Some strange things we'll have to get used to for Project Restart

While football is returning, it's not going to be quite the same game on our screens as it was back in March. While the laws of the game haven't changed much, apart from having more substitutions, we could find viewing from home is a very sterile environment.

Football just want be like normal.

I am particularly interested to see how confused players are when the game suddenly stops for a VAR decision. At home, we could be sat back and relaxed watching replays while the players are wondering exactly what the replays are showing. For fans who are usually at the games, it will be a change to get the VAR decisions being carried out live in front of them in real-time with TV commentary. The players on the pitch may be the last to know what is going on.

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Then we are going to be deprived of any physical contact when it comes to goal celebrations. How will the players switch their natural tendencies to celebrate off? Will they file back quickly for the restart and will we see the same dissatisfied reactions from players when they concede? And do we really want the simulated noise of a goal celebration when our team does score?

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Even the simple matter of a corner could well be disrupted with the ball being quickly disinfected before a player places it down to take the kick. We could also see this for goal kicks and penalties. But there will also be fewer if any ball boys around the pitch and players may have to do a lot o their own ball fetching.

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Get ready for some viewing that is a little different from what we have seen before. I will be interesting to see how far fans feel removed form the game and the action, and if Premier League game can hold the attention just as much as they have done before.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - What are Howe's main worries for the start?

What are Howe's main worries for the restart?

Bournemouth may be hurtling towards the last few games of the season, but this is the crucial time for Eddie Howe. He has many more players now who are in competition for places, but what are the concerns he might have as the Cherries get ready for the first three matches?

Increasing worries or an opportunity for Eddie Howe?

His first concern will be injuries in training. We can view this period as a short pre-season and while clubs have ben given permission to play friendlies in June, before the league matches, we could see some injuries as the intensity is ramped up.

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He also has to make sure he makes the right choices for his starting line ups. We can say he has a bit more flexibility with five substitutions now, but the team needs to start games well more than ever and selecting the best team is going to be his biggest headache as we get closer to the games.

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The next worry will be how the players feel playing in empty stadiums, and not just at home, but when they go to away games. It is one thing playing in front of your own empty Dean Court and another going to Molineux, where there is usually a big crowd which can fire up the players.

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His ultimate concern though will be a failure to get points in the first few games, and he will wonder how morale could be affected, if Bournemouth don't get a result in the first game against Crystal Palace. He will want to be positive and have no negative thoughts going into the first game, but we know Crystal Palace are a good team and can find ways to hurt teams. The pressure on Howe now is probably as great as it has ever been, but he has a goal to aim for. He needs to ensure he is clear on what the team need to get in the way of points to stay up and how he is going to get the team there.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - AFCB will feel more confident with main man back

AFCB will feel more confident with main man back

Bournemouth's defence hasn't been at its best this season, but Eddie Howe will be pleased that one man has been making his way back to training and is now ready to play. The season could well have ended without Steve Cook playing another game, but the COVID-19 period has enabled him to recover from his hamstring pull and he is probably more important than most to have a round as a leader and a player to inspire on the pitch and in the dressing room.

Steve Cook is ready to play his part.

Listening to Steve talk about the 6-1 hammering of Hull City for the Cherries' repicked game you could see how he was looking forward to coming back, and his conversation was always flicking over to what the team had to do now in its position and how to get out of it. Steve knows what it took to get into the Premier League and he will make sure that everyone else knows that they must give there all to put more points on the table in the next few weeks.

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He will hope to play the remaining games with Nathan Aké, and Bournemouth fans will hope that this is not the last series of games that they get to play together in Bournemouth shirts. Stability is built from the back and while Bournemouth have had their troubles this season, it is another year when these two players have got to know more about each other's game. It is going to take a huge effort to see them both take up their positions in this team next season, but if they keep the team up we may see that Nathan is not sold and Steve can still reminisce about Championship days, rather than having to play back in that league again.

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I get the feeling that Steve may well go all out to get a goal in these remaining games. He wants to show that he has contributed and the players seem to react well when Cook does get forward and strikes on AFCB. Steve Cook gives the option of leaving Francis out of the starting line up, and I expect Howe to do that because he believes that Steve is now the player that the team see as the heart of AFCB. Steve just needs to have a big game and he will feel that he has never been away.

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Previous posy on Cherry Chimes - Palace first text in resumed league for AFCB

Palace first challenge in resumed league for AFCB

The Daily Mail published the proposed Premier League fixtures and dates yesterday and it looks like the BBC will show AFCB's first match against Crystal Palace at home on free to air TV, according to the Bournemouth Echo. With games against Wolves away and Newcastle United at home to follow, this first week will pretty much define whether AFCB can give themselves a chance of staying in the Premier League.

AFCB will hope for a better result against Palace than they had in December.

These fixtures were due to happen back in March, but the big question now is will the couple of months delay make any difference to the outcomes? Eddie Howe himself said there are likely to be some strange results and said we have already seen this in the Bundesliga. AFCB certainly need some strange results with four of the top six to play, but the first three games gives them a chance to get points on the board. The problem is they may have to win them all.

