New official AFCB podcast gets to the heart of matters

I was pleased to enjoy the first official AFCB podcast this week. While there was a lot of talk about 'Wyscout' which made fans feel that they had sponsored the programme, Richard Hughes tried to give the best answers he could about the slightly murky side of recruitment in the modern game. Even better was his recollection of his own career and some of the players and managers that helped him in his playing career.

Richard Hughes didn't miss playing when he gave it up.

Hosted by Kris Temple and Neil Perrett, the podcast is going to be a weekly feature when the season gets going. While the two presenters could get a lot of their questions answered, it was good to hear some fan questions as well. 

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The recruitment job at AFCB has never been an easy job and Richard opened up as much as he could about the memorable signings he has helped bring to the club. It appears that the Juan Iturbe signing, last time Bournemouth were n the Championship, was one he didn't like too much as it was extremely difficult with the language barriers and contracts, but he clearly had some favourites like the recent signing of Lloyd Kelly. Richard gave an in-depth outline of how the club scouts today and some of the difficulties involved, which have been made even harder with the COVID-19 pandemic. What was also clear is that there are a lot of do's and don'ts legally around recruitment which clubs have to follow, and Richard was careful to skirt around some of the places where the rules might be bent. There remains a lot that, I am sure in transfer dealings, stays behind closed doors.

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Richard's playing career was well covered and I liked the way he remembered Sean O'Driscoll's way with players, and even more so Kris Temple was keen to get across how difficult Sean could make it for journalists. Playing for teams like Arsenal and Portsmouth as well as Bournemouth, while starting his career in Italy, Richard Hughes gave away that playing pout of position as a left-back for at Southampton for 10 minutes got him his move to AFCB with Mel Machin when he had been playing more regularly as a midfielder for Arsenal's U18s.

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Anyway, without giving away all the fun elements of the podcast, it was great to hear from a former player, who still works for the club as technical director, and who has had so many years at the club. It will be interesting who is hauled in front of the microphone next time. I am sure we will hear from a few more former players and at some point from manager Jason Tindall. I hope we find out a bit more about the current crop of players and perhaps some of their hobbies that we haven't be told of before.

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If you haven't heard the podcast yet you can click on this link.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Should Surridge look for a move in January?

Eddie Howe's pay-cut a sign of things to come for players

It was very honourable of Eddie Howe, Richard Hughes, Neill Blake and Jason Tindall had all taken voluntary pay-cuts to help balance the books for AFCB. Many company's will have big wage earners that simply want to keep their high salaries and won't be as charitable as Howe who is the first Premier League manager to make such a sacrifice, says SkySports.

Eddie Howe takes a pay-cut, will players on eve bigger salaries do likewise?

The uncertain future of people at the club is only going to increase in the weeks to come and I hope the players can take some of the pressure off of the club by making similar decisions. But, of course, it is easy for us to say such things when we are not used to the kind of salaries that these top professionals are on. Whether players do pick up the same stance or ignore it may not be fatal for a club like AFC Bournemouth, but for even smaller clubs it could well be the last straw with COVID-19 preventing all income, apart from what the government is willing to provide as a safety net through its Furloughed scheme.

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It was quite shocking to see AFCB have to make such an official statement. While the club tries to protect its staff and sets a great example to others in the footballing well, it is good to remember that this affects everyone and any small amount of help we can make for others is a fantastic thought. Putting others before ourselves is something that might not come naturally, but there will be those far worse off. It is great to see Eddie Howe and others see very early on that they are in privileged positions and an help others at this time.

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In many ways it is not surprising as we know that the people at AFCB love the club and are tightly knit. Being the first club in England to make such a move is perhaps typical of the way AFCB is lead with its heart and we all want to see the club in good health as it goes forward.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Players won't be in the shape or mood to play football

Thank you Mr Hughes

We all knew that this was likely to be Richard Hughes last season and it was clear that he was preparing for life as a TV pundit as we saw him less frequently in the squads. But it has been a good final couple of years for the Scot on the south coast and he has no doubt given a lot of advice to young players like Eunan O'Kane and Ryan Fraser in that time. 

Good luck Richard - one of the best ball passers and
retainers that we have seen at AFCB.

