, Bournemouth hit the big time

Bournemouth hit the big time

The craziest and most unpredictable season of Championship football came to an end Saturday afternoon, with AFC Bournemouth clinching the title from Watford with only minutes left to play.

The south-coast clubs first ever promotion to the Premier League came as a title winning promotion, as Watford could not hold onto their 1-0 advantage against Sheffield Wednesday, surrendering three-points and the Championship crown over to the Cherries who won 3-0 at Charlton.

However, as the club go into a new era and venture into the unknown, they will face a prospect of many more challenges in which they will have to overcome if they are to survive in the promise land.

Little Old Bournemouth

As Bournemouth won promotion to the Championship two years ago it was only the second time the Cherries had played in the second tier of English football.

Many fans of ‘larger teams’ would be writing off Bournemouth straight away along with Yeovil and predicting instant relegation from the league.

They were right about Yeovil, who gave it a great go but ultimately fell short, however they were not right about Bournemouth who stormed to their highest ever finish and impressed through the latter stages of the season.

The immediate impression, now Bournemouth have achieved promotion to the Premier League, is that they will fail miserably and even record the lowest ever points tally.

To survive in the top flight the Cherries will have to stun teams in a manner they did in the Championship and punish sides who believe they have a divine right to beat the club just because they are bigger.

 

From Russia With Love

The Cherries have had a lot more stability off the field due to owner Max Denim’s arrival and for the first time in many years holding onto prized assets is a done deal and the investment on facilities has helped Eddie Howe and the players perform to their best.

While some other fans of teams say Bournemouth have bought success, it is simply not true, reinvestment of money received from Lewis Grabban’s departure and a 25% sell-on clause with Adam Lallana, has been spent wisely on young hungry players who have paid back every penny of what they’re worth.

Money will be available to Bournemouth in the Premier League (revenue expected to go from 4 million to 120 million), but it has to be spent wisely, buying determined players looking to succeed and to keep wages low until improvements have been made to the 12,500 Goldsands Stadium.

Goldsands Stadium
Goldsands Stadium

Bournemouth do however have a talented bunch of players who prove their ability in every league they go through, so I expect Howe will work with the same group who have done so well under him, I don’t expect a huge intake of players.

Howedini

Bournemouth through and through, Eddie Howe has become the Cherries’ greatest ever manager at the tender age of 37.

Three promotions during two stints as manager have left Bournemouth achieving what even the most optimistic believed they could not achieve.

A manager who was destined for the heights of the game, it speaks of his pride that he got to do it with his hometown club and will be itching to get the new season underway.

Howe is in full control of the Cherries with no interruption from people above and has spoken about his happiness in his role.

The longer Bournemouth can hold onto Eddie, the better they will do, as everything the ex-defender is touching is turning to gold.

 

Next year will be a surreal experience for Bournemouth, who will change their aims from promotion into fighting for their Premier League status.

But before you write them off, why can’t they stay up and develop further as a club; yes, examples such as Blackpool and Swindon are used when predicting the Cherries finish next year with both clubs coming up and being gone a year later, however you only have to see the achievement of Swansea, and even Southampton to an extent, to believe Bournemouth are here to stay.

I expect a crazy year is in wait for the Cherries, but with their stylish football, investment through the owner and their manager Eddie Howe, I fully believe they can win their games and stay up, particularly impressing when they are at home.

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