Peter Neil Bell's Blog: Cherry Chimes, page 10

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Published on November 17, 2020 22:15

November 16, 2020

Should Surridge look for a move in January?

At the start of this season, I expected Sam Surridge to get a lot more game time than he has been getting to date. While that has been impacted a little by Josh King not moving on, there has been extra competition from Danuma, while Solanke was always likely to be the main striker.

Will Sam Surridge get more playing time at AFCB?
Whether Sam has been given a fair crack at establishing himself is something that he might be pondering himself. He is young at 22 and has time, but having done so well in the Championship last season and the season before that, it seems harsh that he has had to prove himself even more at his home club. When on loan for Oldham in 2018-19 he scored 15 goals and in 2019-20 he netted 20 times for Swansea. He is still waiting to score his first league goal for Bournemouth this season, but I don't see that as being his main problem.

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order A great Christmas gift for AFCB fans

I'd like to see Sam get more of a run in the team. He gets five minutes here and there and hasn't been able to build his reputation at Bournemouth while he has at other clubs when on loan. He will be wondering if he is being looked over, or if he should be looking to play elsewhere, and that is why I hope Jason Tindall finds some games between now and mid-January to give Sam more of a go.

With the number of games there are in the Championship, I don't see why Sam should have to wait for the FA Cup to see what he can do. He has done his apprenticeship in the Championship in previous seasons. Bournemouth were not scoring that many goals until they bagged three against Birmingham City ,and perhaps Surridge could take some of the pressure off other players if he could get a goal or two.

Tindall may be over-reliant on using Dominic Solanke and he will need to get the balance right. He has been interchanging with Josh King, but it hasn't really been working as well as it might upfront and I just hope Sam doesn't get too anxious come January to be playing more games. If he went to another Championship side you could see him scoring lots of goals.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Why has Arnaut Danjuma been so good under Tindall?

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Published on November 16, 2020 22:16

November 15, 2020

Why has Arnaut Danjuma been so good under Tindall?

When I look back at the 2019-20 season, one player who really found it hard to find any level of consistency was Arnaut Danjuma. He was an important signing for Eddie Howe, one of the last he made as Bournemouth manager and yet he didn't become a regular in the first team until the last few games of last season, and even then he had some indifferent performances. So what has changed in his game since then?

Danjuma is AFCB's secret weapon who is not so secret anymore.

I feel that Danjuma has been given more freedom in what he does. Jason Tindall doesn't want him worrying too much about defending and making lots of backward or sideways passes. When the ball goes to Danjuma, Tindall wants him to attack and drive at defenders putting them on the back foot. The transformation has brought great dividends and we have found that Danjuma not only has a powerful shot, but that he is rather good at scoring goals.

Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!

Bringing the best out of Danjuma who had been having a hard time at the club has probably helped other players too. They can see that for Danjuma things are working and if he can improve, others will be thinking they can do the same. Danjuma is only thinking positively now and probably wondering how good he really can be in the Championship. I like to think of him not as a winger, but as a player who can cause chaos in the opposition by cutting inside and either striking or setting up other runners. He seems to have more idea now of when he needs to find runs that unlock defences and his team-mates are looking for him to make those runs.

When Danjuma is facing his own goal and wondering how he can offload the ball, he is not being effective. Being under pressure in an area of the field he doesn't want to be is not making the most of his abilities. But when he is released to only look forward and try and create the space in which to have a clear sight of goal, he comes to life. There are others in the side who can fill in behind Danjuma when he goes to attack, and Bournemouth seem to be playing to Danjuma's strengths now rather than forcing him into doing things that don't come naturally to him. Sometimes simple messages are the best for players and in Danjuma's case you just want to see him scare defences, because that is what he is good at.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Are Bournemouth in good enough shape to attack the Championship now?

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Published on November 15, 2020 22:24

November 14, 2020

Are Bournemouth in good enough shape to attack the Championship now?

Bournemouth have played 11 games in the Championship and are now well acquainted with the relative standard of the Championship again. While an automatic return to the Premier League is everyone's hope, can Bournemouth consider the first 11 games as a good platform to press on or should they be concerned with how some of the games have gone?

