AFCB's wing men need to get among the goals

I expect many of you have noticed that the Cherries wingers have not yet weighed in with a bucket load of goals. While Marc Pugh got off to a great start and Junior Stanislas netted the winner against Brentford, goals have been hard to come by for AFCB's wide men. I am trying to figure out why that may be? Some may say that the constant changing of personnel on the wings has not enabled them to hit their top game yet, others have said they would like to see right footed players on the right and left-footed players on the left rather than all the cutting infield, while it could just be a lack of goals because most of the chances are simply falling more to the strikers.

We look forward to seeing Matt Ritchie's first goal of the season. 

Matt Ritchie is a player though who we might have expected to have scored a few goals by now. He certainly has been shooting regularly and has come close on a number of occasions. Against Wigan Matt managed to get a full 90 minutes in and has appeared in 11 matches so far. The  change for him this season is that he is being subbed a little more often. Whether this is helping him to perform better in bursts, rather than getting full matches must have been assessed. Fraser, Pugh and Stanislas have certainly been the most busy players along with Ritchie in getting 40 or 60 minutes in matches. Ryan Fraser is one player that we might see a bit more of now that he is back in training and he could be used against Bolton, and while we are  just about to enter another international break I can't see any freindly fixtures yet named for Scotland U21 squad.

Pugh is looking like scoring but has not played a great deal this season.

The wingers are certainly essential elements of how Eddie Howe wants the team to play and there is less likelihood of burnout or injuries if the players in these positions can spread the workload. What I wonder though is why there have not been many goals coming from them yet if they are not having to play for so many minutes every game? If the wing men can contribute more fire power it is likely to bring AFCB's goal average up towards 1.75 goals a game, which the best teams in the division are already achieving (AFCB were averaging about 1.56 pre-Derby Co game). Meanwhile, Bolton - tomorrow's opponents are back on 0.7 goals a game! 

Breaking News: Dougie Freedman leaves Bolton Wanderers. Dougie Freedman's departure may give some relief to Bolton's players, but AFCB must look to capitalise on his departure with a good performance.

Match Preview: Cherry Chimes talks to Voice of Bolton

Rival Lines
Match Preview
Bolton Wanderers v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Voice of Bolton

Cherry Chimes chats with Anis, managing editor of Voice of Bolton, to preview the Bolton away game and to find out what is happening with this great northern team, who are certainly struggling at present. We try and put the finger on exactly where the problems are and look at whether Bolton are finding it harder to play at home or away, or perhaps they are just finding it hard no matter where they play.

CC: What are expectations for most Bolton fans this season in terms of a league finishing position?

VOB: We guess it’s fair to say that we were hoping for some major progress this season. However, so far it doesn’t seem like we’re going to have that ‘great’ season we have been desperate for. If you asked us before the season had kicked off, we would have confidently stated a top 10 position. Play-offs for us this season would have been quite a dream, but you can’t over confidently believe that a club such as ours that has struggled somewhat for a few years now is going to start the season in 5th gear and be near the top of the table come December.

Now, it looks like we’re going to be drifting in and out of the relegation zone. Some belief for a Bolton fan huh?

CC: Is Dougie Freedman making much progress at Bolton in terms of performances if not the points?

When Dougie took over the club, he had his critics – a fair few Bolton fans believed that he wasn’t the right guy for the job. They were at the time in the minority, out voiced. Now it seems that they had the foresight to see something most Bolton fans couldn’t. The belief has somewhat deteriorated, mainly this season. We have one win and two draws from nine games – that is hardly the start any team needs. However, Dougie has baffled the entire fanbase by defending some performances this season. What’s even more confusing is that how he can play with one upfront when this particular formation had proved costly for over a season or so.

You would clearly question the tactical intelligence of the current Bolton manager. The fanbase for one can see it is a pointless task sticking with the same formation week in, week out.

CC: Where does the team need strengthening or are you happy with last summer's signings?

VOB: At this present moment in time – the whole squad bar a few need to be replaced. We lack the strength up front. Joe Mason is with us on loan once more. He has what it takes to deliver goals, but he needs a strike partner – as he had in Lukas Jutkiewicz. The midfield look clueless. Spearing has been very ineffective. The other players don’t look like they’re Championship quality at all. Dean Moxey looks out of his depth, whereas we haven’t been able to sort out a decent centre-back pairing as of yet. We look very fragile at the back.

Last but not least, Andy Lonergan has, so far, been outstanding. However, this can only last for so long. The team need to man up and start being responsible! We have seen better football from League One / Two sides!

