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Opposition View: AFC Bournemouth

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The fixture list continues to deliver its challenges in Liverpool’s quest for Premier League glory. In the past we may have thought managers that say there are no easy games were being incredibly diplomatic but it is certainly the case this season.

 

After having passed searching away tests against Nottingham Forest and Brentford, the start of February sees another significant challenge awaiting the Reds on the road. Bournemouth are currently on a 11 game unbeaten streak in the league and the last two games have seen them put nine goals past Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, each of whom were on long unbeaten streaks of their own.  Filled with an array of exciting young talent all over the pitch and a manager who is not daunted by any challenge, the Cherries are a more than worthy contender for European places next season.

 

Alex Forbes from the AFC Bournemouth fan group has a wealth of knowledge following his team having ridden their ups and downs since the late 1960s and provides a tremendous insight for TLW readers. It goes without saying that he is on a bit of a “high” seeing the progress that they have made in recent times. Alex describes the effect that Andoni Iriola has made along with who he thinks is the cream of the crop when it comes to their exciting playing squad.

 

And finally, a glowing endorsement for one of the most discussed individuals on TLW Football Forum this season. Richard Hughes may still be in his infancy in his role at Liverpool and some lingering issues on his watch need some clarity at the very least, but Alex is unequivocal on the role that he played in setting up Bournemouth for their current success. And just a little insight on how he goes about his bustiness.

 

 

I asked a similar question to a Nottingham Forest fan a couple of weeks ago. How surprised have you been by your very impressive consistent form over the last couple of months? Or is it just a case of natural progression and the culmination of the players growing in confidence as a collective unit?

I’m not surprised as our owner Bill Foley’s vision is for Bournemouth to be playing in Europe. It is a natural progression from last season as in we finished last season strongly as the players increasingly understood what Andoni required of them. Andoni’s extraordinary coaching continues to improve our players and our performances. His understanding of the opposition is also getting deeper as are his tactics against them. The players at his disposal this season are better and more suited to Iraola’s style of play of play too. We are seeing the team evolve into an Iraola team as we refresh the squad. I also think we are much fitter this season, which is a key requirement for Iraola.

 

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Your manager Andoni Iraola came to the Premier League as largely an unknown quantity in this country. But it continues a modern trend of teams largely moving away from the “battle hardened veteran managers” that used to be favoured and instead choosing those of a younger and progressive football philosophy.  From afar he seems to have worked wonders but as a fan what have you made of his tenure so far?

Andoni was appointed as another part of Bill Foley’s vision for the club to play attractive attacking modern football. Andoni is an absolute genius coach and fits the brief perfectly. As a person he is intelligent, humble, family orientated, honest and very hard working.  He produces teams that play the most exciting relentless attacking football against anyone and it is just fantastic to watch - at times it’s unbelievable. 


Along with the fine work of Iraola, you have a nucleus of young and exciting talent all over the pitch. If you had to pinpoint a couple of players for special mention for their contribution since arriving at Bournemouth, who would they be and what impresses you the most about their skillset?

 

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The player who has had the most dramatic impact has been Dean Huijsen (pictured above) as he has taken Bournemouth to another level since he came into the side against Spurs in November. He is the calmest 19 year old I have ever seen with the highest footballing IQ both defending and attacking. He is also a great team player and the rock solid partnership he instantly formed with Zabarnyi is something to behold. What is scary is he is by no means the finished article. 


Tyler Adams has also made a huge difference in the last few weeks as he finally appears fit. I’m sure whilst he has been working his way back to fitness over the last 18 months he has been very influential off the pitch as he a very intelligent and articulate.

Ryan Christie has been transformed by Iraola and is a key player. Dango Ouattara is the epitome of what Andoni can do as a coach as he has been a revelation no matter what role he has been asked to play culminating in his well deserved hat-trick on Saturday. Special mentions also to Lewis Cook and Justin Kluivert who again have just been outstanding all season in a variety of roles. Milos Kerkez who matures by the minute is an outstanding left back and at 21 a huge prospect. Kepa is also transforming back into the most expensive goalkeeper in the world.


During the modern history of Bournemouth, the name of Richard Hughes has been prominent. Firstly across two stints as a player and then for his work behind the scenes as a Technical director. Now at Liverpool, it is fair to say that fans are none the wiser over his ability as he seems to work under a cloak of secrecy. There would no doubt be works going on that we don’t know about, but still there remains unease over the contract status of three key players in the Liverpool squad. What were the general impressions from the Cherries fans regarding the work of Hughes and did he have this similar enigma type persona ?

Richard Hughes is the architect of everything that is currently happening at Bournemouth and also a long term trusted friend of Michael Edwards from their time together at Portsmouth with amongst others Eddie Howe & Harry Redknapp. 

Richard is another genius whose track record speaks for itself and Bournemouth would not be where they are without him. It was Richard that persuaded Bill Foley to replace Gary O’Neil with Andoni Iraola who he had been tracking for some time and he has been proven at least 200% correct. 

