Who is going to score for Bournemouth?

With Callum Wilson out there is real worry about who is going to score the goals for Bournemouth. It's not that Callum was setting the word on fire, but he and Harry Wilson are the players that have been setting the standard.

Dominic Solanke is yet to score his fist AFCB goal in the Premier Legaue.

The good news is that Josh King has not been rushed back, but has been training and does not seem to have suffered any problems with his hamstring. If Josh can lead the line then Bournemouth already look stronger than they were in the second half against Liverpool, when Callum Wilson pulled up. It is strange that Josh King was complaining at the start of the season that he wanted to play through the middle. Well now he is likely to get his chance.

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We have not really seen how well Solanke and King could work as a partnership and Eddie Howe may find himself surprised if they work better as a partnership than King and Callum Wilson or Callum and Solanke. Sometimes managers are forced into a team selection and this one could actually work in Bournemouth's favour. Howe doesn't like to try too many different things when things are working well, but now is the opportunity to experiment a little as a change is usually a wise move when the team has not been performing.

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The other good news is that Junior Stanislas is on his way back. He, like King and Lloyd Kelly, has been on the training pitch and if Junior can get back to being on the bench it at east gives Howe an option to bring on in games. AFCB could look very different in the next few games, but by freshening it up AFCB just mart start to pick up some points again.

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Does Eddie play King if he's 90% fit?

Josh King has not had any problems in returning to training from what we hear. Eddie Howe has lost Callum Wilson and only has Dominic Solanke as a striker, who he knows is fully fit. Josh King hasn't played matches, but if he is ready to go Eddie may just decide he has to start against Chelsea.

Could Josh be back this weekend?

Rushing King back is the last thing Howe will want to do. King has had a series of hamstring problems over the years. If he breaks down in December, he'll miss games that are potentially more winnable in January. Yet, if Solanke plays on his own up front, are Bournemouth just throwing away any real potential of scoring against teams in December? There has been talk about Sam Surridge being recalled from Swansea, but Howe won't want to disrupt Surridge's time at Swansea City seeing that he is fitting in well there.

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If Harry Wilson or Junior Stanislas could be used as back-up strikers, Howe could lighten the load on Solanke and King. He probably has to, or use Ryan Fraser at some point as a number 10. The wing situation can be covered by Jordan Ibe, if Howe is willing to let him play again. At this point, Bournemouth will need every available player. Anyone who can do a job should be considered to play now as the numbers are not good and Bournemouth need to fill the bench with the best players they have.

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So, if King is anywhere near 90 per cent or so fit, I'd be surprised if Howe didn't play him. Just having King's name on the team sheet gives the players a boost and will make the opposition manager wary that Bournemouth can do something on the break. It may be risky to play King, but I don't see there is much choice. You can't protect players when the team is losing one or two players every game. Bournemouth have to hope their luck changes.

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The one thing that can be said for everyone having to find a way to make the team strong enough to cope with the December fixtures, the players will have to unite and fight for the cause. There hasn't been enough of that and seeing King come back will be part of the spark that Howe will hope can reignite the Cherries' season.

Looking for some positives for AFCB?

It has been a hard few weeks. We have all had a good moan about the team and nobody wants to see them do badly. So are there some positives about the situation for our beloved Cherries? I think there are quite a few and it is important that the players start to think that way to.

Callum might be out, but it's a chance to experiment up front.

Despite the recent run of defeats, Bournemouth are still not in the bottom three. It may only be a point that separates the Cherries, but if they can avoid being in the bottom three at Christmas, they can take some belief that there are some teams not dong as well as them. The goal difference at Bournemouth is also better than it has been on most previous Premier League seasons. At -6 from 16 games, the Cherries are on course to concede 56 goals this season at 1.5 goals a game. That actually compares favourably to the 70 goals that went in last season against the Cherries.

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There have also been lots of talk about managerial positions being linked to Eddie Howe. Well, at the moment Eddie finds it embarrassing to be even spoken to about other jobs when he sees the situation that AFCB are currently in. He's staying and wants to put things right this season. Some fans may want a change, but I am sure they are in the minority.

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Another positive is that a couple of players are coming back. Josh King, Junior Stanislas and Lloyd Kelly could soon swell available squad numbers. Bournemouth are usually a free-flowing and scoring team. When they do get back to their best they will start scoring and they are currently well below what they are capable of producing having only scored 18 goals from their first 16 games. So there is more to come in my mind.

December is traditionally a good month for the Cherries. It may have started disappointingly but there are more points to be had and a win now would make a big impression on the Cherries league position. 

Now we'll see the true value of Aké

Losing Nathan Aké for the Christmas period is just about the last thing AFCB needed. He has been the rock that the defence has been built upon and without his experience, Bournemouth will just have to make do. At the weekend Jack Simpson came in to plug the gap, but Eddie may try something else for the match away at Chelsea.

How do you replace Nathan Aké?

Eddie Howe will be reflecting on the third goal that Chelsea scored and Jack Simpson's misdirected pass that went to Keita, before Salah received a pass from Keita to score Liverpool's third goal. Was Jack Simply unlucky? Could he have made a safe pass and is he still best placed to play next to Chris Mepham?

