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No-one Seems To Want Sixth Spot — Notes for Bournemouth
Sunday, 20th Apr 2014 14:09 by HarryFromBath

HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Monday's game by delving into their forums.

"Will the team who wants the last play-off spot ever stand up?", "Any team from Watford up can still take that spot. I would suspect that if one team can win all three games they will clinch it", "It's all on yet again", "It makes Monday a must-win game."

"One point out of a possible six against Yeovil and Wednesday. What has happened?", "Our position never really allowed for slip ups. It's disappointing we have dropped points having brushed aside far stronger teams in some style in recent weeks."

The Cherries stormed into play-off contention with a run of eight wins in 10 games, before taking one point from six at the Glovers and at home to the Owls. There was a real sense of relief on their message boards after the final whistle confirmed our defeat at Watford on Saturday.

"I don't think we're strong enough to see the season out with three wins which is what it will take", "We can't keep relying on other teams. It's been a wonderful nine months, and I have no complaints", "It's been an awesome effort from the lads. It's been an amazing ride."

Bournemouth 2 — 4 Sheffield Wednesday

"Goodnight. Close the play-off door on the way out. It has been a great season, and a magnificent effort, but it was always to tough order", "I'm at home feeling the pain still, and I am sat here gutted at that result. Whatever happens, it's been an amazing season."

"Wednesday have nothing to play for, so what are they doing playing for something?", "That game reminded me of that early run in the autumn when every team came here and pressed high, knowing we would slip up", "A very entertaining game, but we weren't at the races for most of it."

Most supporters put Friday's defeat to the Owls — who were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark — down to mental and physical fatigue. They were unable to establish a decent rhythm and tempo on the ball, making simple errors struggling with the Owls pressing game.

"Wednesday were like any number of League One teams we have played over the years. They wasted time from the start with big lumps at centre-back and up front", "We need a Plan B for when teams press us high. Fannying around at the back with a team pressing us cost us the first goal."

Running On Empty

"Our build-up play was slow and sloppy today [against the Owls]", "The boys have done well, but they must be knackered with all the games they have had played lately", "Eddie is selecting players who are exhausted, injured and struggling to get through 90 minutes."

There's a widespread feeling that the squad has performed heroically but that these games are "a bridge too far". "It's fair to say that the legs have gone in several of our important players. After the season we've had and playing in the style we play, you can't blame them."

"A bit of surprise pressure to make the play-offs, and we were weak", "We have played a lot of games in a short space of time, many with high intensity and we have had some excellent results. Maybe it's all just catching up with us, but what an excellent season it has been."

Eddie Howe

"Reeling off Eddie's accomplishments in his time as our manager, given his age and lack of experience, is incredible." In a recent poll to determine who Bournemouth's greatest ever manager has been, Eddie Howe scored 63% of all votes, ahead of Harry Redknapp's 24%.

"As long as Eddie keeps us playing the right way and keeps the club going forward, we will have a job for life at AFCB."

Bournemouth have mostly played with a 4-4-2 formation during their run of wins. The style of play, built on quick passing and movement, has played a huge part in this season's success.

"The team has been magnificent. Eddie has been magnificent. He's in his mid-thirties, doing incredible things", "Next year you watch us start with a bang. There will be no fear. We know we are good. We can rip teams apart. The players enjoy playing for us and for Eddie."

"I have a bone to pick with Eddie tonight, and it's very rare." Supporters were critical of their boss for taking off Ian Harte, Matt Ritchie and Marc Pugh in Friday's defeat. Removing the most threatening players handed an advantage to the Owls and created confusion up front for the Cherries.

Defence

"Our defending wasn't great on Friday, but that's not a problem considering how well we have defended lately", "At times we have been very naïve. The most bizarre moment was when we had a corner and left no-one back." Several fans put the "awful defending" on Friday down to weariness.

"Lee Camp really has made the difference in this league. His world class save at Birmingham typifies what a class act the guy is and how lucky we are to have him", "He's been brilliant since he joined", "Without him we would still be in the bottom half of the table."

