Showing posts with label Watford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Watford. Show all posts

Monday, 1 February 2021

Gosling leaves for rivals Watford

The signing of Ben Pearson has given Bournemouth's central midfield players the chance to see if they can extricate a way out for the club and Dan Gosling surely felt he was out of favour in recent weeks and has fled the nest. Looking at Bournemouth current plight and the option to play for Watford, who are chasing promotion hard, you can see it being a decent decision for Gosling to try and get back to Premier League football.

Gosling departs for Watford.

Dan Gosling has been a big hero at Dean Court. He was part of the Cherries' promotion-winning team in 2014-15 and had that Premier League experience to help push the Cherries on at that time. I always felt Dan was a solid performer and he always had a goal or two up his sleeve which has been rare for Bournemouth midfielders.

Dan has clearly felt that he was being almost pushed out and if he is not getting games it is only right that he seeks football elsewhere. Going to Watford though will annoy some people, as Watford are likely to use Gosling well and get the best out of him. We may see that Gosling is an even better player than we thought he was, as he has probably been needing a new challenge to get the best from him.

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

Advertisement

Whether Ben Pearson will be as popular remains to be seen. I'd probably rather seen Philip Billing leave the club than Gosling, but there is still time for other deals to be done. Hats off to Watford though. They have picked up a hard-working midfielder who has been pretty reliable over the years and while Tindall didn't use him much, we know what he did for the club in the Eddie Howe era. He'll be remembered as one of the greats for Bournemouth in the Premier League, especially with those goals against Chelsea and his sheer joy whenever he did get on the score sheet for AFCB.

Advertisement

In other news, it's a good time to tell you that Cherry Chimes will sign off from posting on 13 February 2021, eight years since the blog was started. 

Chimes Newsletter - out today!
Cherry Chimes' January Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month. The newsletter has a special story - It's now or never for AFCB to push for the play-offs

To sign up for the newsletter just complete the form below - like all good things it's free!




Email Format



Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: ,

Friday, 25 December 2020

Where do the Cherries' need to improve?

Happy Christmas everyone! It is perhaps a good time to just consider how the season has gone so far and what expectations we may have for the second half of the season. Bournemouth are just five points off the lead with a two-point gap over the third-placed Swansea City. Are we confident that Bournemouth can do as well if not better between January and May?

Happy Christmas

When we look at the league, Bournemouth have played 20 games which is almost half and they have played most teams once. So with only two defeats, it has been a good start and the real need for the Cherries is to try and convert a few more of the draws into wins. That is how Norwich have clawed themselves ahead.
Bournemouth can also set themselves the tasks of doing better against the teams in the top six. They have beaten Norwich City but they have drawn with Swansea City, Watford and Middlesbrough. If they can beat these teams second time around they will be opening the gap much quicker on those teams below them.

Defensively Bournemouth have sharpened up well with nine clean sheets so far. That is still two behind Stoke City and Swansea City. While six of these clean sheets for the Cherries have been at home there are just three away clean sheets. In the away games clean sheet table, Bournemouth are down in 10th and it's a clear indication of where they can improve.

Advertisement

With 35 goals scored, the Cherries top the goals for table with Blackburn Rovers just a goal behind. The stat which is not so good is goals against column,  as Bournemouth have conceded 16 goals from their 20 games. But that is still the fourth-best record behind Swansea City, Watford and Middlesbrough.

Advertisement

From Bournemouth's position it would be costly to see them fall back into the third to sixth places, and this is what Bournemouth have to be aware of the most as the pressure builds. It may be a good thing that they have Norwich to chase, as it will give the players more to think of rather than thinking of being caught.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Danjuma only has eyes to get AFCB back to the Premier League

Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, 26 October 2020

What are Bournemouth lacking to get back to winning ways?

The match against Watford was symptomatic of what has been happening in recent games for the Cherries. While they fell behind in this game, unlike other games, they had trouble in breaking down a solid defence. All credit to Watford who made it difficult for Bournemouth, but the Cherries are lacking a bit of quality in the final third and perhaps the fitness of David Brooks is going to be crucial to Bournemouth hope this season.

