AFC Bournemouth v Cardiff City

billythekid

UTC Legend
Welcome To Our Fourth Season In The Premier League

With the World Cup recently finished, the gap between seasons doesn’t seem so long. With this hot weather we have been having and the school holidays, there will probably be fans missing including (ST holders) for the opening game, August has always been a bad month. First home game last season against Watford had a gate of 10,501.

Our first game of the new campaign is against newly promoted Cardiff City (the Bluebirds) who came up automatically in second place from the Championship. The last time they were in the Premier League was five years ago.

Their Manager is the old campaigner Neil Warnock. When he took on the job in October 2016, Cardiff City were second from bottom after 10 games with 8 points. They finished with 90 points, so he has done a very good job in getting them promoted. Also that is a record eighth promotion in English football for Warnock.

Neil Warnock has made four signings so far and he has gone back to the Championship to sign them. One player was rumoured to be a target for our club, striker Bobby Reid from Bristol City. Defender Greg Cunningham from Preston. Norwich winger Josh Murphy and goalkeeper Alex Smithies from Queens Park Rangers, all these have undisclosed fees.

The Cherries so far have signed three players ahead of the new season. Midfield player 20-year-old David Brooks from Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee. The other signing is from Spain and Leganes, Diego Rico who is a 25-year-old, who plays as a left-back, the fee is £10.7 million. The long drawn out saga between Levante and AFC Bournemouth has finally come to an agreement, with a club record deal to buy the Colombian International midfield player Jefferson Lerma, the fee reported to be £25 million, with it rising to £28 million. Lerma now needs International clearance.

There have been a number leaving, amongst them Benik Afobe who went to Wolves but has been signed by Stoke City, initially on loan, with the transfer being made permanent in January. Another to leave is Max Gradel, pity it didn’t work out for him, always liked him in his time wearing a Cherries shirt.

The last time we played Cardiff City was at their ground and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. The earlier game at Dean Court ended in a 5-3 victory for the Cherries. This was the 2014-15 season when we won the Championship Title and was promoted to the Premier League. Cardiff City finished in 11th spot.

In League games home and away, the Cherries and the Bluebirds have played 32 times. In games in the league at Dean Court, AFC Bournemouth have Won 10, Drawn 3, Lost 3. In all competitions, AFC Bournemouth have Won 17, Drawn 11, Lost 13.

AFCB Team News
The team will probably be chosen from last season’s squad, with new signing Brooks possibly on the bench, but Eddie might just play him. Lerma has to get used to our way of playing before he goes straight into the team and has to get International clearance as well. Rico has to sit out a three match ban before he can get involved. According to the injury site, Nathan Ake with a toe injury, is expected to be available for the 11th August. Junior Stanislas with a knee injury is 25th August.

AFCB Player To Watch
Ryan Fraser, when he plays well, he seems to light a fuse and our team plays well. Last season from memory he did that at home against West Ham and Everton. When he gets going at speed he is likely to draw a foul in the defenders desperation to stop him getting into dangerous areas. We saw how he can turn a game on its head with his performance in that memorable win at Dean Court against Liverpool. When he has to play as a covering full back, the team miss the spark he can have at any given moment in his role as a good ‘old fashioned’ winger who can break a mass defence with charges and crosses into the box.

Cardiff C Team News
They could have more fresh faces come in before Thursday’s transfer deadline. No reports of any injuries going into the first game of the season. According to the media, Cardiff have made an official approach to our club to take Harry Arter on a season long loan with a view to a permanent transfer.

Cardiff C Player To Watch
Bobby Reid who they signed from Bristol City, scored 19 goals in the Championship last season for Bristol City. Be interesting to see how he gets on in the Premier League.
 
Warnock took over in 2016/17; they finished with 90 points in 2017/18.

Think we’re in for a very tough game. Warnock will have a good idea of how to set up against us and I just hope we don’t concede first (despite our great record coming from behind last season).
 
Warnock took over in 2016/17; they finished with 90 points in 2017/18.

Think we’re in for a very tough game. Warnock will have a good idea of how to set up against us and I just hope we don’t concede first (despite our great record coming from behind last season).

Should be a good opening game.
 
If we play to our potential like we did against Marseille then I think we will rape them 4-1 and give them a rude awakening to the PL.

But if we start slow like the previous 3 years then I think they will win as we are terrible when we play lethargically. It might be a good time for them to play us based on previous history and the fact Lerma & Rico are out.
 
Cardiff don't mess about in defense. The Warnock way is that if the ball is in the opposition half or in the stand then they are unlikely to score. That said, our defenders are very good at what they do. It is also the main reason why our possession stats are so low. Are we bothered?

When we do have the ball, we play on the break with a lot of pace and power. We are certainly not the long ball team that the pundits try to make out that we are. Nobody had more shots on goal than us last season.

The club hasn't gone overboard in the transfer market this summer, but the fans appreciate that the financial stability of the club is vitally important.

Twelve months ago, we didn't expect to be where we are today, but now that we are here, I have no doubt that the team will surprise a few people. It may not be enough at the end of the season, but with Neil Warnock pulling the strings you can be sure that there won't be any lack of effort.

Finally, one of the contributors on our own board has put this video up of what we did last season.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDiduHtfqjrC-EgcXGqHzwA

Hope for a good game on Saturday and best of luck for the coming season.
 
I am hoping that josh king will start the season in better shape than last season when his pre-season was hindered by injury. If he is up for it, I hope we get a good start. Last season we had Wilson, king and Defoe all having been impacted by injuries at this stage.
 
Solent

@jeffersonlerma not in contention as hasn’t trained since World Cup. Stanislas around a month away still, Rico suspended for first three matches #afcb #BOUCAR
 
Don't think we need to park the bus on Saturday.....but those of you with Prawn Sarnies need to be vigilant!... Either eat them early doors or pay an Ultra Squad to stand guard on them...!
 
NP Echo

afcb have this morning received international clearance for new club record signing Jefferson Lerma, although he is unlikely to feature against Cardiff tomorrow as he builds up his fitness.
 
No Rico or Lerma is disappointing but at least leaves the “old guard” the platform to show why they shouldn’t be dropped. If they don’t perform, then easier for Eddie to make the changes.
 
...just hope that we see Lerma soon, and hopefully Rico will get some gametime after his suspension..hope Eddie doesn't stall on replacing the 'old guard' we do need to move forward not just stagnate..

Begovic
Smith
Cook
Ake
Daniels
Ibe
Surman
Cook
Fraser
King
Wilson...then tomorrow :)

Snubs; Boruc/Brooks/Gosling/Mousset/Defoe/Mings/Francis

reckon this will close to the team that Howe will field?
 
I found Eddie's comment a bit funny because didn't Lerma say (in one of the first videos posted on the club website) that he had been doing extra training on his own?
 

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