"His distribution was poor on Friday." This was a rare criticism of the 29-year-old former Norwich keeper has been consistently praised for his shot stopping and marshalling his defenders. "We would have been beaten 5-1 by Reading without his saves and would have been three down at Leicester.

Former Brighton centre-back "Tommy Elphick is a Brilliant captain. He leads from the front, as well as from the back. Yesterday he was leading all sides of the home support as well".

"He's a fantastic player who wants to win everything", "He is a true leader of the team and a leader of the supporters as well."


"Steve Cook has been superb throughout the season", "He's always solid and reliable. He's a class player who is destined for the Premiership." The 22-year-old also played for Brighton, but made an uncharacteristic error for the Owls' opener on Friday: "Goal one was a bad mistake by Cook."

"Overall, I wouldn't want one game to blur people's judgement about Cook. He's been outstanding this season", "Cook is Mr Consistency, so I could never berate him for his error, considering his heroics this season", "He did have a shocking performance on Friday."

Bournemouth's attacking full-backs have played a huge part in this season's success. "Yet another assist from Francis." Former Charlton right-back Simon Francis "has played every game so far and provides so many assists for our strikers".

The 29-year-old "isn't always my favourite player. The vast majority of the time he is superb, but he can be shocking with nothing in between", "Francis has built up such an understanding with Matt Ritchie in front of him. At times it seems telepathic."

Ian Harte

The former Leeds and Reading defender "has signed for one more year, a good move for all. He's very experienced and it shows", "Congratulations to him, especially for the way he came back after a rocky start", "After a slow start, he has become an important player for us."

The 36-year-old former Republic of Ireland international has been a regular started at left-back and his praised for his set-pieces. "He delivered a peach of a corner for our equaliser [on Friday]", "His dead-ball deliveries caused Wednesday all sorts of problems", "We missed his precision when he went off."

Central Midfield

"We pushed a bit too much and tried too hard at times. A few simple balls to release people one on one were over-hit and went out of play", "Wednesday were physical but clever about it and closed us down well."

"Eunan O'Kane seems to be playing really poorly", "It has been a massive season for him, and I think that he is just worn-out." The 23-year-old former Torquay player has been widely praised for his distribution and reading of the game this season, but struggled when denied time and space by the Owls.

"O'Kane is going to have big Championship clubs lining up to sign him over the summer", "Would we have won 3-1 at Reading [a much celebrated victory] if O'Kane had not played", "He had a storming game, and gave their midfield the complete run-around."

O'Kane replaced Harry Arter in the Cherries two-man central midfield when the former Charlton and Woking player was sent off against QPR. Arter is available for Monday's game and many fans expect the 24-year-old one-time Town trialist to start at Portman Road.

"We missed Harry against Yeovil", "His energy adds something to the whole midfield", "We need Arter back in midfield. He brings us the bite that we badly need, although he sometimes bites too hard", "He's the sort of tough midfielder that can be involved in skirmishes but he has to be careful."

Andrew Surman

"Surman provides the control and guidance in midfield that we have needed for a while. Please stay." An overwhelming 88% of Cherries said yes in a poll asking if the Norwich loan player should be signed permanently. "He is calmness personified", "He may not be for sale if Norwich go down."

"Surman's impact has been growing since he got a regular starting place in December", "He's been playing deeper at times and it suits him. His control and passing along with O'Kane's is exceptional", "He has great feet and really keeps the ball moving."

Most Cherries would like to see him appear on the score sheet more regularly. "He has been coached into being a highly cautious and conservative midfielder, but Eddie has tried to free him from those shackles", "He's not far off being a damn good player. Some goals would be nice."

Wide Midfield

"Nothing Eddie can do about the errors at the back, but going forward his decisions really restricted us." Dynamic wing play has played a huge part in the Cherries success this season, so the decision to remove two wingers and a full-back against the Owls blunted their threat and left supporters confused.

"Marc Pugh is better than Ryan Fraser at tracking back. Fraser is the more attacking option", "I prefer Pugh as he gives us a better shape defensively." The 27-year-old former Hereford man has started most games on the left flank.

