AFC Bournemouth returned to Dean Court on Saturday to host Tottenham Hotspur.
The Cherries are struggling with injuries at the moment, whilst Lewis Cook made a welcome return to the substitutes bench, the home side were still without attacking threats of O.Dango and Marcus Tavernier, whilst recent acquisitions Alex Scott and Tyler Adams have merely been added to the injury list opposed to the list of available players for selection. When they return from injury they’ll be just like new signings…
The opening stages of the game showed a real look at what the Cherries philosophy under Iraola will be, a frantic high press penned Tottenham into their own final third for the opening minutes, but once this threat died away, Spurs grew into the game, especially England international James Maddison who really ran the show for his new side.
Iraola made alternations through the game, including the introduction of Lewis Cook for Joe Rothwell, but the withdrawal of Ryan Christie really hampered the home side, something that Iraola would later admit was an error.
After the match, AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports…
“I was disappointed probably with the end of the game after the 2-0.
“I think until 2-0 the team was playing really well and it looked like in this moment we had chances to score the 1-1, but from there we probably lacked a little bit of intensity and they were more comfortable on the ball.
“In the first half we put them in really difficult positions. I think Yves Bissouma and James Maddison were in difficult positions, but they are good and they were winning duals even with a man on their back and protecting the ball very well.
“Probably we didn’t regain so many balls because for me they could sustain a very good press.”
You don't tend to get such up front honesty from managers on decisions so quickly after a game.
Iraola says he regrets taking Ryan Christie off and feels Cherries were worse after he did. #afcb
— Tom Crocker (@TomCrockerEcho) August 26, 2023
Man of the Match against SpursZabarnyi
Billing
Cook
Kerkez
Aarons
Christie
Someone else
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It looks like we’re been planning to press, but there’s a bit of a lack of ideas when we’re not nicking the ball and just attacking normally.
We left some gaping holes in front of our 18-yard box once Spurs attacked.
Our midfield needs balance, it felt like we didn’t have a midfield at times, at least we know this has been addressed, just hoping Scott and/or Adams are good and fit in well.
AFCB_Liam repied…
Exactly this. I was expecting it might be a bit more like our 2015/16 season in the PL under Iraola with lots of clear attacking plans/patterns of play. Full backs overlapping and cutting back, triangles between the wingers and central midfield etc.
It all feels a bit chaotic at the moment and most of our positive play comes from when we do happen to pinch the ball high up the pitch.
There are then absolutely huge gaping holes left between our midfield and defence when we lose it. In the 2nd half, Spurs seemed to have the freedom of the pitch, they were waltzing through us. I thought Spurs were very decent and so possibly unfair to judge our system and tactics on that game.
The positive is that our full backs, in particular Kerkez, look to get forward more than Smith and Kelly did last season, but there didn’t seem to be much of plan compared to the classic Pugh/Daniels, Ritchie/Smith or even Zemura/Anthony combos. Work on the training ground required. Speaking of Anthony, what has happened to him? Looks like a shadow of his peak and absolutely no way he should be getting in to the team ahead of Brooks. Traore was poor yesterday, but we need to get a proper look at him. It’s very hard to play yourself in to form getting 20 or 30 minutes here and there.
None of this is terminal. It’s early days and we have some vital players to come back in the next few weeks, but my main concern is we look a bit toothless at the moment. Our summer midfield/attack signings (Traore, Kluivert, Scott, Adams) scored about 10 goals between them last season, so we are really relying on the system getting more goals out of Solanke, Billing, Brooks etc. too given we were the 3rd lowest scorers in the league last season averaging a goal a game.
Andoni Iraola provides his assessment of #BOUTOT 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/r4lUp4sFZW
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 26, 2023
CherryBeetle
Very disappointing today, but I am thinking it might take months before we are playing Iraola-ball. We should have players back by then too. Always going to be a tough start. This a long term project, not a quick fix.
Newman104
It can’t be overstated how much this team misses Tavernier and Outtara.
Nobody on the pitch is creative enough to create scoring chances. Just a bunch of guys standing around or trying to win 1 on 1.
Not the result we wanted but just wanted to say thank you to the fans and the staff for an amazing reception. I promise to give my all for you guys pic.twitter.com/ZkAgdMhPlE
— Tyler Adams (@tyler_adams14) August 26, 2023
AFCB_Liam said…
We’ve made Spurs look very good this half. We are playing as if we have 10 men. Absolutely nothing in the centre of midfield and they’re walking through us. Could be a painful few weeks before Adams at least gets fit.
AFCBmattjamr added…
Thought we looked good for large parts of the first half and the first 15 mins of the second.
Kinda fell apart after the three subs on 60mins and Spurs cruised from there.
Hopefully, Scott and Adams are fit sooner rather than later as our central midfield was a gaping hole today. – To join the conversation, click here.
