I don't think Kenwyne Jones will have dreamt of the match at Ipswich going much better than how it did for him although he would have liked his goal to be a winner rather than an equaliser. he was certainly pleased with his goal with the celebration that we might get to see often, but I am not sure Marc Pugh (famed for his goal celebrations - get well soon Marc) will be doing a double cartwheel any time soon. Such a goal was deserving of Kenwyne's trademark flips because it was AFCB's 100th goal in all competitions this season!
The Bournemouth fans will be as delighted as Kenwyne that he managed to score in his first game for AFCB. You might expect there to be little pressure on a player that has been at the top and has played for several big clubs, but playing in a game with so much riding on the outcome will cause nerves even with the most laid back and experienced of players. Kenwyne was certainly relaxed enough to take his chance well and it is important now that he tries to do all he can to press for a starting place. Competition within the team is what will hopefully carry the Cherries over the line and the other strikers will know that they did not have their most clinical of finishing boots on at Ipswich.
The pleasing point is that AFCB carried the game to the opposition and created more than enough chances that could have seen them pick up more points than the one. We need to see the team try and hit the target more often against Birmingham and while the previous match between those teams will not have a bearing on the final outcome on Easter Monday, AFCB's players will have in the back of their minds that they beat that team well earlier in the season and they'll want to make it a double over the Blues and just maybe Kenwyne will have an even bigger impact in that game if he is now feeling more at home.
Would I start Kenwyne against Birmingham? I don't expect Eddie Howe to do that as he has not failed to trust his main trio of strikers all season as long as they are fit. But if the goals aren't flowing then I don't expect it will be long before we see a home debut from Mr Jones. UTCIAD!
I couldn't resist making some comments on the other top of the table matches on Friday so if you click over to The Championship Run-in you'll find an article called - Good Friday was great for Boro, Brentford and Norwich
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.
Saturday, 4 April 2015
Friday, 3 April 2015
Kenwyne saves the day for the Cherries at Ipswich 1-1
Match Report
AFCB fans hoped that Kenwyne Jones would have an impact when he came to the south coast for the run-in. The script was written for him with the Cherries trailing and just 11 minutes left of the 90 when the Trinidadian came on. Within a couple of minutes though he was celebrating with his new teammates having stolen in at the near post and held off a couple of challenges to get his first Bournemouth goal with a header into the top corner of the net.
Eddie Howe made every AFCB fan feel a lot easier when he named just two changes from the last match. Callum Wilson was fit and would start and apparently did train with the team in the week (naughty Eddie!) and Pitman was to partner him, while Ryan Fraser would replace Marc Pugh on the left who had taken a knock against Middlesbrough in the last match. Kenwyne Jones would be on the bench along with Yann Kermorgant.
Ipswich made three pages with Chaplow moving to the bench despite getting the winner at Watford, replaced by Sears. Fryers and Bishop also came into their starting line up, while McGoldrich and Anderson were on the bench along with Chris Wood who had started Ipswich's last match.
It was the worst possible start for the Cherries who fell behind as early as the sixth minute to a Freddie Sears shot from seven yards, after Darryl Murphy had evaded a tackle from three AFCB players on the left side of the box. The first half was set up then with the Cherries chasing the game and Ipswich then finding it difficult to get much possession. AFCB responded well though with a dominant first half performance. Surman's early square ball right across the six yard box with no AFCB player running on to it was just a sign of how the Cherries would play, with not everyone quite on the same wavelength. The accurate shooting just wasn't there though with Arter blazing over, Brett Pitman hitting a shot straight at Bailkowski and Ryan Fraser having a glorious chance to score but driving his shot at a comfortable height for Bailkowski.
Ipswich also had some early chances with some intricate play from Murphy, Bishop and Fryers on the left side of the box but Fryers smashed his shot over. Ipswich also looked dangerous when they just played route one football with Elphick missing a ball up the middle which Murphy flicked on for Sears who volleyed wide. A more nervy moment came when Steve Cook made a last gasp tackle on Sears in the box after 22 minutes which would have been a penalty if he hadn't got contact with the ball.