CC: Do you fear that things could deteriorate with the Financial Fair Play penalties being dished out to clubs that overspend?

We are already suffering as a result. We have had a self-imposed embargo on transfers, which possibly is down to the amount of debt we have. It is fair to say Dougie has had no opportunity to bring players of some quality in as those players cost money – which is something we have not got at present. All of our signings so far have been either loans or free agents. Without spending anything, you are likely to be dealing with other team’s scraps.

We can understand why there is such a thing as Financial Fair Play, however with clubs in the lower tiers already struggling – it’s adding weight and looks set to kill the game (if the Premier League and Sky don’t get there first).

CC: Who has impressed you most in a Bolton shirt this season?

VOB: Andy Lonergan in goal. He has been amazing! Nothing more to say on this – let’s hope he carries on like this for a long time!

CC: Joe Mason had a great game against Rotherham - is he getting to grips with the Championship?

He seems to be a decent Championship player. However Joe’s game gets better when he is paired up with feeding striker. He is sure to deliver goals with more game time.

CC: Why have you failed to win away yet?

Poor performances. Players don’t seem to have any confidence in themselves – they’re too reliant on each other to do the job for them. Tactical ignorance from the manager and much more.

CC: Could the team have been scoring more goals at home?

VOB: Of course. Any home side should be scoring more at home. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case for us. We don’t have the kind of free scoring players in the team at all.

CC: How has our old AFCB winger Liam Feeney been playing?

VOB: Feeney has been fairly OK. It feels like he hasn’t embedded into the club as well as we’d expect. Hopefully this will change over time.

CC: How do you think Bolton will try and get at Bournemouth?

VOB: We hope they try to get all 3 points, but the way things are currently going – we’re hoping we don’t get hammered!

CC: I'm almost afraid to ask -what is your score prediction for the game?

VOB: We’ll happily take a 1 – 1 draw!

CC: I think that is the most honest and heartfelt comments that we have had from a blogger on Rival Lines. It is always hard when your team is not going well and Bolton fans must be looking anywhere they can for some inspiration. That would seem to be watching keeper Andy Lonergon and I guess fingers are crossed that he does not get injured. I am sure though that AFCB playing at the Macron stadium is a match that the Bolton manager and players would expect to be able to win, and it may well be a match where the first goal will win the game as I can see Bolton's crowd really getting behind them if they get it or turning on their manager if AFCB get it.

I want to thank Anis for his frank opinions on the Bolton team and do visit Voice of Bolton to see what else he has been writing about on his favourite team.

Can O'Kane have as much impact as he did last season?

Over the summer there were a couple of AFCB players that fans particularly hoped would not be the subject of bids from other clubs, and high on the list of must keep hold of players was Eunan O'Kane. Eunan has become a strong member of the team, but is may be more of a challenge for him to see if he can have as big an influence as he has in the past. The passing pattern of play is often set by Eunan and he has had a quiet start of the season for me, although I am sure he can soon get back into the groove and can start dominating games in the way we know he can.  

Looking at the way Eunan has been used so far it may surprise a few that he has only been out of the starting line up for the Leeds home league match and the Exeter Capital One Cup game. Prior to the Derby match he had appeared in 10 matches already and had made on one substitute appearance. From what I can see he is only just a game behind Harry Arter and Matt Ritchie in appearances for the Cherries up to this point. His assists only total one so far, while he has not scored but Eddie Howe clearly sees Eunan as an essential part of the side these days. 

Can Eunan up his game more?

Some of his work I do feel is perhaps a little unseen in games as he is often getting a foot in and playing the ball quickly to others to start things going, rather than playing in such a forward position which he is also capable of doing. He is a player who I like to see run with the ball when he can as he scuttles along and passes players before they know it. But I don't remember him really grabbing a game by the neck yet this season, and he is one where I believe there is more to come.

Having had a season in the Championship Eunan should be confident that he can be as good a defensive midfielder as any out there in this division. I am hopeful that he will get an international call up soon and start to really become a player that other teams are more wary of. I don't see why he can't have as big an impact if not even more success in pushing on AFCB further this season. So next time Eunan is selected, which is likely to be the next game - take a close look at how he does and his distribution and you'll probably find he does a lot more than you might expect.  

Michael's Dunne's All Departments' podcast of Derby 2 v 0 AFCb is now out. To listen go to the All Departments' website or scroll down the right side panel on Cherry Chimes to the All Departments' logo and click on the sound bar.

How was it to watch Derby 2 v 0 AFCB - live stream at Dean Court?

