A lucky escape from the Bet365 stadium

When we look back a league results in 2021, it will simply register a 0-1 away win for Bournemouth at the start of the year at the Bet365 stadium. NIt's not a bad place to win 0-1 away. But it wasn't the kind of victory that gave any kind of indication that Bournemouth are heading back to the Premier League. This was a poor performance. Don't be mislead that it was simply a patient way to three points. Bournemouth were more than rattled by Stoke City and they came away with three points, because Stoke didn't have their best striker available and Bournemouth did have Lewis Cook and Junior Stanislas to dig them out of a hole.

AFCB just scrape a win at Stoke.

I suppose I should be more congratulatory that Bournemouth added yet another clean sheet to their total. To be honest, Begovic had little to do all match. It wasn't that he sat comfortably all evening though, as he will have seen his backline make numerous errors during the game, and was no doubt thankful that none of them led to a goal.

Advertisement

Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!

While most of the social media annoyance was aimed at Jack Simpson, it is clear to me that the Cherries are missing the energy and forward mobility of Jack Stacey to takes pressure off of the defence. With Jack on the pitch, opposition wingers are pushed back more. When Bournemouth had the ball they found it hard to make the 5-2-3 system work. The wing-backs were not getting into midfield and Bournemouth were outnumbered in this area of the pitch. That didn't stop Lerma from chasing everything, and it didn't prevent Lewis Cook from playing wonder balls when he did get a moment of possession. But it wasn't the flowing controlled and attacking football that we saw against Brentford.

Advertisement

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

The end result might have been three points, but the way the team played against Brentford and lost was far more pleasing to watch. You wonder how that can happen in just a couple of days?Stoke certainly exacted their high press well and nullified Bournemouth as best as they could. Had it not been for one moment of calm finishing from Stanislas, the Cherries would have just come away with a draw. The team is hanging on to Norwuch, Brentford and Swansea by the smallest thread. They will need to build some confidence before taking on Luton and have an FA Cup third-round tie against Oldham to negotiate first.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

How the team needs a spark and some new energy. I suspect the answers will be sought n the return of Arnaut Danjuma and the signing of Jack Wilshere, but will it be enough to secure promotion? Bournemouth have to make the right decisions in January over players to put themselves in with the best chance of going up. Currently, they are not looking like certain bankers for promotion on recent performances. 

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Stanislas just keeps Bournemouth on course at Stoke 0-1

Stanislas just keeps Bournemouth on course at Stoke 0-1

Match Report

Stoke City 0 v 1 AFCB

2 January 2021

Junior Stanislas gets AFCB out of a dire performance.

Bournemouth recorded a rare away win but they hardly impressed on a night of some pretty dour football. The difference was a single goal from Junior Stanislas which keeps the Cherries in the hunt for the promotion places. This was a game where Stoke's press and hold of the game worked well, and with Solanke missing the best chance in the first half when he had broken free, it was looking like Bournemouth had run out of ideas. But Stanislas was the calm head that put his chance away for his seventh of the season, and it was really a relief for Bournemouth fans because this was anything but a confident performance.

Bournemouth made three changes with Junior Stanislas replacing Josh King, Diego Rico coming in for Philip Billing and Sam Surridge taking over from David Brooks. King looked a bit out of touch in the previous game, so that was no big surprise, but it was more surprising to see a second out and out forward chosen above David Brooks, but it was a bold move. Diego Rico had been out for some time, so it was also good to see him get another go. There was still no Danjuma.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

Match Description
There was a steady start to this game with Lewis Cook giving away the first free kick. Bournemouth soon became adapt at winning the ball back and Surridge was close to sniffing out a chance in the first four minutes before Stoke recovered.

Stoke were finding it hard to get forward, but Thompson had their first shoot which was high over the bar from inside the box.

Adam Smith had a great chance to get on the ned of a ball over the top but was tackled. Bournemouth were not finding the gaps and Stoke were gaining in confidence on the break with Fletcher shooting at Begovic who made a comfortable save on 11 minutes.

It was all a bit ragged from Bournemouth in defence. Fletcher had a decent chance from distance but hit it too high. on 14 minutes. A charge down saw Stoke City get another shot off at Begovic and Bournemouth's backline looked out of sorts. Joe Allen has a shot saved by Begovic.