Ryan Fraser was proving hard for Ipswich to contain, so much so that Chambers was yellow carded for a foul on the Bournemouth winger on 24 minutes, although I thought that harsh. Mistakes were likely to cost some one dearly and Pitman so nearly capitalised on a poor pass by Bishop, but when AFCB did hit the target Bailkowski was always there.
A penalty claim by Pitman on the edge of the box with Skuse was correctly ignored. Arter's frustration saw him yellow carded on 39 minutes for a body check on Tabb and Wilson's fall between Berra and smith was again never going to be a penalty, as it looked like he merely slipped. Even Ritchie's trademark shot coming in from the right only brought the best out in Bailkowski and Fraser was having one of those days when he struck the follow up over.
The second half was perhaps less creative at first, but the pattern of play was the same with Bournemouth pressing for the equaliser and Ipswich repelling every attack, while hoping to catch a second goal. Daniels and Arter both had early shots saved in the centre of the goal and Wilson also could only find Bailkowski when he shot at goal. It was tough going and Bishop was replaced by Chaplow on 57 minutes as fresh legs were needed by Ipswich to quell the sustain forward play of the Cherries.
Ipswich's attacks were sporadic and few in number but Varney did see his volley from Chambers miss high to the left of Boruc's goal. AFCB's first change came on 64 minutes when Pitman was subbed for Yann Kermorgant, but as time moved on Eddie Howe brought on Adam Smith for Ryan Fraser as well as Kenwyne Jones for Steve Cook. Ipswich also replaced the hard working Freddie Sears with loan signing Chris Wood. While Luke Varney saw his next effort saved by Boruc, AFCB knew time was running out.
The introduction of Kenwyne Jones did the trick though as he put the Cherries back level with a brave header at the near post following a corner from Matt Ritchie. It was now down to the last eight minutes and yet neither side could grab that late winner. Matthew Clarke did come on for Luke Varney as the clock ran down and in extra time the Cherries almost claimed three points with Kermorgant and Smith forcing Bailkowski into action again, but it was a point each in this enticing Championship run-in.
Summary
It was a point that could be vital and AFCB will have been pleased to have got something from the game even thought they slip down to second in the table. I was told that Ipswich have only lost three goals at home all season just before the game, so I knew this could be a really stern test for the Cherries who had won 10 on the road and were looking to add to that to reclaim top spot at the top of the Championship. The Cherries are now seven unbeaten with just six games to go. They have to make their possession and their shots count in the remaining games.
AFCB
Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook (Jones 79), Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Fraser (Smith 78), Pitman (Kermorgant 65), Wilson
AFCB Subs
Camp, Smith, Ward, Gosling, MacDonald, Kermorgant, Jones
AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Francis 7, Elphick 6, Cook 6, Daniels 6, Ritchie 7, Arter 6, Surman 7, Fraser 7, Pitman 6, Wilson 7
Ipswich
Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Fryers, Bishop (Chaplow 57), Skuse, Tabb, Sears (Wood 79), Varney (Clarke 90), Murphy
Ipswich Subs
Gerken, McGoldrick, Anderson, Chaplow, Clarke, Wood, Williams
Ipswich Town v AFCB
3 April 2015
Attendance: 22,672 (including 963 AFCB fans)
AFCB fans hoped that Kenwyne Jones would have an impact when he came to the south coast for the run-in. The script was written for him with the Cherries trailing and just 11 minutes left of the 90 when the Trinidadian came on. Within a couple of minutes though he was celebrating with his new teammates having stolen in at the near post and held off a couple of challenges to get his first Bournemouth goal with a header into the top corner of the net.
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| AFCB battle hard and may just find that a point was a good result at Portman Road. |
Ipswich made three pages with Chaplow moving to the bench despite getting the winner at Watford, replaced by Sears. Fryers and Bishop also came into their starting line up, while McGoldrich and Anderson were on the bench along with Chris Wood who had started Ipswich's last match.
It was the worst possible start for the Cherries who fell behind as early as the sixth minute to a Freddie Sears shot from seven yards, after Darryl Murphy had evaded a tackle from three AFCB players on the left side of the box. The first half was set up then with the Cherries chasing the game and Ipswich then finding it difficult to get much possession. AFCB responded well though with a dominant first half performance. Surman's early square ball right across the six yard box with no AFCB player running on to it was just a sign of how the Cherries would play, with not everyone quite on the same wavelength. The accurate shooting just wasn't there though with Arter blazing over, Brett Pitman hitting a shot straight at Bailkowski and Ryan Fraser having a glorious chance to score but driving his shot at a comfortable height for Bailkowski.
