What a job Eddie Howe is doing at AFCB

Most of us fans have been so enjoying the current season that it is easy to forget what a fantastic job Eddie Howe has done in taking this team as far as he has. I wonder how many other managers could have come into the job a couple of years ago and win promotion from League One and then push the club on to become one of the top teams in the Championship?

Eddie's personal touch has really lifted
everyone who follows and is associated with AFCB. 

I often reflect what might have been had Eddie Howe not come back to the club in 2012 and what situation the club could have been in if Maxim Demin had not arrived on the scene. The prospect of League Two football seems hard to comprehend now, but those days fighting relegation and the earlier transfer embargoes made the club stronger than many that it has since overtaken.

Behind it all though is a manager that never takes credit for his own accomplishments and yet he sacrifices so much of his time to see the club succeed that you have to feel he is one in more than a few million. What luck it was that Eddie has always had a strong association with the club and that he feels a great affinity with everyone in the town that are willing him to take the club to the Premier League. He picked up his second manager of the month award this season for the performance of the team in December. As always he was quick to highlight others' work rather than his own.

Still, the fans know why the team has been doing well and if Eddie can pick off a few more top victories like a win against Aston Villa his rating will go even higher to outsiders. If the unthinkable happens and AFCB do have an incredible second half of the season I imagine the queue to shake one man's hand to say thank you might well go from Kings Park to the town centre next May

Well done to Harry Arter for picking up the PFA Fans' player of the month and to a very strong AFCB Development squad that beat Swindon 8-2 yesterday.

Transfer watch
Burnley are still said to be keen on Steve Cook along with four other Premier league clubs, but the defender is not keen on leaving AFCB at the moment. Eddie Howe also said he never expects AFCB to pay out wages of 30,000 a week for a player at the club, as he refuted claims made by the national press earlier this week.

Fulham linked to interest in Matt Ritchie

The latest news from columnist Neil Fissler, at The Football League Paper, suggests that Fulham are ready to make a bid for the right winger in the January window. Ritchie is said to have a current market value of around £4, but AFCB are not exactly hard up for funds these days. Still the hardest part of the season could be just around the corner for Eddie Howe with the January transfer window soon to open. Keeping his squad of dazzling players together is perhaps helped by the fact that the Cherries are a point ahead at the top of the table, and that could be enough to keep key players like Matt Ritchie on the south coast for some time yet.

Matt Ritchie is in demand, but has found
life on the south coast rather to his liking.

While it might be tempting for players at some clubs to be linked with moves come January I don't expect any of the AFCB players to be seeking a move out of this squad which is already creating history and is on the verge of something really special. Eddie Howe has a squad that believe in him and in the direction that the club is going and to attract players away from the Cherries will be hard enough for teams already in the Premier League let alone those in mid-table in the Championship.

Matt Ritchie still has two years left on his contract having signed for three and a half years in January 2013 when he moved from Swindon Town for a bargain £0.5m. Having won the League Two and League One player of the year trophies, Matt has started to impress in the Championship and it is no surprise if he does attract some interest. The value of Matt though has surely gone through the roof since teams have seen what he has been capable of with six goals this season. His link up play with Simon Francis is a shear delight to see and while Fulham might still have money to spend from their Premier League parachute payment it is unlikely that the Cherries would want to cash in on the talent of a man that is already helping them to sweep most sides aside in the Championship.

Fulham might just have to look elsewhere if they want to bolster their squad. On Boxing Day though they will at least get the chance to see the winger in action up close, but Fulham may find that they are undone by the sharp shooting of Ritchie, who has scored four of those goals in his last three games.

Is it Ritchie's time to shine?

With the loss of Lewis Grabban, AFCB will be looking to other players to fill the gap in 2014/15. I believe that Matt Ritchie has more than another gear to hit in the Championship and could be the club's most influential player next season. Matt scored 9 goals last season and considering that he missed a lot of games he just might be the man to push on and drive the team on to greater success.

Matt has the skill to be a man that can win games almost on his own.

Ritchie at Millwall before the last game of last season.

Matt topped the midfielder goalscorers foe AFCB last season. 

For me, Matt is one of the most talented players in the squad and I don't believe he has reached his full potential yet. At 24 Matt is one of the young members of the squad, but he is already one of the players that the Cherries look to as a player who might be able to do something special in a game. At Swindon he expressed similar abilities to be a player that impressed his signature on the team and while Grabban, Cook and O'Kane were the strong lights last season in my opinion, it is all set up for Ritchie to take more of the limelight now.

