Peter Neil Bell's Blog: Cherry Chimes, page 30

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.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!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.
Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!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.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!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.


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

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -£7.99!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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Cherries need to take this period as a new beginning

The past has been pretty difficult viewing this season for AFCB fans. It is now time for the team to make this a new beginning. They can right some of the wrongs that they feel have happened in 2019/20, but they have to be stronger than ever as a group to beat some of the best sides in the Premier League and wins are what it is all about now. Bournemouth have to pick themselves up and go again.The players and staff know now that football will restart, barring a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases, and if they play to their very best ability they could secure a sixth season in the top league. That would be no mean feet, as Bournemouth are marked down by most bookies to be one of the three teams that don't start the Premier League 2020-21 season in the Premier League.
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It has been many seasons since AFCB have been in fear of relegation. They have climbed so high that it had to come one season when the drop was a real possibility. Now the team has to embrace the challenge and stand up for what they want to cling on to. The team can talk about looking forward to getting matches on again, but they will only be content if they start to win games again.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!I can't imagine how immense the first game will be. The tension will be huge and Bournemouth players will need to be super concentrated. It will set the mood for the following games and if they can beat their opponent, I think the fans will also feed off the win. But if it goes wrong and Bournemouth fall even further back in the race to stay up, it will be hard to be optimistic for a good end to the current season for AFCB. 

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The fixture list might not be so important once we get going, but the players must view this period as a new beginning. They know the task ahead What has gone before is basically irrelevant to how they can look to perform now. They start from 27 points and need to add four wins - it's a big ask but striking a win in the first game would be a huge lift.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Three weeks to get AFCB up and running

Chimes Newsletter - out tomorrow!
Cherry Chimes' June Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month. The newsletter has a special story - The wait will soon be over

To sign up for the newsletter just complete the form below - like all good things it's free!


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Three weeks to get AFCB up and running well

Eddie Howe has spoken out about potential injuries from a lack of fitness training with just three weeks to the start of Project Restart. Eddie wants to get previously injured players back, but is unlikely to push his players too hard if he can make some changes with teh prospect of three games in a week.
Eddie Howe only has a few weeks to work his magic and get his team fired up for the last nine games
What we do know is that AFCB will be wearing is a new kit come the restart. The contract with sponsors Mansion88 is over from 31 May 2020 and isn't being renewed and Umbro has designed new home, away and training kits that AFCB were keen to show off on social media yesterday. I think even the kit change may give the players a bit of a lift because the old kit didn't bring many good results.

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The mood with Eddie Howe was clearly a bit apprehensive, as he talked to Kris Temple, in a YouTube Interview yesterday (see video on PC/Tablet side bar of Cherry Chimes). But Eddie seemed up beat about getting back to the test of the Premier League. Getting AFCB up and running at full throttle is what Eddie wants now. They are only starting contact training this weekend and while Eddie Howe wants things to be as normal as it can be, there are many unknowns like whether players will be able to play, whose contracts are up come the end of June.

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What we don't want to hear at the end of nine games is that AFCB just weren't fully prepared of had a disadvantage compared to the other teams in the bottom six. As no one has been in this situation before, it will be hard for Eddie Howe to know if he has got things right until the games start. All we can do is look on and hope that the Premier League means as much to the players as it certainly does to Eddie Howe. They might be considered to be lucky to get the opportunity to play the last nine game story and stay up, now they have to make the most of that chance.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Resumption date agreed for Premier League

Resumption date agreed for Premier League

While the date of 17 June will be met with ecstatic delight on one side of Merseyside, for those facing relegation it is a time of maximum stress, but also a chance to improve their situation. While we wait to see in which order AFCB's remaining fixtures will be, fans will also be desperate to know which games will be free to air and will BBC Radio Solent be back in the stadiums to at least give commentary on the games?

The Premier League is getting closer to a restart next month.As Bournemouth are in a relegation fight and play probably the hardest fixtures of any club in the bottom six they are likely to be well watched on TV. All matches will be on TV but only a third will be free to watch, from what I understand. If Bournemouth thought they might quietly slip out of the top league, they may find fans look to find some way of communicating their support, be it through social media and forums. The game will not have been played in this way here before, behind closed doors, and it is going to be a strange experience. But we have to let the layers know somehow that we are right behind them and willing them on to do well.

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Friday 19th June could be Bournemouth's first restart match, but more likely Saturday 20 June. At least it gives Eddie Howe an approximate date for the first opponents but the league table is going to change quickly with so many fixtures packed in on pretty much every day after 17 June, as the league looks to complete the fixture list as soon a possible.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!The worse thing for AFCB fans is that we wont be able to celebrate or commiserate with the team at the end of the season. We will have to just send messages of support. But in many ways it will just be a relief to get to the end of the season. There will still be many discussions t be had about 2020-21 and whether games should start behind closed doors in August for that season. Fan revenue is paramount for many clubs, so it will be interesting to see how fans will be looked after, as they will be excluded from taking part in the match experience and clubs need to keep fans happy as best they can in these difficult times. Now you have paid for a season ticket you can't use you may need to spend on some TV games on paying platforms just to see how the season ends.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - AFCB won't need Harry Wilson next season

Bournemouth won't need Harry Wilson next season

While Liverpool have been very keen to loan AFCB players like Nathaniel Clyne and Harry Wilson in the least two seasons and have seen the signings of Jordan Ibe and Dominic Solanke, they may find that AFCB's love affair with Anfield players is over. AFCB are unlikely to spend further with Liverpool after recent signings.
Bournemouth have delved into Liverpool's extras for a few years now. It is clear that Jurgen Klopp's players play in a way that Eddie Howe likes and wants to bring to AFCB. However, the acquisitions of the last few years have been pretty lukewarm at best. The signings that have been particularly expensive I imagine are those of Brad Smith, Jordan Ibe and Domoinic Solanke. None of these players have been able to pin down a permanent place in the first team and they have all failed to impress. We can't really say that about Harry Wilson, this year's loan signing but if Liverpool are looking at another £20m plus for his services, Bournemouth are unlikely to be following up on the young Welshman, especially if the club is playing in the Championship in 2020-21.

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Harry Wilson has been a great credit to himself and Liverpool. He deserves a crack at the big time, be it at Liverpool or another big club, and it has been great to see such a player at AFCB. It would be nice to keep hold of him, but with David Brooks coming back AFCB have no need for Harry, Wilson's contract will be also up at the end of June unless Liverpool kindly offer to let AFC have hime until the completion of the season.

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Bournemouth have in all honesty bought too many Liverpool players and the record doesn't show that these players have been a great fit for AFCB. The club has been more successful in recognising talent at lower league level and bringing them through, even if it has taken more time to see some of these players come through. So, if Liverpool think they can count on AFCB to keep paying over the odds for some of their players who are not up to the grade they may have to look elsewhere for buyers this summer.

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In other news, another four players test positive for COVID-19.
Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Ramsdale we need to recover quickly to be ready for Project Restart