Ipswich also had some early chances with some intricate play from Murphy, Bishop and Fryers on the left side of the box but Fryers smashed his shot over. Ipswich also looked dangerous when they just played route one football with Elphick missing a ball up the middle which Murphy flicked on for Sears who volleyed wide. A more nervy moment came when Steve Cook made a last gasp tackle on Sears in the box after 22 minutes which would have been a penalty if he hadn't got contact with the ball.
Ryan Fraser was proving hard for Ipswich to contain, so much so that Chambers was yellow carded for a foul on the Bournemouth winger on 24 minutes, although I thought that harsh. Mistakes were likely to cost some one dearly and Pitman so nearly capitalised on a poor pass by Bishop, but when AFCB did hit the target Bailkowski was always there.
A penalty claim by Pitman on the edge of the box with Skuse was correctly ignored. Arter's frustration saw him yellow carded on 39 minutes for a body check on Tabb and Wilson's fall between Berra and smith was again never going to be a penalty, as it looked like he merely slipped. Even Ritchie's trademark shot coming in from the right only brought the best out in Bailkowski and Fraser was having one of those days when he struck the follow up over.
The second half was perhaps less creative at first, but the pattern of play was the same with Bournemouth pressing for the equaliser and Ipswich repelling every attack, while hoping to catch a second goal. Daniels and Arter both had early shots saved in the centre of the goal and Wilson also could only find Bailkowski when he shot at goal. It was tough going and Bishop was replaced by Chaplow on 57 minutes as fresh legs were needed by Ipswich to quell the sustain forward play of the Cherries.
Ipswich's attacks were sporadic and few in number but Varney did see his volley from Chambers miss high to the left of Boruc's goal. AFCB's first change came on 64 minutes when Pitman was subbed for Yann Kermorgant, but as time moved on Eddie Howe brought on Adam Smith for Ryan Fraser as well as Kenwyne Jones for Steve Cook. Ipswich also replaced the hard working Freddie Sears with loan signing Chris Wood. While Luke Varney saw his next effort saved by Boruc, AFCB knew time was running out.
The introduction of Kenwyne Jones did the trick though as he put the Cherries back level with a brave header at the near post following a corner from Matt Ritchie. It was now down to the last eight minutes and yet neither side could grab that late winner. Matthew Clarke did come on for Luke Varney as the clock ran down and in extra time the Cherries almost claimed three points with Kermorgant and Smith forcing Bailkowski into action again, but it was a point each in this enticing Championship run-in.
Summary
It was a point that could be vital and AFCB will have been pleased to have got something from the game even thought they slip down to second in the table. I was told that Ipswich have only lost three goals at home all season just before the game, so I knew this could be a really stern test for the Cherries who had won 10 on the road and were looking to add to that to reclaim top spot at the top of the Championship. The Cherries are now seven unbeaten with just six games to go. They have to make their possession and their shots count in the remaining games.
AFCB
Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook (Jones 79), Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Fraser (Smith 78), Pitman (Kermorgant 65), Wilson
AFCB Subs
Camp, Smith, Ward, Gosling, MacDonald, Kermorgant, Jones
AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Francis 7, Elphick 6, Cook 6, Daniels 6, Ritchie 7, Arter 6, Surman 7, Fraser 7, Pitman 6, Wilson 7
Ipswich
Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Fryers, Bishop (Chaplow 57), Skuse, Tabb, Sears (Wood 79), Varney (Clarke 90), Murphy
Ipswich Subs
Gerken, McGoldrick, Anderson, Chaplow, Clarke, Wood, Williams
Referee: Robert Madley 8/10
Murphy will be Cherries' biggest test
Every time you look at the Sunday papers this season one names crops up more than any other among the goalscorers in the Championship - Ipswich's Darryl Murphy. At this point the Tractor Boy's main striker has notched up 23 goals and has been tipped to get 30 this season. Keeping him quiet is going to be the main job for Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook this Friday and it's not going to be an easy task.
