Our series of Premier League team previews continues with a look at the league’s fairytale club, AFC Bournemouth.
Summer transfers
Last season’s Championship winners have been very productive this summer in terms of personnel, both in and out. Despite clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City being linked with all sorts of players this summer, AFC Bournemouth have quietly gone about their business and have signed some very capable players. In fact, Bournemouth have brought in a total of seven players despite only spending £8 million. On Tuesday, Bournemouth acquired the services of Max Gradel from St. Etienne on Tuesday while the club also secured the services of Sylvian Distin, Christian Atsu, Artur Boruc, Fillippo Costa, Adam Federici and Joshua King to bolster manager Eddie Howe’s squad as well as agreeing a £3.5 million deal for Lee Tomlin.
In terms of departures, Bournemouth have parted with nine players in order to refresh the team. Players such as Ian Harte, Josh McQuoid, Darryl Flavahan, Mohamed Coulibaly, Joe Partington, Miles Addison, Ryan Fraser, Brett Pitman and Jayden Stockley have all left the club to make way for the aforementioned signings.
Last season
AFC Bournemouth made history last season when they won the Championship on the final day. Their victory over Charlton Athletic, coupled with fellow promoted club Watford’s draw against Sheffield Wednesday, ensured they would enter the Premier League as champions. Not only did Bournemouth earn the Championship title, but they also scored 98 goals that season with help from top scorer Callum Wilson, who netted 20 of those.
What makes their achievement all the more impressive is that Bournemouth were not expected to achieve promotion, let alone winning the Championship. This just gives further credit to their 37-year-old manager Howe who continues to impress, having taken over at the helm in 2009, saving the club from relegation from League Two at the tender age of just 31.
Manager
The aforementioned Howe has been garnering more and more admirers since he took over the Cherries in 2009 before returning to the club in 2012 to complete the mission of taking it to the Championship title six years after his initial arrival.
However, such is the pressure of the Premier League, there will be no room for sentiment. Despite this, it will be difficult to see Howe deviating from the style and system which served him so well in the first place. Therefore, one would expect the Cherries to stick with the 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1 system which earned them the Championship title last campaign.
Strengths
Bournemouth’s main strengths will be out wide and in defence. The signings of Atsu and Gradel mean that Howe has taken the time to bolster his options out wide. The pace that will be offered by both players will give full-backs all around the Premier League a hard time.
At the other end of the pitch, the Cherries have done well in reinforcing the defensive area. The signing of Distin is particularly noteworthy. He has plenty of Premier League experience, adding to the youthfulness of new signing Mings, formerly of Ipswich.
Weaknesses
Despite the improvements made to the current squad, the weakest area Howe would be looking to build on is in attack. Callum Wilson’s 20 goals last season helped Bournemouth secure the Championship title but he will need help if he is to perform similarly. The agreement with Middlesborough for Tomlin is a good start, yet he is not as much the proven goalscorer that they may need.
Howe has already made an attempt to improve on that this summer with the signing of King, but the Cherries will need more to secure their Premier League survival next season.
Key Player
AFC Bournemouth will be placing a heavy reliance on Wilson next season. The 23-year-old had a fantastic season in the Championship last year and will be looking to continue that when he steps out onto a Premier League pitch.
Fortunately for the 23-year-old, the signings of Atsu, Gradel, Tomlin, King and the presences of Matt Ritchie and Jann Kermorgant means Wilson may just find success this season. His form will be vital for Bournemouth as he will be heavily depended on to supply the goals that Howe will hope will keep the team up.
Best XI
(4-2-3-1): Boruc (GK); Francis, Elphick, Distin, Mings; Arter, Gosling; Ritchie, Atsu, Gradel; Wilson.
Prediction
It will not take a genius to realise that Bournemouth will be one of the favourites for relegation this campaign. However, as has been seen over the last six years, Bournemouth is not a team to dismiss easily. Not only have they retained the services of Ritchie, Wilson and other key players, but they have acted very astutely in the transfer window. Howe has reinforced several key areas for the Cherries as he looks to succeed in the top tier.
The most vital thing Bournemouth will need is luck. The fitness of Distin, Ritchie and, in particular, Wilson will be key and losing big names to injury at any point in the season could spell disaster.
The ingredients are there for Bournemouth to avoid relegation and they have one of the best young managers in England at the helm, thus making a 16th place finish very possible.
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