Peter Neil Bell's Blog: Cherry Chimes, page 29

A favourable reaction to new AFCB kit

AFCB have been showing off their latest home kit made by UNBRO, and first impressions are that the fans think it is a bit of a hit! The shirt has been a big departure from the typical red and black stripes, by having them broken up and displaced with a powder effect over the top, which looks particularly striking with the new Vitality sponsor logo at the front.
Official AFCB photo - Lloyd Kelly in the new home shirtThe shirt has a V-neck this time and UMBRO have kept the flashes in the sleeve sides of the short sleeve shirt. Mansion88 are still on the shoulder of the shirt, so they haven't ended their sponsorship entirely with the club. I'm not sure it is easy to get too excited about new shirts until you actually have the latest version on your back, which perhaps gives you a lift to know you have the latest replica shirt.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!We should get to see the new shirt a few times in the home games and its first outing should be on 20 June - next Saturday. The main thing for me is that, I hope the shirt gives the players a lift. The old shirt probably won't be a big summer seller, as it hasn't coincided with many good results. We'll have to hope the new set of shirts do a lot better.


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This time next week... ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8PukcutjJd— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) June 13, 2020

Previous Post on Cherry Chimes - Could AFCB favourite make a return to Dean Court?


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Could AFCB favourite make a return to Dean Court?

I was surprised on Saturday night to hear that Marc Pugh had been let go by QPR. But such are the financial pressures on Championship sides now that a 33 year-old, about to trigger an automatic 12-month extension by playing one more game, has been set free by the London club, who still hope for a play-off push. With Marc Hugh no doubt returning to his Bournemouth home, it is a great opportunity to go and get this model professional and offer him a player/coaching job at AFCB.
Go get Marc PughMarc Pugh had been one of the standout performers for AFCB in their rise to the top and to see him cast aside doesn't leave me with a good feeling. He knows exactly what it took to get AFCB climbing the football pyramid, and his enthusiasm for the game, and his dedication to give of his best is just the kind of person who Eddie Howe should love to have around the club as it battles to stay in the Premier League.

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If Eddie Howe also wants to see Ryan Fraser extend his contract into July, he may also have a secret weapon in Marc Pugh, who is said to be very close to Fraser. But even if Marc doesn't have any influence over the Wee-man's thinking, it would just be great to have him around the club in the next few years to inspire and perhaps be an ambassador for the club.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!I am not sure if Pugh still feels he has a few more years left in his legs, but if he did and the Cherries did go down then again he would be a no brainer to have back in the squad. But I think he may want to do something away from football and AFCB. He has had good loan spells at Hull City and QPR, but he has nothing to prove anymore, Still he would be a valuable asset for any club who wants a good pro to help others get the most out of their careers.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Can Danjuma make a difference?

Can Danjuma make a difference?

It hasn't been much of a season for Arnaut Danjuma. His foot injury has kept him out fa lot of games and he has made just nine appearances. The winger must have come to AFCB with high hopes of setting the Premier League alight, but he has done far more watching than playing. Perhaps his chance is just about to come though. Can he make a difference?

Is this Danjuma's big moment?While Ryan Fraser has been the pick for the left wing, there is going to be an opportunity for someone else to play, if not straight away, then certainly when June ends and Ryan Fraser's contract runs out. If David Brooks and Harry Wilson are the main contenders for the right wing, then Danjuma may get a free run at the left side, unless Stanislas or King fancy the role.

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But is Danjuma capable of being a match winner? We haven't seen him do it yet and in fact he hasn't yet scored, apart from in the Carabao Cup and a friendly, but he is quick of foot and perhaps just starting to get an idea of what it is like to play Premier League football. The behind closed door games may also be of benefit from him, if he feels less pressure on him from the absence of a crowd.

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Whatever Danjuma expected for his first season at AFCB, he can only be eager to get back to playing. He might not have the experience to make Eddie put him straight into the starting line up, but sometimes you have to throw players in and see if they will sink or swim. This could be that moment for Danjuma, and if he did put in some great performances, he could be the sudden surprise hero of the season for AFCB, and he could do it with the fans only shouting his name across social media, rather than at the ground.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Games could be more possession based thinks Howe

Games could be more possession based thinks Howe

The Bundesliga has given everyone an insight into what games behind closed doors might be like. Eddie Howe said that he had seen some good away performances in Germany, and the games were perhaps less intense than expected, while sides were playing in a relaxed manner and possession was key in most victories. Whether the same pattern will happen in England when the Premier League restarts is open to question.

