AFC Bournemouth v MK Dons

billythekid

billythekid

UTC Legend
One Of Those Potential Banana Skin Games

Away from the Premier League for the first evening game on Tuesday night at Dean Court. The visitors will be MK Dons who were relegated from League 1 last season and meet the Cherries in Round 2 of the League Cup. In the previous round of this cup MK Dons were home and beat League 1 Charlton 3-0.

Last season in the same round AFCB travelled to Birmingham City to face old Cherries boss and player Harry Redknapp’s team, with Eddie Howe coming out on top against his old boss at AFCB and Pompey with a 1-2 victory. The Cherries then went on to beat Brighton at home after extra time in the third round, the winning and only goal coming from Josh King in the 99th minute. In the fourth round AFCB were again playing at home this time against Middlesbrough, the home side coming out victors by 3-1. In the quarter-finals we were drawn away to Chelsea, in a evenly fought game Chelsea took the lead early in the first half through Willian, but when the Cherries equalised through Dan Gosling in the 90th minute, it looked like the game would go to extra time, but the Cherries hopes were cruelly dashed when Morata scored in the 91st minute to guarantee Chelsea a place in the semi-finals.

The manager of MK Dons is Paul Tisdale who took on the post this season. He was after the departure of Arsene Wenger the longest serving manager in all four divisions of English football, having been with Exeter City for twelve years. Also he has around 8 other former people with Exeter connections on his staff who have joined him. Including former players, Exeter captain Jordan Moore-Taylor, Ryan Harley and Robbie Simpson, also Lawson D’Ath who had a loan spell at Exeter. Also three coaches and Steve Perryman who had gone into retirement, joins as an associate director at Stadium MK.

Paul Tisdale has had a good start in League 2 with his new club and after 5 league games they are sitting in second place with 11 points after 3 wins and 2 draws. He beat his old club Exeter City 1-0 at the weekend when they visited Stadium MK. MK Dons goal was from the penalty spot, they also missed a penalty.

The Cherries have only played MK Dons once before in a cup game at Dean Court and that was the Football League Trophy in 2007-08 and MK Dons won 0-2. We also met at their place in the same cup the following season, AFCB won 0-1. In league games at Dean Court, AFCB have Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 2. At their ground, AFCB have Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 1. The last time we met was in the 2012-13 season and the Cherries were away, we won 0-3. The game at Dean Court was a 1-1 draw. It was the season we finished second and 1 point behind Doncaster Rovers in League 1, we were promoted to the Championship.

AFCB Team News
Expect to see our new signings Rico and Lerma start in this game. Also a chance for our two strikers Jermain Defoe and Lys Mousset to make their mark on this game and give Eddie something to think about. The same for other players to put on a performance to try and stake a claim for a starting spot in the first team. Only injury news is Junior Stanislas who isn’t expected back until mid September according to injury site.

AFCB Player To Watch
Our record signing Jefferson Lerma, was on the bench against Everton but didn’t come on. Another player our fans will be looking out for is Diego Rico.

MK Dons Team News
They have recently signed striker Rhys Healey on loan from Cardiff City, he came on as a substitute in the game against Exeter City.

MK Dons Player To Watch
One of our former youngsters, Baily Cargill played a few times in cup games for us. His biggest game was coming on as a sub with 15 minutes to go against Manchester United in front of a 75,000 crowd at Old Trafford in the Premier League, the game ended 1-1.
 
Having watched some of the recent cup games, my only concern is that the players are able to gel as a team. It's a strong team that we'll play.
 
Exactly. Our team picks itself, but will they play like they've never met each other before? If MK play their first-team they'll have a good chance.
 
Slightly worried about a Mings Simpson central two, because they both want to be on the left. Both have looked great on the left but uncomfortable and awkward on the right whenever I've seen them.

Franno as right centre back in a back 3 makes it a lot more balanced. But then you need a right wing back.
 
The only slightly out of position player will be Mings or Simpson. In past cup games we’ve had all sorts of nonsense such as Fraser at RB, a lightweight duo of Hyndman & Surman in midfield and other positions filled by disillusioned players.

This XI looks very strong. Lys & Defoe should compliment each other upfront. Lerma & Cook have a nice balance of creativity and power in the middle. The rest of the the fringe players ought to be at that “point to prove” stage rather than sulk stage

I’ll probably be let down but I’m really looking forward to the game!
 
It'll be good to see Pugh playing again, but odd not to see his usual partnership with Daniels - hopefully Rico plays similarly to Daniels.
 
Rico looked good at Brentford, got up and down loads, seems to like to underlap just like Daniels did in his pomp. I'm pretty excited about tonight, I think we finally have enough strength in depth that cup sides aren't too cobbled together. Looking at most folks predicted XIs you'd expect evryone of those names (except maybe Boruc) to get minutes this season, not something we've always been able to say about cup teams
 
Looking forward to seeing plenty of Mousset. Exciting when you have a player talented but so totally random that not even he himself seems to know what he'll do next. Not sure if Defoe next to him will be able to anticipate anything, but there can't be many better mentors to play alongside for Lys.
 
Solent

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