AFCB are in the right area to make a charge at
the Championship's automatic promotion places.

I think it is easy for us as fans to think not much has changed at AFCB since Eddie Howe's departure. After, a lot if not all the routines and framework of the club have been build by Eddie Howe's time at the club. But Jason Tndall is not Eddie Howe and he has his own ideas on how he can get more from the players. Taking the club back to the next level though is not as simple as carrying on as if Eddie was still there, and his legacy is all around the club. I think that is not necessarily a bad thing. Eddie's time was successful and it should inspire people at the club to try and do even better.

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth - it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Getting back to the Premier League at the moment is probably Bournemouth's best chance of doing it. It will only get harder in future seasons if it is not accomplished now. But the Cherries can only be competitive at the moment, which they have managed and to keep in the race for automatic promotion. The challenge ahead is to be more consistent and to play better and better football which other teams can't live with. There appears to still be enough quality in the squad to win most games at this level, but if the first 11 games have taught us anything it is that it is possible to get stuck in drawing games, and that while Bournemouth might not lose too many games they have to find ways to break teams down with more success.

I believe the team now know where they have been falling short and against Birmingham City the layers actually had fun out there. That is what they really need to feel. Once the players get those smiles back on their faces they can get control of the Championship. Coming back from two weeks away for some of the squad is going to be hard, but they have to focus on the job of winning games. In away I'm glad that it is Reading in the next game as that will be seen as a real test and should get the players up for an exciting game next weekend.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes – Has Jack Stacey made the right-back position his alone?

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Published on November 14, 2020 22:53

November 13, 2020

Has Jack Stacey made the right-back position his alone?

Watching Bournemouth in recent games there has been one fairly consistent choice for the right-back position. Jack Stacey has pretty much made the position his own. That might have been helped by Adam Smith playing more games on the left-side, but with Simon Francis departed and no other similar players for AFCB, the right-back position is pretty much the first name we can fill in every match for Bournemouth.

Jack Stacey is one of AFCB's most consistent players

That might seem great from a point of consistency but it does make me nervous about the thought of what happens if Stacey is out for any amount of time? Sure Adam Smith can play there, but he has even more of a poor injury record and at some point Bournemouth could be without both players. While Tindall has liked to play three at the back this might not have been such a big worry for him, but it would limit how the Cherries could play I think if Stacey was out of action for any length of time.

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth - it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

It is not just that he is a regular figure in the side, he is one of the most creative players and that is saying something for a defender. He has great pace and has been Bournemouth's most productive crossers of a ball. He may not put many high balls in the box, but his low drives across the area are very much in demand for the strikers when they can get on the end of them and Stacey himself is always eager to get on the far post when crosses are coming in from the left side.

Jack is certainly settled now into how Bournemouth play and I think his game has added variety in the way Bournemouth can attack teams. He is also quick at getting back to guard against opposition wingers and he doesn't get caught out too often. What I'd like to see is him play with David Books pretty much all the time, so they can get a better understanding. But Tindall has to judge how many games Brooks can play, and after an international week like this current period, I can see why he might look to get Junior Stanilas a run of game son the right, playing in front of Stacey.

What I can't see is any need to lessen Stacey's minutes on the pitch which may mean he is going to be one of AFCB's mist hardest worked players this season.

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Previous post on Chery Chimes - Has Steve Cook made a good return to the Championship

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Published on November 13, 2020 23:40

November 12, 2020

Has Steve Cook made a good return to the Championship?

It may have gone almost unnoticed but Steve Cook picked up the player of the month award for October after beating off stiff competition from Asmir Begovic, Lewis Cook and Diego Rico. The captain has formed a good defensive wall with Lloyd Kelly and Chris Mepham and he'll be fairly pleased that Bournemouth have moved to fourth in the table just a couple of points behind Reading who Bouremnouth play next.

Steve Cook is doing his utmost to get AFCB back to the Premier League.

