AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City - Saturday 5.30 pm

Reality and Realism said:
In fairness, the outcome of this game is already a foregone conclusion. However, it is a 'free hit' and we have nothing to lose. We may as well go for it full pelt and see what happens.

Let's hope that Liverpool do us a favour by beating Luton tonight.
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I hope Luton do themselves a favour and beat Liverpool, would love them to stay up. We are not getting relegated.
 
bookies odds of a Man City win are (generally) about 2/5 - which equates to about 70% chance of winning. So even the bookies think we have a 30% chance of getting a point or more out of this game. Not so much of a 'write off' fixture that some people are suggesting. No reason why we can't give them a decent game.
 
Kenya Cherrie said:
I hope Luton do themselves a favour and beat Liverpool, would love them to stay up. We are not getting relegated.
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Agreed. But you must also consider that we do not want the team currently third from bottom gaining ground on us and cutting our current 8 point gap down to five. It would be in our best interests if Luton slipped up tonight.
 
Waz afcb said:
I know people aren’t going to react well to this, but I would like to see us give a few of the fringe players a start in this one. For a couple of reasons:

-It’s an excellent opportunity for the fringe players to stake a claim and to show what they can contribute individually, in a game where realistically we have nothing to lose.

-Our way of playing requires a lot of intensity and this is a good opportunity to give some of the first team players a rest, meaning that they can perform more optimally in games in which it is realistic for us to pick up points. We also avoid picking up any injuries to key players in a ‘write off’ fixture.


So I’d go:

Travers
Smith Zabarnyi Senesi Kerkez
Cook Scott
Favaire Kluivert Sinisterra
Unal

I know people will look to the fact that they drew with Chelsea and Brentford were competitive against them etc, but the reality is that the only way to make it a game against them is to play an ultra defensive low block with a threat on the counter. We just don’t play like that under this coach and even if we tried, we don’t have the defenders to pull it off anyway. Use the game as more of a training exercise.
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Don't you think that most of these players will also play on Tues? Or are you saying play full strength against Leicester?
 
RobTrent said:
it wouldn't. because Everton are still 8 points behind.


sorry to disappoint.
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Yes, but Everton are more likely to escape relegation than Luton. Plus the fact that Evertons appeal against their 10 point deduction is to be heard soon. If they get back three or four points through appeal it will put a slight slant on the situation. In addition, the more teams that stay in and around the bottom three would be advantageous to us. I still say it would be better for us if Luton lost tonight.

Sorry to disappoint.
 
Reality and Realism said:
Yes, but Everton are more likely to escape relegation than Luton. Plus the fact that Evertons appeal against their 10 point deduction is to be heard soon. If they get back three or four points through appeal it will put a slight slant on the situation. In addition, the more teams that stay in and around the bottom three would be advantageous to us. I still say it would be better for us if Luton lost tonight.

Sorry to disappoint.
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That wasn't what you were trying to state though. You were being deliberately misleading.
 
Reality and Realism said:
Yes, but Everton are more likely to escape relegation than Luton. Plus the fact that Evertons appeal against their 10 point deduction is to be heard soon. If they get back three or four points through appeal it will put a slight slant on the situation. In addition, the more teams that stay in and around the bottom three would be advantageous to us. I still say it would be better for us if Luton lost tonight.

Sorry to disappoint.
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So you think we are a relegation candidate?
You need to look at the league table, 3 more wins and we are very safe.
Forest are shaking in their boots at getting a points reduction too.
 
If you could only win one and had to lose the other, would you rather get the duck off our back by beating Man City or progress in the cup by beating Leicester?
 
billythekid said:
Tough Game Against A Team We Have Never Beaten

After the defeat away at Fulham, the Cherries were twice in front up in Newcastle in their second away game in a row. But couldn’t hold out for all three points and do the double over Eddie Howe’s team this season. AFCB still are undefeated against Eddie and have won 1 and drawn 3 games. Our next game is back at Dean Court on Saturday at 5.30 pm against Manchester City, a team we have never beaten and it’s being shown live on Sky.

Pep Guardiola has got his team right back in contention to win the title again.
This season after 25 games, City are in 2nd place with 56 points.
Last season after 25 games, City were in second place with 55 points.
Season 2021-22 after 25 games, City were top with 63 points.

Since our game up in Manchester, City on their travels have beaten Luton Town 1-2, Everton 1-3, Newcastle United 2-3 and their last away game Brentford 1-3. They have drawn one game, that was Chelsea 4-4. One defeat, 1-0 against Aston Villa and since our game back in November, the Villa game is the only one City haven’t scored and only the second time this season, the other was away against Arsenal. City top the last four away game table, with four wins.

At home since our game in Manchester, City have beaten Sheffield United, Burnley and Everton. Drawn with Liverpool, Spurs and Crystal Palace. City home and away, had won their last six Premier League games and in all competitions they had a straight win of eleven games. That came to an end at the Etihad Stadium in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Their most recent game was against Brentford on Tuesday night which finished 1-0.

The last time Manchester City visited Dean Court, was February last year. They were 0-3 up by half-time with goals from Alvarez, Haaland and Foden. Mepham scored an own goal six minutes into the second half to make it 0-4. Lerma scored a consolation goal for the Cherries with seven minutes of normal time to play, with the game ending 1-4.

In all our home games against Manchester City, AFCB have W 0, D 1, L 8.
All competitions against City, AFCB have W 0, D 2, L 18.

AFCB Team News
This will be Philip Billing’s third and last game of his suspension. Romain Favre hopefully will be available again after illness kept him out of the squad at Newcastle.

AFCB Player To Watch
Think eyes will be on our defence in this game and hope Dominic Solanke, Antoine Semenyo, or one of our players can capitalise on any chances we get.

Manchester City Team News
Josko Gvardiol and Jack Grealish have been out injured. Kevin De Bruyne was an unused substitute against Brentford due to a hamstring niggle.

Manchester City Player To Watch
A number who could cause us problems. But in games against AFCB, Phil Foden has done well, scored in every game over the last two seasons. This season in his lasts seven PL games, has scored 3 goals which was a hat-trick at Brentford and has 3 assists. Joint second leading scorer with 8 goals and joint leading with 7 assists. Then you have Erling Haaland leading scorer with 17 goals and has 5 assists. Kevin De Bruyne, brilliant midfield player and a joy to watch. Been out injured for a good time, but since he has been back, in his last six league games, has scored 1 goal and had 4 assists.

The Referee
Jarred Gillett is the man in charge of our game. We had him once last season, it was away against Brentford.
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Jarred Gillet has reffed us three times against Brentford and was awful in all three, twice awarding penalties against us.
 
cardiffcherry said:
If you could only win one and had to lose the other, would you rather get the duck off our back by beating Man City or progress in the cup by beating Leicester?
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Beat City would be my vote.

Plus beating Manchester City only to lose the Cup tie against Leicester would be peak Bournemouth.
 
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cardiffcherry said:
If you could only win one and had to lose the other, would you rather get the duck off our back by beating Man City or progress in the cup by beating Leicester?
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This is an easy one for me to answer. As we are winning the cup this year I guess we have to accept defeat on Sat.
 
The mentality that AI is driving is to try and win every fixture. It will be really interesting to watch to see if this approach is modified this weekend. Personally I don't think it will and we'll go for broke and land up winning......or losing.....or drawing.
I used to be decisive, but I'm not sure anymore.
 
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