AFC Bournemouth v West Ham

billythekid

billythekid

UTC Legend
New Season - New Manager - New Hope

With another new season upon us again, we now have another new manager. Since the long time in charge by Eddie Howe and then his departure, Andoni Iraola will be the club’s fourth permanent manager since August 2020, we also had Jonathan Woodgate on a temporary basis in that time.

Andoni Iraola who is from Spain, is the Cherries first foreign manager. He came to our club with a reputation of playing exciting, attacking, entertaining football, so that will go down well with our fans. So hopefully we will see his new style of football, which has stood him in good stead at his previous club Rayo Vallecano. Iraola might just give us a more successful season and keep us out of the relegation fight, but our fans will have to be patient as our players adapt to his style of football in the top league and against good teams.

Our opening game and first competitive game since the pre season friendlies, will be a good test for our new manager when he will come up against the very experienced David Moyes, the West Ham manager and his team. Also the chance for our fans who didn’t see the friendlies, to see our new signings and manager for the first time. The positive thought to have as we go into our first game, our side haven’t been beaten in their first home game since August 2017, when Watford were our visitors.

Last season wasn’t one of Moyes and West Ham’s better seasons in the Premier League, finishing in 14th place. The previous two seasons they had finished in 6th and 7th spot. Moyes will be hoping to finish higher again this season. But one big plus for them and their fans, they did win the Europa Conference League.

The last time our two sides met at Dean Court was on the 23rd April 2023. It was a game where West Ham found our known weakness of defending against crosses into our penalty area and they exploited it on four occasions and won the game 0-4.
Our defending of crosses into our area will be something our new manager will want to improve on, as West Ham will probably be out to test our defence again and find any weaknesses.

In all our home league games against West Ham, AFCB have W 2, D 3, L 2.
All competitions, AFCB have W 4, D 5, L 8.

AFCB Team News
Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Fredericks injured. The latest doubt is Adam Smith with a knee injury.

AFCB Player To Watch
As it’s a first look in a competitive game for our new signings, Milos Kerkez in defence, Justin Kluivert in our forward line. Our new goalkeeper Andrei Radu will probably be on the bench.

West Ham Team News
They will miss Declan Rice who signed for Arsenal. They have signed the Mexico midfield player Edson Alvarez from Ajax for a reported £35 million. Deals close on two other players, James Ward-Prowse and Harry Maguire.

West Ham Player To Watch
Lucas Paqueta, had a good game against us at Dean Court last season in midfield.

The Referee
Peter Bankes is once again in charge of our opening home game, we had him last August for our 2-0 home win against Aston Villa. He was also in charge of the 2-1 home win against Fulham.
 
kirsikka said:
Man City have enquired about him in the last 24 hours. Hopefully, something comes of that before the weekend.
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Mixed reports about that, his release clause doesn’t come in until next Summer.

Also West Ham don’t wan’t to lose another key player so close to the season.

Money may talk, we will have to wait and see.
 
Antonio has fallen out with Moyse, according to a friend who is a ST holders there. Rumours of wolves, Leeds and Celtic wanting him. I can't see him going to any of those. Fingers crossed that someone buys him quick.

If not, let's mark him at corners.
 
If both their new signings, Maguire and ward-prowse , are available they suddenly look a much stronger team. Include Alvarez in that aswell. They might not have the pin h up front but then neither do we really. It's a tough opener but a winnable game.
 
We've made Maguire look rather poor on his recent visits to DC. Let's hope we can continue that trend. Although, you can almost guarantee that if Ward-Prowse doesn't score from a set piece himself, Maguire will head it home. This is still a winnable game though imo.
 
New Cherries season opener is always a time to celebrate! West Ham are decent, especially if all these new guys play, but if we show up I see no reason we can't get a good result. Tough but not impossible by any means.

The first meet up of the Charlotte Cherries wll be tuning in to this one, can't wait!
 
Hope the Man City interest unsettles Paqueta if they don't take him away before the game, he's probably the most talented player West Ham have. If he plays, I think 2-2 draw, if he doesn't or looks scared of tackles, 3-1 win.
 
