Now we have the switched on Max Gradel

Something has switched in the attitude of Max Gradel. Having a secure future at AFCB seems to have brought the best out in him and now the club has an international winger that is looking to play well in every game. It has been great to see as Max is just special when he is playing well.

Max Gradel could well be a starter on Saturday on current form.

Eddie Howe must be delighted in what he now sees in Max Gradel. The player has not really had it easy at Bournemouth for some time and a full season in the Premier League for him would not only give him a better sense of belonging, but would also make the side much stronger.

Against Napoli, there is no doubt that Gradel was at times running the show. He was demanding the ball and headed straight for Napoli's defence with speed and conviction. He produced a cross that led to Afobe's goal and was being a nuisance to Napoli when Francis pounced to grab Bournemouth's second goal. 

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From what I see of the players when they are together and celebrating goal, Gradel is very much a popular figure and it wasn't surprising that Pugh hoped that Gradel would stay at the club when rumours of a potential move were not fading. Pugh has always managed to stay just ahead of Gradel, but he may have a bigger problem this season. Gradel has seen that he has to make the most of his opportunity at AFCB and he seems rejuvenated and excited about the new season.

It's just what Howe will have wanted and for the fans it just could be that we see Gradel as more or less like a new signing, as the level of performance he is putting in now is far and above what we have seen from him since his move from St Etienne.

In other news, Harry Cornick leaves AFCB to join Luton Town for an undisclosed fee and Sam Matthews is loaned to Eastleigh until January.

Eddie knows Napoli test was as tough as it gets for the Cherries

There was little for Eddie Howe to be disappointed about having seen his Bournemouth side take on one of the best teams in Europe. The sparkling attack of Napoli will cut many teams apart this season, but the Cherries did well to snuff out as many chances as they did and keep the score down – exactly what they need to show in the coming season if they are to climb the Premier League.

Eddie Howe has enjoyed pre-season, but it's
 competitive matches that he is building the side for now. 

It was a shame we haven't seen an interview with Asmir Begovic on the first half against Napoli, as I think he was in the best position to know just how sharp the opposition were in front of goal. He made save after save against the electric Insigne and was really unlucky when Mertens got the tough that finally beat the former Chelsea keeper.

Eddie Howe said the game was similar to the Real Madrid experience and while that is probably true, the Cherries pulled out a much better score line. They may have been off the pace in the first 20 minutes, but they rose to the occasion and without Harry Arter, Andrew Surman and Ryan Fraser, the team found their belief and stuck to the task well. There were a few great player performances, but whatever has happened to Max Gradel on the transfer talk has surely inspired him to give his all to the team and he shone like a beacon for other AFCB players to find for the whole game with his mesmerising runs.

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Now AFCB have completed their pre-season games and will focus on the West Brom match will be a different kind of test, but one which AFCB can head into confidently. There is a feeling that having played Valencia and Napoli that AFCB are starting to live with the best teams in Europe and that is great for the team that can now start aiming to push on even further from the ninth place finish they secured in 2016-17.

AFCB draw 2-2 with Napoli in Dean Court thriller

Match Report

AFCB 2 v 2 Napoli

6 August 2017

AFCB greet Napoli at Dean Court.

Napoli were in no mood to take it easy on the Cherries. In a dominant first half for the Italians, Begovic was called into action on many occasions. Insigne was a total menace, dropping his shoulder and turning quickly to fire shots in on goal from the the left with countless attempts. Yet, when Napoli did score it was from Insigne's deflected shot that cannoned in off Dries Mertens on the half an hour. The second half was worrying when Steve Cook walked off after only two minutes, but the Cherries held firm and Afobe headed in to equalise at the far post on 51 minutes, after good work from Gradel. Things got even better when Francis made the most of a lose ball and ran in to round the keeper and make it 2-1. Only a late equaliser, from substitute Zielinski, prevented AFCB from a famous win, but Napoli were sensational at times and it was a great leaning experience for Eddie Howe's men.

All pictures are kindly provided by Damien Hill from the Family Stand. There are some more on Match Day Gallery.

Napoli prepare to take on the Cherries.

Eddie Howe played Tyrone Mings with Steve Cook in the centre of defence, while Dan Gosling partnered Lewis Cook in the centre of midfield. Defoe was not in the squad, but King and Afobe were selected to take the attack to the Italians.

