AFC Bournemouth: "That's Howe It's Done"

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August has seen the start of the competitive campaign, and as is traditional, the opening month has been a busy one. The Cherries were in action seven times, including two cup outings, but this was at least an early opportunity to make their make on the division and prove their credentials as promotion challengers.

Match Results

Bournemouth Goals: Yann Kermorgant (17 pen, 52 pen), Callum Wilson (66, 73)
Huddersfield Goals: None
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Yann Kermorgant, 9.0 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Yann Kermorgant (10), Matt Ritchie (13), Tony Craig O.G. (22)
Brentford Goals: None
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Tommy Elphick, 8.5 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Marc Pugh (39), Steve Cook (53)
Forest Goals: None
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Steve Cook, 8.5 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Yann Kermorgant (8), Matt Ritchie (51), Callum Wilson (54)
Blackburn Goals: Jordan Rhodes (38, 45+1)
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Andrew Surman, 9.0 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Callum Wilson (68)
Norwich Goals: None
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie, 8.3 Match Rating




Bournemouth Goals: Brett Pitman (21, 23, 60 pen), Darren Jones O.G. (77), Charlie Daniels (82), Matt Ritchie (85)
Newport County Goals: None
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Brett Pitman, 9.7 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Dan Gosling (13)
Scunthorpe Goals: None
Man of the Match: Scunthorpe’s Jordan Clarke, 8.1 Match Rating

League Table

After five games played in the Championship so far, The Cherries sit top of the league with 15 points – five wins out of five. Brighton are close behind in second only on goal difference while Derby, Wigan, Brentford, Wolves, Fulham have also started strongly.

Goal of the Month

Just the same as pre-season, Callum Wilson was the scorer of the club’s Goal of the Month competition, his second and our fourth in a 4-0 triumph over Huddersfield in the season opener. What a great strike it was too! Yann Kermorgant played through the pass with Wilson having the confidence to take the shot on first time, and the ability to rifle it into the top corner.

Player of the Month

Despite some cracking attacking play from Bournemouth and 20 goals scored so far, skipper Tommy Elphick has been key to the early success with some stellar defensive performances, helping his side to six clean sheets out of eight. He has hardly put a foot wrong with some consistent displays alongside defensive partner Steve Cook, who has been nearly just as good. Kermorgant, Wilson, Ritchie, etc, deserve the plaudits going their way but even more so does Elphick.

Managers Thoughts

Credit to the players for an absolutely superb start to the season, I couldn’t have asked for more. We know we need to maintain this sort of performance level for the rest of the campaign, and it is my job to ensure the players don’t rest on their laurels, however we have definitely struck fear into other clubs around us with our recent form and for that, I have to praise the lads. Their passing, movement, goalscoring ability and defensive shape/defending have all been excellent, and so far, things have gone perfectly to plan.

Championship Monthly Awards

Elsewhere In England

• Hull City have made a flying start to the Premier League season with two wins and a draw, including the 4-1 demolition of Liverpool.
• Chelsea, Swansea and West Brom all crashed out of the Capital One Cup at the hands of lower league opposition.
• John Carver won the Manager of the Month award for August in the Premier League but has since stepped down from his role as caretaker boss of Newcastle United.
• Michael Dawson was the surprise winner of the first Premier League Player of the Month award, of the season
• Welling sit bottom of the Vanarama Conference having conceded a whopping 24 goals in their first 6 matches of the campaign.

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Last Update: Sky Bet Championship Season Preview
Next Update: The Midfield Maestro: Harry Arter

What a start, what a start! Absolutely brilliant first month Joshie! Some really good performers in your team! Hopefully you'll keep pushing on in the next few months and really cement that position at the top!

Hull City have made a flying start to the Premier League season with two wins and a draw, including the 4-1 demolition of Liverpool.

Monumental.

Wow, what a start. Your defence is clearly rock solid seeing as though you only conceded twice in the league, but your attack is also firing on all cylinders already this early in the season.

Josh: Thanks a lot, and that is exactly the aim - make the top spot our's. I knew you would like that result..