Howe hopes that possession hungry teams do well in the restart of the Premier League.The interview that Eddie Howe gave on AFCB TV this week was a little insight into how Eddie Howe is feeling, but with the players around him I am sure he is far more anxious. He admits that the league could be very different with the form from previous games now gone, but at the start of the season AFCB tend to be a team that get away quite well, and Howe can only hope that this restart gets AFCB away from the bottom three. AFCB pride themselves on being a possession team, but it doesn't always bring results. It will be interesting to see if the tempo of games is a little slower than usual in the Premier League, somehow I think it will be as frantic as ever once we get into second halves with the bottom six teams especially scrapping for their lives.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!While Eddie talked about keeping the football pyramid in tact, it will soon hit everyone that the Project Restart is only a quick month or so of football. Matters will soon turn to preparation for 2020/21. I'd like to get Eddie's thoughts on what he thinks about possibly starting the next season behind closed doors, no matter what league AFCB are in and what kind of impact that would have on the Cherries if they are in the Championship?

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All this is in the future and Eddie Howe has to concentrate on the present. Winning matches is clearly going to be his biggest concern at the moment. While Brighton have decided to use cardboard cutouts of fans, AFCB seem content on just seeing empty seats at home games, but I am sure that any advantage AFCB can give their players they will be working on it.

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We'll only see whether AFCB have been doing the right things when the results start to flow through. With three games in the first week we will either be feeling much more confident or expecting the worse after seven days of football starting on 20 June.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Are hard fixtures a problem for AFCB?

Are hard fixtures a big problem for AFCB?

Much has been said about the run-in with AFCB judged to have the toughest run-in of games left. They have to play four sides in the top six and the lowest placed team they will face is Southampton, who are almost safe already. But is it a bad hand or really an incentive to AFCB to get points against the better sides?
Many City away might be more of a training session than a real attempt to earn pointsBournemouth do like challenges and this season has been harder than ever. To get points against the best in the division is hard at the best of times, but the Cherries don't have such a bad record against some of the sides they still have to play. We all know that Man City is a game that many will have already written off but Bournemouth have come close to getting a point against them in the past. Bournemouth can't go into any game thinking they have already lost and will just have to take that game as an opportunity to raise their game higher than it has ever been before.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!The match against Spurs at Dean Court last May was won by the Cherries by a goal to nil and while they have a new manager, Jose Mourhino has not always done well against Eddie Howe when he was at Chelsea. Eddie Howe can also proclaim that his side beat Man united 1-0 at home this season, so the away game may not hold as much fear as it might have in past seasons. The match against Leicester could also be a bit of a thriller with end-to-end goalmouth action, which has become characteristic of these games.

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The games that might indeed trip AFCB up are likely to be matches against Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and Wolves in my book. I think there is often some over confidence in these kind of games where both teams believe they can win the game and a moment of hesitancy can decide the result.Advertisement Coastal Garden BuildingsIf Bournemouth do stay up they will have done it the hard way and will need some big results against good teams, but if they can do it they will take confidence from having survived.
Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Fraser's want away attitude could backfire on Cherries

Fraser's want away attitude could backfire on Cherries

There is no secret that Ryan Fraser wants away this season. He is a highly regarded asset for clubs at the top of the Premier League, who are seeking home grown players, especially on free transfers for playing in European competitions. I can't blame Fraser for wanting to further his career, but the latest reports from the national media suggest that he is willing to turndown a short contract extension to the end of the season at AFCB, to ensure he can leave town after 30 June just two matches into Project Restart.

Fraser might be standing out alone in the next few weeks.
Fraser has clearly got some issues with AFCB, if he is not willing to help the club stay up. If he joined Spurs he could even line up against AFCB in the next few weeks, although I am not sure if he would get a great reception at Dean Court. The whole transfer episode has been like daggers and swords, and for a lad who has been so likeable at AFCB, it is a sad way that the club and the player will part company. Having said that, today it is players who hold all the cards and there is no need for any player to show loyalty beyond his current contract, if they don't want to continue their career at the same club.

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Bournemouth will surely not play Fraser at all now in June and his disappearance from the squad will simply enable a chance for one of the other wingers to come in. While Howe could play Harry Wilson and David Brooks, it will be intriguing to see who plays where and who he considers, best left on the bench with Danjuma and Stanislas further contenders.

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It is probably best that AFCB draw a line under the Fraser era now. If he can't play beyond 30 June, there is little point in giving him the satisfaction of depriving another player of their place, when they want to play for the club. I just hope that the saga doesn't continue to create any sourness. The squad that really has to focus on forthcoming games and winning matches.

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In other news, Simon Francis, Charlie Daniels, Andrew Surman and Artur Boruc are set to sign short term contracts past 30 June 2020.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Rico holds cards close to his chest

Rico holds cards close to his chest

I was intrigued at reading about Diego Rico recently, when he spoke out about his future when talking to the Spanish press. While he has become a frequent choice for Eddie Howe this season, until Adam Smith switched to the left side, he has admitted anything can happen in the future, with two years still left on his contract at AFCB, according to El Periodico De Aragaon.

