AFC Bournemouth v Wolves - Back To Football Again

Hungry Wolves Come To Dean Court

After our recent defeats and break for the FA Cup, it’s back to football again at Dean Court. The last two home games produced 6 points, with defeats for both London clubs, Chelsea and West Ham. The Cherries scored six goals and kept clean sheets in both games. This time our opponents are Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) and it will be the first visit to Dean Court in the Premier League. Wolves didn’t have a break as they were involved in the FA Cup away to Championship side Bristol City. City had won their last 9 games and were on an unbeaten 15 game run. Wolves ended that run by winning 0-1 to progress to the Quarter Finals with a home tie against Manchester United. This game at Dean Court against Wolves could be entertaining for the crowd, with attacking and counter attacking football.

In the January transfer window Wolves have signed two players. Jonny Otto from Atletico Madrid for £18 million, he was previously on loan. Also signed 18-year-old David Wang for an undisclosed fee from Spanish team Jumilla B (Estudiantes). He will spend the rest of the season in Portugal on loan at Sporting CP. One player leaving Wolves, is our former player Benik Afobe to Stoke for £12 million, he was previously on loan.

Wolves are in good form at the moment and have taken 10 out of a possible 18 points in their last six games. They will be hungry to get more points on Saturday at our expense. At the halfway stage of the season after 19 games, Wolves were 10th in the table on 26 points. The Cherries were 11th on the same number of points. At present after 26 games, Wolves are 7th in the table with 37 points. The Cherries are 11th with 33 points.

Since our game at Molineux in December, Wolves next three games of the month ended in a defeat, draw and a win. First they were at home against Liverpool, they lost 0-2. The next two games were away in London, first they drew 1-1 against Fulham and the last game of 2018 was at Wembley against Spurs, Wolves won 1-3, a good end to the year.

January 2019 wasn’t a good start for Wolves, first game was at home against the third London club they had played in a row, this time they lost against Crystal Palace 0-2. The next game was a trip up to Manchester to play City, Wolves lost 3-0. The next two games were at home at the Molineux Stadium, both games were wins for Wolves. They beat Leicester 4-3, then in the next game West Ham 3-0.

February started off well with Wolves winning their third game in a row, this time beating Everton 1-3 at Goodison Park. The last game in the league before their visit to Dean Court, Wolves drew at home 1-1 against Leicester City.

The last time AFCB played Wolves at Dean Court was in the Championship winning season. We beat them 2-1. Last December the Cherries visited Molineux to play Wolves for the first time in the Premier League, Wolves won 2-0. In the league at Dean Court AFCB have W 2, D 1, L 0. In all competitions, AFCB have W 6, D 2, L 3.

Six Game Form Guide in the Premier League – Starting with latest game first:

AFCB LLWWLD – Wolves DWWWLL

Home Form Table
AFCB – 7th P13 W7 D3 L3 GF25 GA17 Pts24

Away Form Table
Wolves – 6th P12 W5 D3 L4 GF 14 GA14 Pts18

AFCB Team News
Besides our long term injuries, Callum Wilson has been out with a knee injury, David Brooks with an ankle injury and Junior Stanislas with a thigh injury. Back for this game will be Nathan Clyne who has looked good in the games he has played for us.

AFCB Player To Watch
In our last home game Josh King looked sharp and scored a brace against Chelsea, he also scored in the game before that at Dean Court against West Ham. Ryan Fraser is another player to watch at home.

Wolves Team News
They have had two players out injured, Matt Doherty who got a knock in the FA Cup game against Bristol City and Diogo Jota with a thigh injury. Both expected to be available for Saturday.

Wolves Player To Watch
Raúl Jiménez the 6’ 1” Mexico International striker. Strong and pacey player who can finish, has 9 goals and 5 assists so far this season in the Premier League. Other players, João Moutinho has 7 assists in the league so far this season. Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota if he plays.
 
Simon Hooper is the referee.

Last had him for the home win against West Ham.

Previously the away defeat against Wolves and home League Cup win over Blackburn Rovers.

Change of referee.

Roger East who was referee in our last home game against Chelsea takes over. He also was referee for the home game against Huddersfield.
 
To me this is one of those games where you just don't know how things will go.

If we play well we can beat them, Newcastle were unlucky not to get all 3 points.

At least the Cherries have had plenty of rest and time to prepare for the game whereas Wolves played last Sunday.

It will be interesting to see how much game time Solanke and Mepham get.
I'd like to see Sam Surridge get some game time too.

Eddie may spring a surprise with Brooks (I don't think Callum will play as it's too soon).
 
Wolves weren't great at home but we were dreadful. They had the gift from Charlie's "pass" for the first goal, then caught us on the break in the 95th minute.

Still got frostbite from that day!
 
unusually negative score predictions on the other thread suggestingg we are for a tough game. plenty of expectation after our winter break. could be a goodun!
 
