AFC Bournemouth welcomed Everton to Dean Court on Tuesday night; the hosts hadn’t lost a home fixture in the Premier League this season, whilst the visitors hadn’t beaten the Cherries on the south coast since 2016 in the FA Cup and never in a league meeting.
That, unfortunately for the Cherries, was about to change.
With AFC Bournemouth missing Marcos Senesi, Lewis Cook and David Brooks all through suspension and Ryan Christie through injury, the starting XI and squad were missing some key players and experience.
The average age of the back four made up from Jimenez, Diakite, Milosavljevic and Truffert was just 21.5 years of age. The average age of the entire starting line-up, led by 19-year-old Junior Kroupi up front, was a smidge over 23.
The side lacked tempo and impetus. Due to the makeup of the side, understandably, the chaos football was put to one side. Maybe because of the key players missing, maybe because over the course of the last six weeks we’ve squandered a two-goal lead on two occasions (Crystal Palace and Sunderland) and only won once during that time.
Whatever the reason, it didn’t work and AFC Bournemouth succumbed to a disappointing defeat.
After the match, AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports…
“…We have not played well at all. This can’t happen, they [Everton] have quality players to make the difference. We have not been brave enough on the ball, and it makes you look worse defensively.
“I am concerned, now we have Chelsea and Man Utd. We do not have an easy schedule.
“We lacked energy and I hope we can recover it because we need it.”
“When you are not winning and you are in a difficult situation.
“We have lost points in games we expected to have more. It is definitely not an easy moment but you have to stay together.
“Keep believing. I hope we can recover, physically and mentally. Saturday is going to be a very big challenge.”
Man of the Match against Everton
Truffert
Truffert
Vote
Semenyo
Semenyo
Vote
Diakite
Diakite
Vote
Someone else
Someone else
Vote
No one
No one
Vote
BillyTheKid
Very disjointed and disappointing performance from our team tonight.
The worst game I have seen our team play this season.
First-ever home defeat against Everton in the Premier League.
Not much more to say.
Forheavensake
A nondescript goal won by a nondescript team against nondescript opposition (us). It’s difficult to summarise differently.
Sam Adams
Andoni Iraola might first want to confirm he is staying because some of the players seem to be unhappy campers at the moment and need confirmation of some long-term leadership from management?
thegazzyb replied…
That could be a factor worth considering, especially if they have heard “whispers” and have chosen to believe them!
A new contract for Andoni certainly wouldn’t do any harm in a moment like this!
It would help to bring everyone together in a moment where it looks like things are on the verge of falling apart.
It feels like a big month ahead for Bill and our prospects for this season!
New Forest Cherry
iraola schooled by moyes, they dominated central areas but had enough width through 10 & 22 to cause problems
our famous press got bypassed time and time again, we never laid a glove on their centre halves
everton put three players on the edge of our box at goal kicks and we were clueless to find a route out
and wtf was the point in whacking long balls to kroupi for 60 minutes?
afcbmattjamr
What was our game plan there? Just pumped in long balls to no one against a much taller side.
Feels like an almost identical meltdown to last season, but has come alarmingly early.
Milo looks streets ahead of Diakite.
steve_cook’sright_hand
We looked utterly lost, void of ideas and by the end whimpered through the motions with complete apathy. Frankly, a little worrying it must be said. Hardly rock and roll football. However, in Andoni we trust. I must admit I didn’t have the greatest feeling about the quick turnaround. The team have a lot to work on. Can’t say I’m happy with Tav reacting to the north stand like that. Kluivert was absolutely incensed too, crashing into anything that moved. Semenyo, another abject performance. Upwards and onwards. UTC – To join the conversation, please click here.
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DJ
I have been a writer and website administrator on the largest AFC Bournemouth fan website for almost 25 years. Previously on a now defunct fan network and since 2005 on vitalfootball.co.uk We have been nominated for various fan website awards down the years, however we have always been the bridesmaid…