By theimps.tk
August 6 2009

Bournemouth are a side who could have easily been starting this season in the Blue Square Premier League, but a brilliant run in the second half of the season saw them survive and become, in my eyes, a key challenger in the fight for the Playoffs. Cast your mind back to October 25^th 2008 and how many of the other sites relating to Lincoln City described our win at Bournemouth as gutsy and brilliant, in reality we were lucky to escape with a point as we scored with pretty much the only realistic chance we had, also seeing Bournemouth having two goals disallowed and wasting numerous chances. Things didn't change much as Sincil Bank as Bournemouth were one of the best sides to visit Sincil Bank last season and had it not been for what has since become known as "The Curious Case of David Button" then they would have gained an exceedingly deserved victory.

Their survival took a while to kick in. Kevin Bond was deservedly sacked after an horrendous start, including failing to win in the League until September 20^th, but wins were few and far between and Eddie Howe was eventually called in to be the permanent replacement at the Fitness First Stadium. He didn't get off to a great start but he quickly found his feet and the Cherries quickly started putting wins together, including ones against high fliers Wycombe, Shrewsbury and Dagenham.

Wins save them catch up and over-take Grimsby Town, but those two and Chester kept changing their minds about who would take the final place and Bournemouth's chance came with two weeks to go, accumulating victories against both of their relegation battle foes, securing their League status with a win to go and they celebrated that safety with a storming 4-0 win at Morecambe. It was one of several high scoring victories over decent teams, also being Rochdale 4-0, Bradford 4-1 and various teams by either 3-0 or 3-1.

Eddie Howe have done a fantastic job so far, winning 12 of the 23 games in charge, losing 8. That is a fantastic record for a new manager and he certainly knows how to bring in the goals. Brett Pitman, Steve Fletcher and Liam Feeney were all regularly featuring on the score sheet, Pitman scoring a hat-trick against Rochdale, as well as braces against Morecambe and City.

Transfers in and out of the FFS have been few and far between, unable to buy anyone due to a transfer embargo placed on them. That does mean though that they have the same squad that was able to put together that brilliant run towards the end of the season.

I firmly believe that Bournemouth will again pull through and surprise a lot of people, hence why, with no points deductions pending as far as I'm aware, they will finish in the Playoff positions. Whether they will win the Playoffs is another matter, but I have tremendous faith they will do it.

5th : Cherries on the march?

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 06/08/2009 00:14

theimps.tk
06/08/2009 00:14

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D_e_a_n
06/08/2009 09:12

I think this is optimistic for Bournemouth Nathan. I was reading they only have 10 players signed on a pro contract are under a transfer embargo and have a date in court to decide their future sometime this month. I am surprised the FL are even allowing them to start the season.

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davidimp
06/08/2009 21:00

Agree with Dean until the embargo and court case are sorted they will struggle again. 10 senior pros any team is going to struggle.

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I Blame Paul Mayo
06/08/2009 21:38

yeah they will struggle untill they sign atleast 4-5 players.

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