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The other straight choice Eddie has is to move Simon Francis over to centre-back. This 
would make more sense as Francis is now a better player at centre-back than at right-back and Jack Stacey is perfectly capable of tying down the right-back slot. Of course, Howe may decide it is better to even go with three at the back just to keep another defender on the bench. All of a sudden though, Bournemouth are not blessed with lots of centre-halves and players like Charlie Daniels who could slip in and do such a job just aren't available.

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Chris Mepham is also in the spotlight having misjudged the flight of the ball for Liverpool's first goal. Great centre-halves are invaluable and the loss of Nathan Aké is going to be seen in the coming games. Bournemouth really are down to the bare bones and Chris Mepham and Simon Francis have not played a game together as a centre-back pairing from my memory.

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Eddie has to work with what he has. The shape of the defence will be the first thing Howe has to get right against Chelsea. It's what the team has to work on this week as a priority, then work needs to be done on working out how Bournemouth can have a threat up front. The options are limited, but we do know Nathan Aké will certainly be missed at the back.

Meanwhile, SkySports reports that Chelsea have a £40m but-back clause in Aké's contract and want to exercise it this January.

Howe says the Cherries will regroup

Eddie Howe is never one to say the picture is brighter than it really is. He no doubt takes responsibility for where the team is in the league, and for recent performances, but he'll need to pick himself up before he can impart some confidence back into the team. If Howe can't get his own levels boosted quickly, then it will set the wrong tune for the week ahead.

Eddie Howe has to really earn is money this December with the position AFCB are in.

Regroup they must. Howe to be more positive is the question. Bournemouth can look back at videos and ask why players were not doing their jobs better against Liverpool, but the real improvement will come on the training ground. The players need to be working how to defend balls over the top and how to create more chances in open play for their own team.

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This could well mean a different way of lining up and some players may have to fill different roles. Solanke hasn't been the main striker often, but he'll have to lead the line if King is not back next Saturday. But it is important to get players around him as well. Harry Wilson, Ryan Fraser and even Jordan Ibe could be in contention to play nearer to Solanke and if Howe floods the midfield, he'll need energy on the wings to get up and support the attacks.

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As long as Howe has a plan or two to get the players believing they have the weapons to hurt Chelsea, Bournemouth can go into their next game with a bit of confidence. They need something more than heir current form to dwell on. If the players can see a plan working then, they'll redouble their efforts and the AFCB fans will get right behind them. It's no good continually criticising the players now, We have to get behind them to help them dig themselves out of the losing run.

The next win seems a long time away for AFCB

The Cherries are on a five game losing streak and the mood in camp is probably as low as it has ever been in the top division. While they can be reassured that they are not the only Premier League team that is struggling, the injuries and lack of goals are starting to weigh heavily on the team, and they have to see a way of getting a win on the board or at least a point.

AFCb have the worst form record in the league with five defeats in a row.

Playing Chelsea away will be as hard if not harder than the Liverpool match as Frank Lampard's side will be keen to get back to winning ways themselves. Eddie Howe will surely draw on the way the team has played against Chelsea before at Stamford Bridge, and it is a stadium that has find memories for the players and supporters.

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There will be a change in the line up for Bournemouth. The back four will have  a new look about it and Bournemouth could well be down to one striker in Dominic Solanke. But Bournemouth have to see this as a chance to do something new. Change the look of the team and get some passion back into the play.

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We know Harry Wilson is a goal scorer so let's play him in behind Solanke. Rejig the midfield with a fully fit Gosling ready to play more than 30 minutes. The senior players have a role to fill now. Simon Francis and Ryan Fraser have been in this situation before and must draw on their experience to get some positivity into the other players. Bournemouth don't give up and they have a history of beating the odds.

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This is just another season when they are being tested. Eddie Howe says 'bring it on'. Perhaps we shouldn't wish it Eddie! And as fans, we have to play our part in lifting the team and giving them belief that they are a great team that can beat the best teams on their day. A win does seem a long way away, but games turn in an instant. Bournemouth need a bit of good fortune and it could turn at any time.

Chimes to Camera: AFCB 0 v 3 Liverpool

Lerma the only player showing fight for AFCB

What is it with AFCB's players? Jefferson Lerma gave everything for the team on Saturday, but it is hard to say that the other players gave nearly as much fight in the tackle or aggression as Jefferson Lerma. The players know that it is going to be hard and when they conceded a goal after Aké went off. You need players to stand up and have pride in that they can hold on against Bournemouth even when one of the team's best player goes off. Instead it was Lerma and just Lerma that stepped up.

Lerma is leading the way for AFCB

It is a great credit to Lerma that his head did not go down all game. He has the warrior spirit that is so important. The other players need to look at Lerma's game and add some of that fight to their own performances. When things are going well, it's easy to hide behind others when the goals go in and the points come quickly. When things are not working though, you need big hearts and a determination to win every tackle. We are just not seeing that at AFCB.

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Eddie Howe has to get the players wanting the ball again and concentrating on stopping the opposition. If Bournemouth can snap at the heels of Chelsea then they can knock them off their stride. Lerma will be the main man to do that job, but the others have to follow his lead. It made me sad to see Lerma running his socks off, but not seeing others get close to their man and make it more difficult for Liverpool.

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There are players who are more than out of form. Some players are not putting much in at all. Now that they can see how damaging that is to the team, I hope for a change in mental attitude next game. The players can't go out thinking they have already lost and that it will be more of the same. They have to want results to change and that is only going to happen if they all unite and work hard for each other on the pitch.