Walter: Yes, our start even surpassed my expectations, it's gone brilliantly so far!

At least give the others a chance!

Justice: Thanks, but I quite like dominating the league

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In the first of AFC Bournemouth TV’s exclusive player interviews, we sit down with The Cherries’ longest serving player Harry Arter.

Now and then comparisons of Bournemouth have been the rage in recent times, much being made of where the club are today and where they were five years ago when Eddie Howe first took over as manager. But at the same time, Harry Arter was in the footballing wilderness and fearing for his future as he contemplated dropping into non-league.

Following his release from the Charlton, Arter did slip into the Conference South, signing for eventually play-off final runners up Woking. ”After what had happened at Charlton, I wasn’t in a good place and felt like I wasn’t wanted. But looking back, my move to Woking shaped my career and grounded me. I fell back in love with football in my time there, and felt like a kid in the playground again.” said the midfielder.

His performances earned a move to Dean Court in June 2010, one of the club’s first signings after promotion to League One had been achieved and following the easing of their transfer embargo. Despite The Cardinals demanding a fee of £30,000 for one of their star men, an FA transfer tribunal led to them being ordered to stump up £4,000 instead.

At the time, vice-chairman Jeff Mostyn described it as ‘a great bit of business’. Little did he or Bournemouth supporters realise just how great it would turn out to be. A key figure in the club’s League One promotion, Arter has gone on to establish himself as one of the most influential midfielders in the Championship.

“It’s in my nature to get the ball down and play neat football, that’s how the game should be played, in my eyes,” he remarks. “I like to dictate the play, control the tempo and have a big impact on the match. My biggest strength is definitely my passing, and was probably what stood out to the gaffer, when he decided to sign me.”

As for Arter’s involvement in the transfer deal which took him to the south coast, well, it was an opportunity which he grabbed with two hands. “I didn’t have an agent when I first signed for Woking. I just wanted to get my head down and enjoy my football,” he remembers. “When I heard Bournemouth were coming to watch me, I was actually a bit nervous, but played quite well. Unfortunately I came off with an injury and I thought that would ruin my chances, especially as I’d had injury problems at Charlton.”

When he made contact with his future manager though, the move was never in doubt. “I met with Eddie the next day and I was buzzing. We clicked immediately and got on well. My philosophy of football suited him, and I was interested by what he had to say, so it was an easy decision.”

Even Arter couldn’t envisage the success he would have with his new club though. ”It has been a really good journey for the club, and this set of players. No, we probably wouldn’t have believed you if you had said we would be fighting for Premier League promotion in a couple of season’s time, but that’s not to say we’re not good enough.”

He added, “We’re working under a brilliant young manager, and have a team which is striking fear into our division rivals as every passing week goes by. Anything is possible for us at this moment in time. We’ve got growing confidence, for sure.”

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NOTE: These particular player interviews are written so that readers can understand a little bit more about the Bournemouth players and the history of their careers. If you want to read about a particular member of our squad in the next interview, leave a comment of their name.

Last Update: Season One: August
Next Update: Bournemouth's 2014/15 Squad List

Great start to the season

Cappy13: Thanks, hopefully we can continue to deliver similar sort of performances for the rest of the campaign!

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With the month of August coming to its conclusion, also signaling the end of the transfer window, every Sky Bet Championship club has submitted their final squad lists for the 2014/15 season. The Cherries’ registered players are as follows;

Goalkeepers

Right Backs

Left Backs

Central Defenders

Wingers

Central Midfielders

Strikers

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Last Update: The Midfield Maestro: Harry Arter
Next Update: Season One: September

That's a nice squad you've got. I think what'll be key for you is your club's star player is all eleven players on the pitch, rather than some random Trequartista who can do nothing without top quality service

Very good squad there Joshie, some amazing players who will hopefully perform well enough to secure you promotion to the Premier League!

Walter: Haha, you make a great point. There is a really strong team spirit at Bournemouth and not one player is above the rest of the squad. Much better than having a bunch of 'old has-beens' that will do nothing but ruin the harmony and morale.

