Form Guide: Bournemouth primed to build on positive Premier League debut
Second season syndrome is a concern for any team or player. Following a successful debut campaign, the worry is that opponents will work out the style and counter it effectively, ensuring its impact is minimal. In the early weeks of the current season, there were perhaps suggestions that Bournemouth would suffer the same infamous fate. The Cherries worked wonders to consolidate a top-flight spot during the mid section of their debut campaign in England’s top tier, yet struggled in the opening weeks of this season having also tailed off last.
After their top-flight status was guaranteed, Bournemouth took their foot off the gas, failing to win their final five games of the campaign, but that shouldn’t take away their remarkable achievement of retaining their top-flight status in their debut Premier League campaign.
Back-to-back defeats followed by a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace saw Eddie Howe’s side start on the wrong foot. After a subsequent 1-0 home win over West Brom was followed up with a 4-0 thumping at Manchester City, many suggested that Howe’s young squad could well be set for a long season. The defeat at City, however, has seemd to provide the necessary shot in the arm required for the Cherries. Bournemouth are now unbeaten in their last four Premier League fixtures, with the 0-0 draw against Spurs last weekend meaning they now have the joint-fourth best home record in England’s top tier this term
Only Aston Villa (11) gained fewer home points than Bournemouth (20) last season, yet after just five games at the Vitality Stadium, Howe’s side already have 10 points to their name.
Indeed, they are well on track to improve on their 16th-placed finish last term, with the experienced members of the squad replaced with youthful exuberance. The likes of Tommy Elphick and Matt Ritchie dropped back into the Championship to Aston Villa and Newcastle respectively, while Sylvain Distin, Glenn Murray and Lee Tomlin were all shipped out. Squad players Eunan O’Kane and Shaun McDonald were both moved on to pastures new, with Howe strengthening accordingly.
Jordon Ibe joined from Liverpool for a club-record fee of £15m, with Brad Smith making the same journey from Merseyside to the south coast. Lewis Cook swapped the Championship for the Premier League to swell the ranks, while Jack Wilshere and Nathan Ake arrived on loan. Marc Wilson brought in some of the necessary experience lost with Elphick's departure at the heart of the defence, but beyond him; Wilshere was the oldest arrival this summer at 24 years of age.
The summer signings highlight the change in policy for Bournemouth, with Howe relying on experience to keep his side up in their debut season before turning to youth to build upon an impressive foundation. This is having a positive effect in their quest to apply further pressure to opponents, with the likes of Ibe, Junior Stanislas and Josh King maximising their speed to commit the opposition. Bournemouth are currently the third most fouled team per game (12.8) in the Premier League this season, with that figure up from 10.4 last season.
The set pieces they are winning aren’t going to waste either – only West Brom (6) have scored more goals from dead ball situations than Bournemouth (4) in the Premier League this season – with the approach Howe is utilising having a positive effect on the team. Of course, the Cherries are also benefitting with the return of Callum Wilson. The striker sustained a serious knee injury in the opening weeks of the campaign last time out and was restricted to just nine top-flight starts following a bright start to life in the Premier League.
After a five-goal haul last term, Wilson has three to his name, but it’s his work off the ball that is profiting the Cherries. Rather than demand the ball to feet, the 24-year-old willingly pulls to the channels to drag defenders out of position and maximises his strength to hold off opponents, who often resort to fouling the striker to limit his impact. Only Adam Smith (3.1) is being fouled more times per game than Wilson (1.7) of all Bournemouth players to make three or more league starts this term.
It's Wilson’s approach play that benefits those in support, with Stanislas netting three Premier League goals this season, level with Wilson, and King chipping in with two. It also goes without saying that the midfield three of Andrew Surman, Harry Arter and Wilshere have contributed significantly to the good run of form that has Bournemouth currently 10th in the Premier League. The midfield partnership of Arter and Surman is well established, with the former the ball winner in the middle of the park and the latter maximising his distribution and reading of the game to ease pressure on the defence.
Arter averages more tackles per game (3.2) than any other Bournemouth player, while Surman ranks top for passes (57) and interceptions per game (2.6) of everyone at the club, effectively protecting the defence. This allows Wilshere to maximise his creative qualities, with 1.2 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game both ranking highly at the club. It’s arguable that Bournemouth lacked someone to link the midfield last season, but now have the ideal player to drop deeper and receive possession before driving the ball forward to help punch a hole in the defence.
If anything, Wilshere’s impact and Surman’s excellent distribution is down to Arter, who has stepped his game up this campaign. His debut season in the Premier League was disrupted due to injury, but he looks every bit the experienced top-flight midfielder, with his tireless work rate allowing Surman and Wilshere – among others – more time on the ball.
With one of the most settled and youthful squads in the league and a manager living up to his potential, Bournemouth are primed to consolidate a Premier League place once more. However, a top half finish may not be beyond them and with their home form improving, Howe and his team certainly have a solid platform for further success in the coming years.
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