We will not forget his statesman like genius in controlling the midfield and his powerful shots that certainly caught a few keepers out over the years. While he had played at a much higher level than at Bournemouth and was at ease in the company of stars like we saw when Real Madrid came to play at Dean Court, I don't think he had many more happier days then when he was brought back to the club by Paul Groves and had the chance to play under Eddie Howe. 

Richard will not have probably expected to have such an eventful last couple of years but I know he will be hoping that AFCB can now go on and achieve more great seasons now that he has decided to call it a day on his playing career.

O'Kane will be on top form for Reading's visit (video)

The activities of the 67th minute in the game against QPR could have a dramatic effect on what is left of the Cherries season. A three match ban for Harry Arter will mean a change of personnel if AFCB do not contest the red card and social media comments have already indicated that the club won't challenge the decision - hang on it's official, no appeal. That would mean a possible call up for Eunan O'Kane who played the last 20 minutes against QPR and slotted straight into a defensive midfield role to keep the Hoops out.

Eunan O'Kane pre-QPR game.

Eunan will be sad for Harry Arter but surely keen to impress again in the remaining games that Bournemouth have. He has already attracted much praise from his manager and from onlookers about his great endeavours this season and against QPR you could see his silky dribbling runs in evidence while he is always a player who can spot a pass.

Arter's absence will also create a space on the bench perhaps for Shaun MacDonald or Richard Hughes as Eddie will need some more cover in that area. We have seen though that switching of personnel is not hurting the team too much at this stage as everyone wants to play in this side.

It will be a major game for Eunan and for all his team mates on Tuesday. They will know that their season ultimately rests on this game if they are hoping for a top six place.

Sample the atmosphere of AFCB v QPR prematch below

And listening to the cheers as the players leave the pitch. Can you replicate this or do even better with your AFCB chants on Tuesday night? Tommy Elphick leads the singing.

  

O'Kane is not one Eddie will want to lose

I was not aware why Eunan O'Kane suddenly was found bent over double at the end of the first half on Saturday. Eddie Howe pointed towards him getting a knee in the hip area. Whatever happened Eunan was unable to recover and he could not even make it to half time.

Eunan doesn't often go down so I hope he is back in training this week.

Burnley were certainly a physical side. Their players are stocky and robust and in comparison the sleek and light-footed nature of Bournemouth's players did not bounce off quite as well from the challenges that were going in. the slowness of the pitch probably did not help matters as usually AFCB's players could use the speed and hardness of the pitch to their advantage with swift passing to get away. Still AFB's battle hardened players stood up the competition and played extremely well against such tactics.

Euanan O'Kane will hopefully be back for the Derby game.

What must Eddie Howe be thinking though? Eunan O'Kane has been central to his plans since early December and he will not want to lose him with a tough away game coming up against Derby County next weekend. While Shaun MacDonald came on to replace him it will take Shaun a while to get up to the kind of performance levels that Eunan was providing. It just may be that Eddie will have the services of O'Kane back in time even if he only does light training this week. We have seen that Eunan often recovers much quicker than other players and it would not surprise me if he is in the starting kine up at Derby.

I still like to see Richard Hughes play in the defensive midfield role and he can certainly add some stability in front of the back four in such a difficult game at Derby if Eunan is not back in time. In what will be a passing game Eddie could do worse that to think about bringing Hughes back for this game. It does seem though that Richard is making way for the likes of Eunan and Shaun having not made very many appearances at all in the Championship.

Shaun MacDonald was not happy with the goal
 that Burnley scored but will he get another chance against Derby?

Eunan O'Kane is quite the guardian

Eunan O'Kane has been said to be picking up tips from Richard Hughes about how to play in front of the back four. I am not sure if Hughes is seeing his future role as more of a mentor than as a player, not had much time on the pitch this season, but his advice and calm passing mode would be something that Eunan O'Kane would do well to emulate. 

Eunan has defensive aspects of his game in mind.

The Reading game saw Eunan drafted into the team to play the defencive midfield role after Shaun MacDonald had played there in midweek at QPR. When Bournemouth also play with Surman behind Grabban and Arter just behind him in midfield the extra player seems to help Eunan and he made a substantial amount of tackles against Guthrie especially in the middle of the pitch. In a way it is a bit of a dirty job. It's not a glory role to be scrapping in the middle and stopping the opposition coming in between the back four and the midfield players, but Eunan is doing fine there.

