Written by kirsikka
It was to be a night the like of which Dean Court has never seen before. An evening where our hallowed turf could decide the destination of the title, the biggest prize in English football. We could be kingmakers for one of the greatest leagues in world football. Fans all over the world would be watching us in numbers we’ve probably never seen before. Club loyalties for many would be discarded as they backed one or the other of the teams on show, depending on where they want the Premier League to end up. For Arsenal fans, it was a night when everybody AFC would have an AFCB team.
Man of the Match against Man City
Evanilson
Evanilson
Vote
Kroupi
Kroupi
Vote
Truffert
Truffert
Vote
Tavernier
Tavernier
Vote
Scott
Scott
Vote
Someone else
Someone else
Vote
It was also an occasion where the Cherry home faithful would be waving farewell to a man who will go down in our history, someone who will always be included in the conversations about our greatest ever manager. No matter what comes next. Plus, an adios to Senesi, who’s been central to some unprecedented times at the club and who is also set for pastures new next season.
Then there was the mere matter of potential European qualification for the first time in history for AFCB, with even a Champions League place still possible. An almost insane thing to say with only two matches to go.
So yeah. No pressure, lads. Just go out there and play like you’re down the park with your mates on a Sunday afternoon, kicking around a Mitre Delta 1000.
Team news saw Adams in for the suspended Christie as the only change to the starting XI. Cook returned from injury to the bench to fill the vacated place. I think we would have started with that team anyway; it’s just unfortunate to have lost a key match-fit option from the bench.
So what did the match have for us? Well, after a frenetic opening ten minutes that seemed to ping from one end to the other, things settled into a pattern. They had more of the ball, but we looked to hit them with lightning breaks that ripped them apart.
We suffered an early scare when Semenyo scored, but he was offside. Not long after, at the other end, a glorious move saw Evanilson miss an open goal from six yards. Fortunately for his blushes, the offside flag also went up, so it would have counted.
The best way to describe the half would be that it was a match between two sides who didn’t seem to be able to often hurt each other. Our best opportunity seemed to be to hit them fast with some smart interplay.
About that…
39 minutes gone, and Tavs played the ball onto the run of Truffert. He hit a first-time pass inside to Kroupi, who was just inside the area. The young Frenchman took a touch and then curled it into the far corner. 1-0! A fantastic finish, but don’t overlook the incredibly intelligent decision from Truffert to find a man rather than hitting a hopeful cross whilst on the run.
Half time and oh my word… anything still seemed possible. Truth be told, it had been mostly arm ‘s-length stuff, and with what was on the line, it didn’t seem possible that they wouldn’t come out with more oomph for the second period.
More oomph it was as they tried to steamroll us early. They created their first real opening of the match when they played through the middle, and it needed a very smart low save from Petrovic to keep it out.
At the same time, with them taking more risks, it always felt like we might catch them out at the other end. A sharp one-touch move saw an Eva poke at the goal saved.
It reached 55 minutes, and Man City made a triple sub to try to change the direction of the game. It immediately reminded me of the recent match v Arsenal, where they also made an early triple sub and, just like then, it felt like a panicked move.
Drink that in. Both Guardiola and Arteta panicked against us and made uncharacteristic choices.
Our one-touch game was excelling tonight, maybe better than I’ve ever seen it. Another pinball move saw the ball laid up for Kroupi at the edge of the area, but this time he shot over.
Then, from a corner, Rayan accidentally blocked a header that looked like it might go in and then only hit the outside of the post from the afters.
This makes it sound like it was one-way traffic, and that certainly isn’t the case. They actually pinned us back several times during the game, but we were so solid and hard to break down that they weren’t able to fashion any decent chances. Meanwhile, they always looked vulnerable at the other end.
75 minutes and AI finally used his bench, with Kluivert coming on for Kroupi. The logic was good from the options available, but I’m almost sure it would have been the match-fit Christie if he hadn’t been suspended.
Kluivert’s time on the pitch looked like he’d been out for quite a while, as he was off the pace and getting involved in giving away silly free kicks. That isn’t his fault, given how long it’s been since he played, but it didn’t help us.
The Brooks came on for Rayan and, after positively impacting so many recent matches from the bench, he was to have a bit of a ‘mare.
First, Tavs crossed the ball into him in the area. There were no defenders nearby, so he had time to take a touch, but instead opted to shoot first time. It didn’t go in, and he really should have done better.
Then, into injury time, and with Unal on and Man City throwing everyone forward and leaving gaping chasms at the back, Enes played Brooks clean through. With only the keeper to beat, he tried to curl it, but only hit the post.
A team like Man City will punish you when you’re wasteful, and that’s what those two missed chances were. With a minute left on the clock, an up-and-under into our box saw it bouncing around all over the place before it eventually landed at the feet of Haaland, who arrowed it into the corner.
1-1, and that’s how it finished.