Pugh has been substituted in each of his last four starts, and is one of the squad members suffering from the long season. "He's clearly knackered. He seems to be getting rotated which is a shame as he is immense at the moment", "We missed Pugh against Yeovil. Fraser doesn't cut it."

Ryan Fraser started against Yeovil on the left-wing, and replaced Matt Ritchie on the right-wing against the Owls on Friday. The 20-year-old "didn't take his chance against 10 men for half-an-hour", "He chases everything down and is a more attacking option, but we can become unbalanced on his flank."

Matt Ritchie

"Matt is one of our most creative players", "He's our best midfielder and always looks a threat", "He's Premier League quality without a doubt", "He takes his goals well and can play brilliantly weighted passes to assist his full-back and strikers."

The 24-year-old former Swindon and Pompey right-winger "destroyed Wayne Bridge at Reading. He peeled off him for a corner routing and fired a volley just over", "We rarely create chances when Ritchie is substituted."

"I thought that Ritchie was starting to tick more and more as the second half went on [against the Owls] and was surprised when he was taken off", "Substituting Ritchie was an act of inexplicable madness."

Strikers

"Asking Lewis Grabban to do so much was always one thing I was concerned about", "A striker will definitely be on the shopping list come the summer." Many fans have seen a link with the two poor recent results and the dip in the form and fitness of their leading striker.

"I have described Brett Pitman as League One standard. Today he was League Two. He was abject", "Wednesday's fourth goal originated from an inexplicable pass from Pitman, an error from a guy that is not Championship material. What Eddie sees in him confuses me no end."

The 26-year-old former Bristol City striker replaced Marc Pugh on the left flank on Friday. "Sticking Pitman on the left wing was Kevin Bond stuff. It was bonkers", "He was playing in a kind of left wing role, not really knowing what to do. He got in Kermogant's way twice."

"We should loan Rantie out to a League One side for a bit to build up his confidence. If he's rubbish on loan, we need to cut our losses and move on." South Africa international Tokelo Rantie "is someone who continually falls over and misses from three yards".

The 23-year-old former Malmo striker "needs to get a good pre-season under his belt", "You don't get to play for South Africa and score the goals he did for Malmo without having potential. We just need to see if he can apply it in a more physical league", "It's a team game, not the Tokelo Rantie show."

Yann Kermogant

"Simon Francis got the ball on the goalline and belted it across the goal. Where the hell did Kermogant come from? A diving header and the ball hit the back of the net. 3-0 over Reading, and you should have seen the look on John Madejski's face", "He flew at that cross like Superman."

"A bloke next to me said ‘He won't get that'", "He's an excellent player and has added another dimension to the team", "It's good to know that when one of those crosses goes in, there is someone who knows how to get on the end of them and bury a header."

"The number of high crosses that had nobody on the end of them early in the season was frustrating to watch."

Cherries hugely appreciate the aerial prowess of the 32-year-old former Leicester and Charlton striker. "I'm really impressed with his attitude. He's a kind of guy who will stand up and be counted."

The arrival of the Breton striker has seen a switch to the Cherries playing two strikers. "Our game involves high pressing and pace to help Yann", "The partnership with Grabban has been instant", "Both can score and both can set assists, and Yann can certainly head."

Lewis Grabban

"Grabban is an absolutely tireless worker for the team, with 20 goals and a high number of assists as well", "He has often played as a lone striker, sometimes out wide, and his overall game has improved massively", "We'd be nowhere near the play-offs without his effort and finishing."

"We could not play with one up front without him. As well as scoring goals, he creates chances and pressurises the opposition high up the pitch", "I think it would help Grabban to give a breather from time to time given the work he puts in."

The 26-year-old former Rotherham striker has played the last two games despite carrying a groin injury. "Nothing Grabban tried [against Wednesday] came off all game. He was not making his usual runs and looked exhausted", "He shouldn't have played. He's carrying an injury."

"Lewis will always have a goal in him, but he has looked out of sorts a bit lately, missing numerous one-on-ones", "He seems to have lost a bit of his zip." Fans would not be surprised to see Brett Pitman or Tokelo Rantie start on Monday, although several want him to play "until we can't make the play-offs".