First half
The speed and power of Napoli were seen very quickly in the first five minutes as they took the game to the Cherries. The Serie A side won an early corner, with Francis making the block and hustled the midfield area with Gosling and Lewis Cook doing plenty of chasing.

Napoli kept pressing in the first 10 minutes with their left winger, Ghoulam, taking a snap shot that went wide. More danger followed when Callejon lobbed Begovic and Mings cleared off the line after 12 minutes.

It was relentless from Napoli with the ball hardly going out of play. Gradel tried hard to run at the heart of Napoli but was quickly shrugged off the ball.

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Bournemouth were starting to find their feet after 17 minutes with Ibe making a strong drive forward. Passing was short, accurate and fast. Any errors were quickly seized upon.

King managed to win AFCB's first corner on 19 minutes, as the home team started to get some joy.

Begovic had to make a swift save to his left from a driven shot from Insigne, but he punched it away well.

King and Ibe them made a positive break that looked like getting King in behind, but Ibe's return pass did not get back to King and a corner was the best the Cherries could do. Bournemouth were looking more attuned to the play with 25 minutes having gone.

Napoli tried to do a cheeky corner with Insigne trying a back heel that few over the bar. A pull back from Insigne to Hamsik went closer, but then Insigne's net shot was deflected in off of Dries Mertens to make it 0-1 to the visitors on 30 minutes. Begovic had no chance really being unsighted by defenders in front of him.

Play stopped for moment for Koulibaly to get some attention, which gave all the players a chance for a water break.

Insigne then played Mertens in behind Mings and the striker was kept out by a star shaped save from Begovic on 35 minutes. Lewis Cook displayed some quick feet just to keep possession at the Napoli press continued. Begovic then had to make another save sharp to his right low down as Insigne sets his sights on goal.

Gradel gets a ticking off from the ref after a foot up on Callejon, but there was no malice in the challenge.

AFCB had managed two shots compared to Napoli's 11 in the first half and had one shot on target compared to Napoli's eight.

Ibe gets a start on the wing.

Second Half

Artur Boruc replaced Begovic in goal for the second half. Steve Cook walked off though just a couple of minutes into the half to be replaced by Jack Simpson. 

As soon as Gradel saw his shot blocked Napoli countered with Insigne pulling a ball back for Allan, who drive his shot at Mings.

Battling work from Gradel on the left then led to a looping cross off the foot of Hysaj and fell kindly onto the head of Afobe who made it 1-1 on 51 minutes. King goes sprawling in the box under challenge from Hysaj, but nothing is given.

Mings was sharply across to defend a deep ball in from the left, before Boruc had to make a one-on-one save from Mertens, having been put through with a clever little chip.

Marko Rog replaces Allan on 60 minutes. A snap shot from King is gathered comfortably by Reina in the Napoli goal. Insigne then goes for a curler, but Boruc has time to make a clean diving punch away and the follow up is over. Rog pulls a sharp save from Boruc after his shot from the centre of the D. 

Gradel lays off a pass from Lewis Cook who shoots wide, but it was a confident strike from Cook with a short back lift.

70 minute subs included, Afobe replaced by Mahoney, Mertens is going off, Reina is replaced by Milik,  Hamsik is off and Chriches coming on along with Piotr Zielinski. Gradel has really put in a shift.

Francis capitalised on some slack play from Napoli at the back he rounds a defender and slips the ball past the keeper to make it 2-1 to AFCB. I don't think the Bournemouth players can quite believe it. Gradel had run into Napoli's number 20 and the space just opened up for Francis on 76 minutes. A super finish from Francis.

Jorginho has picked up a yellow card for bringing down Ibe. Mahoney goes down after some great play to keep the ball in, but he's up again. Great chance for Simpson, but his header goes backwards rather than forwards!

Ghoulam is taken off. Boruc comes for a cross, but drops it under pressure and Zielinski slots it past Boruc's dive to the left to make it 2-2 on 83 minutes. Diawara and Maksimovic and Mario Rui come on.

Mahoney puts in a strong cross, but it's cleared. King just chips wide! It's a corner though to AFCB. King is replaced by Ndjoli.

AFCB send just about everyone up for a free kick but it's headed wide. That's it 2-2.

All square and a fabulous game to watch.

Summary

This was a tantalising game that kept fans on the edge of their seat all the way through. Napoli dominated the early stages and looked a class apart. But Begovic kept the Cherries in the game and when Bournemouth did find their stride they more than matched the Italians in their passing which will please the manager. The main concern will be how is Steve Cook and will he be ready for next weekend's game – hopefully it was just a precaution. But the top player for the Cherries on the night had to be Max Gradel who looks a totally different player this summer. He made a great assist for Afobe and even had a fortuitous hand in Bournemouth's second goal. Can we please play Napoli again next pre-season? They were excellent!

AFCB possession 49%, shots 7 , shots on target 5, 

Napoli possession 51%, shots 17, shots on target 12

AFCB

Begovic (Boruc 45), Francis, S Cook (Simpson 47), Mings, Daniels, Ibe, Gosling, L Cook, Gradel, King (Ndjoli 87), Afobe (Mahoney 70)

AFCB Subs

Boruc, Butcher, Ndjoli, Holmes, Worthington, Harfield, Mahoney, Dobre, Simpson

AFCB Ratings

Begovic 8 (Boruc 6), Francis 7, S Cook 7 (Simpson 6), Mings 6, Daniels 6, Ibe 7, Gosling 6,
L Cook 8, Gradel 9, King 7, Afobe 7

Napoli

Reina (Milik 70), Hysaj, Albiol, Kulibaly, Ghoulam (82), Allan (Rog 60), Jorginho, Hamsik (70), Callejon, Mertens, Insigne 

Inviting Napoli to Dean Court is fine but AFCB want to win

The stellar names of top teams coming to play games at Dean Court is starting to get a bit busy these days as we have seen the likes of Real Madrid AC Milan, Valencia and Locomotive Moscow to name a few in recent years and while Napoli will be the latest to join that list, I wonder if the home fans are as excited as we were when Real Madrid really broke the ice on these top pre-season friendlies.

AFCB fans are still hungry for success.

The answer is probably not, and not just because it isn't Real Madrid this time. Napoli are a fantastic team and we welcome them with open arms and hope for a great and thrilling game. But things are not what they were four years ago, when it was a privilege to be even mentioning AFC Bournemouth with the likes of such teams. Now AFCB fans have a team not only to be proud of, but one that goes into every game with a real prospect of winning the match, no matter what opposition is on the other side of the pitch.

We have had a sea-changes in thinking and when the supporters expect to win it carries itself over to the players. Fans have had to make a decision in some cases on whether they stump up for the Napoli game or save their cash for an opening home game, or the WBA away game, and while a summer crowd at AFCB might not be quite as raucous as an attendance for a Premier League match there will be one thing on the fans' minds just as it will be on Eddie Howe's – we want a win.  

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I just love that about the people at AFCB and the whole momentum of the club. AFCB don't just live the David and Goliath scenario, they thrive on it and have been so successful that AFCB itself is turning into a place that nobody takes lightly anymore. AFCB are becoming more used to taking on the best and it is helping them to improve their game faster and faster.

AFCB are maturing with age if you like, and some of that is down to the improvement in the players and the manager's ideas, as well as the simple fact that Bournemouth are getting used to dining at the top table and so are their fans. Napoli may not see a packed to the rafters stadium, but it will see a crowd that is passionate for a home win and that will immediately put Napoli on the  back foot tonight. Enjoy the game – UTCIAD!

Well done to any of those who spotted my mistake yesterday – Napoli's winger and captain Marco Hamsak is a Slovakia international.

Napoli preview: Sarri's team will cause problems for AFCB

The Cherries play Napoli at the weekend and it is likely to be the hardest encounter of the summer. Maurizio Sarri has built a team that finished third in Serie A, and only five points off title winners Juventas. Finishing higher than Inter Milan and AC Milan underlines what a side they are, and AFCB will be up against some of the best players employed in the Italian league.

AFCB prepare at Leicester City last season. Premier league
games will soon be coming around again.

Most English fans will now the Napoli keeper, Pepe Reina, who joined Napoli in 2013-14 after his years at Liverpool. Last season he made 37 appearances for Napoli and is considered the first choice keeper. Defender Raul Abiol has Real Madrid and Valencia on his previous club's file, while Tottenham fans will know Vlad Lulian Chiriches from his 2013-15 year spell in England. Another player who has played in the Premier league is the midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, who was at Sunderland between 2013-15.

The main strikers are Insigne, who scored 18 goals last season, and the Slovakian winger Marek Hamsik who scored 12 and is the captain. Jose Maria Callejon also chipped in with 14 goals. So they have excellent attacking players and it's going to be interesting to see how Steve Cook and probably Nathan Aké deal with the threat.

