Bournemouth - in praise of Eddie Howe

[Thunder Bolt]

Credit to him (sorry Edna) and he just gets better looking with every passing week. In the unlikely event of AFC getting into and through the play offs it will once and for all confirm the theory that you've got to leave the Albion if you ever want a Premiership career (Cook, Elphick, Noone, Murray, Barnes, Bridcutt, Hammond, Bennett, Crofts, Sidwell, Harding...)

A pedant says Sidwell was never a Brighton player, but an Arsenal player on loan.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

A pedant says Sidwell was never a Brighton player, but an Arsenal player on loan.

See also Dickov, Paul.

 

[willyfantastic]

aren't they backed by a Russian m/billionaire? i dont think that squad has been assembled on the cheap.....

 

[keaton]

It's worse than that, they got Grabban and we got David Rodriguez. We signed D-Rod to fill that gap

Well Rodriguez has scored so he's done more than Lingaard has

 

[Brian Fantana]

I am intrigued at this? I don't doubt that some of their players are paid as much of ours and that Elphick and Cook will be getting more than they are on here, would that be what you heard?

But I look down at B'muff's squad list and see mostly players who would have negotiated deals from lower league/youth squad or poor relation Championship levels, whereas I look down at our squad and see quite a few who would have come out of Prem contract or foreign equivalent levels. So I am pretty sceptical that adds up to a budget that matches or exceeds ours.

I have it on VERY good authority that some of the new contracts that they have been dishing out, as well as offers that they've made to prospective transfer targets who have ended up not joining for one reason or another, have been for EYE-WATERING sums of money - especially given their recent promotion and attendance figures.

 

[stevejoneslegend]

Kermorgant has been exactly what we have been missing all season... Eddie built our play around fast and skilful wingers and fullbacks, yet we played 5 across the middle for large portions of this season, with only Grabbs to aim for in the box... so more often than not, all our crosses (and there were a lot of them) were met by the opposition defence, all the time...

We did not want a 'target man' such and Yann has provided us with the perfect solution... A big guy who can play football on the deck as well... 5 goals since his arrival speaks volumes, and Grabbs' game has improved 10 fold with a decent partner up front with him...

As a 'team' we have really grown into this league... We were at times woeful at the beginning, hence the need for 5 across the middle... We simply couldn't contain some teams... But now we seem to be playing with confidence and balance... We work hard, and don't fear going anywhere currently...

Rantie has been a real issue this year and has divided opinion as to whether he will ever be the 2 million striker we hoped for... I think he has 1 more year at AFCB to prove himself then I think Eddie will cut his loses on him... On saying this, Eddie is a 'huge' believer of buying for the future, and Rantie is still quite young...

If you speak to 99% of AFCB fans they will agree that we are still probably a couple of years away for being ready for where we currently find ourselves... But, we are here, and we can't go out to 'not win'...

I've also commented before on the fact that Burnley are now seeing the rewards of Eddie's hard work... But no-one could see what he was doing then... (thank god).

Good luck for the remainder of the season guys

 

[London Irish]

I have it on VERY good authority that some of the new contracts that they have been dishing out, as well as offers that they've made to prospective transfer targets who have ended up not joining for one reason or another, have been for EYE-WATERING sums of money - especially given their recent promotion and attendance figures.

I guess when they sign a big player I'll believe that then, as money always talks. Rantie doesn't really quite fit that bill, a young player who did well at a minor league abroad.

I think your qualification is interesting though, it may be big money by B'muff tinpot reputation standards but not necessarily Amex future of modern football standards.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Always hate playing Eddie Howe's teams, they tend to be rather good and a royal pain in the ass. He really does seem to be at his spiritual home in Bournemouth and has done a very fine job indeed.

 

[London Irish]

Kermorgant has been exactly what we have been missing all season... Eddie built our play around fast and skilful wingers and fullbacks, yet we played 5 across the middle for large portions of this season, with only Grabbs to aim for in the box... so more often than not, all our crosses (and there were a lot of them) were met by the opposition defence, all the time...

We did not want a 'target man' such and Yann has provided us with the perfect solution... A big guy who can play football on the deck as well... 5 goals since his arrival speaks volumes, and Grabbs' game has improved 10 fold with a decent partner up front with him...

As a 'team' we have really grown into this league... We were at times woeful at the beginning, hence the need for 5 across the middle... We simply couldn't contain some teams... But now we seem to be playing with confidence and balance... We work hard, and don't fear going anywhere currently...

Rantie has been a real issue this year and has divided opinion as to whether he will ever be the 2 million striker we hoped for... I think he has 1 more year at AFCB to prove himself then I think Eddie will cut his loses on him... On saying this, Eddie is a 'huge' believer of buying for the future, and Rantie is still quite young...

If you speak to 99% of AFCB fans they will agree that we are still probably a couple of years away for being ready for where we currently find ourselves... But, we are here, and we can't go out to 'not win'...

I've also commented before on the fact that Burnley are now seeing the rewards of Eddie's hard work... But no-one could see what he was doing then... (thank god).

Good luck for the remainder of the season guys

Thanks for that. All any football supporter wants is a manager who learns and makes improvements to the team as the season progresses, it's that momentum gives the hope that fans thrive on, regardless of bad starts and dodgy patches. Jury is out on whether Oscar is doing that for us.

 

[Keeping The Dream Alive.]

I am intrigued at this? I don't doubt that some of their players are paid as much of ours and that Elphick and Cook will be getting more than they are on here, would that be what you heard?

But I look down at B'muff's squad list and see mostly players who would have negotiated deals from lower league/youth squad or poor relation Championship levels, whereas I look down at our squad and see quite a few who would have come out of Prem contract or foreign equivalent levels. So I am pretty sceptical that adds up to a budget that matches or exceeds ours.

Without going into too fine a detail, both Elphick and Cook are on more than Greer is, one of them even on more money than Upson.

 

[London Irish]

Without going into too fine a detail, both Elphick and Cook are on more than Greer is, one of them even on more money than Upson.

That's pretty good detail, fair play

I am frankly amazed that Elphick is on more than Upson but there you go.

 

[Hometownglory]

I wonder if Grabban would have got us to the playoffs?

Sadly, we weren't prepared to invest. If we had gone all out to land Grabban and Conway we could well be enjoying a rather different end to our season...!

 

[Keeping The Dream Alive.]

That's pretty good detail, fair play

I am frankly amazed that Elphick is on more than Upson but there you go.

As I said, many players had a significant promotion clause in their contracts. The chairman is a very rich man.

 

[life on mars 73]

I would like him to be our manager, he has a slight look of David Bowie

Indeed he has....uncanny, eh ?

 

[stevejoneslegend]

Elphick and Cook have been first class in the second part of the season... No problem with them being on good money... as long as the owner doesn't get bored and pull out, but there are strong signs that this is not going to happen anytime soon...

 

[Surf's Up]

Simple question if the suggestions re their salary structure are correct: How on earth will they live within the FFP rules?

 

[Icy Gull]

That's pretty good detail, fair play

I am frankly amazed that Elphick is on more than Upson but there you go.

Yeah but they have a very rich owner who seems to be throwing money at them. I was shocked that they were able to offer more than us for Grabban. Hence my comment the other day that maybe they should be a little concerned about FFP biting them, although the owner may be able to swallow up the fines too, should they get one.

I don't like this thread at all...****ing Bournemouth about to pass us by in the league grrrrr

I'd put Eddie Howe up near the top of managers I dislike, he strikes me as smarmy but not doubting that he is doing a very good job there. Shame.

 

[ofco8]

Yes they could afford to do that - but we could have won in a bidding war if we wanted, which we didnt want to enter, and maybe rightly.

But they are a less wealthy club than us and they got Grabban and we got Lingard. It's disappointing however way you cut it, isn't it?

Yep, this now looks a correct statement.

 

[edna krabappel]

That's pretty good detail, fair play

I am frankly amazed that Elphick is on more than Upson but there you go.

Wait- out of the two of them, you think it's going to be Elphick who's the one on more than Upson?


Or was that a joke that I've just missed?

 

[lancyclaret]

Players like Elliott Ward, Ian Harte and Lee Camp would not have given Bournemouth a second look unless offered very good wages - after QPR and Forest, Bournemouth are the worst offender for getting in line with FFP rules.