Eddie keeps us guessing as Cherries hit form

The matches against Swansea and Oxford Utd were captivating because the Cherries went at the opposition and wanted to control the games. Moreover, the players that might not have been uppermost in fans' minds to start games are giving Eddie Howe some serious cause for thought. I also felt that the team selections in the two games were very intriguing as I would have expected a stronger line up against Swansea at home and a few of those who were to play at Oxford I thought would have been in the previous game.

Eddie has some tough decisions to make but it's about
the whole season and not just the first game, he says.

It appears that Eddie is very keen to mix and match players in his squad and maybe does not want to even think of a first 11 but more of a 22 with anyone able to fit into the team on the pitch without seeing it as a weaker line up. He has openly gone on record in his interview with BBC Solent last weekend after the Swansea game saying that he will need all his strikers at various points through the season. He does not look at the situation as cut-throat as perhaps some of us fans who often ask, so who do you play next to Yann? I don't think Eddie Howe likes to put boxes around his team selections and feel that anyone player has to play and that things should stay that way for as long as possible. He is constantly looking at the opposition and their strengths and weaknesses and what works for AFCB one match might not be such a good tactic against another Championship team. That may then mean a change in personnel and style of play.

Whatever goes on in the manager's mind, even the most confident of AFCB fans can still not 100 per cent sure of the 11 that will start against Huddersfield Town. I find that quite refreshing as if we can't be certain then nor can Mark Robins and more importantly it gives the impression that AFCB now have a squad where any of them can be used at any time.

Wilson hat-trick in AFCB's 1-4 win at Oxford Utd

I called it early that Harry Arter might not be involved today after hearing him on TalkSport in the morning and indeed that was the case. It was interesting to see Muleba make a first team debut and I was glad that Fraser made it back into the team, while there was still no Flahavan or Camp. Kick-off was delay by 15 minutes presumably for the heavy traffic to the ground. Oxford Utd allowed fans who had stayed away to download the match programme via this link at a cost of £2 (tip -you can download their Wolves programme for free if you just want to know about their players).

The game was just 19 minutes old when Junior Stanislas smashed in a free kick to open his AFCB account and put the Cherries 0-1 up. AFCB were not going to have it easy though and Danny Rose hit a goal back just three minutes later to make it 1-1. Both sides were playing some neat football but it was AFCB that went into the break 1-2 up after Callum Wilson had slipped the ball in past Oxford's keeper on 44 minutes.

Half time at the Kassam Stadium and #afcb go into the break 2-1 up thanks to goals from new boys Stanislas and Wilson.

The second half brought plenty of more opportunities but Kermorgant could not quite get a good enough site of goal to add to his goal scoring summer, while Wilson had a few misses. Things changed though when a handball decision gave the score a more comfortable look as Wilson made it 1-3 with 11 minutes to go. It must have been Callum Wilson's happiest day so far as an AFCB player as he also managed to pick up his hat-trick just two minutes from the end. Let's hope it is the first of many in AFCB colours this season. Final score 1-4. 

Match tweets from AFCB, OUFC and Oxford Mail

02: The game is underway and the Cherries win a corner through good work from Adam Smith and Yann Kermorgant. Cleared by #oufc. #afcb

10: A great chance for #oufc goes begging when Danny Hylton heads a teasing cross from the right wide of Buchel's post. #afcb

12: Gosling forces a parry from George Long with an effort from range. The #oufc keeper follows up with a good stop to deny Wilson. #afcb

14: Good work from Charlie Daniels to get the cross in, but Wilson puts it over the bar with his first time effort. #afcb

19: Goal to the Cherries! Junior Stanislas curls a free kick around the wall and past George Long. Great strike! #afcb #oufc

22: Oxford United with the quick equaliser! Danny Rose bursts past Jon Muleba and dinks the ball over the onrushing Buchel. #oufc 1-1 #afcb.

44: Callum Wilson restores the lead for #afcb, beating the offside trap and slotting past the keeper. Linesman is getting dog's abuse. #afcb

Half time at the Kassam Stadium and #afcb go into the break 2-1 up thanks to goals from new boys Stanislas and Wilson.

Today's attendance is 1164, with 124 #afcb supporters. #oufc

oufc 1 #afcb 2 So close to 2-2 as Riley fizzes a low cross which Hylton only just fails to make contact with.

#oufc 1 #afcb 2 Hylton from range...on target but he doesn't quite get hold of it and Buchel saves.