It won't be easy. There is the young Mr Fraser on the other wing who is growing by the game and the arrival of Dan Gosling highlights another potential candidate to perhaps be the guiding influence. But Ritchie is familiar now with the club and Eddie Howe's methods and his aim now has to be to make as big an impact as he can for the team. Having already been the top scoring midfield player last season for AFCB he has the ammunition to fill a star role and with a good pre-season behind him he could be the player that the Cherries are looking to hold of more than most come next summer.

World Cup Chimes previews the German machine v Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

Will Eddie be in for Wes Foderingham?

There are changes already afoot at AFCB with players like Shwan Jalal becoming a free agent in the summer, while the future of Darryl Flahavan has not been cleared up yet. Shwan had a few loan deals in the last 12 months and has not been such a part of the first team squad as in recent years but his departure will leave space for a keeper to join the team. This will be made even more evident if Darryl Flahavan's one year contract is not renewed and with Lee Camp and Ryan Allsop the main contenders for the number one shirt, there could be a move for a player such as Swindon's Wes Foderingham who Eddie Howe is said to have been watching a few months ago. 

Who will make a good support keeper for Lee Camp?

I think another young support goal keeper to push Ryan Allsop would be a good thing as Ryan will need time to get his performance levels up to what we have seen from Lee Camp. If Lee were to get injured then you wonder if Ryan has overcome his first season nerves in the Championship and could now be the confident goalkeeper that we saw in League One. Coming for crosses and making decisions on when to narrow the angles for one-on-ones and distribution from the back are all things that I would expect Ryan to have been working on, because his chance to play at the Championship level again is going to happen sooner than later.

Is Ryan ready for his second season in the Championship if he has to step up?

Whether Foderingham is the right keeper to come in as another understudy to Lee Camp is something that AFCB might well be pondering, but I don't feel that Darryl Flahavan has really been available enough to win another contract. If he does though he must be showing something amazing in training. Darryl Flahavan's contract runs out in June 2014.

Can Ritchie add anything more to his game?

Watching Matt Ritchie play in an AFCB shirt is still something that makes me have to pinch myself every time I see him, sorry Swindon Town fans. He is such a star player with the right kind of attitude and dedication that I feel we are so lucky to have him at the club. Any youngster watching him play can't fail to be inspired.

If Ritchie adds much more to his game a bigger club is surely going to snap him up.

He has already started to move swiftly up the club goal scoring chart and could well catch up with Lewis Grabban or at least close the gap. He is very quick thinking as well and seems to know where he should be at the right moment to find a yard of space, which is all he needs to get a shot away. I have been pondering though can he get any better? There is not a lot he would need to add to his game in my opinion apart from more experience. He is probably never going to be a good header of the ball, but he does not need to be with his magical feet. His striking ability is what excites the most about him, because he can hit the ball from so far out and never seems to worry about hitting a shot early.

Ritchie's form certainly lifted the team in December.

Of course the better Ritchie gets, the more we might expect other teams to become interested in him. It will be a big decision to turn away a good sum from a Premiership club. I have no doubt that Ritchie will grace the Premiership at some point, but it would be amazing if he could do it with AFCB.  

Ritchie was not able to play against Wigan Athletic back in August because of injury. While AFCB won that game narrowly by a single goal, the Cherries will need Ritchie to be on his top form against a strong Wigan side at home. I'll start focusing on Wigan in the next two days as the game gets closer.

Wes Thomas likely to go to highest bidder

It must have been a relief to most fans to know that the Wes Thomas saga is finally coming to an end. His spell at AFCB promised so much in the early days and he looked the powerful striker that would bring success to the club. Eddie Howe always believed in Wes and stuck by him even after Thomas said some things that did not go down so well with supporters of the Cherries.

Swindon Town have been favourites to land the out of form striker, but Yeovil Town are also said to be interested in Thomas as well as Wolves. I expect wages will be a consideration as to where he ends up, but the move should free up some funds for AFCB. A loan move is another option but Thomas' contract is up in six months.

Even though Wes Thomas came on in many games this season, he never really looked like scoring and seemed a troubled man. For his sake I hope that he does rekindle his career at another club. In many ways it was a shame that Birmingham City did not want to take the striker last season after his loan spell or indeed Blackpool, but Thomas' value is not going to go up any time soon and AFCB need to try and attract better strikers if they are to build on their progress.

I have also heard reports that Rotherham could be interested in Miles Addison on loan.

Will the Cherries allow Wes Thomas go to Swindon Town?

The January transfer window looks like it is starting with a bang as far as AFCB are concerned. Interest in our players is likely to be high and while fans might expect bids to be coming in for the players who have been regular starters for the team, however the first bid has come in for Wes Thomas, according to the Swindon Advertiser.

Does Wes Thomas want to stay at AFCB?