It hasn't been quite so great for Steve in November when he began the month being sent off against Sheffield Wednesday, but I felt he was unlucky with his challenge in the box on that day. We want Cook to be a strong player for the team and he has been central to Bournemouth looking more disciplined in defence this season. He does make the odd mistake, but since Aké has gone he has really taken on the mantle of Bournemouth's most experienced defender and seems to want the responsibility for making match-saving tackles.

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

His best moment this season was probably his face save on the line against Derby County. It earned the Cherries a point in a game that they could well have lost late on and that point keeps the Cherries on the tail of the leaders, as we get the first quarter of the season behind us. While Steve has a habit of putting his hands in the way and concedes the odd penalty or two, he has been the defender that has looked most assured this season for me.

He may not have been lucky enough to get an international cap but his leadership has been great for Bournemouth with so many of the club's players leaving in the summer. Steve Cook is probably going to be carried out of the club as he seems to carry all its troubles on his sleeves when he is out there – you can see it in his interviews and the way he always looks so disappointed when things don't go well for AFCB. I am pleased he has picked up a player of the month award and it is good to see the defenders get a bit of recognition.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Would it have been better if King had left in the summer?

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Published on November 12, 2020 22:12

November 11, 2020

Would it have been better if King had left in the summer?

We have now played 11 games in the Championship and while Josh King hasn't played that often because of injury and the manager's choice perhaps to leave him out of some games, I would have expected for him to have picked up a goal or two by now. Instead, Josh has not found much form at all, and I just wonder if it would have been better if he had gone in the last window if he is going to be unable to add some bite to Bournemouth's attack.

Josh King may have other things than AFCB on his mind.

The Cherries have started to pick up their scoring again. The return of David Brooks and the form of Arnaut Danjuma have had a lot to do with that. Strikers have been in short supply though and while Dominic Solanke will continue to furrow a determined desire to cast his name as the dominant forward in the team, Bournemouth haven't found it easy to create a ready replacement for Callum Wilson.

Josh King has always been a bustling wideman as well as a striker, but he has always been able to contribute goals, even if only from the penalty spot. Bournemouth are still awaiting their first penalty this season, in the league, and so Josh hasn't even had that to get him started. His contribution in other respects in link-up play, passing and holding up of the ball have always been good in previous seasons, but Bournemouth didn't really miss him against Birmingham City and he was part of the side that played poorly up at Sheffield Wednesday and was subsequently dropped to the bench.

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Jason Tindall may only just be learning the lessons of last season and the debacle with Ryan Fraser. Now he has another player on his hands that has the talent but may not be worth his spot on the team bus at the moment. There are many games to play before the next window, but Josh King has to show something more than what he has done so far, and if he can do it for his country in the International games, Bournemouth should be questioning why he hasn't performed as well for the Cherries?Advertisement

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Will Eddie Howe look at the vacant Sheffield Wednesday position?

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Published on November 11, 2020 22:15

November 10, 2020

Will Eddie Howe look at the vacant Sheffield Wednesday position?

Yorkshire Live has stated that Eddie Howe along with Tony Pulis, Paul Cook and Nigel Pearson are among the front runners for the vacant position after Gary Monk was sacked on Monday after being in the job for a year. Bournemouth fans haven't heard a lot about Eddie Howe since it went so wrong for him last season, and his statement to leave the club, but he is a manager that lives to work and he may just fancy a job that is not under quite as much scrutiny as the Premier League.

Eddie How could already be in demand again.

Eddie Howe is a man who likes to test himself. He throws himself whole-heartedly into his work and so when he commits, he really puts everything he can into his work to get a club moving in the right direction. Sheffield Wednesday is a sleeping giant that has a big fan base and they are starved of success with the other half of Sheffield seeing Premier League football. I imagine it would be a good test for Howe if he felt that he had been away from the game for long enough, but there are likely to be other jobs coming up soon.

