Another game and yet another referring controversy involving the Cherries.
AFC Bournemouth have played three competitive games during the 2024/25 campaign to-date, with each game seeing officials decisions influencing the result against the Cherries.
On the opening day of the season, AFC Bournemouth had a goal disallowed as Lewis Cook’s shoulder in the build-up was adjudged to be offside because technically he could score with his shoulder.
On Sunday, AFC Bournemouth had a goal disallowed as O.Dango scored a last-minute winner with a headed goal that was said to have grazed his shoulder…an area of the body which you are allowed to score from…just not on this occasion.
Then on Wednesday, AFC Bournemouth were knocked out of the English Football League Cup by West Ham United as Jarrod Bowen scored in the 88th minute with a goal that hit his forearm. A goal that in the Premier League would never have stood, but in the second round of the EFL Cup there was no VAR so the goal stood.
AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports after the game…
“When you think it’s impossible something else happens, OK, but it has happened again,”
“It’s even more clear. I don’t know what to say. We are not making these mistakes but we are suffering the consequences, and we are out of the competition because of a mistake.
“I don’t know what we have to do to change something but obviously it’s costing us a lot.
“We haven’t won on Sunday because of VAR and we are out of the cup because there is no VAR.”
Man of the match against West HamSenesi
Smith
Tavernier
Dango
Christie
Scott
Hill
Huijsen
Neto
Someone else
|
A frustrated gaffer after that one.
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 28, 2024
DangerousDave
Couldn’t make it up really. Robbed of two points on Saturday due to an incorrect handball VAR call, and out of the cup today because of a blatant handball that would have been picked up instantly by VAR. Still, I’d rather be robbed like that in a fairly meaningless cup game than in a league game.
There was a lot to like about the performance. We were the better side throughout the entire game but just lacked that clinical final touch.
Huijsen and Hill were both very solid and dealt with the majority of their threats comfortably.
Scott started off a bit sloppy in possession but in the second half really started to gain control of the midfield.
Christie played as the deeper midfielder and showed that he’s more than tactically astute enough to play that role. It is possible that playing Christie in that role allowed Scott the creative freedom to showcase his talents, he is the kind of player that seems to make those around him look better. Perhaps we should look to play them together?
Special mention for Dango, who really was superb. He beat his full back numerous times and was so unlucky not to score with one of the most audacious efforts that you will see all season. His final ball was also decent today too. I know some have written him off but I think we really do need to be patient with him as his potential is quite frightening.
Evanilson looks every inch the Solanke replacement that we needed, bar the final finishing touch at this moment. On this display, he is quick and strong with great movement and impressive link up play. It’s early days but on first inspection, I’m impressed we’ve been able to recruit a player with this level of ability. The West Ham forward was a full German international who was Dortmund’s first-choice forward last year and he didn’t look half the player that Evanilson did.
If you can look past the nature of the defeat there really is a lot to like about that showing.
red_house
The positives were all over the field and the performance in general.
It was a dodgy goal on one of their rare forays into our half. If we desperately wanted to win the competition we wouldn’t have started with 7 changes.
It happens, we move on.
alwaysacherry
Yet again I’m left feeling cheated at the end of a game. Yes, we should have won it by that stage but to be shafted twice in 4 days is annoying, to say the least. Hammers were awful most of the game and didn’t deserve that bit of luck.
#afcb boss Andoni Iraola: “Because of VAR, I am four points less, out of the cup and two yellow cards for me. The mistakes have been from the ones with the whistle but I am the one paying the consequences.”
Full interview coming on @solentsport
— Jordan Clark (@jordanclarkcouk) August 28, 2024
billythekid
Watched the match tonight and the first half at times looked like they were in a practice match, especially West Ham.
The best chance of the game came to Evanilson, but only being on the pitch a short time instead of hitting the target he shot wide.
Ironically the winning goal came from a deflection that hit Bowen on the arm and ended up in the net.
If we had had VAR tonight, that goal most likely would have been ruled out.
So in our opening three games our club have had decisions go against them, twice when VAR was used and tonight when it wasn’t as no officials spotted the handball.
They say things happen in threes, so hopefully when our club visits Everton on Saturday we may get the rub of the green. – To join the conversation, click here.