What is so difficult about Darryl Murphy is that he is instinctive. He is always on the move, like good strikers should be and he only needs a small amount of space to be found by his teammates in front of goal. While he is powerful in the air, I wouldn't say he is the quickest forward in the division. So the job for Tommy and Steve is going to need them to be alert and constantly checking to see where Murphy is. At 32, Murphy is experience or streetwise and knows all the tricks to get free of defenders.
One might hope that the Republic of Ireland's game against Poland might have taken a bit of energy out of him, but he doesn't go that many games without netting and he has a good record against the Cherries. Take away his goals and Ipswich would look more like a team around 14th in terms of goal difference and so his importance to this Ipswich side can't be underestimated. I think AFCB's defenders have their most difficult game in the run-in here and Murphy is one problem that they have get the better of if they are to come away from Portman Road with a smile on their faces.
Of course AFCB also have some strikers that Ipswich will be wary of. while Kenwyne Jones will be looking to get off the mark for the Cherries I wouldn't mind Yann Kermorgant putting in some more goal like the following one against Ipswich earlier in the season.
Finally, I have launched a new Tab feature this morning -
What is so difficult about Darryl Murphy is that he is instinctive. He is always on the move, like good strikers should be and he only needs a small amount of space to be found by his teammates in front of goal. While he is powerful in the air, I wouldn't say he is the quickest forward in the division. So the job for Tommy and Steve is going to need them to be alert and constantly checking to see where Murphy is. At 32, Murphy is experience or streetwise and knows all the tricks to get free of defenders.
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| Daryl Murphy has been amazing at leading the line for Ipswich (no, I don't know what those two on the left are doing but they seem very good friends!). |
Of course AFCB also have some strikers that Ipswich will be wary of. while Kenwyne Jones will be looking to get off the mark for the Cherries I wouldn't mind Yann Kermorgant putting in some more goal like the following one against Ipswich earlier in the season.
Finally, I have launched a new Tab feature this morning -
Cherry Chimes chats to TWTD who fear Norwich play-off showdown
Rival Lines
Match Preview: Ipswich Town v AFCB
Blogger Interview: TWTD
Well while all of you were enjoying break or may be stressing over the lack of Championship football in the last 10 or more days I had the good fortune to be able to grill the opposition on the Cherries next match against Ipswich Town. Blair Ferguson who writes on the excellent TWTD site that follows the Tractor Boys. I not sure who was more nervous - me asking the questions or Blair giving the answers. It's just that time of the season where you hope everything just goes for your team.
CC: How do you feel ahead of the game against AFC Bournemouth?
TWTD: It’s another important game for Ipswich in terms of cementing a place in the top six. We could be out of the play-offs by the time the game starts so there could be an extra bit of pressure going into the game.
CC: How important do you think the three points were that Ipswich won against Watford?
TWTD: Massive! We had a tough time at Middlesbrough but reacted well with a win against Bolton, then continued to build momentum against Watford who are currently second and doing well.
The impact of scoring a late winner is always great for the fans but it shows the team are going to the very end of the game, which is important at this stage in the season.
CC: What do you feel about your remaining fixtures?
TWTD: I’m not sure there are many easy games at this stage of the season, but we do have a few games against teams who are mid-table and don’t have anything to play for. I think that can work against you sometimes, because the pressure is off them and they can just play.
You’d like to think the game against Blackpool shouldn’t be too difficult a task but it does make me lightly nervous! The match against Wolves has the potential to be season defining if the results go the right way going into it.
There are a few teams I’d rather play than Forest and Blackburn going into the last two because I’m fairly sure it will go that far.
CC: Mick McCarthy says that automatic promotion is still a possibility for Ipswich, but I guess a win against AFCB would be pretty much a must for that to happen?
TWTD: If we lose then the gap would be nine points and the chances of closing that would be very unlikely.
Ipswich would need to win all their remaining games and hope most teams above us all dropped points at the same time because we don’t have any of them left to play after Friday. It’s fairly unlikely but not impossible.
CC: Is there any team you would want to avoid if you do end up in the play-offs - Norwich City might be a bit awkward?
