Written by bigfatolly
I think we do, although AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe doesn’t usually get caught up in the January transfer market.
1 Against Manchester City on Saturday, with Jefferson Lerma missing, we were left with Andrew Surman, Dan Gosling and Lewis Cook. With Gosling pulling out of the game in the warm-up, we were left with two centre midfielders in the whole squad. Obviously, Lerma might get suspended again, so the engine room is one injury away from a crisis.
2 The right-back position is yet again our weakest position, Simon Francis, although a great servant, is targeted by the opposition time and time again as he is so slow now. Also, if he gets injured, who plays there?
3 It looks like Eddie doesn’t want to play Jermain Defoe now, so why not get shot and spend some of his wages on a decent loan striker, maybe Dominic Solanke from Liverpool or someone of that ilk?
I think we are ok in the winger’s department and with Tyrone Mings having a good game against Manchester City, fingers crossed he could stay fit and start to challenge.
As an aside, I wonder how we would look with Mings and Steve Cook at centre back with Lerma and Nathan Ake alongside each other at Centre Midfield?
Your say…
dragonm8 wrote…
Definitely, a very fine line with our squad to be honest.
The boys all put a shift in and try their best but we are a little weak in certain areas.
Was good to see Mings play against Manchester City and he did alright given how little game time he’s had.
Blessing in disguise that Gosling was unavailable, to be honest as I think those who played generally gave a good account of themselves.
Lewis Cook doesn’t seem to be grabbing this opportunity by the horns as Brooks has.
The young bloke came on and tried, showed a bit of class here and there.
I think if we are going to buy in January we need some upgrades in the middle. Lerma, I judged a bit early but took him 3 or 4 games to know what it’s about. Now he looks like money well spent.
Surman, Gosling and to a lesser extent Stanislas don’t have much forward growth. Brooks, Fraser and Lewis Cook maybe do.
Shame we only saw Mings play Saturday as it was a containment exercise against the top team in the league. Think he would be more effective against the lower teams, the big 6 foot 5 brute who will contain and demoralise the likes of Huddersfield, Southampton and Newcastle.
Anyway, poor Eddie Howe, he’s got a bit of a job on his hands, but even after 4 defeats on the bounce, you just know he won’t ever let the squad think they aren’t good enough.
So we will be fine, just tough runs like these do show the reality of our squad and it’s slight lack of depth. – Join the conversation, click here.
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