Wes Thomas has had a chequered career at AFCB. He was sensational at first when he came from Crawley Town and found it easy to score at League One level. A couple of loan spells at Portsmouth and Birmingham City and his calls to stay at Birmingham City signalled to most Cherry fans that he would be on his way, but with Eddie Howe building a team for the Championship Wes' experience was seen as too valuable to let go. While fans expected bids to come in for him over last summer Swindon were the only club to show some interest but were rebuffed twice.

Now Swindon are said to be making another bid to land the striker and this time they may have timed their approach well. If AFCB free up some funds to bring other players in themselves it may be a good move for the Cherries, while Wes Thomas would get more of a chance to play regularly again. But does Wes want to continue to fight for his place at AFCB?

With Matt Tubbs returning to AFCB this January, Eddie Howe may surely decide to let Wes Thomas leave if the price is right.

Birmingham may be close to clicking

I can't help but be intrigued by Birmingham City and their fans. I remember as a youngster that they sold the first million pound player in Trevor Francis and were a top club. Despite the rantings of Jasper Carrott bemoaning their plight, Birmingham City have always been in higher leagues than AFCB. I think Jasper's gripe was that Villa were usually seen as a bigger club and were said to have cursed the Blues by planting an unlucky stone under their main stand or something. Birmingham have not done so badly though over the years with their seasons in the Premiership while AFCB have been in the lower leagues, but something is stopping them getting back there despite the quality they have. I wonder why the Blues have not fully fired yet this season in the Championship? 

They have some quality players like the Serbian Nikola Zigic, who scored in the 2:1 win against Arsenal in the 2011 League cup to win it. In fact, that was the start of their demise when they plummeted into the Championship at a rate of knots. Since then they have found it difficult to escape the quagmire of the bottom regions of the football's second tier. For AFCB it is a great place to be, but for Birmingham I think I can say something isn't quite right.

Lee Novak who Clarke knows from his Huddersfield days is certainly capable of causing teams trouble, even if Zigic has not been in hot form. In midfield too they have big experienced players like Darren Ambrose, who was a great Premiership player at Newcastle Utd. Jesse Lingard (on loan from Man Utd) and Hayden Mullins are also key players, while at the back they have Paul Caddis who signed from Swindon and who has played for Celtic. So what has not clicked for the luckless lee Clark this season? 

Lingard is the club's top scorer followed by midfielders Kyle Bartley and Tom Adeyemi. They have scored as many goals as AFCB ( 24) and while they have only conceded 26 goals, 10 fewer than AFCB, they have had only five wins. Most of the teams they have beaten are also in the wrong half of the table. Zigic's absence through injury early on this season has to be a factor but he came back in September. Ambrose too though has missed some games and not having a settled side can be a hazard to good form.

For the game at Dean Court we already know that they will be without Hancox at the back, while our former Cherry - Wade Elliot has more often been a sub for the Blues when he has been available to play. Youngsters, Will Packwood and Amari'i Bell (no relation to me) could form part of Birmingham's new defence against the Cherries, while Lee Novak is said to be out with a fracture.

Birmingham's best win was probably away against Huddersfield (1:3) in November so AFCB have to be careful not to be over confident. Was that win because Lee Clark had a good knowledge of what to expect against his old team? I would suspect that the jury is still out on Lee and a finish below half way this season would be considered below par for such a team. Recent form has been pretty good for the Blues though because they are unbeaten in five.

In my mind, Birmingham City are a sleeping giant and AFCB will do well not to wake them when they play this Saturday. This opponent is a dangerous one as they will be growing in confidence with their unbeaten run and the Cherries cannot expect an easy victory when a win for the Blues would see them overhaul AFCB in the table. Birmingham have won their last two games away but have only won one of their last five at home.

Birmingham City Away form:
LLDWW

AFCB Home form:
LWLLD

Ritchie injury must be giving Howe a headache

There is nothing much worse than knowing you have a star player that can win you games and not be able to call upon his services. Much of Eddie Howe's pre-season ideas for how the team would play probably evolved around a fit and healthy Matt Ritchie, after all the player has been player of the season two year's in a row in the lower divisions.

Matt at the Gladsands stadium at the weekend.

In some ways Bournemouth have been fortunate to be able to field the talent of new stars like Ryan Fraser and Mohamed Coulibaly as cover for the former Swindon ace. The lucrative investment of Maxim Demin is no better seen that in the players that are now at the club. Yet, I am sure that if there is one player Eddie could have wrapped in cotton wool over the summer to be fresh for the Championship campaign it would have been Matt Ritchie.

Sadly, Matt's thigh injury which he sustained in the pre-season FC Zuruch match just has not cleared up sufficiently for him to make a league appearance yet. With the various setbacks he is now said to have had over the injury in perhaps trying to come back too fast, it is likely that Ritchie will be missing a few more games yet. We know Eddie Howe always plays his cards near to his chest, but on this one he either did not want to say how bad the injury was or more likely, he felt that Matt really could be ready at any moment and then was told Matt was still feeling some pain and the leg was still not quite right.