TWTD: Our recent record against Norwich has been poor and the thought of trying to change that over two-legs doesn’t excite me. Meeting them in the final would be even worse, but as a one off game you never know how that could end.
Derby haven’t been playing well recently and would probably be my favoured option. It’s always better to be the team that finishes with momentum in the play-offs and Derby have lost all of theirs, so I’d take them.
CC: Tyrone Mings has received 10 yellow cards now so who do you think will fill in for him against AFCB and how much of a miss will he be for Ipswich?
TWTD: Mings is a good player so he will definitely be missed but I think Jonathan Parr will fill in for him provided he’s recovered from his knock. Just remembered, we signed Zeki Fryers on loan before the international break. He could replace Mings if Parr isn't fit.
CC: Mick McCarthy has brought in a few players to Ipswich on loan in recent weeks - who has stood out for you and given you a real boost?
TWTD:: Richard Chaplow provided a boost with his winning goal against Watford but apart from that the loan signings haven’t made a great deal of impact.
Luke Varney and Chris Wood haven’t managed to score for us yet and I think that’s what you have to judge a striker on in terms of the difference he has made.
CC: Did you have any injury concerns following the Watford game and have you got many players on international duty?
TWTD: Christophe Berra featured for Scotland alongside Matt Ritchie – Ritchie set up Berra for his goal against Northern Ireland – and we might see David McGoldrick return after a long spell out, but he didn’t feature in the U21 game against Coventry on Monday night.
CC: Did you feel that things were going against Ipswich after the early part of March when the team lost to Norwich and were beaten by Boro?
TWTD: Not so much going against us. Norwich and Middlesbrough are good teams and you expect hard games against them. I think the most concerning thing was the manor in which we lost and the poor performance in each game. We seem to have put that behind us now and need to keep the momentum going.
CC: Are you ready for glory or despair on the last day of the season?
TWTD: I’d consider a play-off spot glory at this stage and I think we can definitely achieve that. Sitting in sixth now means it is ours to lose with the possibility of nicking second-place still at the back of my mind.
CC: Do you feel that the Ipswich squad can get promoted if it has to do it through the play-offs?
TWTD: As I mentioned earlier, momentum is a big part of winning the play-offs and Ipswich will have to keep winning between now and the end of the season to be in there. We have a very good team spirit just now and that could play a big part in a play-off campaign.
CC: Are you surprised that AFC Bournemouth have hung in at the top of the league despite fall off the top in February?
TWTD: Not overly. AFCB are a good team and everyone around the top has had a wobble at one time or another, at one stage it looked like no one wanted to win it!
CC: What is your score prediction for Ipswich v AFC Bournemouth?
TWTD: 1-0 for Ipswich
Well, I almost thought I was winning Blair over, but he came out very confident with a 1-0 home win prediction in the end. Looking at recent games in the Championship between these two sides the draw is certainly the safe bet although both teams have so much to gain with a win that they are likely to leave nothing on the pitch for this one. It could certainly be a Good Friday for one of these teams and the late kick-off will just add a little more drama to the occasion with the TV cameras looking on. I suppose I also have to give a score prediction and I am going for a 1-2 away win - come on Kenwyne!
Please check out the TWTD site which has some news on players coming back from injury and lots of views on Ipswich's run-in.
Match Preview: Ipswich Town v AFCB
Blogger Interview: TWTD
CC: How do you feel ahead of the game against AFC Bournemouth?
TWTD: It’s another important game for Ipswich in terms of cementing a place in the top six. We could be out of the play-offs by the time the game starts so there could be an extra bit of pressure going into the game.
CC: How important do you think the three points were that Ipswich won against Watford?
TWTD: Massive! We had a tough time at Middlesbrough but reacted well with a win against Bolton, then continued to build momentum against Watford who are currently second and doing well.
The impact of scoring a late winner is always great for the fans but it shows the team are going to the very end of the game, which is important at this stage in the season.
CC: What do you feel about your remaining fixtures?
TWTD: I’m not sure there are many easy games at this stage of the season, but we do have a few games against teams who are mid-table and don’t have anything to play for. I think that can work against you sometimes, because the pressure is off them and they can just play.
