For a Southampton fan mightily impressed with her own team’s Premier League performance last season, it was a shock to discover that south coast neighbours AFC Bournemouth were to step up into the Premier League. In this article, I’m going to take a little glance into what chance the Cherries have of staying up and how they could make an impact this upcoming season.
In January 2009, League two side AFC Bournemouth appointed Eddie Howe as manager, six years on and all at the club must be jumping for joy given their current Premier League status. Unsurprisingly, pundits and football fans alike have relished the chance to speculate on how these newbies will cope in the top flight. Many whispers about the club have included judgments on whether Bournemouth should open the metaphorical coffers and make some big money signings. Excitement aside, I for one believe that this team has what it takes to go hammer and tong against the tallest, toughest of contenders in the league regardless of new personnel. But only time will tell and August 8th is drawing ever closer.
Nevertheless transfer rumours persist and AFC Bournemouth have found themselves linked with Queen’s Park Rangers’ goal magnet, Charlie Austin – a statement of how far Eddie Howe and his club have come in such a short period of time. Although the QPR striker is a player on many a boss’ radar, Eddie Howe has dismissed any links with Austin as incorrect. He knows that the Cherries must be savvy and cannot afford to get caught up in the glamour and gluttony of the English transfer window. Howe is creating a squad that can fight as one for a long season ahead and he is right to stick by this ethos. However, illogical as it seems to me, there will always be folk and fans out there who believe that Bournemouth’s only chance of survival is to chuck a few hefty notes at some seemingly ‘pivotal’ players.
The club’s financial model has been called further into question after rumours of recent signing Sylvain Distin’s salary – reported to be £40,000 per week. Although this is a fairly modest figure compared with some of the more outlandish salaries paid by the league’s bigger clubs, it again goes to show the sort of challenge Bournemouth will face in the coming months. Yet Howe has again dismissed such claims as unfounded and false. But would such a salary truly warrant ridicule when Distin has enjoyed spells with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Everton. This is a player with a plethora of experience and could be invaluable for the Cherries. Bournemouth have also added Christian Atsu from Chelsea on loan until the end of the season and Artur Boruc on a free from south coast neighbours, Southampton. However, it’s the calibre of Bournemouth’s bright lights from last season that I want to focus on the most.
Callum Wilson is a man to watch. Having scored a total of 23 goals last season, Wilson proved himself to be clinical and calm in front of goal. Please also bear in mind that City’s Sergio Agüero netted 26, Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur bagged 21, and Chelsea’s lean machine, Diego Costa, scored 20. With those stats it is evident that Wilson has the capacity and talent to terrorise Premier League defences next season. Yann Kermorgant is another player to monitor with 17 goals to his name last season. With these two fit and healthy Bournemouth have the personnel to trouble most if not all teams in the top division and if they can be utilised in similar fashion to last season Bournemouth can survive and thrive in the months to come.
Players to one side now, I would like to consider whether Bournemouth can juggle the extra challenges of the Premier League. In the same way that some fear Southampton’s Europa League pressures might be too much for the squad to maintain their Premier League performances of last season, the Cherries must also face the step up from Championship standard football to Premier League. Certainly, Eddie Howe’s men will have their backs up against the wall when adapting to the quality of Premier League football but the squad clearly have the talent required to fare well.
I think it’s safe to say that the season ahead for Bournemouth will be stimulating. Indeed, it will pose numerous conundrums, but this is what they’ve pushed so hard for. Many have already stated that Bournemouth will go straight back to where they came from, but I’m remaining hopeful that they’ll take the bull by the horns and give the Premier League some true fight. They’ve got nothing to lose from doing so.