'Cherries Looking Up Rather Than Down’
- AFC Bournemouth are the visitors to King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off)
- Bournemouth Echo journalist Alexander Smith gave his view on the Cherries and their season so far
- The south coast side defeated Southampton last time out, a second victory of the campaign
A club revitalised after promotion back into the top-flight in 2022, followed by placing 15th and then 12th last term, manager Andoni Iraola has the Cherries playing an attractive brand of football which is delivering results.
Local journalist Smith cast his eye over the South Coast outfit’s beginning to 2024/25 during an extended chat which you can catch on Saturday’s Matchday Live show on Foxes Hub, assessing a current haul of two wins, two draws and two defeats so far.
“They’ve potentially got fewer points than they have deserved,” he admitted. “The Forest game was a good draw with that late equaliser. Newcastle at home, they were unlucky to only come away with one point after a controversial disallowed goal in stoppage-time.
“The Everton game was probably their worst game of the season but produced such a fantastic turnaround and they were unfortunate against Chelsea as well. But they’ve had a decent start, sitting 11th.
“Saints was the first really comfortable performance. They were confident and those three first-half goals certainly meant they were well in control by half-time and despite that Southampton goal early in the second half, Cherries didn’t really look like they were under too much stress towards the end.”
Having watched Evanilson, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo all find the net during the 3-1 home victory over Southampton on Monday, momentum is building prior to visiting King Power Stadium to face Leicester City this weekend.
Smith continued: “I think it will be a good season for Cherries and will certainly be looking up the table rather than down. If they can get in the top 10, that would be fantastic. They missed out on the final day last season having been in that battle with Palace and Brighton, but that’s a realistic goal this season.
“They will be one of those eighth to 12th teams this season and they’ve been making noises about getting into Europe in the next five years, but you’ve got to walk before you can run in some aspects. But Cherries are a really good side and I do think they will pick up good results throughout the season.”
With an easy on the eye style and results starting to come, optimism is high around Vitality Stadium that Iraola’s Bournemouth can push on in this campaign, especially given the attacking talents on display.
“He’s a brilliant coach,” the reporter said, analysing the Spaniard’s methods. “He knows what he wants from his players and they know what he wants from them. He gets Cherries playing in quite a high-energy way. He uses the word rhythm a lot and that’s his go-to. He wants them to be pressing from the front and really high energy.
“Before the Liverpool and Saints games, something had happened in the last five minutes of every match and I think that’s indicative of the high energy. When there’s tired legs out there, it can produce things.
“They are well drilled and they’ve got really exciting attacking outlets and Iraola knows how to get the best out of them I think. In terms of those attacking threats, Antoine Semenyo has started the season really well.
“Evanlison got off the mark on Monday, so he’ll be looking to add to his goal tally. The goals have been quite nicely spread around the side so far this season, but particularly those two are a threat when they are on their day. They could provide a bit of terror for the Leicester backline.
“They’ll be full of confidence after Monday. This game and the one against Southampton are two which Cherries were targeting going into the international break and they’ve ticked off one with a comfortable win and see this as a good opportunity to get three points on the road.”