Rico may think long and hard about where he wants to play his football.Diego has spent most of the last few months with his family in Burgos and has only recently returned to England to train with the AFCB squad. He certainly hasn't ruled out a return to former club Real Zaragoza at some point, and it got me thinking that may be he will want to return to Spain if Bournemouth don't stave off relegation this season.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!He is confident that AFCB can overtake the likes of Watford, Brighton and West Ham United, but I wonder how many games he will be involved in? Rico always seems to have to put in exceptional performances to keep his place, as competition for the left-back position has been open season with Charlie Daniels removed from the equation. Now there is the young up and coming Lloyd Kelly who is still waiting his chance to  make his Premier League debut. Will Eddie Howe take the risk of giving Kelly a first opportunity?

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I rather think that Adam Smith and Diego Rico will be fighting over the place at left-back. I find that Rico is a good pick if Howe wants plenty of crosses coming in from the left, but the energy of Adam Smith and his quick thinking is something that Howe clearly likes and he has been keen to keep Smith involved. But such decisions might just be starting to play on Rico's mind, and the lure of a return to Spain will be all the stronger if Bournemouth do go down.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Super computer predicts Cherries will beat relegation

In other news, Harry Wilson signs an extended loan contract at AFCB to the end of the season.

Super computer predicts Cherries will beat relegation

Fans of the Cherries can take heart that not every prediction expects AFCB to go down this season. TalkSports' super computer has looked at all the remaining games for the Premier League and it has come up with the Cherries finishing in 17th place and staying up by the skin of their teeth.
Some reason for optimisimIt is bad news for Norwich City, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion as far as the TalkSport computer is concerned, and I am hoping that the prediction comes true. How successful the super computer has been in the past I am not sure, but AFCB's players need every positive message they can get at the moment to fill them with belief.

Advertisement Coastal Garden BuildingsWhen I think of super computers I think of Tim Brooke-Taylor, from the Goodies, who sadly passed away this year, and the super Computer in Charlie and the Chocolate factory that wasn't very compliant in telling him where the last Golden ticket was hidden. All jesting aside, AFCB do have a chance of beating the drop, and like the super computer I think Brighton have the next hardest run of fixtures during the run-in.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!Bournemouth need to keep in contact with the three teams above them to make it a nervous finish to the end of the season. If they keep the likes of Brighton and West Ham in their sights then anything could happen, when it comes to the last couple of games. But Eddie Howe won't be relying on a super computer. The games have to be won on the pitch and it is a shame the computer doesn't tell you how you can win the matches.


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While we can all compute how we think the season will finish, some of us will get it right and others will get it wrong. I just with the anxiety would end soon. It is very much like when waiting for AFCB to win promotion to the Premier League, but this time it's not a happy feeling, just an uneasy worry about what life in the Championship would be like again.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Have AFCB got the goal power needed to stay up?

Have AFCB got the goal power needed to stay up?

While all the clubs in the bottom six have a nervous wait in these final two weeks of preparation, there is one thing that will keep these clubs above the relegation zone and its goals. Looking at AFCB we have to ask ourselves are Josh King and Callum Wilson good enough to get the goals needed and, if they are not, is there enough on the bench and throughout the team to get the job done?
Can Callum and Josh hit the target?It will be essential that Eddie Howe has all his players, but particularly those who have already been linked on moves away from the club this summer, focussed on the job at hand. For Callum Wilson and Josh King that means goals and goal creation. While the pair have managed 12 goals between them, they may need to almost do that again to see the Cherries safe in the remaining nine games. Injury will be an obvious worry. Callum Wilson has had a good season with 28 appearances, but Josh King has only managed 19 appearances. In fact, Dominic Solanke has made more appearances than King on 24, even if his time on the pitch has been shorter.

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If the two main strikers are not scoring though, AFCB will have to fall back on Dominic Solanke and Sam Surridge. While I think Surridge will become AFCB's main striker next season, if they do go down, I am not sure that Surridge and Solanke are yet anywhere near the goal potency of King and Callum. So the attacking area is not one where Howe needs any injuries.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!It is rare that both King and Callum Wilson score in games together, but the Cherries really need that now. It is often one or the other that hits form. Penalties will no doubt be taken by Josh, even if Callum wants to be the top scorer. I like to see a bit of competition between the strikers, but Josh has a lot to do having only scored four times this season. All I want the players to be talking about is scoring goals when they come off the training pitch. If they get it in their heads that goals will keep them up and that they have to take every chance to strike on goal, when the opportunity arises, then our attackers will be doing their best to keep AFCB up.
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Have Bournemouth got enough goals in the side to keep them up? I think they have, but they will need contributions from outside the two main strikers to keep them in the hunt, and that means Howe will be looking closely at the form of Fraser, Harry Wilson, Danjuma and Stanislas.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Some strange things we'll have to get used to for Project Restart

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.

Advertisement Coastal Garden BuildingsThen 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.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!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?