Advertisement

Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!

Stoke had a good free kick position on 18 minutes and Thompson picked out the side netting but had Begovic worried.  Stoke were controlling the game at this stage.

Lewis Cook then made an amazing pass to Solanke on the break, but the Bournemouth forward over hits the shot when he had the goal gaping on 23 minutes. Steve Fletcher hobbles off and Jacob Brown replaces him. A free kick given away by Rico is headed wide by Nick Powell. Surridge wins a free kick in a promising area. Stanislas puts it wide around the wall, but has the corner. Lewis Cook looks the most alert of AFCB's players. It's all a bit rushed for Bournemouth. They don't look comfortable.

Solanke had an opportunity to put Solanke in but over hot the pass. Lewis Cook is doing his best but the midfield is getting overrun.

Advertisement

Ebook version of The Disrupted season £9.99

Second half
Bournemouth win a corner. A good early cross from Lewis Cook is cleared. 

Solanke does well and crosses but Bournemouth can't finish the move. The keeper comes out and parries well before Chester clears.

Brown has a shot saved by Begovic from distance. Adam Smith does the same at the other end but fires over. Thompson is booked for fouling Solanke. Chester is also booked trying to stop a throw.

Begovic drops on a low cross from McClean.

Advertisement

Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!

Joe Allen is forcing the game now and Powell has a shot deflected that Begovic saves. Solanke has a shot blocked. Bournemouth really need a change. Powell fouls Steve Cook when Bournemouth were in trouble from a good cross.

Sam Clucas replaces Thompson, McClean's cross is punched away by Begovic. Bournemouth sub Surridge for Brooks on 71 minutes.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

McClean s booked for a foul on Brooks. Both teams look to have run out of ideas. Lewis cook spins the ball on to Stanislas and Stanislas scores on 79 minutes 0-1.

Tymon replaces McClean, Sam Vokes is also on for Smith. Adam Smith is replaced by Josh King on 85 minutes.

Solanke gets around the back and pulls it back, and Stanislas rushes in but sees his shot blocked from eight yards out. Stoke have a corner given away by Simpson. It's defended. King plays in Broks but his square ball to Solanke is cut out.

Lerma has been booked in added time. Brooks on the break finds King but Collins gets across to block.

Solanke is fouled and Souttar is in the book. 

Advertisement

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Summary
A fortunate win for Bournemouth that keeps them on course. Stoke were the better team for much of this match and Bournemouth failed to register any real attempts on goal. They were all over the place in defence at times and yet they managed to keep a clean sheet. Begovic didn't have to be at his best but Bournemouth didn't dominate the ball and were not playing that well on the counter. Even with Brooks coming on the game didn't change much, but with Josh King as well on the pitch, space was created for Stanislas to pinch the winner. Lewis Cook was the main reason why Bournemouth perhaps had the edge to win ugly.

AFCB Ratings: Begovic 6, A Smith 6, S Cook 6,  Simpson 5,  Kelly 5, Rico 5, Lerma 6, L Cook 7, Stanislas 6, Solanke 5, Surridge 6

AFCB line-up

AFCB Subs: 23 Travers, 33 Zemura, 4 Gosling, 7 Brooks, 20 Riquelme, 24 Ofoborhm, 26 Kilkenny, 
27 King, 32 Anthony

Cherry Chimes MoM: Lewis Cook

Stoke City: 32 Bursik, 37 Collins, 36 Souttar, 12 Chester, 14 Smith (Vokes84), 34 Thompson (Clucas 69), 25 Powell, 4 Allen, 11 McClean (Tymon 84), 13 Obi, 21 Fletcher (Brown 25)

Stoke City Sub: 6 Batth, 9 Vokes, 17 Shawcross, 18 Brown, 20 Oakley-Boothe, 22 Clucas, 24 Cousins, 35 Tymon, 40 Nna Noukeu

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Is it a good time to play Stoke City?

Is it a good time to play Stoke City?