I am just wondering if there are any other PL clubs besides ourselves that will be starting the season without a recognised right back and only one recognised left back? Highly unlikely I would say. So, why have we found ourselves in this predicament? And why is this debacle seemingly not being addressed?

Both Liverpool and West Ham will very quickly become aware of our defensive frailties within the opening ten minutes of the game. They will do their homework on us beforehand and will know that we have players playing out of position. They will instantly become aware of Anthony playing at right back who in all honesty cannot defend and is a known left midfielder, Senesi playing in midfield of whom is a known centre back. Mepham also cannot be used as a right sided centre half in a three at the back formation as he does not have the pace to cover the gap. This was noted last season. The opposition will quickly learn that we have selection problems and will home in on this and expose us. We need the strengthen very quickly or find ourselves losing the first three matches without any shadow of a doubt. This is not negativity but more of a realism issue.
 
Reality and Realism said:
I am just wondering if there are any other PL clubs besides ourselves that will be starting the season without a recognised right back and only one recognised left back? Highly unlikely I would say. So, why have we found ourselves in this predicament? And why is this debacle seemingly not being addressed?

Both Liverpool and West Ham will very quickly become aware of our defensive frailties within the opening ten minutes of the game. They will do their homework on us beforehand and will know that we have players playing out of position. They will instantly become aware of Anthony playing at right back who in all honesty cannot defend and is a known left midfielder, Senesi playing in midfield of whom is a known centre back. Mepham also cannot be used as a right sided centre half in a three at the back formation as he does not have the pace to cover the gap. This was noted last season. The opposition will quickly learn that we have selection problems and will home in on this and expose us. We need the strengthen very quickly or find ourselves losing the first three matches without any shadow of a doubt. This is not negativity but more of a realism issue.
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That’s why the have signed Aarons today who plays at right back.

Though he does have to get through the medical first!
 
Reality and Realism said:
I am just wondering if there are any other PL clubs besides ourselves that will be starting the season without a recognised right back and only one recognised left back? Highly unlikely I would say. So, why have we found ourselves in this predicament? And why is this debacle seemingly not being addressed?

Both Liverpool and West Ham will very quickly become aware of our defensive frailties within the opening ten minutes of the game. They will do their homework on us beforehand and will know that we have players playing out of position. They will instantly become aware of Anthony playing at right back who in all honesty cannot defend and is a known left midfielder, Senesi playing in midfield of whom is a known centre back. Mepham also cannot be used as a right sided centre half in a three at the back formation as he does not have the pace to cover the gap. This was noted last season. The opposition will quickly learn that we have selection problems and will home in on this and expose us. We need the strengthen very quickly or find ourselves losing the first three matches without any shadow of a doubt. This is not negativity but more of a realism issue.
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Of whom????
 
billythekid said:
That’s why the have signed Aarons today who plays at right back.

Though he does have to get through the medical first!
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A very welcome signing. However, he is unlikely to be ready for Saturday as he has not trained with us. His transfer registration would not have been processed before the weekend and the club still has to await the results of his medical. There is not enough time for all this to happen before Saturday.
 
Reality and Realism said:
A very welcome signing. However, he is unlikely to be ready for Saturday as he has not trained with us. His transfer registration would not have been processed before the weekend and the club still has to await the results of his medical. There is not enough time for all this to happen before Saturday.
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It's almost like people don't sign players on transfer deadline day in a matter of hours.

There's vast amounts of time to get his medical and registration done for Saturday, if we so desire. Way more than we need.

As for the training, sometimes players are thrown in the deep end but, if Smith is fit enough to start I'd imagine he will. Meanwhile one of the missing jigsaw pieces will have been filled in.
 
Reality and Realism said:
A very welcome signing. However, he is unlikely to be ready for Saturday as he has not trained with us. His transfer registration would not have been processed before the weekend and the club still has to await the results of his medical. There is not enough time for all this to happen before Saturday.
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It is very possible he could play Saturday.

Edit: You're that Shmintho character and I claim my £10000]
 
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