While it does no good for any team to rely on one player, sorry Spurs - perhaps you'll find another Gareth Bale - it would certainly be a massive bonus if AFCB can get Ritchie back playing. He would be like a new signing.

Super Fletch set for talks on his new role

Not sure what happened to the top of your head there Steve!

I am reliably informed that Super Steve Fletcher will be sitting down for more formal talks with Eddie Howe next week to discuss how best to use his experience in the AFC Bournemouth set up. The 'gaffa' as Steve likes to call Eddie will return to Dean Court next week after being away and one of his priorities will be to work out a new role for Big Fletch at the club.

Steve has made no secret of the fact that he wants to work with the first team and he already has close links with all the players and the coaching staff, so I am sure that should not be too much of a problem. Anyone who has seen Steve's involvement in BBC's Late Kick Off South over the past couple of years, and his work in putting together 'The Knowledge' with Graeme Murty, will know that Fletch is very keen to be involved with coaching and to work with young professional footballers. I certainly picked up a few tips from watching 'The Knowledge' even if referees might raise an eyebrow at one or two of the tactics shown. Tou have to use whatever slight advantage you can get these days and Steve is a master at getting an edge on sleepy defenders.

Those who have been reading Red&Black for the last few months will also have seen Steve do a number of excellent journalism interviews with the squad players at the Cherries and he has been writing regularly for Seeker News. His media talents have also taken him to SKY Sports where he has done a number of match day punditry items including the Brentford v Swindon play-off match last season. It will be interesting if he can keep this side of his career growing as the Cherries will get in the Championship is likely to be higher profile and Steve could help lead this.

If things really don't work out, Fletch's can always make more camera appearances as an actor having already helped out in a local film as a heavyweight boxer. I expect a football movie could be something Steve might consider.

Whatever the outcome of the talks next week, I would hope that Super Fletch is still to be deeply entrenched at AFCB. I always thought it has been a bonus to have him around the first team as a go-between with the management and I think this is really where we can get the best out of him. He is trusted by both sides and at heart is a bit of a lad, but who always wants the best for AFCB. Now its up to the club to do the best for Super Fletch.

Steve also tweeted earlier this week that he intends to do an Evening with the fans in the near future, so you can put your questions to him.

I hope you also like the few style changes that have been made to Cherry Chimes as we head into the Championship.

Last night belonged to AFCB

Last night was surely very exciting for most AFCB fans. I was listening on Cherry Player to as many of the key League One fixtures as I could, while praying for a few favours for the Cherries. I needn't have worried too much. I think Eddie Howe wrote the results down that he wanted and that's what we got.

It is great credit to those who decided that the league system would be better with play-offs, because it means that more of the teams have something to play for at this stage of the season. We know very well that some teams can get a run of four or five victories or defeats in a row in our league and that is what made it important for clubs like MK Dons to give it their all last night. Swindon fans seemed to argue about their formation being 4-5-1, when they wanted two up front. Now they have to look over their shoulder at who is catching them as they had another slip up.

Meanwhile, Crawley seemed to like the big pitch up at Bramall Lane even if they were only playing for a slim hope of making the play-offs. Sheffield Utd were probably finding that two games a week is starting to catch up with them and, as one of the big teams of Leauge One that are expected to go up, they have all the pressure that goes with that too. Come out to the theme music of Star Wars in the second half, I was hoping the Blades might find Crawley players full of Jedi warriors ready to cut them down and they did.

At Doncaster I had expected their winning run to continue so it was a big bonus to see Carlisle ahead at half time and even better to hear they won the game after a second goal. Still Doncaster are hardly setting the world alight with their scoring prowess and at some point they were going to have to need more than a goal a game and they failed completely last night. Donny hit the bar twice, just as Sheffield battered the post twice in their game, but it's these thin margins that matter now.

It was good to hear Matt Ritchie admit the other day that the lads at AFCB do keep an eye on the other results and their desire to go up automatically was really demonstrated by their excellent come back against Notts County. All AFCB can try to do now is win their remaining games. 

Things are still not quite in AFCB's hand's and we can be overtaken. However, I am sure Eddie and Jason will have the players focussed. It won't be easy, but the belief is strong. We all feel the pressure but these sure are exciting times for the club.

I am not sure if I can take it all in, but I know Crewe could do AFCB yet another massive favour tonight against Brentford. Can we really be that lucky?

Here are last night's results at the top of the table:

Doncaster 0 v 2 Carlisle
MK Dons 2 v 0 Swindon
Sheffield Utd 0 v 2 Crawley