Damien Hill is one of my friends who has the misfortune to have a season ticket that's right next to Cherry Chimes, but on Tuesday night he was lucky enough to have secured one of the tickets to watch the Cherries play against Derby, not in his season ticket seat or at the iPRO stadium, but in the Balfour Suite at Dean Court. Here is his view of how the game was experienced, as the first AFCB live TV match to be streamed back to Dean Court for the fans to watch.

AFCB fans get their first taste of live stream football at Dean Court.

Having been to the impressive iPRO stadium last season and having to be at work on the Wednesday after the game against Derby at 5am I was pleased that this game was selected to be beamed back to Dean Court live, so fans could watch there.

The night was well run as a Black Label event.

The tables and chairs were all set out waiting for the first
fans to arrive in the Top Floor Restaurant.

The 1910 bar and Balfour Suite was gradually getting busier.

The club announced that it would be free of charge and the would open up the Balfour Suite and if demand was high the Top Floor Restaurant would be opened up as well. The Balfour sold out by Monday afternoon on the first day, and the restaurant by Wednesday lunchtime with all 500 tickets given to season ticket holders only.

AFCB were beamed back to Elland road when we played Leeds Utd on 16 September, and I spoke a Leeds fan Gareth Lally who went to Elland road as he couldn't get down to Dean Court to watch the game.

He was charged £10 for entry, but this included a Pie and a Drink and there was about 1000 supporters at the ground of all ages, they had a conference room with the live feed with LUTV providing the commentary, and with high demand they opened up Billys bar to allow the extra fans to watch. He enjoyed the experience and would do it again if it was made available but would much prefer to go to ground, so with my ticket I headed to Dean Court for 6pm to gain the full use of the bar and facilities our club has to offer and to see if our club could make good use of the stadium on a non-match day.

Everybody was keen to get a good view even if it meant sitting on someone's lap.

The match was also shown via a projector on a big screen.

I arrived at Dean Court just after 6pm and made my way to the Balfour Suite and there was a few people sat and ready to go already, so I picked my seat at a table and got a beer. The room had four large tables in the centre and not many other chairs around for people to sit on and with a slow steady stream this was okay until 7pm when most people started to arrive. The staff then produced some extra seats out of the store room and everyone was happy.

The rooms started filling up quickly.

The bar staff had a busy night.

We were told when we got our tickets that there was to be no sound and just a picture feed, but to our surprise we had a live feed from BBC Solent sport with Kris Temple and Willo giving us commentary. There was a separate area for people to sit and order food and there was the small TV's on the wall, so no matter where you sat in the room you could see the TV's or the large projection onto the stage area. The Top Floor Restaurant did not have a big screen but had several TV’s all around the room, so again good views all around. The atmosphere was slowing building and when the teams walked out a large arousing around of applause broke out with the “Come on Bournemouth!” bellowing out in the club.

The game began and we all sat and watched and hoped for a result to go in our favour and to come home with a point at least. During the game the TV was shouted at several times as expectations and hopes with hearts on our sleeves showed passion to win, pass, tackle and head every ball that we watched on the screens.

Half time came and the score was still 0-0 but a fair result and the plan was working, not too much from us, but the Cherries kept Derby at bay at the top of our box. The second half got under way and hopes were high.

Much discussion about the game took place and that disallowed goal. 

Goal!!! no wait, the ref has changed his mind, Camp sent off and free kick given instead, bizarre comes to mind, but it was still 0-0 and hope to hang on to for nearly half an hour down to 10 men. Nine minutes to go and Hughes broke our hearts and in extra time Martin sealed our fate to a 2-0 defeat!

Fans are glued to the action.

So the final whistle went and the crowd headed off home disappointed but a very enjoyable evening was had. The club will have made some money on this trial and I believe this is a good idea, as we all know that the club still needs an income on non-match days, and with 500 supporters using the bar and having food this can only be good for the club. We have a small but growing fan base and can't compete with Leeds who had 1400 at Dean Court and another 1000 back at Elland Road when their match was beamed back, but 500 people in my eyes is just the beginning and I'm sure AFCB will come up with a bigger and better option next time with more people being able to come. The atmosphere was good and to sit and watch our beloved Cherries with friends whilst drinking a beer and having some food is always for me a good evening.

The evening was a pretty big success with fans like Damien,
even if the Cherries didn't win on the night.

So would I go again? Yes, but You cant beat the atmosphere at a away fixture, so I would still travel to away grounds, but I like Gareth couldn’t make it to the ground, so this was a good replacement and with a few small tweeks, this will be a good adventure and hopefully a prosperous future for the club. UTCIAD!