For those who might not know and are thinking of leaving the area later after the game.


DRIVERS have been warned the A338 Spur Road will be closed in both directions at the weekend.

The closure will take place between 8pm on Saturday and 6am on Sunday between Cooper Dean and the Ashley Heath roundabout.

There will also be two-way traffic lights on the B3073 Christchurch Road from 9pm until 5am.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/n...-be-closed-in-both-directions-at-the-weekend/
 
As expected Brooks and Wilson will be missing.


Eddie Howe confirmed in his pre-Wolverhampton Wanderers press conference that Callum Wilson and David Brooks will still be missing for Saturday’s Premier League match.

The AFC Bournemouth manager also spoke about the availability of Junior Stanislas and Charlie Daniels ahead of the return to action.

“There are no dramatic changes,” Howe started. “Callum Wilson and David Brooks are still out with our long-term injuries Simon Francis and Lewis Cook also still missing.

“We’ll make a late call on Junior Stanislas, who has a hip flexor injury. Charlies Daniels is available for selection.”

https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-team/team-news-wilson-and-brooks-still-missing
 
Slightly worried about our creativity without Brooks, Callum and possibly Stanislas. We really need one of King or Fraser ( perhaps even Ibe ??? ) to really step up in this game, otherwise I think we might struggle to get the goals required for the three points. It's not the ideal time for us to be playing one of our more "winnable" games with so many creative players missing, so I'm hoping that somebody has an absolute blinder and we somehow manage to take all the points. I think it will be a battle, we need the lads to be up for the fight and somebody to take the game by the scruff of the neck !
I would absolutely love us to win this game and put ourselves back in the fight for "best of the rest". Come on !!!!!
:utc:
 
We can only play with the ‘cards we have been dealt’.

Looking forward to this game and with other tough games coming up it will be good to get a hat-trick of wins at Dean Court.
 
Boruc

Clyne
Cook
Ake
Smith

Ibe
Lerma
Gosling
Fraser

King
Mousset

Snubs; Begovic/Surman/Daniels/Solanke/Mepham/Surridge/Rico
 
Just been reading what Matt Doherty has been saying about changing their shape recently which has given them good results.


Last month a tweak to Nuno Espirito Santo’s system saw an extra man added to the midfield and a front two combine, and the results have told the story. Wolves are unbeaten in seven matches, across two competitions going into Saturday’s Premier League clash with AFC Bournemouth and Doherty feels the tweak of system has had the desired effect.

On the change of shape

“The shape has changed a little bit, we play with an extra midfielder and two forwards now, where we used to be 3-4-3. We can always go back to that, we know how to play it, but when teams try to figure us about, we know we can play two different shapes.

“At the moment it’s working well, so I don’t think we’ll be changing any time soon. We changed it up and started to get results again, so the fact we can play different ways in the same sort of shape is difficult for teams.

“We do a lot on shape and work on the weaknesses of other teams. We watch a bit of video on the day of the game and do a lot of work on the training ground – a lot of tactical things, making sure we’re in the right sort of shape.”

https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20190221-change-in-shape-a-positive-says-doherty/
 
...Wolves are in consistent as seen by some of their results...we get at them early doors and pin them back then we will have a chance. If we allow them to keep possession build up a head of steam then we will get punished...pace will be key from the likes of Fraser,Smith,King and Ibe to push them back
 
---------Boruc---------
Clyne Cook Ake Smith
-----Lerma Surman----
--------Gosling--------
Ibe--------------- Fraser
---------King------------

King straight up the middle in his favoured position, with Fraser and Ibe given fairly free roles either side. Gosling can push up when we're attacking and also sit on Neves and stop him playing. Having Lerma and Surman as DMs should hopefully free Ibe and Fraser from some of their defensive responsibilities.

Just my take!
 
In the last 15 months the only PL sides to beat us at home are Liverpool, Man Utd, Spurs and Arsenal. This is the sort of match we are good at. Winning games like this are the reason have stayed in this division.

Tomorrow will be one of our trickier ones. Wolves are stronger than most and we have injury concerns. What gives me confidence is we are usually good after a break. With Arsenal and Man City coming up, the past 2 weeks focus will have been on this match. If we get the game plan right we should get a result.
 
---------Boruc---------
Clyne Cook Ake Smith
-----Lerma Surman----
--------Gosling--------
Ibe--------------- Fraser
---------King------------

King straight up the middle in his favoured position, with Fraser and Ibe given fairly free roles either side. Gosling can push up when we're attacking and also sit on Neves and stop him playing. Having Lerma and Surman as DMs should hopefully free Ibe and Fraser from some of their defensive responsibilities.

Just my take!
Playing one up front at home to a weak defensive side like Wolves.
Na, Solanke with King up front give them something to think about.
 

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