I am not sure it is the best time to take on the Potters. They have been in a bit of a rut with just one win in their last five games and Bournemouth will have to play at what is known as one of the windiest grounds in the country to try and get their first three points in 2021. Had Stoke won a few more of their last few games they would have been in the automatic promotion places, so it's another tricky fixture for Jason Tndall's men, and now they really have to get something from to stay in contention with the front runners in the league.

Bournemouth look to get off to a good start in 2021 against Stoke City.

Tyrese Campbell and Nick Powell are their main strikers. Between them they have scored 12 goals with Campbell ahead on seven. Stoke have become a bit of the draw specialist with only two goals in their last five games. The important last win for them came against Blackburn Rovers and their last defeat was against Cardiff City at home on 8 December.

Advertisement

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Manager Michael O'Neill will be sweating on defender Josh Tymron and Steven Fletcher, the big Scottish forward. The influential midfielder Joe Allen is also possibly going to be available for this game and Jon Obi Mikel is another survivor from the club's Premier League days who could play a role in this fixture. It should be noted in the last two Stoke home games against Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City, they scored first and were pegged back. They may not be so strong off the bench and Tindall may stack the bench with attackers, ready for the second half subs to try and take advantage of a less effective Stoke City in the second half.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

Bournemouth can expect Arnaut Danjuma to be back, or his injury has been worse than previously stated. We have heard that Jack Stacey is training again, but he is unlikely to make the squad just yet. I think we can expect quite a physical game and Bournemouth will have to defend set-pieces well against this side. Bournemouth need to get their away form going if they are to stay in the top few places in the league.The pressure is really on now.

Advertisement

Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!

Bournemouth Away Form
DWDDL

Stoke City Home Form
DWLWD

Advertisement

Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - A costly defeat or a little hiccup at Brentford?

Simpson too good to be on the bench

We may be about to lose the services of Jack Simpson, at least for a few months if the Championship sides of Middlesbrough, Stoke or Derby get their man. A loan deal for Simpson would make sense for Jack Simspon's development, but it would be a pity if he makes a clean break with Bournemouth.

Jack Simpson is more than ready to play more minutes, but probably not at AFCB

Fans always like to see local players come through the system and as soon as we have one at Bournemouth, they don't tend to stay around long. But Jack has served his apprenticeship at Bournemouth and should be getting regular games. Even with the amount of injuries that the cherries have been getting, Jack hasn't found it easy to get in the team.

Advertisement

Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!

I thought Jack as the man of the match against Arsenal in the FA Cup and if he had knocked in his header, we could have still been lining up for a replay. A relegation scrap might not be the environment that Jack Simpson would benefit from, but a promotion push could get his game in the right place. So I can see the benefits of going to a good Championship side, but none of the mentioned clubs are likely to get in the promotion scene. So perhaps, just playing games is something Jack would settle for.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

It would leave Bournemouth a little short at centre-back in terms of cover. Simon Francis is going to be the main back up if Aké and Steve Cook have problems, but then there wouldn't be much other cover with Chris Mepham out for the rest of the season. Eddie Howe might be keener on keeping Jack around but having him sit on the bench for the next few months isn't doing anyone any favours. Perhaps Eddie can put in a recall clause in a contract in case he loses a couple of centre-backs to injury.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes: No signings for AFCB could be a positive

Where will Arter end up?

With the signing of Philip Billing looking to be over the line, attention has turned to Harry Arter and the possibility of him heading off to Fulham to join brother-in-law Scott Parker on loan. Harry has played in the full pre-season for AFCB, but with another central midfielder coming to Dean Court, it is clear that Arter sees his future elsewhere, and with Fulham being a London club, it works out well for him and his family who have been living in London over the last year.

The Daily Mail has judged that Arter is worth £8m and that AFCB would sell, but Fulham would have to sell other players to buy Arter, so a loan deal is most likely. While Bournemouth have sold a few players this summer there is less need to bring in cash for every player and with Arter not being part of the clubs plans for more than a year, having spent a year on loan at Cardiff, he looks to be running out his contract on loan.

Harry Arter is expected to find a new home for next season.

However, there is said to be interest from Stoke City which is an intriguing twist. AFCB had signalled an interest in Jack Butland but didn't come to an agreement on a transfer fee. Could a deal for After be done whereby that was taken off the valuation for Butland? Sheffield United and Cardiff City are also thought to be interested in AFCB's old number eight.

