defenders and get a shot away near the end, but he ballooned his shot well over the bar. Luis van Gaal's only last resort was to bring on Jones for McNair at centre back on 91 minutes. How that would win the game I have no idea, but perhaps he was more worried about Utd conceding a third. After five minutes of extra time though it did not matter. Utd had been beaten by a team that they had been 90 or so places above some 7 years ago.
Back to back wins for the Cherries!
Glenn Murray gets a hug from David de Gea.
Eddie walks off with Harry Arter with another satisfying win.
Eddie spoke well about the difficult week that Harry Arter and his partner
Rachel had had after the loss of their child at birth and our
thoughts are with Harry Arter, his partner and relatives.
Summary The Cherries wanted the three points and more importantly a win against the big name of Man Utd more than anything else. The week had been filled with the history of when the Cherries had knocked the Red Devils out of the FA Cup in 1984 and the new Premier League Cherries were not going to miss the opportunity of getting their headlines. It was a win that came from set pieces, but the team work and will to win were most evident. This Bournemouth side has grown immeasurably in the last few games and now it is moving up the table and can take great encouragement from their first back-to-back win at the top level. Now the team needs to maintain these performance levels to keep the points coming. AFCB are up to 14th in the table and that's a great Christmas present for the fans.
A great effort from the players who keep to winning ways.
AFCB Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Ritchie, Arter (O'Kane 86), Gosling, Stanislas, King (Murray 65)