Josh: Yep, let's hope they can do the business for us, and fire us to glory!

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Such a stunning start to the season would be difficult to replicate in September, but nevertheless the feeling around Dean Court was the same from all sides: Bournemouth are on the up. The Championship is a very grueling and challenging division, though, every game is important. And the big games were coming thick and fast, in only the second month of the season.

Match Results

Bournemouth Goals: Marc Pugh (4, 37), Yann Kermorgant (70)
Rotherham Goals: Artur Boruc O.G. (3)
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Marc Pugh, 8.8 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Harry Arter (24), Yann Kermorgant (38, 85 pen), Callum Wilson (45+2)
Leeds Goals: Billy Sharp (40), Simon Francis O.G. (52), Casper Sloth (69)
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Marc Pugh, 8.9 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Tokelo Rantie (56)
Watford Goals: Michael Folivi (50)
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Tokelo Rantie, 8.3 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Tokelo Rantie (77)
Wigan Goals: Grant Holt (67)
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Tokelo Rantie, 8.3 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Callum Wilson (16), Yann Kermorgant (35)
Derby Goals: Jamie Ward (14), Tom Ince (71, 85)
Man of the Match: Derby’s Tom Ince, 8.5 Match Rating


Bournemouth Goals: Yann Kermorgant (8), Steve Cook (55), Junior Stanislas (95), Matt Ritchie (120+1)
Hull Goals: Abel Hernandez (2), Robert Snodgrass (41)
Man of the Match: Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas, 8.5 Match Rating

League Table

As it’s only September, the league table hasn’t fully taken shape yet, but we’re starting to see how it might look a little later on in the campaign. Bournemouth remain at the top of the league, with a 2 point gap over nearest challengers Wigan. Derby are hot on the heels of the top two, as well, having picked up twenty points in the first ten games.

Goal of the Month

Matt Ritchie’s beautifully curled free kick against Hull City was the club’s goal of the month for September, the 20 yard screamer sealing a superb cup victory. It really was the icing on the cake, as deep in extra time and with the visitors pushing for an equalizer, The Cherries won a free kick just outside the box after quickly counter attacking. Step forwards Mr. Ritchie, and well, the rest is history.

Player of the Month

Marc Pugh really hit form in September, bagging two goals and contributing four assists, as he ran riot against opposition defenders. Two successive Man of the Match performances only tell half of the story, with the left midfielder a constant threat throughout every game he played this month. His brace against Rotherham was particularly impressive and demonstrated his wide range of skills. The first goal was a great solo run, ending in a well-placed shot, while his second was a bullet header past the goalkeeper. Pugh’s impressive displays only add to an already menacing attack, which will no doubt continue to score a hatful of goals, this season.

Managers Thoughts

In all honesty, September was a bit of a mixed month, in the league anyway. Two wins were followed by two draws and then our first loss of the season, but despite this I feel like we have performed well, and probably didn’t deserve to drop any points at all. Watford, Wigan and Derby are all very good sides though, and even if results didn’t go our way against them, we more than matched them. Onto the cup, and we claimed a terrific result at home to Hull. The atmosphere was electric and that gave the players that extra bit of confidence to go on and win the game, so I have to thank the fans for that. Next up is West Ham, this time an away tie, but we’ll still be right up for it and be hopeful of a positive outcome.

Championship Monthly Awards

Elsewhere In England

• Despite suffering a demoralizing cup defeat to Bournemouth, Hull City have continued their strong start to the Premier League season and sit in 3rd place, after six games.
• Manchester United currently sit top of the Premier League though, and so far, are yet to feel the pain of a loss.
• Manchester City’s European frailties were once again exposed as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Legia, in the opening UEFA Champions League Group Stage match.
• Liverpool are also struggling to find form on their return to football’s showpiece competition, with two defeats out of two.
• Welling are now the only team in the country who are yet to win a competitive game, this season.

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Last Update: Bournemouth's 2014/15 Squad List
Next Update: Callum Wilson: A Rising Star

Welling

An excellent update as per usual, and you're not doing too bad either