You’d like to think the game against Blackpool shouldn’t be too difficult a task but it does make me lightly nervous! The match against Wolves has the potential to be season defining if the results go the right way going into it.
There are a few teams I’d rather play than Forest and Blackburn going into the last two because I’m fairly sure it will go that far.
CC: Mick McCarthy says that automatic promotion is still a possibility for Ipswich, but I guess a win against AFCB would be pretty much a must for that to happen?
TWTD: If we lose then the gap would be nine points and the chances of closing that would be very unlikely.
Ipswich would need to win all their remaining games and hope most teams above us all dropped points at the same time because we don’t have any of them left to play after Friday. It’s fairly unlikely but not impossible.
CC: Is there any team you would want to avoid if you do end up in the play-offs - Norwich City might be a bit awkward?
TWTD: Our recent record against Norwich has been poor and the thought of trying to change that over two-legs doesn’t excite me. Meeting them in the final would be even worse, but as a one off game you never know how that could end.
Derby haven’t been playing well recently and would probably be my favoured option. It’s always better to be the team that finishes with momentum in the play-offs and Derby have lost all of theirs, so I’d take them.
CC: Tyrone Mings has received 10 yellow cards now so who do you think will fill in for him against AFCB and how much of a miss will he be for Ipswich?
TWTD: Mings is a good player so he will definitely be missed but I think Jonathan Parr will fill in for him provided he’s recovered from his knock. Just remembered, we signed Zeki Fryers on loan before the international break. He could replace Mings if Parr isn't fit.
CC: Mick McCarthy has brought in a few players to Ipswich on loan in recent weeks - who has stood out for you and given you a real boost?
TWTD:: Richard Chaplow provided a boost with his winning goal against Watford but apart from that the loan signings haven’t made a great deal of impact.
Luke Varney and Chris Wood haven’t managed to score for us yet and I think that’s what you have to judge a striker on in terms of the difference he has made.
CC: Did you have any injury concerns following the Watford game and have you got many players on international duty?
TWTD: Christophe Berra featured for Scotland alongside Matt Ritchie – Ritchie set up Berra for his goal against Northern Ireland – and we might see David McGoldrick return after a long spell out, but he didn’t feature in the U21 game against Coventry on Monday night.
CC: Did you feel that things were going against Ipswich after the early part of March when the team lost to Norwich and were beaten by Boro?
TWTD: Not so much going against us. Norwich and Middlesbrough are good teams and you expect hard games against them. I think the most concerning thing was the manor in which we lost and the poor performance in each game. We seem to have put that behind us now and need to keep the momentum going.
CC: Are you ready for glory or despair on the last day of the season?
TWTD: I’d consider a play-off spot glory at this stage and I think we can definitely achieve that. Sitting in sixth now means it is ours to lose with the possibility of nicking second-place still at the back of my mind.
CC: Do you feel that the Ipswich squad can get promoted if it has to do it through the play-offs?
TWTD: As I mentioned earlier, momentum is a big part of winning the play-offs and Ipswich will have to keep winning between now and the end of the season to be in there. We have a very good team spirit just now and that could play a big part in a play-off campaign.
CC: Are you surprised that AFC Bournemouth have hung in at the top of the league despite fall off the top in February?
TWTD: Not overly. AFCB are a good team and everyone around the top has had a wobble at one time or another, at one stage it looked like no one wanted to win it!
CC: What is your score prediction for Ipswich v AFC Bournemouth?
TWTD: 1-0 for Ipswich
Well, I almost thought I was winning Blair over, but he came out very confident with a 1-0 home win prediction in the end. Looking at recent games in the Championship between these two sides the draw is certainly the safe bet although both teams have so much to gain with a win that they are likely to leave nothing on the pitch for this one. It could certainly be a Good Friday for one of these teams and the late kick-off will just add a little more drama to the occasion with the TV cameras looking on. I suppose I also have to give a score prediction and I am going for a 1-2 away win - come on Kenwyne!
Please check out the TWTD site which has some news on players coming back from injury and lots of views on Ipswich's run-in.