Playing with the number 88 shirt this season was one thing that brought a smile to fans faces this summer. Arter loves his number eight which he had at AFCB for many seasons before Jefferson Lerma took it last summer. The midfielder might get it back at a new club, but played with the number seven shirt at Cardiff last year.

Online-Bookies.org.uk

It has at least been good to see Arter running in his usual industrial style again over some of the pre-season games. His performances are still very high and it has been like a long goodbye for fans. Time will perhaps be up though on his AFCB career this week.

In other news, Philip Billing joined AFCB yesterday and is the third signing this summer.

Cherry Chimes helps with a season preview on AFC Bournemouth with the Radio Times.

Are AFCB telling Villa something with Butland bid?

Stoke City have rejected a £12m bid from the Cherries for Jack Butland, reports the Daily Mail. The Potters are said to value their keeper at £20m and the opening bid form the Cherries falls far short of that. So will the Cherries go back in with an offer that is closer or that meets Stoke's valuation?

AFCB start the bidding process for Jack Butland.

Bournemouth had not been favourites to land Butland. Aston Villa are 6-1 on with the bookies on the SkyBet August transfer window site. So what is going on? There is interest from Villa for Tyrone Mings and while Aston Villa have been in talks over the defender they have not been quick to put in a bid that would match AFCB's price. Is there a bit of a game going on? AFCB surely knew that their bid for Butland was too low, are they just warning Villa that they could go and get the keeper and start to mess up Villa's plans if they don't play ball with Mings? Whether Bournemouth are waiting on bids for some of their own players such as Nathan Aké from Man City and/or Spurs before deciding if Mings can go to Villa is another suggestion being put forward.

There is no doubt that AFCB do want a better keeper for next season but the bid for Butland seems to have come at a strange time. The cub could have gone in for him far earlier than this. And why the low bid when it has been reported widely the kind of figure that Stoke City are after? It seems to be a thing this transfer window for clubs to offer prices well below the asking price - well at least if you are Arsenal or AFCB. Does it do these clubs any good?

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

Perhaps AFCB are just testing the waters to see if Butland will say anything and if he would prefer a move to AFCB over Villa if the Cherries do up their valuation. Whatever the case, this week could see some real movement in the transfer market at AFCB. The tension has been building and it may just be that AFCB are trying to start the movement of layers now having waited for other clubs up until now. Time is pressing and there may be other targets that AFCB are keen to attract.  

In other news, the Daily Mail says AFCB have agreed a £4m fee for Luton's Jack Stacey.

Arter could team up with Mings next season

There has been interest in Tyrone Mings from Aston Villa even before the clubs promotion to the Premier League such was the progress that Tyrone made at the midlands club. But Harry Arter has found it a frustrating season in being relegates at Cardiff City and wants to retain his Premier League status, even if it is not with Bournemouth. So is Villa Arter's best option?

Arter could son be playing in a team with Mings but not at AFCB.

Harry Arter was said to have discussions with Eddie Howe last week about his future. Harry's contract is up for renewal by my calculations this summer, but I expect AFCB will let him leave having spent the best par of his career on the south coast and Arter expressing that he is looking for a new challenge having been on loan at Cardiff.

Fulham and Stoke City are reported as also being interested in Arter's signature according to the Bournemouth Echo and to link up with brother in law Scott Parker must be an attractive choice although playing in the Championship is less helpful for Arter's Republic of Ireland prospects.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

Picking Aston Villa would put Arter right at the heart of a big club and perhaps Tyrone Mings would also be at the club. It would also be following in Tommy Elphick's footsteps. If Arter is ambitious, the Villa option looks his best bet to me. I still believe Arter has much to offer but it looks like links with AFCB will be severed which is necessary for Arter to really move on from some things that have happened to him at AFCB.

Stoke are in for Bournemouth keeper

Bournemouth have already released Ryan Allsop this summer and now Stoke City are closing in on signing Adam Federici, reports Sky Sports. Stoke themselves are losing Lee Grant to Man United and they are looking for an experienced keeper to give cover for Jack Butland. While Federici was ever present on the bench for the first two seasons of Bournemouth's Premier League seasons, he has been injured for much of last season and was due to join Nottingham Forest, where he picked up the knee injury that stopped him perhaps leaving AFCB even sooner.

Federici looks set for Stoke City in the Championship.

At Stoke City, Federici would team up with former Cherry Benik Afobe and that might also be good for Benik. Stoke are going to make a concerted effort to win promotion at the first attempt back to the Premier League and under Gary Rowett they have a good English manager who knows the league well and what it takes to get into the promotion positions.

I imagine Federici would be available at a knock down price as he hasn't played competitively for a while. He was perhaps always a number two at AFCB at best with Artur Boruc and then Asmir Begovic the main shot stoppers at the Cherries. But Adam did play his part and featured heavily in the cup competitions. Now Eddie Howe will want to see Aason Ramsdale starting to get more experience following his rise to the England U21 squad. He may now get the chance to develop more at AFCB rather than go out on loan, unless AFCB bring in another senior keeper this summer.

While Federici might not become the number one shot stopper at Stoke, he will battle for the  number two keeper spot with Jacob Haugaard, I'd have thought, which s better than his prospects at AFCB.

Southgate's World Cup - Day 18 Japan get out of jail 

Ritchie would be a backwards step for AFCB

There have been suggestions that Bournemouth should be keen on signing Matt Ritchie, but the player has little to prove in coming back to the Cherries. Fans know exactly what Ritchie has to offer, but there seems little benefit in taking him back just to ease out Jordan Ibe from a starting position. Now Stoke and Middlesbrough are thought to be preparing bids for the former Bournemouth winger, claims the Daily Mail.

Matt was great at AFCB, but there would be a
lot of pressure on him if he returned and the
Cherries would be worse off without Josh King.

While Ritchie is perhaps the better player compared to Ibe, Ritchie left for a reason to develop his career and for him to be used as part of a swap deal just for Newcastle to land Josh King would not do him of AFCB any good. It would diminish Howe's trust in Jordan Ibe and it would suggest that Ritchie is the best winger that the club is capable of developing.

Ritchie was a crowd favourite at AFCB and he did well in his time at Dean Court, so that legacy would also be under threat if he did come back. Whether he would feel as if nothing had changed since his departure is unlikely as big names like Defoe and Begovic have since arrived, and Ritchie's influence having left might not be as great on a return.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

There are some players that do play for AFCB and are a good fit to come back to the team, but I find it hard to see why Mat Ritchie would be one of these players. He plays for a good team in the Premier League with much larger crowds than at AFCB and he has never let Newcastle down, but to try and sell him off for the chance to pick another AFCB player seems a big mistake for Newcastle. They may now have disappointed one of their most promising players and for what? For AFCB to say they are not interested.

The sad fact is for Newcastle is that, I don't believe their are any players in their squad perhaps apart from Jamaal Lescelles that would be of interest to the Cherries and I'm sure no Geordie would like to see their young captain leave the club.

Southgate's World Cup - Day 17 penalty drama

Have Bournemouth really beaten the odds to stay up?

Eddie Howe says it is a fantastic result for AFCB to have retained its Premier League status for a fourth consecutive season, but I doubt the fans feel quite as sure that AFCB fully delivered what they were capable of in 2017/18. It's not that staying up is insignificant for a club that has spent most of its history in leagues One and Two, but when the team can go on an unbeaten run that was only bettered by the top four after Christmas, there is a question mark over the consistency of this team.

Is it enough just to stay up?

Going on a winning run in the Premier League is difficult at any time but the Cherries do know how to get on a roll and when they do they the points start to flow. This team is better than the players in 2016/17, according to Howe who feels the club has progressed even if the points total is not as big and the league position has slipped to below ninth. I would say that injuries have again scuppered some of the chances the team would have had to pick up more points, but it is in the lap of the goads to get a season with few injuries and a regular starting eleven.

For me there was more change and lack of consistency this past season than in any of the other Premier League campaigns for Bournemouth. It made it a real struggle in the end and I'd have to say every season at this level has been a struggle. Whether the club can move away from having that prospect of battling just to stay up is when I'd say AFCB are an established side in the division.