Solanke came on as a first half sub but fired blanks at Watford.

While one player is often thought of being the missing piece in the puzzle, I don't think Bournemouth are playing well enough as a whole at the moment to be any further up the table than where they are. Josh King and Dominic Solanke didn't make much of a dent in Watford's defence and when Solanke did get half chances his shooting was far from steady or accurate. 

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 early promise of Danjuma's quick feet seems to have faded and Bournemouth perhaps just need that spark to start believing in themselves again. Whether that will come with the addition of David Brooks remains to be seen. It can take a few games for players to find their feet as perhaps we saw with Lloyd Kelly who didn't have a great first game back against the Hornets.

Advertisement

While Jason Tindall might not want to make too many changes his hand has been forced with Jefferson Lerma getting injured and Adam Smith had to miss the last game as he still wasn't ready to return. Bournemouth need a bit of luck on the injury front. It can make all the difference to a successful season or not.

Advertisement

The challenges don't get any easier at this point either. Bristol City are in good form and will be a tough test for Tindall's men. But if they can win these games they will put themselves in a great position and I think that is what Tindall needs to get through to his players. The players need that excitement of knowing they get a big reward if they can beat teams in and around the top places.

Advertisement
Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , , ,

Sunday, 25 October 2020

Mepham scores an added-time goal to hold Watford to a draw 1-1

Match Report
24 October 2020
Watford 1 V 1 AFCB

Bournemouth found themselves going behind for the first time this season with Stipe Perica scoring after 12 minutes. The Cherries had most of the possession but couldn't get in behind Watford who defended well first half. Begovic had to make a good save to keep Bournemouth in it from Sarr in the second half, but in added time Bournemouth found a way to break the Watford defence when Lloyd Kelly saw his shot turned in by Chris Mepham to keep Bournemouth's unbeaten record going. It will feel like a win for the Cherries because they were moments away from losing the game.

Chris Mepham gets an added-time goal to save Bournemouth a point at Watford.

Jason Tindall revamped the side after two draws with four changes. In came Josh King for his first start this season, Phillip Billing and Lewis Cook started in midfield and Lloyd Kellly came in at the back. Out went Dan Gosling, Dominik Solanke, Junior Stanislas and Adam Smith

Advertisement

Match Description
Bournemouth flew at Watford with Stacey getting a couple of early attempts at crosses. Lerma put a great ball in for Stacey but he couldn't control it. 

Lloyd Kelly is booked for a bad foul on Sarr. Lewis Cook is fouled in the middle by Chalobah. Bournemouth are getting good early possession, but are not quite getting the slick final pass in. Billing fouls Garner. Watford have a corner.

Bournemouth break, but Lerma loses out. Watford are getting a few more pieces together now. Cathcart plays along diagonal ball to Sarr and he crosses from the right, and it's a tap in for Perica who scores on 12 minutes against the run of play. Perica ran off the back of Steve Cook and just stretched out to finish. Rico was too high up and Sarr had stolen a yard in behind him to get the cross in.

Sarr shoots wide from distance. Watford are knocking the ball around now with much more confidence. Bournemouth are standing off.

Lerma is going off injured with a hamstring pull and Solanke is coming on after 18 minutes. Stacey is offside. Danjuma down the left wins a corner for Bournemouth. Mepham heads wide. Watford win a free kick but Begovic catches it.

KIng's cross is caught by Foster. Billing wins the ball well and Garner is carded. Bournemouth have a free kick on the right side. Rico takes and Foster catches. Rico wins a corner. Rico wins a free kick now.

Solanke makes room for a shot but it's straight at the keeper. Stacey is fouled. Danjuma and Stacey puts a cross over and Rico wins a corner. Billing's cross is blocked, corner. Billing's long ball goes out of play.

Kelly blocks for a Watford corner. Danjuma is clipped right on the edge of the box by Troost-Ekong. Rico or Danjuma to take. Bournemouth put four players in from of Watford's five-man wall. The ball hits the Watford wall.