There's always a pint on offer to drown your sorrows. 

Are the best Championship sides still a notch above AFCB?

Eddie Howe remarked on how Derby County were the better side on the night as they earned their 2-0 victory at the iPro stadium. The Rams were regarded by the Cherries manager as the better passing side on the night and in such light it is arguable that AFCB still have a little way to go to really upset the best sides in the Championship as their league position would also indicate.

AFCB are getting closer to the top teams in performance
terms but have to do more if they are to pick up more points.

Being work in progress though is not such a bad thing and Eddie Howe has always said so far that this team is not the finished article. You can say that the side was unlucky to see Lee Camp sent off and have to play with 10 men for the last 20 minutes at Derby, but that is when you need players to give that little bit extra to try and save a point. Whether the goal leading up to Lee Camp's sending off should have been given or not, the fact is that it was an incident that turned the game and AFCB were caught out, which is to Derby's credit.

The aim must be to try and get AFCB to the level of Derby County and to weather the storms when the chips are down and favouring the opposition. If the Cherries had have escaped with a point it would have been one of the best performances of the season, but instead we are left with a talking point about a referee's decision to disallow a goal and send a player off for intentional handball. 

The disappointing fact from Eddie Howe's point of view should be that the Cherries are not yet as strong as some of the best teams in the league, and it is likely to take a little longer for adjustments to be made before the team is going to such grounds and taking all the points. I don't feel that the Cherries are far away from doing that, but it is going to need more work on the training pitches before some of the results come that we all know this team is capable of getting and finding that consistent winning streak. It's simply work in progress and not major reconstruction that needs to be done. We look forward to the next challenge and learn from this result.

Camp sees red as Cherries undone by two late Derby goals

Match Description

Derby Co 2 v 0 AFCB 

30 September 2014

Attendance: 26,725

Lee Camp came back into the side
 but was sent off at the iPro stadium last night.

Playing Derby County away was always going to be one of the most difficult games of the season for the Cherries, but their cause was not helped by the sending off of Lee Camp after 67 minutes for handball. The extra outfield player made the difference for Derby who scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to take all the points, but the match had been in the balance before this point with the Cherries putting up a good performance against one of the promotion favourites. 

Artur Boruc had been taken ill with a stomach bug before the match and so it was Lee Camp who had come into the starting 11, but his prevention of Jamie Ward's lob outside the area was enough to see him controversially sent off, when the forward had thought he had gone on to score. It was an up hill battle for AFCB from there, while the ball had indeed ended up in the back of the net, referee Scott Mathieson disallowed the goal and pulled play back for a free kick, while sending Lee Camp off. By the end of the night Darryl Flahavan had taken to the pitch as the Cherries attempted to get something from the game. However, Derby were too strong and goals by Will Hughes on 81 minutes and Chris Martin after 93 minutes ended the Cherries' brave fight. AFCB's best chance had come as early as the 23rd minute when Callum Wilson had been clean through on goal, but saw his shot saved by Lee Grant. 

Official Match tweets from AFCB

First Half

01: We are underway at the iPro. The Cherries kick from right to left.

05: #afcb soaking up some early pressure from the Rams. Martin hits one well over the bar from distance.

10: Harte puts an in-swinging corner in but it's straight out of play. Dangerous cross at the other end is dealt with…just!

13: Great pressure from Wilson has Grant scrambling off his goal line to clear. Cherries building momentum.

21: Cyrus Christie puts avery dangerous ball into the Cherries' box but it flies straight through the six yard box & out of play.

23: Massive opportunity for Wilson! Stanislas plays him through but his first time shot is weak and collected by Grant. 

24: Craig Bryson tests Lee Camp's reactions at the other end, but the stopper gets down well to parry and collect the long range effort.

28: Cook clears the ball over his own bar and concedes the corner, which the Cherries clear behind for another.
30: Richard Keogh heads the Rams' third corner in quick succession over the bar.

33: Cherries break, but the ball is cleared out of the area as far as Surman, who puts a long range effort over the bar.

34: Bryson drives his way into the #afcb box, but puts his shot into the side netting.

38: Cyrus Christie dances past the Cherries defence and unleashes a shot that goes across the face of goal and out.

43: Will Hughes tries to curl one from the edge of the area but it's straight at Lee Camp.

45: Stanislas wins the corner with a deflected long range effort, but his set piece is straight at Grant.

45: There is one minute of added time to b played here.