Cherries' Views on ITFC and the Game

"Poo or bust on Monday", "A draw secures our best ever points total in this division", "The biggest worry for me is the Ipswich game", "It's going to be a long journey home if we lose." Much discussion has been around travel arrangements with a large crowd expected for the game.

"It's no good saying 'what if', Ipswich will be doing the same", "Mick McCarthy was in the stands today, watching and no doubt plotting for Monday, even to the point of taking photos of our free kicks and corners."

There has been little discussion of our players or tactics, and their forecast threads have heavily been predicting a draw. With three victories needed from the remaining three games, many view the game as a cup match.

There is one thing about Monday's game which will unite both sets of supporters. "Andy D'Urso is refereeing", "Oh, God, No", "Didn't he used to be good?", "He always seems to get good games as well, unbelievable", "My son got the impression that Andy D'Urso is a ****** was his full name."

Websites

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tractorblue99 added 14:17 - Apr 20
So they hate Andy D'urso as much as us? Good to know!
3

StuartBrett8 added 14:46 - Apr 20
Andy D'urso is a W*nker lol ... nice on Harry :)
0

StuartBrett8 added 14:47 - Apr 20
*one
0

TractorBoy666 added 16:15 - Apr 20
Credit Harry, must have been difficult to do two of these in a short space of time! At least they hate D'urso as much as us which is something, he could cause riot tomorrow!! They've got some decent players so it's going to be difficult but we can do it, a must win game this.
1

Steve_M added 16:16 - Apr 20
Ah, Ian Harte. Still an unpleasant cheat if a decent player. He should get the crowd going tomorrow. Fraser has 'balance' issues too.
2

Seasider added 17:15 - Apr 20
Note Mick was at their Good Friday game,he would also do well to read Harry's report as he said the other day that supporters who watch games regularly know who the best players are,and I might add their strengths and weaknesses.
Skues had another poor game for us by his standards and do we need two defensive midfielders in the must win game on Monday?
Wonder if like Bournemouth,one or two of our regular players are looking a bit jaded.
Central defenders and gk looked a bit suspect for their 2nd goal,and Skues just put his hands up,and made no attempt to stop the attacker for the third.
Would like Mick to introduce two or three fresh legs tomorrow although not normally his style.
0

GerkensBeard added 17:32 - Apr 20
Quite simply a must win!!! If we lose this I feel the dream of the playoffs is over. What I fear most about tomorrow is the occasion getting to the players. We and the players all know this is a must win game so nerves may get better of us tomorrow and will be an easier game for Bournemouth in that case.
I agree with seasider being a must win game tomorrow we shouldn't play 2 holding midfielders, also neither Surman or O'Kane are defensive midfielders for Bournemouth, both smallish so a midfield of Hyam and Wordsworth. Hyams bite and work rate along with Wordys creative yet physical presence would pay dividends tomorrow. Think we've gotta match their 4-4-2 as well and will need to keep it tight first half. I'd go same team/tactics against Doncaster. And then bring Frank and Taylor off the bench in the second half when the opposition are tiring. And with Frank running at a tired Ian Harte tomorrow could just be the making off him.
Come on you blues. This is our season.
0

ericclacton added 21:06 - Apr 20
Top young man Howe, good manager, very good team, draw I think.
Good stuff Harry.
0

bohslegend added 10:41 - Apr 21
@seasider agreed but would like 2 legs or 4 legs , not 3 ;-)
0

Alwaysablue added 10:41 - Apr 21
To think this could all be in our hands, ahh oh well, will have to go back to dreaming.
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yorksblue added 11:20 - Apr 21
Top match surely deserves a top ref. Not this clown, D'Urso.

Watched Sheff Utd res v Rotherham 1st team last week with Mike Dean reffing. He was head n shoulders the best ref seen this season.
0

Super_Cooper added 11:31 - Apr 21
Does everybody hate D'Urso?
Even the budgies hate him!
How can that clown still be refereeing???
0

Edmunds5 added 14:57 - Apr 21
"Rantie is someone who continually falls over and misses from three yards"- Great line that
0


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