The terrier role is one that suits Eunan.

While Eunan is not the biggest of players he is adept at being a little terrier and I can see why Eddie Howe sees him as the perfect kind of player to play this part in the team. I believe that Eunan will have been one of the players that did the most running in the Reading game as he had to be very mobile to do that job.

Most would probably not think that much of the game Eunan played at Reading as he would not be bombing forward or looking to hit a thirty yard screamer very often, but his role was vital and it made AFCB look so much more solid. I think Eunan has found his best place in the team as guardian of the back four. As long as he keeps winning the ball and starts off attacks by feeding Arter or Daniels, for example, he will become seen as more of a ball winner which would allow Arter to be a bit more expressive just that bit further up the field.     

Changing personnel in AFCB's engine room

Being spoilt for choice is not something that AFCB managers have had in the past. Eddie Howe has more fortune than some have had in the area of centre midfield because he has a good group of players that are fairly interchangeable. That is also the way it has been this season with Arter, MacDonald, O'Kane, Surman and Hughes playing in different combinations at the heart of the Cherries team.

Andrew Surman.

Shaun MacDonald.

Now that everyone is getting back to full fitness it is going to be difficult to keep everyone happy and involved. Harry Arter has probably been the main man to be selected when he has been available but being only one more card away from a suspension, it won't be long before he will be rested. That will mean an opportunity for someone.

Arter will do well not to miss out on a big game sooner
or later., because of suspension.

It has been refreshing that Eddie Howe has given O'Kane, MacDonald and Arter the chance to step up and be the main players in midfield rather than go shopping for more talent. With only Andrew Surman bolstering that area of the squad in the summer, Howe has shown faith in his players from last season. Whether that continues in January we will have to wait and see.

While our squad is fairly young and has not been together for much more than a couple of seasons it is probable that some players may be targeted by other clubs in the coming months. That is something that AFCB fans may have to get used to, but at least our players are going to be worth more than they have in the past and they have to of been playing well to attract interest from other clubs.

I expect Eddie Howe is already open to ideas on who may be brought in next summer or even in January to add even more strength to the centre midfield, because the Championship is so punishing.

Following Rantie's arrival you can't discount the probability that AFCB scouts will more than likely be looking globally for new stars. Having seen some of the control and skill and possession qualities of internationals in Chile's team against England the other day you wonder whether the day will come when AFCB add a South American player to their squad. 

Is there a way to stop Burnley?

This weeks game couldn't be much harder for the Cherries. The away trip to Burnley is one to savour with Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall making their way back up north to their former Championship club. But this will not be a too friendly an encounter. Both sides will be revved up for this game as one they have to win. Burnley go in to the game on a 10 match unbeaten run which is great consistency, although they have started to see teams giving them close games of late with Millwall the latest team to prevent them from taking all three points in their last game.

So how can you stop Burnley from playing? AFCB are going to find it tough going make no mistake about that. Burnley aren't top of the table for nothing and the first concern must be to try and frustrate their powerful forward game. Bournemouth need to have an out ball that gives them a threat and we have that in the pace of Grabban and Rantie which served AFCB so well in the Middlesbrough away fixture. If the Cherries can give Burnley something to think about when they break, Burnley might not be so cavalier in their efforts to throw everyone forward on each attack.

Burnley are resilient at the back with Trippier, Duff, Schackell and Mee keeping the door firmly shut on many Championship teams, while Ings and Vokes have been banging in the goals at the other end. Marney and Arfield have also been getting good reports in midfield and looking for a weakness is pretty hard in this team. The only points that Burnley have dropped at home were draws against Bolton and Blackburn Rovers, but they are unbeaten at home. The good news is that records are there to be broken though and there is pressure on Burnley to keep the run going. By the way, I have been told that AFCB have never won at Turf Moor.

Burnley managed to come back from two-nil down in their last game so that will of felt as good as a win for them. Sean Dyche admitted they did not play well in the first hour but I can't see them sitting back at Turf Moor. The last team they beat at home was QPR and they managed that with some room to spare. If Bournemouth can stop Burnley it will be a game that will be carefully studied by the other managers in the Championship, because they have dumbfounded everyone so far with their explosive play and string strike force. 

It will be key how Eddie sets the team up. I suspect he might play one up front but as well believe Ritchie, Coulibaly and possibly Fraser are not match fit, Grabban could be moved to the right wing and that would either mean Rantie playing as the loan striker or he could fancy Pitman or Thomas in that role. The latter would be a surprise, but Wes Thomas can play that role well in holding up the ball and he is quicker than Pitman.

If Eddie then goes five in midfield we could see Surman, Hughes or O'Kane come into the team. Meanwhile, at the back  I expect Ward to come back in for Elphick. The good thing is that Eddie has options and he could set up the team to be defensive or offensive and there should be quite a bit of competition for places. There is something that tells me that Jason and Eddie might well have a special game plan for this match and AFCB might spring a surprise or two in their line up.

Over to you Eddie Howe, show us how you come away with points from Turf Moor. 

Eddie Howe's selection issues (plus Millwall fan interview)

There was a wry smile on Eddie Howe's face when he was asked on Cherries Player who exactly was close to featuring this coming Saturday against Millwall. He wasn't going to tell us who was fit and who will be on the bench but it's always fun to test him with that question.

Eddie Howe for once has a few selection decisions to make ahead of tomorrow's game. While the performance of Jack Collison on Tuesday should see his inclusion in the team, there must be a real battle on for some of the other places. Andrew Surman did particularly well when he came on in the second half at Leeds and his legs will not have done as much running as Enuan O'Kane. I am not sure if MacDonald is able to feature on the bench but I suspect Collisson and O'Kane will start.

Then there is the discussion of who to play up front. Grabban you would think is a must start and that leaves Pitman or Rantie. Rantie was preferred for the last game and while he has been putting in the minutes Pitman will be fresh. Both Pitman and Rantie are looking to get on that score sheet but I think Rantie will start and either he or Grabban will get replaced on 60 minutes.

Fraser will also be in line to start having not played more than 30 minutes at Leeds. I am keen to know who else though is coming back to fitness. Coulibably and McQuoid were on the bench for the last home game, while it would be great to see Arter or Hughes back in contention. Eunan O'Kane indicated in his pre-match interview that Harry Arter may be one who is close to making a full recovery and that would certainly put a smile on my face.

Can Arter or MacDonald make it back to the squad for Saturday?

I don't think the formation is much of an issue now. It should be 4-4-2. Ian Harte has shown that he can do his job and Eddie Howe does not want to unsettle the crowd like the last home game. Looking at the keeper situation, everyone would have expected Flahavan to start, but he picked up a thigh strain at Leeds and Howe has made a new 3-month loan signing from West Ham - Stephen Henderson. I don't know much about Stephen but it looks like he will start the game even though AFCB has just recalled Jalal from Oxford Utd.

We've got some new faces then at AFCB and I'll have to get the camera out to recognise who is who. I only hope our players are familiar with West Ham's players as we seem to be playing as many of them as we can. Having had a post-season friendly with them I am sure the lines of communication are strong between the clubs, but didn't we also play Real Madrid pre-season and I've heard Mr Ronaldo isn't that bad. Has someone got Ancelotti's number?

You can now read up on Millwall FC, the next visitors to Dean Court. Our Rival Lines feature offers a chat with Merv Payne who is a regular writer for Sabotage Times. He discusses Millwall's sudden improvement under Steve Lomas.

AFCB may need another combative player

The absence of Harry Arter is starting to be more apparent. AFCB lack their usual bite and hassling terrier appetite in the centre of the park and that is giving the opposition more time on the ball to pick out the clever passes that put our back line on the turn. I would be very happy if we could hear some good news about Harry Arter soon or failing that some news of AFCB's interest in acquiring a loan player with a combative style. 

The top teams in this league like QPR and Burnley have strong midfield players with some attitude like Joey Barton and Dean Marney. With Harry currently out of the team, AFCB look an easier team to play against than they have been. I don't see O'Kane as being such an aggressive player but more of a skillful, touch player that opens doors with his vision and precise passing. Shaun MacDonald does have more of a combative style but is finding the Championship a tough battle ground and is starting to come off worse in many of the challenges that he goes in for.

Eunan O'Kane, close control and speed of thought.

Who will partner Eunan on Tuesday night?

Whether Surman can come in and do a job for the Leeds game is yet to be seen, but Howe may be running out of options. He could draft Cook into midfield but this would really be covering the cracks. Center midfield is going to be a key area against Leeds and there is a question over who will partner O'Kane there with Hughes missing out after his red card and Macca and Arter injured. Perhaps it is time for the experience of Stephen Purches to fill in?

I have my fingers crossed that Harry Arter may be able to come back in but with no news about our tigerish midfield man I fear that AFCB will be going into Tuesday's game with a team that would benefit from a little more aggression in such a feisty arena in which to play football.

Hughes proves his value

The performance of Richard Hughes in the Middlesbrough match should not be underestimated. He has not started for AFCB for quite some time but had mainly been used as a late sub to tie-up games if the Cherries came under pressure. He has always been an excellent passer or the ball and one of the best at retaining possession so perhaps it was not so surprsing that Eddie Howe selected him to start at the weekend as he attempted to pass Middlesbrough to death.

Hughes managed to keep going until the 76th minute before he was replaced by Shaun MacDonald who had been struggling with a hip problem, picked up in the Barnsley match. Macca as always put in a strong performance as well when he came on. The man who perhaps would have liked to have had a more imposing game was Eunan O'Kane.

With Harry Arter and Andrew Surman on the treatment table we are still stretched in centre midfield and with the matches against Blackburn, Millwall and Leeds coming up fast I am hoping that some of AFCB's players get back soon.

At home the team has to take the game to the opposition in more of a creative way rather than playing on the break and Macca and O'Kane may be favourites to start against Blackburn, but Hughes has already shown that he is a safe option that still has much to offer in breaking up moves and starting things off for AFCB.

How about a wildcard to play against Boro?

The mounting injuries have really put a spanner in the works as far as team selection goes for Eddie Howe. This game is probably the hardest ask for the Cherries to get some points from since the away game at Watford. Indeed, when fans did our poll the other week, which is still on the panel on the right hand side of the blog, Middlesbrough is not a game many of you fancied us to get something from.

So if Eddie wants to go 4-4-2, I would expect Ian Harte to come into the team in the back four in place of Charlie Daniels. That could allow Ward and Elphick to stay as centre backs and perhaps Cook could go into midfield to cover for MacDonald who was also injured in the Barnsley game.  

Hughes could be of great value against Middlesbrough.

Eddie also has the option of playing Richard Hughes in midfield with Eunan O'Kane, which I think would work well. I know Hughes has not been used for 90 minutes but I would expect him to be fit enough to do most of the match. Another option could be to play Donal McDermott or Josh McQuoid, but I don't expect him to play one of these two out of position, in a four man midfield, when they are best in attacking or wing roles. Brett Pitman could be withdrawn to midfield although  I don't think any of us like seeing him there.

It is plainly obvious that we will be struggling in centre midfield with only O'Kane as a first choice and Macca, Arter and Surman all out. And before you say Miles can play in midfield, I hope not. 

Looking at the challenge ahead I would not be surprised if Eddie played five in midfield and Lewis Grabban as the loan striker. That would allow him to play Fraser, Pugh, O'Kane, Pitman and McQuoid in midfield, which may be the solution. I don't expect Rantie to start having heard Eddie Howe in mid-week, that means he will be a lively replacement when Grabban runs out of steam. It will be bench viewing for Thomas I would imagine. We could also see some other unlikely names on the bench too. 

Indeed, just to throw a wild card out there as well, what of the chances of Sam Matthews being drafted in? That would be some first team league debut for the young man, although he has already played against Real Madrid albeit in a pre-season friendly.

Eddie Howe is not adverse in giving youth its chance.
Could Sam Matthews be included in the squad or even start against Middlesbrough?

I think damage limitation will be the aim of this game and if we escape with a draw I think that would be a great result. Sorry I can't be more positive for once looking at out probable starting line up.
For another view of Saturday's game take a stroll over to Rival Lines where you will learn all about Middlesbrough courtesy of Stevo's Boro Blog.

Hughes can be a great shield for AFCB

Richard Hughes is the player that several AFCB fans are asking to be played in the next few away games. As a solid player with a steady nature and calm distribution it has to be said that he should be in Eddie Howe's thoughts. He was on the pitch when the fifth goal went in against Bournemouth against Huddersfield, but as a whole we have seen that the second half was a more solid performance, even if the game was well and truly lost by then. If Richard is on from the start then it may well help the team to stay in the game and establish a pattern that gives players some confidence. 

Having seen more of the Huddersfield game now it does look like the players had a dominant section of the game after the Terriers went 1:0 up. For the next quarter of an hour it was pretty much all AFCB. When the second goal came it was as if the players simply switched off and that is something that can be improved - concentration levels. Hughes is one that will talk to others and keep their mind on the job.

Setting the tempo and keeping possession is also something that I hope the team work on. While cutting out individual errors are difficult the team can always look to play to its strengths and for AFCB that is getting the ball wide and first touch passing. While the team has been doing it for small periods of games, it has to be carried on for longer periods. We must get out best passers on the ball to stop other teams hurting us. Eddie will not doubt press upon the team how important it also is to get the first goal. When AFCB has done so it has won both its home games.

It may be that some of the defeats we have had away from home are more to do with the impetuousness of youth than anything else. The young players have been used to winning and perhaps feel they can just do as they did last season and the pints will come. I expect now that some of them know different if that was the case. The experienced players will be needing to help explain why we are getting so out of position and why doing the simple things like closing down are so important in the Championship. We can stand off players with the talent of Adam Clayton who simply took aim and fired in from over 30 yards last match for that fifth goal.

While Hughes is not the quickest, he has quickness of thought and he can see danger better than most. I'd like to see him more involved but if Eddie Howe has some other ideas I am sure he will look to bring them in for the Doncaster game. 

Closing the game out

I did not hear why Richard Hughes did not make the squad last week against Wigan. It is always the way when you think this game is made for someone to come on now and you look at the bench and they are not there. I bet Eddie Howe would have used him if he had been sat there on Saturday, because he is such a great player at bolting the door firmly shut for us when he comes on. I thought Elphick did okay, albeit for only six minutes, but it was Shaun MacDonald that was doing a lot of the marshalling work and leading by example. Sure there was more talking at the back for that game and I was pleased to see that.

Tommy Elphick only got a few minutes against Wigan
but I was glad to see him back and involved.

It is important that we do close out close games in the Championship. We can't afford to play like we used to when we would be 2:1 up with 10 minutes to go and be lucky if we came out with just a point. I was willing the team to move up and not sit back too much in the second half against Wigan, but it is almost instinctive to do that when the other team is pushing to get an equaliser.

We do have the players to break fast and kill games off when the opportunity arises, but Wigan were very good at covering and did not really allow us too many chances to kill the game late on with a second goal. Narrow victories are going to be very important and could be the difference between a good season and a poor one. We have seen that there is very little between teams in the Championship and that you can win comfortably one week and get battered the next.

Our scoreline against Wigan should have been higher but when it doesn't happen it is vital that our players keep their discipline and their heads, especially when the other team is down to 10-men. It is strange that in both AFCB's home games that the opposition has been down to 10-men, but it is a credit to our team that we have held on in those games. It doesn't always help to have an extra player but we made it count in both of those games.

The league table looks much more healthy for AFCB now and I'm looking forward to the games coming up. As a whole I think the club has made a great start despite the heavy away defeat. Onwards and upwards!

Listening in to BBC Solents Fans' Forum

This Thursday night will see the return of the BBC Solents Fans' Forum with Eddie Mitchell, Eddie Howe, Tommy Elphick and Richard Hughes answering the questions from eager fans that want to know what is really happening at the club. This is likely to be a much happier occasion that we might have had in the past when things had not being going so well for the club. The issues of financial sustainability and how AFCB might do in the Championship are sure to raise their heads along with player injury updates, the night we played Real Madrid and the decision of who exactly will be sitting in that Ted MacDougall stand.

It is pretty much a not to be missed listen with some revelations bound to be announces as the club seems to like springing surprises on its fans. I am particularly keen to hear how Eddie Howe feels going into the Championship season. Is he confident that we have the players to really do well at this level? has he lost out on one or two signings? Which players are not available for Saturday?

Views from the players will come from Tommy Elphick and Richard Hughes neither of whom we have not heard from over the summer and it will be good to know how the mood is within the camp and if Elphick is happy with playing new systems like three at the back? I will be keen to find out if they have managed to put last season's heroics well and truly behind them now as they embark on their exciting new life in the Championship. The players have to be fully focussed on what they need to achieve if AFCB is to have another successful year.

If you are going to the event, make sure you enjoy the night. It should be an informative one.

Hughes can still serve up a dish in the Championship

"Great Scot" as a certain Dr Emmett would say in back to the Future. We certainly have one in the shape of Richard Hughes. A restaurant owner, a Scottish hero and a darn good football player, Richard Hughes is one of our most experienced members of the squad but he is not quite ready to follow Big'un into the football retirement lounge just yet. While Richard is perhaps coming towards the end of his career, Eddie Howe still sees him as a valuable midfielder and at the end of last season he was very much in demand to help close out games when the result was far from certain.

Richard Hughes has mixed it with the best in his time.

Hughes' experience in the Championship is another reason that Eddie will be keen for him to play on as long as he can. It may be some time before Richard can get back to frying up meals in his restaurant. The Scot is well aware that Eddie does not do any special favours for former team mates but he does understand the value of his players. Hughes retains the ball so well and has a calmness to his game that several other of our midfielders could learn from. He has played with the likes of Paul Merson, Yakubu, Kanu and Kranjcar at Portsmouth. Pretty exalting company. Indeed, you could say he knows a thing or two.

Don't expect Hughes to lay back and let the others have the limelight either. He is well capable of breaking the net from distance a he showed with his rocket against Yeovil from a dead ball situation last September in Paul Groves only win I think.

I remember seeing Richard in front of Dean Court, before the Leyton Orient home game, when he was just coming back after injury. He kindly signed the programme for my boys and seemed genuinely pleased that we would ask him for his autograph when a few other players were about. But that's Hughes all over - a real gent!

Then again, he got booked in that Yeovil game when he scored! Not always such a gent then. And I expect he would like one of those midfield places in the AFCB team as badly as several of his team mates, so I don't expect him to be Mr Nice guy all the time.

Some players will leave AFCB this summer but who?

I don't want to depress you all having had such a great last week, but there is a real chance that this weekend is the last time you will see some of our players at the Goldsands Stadium. Some of our players will be off to pastures new in the summer and guess what, neither you nor I get to decide who. Thank goodness for that, how do you decide who to let go?

There is no doubt that AFCB's squad is still fairly large and while it is hoped that we can play in the Championship next season, before that first game there will be some decisions to be made at Dean Court, especially over who stays and where we need to strengthen.

I am sure that Eddie and Jason already have a good idea in their mind of potential targets if (or should I say when?) we do get promoted. While the generosity of Mr Maxim Denim has given the team a good platform from which to climb the leagues, it is likely that such funding is not limitless. Mr Mitchell is keen it seems to do some restructuring and this summer is a good opportunity to make sure we are shipshape for next season.

Cherry Chimes can only guess who may leave AFCB over the summer.

As Darrel Flahavan was not one of Eddie's signings I think he will be under most pressure to keep his place at the Cherries and I expect him to move on with the younger keepers we have already on our books.

Dan Seaborne is on loan to us at the moment from Southampton and his future is uncertain as he will enter new  contract negotiations over the summer with the Saints. I have a feeling he may return to AFCB.

Miles Addison is also likely to be leaving having resigned the captaincy. Moreover, if Eddie prefers Dan Seaborne and wants to keep hold of Joe Partington as a young central defender, Miles may be on his way.

Stephane Zubar has been injured but will make pre-season training. The trouble is I am not sure he is a player that Eddie wants, even though he is adored by the fans. I think he makes great cover for Francis. I hope he stays, but fear he may be allowed to go.

Donal McDermott is young but has not forced his way into the team much this season and he may be surplus to requirements.

Wes Thomas has stated that he does not want to be a Cherry any more so if the price is right I am sure he will be off when this current season ends.

There are one or two others that I feel are borderline like Josh McQuiod, Charlie Sherringham and maybe even Wes Fogden and Richard Hughes.

It is not just the players current form, age and contracts that have to be taken into consideration, but also if other players become available that Jason and Eddie think can do the job better.

As for Steve Fletcher, he promised that he would lead the team out for the first match if they reached the Championship and I'm holding him to it. You'll have to do a whole pre-season though for the privilege of 10 minutes Steve!

Of course Bournemouth may receive other offers for players and will decide if they can release any of their players if a top Premiership or Championship team comes in for them. It should be quite an exciting summer ahead.

Who do you think is heading out of Dean Court? Add your comments.