This is a fan’s personal view of AFC Bournemouth from the outside looking in. It reports on the daily official activities reported by the club and comments made by individual fans on social media and fanbase websites. Life as an AFCB fan is never dull. As a life-long supporter of the Cherries, it is the friendliness of the staff, fans and my enthusiasm for the club that inspired me to write this blog.
I had a busy afternoon yesterday. TalkSport had invited me onto their sofa to answer some questions about Eddie Had A Dream. The Hawksbee and Jacobs' Show was my destination, although Max Rushden was filling in for Paul Hawksbee.
Outside the News Building at London Bridge.
The newspapers are big around here.
I walked past the News Building first, to get an idea of where I had to go and through the glass walls I could see Westlife clearly getting ready to do an interview - star stuck already. Ever feel that you don't belong in this world, and in these glamorous surroundings?
Any way, I had to go in and get my security pass before being taken up to the 17th floor the TalkSport studio. I made my way through the reception and main lobby which had a selection of Sun newspaper headlines all lit up on six foot tall plaques - impressive!
Once I reached the right floor, I was escorted to the green room where I was told I had a few minutes before going live on air. I quickly took in my surroundings - a couple of sofas and some pictures on the wall and the coffee machine. No evidence of all night parties!
Not a busy green room - just me and my tea and a couple of cushions.
While you prepare for these things as best you can nothing ever takes you breath away than going into the studio and meeting celebrities. Max Rushden offered a handshake before Andy Jacobs and with the greetings done, Max got to work. How long did it take you to write this book? "Too long," I replied honestly! That kind of broke the ice and Andy Jacobs started one of his infectious laughs. I wondered how hard the questions might be to answer, but I needn't have worried. Max and Jason were interested in whether Eddie Howe would stay at AFCB or jump ship to a Tottenham or Everton? They also quizzed me on why I wanted to write the book on such a Mr Nice guy? I hadn't expected the question to be put that way, but got around to finding an answer as best I could.
Jason Cundy has a beloved Chelsea shirt on the wall and Alan Brazil has his signed Ipswich top. In between the sign reads, "Don't just appear... You have to perform. No pressure then!
I was pleased that Andy Jacobs asked me about Julia's House Children's Charity which will receive 15 per cent of my earnings of Eddie Had A Dream and soon found myself responding to how I manage to write for a magazine title called International Cement Review? Max said that would be a good Have I good News for You item - I told him similar titles had been on the show, but I stopped short of telling him the name of one of our competition titles - as I think I might have lost direction of the interview by then. Just between you and me, an opposition magazine is called 'Global Slag!' Any way, if you missed me on air you can catch it here on this link. One phrase I'll have to master is a leaf out of his book! - perhaps I was nervous LoL.
The Who's Who wall.. If you look carefully you can see me in the image - mirrors you know.
Also I have a snippet from the book here with AFCB's first Premier League win.
Please order a copy of Eddie Had A Dream if you can - we want to get the donation up for Julia's House Children's Hospice as high as we can. In other news, Josh King scored last night for Norway in their win 1-2 over Malta.
There was a storming debate on TalkSport on Tuesday night about AFCB and remarks were made by Andy Goldstein that Eddie Howe has got to win a cup competition to be considered a top manager that could manage one of the top six Premier League teams. I totally disagree with Andy's comments, because I think Howe can build AFCB into a side that challenges at the very top itself.
Will Premier League take precedence over Carabao Cup Quarter-Final with team selection?
Why else do I disagree with the TalkSport presenter? Well, name me how many clubs outside the top six have won the league cup and FA cup in the last 10 seasons? I bet we can all remember Wigan, who were also relegated that season, but after that you'll struggle. Not even Spurs and Liverpool who are considered top six sides have had a sniff at the two domestic cups for a few years now. So for Bournemouth to win a cup they not only have to do better than Spurs and Liverpool, but they are probably also going to have to beat Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City or Arsenal to win a trophy and in the Carabao Cup they have to win over two legs to get to the final. "Got to win a cup!" Get real. It is possible and it would be a fantastic achievement for Howe and Bournemouth, but there is no 'got to' about it. Progression is something that AFCB and Howe want to see. Getting to the Quarter-Final is not progress and Norwich really should have taken their chances to knock the Cherries out. But AFCB are still in the competition and could get further than they have before. I was pleased that Howe has started to show signs that he is treating the Capital One Cup with more respect in the Fourth Round than he has in previous seasons. Howe did change the defence for the game to first team players and this showed a bit more commitment to trying to get further in the Carabao Cup.
Bringing on Fraser and Wilson was another indication that Howe wanted to get through the tie. But what should Howe do in the Quarter-Final? Should he discard the rotation policy and play the regular first team starters? I think it depends on how fresh the players feel heading into December which is the toughest month.
Trying to win every competition though would test his squad, and as we have seen against Norwich some of the players are not at the same level. If these squad players don't play, how are they going to improve? Or do we just ship them out and spend more money on the next batch hoping they will train and perform better? Instant success just doesn't happen in football today. You are only as good as your last performance and AFCB have plenty of work to do to increase their odds of realising Goldstein's vision of what Eddie Howe has to achieve this season. Howe may believe that his side can break into the top six in the Premier League. A cup would be history for AFCB but so would a top six finish. Of curse, the more games that the team wins, the more links our players and manager are getting to other teams and jobs. Eddie Howe may be sought after, but how many managers have built a team that can ruffle the top six? Claudio Ranieri is in a league of his own, but I'd like to see Howe join him in someways. But it would be even more spectacular if Howe can do that and wanted to stay and try and make Bournemouth a perennial top six team - how good would that be? Cup success may even follow regulalrly in that scenario. AFCB have drawn Chelsea away in the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final in a repeat of last season's tie at this stage of the competition. Keep 18 or 19th December free! Premier Talk - What's Neil Warnock's game?
Cherry Chimes' November Newsletter bringsyou the best stories on the blogand the thoughts behind them from last month. It's out today with special story - Honesty and clarity is what fans deserve on stadium plans. To sign up for the newsletter just complete the form below - like all good things it's free!
To be honest, every AFCB fan had a beaming big smile across their face on Saturday afternoon after either seeing or hearing of yet another outstanding performance by this Cherries team. The disappointment of the League Cup quarter final was swept away in a first half that saw the Cherries dominate a Blackpool side who simply had no answer to a Bournemouth team that was intent on sending out a message to those who might say that AFCB can't stay at the top of the Championship.
AFCB are not in a false position and Eddie Howe has plenty to smile about.
Earlier last week I recall Mike Parry of TalkSport suggesting that it was a temporary rise to the summit for the seasiders, but on the evidence of what we have seen at Bloomfield Road and St Andrews earlier in the season, the Everton fan is out of touch with the class team of the Championship. He may well take note now as many of the other pundits and commentators already have. But before AFCB fans think that the party is well underway, that is not the message from Eddie Howe who is merely focusing on the next game and not popping any Champagne corks. When asked by BBC Solent's Kris Temple if Eddie and the boys would be opening any bottles on the long journey home Eddie Howe gave a simple reply: "Are you sure? Are you sure? You don't know me very well, do you Kris. There'll be no bottles cracked open on the bus tonight. Not approved by me. For me it's all about hard work at this time of the year." It means that there is lots of hard work still to come this Christmas for the Cherries as they seek perhaps not perfection, but certainly a large haul of wins that will help them extend their gap at the top of the league. The hurdles are coming thick and fast and while avoiding a potential character test away at Blackpool there is an equally massive test coming up on Boxing Day against Fulham, who put four past Sheffield Wednesday this weekend. I suggest you pull up a chair and get yourself down to the Goldsands stadium for some Christmas entertainment, because this Cherries side deserves the whole town's support now and not just the regulars. Cheer them on to three more points and give them the support they merit for setting the Championship alight. See you on Boxing Day!
I have noticed like all of you I expect that the media attention on AFCB has sky rocketed since they have climbed the Championship table. Media interviews with major broadcasters have gone through the roof with Eddie Howe, Jeff Mostyn and Steve Fletcher major targets for the media circus. In many ways it is good for the club to have a higher profile and to explain how hard everyone has been working to ensure that success is brought to Dean Court, but there are some downsides as we are already seeing.
Eunan surprises a young Cherries' fan.
I sadly missed the TalkSport broadcast on Drive Time this week that talked about AFCB having too small a ground to be in the Premier League and the suggestion to play at St Marys, if the Cherries were to get promoted. I am not surprised by the strong reactions on social media of outraged AFCB fans turning off their radios. The Premier League is all about revenue and that is what we perhaps don't immediately think about, whereas outsiders do not care about whatever rivalry we have with Southampton. To be honest I don't think Saints fans would be too pleased about AFCB turning up on their patch for every Bournemouth home game either. There is a bigger worry and it is something that came up in the Jeff Mostyn interview with the same radio station. It is trying to ensure that AFCB remains a family club even if it does reach the Premier Leauge. I know the management at the club will always want to keep it a friendly club with as much access as they are able to give to fans. Only last Saturday at the Brighton match I saw Eunan O'Kane walk up to a little boy who was just nearby the dugout and offered him the chance to go down the tunnel to see preparations for the game in full swing. I hope we never lose that or players coming over to sign programmes to put smiles on faces. We are AFCB and we should be proud of that. Other clubs may do things differently but we don't have to bend to the views or thoughts of those who do not follow this club with the same passion and excitement that we all feel every match day. AFCB are starting to topple the status quo by getting up with the bigger teams and it is something that is rare so the national media are going to focus on the team's success. Getting used to being at the top of the Championship though is something that we should all enjoy, and I will be glued to the radio today to see if the mighty Cherries can hold on to that top spot, as AFCB aim to go into the international break with another win. Good luck to the Cherries today, UTCIAD! Don't forget to use Free Bet Negotiator if you are placing a bet today so that you get a free voucher on a subsequent bet. All Departments' podcast is now available to listen to which reviews the mid-week Sheffield Wednesday match. Hop over to All Departments' website or scroll down the right side panel on Cherry Chimes until you get to the sound bar for All Departments (sound quality not so good on this one). Finally, happy birthday to Yann Kermorgant today!! Get us a winner Yann.
Those were the words of Lewis Grabban in his post match interview with BBC Radio Solent after the Watford game. While AFCB are starting to get on top of teams at home they are still finding it difficult to put away chances created. Grabban was admittedly disappointed to miss one of the penalties which was the first spot kick that he had ever missed professionally. He felt that he had a bit too much time to think about it which was surely the plan of Watford players.
Grabban will remember last week for some time to come.
"I should have slipped it down the middle," Grabban said. "But I still scored the first one and we were still able to get the draw." Overall, I think AFCB have some pretty good penalty takers and it is not often that we end up disappointed when a penalty has been awarded for our team at Dean Court. Perhaps more annoying was that Watford were not reduced to nine men and that AFCB were not able to get the second goal that they deserved for their dominance. Most of the talk this week has been about the disputed second penalty award and having seen it now several times on replay I agree with TalkSport's Adrian Durham that the speed that Marc Pugh was going at made the fall look dramatic, but that Hall did clip him as he passed Almunia. Sorry Watford fans I believe it was a penalty, but alI credit Almunia for making a great save and stopping the follow ups from going in. Whether Watford were lucky to get away with a point is a matter of debate but Grabban thought AFCB should have got more out of the game. "I thought that Watford were always dangerous on the break, especially in the first half. They haven't really troubled us too much," said Grabban. "A mistake on our part has gifted them a goal. That was unfortunate, but I thought we were good today. In certain ways we need to be a bit better and we'll be winning those games."
Grabban will really make a name for himself if he can score against Liverpool.
If we leap forward a few days to the FA Cup tie and see the potential for Grabban to step up for another penalty I have no qualms about him being the man to take the pressure kick. I suspect the tension would be enormous but the joy of scoring such a goal will surely be going through the mind of Grabban during this week and if he does get the opportunity how fitting that would be for him to score the goal that gets AFCB through in such a huge tie for the club. I am sure the disappointment of Watford will soon be removed this week as the club can go out and really look to enjoy the FA Cup and all its build up this week. As fans, we can suck it all in live on the adrenaline of whatever interviews are available and start to believe the unimaginable. While it would have been nice to beat Watford last weekend it would be better still if AFCB can beat Liverpool on Saturday. It was already unthinkable that Lewis Grabban would still be an AFCB player this week, so why can't we start to believe that he could be the one to bring AFCB the biggest result for the club in many a year. UTCIAD!