Advertisement

Broom Hill Garden Buildings 

When established teams like Stoke City, WBA and Swansea City are relegated though perhaps AFCB do seem to be hitting above their weight for a club that has gates of 10,000 -12,000. It does make me wonder what is special about AFCB rather than say Rotherham, Walsall or Peterborough? Town teams don't often make the Premier League but Burnley, Brighton and Huddersfield like AFCB have created a special spirit of togetherness that I believe is a major part of the success of some smaller teams to challenge the biggest clubs in the land. How long that can continue for is anyone's guess but I feel privileged that my club is one of those that has been able to offer its fans a fantastic time over the last decade, and I hope we don't start taking Premier League survival as a poor season, because every season at this level should be special for AFCB fans when they consider our overall history.

AFCB are beating the odds to stay up all the time and while the spending budget is very different from what it used to be, the risks are also much greater. Keeping the club on an upward trajectory is going to be a massive problem for Eddie Howe, but he is wiling to take the challenge on and that should endear him and the players to AFCB supporters, because many have tried to do as well and have failed long term - Blackpool, particularly, spring to mind.

Premier Talk - All done and dusted

Have Bournemouth run out of steam?

There is a section of the AFCB faithful who are becoming a little down about AFCB's chances of surviving another season at the top tier, even if as expected they survive this season. I guess you could say AFCB have run out of steam looking at the results of late and they may well have taken their foot of the gas, but one season is never the same as another and it's too early to be negative about AFCB next season when we don't even know what the team is likely to look like.

The Cherries found points hard to come by in April will May be any different?

Watching Bournemouth in games in April was not the ending of the season that we would have hoped for, but if the Cherries finish 17th or better does it really matter? Every manager likes to finish the season on a high with a good set of results, but come the first game in August I am not sure it counts for that much. Burnley didn't have a brilliant season last season but they have come up trumps in 2017/18. 

What I have been most surprised at of late is the performances away from home. Some times players have to roll their sleeves up and dig out a result and in the last few games we have not seen enough over 90 minutes to see AFCB even have much possibility of picking up three points. The team is not much changed though from when it was picking up wins over Stoke and WBA and I'd say many fans would look at those games and say AFCB were lucky to get three points in those games - I wouldn't disagree with that. So have AFCB been free wheeling for some time? 

Advertisement

Broomhill Garden Conservatories

For me, the last time I felt AFCB were playing with the fight to make me feel they were going to do everything they could to win was away at Leicester City. It didn't come off that day, even if it perhaps should have. But the players that day put their bodies on the line and did all they could to try and get that clean sheet. The goals of late that have been going in have been far too easy and I can only presume their is a lack of concentration and a bit of carelessness that has crept into AFCB's games. It's not something that is easily eradicated unless the players actually look at themselves and say this is not good enough and actually want to put in a performance that the fans will be proud of. They need to forget the league table and think what do they owe the fans after what has been delivered since AFCB got to 38 points? To end the season with two more defeats would make an awful lot of AFCB fans go away feeling pretty despondent about this season even if the team is safe.

Come on AFCB, it's well overdue that you put in a top performance.

Should King start against Liverpool?

The importance of scoring regularly can never be down played. Josh King had not been playing in every minute of recent games, but he makes sure he gets his goal it would seem whether from the penalty spot or from general play. The late goal against Crystal Palace won't be an album keeper, but just by keeping the goals coming Josh has suddenly emerged just one behind Callum Wilson this season in all competitions on seven goals.

Josh is scoring but might only be a sub against Liverpool.

Josh has played in 28 Premier League games compared to Wilson's 23 games, but when we consider that three of Callum's goals came in one game against Huddersfield, it is King that is the consistent goal scorer - no doubt aided by his penalty kick role. King is well down on his 16 Premier League goals of last season, but his goals have been just as important this time around.

What I think marks out King as being very different to the other strikers though is the way he creates a lot of his own goals by himself. He has the ability to run distances, holding off attempts to tackle him and still get a shot off at the end of the run, as he did earlier in the season at home against Stoke City in the February.