Advertisement

Mepham fouls Perica. Danjuma for Solanke. Danjuma now, Lewis Cook blasts over. Stacey charges into the box but a poor lay-off from him. Solanke wins a corner. Billing Rico and Solanke puts a limp header towards goal that Foster catches.

Perica clashes with Billing and is receiving treatment. Cleverly is down now. Billing caught him high above the knee. Lewis Cook is fouled by Garner.

Bournemouth possession 61%, 6 shots, 2 shots on target, 5 corners, 8 fouls.

Watford possession 39%, 2 shots, 1 shot on target, 2 corners, 10 fouls.


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

Second half
Capoue is on for Garner. King is offside. Now Sarr is offside. Sarr is found on the left and Begovic makes a big save to keep it at 1-0. Billing shoots wide.

Rico wins the ball back. Solanke tries to find Danjuma but the pass is too strong. Sarr goes down against Kelly but nothing is given, it was outside the box. Stacey down the right, Solake line sit up for King who blasts it over the bar.

Yellow card to Cleverly for a foul on Stacey. Stacey crosses but it's weak. Lewis Cook out to Stacey. Cook again, Billing to Slanke who shots from outside the box but Foster saves well to his left, corner for Bournemouth. Good quick feet from Solanke.

Solanke is fouled. Lewis Cok takes it. Danjuma is robbed. Bournemouth are not making much headway. Rico is booked for a foul on Sarr. Cleverly is subbed for Quina. Watford put a ball right across the box, not sure what Steve Cook was thinking to let it go.

Advertisement

Solanke goes for goal but the ball is deflected wide. Great run down the middle after Lewis Cook set him free. Sarr has twisted his ankle. Diagonal ball to Stacey. Rico puts it up but Foster catches. Ngakia puts a deep cross in that beats Begovic but is wide of the goal. 

Rico fouls Sarr. Last 20 minutes.  Sarr volleys wide. Danjuma and Stacey loses it. Danjuma is coming off for Stanislas on 73 minutes. Lewis Cook's cross is caught by Foster. 

Quina shots from range and Begvic shovels it away for a corner to Watford. Quina and the ball bounces across the Bournemouth box until Rico clears. Perica is down.

Pedro is coming on for Perica on 82 minutes. Quina shoots from distance and Begovic saves. Riquelme replaces Rico on 88 minutes.

Seven minutes of added time. King wins a corner. Headed back across goal and Watford get an offside decision. Free kick to Bournemouth. Steve Cook heads on and King's header is punched over by Foster.

From the corner the ball is punched out by Forster and Kelly hits it back in with Mepham on the line making it 1-1.

Summary
Bournemouth will be more pleased with this point than the last two points they picked up. Watford were stubborn and looked like they would take all three points until a moment of fortune from a corner in added time saw Chris Mepham get his first goal of the season and Bournemouth's equaliser. It was far from a dominant display by Bournemouth but they kept plugging away and fighting. Begovic made a great save as well from Sarr at the start of the second half that kept Bournemouth in it. The Championship is hard and now Bournemouth have two home games to try and get back on winning ways, the unbeaten run goes on.

AFCB Ratings
Begovic 8, Stacey 7, S Cook 6, Kelly 5, Mepham 6, Rico 5, L Cook 5, Billing 4, Lerma 5, Danjuma 5, King 5

AFCB Starting line-up
AFCB Subs: Travers, Simpson, Gosling, Stanislas, Riquelme, Solanke, Surridge

Watford: Foster, Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Cathcart, Sema, Chalobah, Cleverley (Quina 64), Garner (Capoue 45), Sarr, Perica (Pedro 83)

Watford Subs: Bachmann, Wilmot, Joao Pedro, Murray, Quina, Capoue, Sierralta

Posted by at 2 comments:
Labels: , ,

Saturday, 24 October 2020

The Cherries need to find some momentum

While an away point is not a poor result in any league, Jason Tindall was far from satisfied with the final result at Cardiff City as he expressed that Bournemouth were the dominant team. Dominating games is a good platform to have but what Tindall wants s momentum. The unbeaten record is nice to have, but the three points from wins means everything and too many draws will soon feel like AFCB are in a rut.