Harte's free kick is cleared and the half time whistle blows. Entertaining game, but very tough opposition.

Second Half
46: We are back underway at the iPro Stadium. Jordon Ibe has been replaced by Johnny Russell

53: Harte touches a freekick for Ritchie to smash, but his low drive is collected by Grant easily.

56: Junior Stanislas is replaced by Marc Pugh.

57: Surman hits a half volley from distance and it comes straight off an arm and out for a corner. #afcb players want more.

59: A period of sustained pressure from the Cherries has got the crowd nervy. Need to create a clear cut chance though.

59: A period of sustained pressure from the Cherries has got the crowd nervy. Need to create a clear cut chance though.

68: Red card for Lee Camp!

68: Grant's long ball is poked home by Ward but not before it's hit Camp's glove. Free kick to the Rams, red card for Camp!

70: Darryl Flahavan is sent on in replace of Callum Wilson.

71: Martin standing over the free kick. Cherries down to ten men. It's off the post!!!

72: For those asking, referee looked to play advantage and award the goal, but elected to bring play back and issue the red card. Strange.

73: An extended break in play sees Howe lecture his troops. The next 20 minutes will be incredibly tough

74: Hendrick and Best are sent on to replace Ward and Eustace.

76: Flahavan was sent on in similar circumstances at Elland Road last season & did well, but conceded. Can he go one better tonight?

81: Goal for Derby County.

81: Hughes played it out to Martin, who touched it back, and the young midfielder rifled it into the top corner.

83: Yann Kermorgant is about to be sent on as the Cherries look to salvage a point.

86: Harry Arter is replaced by Yann Kermorgant. Pugh looks to partner him upfront in a 3-4-2 formation

89: The Cherries are having a go here. Pushing men forward now.

90: There will be five minutes added time at the iPro.

90+3: Goal for the Rams. And that spells the end for the Cherries.

90+3: Goal for the Rams. And that spells the end for the Cherries.

90+3: With the Cherries committing men forward, Russell is put through and his perfect cross is tucked into the net by Chris Martin.

Final score at the iPro Stadium: #dcfc 2-0 #afcb. #DCFCvAFCB 

Cherries: Camp (Red card 68m), Francis, Cook, Elphick, Harte, Arter (Kermorgant 86m), O'Kane, Surman, Stanislas (Pugh 56m), Ritchie, Wilson (Wilson 70m).

AFCB Subs: Flahavan, Smith, Daniels, Gosling, Pugh, Pitman, Kermorgant.

DCFC starting XI: Grant; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Eustace (Best 73m), Bryson, Hughes; Ibe (Russell 45m), Ward (Hendrick 74m), Martin

DCFC substitutes: Mitchell, Russell, Hendrick, L Naylor, Best, Mascarell, Whitbread.

Cherry Chimes releases its October Newsletter today. To receive a free copy, just sign up below. You'll the be able to catch up on all last month's big stories and read the special newsletter story - Managers come and go.

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Dominant Derby are up next

You have to admit that Steve McClaren has put together a great side at Derby. I was impressed with them when they came down to the Goldsands last autumn and passed the ball with so much confidence. I also think McClaren has done well to keep hold of the likes of will Young and Craig Bryson, while Jamie Ward and Chris Martin are still putting away the goals. Trying to find a weak squad in their team is pretty hard and even Eddie Howe had eyes for striker Johnny Russell over the summer.

Adam Smith with Derby players last season.

Will Hughes is a midfielder who likes to dictate games.

How are Derby playing away from home? Not too badly with a bruising draws against Nottingham Forest and a tidy away win against Blackburn Rovers recently. They certainly have goals in the team and are steadily climbing up the table. They also powered their way through to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup last week with a 2-0 win against Reading and beat Bolton 0-2 away at the weekend. At home though they have been dropping some points with a few draws on the record.

One player who they have picked up on loan, who is earmarked for a big career, is Jordan Ibe. Jordan is on Liverpool's books and if you remember he played on loan for Birmingham against the Cherries last year when we beat them 2-4 away. He's a neat little winger on his day and he scored last time out against Cardiff City. Another summer signing was the acquisition of Leon Best from Blackburn Rovers. He has not seen that much playing time which underlines the strength of squad that McClaren has.

This will be a much more difficult proposition than Wigan last Saturday. AFCB have to bring their A game and for away matches they have been doing that this season so I am hopeful that the Cherries can get something from the game. With both teams often the draw specialists it may not be the worst prediction to think that AFCB might get a point from this game.

Derby County Home Form:
WWDD

AFCB Away Form:
WLDD

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