Advertisement

Broomhill Garden Conservatories

While King has been playing behind Wilson for much of this season, or wide on the wing, he always worries defences. His adaptability is a great asset. It's beginning to be a feature of Eddie Howe's players as we see more and more players that are able to play in different positions. But King is one of the players that joins play well in linking midfield and attack. It is the way he moves between the opposition's midfield and defence that I most like when I see King being fed the ball. He is an imposing sight running at a defence and while Bournemouth have other players who can also drive at defences, I'm never very surprised when you see the net bulge after King has gone at goal. He's just a player that you can sit back and watch knowing that he'll attack with pace and power.

Whether Eddie Howe gets the very best from him though I am still not certain. I think he is best as a number nine, even though he does not get that role very often. He certainly has Wilson in his sights for top goalscorer though, and it should be a good battle to see which striker ends up with the highest number of goals by the time we get to mid-May.

The fans would probably have no problem in seeing King start on Saturday against Liverpool, but Howe has been protecting him when he can. In the last match Howe said he hadn't wanted to play King because of the hamstring risk, but should King be rested or played against Liverpool?

Howe needn't move away from three at the back

The injury to Steve Cook has put a strain on the defence numbers with Tyrone Mings and Adam Smith already out. There are options available in Jack Simpson and Brad Smith, but the position of right back with four at the back is going to ask a lot of Ryan Fraser in the coming weeks if he is to fill in for Eddie Howe.

Steve Cook may not be available but AFCB could stlll play three at the back.

I don't doubt that Fraser is a quick learner and he has been great at right wing back. The position of right back does ask more from him defensively though and he did extremely well against Stoke City when he played there. Whether he can do as well in forthcoming games when teams are going to see him as a possible weaker link is the question Eddie Howe will have to ponder if he does want to play four defenders.

Personally, I would stick with three at the back as it gives him several advantages. Firstly, it is one more defender he can then put on the bench. Secondly, it frees up Ryan Fraser to play in another area of the pinch or to be used as a sub and you also have experienced players with Francis, Aké and Daniels if three at the back is chosen. Of course, if one of this trio is injured during a game it may need a rethink. Steve Cook's injury is said not to be as bad as first feared and if it is not a tear he could be back for the match against Newcastle while Adam Smith is also probably likely to be back by then if not sooner.

Still, Bournemouth have played well with the 3-4-3 formation and with the number of attacking players in the squad it tends to give more options for fitting players into the team in positions where they can excel. I am sure that Jack Simpson would like to play and he has been unlucky in that he did not get the game against Stoke City when Steve Cook came off so early. But he will have other chances and he looks like being the main cover at the moment for defensive duties.

King can take a lot from his goal against Stoke

You could tell that Josh King doesn't want to become a sub for long. He did what he needed to against Stoke City gave Eddie Howe more of a headache next time he has to pick a team, but the test for King is to see if he can manage his fitness well enough to become a regular starting player without breaking down so often.

Josh needs to get back to having a string of games.

Some players are lucky and hardly ever get injured, while some are just frequently in the physio room and I feel for players like Josh King who must have found this season a really frustrating one after what he did in 2016-17. His goal against Stoke was just what he needed and it added another step on the ladder to him getting back to the player we know he can be. I expect Eddie Howe did not intend to give King the next part of 90 minutes against Stoke, but the injury to Steve Cook may have some silver lining if Josh King is closer to playing more games of 90 minutes now.

Advertisement

Broomhill Garden Conservatories

While it is important that Josh is not rushed into playing more matches than he should in a short time, the flexibility that he adds to AFCB up front won't be ignored. Josh is a great forward to have on the bench, but if he is getting back to his best and is making and scoring goals, Eddie is going to be putting King ahead of some others.

It's good news for King as he has already now played almost a full game and with a week to recover he should be good to go again next weekend. While he was positioned wide out on the left, it didn't seem to hurt King's game and he may well have done enough to jump ahead of anyone else there for the next match. 

Arter scores twice in 6-0 U21 win against Bury in the Premier League Cup.

Max Gradel scores a blinder of a goal!

Mobile users- annoying ads scrolling?
For those that are still having problems when loading Cherry Chimes on their phones with fast changing websites springing up in your Safari browser, please go to your phone settings and in the Safari app delete your browsing history and check other settings of that app do not have pops clicked on. This should clear the problem.