AFCB need to get back to winning ways.

The league table reads well at the moment but the next game against Watford has become a big match to sort the pecking order near the top of the table. Bournemouth won't want to lose this game and they will have to find sharper finishing than in their last game. I would have thought an open game as they had against Cardiff would have suited the Bournemouth players to get the result but it didn't work out that way. While the players created some great moves, the team still managed to concede.

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 3-4-3 formation seems to help Bournemouth get forward well but it does leave gaps on both flanks in their own half and teams are exploiting that. Watford play the same way so it could be difficult to find as much space in today's game. Tindall really needs to find more of a settled team now as he develops his style of play and finds reliable performers. I've been impressed by the energy in the team and their desire to get forward. They are not starting games as quickly as they might but we are seeing strong second-half performances.

Advertisement

Tindall will have options against Watford but it's important he keeps faith with those who are doing well. There is not a great deal wrong with the team but it will be frustrating that they are not winning games like the Cardiff match. Tindall has to use that frustration to get the players to be more ruthless and try and not let teams off the hook when they have taken the lead.

Watford Home Form
WLWWW

AFCB Away Form
LWDWD

Possible AFCB Line-up
AFCB Subs: Travers, Carter-Vickers, Billing,  Riquelme, Stanislas, Surridge

Advertisement

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth drop to fourth with 1-1 draw at Cardiff


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, 23 October 2020

Rival Lines: Watford expect more going forwards as they take on the unbeaten Cherries

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Watford v AFCB
Bogger Interview: From The Rockery End
Twitter: @Watfordpodcast
 

CC: I spoke with Jason at From The Rockery End this week about Watford's start to the season and wanted to get his thoughts ahead of the big clash with Bournemouth. We always have a feisty game with Watford and I suspect that this weekend's match will be no different. 

CC: I feel that I should say congratulations - Watford have completed will have completed six games after the midweek match without changing managers! Seriously, how unsettling is it for Watford fans for them to keep losing managers?

FTREP: We know the model and credit where it’s due, it got us five seasons of Premier League football and hopefully the opportunity for more. However, whilst the majority of fans are fully versed in justifying our approach to the manager, sorry, Head Coach recruitment policy, there is an appetite to have some sort of stability in the boss’ office. We thought we had someone for the long term in Javi Gracia. However, he was let down by those in the boardroom. We had a platform to build on after the cup final season. Instead, weaknesses that needed addressing were not. Gracia was the fall guy and a series of bad decisions culminated in relegation post lockdown.

CC: Do you feel the heart has been taken out of the side with the summer departures?

FTREP: Not at all. I think most fans accepted that relegation meant losing the majority of our stars. And given the limp performances after the return of football at the end of last season, there weren’t too many tears when those players left. We’ve still managed to retain a subset of quality players in the likes of Sarr, Hughes, Deeney & Capoue. And with players that had previously been on the fringe or loaned out elsewhere such as Cleverley, Sema and Wilmot starting regularly and showing passion and desire in a positive start to the season, there’s a new and perhaps more aspirational heart to this side.

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

CC: What kind of feeling do you get about Vladimir Ivić so far? Is he looking like a good tactician and man manager in what he has said and done so far?

FTREP: In the current situation, it’s very hard to feel a connection to the club, players and coaching staff. However, there is no denying that Vlad has started well. We are looking incredibly solid with only two goals conceded in the league so far this season. In an attacking sense, there is still work to be done and the style of play has occasionally been hard watching. And whilst we may have been missing some of our attacking talent through injuries and suspensions early doors,  Ivić has not hidden behind this. Despite picking up points in games, he has been honest enough to say he expects more going forwards. He has also said from the start that he only wants players that want to play for the club. There was no pandering to the want away group of players. And that in itself endeared him to the fans.