He is never going to give much away as it is intellectual property. The downside of his approach is that it does tend to breed suspicion as it gives the impression that he is passive when nothing could be further from the truth in my experience. Richard will always let his actions do the talking and my experience is that he always on the money although not everyone will see that to start with. He’s a really nice guy too.

 

Football is such an unforgiving business in the sense that a whenever a club like Bournemouth rises, higher profile clubs see that and look to sign the best talent in that particular squad. If this happens in your case, do you believe that the Cherries have the structure in place to build again, much in the way that a club like Brighton have managed to do after losing its stars?

It is and I’m certain Bill Foley will have thought all this through as he is used to the cut & thrust of business as well as latterly sport so he will have a plan for all eventualities. You can see by the players we have signed in this window that we are thinking ahead. We are in the great position of having an owner with both vision and access to the resources to make it happen. As you say Brighton as well as Brentford have both shown what can be achieved with a data driven forward looking business approach.

 

Your record against the teams currently placed above you is very impressive, taking points from everyone apart from Liverpool. The fixture at Anfield was pretty early in the season but what do you Iraola would have learnt from that encounter and do you expect to see anything specific to neutralise Liverpool’s strength or keep playing your own particular way?

When Andoni was appointed one of his key attributes was ruffling the feathers of bigger clubs in Spain notably Barcelona. We were expecting great things when he arrived and we have not been disappointed as the games that we used to watch from behind the sofa have been turned into winnable fixtures.

What he does is disrupt the strengths of the opposition and this makes them uncomfortable. We saw two masterclasses from him in the last two games against teams with very different strengths with extraordinary results. 

 

I expect more of the same on Saturday as we did well at Anfield until you hit a Luis Diaz inspired purple patch to take the game away from us. Andoni will be very determined not to let that happen again.

 

After this fixture, you have a considerable run of games against teams placed in mid/lower table. With what you have been able to do to this point, what do you believe is achievable as a final placing for Bournemouth this season?

Funnily enough the teams below us as are the games where we are not so fluid as we seeing more and more teams parking the bus against us which is a new experience


The season has not panned out as expected so far and there is an opportunity for us to grab a Champions League spot. I suspect this is a few seasons ahead of schedule but the nature of Bournemouth in the last decade is to take any opportunity that comes our way and worry about how we cope once we have it. I can’t believe I just typed this.


There is a long way to go of course although we have a lot of players to come back from injury so you never know as confidence is at an all time high.

 

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Vitality Stadium will no doubt be in full voice on Saturday afternoon. Have you got a prediction for how this fixture will play out.

 

I don’t believe we will ever have come into a home game with so much confidence and optimism so if we are ever going to outplay Liverpool it'll be on Saturday. I’m going for a home win 2 or 3-0 would be in line with our current form. You have got to dream!

 

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The Hughes stuff is very interesting. 

 

As for his score prediction, people would have scoffed if he'd said they'd put four past Newcastle and five past Forest. He's entitled to be chesty, but yeah I don't think he's going to be right.

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Pressure is on them. They have to prove to themselves and their fans that they will beat us with expectations high after beating forest. 

If we can get the first goal we will have too much for them. 1-3 to the reds.

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2 hours ago, dave u said:

The Hughes stuff is very interesting. 

 

As for his score prediction, people would have scoffed if he'd said they'd put four past Newcastle and five past Forest. He's entitled to be chesty, but yeah I don't think he's going to be right.

Agreed, very interesting about Hughes, and backs up everything we've seen, or rather not seen from him, so far. 

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More nervous about this than other aways. Said it before when Jurgen was here, we are a rhythm team we are not at our best when we have "a break" what Jurgen did in the end was go half and half and we nearly did all 4.

If we start slow Saturday they will run all over us.

Its not like we never give up the 1st goal is it.

If we turn up sharp and aggressive then we should be fine..  over to you Trent

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3 hours ago, 05 Milan said:

Agreed, very interesting about Hughes, and backs up everything we've seen, or rather not seen from him, so far. 

 

It is meant to be football, though, not Kantian philosophy or Catholicism. Whatever his mysterious ways are, they need to drag something into the phenomenal realm pretty damn quick!

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Isn't there a role split here where Hughes works for FSG and Liverpool FC but Edwards works for the FSG group of sporting clubs/franchises? This would  make Edwards the boss of Hughes,yes? Ultimately Edwards would sign off on everything if so.

Was this how it worked at Bournemouth with Hughes having a boss,or was he the main man?

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Did anyone else have Warnock on commentary for the game at Anfield?

 

He spent 90 minutes + wanking himself silly over a team who lost 3-0 - I can’t recall anything like it.

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“I don’t believe we will ever have come into a home game with so much confidence and optimism so if we are ever going to outplay Liverpool it'll be on Saturday. I’m going for a home win 2 or 3-0 would be in line with our current form. You have got to dream!“

 

 

 

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