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The stage will be set on the most tension-packed week in AFCB's season so far with these next three games, and while we may be able to see the first game free-to-air there is no guarantee of any of the other matches being free to watch yet. The Daily Mail article stated that 33 of the 92 games are expected to be free to watch, so AFCB fans will be perhaps lucky to see three games of their team without having to pay anything. It might not be the feast of football that will get fans chanting, but at least we have a few weeks to find friends with Sky or BT if the pubs are not open by mid-June. I dare say that many of us will be listening to the radio at least.

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So while the Premier League and Government have been shouting about how accessible the matches will be, fans may well be disappointed unless they support several teams. But for AFCB all efforts are no doubt being made to make the first three games turn into points in the bag, because the next three of Tottenham home, Leicester City home and Man City away look like a potential Eurovison 'nil pointers' for AFCB unless some of those strange results can become a reality.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Extended Wilson loan should have Cherries buzzing

Extended Wilson loan should have Cherries buzzing

The Bournemouth Echo has reported that Harry Wilson has had his loan contract extended past 30 June ,so that he can play a part in AFCB last remaining nine games of the season. This should be a massive boost to the options Howe now has on the wings and as AFCB's second top scorer this season, Harry Wilson will be extra fire power to hand.

Harry Wilson stays to the end of the season.

While AFCB are unlikely to buy Harry Wilson over the summer, from Liverpool he has fitted in well and it will be interesting to see if Howe will play Harry on one side and David Brooks on the other wing at some stage during the run-in. Like David Brooks, I think Harry Wilson would be even more suited to playing behind the front striker as his game develops, as he has a powerful and accurate shot. Bournemouth simply don't seem to play that way very much though with Eddie Howe liking wingers to get round the back, but it's something he might consider in upcoming games.

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Bournemouth will need goals more than ever now. The goal difference between the bottom few clubs is not large and it could come down to a few goals, especially if the league is not fully concluded and decided on goals and points per game.

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Liverpool of course are in a position where they can be generous to AFCB, but they could have said no to extending the loan. It gives Wilson a bit of a window in which to showcase his talents and I expect he would have felt disappointed if he had not been able to complete the season at AFCB, having played in so many matches and having been a big part of the squad this season.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - A difficult decision for Billing

A difficult decision for Billing

It has been reported that Philip Billing is still considering who he would most like to make himself available for when it comes to international football, according to ESPN. He has the option of playing for Denmark or Nigeria. Billing has a Nigerian father, but he grew up in Denmark and it is thought that he does think of himself as of Danish decent despite having enquired about playing for Nigeria.

Philip Billing has a decision to make.

International football is an easy decision for most individuals, but when you have the opportunity to play for a couple of teams it can't be quite so easy, especially when you don't want to offend anyone in your family or fans. Denmark have probably got less chance of winning any major titles, whereas Nigeria may well see themselves as Africa Cup of Nations winners in the next few years - and nobody would be surprised if that happened. Billing probably just wants to pick a nation where he can be sure to get games, but both these teams have had talented players in the past and have done okay on the world stage, even if Nigeria have perhaps not reached their true potential.

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It reminds me of the similar choice that Matt Ritchie had to make a few years ago. He chose to play for Scotland via his father's line, even though he hadn't even stepped in Scotland himself, until he played for them. Having an identity is something that many take for granted, but it is surprising the number of players now who get to their early 20s who still haven't stated exactly what nationality they are taking up in terms of sport. It is as if advisors are now telling them to keep their options open, and understandably this can rattle some people when they see a talented player decide not to play for their national team.

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I expect Billing will follow his heart. Anything less is hard to live with and players want to give their all when they get to national team level. I hope Billing can live with the choice he makes, and for AFCB it will be good if he does get selected soon to improve his abilities playing with players that are of a higher standard. Travel distance may also be a consideration, but it really has to come down to the gut feeling of the player involved.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Rambo will be ready to be AFCB no 1 keeper

Rambo will be ready to be AFCB's no 1 keeper

The news of Aaron Ramsdale's positive test for COVID-19 was hardly good news. But the timing of it allowed Aaron to make his recovery, and he will be delighted to train with the other keepers today for the first time in a week. I think Ramsdale is essential for AFCB's hoped of staying up and to have him back will be a big lift for the players and staff.

Ramsdale - ready to go again.

It is the character os Ramsdale that makes him a big special. Yes, he is a great keeper and may yet have more massive saves in his locker that we see in the next few weeks, but it is his bubbly energy and confidence that the team really need. Every positive player is going to be very important now. AFCB need that positivity and to generate a bit more defiance than they have shown in the early part of the season. Having Rambo back will make a difference to morale.

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While it has been training as usual for Artur Boruc, Mark Travers and Will Dennis, I have no doubt that they want Ramsdale to finish the season and do it by keeping the Cherries up. They will want to support him in his efforts to be the player who makes that vital difference, and keepers tend to have important parts to play when the pressure really piles on.

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While Ramsdale won't have a penalty shoot out to keep AFCB up, he will feel that every save he makes is another step towards getting the team the points it needs. He hasn't found it easy to pick up clean sheets and that is what he must concentrate on. While he has missed a week of training, I bet they don't take it easy on him. Ramsdale will be worked twice as hard and every bit of confidence he can gain from that could be really important come the restart games.

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Bournemouth need their best players on the pitch and Aaron Ramsdale is definitely one of them.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Cherries need to take this period as a new beginning

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