CC: What do you make of Watford's start to the season now you are in the top six?

FTREP: We have been very much in a state of flux during the season start, biting our nails ahead of the international and domestic deadlines, hoping we could hang on to the players we wanted to give second chances to. During this tumultuous time, pending and potential transfers and the aforementioned injuries and suspensions left the squad looking thinner than originally anticipated. Whilst academy products making their debut is always a good thing, seeing Dan Phillips, who had spent time at National League South neighbours Hemel Hempstead the previous season, was not a sight Watford fans were used to after five years in the upper echelons of the English game. Expectations were high, but the early team sheets were perhaps a reality check on what relegation to the Football League brings. The start is exactly what was needed and there shouldn’t be too many complaints. Now with the transfer dealings done, until 2021 anyway, we have a solid foundation to build upon and push on.

CC: Jao Pedro has made a good start. Do you think he could be one of the best strikers in the Championship?

FTREP: The potential of our young Brazilian frontman is definitely there. The recent match-winner at Derby was an early goal of the season contender in a game that was always going to be decided by either a mistake or a moment of magic. The goal may have bought him some attention from a wider audience, but Watford fans will have noticed other qualities in those early games. He is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and also has the vision to play a defence-splitting pass. But what has stood out for such a young man is his willingness to fight and battle. Not attributes usually associated with Brazilian strikers, but ones definitely needed for a long Championship season against experienced second level defenders. Whether he gets deployed as an out and out frontman, or given a wider role alongside a returning Deeney or new Croatan striker Stipe Perica (with Sarr the other side… please!), we hope to see a lot more of him this season.

CC: Do you expect Bournemouth and Norwich to be among your main rivals for promotion this season?

FTREP: I think all three sides are well equipped to have a stab at an immediate return this season. Norwich have retained the services of Buendia and Cantwell who are both top talents for this level. And although the Cherries have lost the likes of Aké, Fraser and Wilson, they still have a core of players that have performed well for the club in recent seasons and some exciting young talent. I think you did well to hang on to Brooks. If he can stay injury-free, then he will cause havoc in this league.
CC: Why do you think Watford have struggled to score many goals in their first five games?

FTREP: The initial tactical focus has been on keeping it tight at the back, starting with a back three, then just in front of them wing-backs and central midfielders who are happy to drop back and keep things compact, denying the opposition any space in attacking areas. The men you’d expect to be leading the line in Deeney or Gray being injured, Perica suspended for three games and the on-loan Glenn Murray not quite hitting form as yet alongside the defensive approach, goes some way to explaining the low scoring games we have been involved in. We’ve also seen the opposition match us on occasion and play three at the back. This has had the effect of each side cancelling each other out, leading to cautious and uneventful matches. Having said all that, we’ve emerged from our home game against Blackburn with a 3-1 win, doubling our league goal tally. Whilst the possession and shots stats were dominated by Rovers, the quality of play from Watford when we had the ball in the final third was much better and we perhaps should have had a couple more goals to our name.

CC: Have you got any major injuries ahead of the Bournemouth game?

FTREP: Will Hughes and Andre Gray are yet to play this season and are still working their way to full fitness. Troy Deeney played a brief cameo against local rivals Luton, but has been out injured otherwise. Etienne Capoue may make his first start of the season after coming off the bench against Blackburn. He was absent at the start of the season whilst his future at Watford was in doubt. Sarr was rested at Derby after returning from the international break, but came back into the side against Blackburn and will hopefully keep his place.
CC: Give us a score prediction?

FTREP: I’m sticking with the low scoring theme that has been running through the majority of our league programme this season… 1-0 to the Hornets!

CC: An absolute mountain of information from Jason there on the Hornets. Thanks to him for his generous time and detailed answers. I think not enough fans give enough merit to how important it is to have a good defence and Watford have started well at the back in only conceding two goals in their first six games. The form of Ben Foster has clearly been key in that and he even pulled off a penalty save in Watford's last match against Blackburn Rovers. Still,  Watford may find goals hard to come by themselves and with Bournemouth's current unbeaten run, there has to be a good chance of this match ending in a draw or maybe even something more favourable perhaps for the Cherries if we can start putting away the chances that are being made.