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Bournemouth have to play their own game, but it will be a high intensity game with no let up I would expect from attacks and counter-attacks. So this should be a good way of ending off pre-season with an energy sapping game. The next week will need to see good recovery as well though before taking on WBA.

If there are places still up for grabs, Howe is probably yet to decide who should play at right back as Adam Smith and Simon Francis look in contention for the spot and perhaps Max Gradel is pushing Pugh on the left wing. 


Possible AFCB team: 4-4-1-1 Begovic (GK), A Smith (RB), S Cook (CD), Aké (CD), Daniels (LB), Mahoney (RW), Arter (CM), Gosling (CM), Pugh (LW), Fraser (FW), Defoe (FW)

In other news, good luck to Ben Whitfield who has joined Port Vale on loan until January.

Napoli friendly for Cherries will set tempo for new season

AFCB announced another pre-season friendly over the weekend with SSC Napoli due to fly in to Dean Court for a match on Saturday 6th August. I believe AC Milan were the last team to visit AFCB from Italy and in some ways this game may trump the Valencia match which is a re-run of a fixture held in pre-season last year.

Junior Stanislas and Stephen Purches discuss matters.
Junior may not play any of the pre-season friendlies having
had an operation at the end of last season.

Measuring up against the quality of Napoli will be very difficult as they are another regular Champions League side, but AFCB have to star playing the best teams if they are going to progress again. Eddie Howe will be able to test himself against Maurizio Sari who guided Napoli to third last season behind Juventus and Roma on 86 points, having won 26 of their 38 matches. In fact, Napoli only lost four games all season which was lower than any other team in Serie A. That compares with compares with AFCB's 46 points and 12 wins and 16 defeats in the Premier League.

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Napoli are currently looking for a left back having had a bid rejected for Liverpool's Alberto Moreno, according to This is Anfield. 

AFCB fans may not know too many of the Napoli players but if we think back to the last World Cup, there was an influential midfielder in Solvakia's team who England fans will recall that was memorable for his shooting as well as his hairstyle – Marek Hamsik. Their star man though is probably Italian international, Lorenzo Insigne, who is a £45m rated midfielder according to HITC. Striker Dries Mertens of Belgium is another player that may be known to some fans as he scored 33 goals last season and has become a highly-prized forward.

Keeping Napoli quiet then will be a massive challenge for AFCB and you can expect Howe to play his strongest side against them. 

Who do Cherries need on deadline day?

The fans always want one more signing and while the injuries have complicated the final moments of the transfer window for Eddie Howe it is likely that there will be more than one addition to the squad come 6pm tonight. All the talk though has been about strikers and midfielders coming to AFCB.

Things certainly started moving last night. Crystal Palace have been rather keen to hold on to their players and even though they have strengthened. Alan Pardew looks set to keep Dwight Gayle but Glenn Murray has been allowed to talk to AFCB for some £4 million. As long as personal terms and the medical is passed Murray should be revealed as a Cherries player later today.

One signing that has been quite a tussle between the Cherries, Everton, Hamburg and Sunderland is Napoli's midfielder Jonathan De Guzman, who is set for a season loan move to AFCB with the option to buy him next season, but the midfielder was said to go missing yesterday when he was supposed to catch a plane for his medical at Dean Court. Apparently he wanted more time to think over the move.I expect we'll hear more on this later today.

But what other signings might AFCB make today - Charlie Austin, Lewis Grabban?

Eddie may have his eyes on more targets yet.

The need for another striker of note is perhaps the tantalising signing that may just be out of reach if the left defensive side of the team is now more important to reinforce. Man Utd were suddenly made favourites to land QPR's Charlie Austin over the weekend, but the connection with the Cherries has never really died down despite Eddie Howe saying it's is not possible for the club to bring him to the Vitality stadium. Such a statement from the manager was so strong that I feel those that have stacked their money on it happening may well be disappointed by the end of this evening - but I'd love to be proved wrong. The Daily Mirror seems to have the Austin move nailed on for AFCB.

Do you want him back? AFCB fans' conscience might be tested if Afobe 

goes to Norwich and Grabban is surplus to needs in East Anglia.