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth - it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

If Eddie wants to remain in football and a manager of a Premier League side he might not get much choice, and would need to pick up one of the floundering clubs if for instance Fulham, Sheffield United, Brighton, Burnley or WBA came under more pressure. A return to Burnley might be a bit too painful for him and with the task of turning around a club that is already unprepared for the Premier League, Howe might decide that a job like the Sheffield Wednesday one is a more comfortable way back in. If he could stabilise the Yorkshire club this year and go for promotion in 2021-22, I say it was a pretty good fit. However, when you consider Gay Monk was sacked after accumulating four points from his last two games, having lost the three before that, it is hard to see the board at Sheffield Wednesday as anything less than highly demanding when he might have just been turning things around. Perhaps the style of football is something that Monk couldn't deliver.

My doubts are about whether Eddie really is that keen on managing another club having left Bournemouth and having little to prove. If he wants to enjoy his young family, taking on another pressurised football job is not going to be high on his agenda. But if he wants to stay in football he can't decline too many opportunities, because managers can soon be declared unemployable when they have drifted out of the game.

I think the job Eddie Howe picks will have to be a challenge that he thinks will test him, but that has good prospects with young players and the chance to build a good side. Whether that is Sheffield Wednesday we will have to wait and see.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - A fit Brooks is huge for AFCB's promotion push

Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!

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Published on November 10, 2020 22:15

November 9, 2020

A fit Brooks is huge for AFCB's promotion push

It was fabulous to see David Brooks contributing once again to AFCB's performance in the match at Birmingham City. He may not have scored the most spectacular goals, but he certainly knows where the goal is and arrives at the right time, which is going to cause a lot of Championship teams a headache.

David Brooks is already making an impact.
David Brooks is like a marauding missile that is just amazing to watch. He floats past players and picks up very intelligent positions. Against Birmingham City, he didn't want to let go of the ball that often and his first goal at the end of the first half was a perfect demonstration of that when he might have picked out a colleague, but in reality, he only had eyes for getting a strike on target. While the goal was given a big helping hand with a large deflection, it was struck firmly enough to keep on target.

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

What we did see what Brooks coming in off the wing and I think this is where he is most dangerous. He freely cuts inside and goes directly at defences and that makes defenders commit themselves, which opens up the back lines.

Keeping Brooks fit is going to be the challenge. With the international break, he will no doubt play several minutes for Wales as might Chris Mepham. We have seen both players suffer from injury problems, but it's Brooks that really could have a big impact on Bounrouth's promotion prospects. Of course, if he keeps scoring in November and December he could attract interest in January, but Bournemouth have to get themselves in a position where they could be looking to go up automatically and that may help keep Brooks at the club.

Pevious post on Cherry Chimes - Maintaining standards will be AFCB's difficulty this season

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Published on November 09, 2020 22:10

November 8, 2020

Maintaining standards will be AFCB's difficulty this season

We have seen how well Bournemouth can play when they get their heads up and attack teams as they did so well against Birmingham City at St Andrews. The frustration this season that Jason Tindall is becoming more aware of is that Bournemouth are probably their own worse enemies, and if anyone trips the team up it will be themselves. They have the creative skill and talent in the side to storm this division, but they need to maintain their high standards, which is in no way easy for them to do week in and week out.

AFCB show their quality with a 1-3 away win at Birmigham.

It really needed the knockback against Sheffield Wednesday to get the team more focussed on winning games again. They had drifted into games where they expected to win without pushing themselves to their limits and they came unstuck. Against Birmingham City they addressed that and were looking to play Birmingham off the park from the start. It was a sensational first goal and the desire from Lerma to win and keep the ball, and for Junior Stanislas to bide his time before slipping Arnaut Danjuma through on goal. It was Bournemouth back to their best.

Team goals will also do a lot for the confidence of the team and the belief that they can pass their way through teams when they make the right decisions. The third goal against Birmingham City also showed the team working together well by stopping the counter-attack and immediately turning it into an attack of their-own. It was a shame that Dominic Solanke didn't quite manage to slot the ball away, but David Brooks was on hand to make sure and the team will feed off the goal rather than seeing an opportunity escaped them.

Scoring three goals away from home puts Bournemouth back in a good place and the players know they have the shooting power to do well in this league. The difficulty is in being consistent. The team has to be up for the fight every game and now that they are within touching distance of the leaders they need to have the aim to want to be top and to push themselves on now.

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth - it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth regain their scoring touch at Birmingham 1-3
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