You can listen in to From The Rockery End to hear their latest podcast.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Friday, 24 July 2020

AFCB still have everything to play for

This is it then. One game and a definite must win against Everton to stand any chance of staying in the Premier League. Lose this one and there is no excuses, Bournemouth will have had their opportunities. All we can ask is that the players pick up three points. Anything after that is down to bad luck if Villa or Watford pick up points or a point. Bournemouth should have done more earlier.
Bournemouth have to give it one more go.
It is surprising that it has come down to the last game. I don't think many Bournemouth fans would have seen the team only pick up four points from the last eight games, and to still be without an away win in 2020. It would be a great time to get rid of that away record, and just to reach 34 points would help the players go into the next season knowing they did all they could on the last day to try and stay up.
Advertisement
The stress and nerves should really be gone now for this game. Bournemouth have a clear directive what to do and the ayers know they either do it now or will be down if they can't beat Everton. I'd rather the team had drawn level with Watford and Aston Villa on 34 points already, but this way Bournemouth are the underdogs and the pressure is really on Aston Villa and West Ham, who have it all to lose, if they put in poor performances.

Advertisement
I am sure Eddie Howe will tell his players to look at it in that way. A win is the object of the game. Whatever comes after that is either a bonus or something that we couldn't do anything about, so the players can't worry about it. If the boys go out in that frame of mind we may see more of the flowing football that we saw at the end of the game against Man City. If the shackles are off, it might surprise a few people how well Bournemouth can play.
Advertisement
It will be strange to see the players either in agony or ecstasy at Goodison Park come the end of play. But perhaps we should be thankful that the team did pick up some points against Spurs and Leicester, which was unexpected out of all the games that Bournemouth had to play since the restart. It is those points that have given the team an outside chance of staying up.

 AFCB Away Form
LLLLL


Everton Home Form
DDWDD

 Opposition view - Cherry Chimes spoke with Royal Blue Mersey to preview the Everton v AFCB game

Tomorrow we will have a Rival Lines wth Royal Blue Mersey
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, 22 July 2020

Delight and agony - AFCB fans see relegation battle go to last game

Bournemouth fans could rub their hands with some glee again and go and get their hidden scarfs and shorts out of the dustbin, as the unlikely escape was back on after Man City thumped a demoralised Watford 0-4. There was some caution though as Bournemouth fans still had to wait to see what Arsenal would do against Aston Villa. It was a flat Arsenal performance and Aston Villa kept a 1-0 lead to also go three points ahead of Bournemouth, but we knew that the relegation battle would now go down to the last game no matter what.
Destiny is not in AFCB's own hands but at least they are not out of it with a game to go.
There is every chance now that the 17th place in the Premier League this season could be decided by goal difference. We could have three teams  on 34 points. Arguably none of these teams have played well enough to stay up, but there is a place for one of them. A 1-0 win for Bournemouth and two 1-0 defeats for Aston Villa and Arsenal would save Eddie Howe's side. But a draw or a win for Aston Villa or Watford and Bournemouth will have to adapt to life in the Championship.
Advertisement
Bournemouth fans could just peak from between their closed fingers again and start to imagine again what a win at Everton would mean. It is the hope that rally hurts and yet Bournemouth fans have to believe their team has been given yet another opportunity to climb out of the relegation places.

Advertisement

The pole position is held by Aston Villa now, who may only need a point against West Ham to secure their Premier League place if Watford can't beat Arsenal.  Is till think it will be between Bournemouth and Watford. The way Arsenal played against Aston Villa, you have to fancy Watford to get something in their last game. It is going to be nail biting, but Bournemouth have to beat Everton as their first job, to stand any chance of avoiding the drop. After that they can worry about goal difference and goals scored if Aston Vil and Watford have not added one or three points to their totals.

Advertisement
Advertisement


Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
tag: