AFC Bournemouth

The second club we come to is AFC Bournemouth. Just down the road from my club Southampton, it'll be interesting for myself, and perhaps you to get an insight into the club. Cherries fans don't seem to be too fond of us for some reason, in League 1 the match was even labelled a 'fierce local derby', which In my opinion, is well...silly! I don't mind Bournemouth and I like to see them do well.

League Form and the 'Howe effect'.

As we can see from the graph (Source: BBC Sport), the Cherries form at the start of the season was not to savoury, only one win in the first eleven league games. Paul Groves sacking was inevitable and the return of Eddie Howe from Burnley imminent. Not long after Howe's arrival Bournemouth's fortunes started to change. A charge up League 1 from November 2012, right through to February 2013 where they reached the very top of the league.

However, recently there has been a significant decline in the Cherries form, they lost five games consecutively, which has slightly dented their aspirations for automatic promotion.

Transfer Market

Bournemouth definitely splashed the cash this season on several transfers and loan deals. A few going the opposite way in an attempt to balance the books.

Notable Incomings 

Matt Richie            Swindon Town          £409,200
Ryan Fraser           Aberdeen                   £422,400
Danny Seabourne  Southampton              Loan
Brett Pitman           Bristol City                Loan
David James          Unattached                 Free
Lee Barnard           Southampton              Loan
Tommy Elphick     Brighton                    £220,000
Lewis Grabban      Rotherham United     £325,600

Notable Outgoings

Warren Cummings AFC Wimbledon     Free

Scott Malone          Milwall                    £827,200

Michael Symes      Leyton Orient           Free

Adam Barrett         Gillingham               Free

Matt Richie is the sort of signing that could earn Bournemouth an automatic promotion place. His arrival lead to the departure of Di Canio at promotion rivals Swindon, a tough loss for them, their best player gone and a talented manager following him out the door.  

Interesting to see two Southampton men going on loan down the road to Dean Court. I rate Barnard, a hard worker who will chase every ball and a good goalscorer too, I especially enjoyed his debut goal against Pompey! I do not have as much praise for Seabourne, who I feel is not a quality centre back, he is certainly not good enough for the Premier League or Championship, it would be interesting to hear how he has faired down at Bournemouth. 

Lewis Grabban appears to be a great signing. Grabban is the Cherries top scorer notching up 13 goals this season an impressive total, closely followed by Brett Pitman on 11. 

The outgoings for the club were not too important, the departure of veteran Warren Cummings perhaps the most significant. 

Bournemouth Fact-file

Founded: 1890 dissolved, reformed in 1899 as Boscombe FC

Ground: Dean Court

Capacity: 10,000

Chairman: Eddie Mitchell

Manager: Eddie Howe

Nickname: The Cherries

Honours: 

• The old third division 1986-87
• Football League Trophy 1983-84

Outlook

The future for the Cherries is a bright one. A great young manager in charge and still in contention for promotion to the championship. The Cherries may not go up automatically but I am very confident they will at least go up in the play-offs. Good luck away at Oldham today!