More likely perhaps is the return of Lewis Grabban, despite his foolish attempts to force a deal through last week which only ended in him being suspended. Whether Alex Neil would want rid of the striker now is intriguing, because of the baggage now surrounding Lewis Grabban - is he really wanted at Carrow Road anymore? His previous history may not make him among the most popular returnees if Eddie Howe decides to go back in for him. Norwich could play hard ball as well just to remind Lewis that he must honour his contract with the Canaries. Any deal is perhaps dependent on Wolves, who have repeatedly turned down Norwich's target - Benik Afobe. Unless the Afobe is allowed to talk to Norwich, there could be no move for Grabban.

It is a tough market out there and deals are seldom simple. So it is at this time that Eddie Howe may also be thinking if he can attract an extra player by giving a club a player or two in return to secure a new signing. That could mean loan moves for players like Stanislas, MacDonald, Camp, Rantie (a loan target for Reading, says the Bournemouth Echo) or Kermorgant. It should be an exciting day and if no one comes in but AFCB keep their current squad I will not be too disappointed with that.

If AFCB can put funds into the Development squad to bring on home-grown players for next season I would be even prouder of the club. But the financial implications of falling out of the Premier League are now so huge that if it means the club needs to sign more players in this window then so be it.


Out today - Cherry Chimes' September Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month, plus a special Newsletter article entitled Tactical battles have to be won.

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Is Jonathan De Guzman perfect for Cherries?

Midfielder Jonathan De Guzman is expected to make up his mind this week on whether to join the Cherries or the Black Cats if Sunderland in the Premier League. The player is currently at Napoli and has wanted a return to the Premier League where he has played for Swansea City on loan between 2012-14, while a Villerreal player. Now Eddie Howe is looking to make him a playmaker to improve AFCB's fortunes this season.

The area of central midfield has been difficult to cover while Harry Arter has been out. We have seen performances there by Dan Gosling and Eunan O'Kane that have worked reasonably well with Andrew Surman but De Guzman would add much more power going forward. He is also another player that is good from deadball situations, and free kicks in and around the box are likely to fall to the Cherries this season with the kind of pace that is already in the team.

Jonathan's international career is also well established having made 14 appearances for Holland even though he has not scored for his country yet in a full international. I'm excited by the prospect of another international player perhaps coming to Dean Court and the central midfield area is an area where I'd like to see more strength added to the team, so let's look out to see if Jonathan comes in or not this week.

Who do you want the Cherries to face in pre-season?

The task of planning for next season has already begun with the release of seven squad players already but attention will soon turn to a summer training camp and a line up of friendlies before the new season kicks off. While it would be great to play one or two Premier League sides before the August date with destiny, it is going to be difficult to arrange such games when most of the Premier League go on the Far East, American or Middle East tours. I wonder if AFCB might even entertain the idea of a pre-season tournament as the best way to play a few top sides?

Of course AFCB don't have to play against Premier League opposition they could try and go a step further afield and see if they can get to take on the likes of a PSV Eindhoven, FC Basel, VFL Wolfsburg, Schalke 04, Napoli, Roma, Paris St-Germain, Monaco, or Athletico Madrid for example, but such prestige matches are only going to be effective if Eddie Howe can learn more about his players and they can benefit from the experience of going up against some of Europe's elite. Just as much planning will go into picking up fixtures against some of the local teams that annually like to see if they can get one over on the Cherries, and I like those games as the competition is friendly and yet usually a good price  to see, while you often see a few new recruits fitting into the team. The Development Squad also needs plenty of fixtures so there is a lot of work to do at the club at the moment.

Ronaldo might not be coming to Dean Court this
 pre-season but there might be some other big players
and European teams that would fit the bill.

Last season AFCB might not have had the likes of Real Madrid to warm up against, but looking at how the European club competitions have gone this season it would not be such a bad idea to see what some of the continental sides are like. The training camp last season was fairly relaxed and not a bad run out against the likes of FC Copenhagen. As recently as last April the team also enjoyed the facilities out in Dubai and I wonder if an excursion to Africa might be a destination the club would like to try soon. It is hard to imagine AFCB as a global brand but that is the next step of the club's progression. Last pre-season there was talk of Rangers coming down but perhaps Celtic would be a good option for the Cherries now.

Getting fit and enjoying playing as a team is what really counts though no matter who the opposition. Hitting form in early August will be the aim and preparation is something that Eddie and his coaching team have a knack of getting right. Lots of fun but hard work, I believe is the ethos. 

Who would you like AFCB to play pre-season? Leave a comment below.