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Expect more grumbles from Mick McCarthy
It's probably fair to say that Mick McCarthy has been keen to stress that AFCB's good fortune is more to do with their bank account than any other factor from the comments he has made in previous encounters with the Cherries. Attracting good capital these days though is half the problem for many teams that are finding it difficult to manage their finances. AFCB should not be looked down upon though because they are now doing things right. Perhaps other clubs can learn from how AFCB have secured better funding and have been able to come through the league and to compete against clubs with much bigger fan bases.
Ipswich are of course one of those clubs that AFCB fans would consider a big club and they have also been bringing in some loan players ahead of the run-in with Johnny Williams and Zeki Fryers joining from Crystal Palace. The Suffolk side have also kept hold of Luke Varney and Richard Chaplow until the end of the season. Mick McCarthy also brought in Freddie Sears from Colchester who has done well since joining Ipswich. Elliott Hewitt has also been recalled from Colchester as possible cover for Tyrone Mings who will miss the clash with the Cherries. Striker David McGoldrich might also be back for the big match against the Cherries, along with Darren Ambrose perhaps.
Ipswich will know that a win against Bournemouth would draw them just three points behind the Cherries and could give them vital distance points over some of the teams vying for a play-off place. But Mick McCarthy will also know that a defeat would make it very hard for Ipswich to finish in the top two being nine points behind the Cherries. Ipswich need to make up ground and whether that means they come at the Cherries and leave holes in behind we will have to wait and see. Previous encounters in the Championship between the two sides have ended in draws but I don't think either side would be overly pleased with a draw this time around.
Ipswich's home form is pretty strong and with the TV cameras at the game it should be a very lively game, because AFCB never go to any ground and hold back these days. I'll be looking forward to Mick's post-match comments though. It will probably go something like - how can they afford someone like Kenwyne Jones? Only kidding Mick, you were the first to stop calling us "little Bournemouth" - just don't tell him AFCB's players have been training in Dubai. UTCIAD!
Ipswich Town Home Form
WLWDW
AFCB Away Form
WLLWD
Make sure you check out Cherry Chimes tomorrow as we have a Rival Lines interview with Independent Ipswich fan site TWTD.
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| AFCB v Ipswich last November. |
Ipswich are of course one of those clubs that AFCB fans would consider a big club and they have also been bringing in some loan players ahead of the run-in with Johnny Williams and Zeki Fryers joining from Crystal Palace. The Suffolk side have also kept hold of Luke Varney and Richard Chaplow until the end of the season. Mick McCarthy also brought in Freddie Sears from Colchester who has done well since joining Ipswich. Elliott Hewitt has also been recalled from Colchester as possible cover for Tyrone Mings who will miss the clash with the Cherries. Striker David McGoldrich might also be back for the big match against the Cherries, along with Darren Ambrose perhaps.
Ipswich will know that a win against Bournemouth would draw them just three points behind the Cherries and could give them vital distance points over some of the teams vying for a play-off place. But Mick McCarthy will also know that a defeat would make it very hard for Ipswich to finish in the top two being nine points behind the Cherries. Ipswich need to make up ground and whether that means they come at the Cherries and leave holes in behind we will have to wait and see. Previous encounters in the Championship between the two sides have ended in draws but I don't think either side would be overly pleased with a draw this time around.
Ipswich's home form is pretty strong and with the TV cameras at the game it should be a very lively game, because AFCB never go to any ground and hold back these days. I'll be looking forward to Mick's post-match comments though. It will probably go something like - how can they afford someone like Kenwyne Jones? Only kidding Mick, you were the first to stop calling us "little Bournemouth" - just don't tell him AFCB's players have been training in Dubai. UTCIAD!
Ipswich Town Home Form
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AFCB Away Form
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Make sure you check out Cherry Chimes tomorrow as we have a Rival Lines interview with Independent Ipswich fan site TWTD.
The Cherries have it all to play for
The top teams in the Championship are by no means safe from securing a play-off place yet with Brentford and Wolves tight on the heels of the top six. It is hard to see any other clubs apart from the top eight now battling it out, but there are 21 points to play for and it looks like a total points hall in the mid-to low 80s is what could be required to ensure the play-offs, if Brentford or Wolves go on a great run to make it really close for that sixth place at the end.
