Part 2 A good place to start our campaign in the big league, could go both ways....draw would be very acceptable. Looking for ten wins, Very achievable! Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says record signing Jefferson Lerma is not yet ready to make his debut following his World Cup exploits for Colombia. Nathan Ake has been passed fit, but Diego Rico is suspended and Junior Stanislas and Kyle Taylor are injured. Ted McDougall passed fit after a lengthy layoff, will start on the bench. Cardiff signed midfielder Harry Arter from Bournemouth on Thursday, but he is ineligible for this game due to the terms of his loan deal. However, fellow new loan signing Victor Camarasa could be involved.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says record signing Jefferson Lerma is not yet ready to make his debut following his World Cup exploits for Colombia. Nathan Ake has been passed fit, but Diego Rico is suspended and Junior Stanislas and Kyle Taylor are injured. Cardiff signed midfielder Harry Arter from Bournemouth on Thursday, but he is ineligible for this game due to the terms of his loan deal. However, fellow new loan signing Victor Camarasa could be involved. Bournemouth sign Levante midfielder for record £25m fee Where will your team finish this season? MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES @Mark_Scott_ : With Eddie Howe believing this could be the strongest squad he's ever had at Bournemouth, improving on last season's respectable 12th-placed finish is a realistic target. Their transfer business certainly spoke volumes about how upwardly mobile they are these days, with Jefferson Lerma arriving for a club record fee and Diego Rico choosing the Cherries over Borussia Dortmund. Cardiff's modest dealings have done little to dissuade the many who view them as relegation favourites, but Neil Warnock has admitted he never gets tired of proving people wrong. Warnock says getting the Bluebirds up via a record eighth promotion was the greatest achievement of his career; keeping them there would surely top the lot though. VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "It is human nature - when you finish ninth, you want to finish higher the following season. "And when you finish 12th, you want to finish higher and I think that will be in everyone's head. "But for us, looking at league positions is a waste of time and energy. We have to focus on our performances and make sure we are improving as a team every single day." Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock on transfers: "Our number one target in midfield was the lad Bournemouth signed, Lerma. "We thought it'd be about five or six million, and I think they paid about £27m. "We had a rude awakening early doors. We were quite a long way away from the top targets so we had to be realistic really." LAWRO'S PREDICTION His team's survival is probably the only aim for Cardiff manager Neil Warnock this season and he has brought in some interesting players to try to achieve it. You know what style of football you are getting from Eddie Howe's Bournemouth side, but it is the same with Warnock's teams and I think they will scrap their way to a point on Saturday. Prediction: 1-1 MATCH FACTS Head-to-head This is the first time the two clubs have met in the top flight. Cardiff have won only two of their past 15 league games against Bournemouth. Eddie Howe was playing for the Cherries when they last lost to Cardiff, in 2002. Bournemouth The Cherries have lost all three of their opening matches in a Premier League season. Bournemouth have never lost a home game in the Premier League against a newly promoted side, winning six times and drawing twice. They won 21 Premier League points from a losing position last season, the most in the top flight. Eddie Howe has never lost a league game against Cardiff as a manager, with one win and five draws. Only Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard have scored in more Premier League seasons than the 17 by Jermain Defoe. Cardiff City The last time Cardiff avoided relegation from the top flight was in the 1960-61 season. Their only defeat on the opening weekend of a season in the last 10 years was in their only previous Premier League campaign, when they lost 2-0 to West Ham. However, the Bluebirds have never won their opening fixture of a top-flight campaign when it has been away from home. This is the eighth consecutive season there has been a Welsh side in the English top flight, the joint-longest run in Football League history. The last time Neil Warnock managed a team against Bournemouth was back in October 1999 when he was in charge of Bury. He has lost just one of his 10 previous meetings against the Cherries.
Let's get this show on the road!! By the end of the day, I may well be a bit down and by the end of the month I cold well be suicidal. But let's enjoy the ride for how long it lasts.
Getttttting nervous. I predicted a loss because I think we may start a bit slow. Not the greatest set of friendlies. But I am hoping we look respectful!!!
Here's the team.............. Team to play Bournemouth: Etheridge, Peltier, Bamba, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Ralls, Paterson, Mendez-Laing, Hoilett, Reid Subs: Smithies, Richards, Ward, Murphy, Cunningham, Camarasa, Madine
I think Bamba will drop deep and effectively play as a 3rd CB. That does give Ralls and Pato a lot to do because the rest are better at going forward than backwards.
An interesting line up. Didn't Warnock say that he didn't think Bamba was a premier league midfielder the other day?
Agree about us being 5 at the back which is disappointing but predictable. Don’t understand him not starting Murphy plus Victor who has had a full pre season and is an experienced La Liga player. The Bournemouth team doesn’t look great shakes do had expected City’s line up not to be so negative.
Watching the updates on BY sport. Chris Sutton seems to have it in for us. Up front said we were down. Every time there is an incident he comes down on Bournmouth's side. Wanted a sending off as well. What's he got against us?
Harsh penalty. Justice served. Bamba is not a central midfielder. Hoilett has lost his pace. Murphy should replace him. Not all over yet but City need to change tactics and try and play in the opposition half.
Hoillet hasn't had the best of games., But neither have a few others. Maybe Giggs shagged Sutton's missus...