AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe is hoping that he can see an improvement in Colombia international Jefferson Lerma’s disciplinary record.
The 24-year-old has always had an issue with the number of yellow cards he collects over the course of the season.
During two seasons with Valencia-based side Levante in Spain’s La Liga, Lerma collected 27 yellow cards in 59 games (Yellow card per 2.19 games). 10 of those cautions came in his final 14 appearances in the top flight of Spanish football.
Since his move to England and making his Premier League debut, Lerma has received 16 yellow cards in 37 appearances (Yellow card per 2.31 games).
So Lerma’s games to yellow card ratio has improved over time, especially when you consider that 9 of those cautions came in his first 15 Premier League appearances.
However, Eddie Howe would still like to see more of an improvement in this area and compared Lerma’s record to that of former midfielder Harry Arter.
Arter received 42 yellow cards and 2 red cards over the course of his 143 appearances (Yellow card per 3.40 games).
Howe told the Daily Echo…
“…It’s the needless ones (bookings). It’s the ones at the end of the game that he’ll probably look back at and think ‘I didn’t need to do that’. They’re the ones that you want to try and eradicate from his game…”
“…It was well-documented, Harry Arter and our relationship with Harry and how many yellow cards he picked up. But you wouldn’t want to change Harry’s instincts and the way that he played because he wouldn’t be the player that made him what he was.
“It’s the same with Jeff. That’s why we signed him. You don’t want to take that away, a lot of the attributes that he shows but it’s trying to educate him and show him maybe a different way at times will be key – talk to him and show him some things.
“We want to keep him on the pitch for as long as we can.”
Your say…
Tinpot Club wrote…
I’m obviously not saying there isn’t room for improvement in his discipline. But he absolutely isn’t a dirty player. Compare his fouls to some of the tackles Arter was putting in for Cardiff. I’d rather have a player who takes one for the team than a player who lazily allows opponents to run past him too. – Join the conversation, click here.