Is it possible to be elated, amazed, overjoyed, stunned, celebrating but also feel the tiniest tinge of disappointment that we let them off the hook by giving up the win, and thus ending our chances of overtaking Liverpool?
Greedy. I know. But if you can’t be greedy at these moments, when can you?
But yeah. Only the second time we haven’t been defeated in the PL by Man City. Some result. And one where we decided the PL title.
Selected Player Watch
—– Smith —–
Ring-rusty and up against the most in-form player in the Premier League, he was flawless. A genuine old master classic.
—– Rayan —–
Not a lot going forward, but tonight wasn’t about that, tonight he had to put in the hard yards defensively to back up his full back, and he did that in spades. Excellent.
—– Truffert —–
Simply brilliant going forward, looked our main threat, and also snuffed out Semenyo and whoever else he came up against. Superb.
—– Kroupi —–
He’s deadly. The most lethal debut season by a teenager in PL history. And tonight’s finish was one to savour.
—– Scott —–
Another classy display in the middle of the pitch. If Tuchel were in attendance, he would surely have to take him to the USA now?
AI and Tactics Watch
I sit here at my desk, arms aflame. Body mainlining adrenaline. Disbelief and joy battling for control. Tears threatened, both in celebration and in memory of those who joined us on the journey but never got to experience this moment.
It’s simply incredible. AFCB are going to play in Europe.
Let me say that again. AFCB are going to play in Europe.
That’s right. AFCB. Europe. Next season. I’m struggling to find words here.
Once upon a time, when remarking on the Howe era, the slogans he had put up and around the areas used by the players, “Together Anything Is Possible”, et al, I commented that I’d never make a good Howe employee. I’m way too cynical and snarky to buy into that kind of corporate culture. I understand football clubs are slightly different, but even so.
Then, when Bill took over and declared Europe in five years, I said something like “I just hope we get the stadium done before he runs out of patience and moves on because Europe for a club like us isn’t going to happen, and he’ll learn that in time.”
It seems a period of self-reflection may be in order. Perhaps I should reassess my approach to life and put more belief in success, even against the odds. Once upon a time, before every match we’d have a post from a poster called Beetlejuice (maybe spelt differently… I forget) that, referencing our chances of a win, simply said “BELIEVE”. And you know what, she or he may well have been the wisest out of all of us.
From now on, I will always try to BELIEVE.
Away at Walsall? Believe.
Away at Watford? Believe.
Away at Sunderland? Believe.
Away at Man City? Believe.
Away at PAOK? Believe.
Away at Barcelona? Believe.
It feels like a life-changing moment where everything becomes so much simpler. I hope no more. I simply believe.
What have you done to me, Bill Foley and Andoni Iraola? I’m not sure I’ll ever be the same again.
The game though…
AI totally did a number on Guardiola out there. The truth of the matter is, we had their number all night long, and they stole a point they didn’t deserve.
I’m not having excuses about tiredness and so on. They’re a team full of Champions, costing many multiples of our squad, supported by the most productive academy system in England.
We’re a team that has its best players picked off time and time again and has to rebuild without them. They were even fielding our star man from the first half of the season. This is a match which shouldn’t even be a contest.
And we battered them when it came to openings all through the match, not only late when they were chasing.
It was a tactical genius showing just how good he is when put up against the best. Showing that, if anything, he’s better than them.
Put simply, in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola likened playing against an Iraola team to a visit to the dentist. I think we just extracted their wisdom teeth.
Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City have all changed managers this coming summer, and, incredibly, none of them appointed him. What an opportunity missed for everyone. Not that I care. I’m happy he won’t be in any of their dugouts next season.
It’s a shame that fifth place has gone, barring a ridiculous last-day goal difference swing, but the lowest we can now finish is 7th.
A record in the history of this club.
A record that is hard to fathom for a bunch of fans who spent most of their lives dreaming about a possible season or two in the second tier.
A record that will be hard for anyone to ever match or beat.
This could well be the high-water mark, and if it is, then so be it. I have no complaints; it’s been a hell of a ride.
Thank you, Andoni. Thank you, Bill. Thank you to all the players and support staff. Thank you to all the fans who turn up, whether at home or away. Thank you to this tight community of AFCB freaks who brighten my days from afar.
So that’s that. It may be au revoir to Iraola, but after taking us to the Europa League with that result against Man City, remember… don’t look back in anger…
Your say…
alwaysacherry said…
Thanks as ever for doing these, Kirsikka. Like you, I don’t think it has sunk in yet, but when it does,s I can’t wait to find out where our European tour is taking us.
Good performances all over the pitch today. I agree, Truffert was immense and a big shout out for Adam Smith, who rolled back the years once again.
Despite missing a sitter, I thought Eva was superb today. He kept their back four on their toes all game with his tenacity and aggression. Kroupi was up there for me, too, as was Scott, who really should be on the plane with England.
Looking forward to tomorrow’s trip to Forest with no real pressure and to say a final farewell and thank you to Iriola and Senesi.
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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…