56 SUB for Oxford: Joe Riley goes off to be replaced by Sam Long. Hunt moves over to right back. 1-2 #oufc

58 Bournemouth playing some nice possession football in front of the Oxford box but lacking a cutting edge. 1-2 #oufc

#oufc 1 #afcb 2 Smith gets forward from RB and pulls the ball back for Wilson, who shoots over. He could've had a hat-trick today.

#oufc 1 #afcb 2 Great block by Long to deny a certain goal for Kermorgant, deflecting the ball over for a corner.

65: Josh McQuoid skips past two but his shot cannons off a defender. Kermorgant's rebound is deflected over the bar. #afcb

#oufc 1 #afcb 2 Triple sub. Ruffels, O'Dowda and Roberts replace Meades, Brown and Hylton, 25 mins left.

71 Stanislas gets in a shot from 20 yards but Long is perfectly positioned to catch it. 1-2 #oufc

74 Double change for Bournemouth. Can't tell you who's coming on because, like a couple of the others, they've no numbers. 1-2 #oufc

74: Ryan Fraser and Junior Stanislas make way for Josh Wakefield and Mason Walsh. #afcb
76 From a Hunt cross Buchel tips the ball over as one of his defenders heads it goalwards. 1-2 #oufc

77 SUB Josh Shama comes on for Potter. 1-2 #oufc

#oufc 1 #afcb 2 PENALTY BOURNEMOUTH. Long penalised for a handball, looked a little harsh.

79: Wilson wins a penalty when his cross comes off an arm. He steps up to take it and…slots it home. #oufc 1-3 #afcb.

79 GOAL Wilson puts the ball to G Long's left as the keeper dives to his right. 1-3 #oufc

84 With G Long out of his goal following a half clearance a numberless Bournemouth player tiries a 40-yd lob. Wide. 1-3 #oufc

GOAL! #oufc 1 #afcb 4 (Wilson 88) Hat-trick for the striker, who springs the offside trap to score.

88 GOAL Wilson gets his hat-trick as he breaks clear. G Long gets a hand to his 1st shot but he gets in to prod the ball home. 1-4 #oufc

89: Goal to #afcb and it's a pre-season hat-trick for Callum Wilson! He goes through one on one and finishes at the second time of asking.

Full time at the Kassam Stadium & the Cherries complete pre-season with a 4-1 win. Check http://afcb.co.uk for all the reaction. #afcb

AFCB XI

Buchel, Smith, Cook, Muleba, Daniels, Fraser, Gosling, Stanislas, McQuoid, Kermorgant, Wilson.

AFCB subs

Kaye, Wakefield, Carmichael, Bassele, Walsh.

Oxford Utd are full of new players for Cherries' visit

AFCB travel up to Oxford for their last pre-season game. The League Two side have lost their main strike man Dave Kitson this summer who retired, but there are plenty of new players coming into their squad to make it a feisty encounter. They have also had a change in manager this summer as Michael Appleton has joined the club after Gary Waddock was sacked in July. More importantly Oxford have been receiving multiple takeover bids. Still, Ian Lenagan and Darryl Eagles are not looking to hang about in getting the club out of League Two.

Oxford are one of those clubs that plays in a stadium with only three stands - a familiar feeling for AFCB supporters. However, there is a lot of talk about the desire for the Us to build a new stadium and move away from the Kassam stadium which holds 12,500. Other debates going on at the club this summer have included the very important decision of what to call the home supporter's bar which has been renamed The Manor Bar after the previous home ground.

Bringing in new players though has been upper most in Michael Appleton's mind and among the new signings are Michael Collins a 28-year-old Irish midfielder who has arrived from Scunthorpe Utd and should add experience to the team. In goal, Oxford are likely to play new signing George Long who made 73 appearances for the Blades and has been the England U20 keeper - so a great signing for the Us. Right back Joe Riley, 22, has also come in on loan from Bolton until January.Appletone's latest signing is Junior Brown from Fleetwood, who can play at left back or left midfield. Up front Oxford are likely to play Danny Hilton who was signed from Rotherham in the summer and Alfie Potter, presuming that their are no injuries.

Talking of injuries, the Oxford team could be without Johnny Mullins at centre back who was injured in a friendly against Wolves recently.

Pre-season has gone pretty well for the yellow shirts as they have beaten Farnborough 1-2 and Oxford City and Didcot Town by a single goal each, but their last outing was a 0-1 defeat to Wolves at home. Last season Oxford finished 8th in League Two, just outside the play-offs so they are more than capable of giving AFCB a difficult time. AFCB's line-up could include some of those not on show yesterday like Kermorgant, Satnislas, Wilson, Cook and Arter but there will be major interest in the goalkeeper selection.

Don't forget All Departments spoke to John Harriss this week and you can listen to his Pitch Perfect podcast.