While AFCB's position is the best that any team has, in that it is a lead, it is narrow one that could quickly be lost if the Cherries do find Ipswich a problem in their next game. But as Tommy Elphick has said it is important that destiny is kept in their own hands. A strong victory at Ipswich will surely be a significant step towards promotion and with no top of the table team for AFCB then to face in the remaining games, I am sure that Eddie Howe would have been delighted to be in this position if you had told about it at the start of the season.
Yes, Watford, Middlesbrough and Norwich are still all too close for AFCB fans' liking, but you can't help think that this is a great opportunity. It is very thoughtful that the team has now been taken away on a Dubai break or a training camp to focus on the last part of this season. It removed them from all the hype and media attention that might have been a problem if they had stayed in Bournemouth, and with everyone's attention on the internationals it is hoped that we see a fresh and well rested team when they come back to take on Ipswich.
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| AFCB probably need to push towards the high 80s or even 90 points to secure an automatic promotion place. |
Yes, Watford, Middlesbrough and Norwich are still all too close for AFCB fans' liking, but you can't help think that this is a great opportunity. It is very thoughtful that the team has now been taken away on a Dubai break or a training camp to focus on the last part of this season. It removed them from all the hype and media attention that might have been a problem if they had stayed in Bournemouth, and with everyone's attention on the internationals it is hoped that we see a fresh and well rested team when they come back to take on Ipswich.
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Eddie has been looking for balance
After the match against Middlesbrough, Eddie Howe said that he had been looking for the right balance and that he felt that he had found it for that match. It was a surprise for many supporters that Brett Pitman was not starting after the last few games he had been involved in but whatever weaknesses Eddie saw in Middlesbrough, the team were able to exploit it with stunning effect.
Cherry Chimes April Newsletter - is out now!
Cherry Chimes' April Newsletter picks over the top stories from the blog in March.
You can read extra posts as well that are not on the blog entitled: 'The scrap for the title is on and the special newsletter story: 'Is Pitman under-rated by fans? All you need to do is sign up here if you don't already receive the newsletter:
To subscribe to the Newsletter sign up here
Crowd reaction to the third goal going in against Middlesbrough.
It is not always easy to drop a player that has been doing well. But it is the overall team on the day that has to be the most important consideration and Eddie Howe has never been afraid to go against what people expect to get a result on the pitch. I am sure some of his independent thoughts together with collective decisions with Jason Tindall have carried AFCB to the very top of the division and you can't argue with that. Against Middlesbrough he chose Yann Kermorgant and he put away the first penalty well, while Brett still got his opportunity later on from the spot.
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| Yann has been in and out of the team of late, but if Callum Yann fit he tends to be the preferred partner. |
The balance of the team against Middlesbrough seemed stronger to me on the left though for once and Charlie Daniles and Marc Pugh were pretty sensational that day. Simon Francis was not as prolific up the right wing as he has been and he had to be alert to the breaks by Middlesbrough, especially when Lee Tomlin was drifting and trying to get in between AFCB's defence and midfield.
The balance of the team could well be altered again for the Ipswich match. I have not heard news about Marc Pugh yet but I am sure we will soon find out how he has been doing and if he can take part in the matches over Easter. Callum Wilson looks out though having not trained in the last two weeks. All those on international duty will also need to be assessed and some of the players out in Dubai just might have caused some rethinking with their form. I would not think that Kenwyne Jones will get many training sessions in with the squad before Friday and yet he may well have to lead the line.
Whatever the selection for the Ipswich game, it is going to be bigger than the last game in terms of pressure I feel, but the players have shown that they can deal with that. Being away at Portman Road one would imagine that the pressure on Ipswich will be equally as high and even higher if they find AFCB can get off to a flyer.
You can vote on our poll in the side panel which asks if you think Kenwyne Jones will have a successful loan period at AFCB - the poll closes at 10pm.
You can vote on our poll in the side panel which asks if you think Kenwyne Jones will have a successful loan period at AFCB - the poll closes at 10pm.
Cherry Chimes' April Newsletter picks over the top stories from the blog in March.
You can read extra posts as well that are not on the blog entitled: 'The scrap for the title is on and the special newsletter story: 'Is Pitman under-rated by fans? All you need to do is sign up here if you don't already receive the newsletter:
To subscribe to the Newsletter sign up here
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