With tickets only going on sale to members today I've been sweating on this one, but I've just managed to get them online. Bournemouth's ground is a leisurely 10 minute stroll from our front door, so I'd have been gutted to have missed out. Anyone else going? Tickets were £26 for me, and £7 each for my two boys (would have been £14 each if they hadn't been members). Excellent value compared to the prices we pay for home games. Now all we need to do is find a way to win it - Bournemouth are an excellent, passing side with a selection of very good wingers on both flanks. If we don't sort out our ongoing full back problems, we could get the kind of roasting that the locals here will be reminding me of for months.
Capt - I'll be there. £7 is good - I had to pay £18 for a child for the Leeds game. I know what you mean about locals reminding you for months - I've got Brentford fans coming out of the woodwork.
I'd make the most of it. The way Bournemouth are going we'll be in different division's next season. Them Premiership and us Championship (hopefully, rather than League 1).
I've been talking to my Bournemouth supporting friends, and here's the lowdown on our opposition tomorrow. They always play attacking, passing football with two wingers. Matt Ritchie is the man in form recently, with Mark Pugh probably on the other wing. Fraser and Stanislaus, their other options, are also dangerous. Callum Wilson is the main threat up front, and the only one of their strikers with genuine pace. His partner will probably be Pittman or Kermagent, who are both experienced at this level. The central midfielders are Harry Arter (Scott Parker'sbrother-in-law, no less) and Andrew Surman. They are keeping Eunan O'Kane (who I raved about last season) and Dan Gosling, formerly of Newcastle, on the bench. In other words, they have strength in depth in all the attacking roles if Eddie Howe decides he needs to freshen up his starting eleven. Now the good news: like us, they've been better going forward than defending this season, and they lack height at the back, making them vulnerable at set pieces. Francis at full back has been having a poor time recently, so if Roberts or Williams (sorry, not sure which side Francis plays) gets a chance to run at him it could pay dividends. Their keeper is Boruc, formerly of Southampton. He's good but not as good as you probably remember him. So, two teams in good form, who are better going forward than defending. They have a habit of throwing away leads, we have a habit of going behind early. If Kit is right in observing that we've tightened up at the back, we could have a chance. It should certainly be a good match.
Really excited by this one, although it is tinged with a bit of fear. As captain said, two teams in good form but it will be a very intriguing contest to gage where we are under Kit. The little I have seen of Bournemouth has been very impressive. Keeping a clean sheet would be a major achievement but let's go there and take the game to them, ask them a few questions. Enjoy the game all of you who are going, Boxing Day games always fun and the wife and I visited Bournemouth recently, lovely lovely place.
Thanks Captain for the analysis. Hopefully will put up a fight to show for it. Will be row I and will try to spot you. Enjoy the game with your boys.
Excellent - Unchanged team from the 4-0 win - Bettinelli; Grimmer, Bodurov, Hutchinson, Stafylidis; Parker, Christensen, Fofana; Ruiz; Rodallega, McCormack Substitute: Kiraly, Zverotić, Roberts, Woodrow, Williams, Hyndman, Burn Could be a cracking match given that Bournemouth are also unchanged. Pity I can't go (and, no doubt, missing Mrs. Captain's baking) COYW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bournemouth were well deserved winners. First half could have been worse... Second half we gave them a ride for 10-15 mins but that was it. Think we are too narrow and too slow. Parker was too slow for me and Bryan too lazy. Hopefully we can put it behind us and get 3 points on Monday.
My big problem with how we set up was McCormack's positioning: does he always play that wide? He should be much more central, either behind Hugo in place of Ruiz or (better) in place of Hugo. I don't disagree with Madness, but the maddening thing is we nearly nicked a point. At 1-0 in the 88th (or thereabouts) minute, Williams got booked for diving after a terrific run. It was right in front of our seats and it looked a stone cold pen to me. If we'd scored, I don't think they get their second. The ref wasn't great throughout, giving bad decisions against both teams. The ones in our favour didn't seem to be as significant as the ones against us, but maybe that's just a partial fan's perspective. Bettinelli was very good, even without the penalty save.
Another new ground for me - smaller than I was expecting but I quite liked it. It's not the most atmospheric but a very welcoming lot. After witnessing two away wins at Brighton and Leeds I was a little too optimistic for this one. We didn't play well first half but at least gave it a go in the second, ultimately though we did not do enough to deserve anything from the game. I'd like to see the Williams run again. It looked a dive to me but I couldn't be sure - Ref was poor I thought, from his others decisions throughout the game I wouldn't be surprised if he was wrong to give the yellow card. I've yet to see also if the Woodrow dive last week was a dive or not. (if anyone has watched a replay already I'd be interested to know) To draw a positive from tonight I think we are still improving. We now need to make sure we beat Brighton again on Monday and rock on.
I agree with everything COYW says, except that I thought Williams was fouled rather than diving. I was really annoyed there was no Football League show last night. I'd been looking forward to seeing the challenge again. As for Bournemouth's ground, a couple of years ago it only had stands on 3 sides. The end nearest the car park (to the left of the away section, those who went yesterday) used to be vacant.
I parked that car park and queued for ages to get out. I did a left and went through a barrier and eventually got into the centre of Bournemouth - this saved me loads of time as the opposite way hardly moved. Luckily I had not seen an earlier post advising not to go this way. Also yesterday was odd - I had a real urge to ask the person sitting next to me if he was Capt Morgan. He had a black beard and was with his son. (in my imagination it fits the bill !!) Somehow you feel a bit daft saying "are you Capt Morgan" - I'm glad I didn't as I see that you were sitting further down from me - and would have had a better view of the Williams foul / dive.
No beard and two boys in tow - you saved yourself a lot of embarrassment! I kept looking around for any 606ers, but I had no clues as to which ones were you and Madness.
Glad you said that COYW. I was beginning to doubt myself. The incident seemed to be missing from the club's two minute highlight reel, which made me wonder if they were brushing it under the carpet.
