By Josh Gans
Bournemouth play their house matches within the smallest stadium within the Premier League, the Vitality Stadium, which homes simply over 11,000 seats. To place this into perspective, it’s the 67th largest stadium in English soccer, with fewer seats than 61 skilled golf equipment and three non-league golf equipment. Their promotion in 2015 marked their prime flight debut, and following their return in 2022, they had been each bookie’s favorite to return down. This isn’t a historically rich membership with a historical past of success, however they managed to redefine themselves, with restricted sources, right into a secure Premier League facet that won’t roll over for anyone.
The Spanish supervisor has reshaped Bournemouth once more by utilising his excessive urgent ways. His gamers put their stamp on the match from the offset, setting the usual for the match and posing a selected risk to possession-based opponents. When utilised successfully, the excessive press disrupts these golf equipment’ typical consolation on the ball and causes panic among the many gamers. Their wins over Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis, and most not too long ago Tottenham, have epitomised this.
These standout statistics
Per match this season, the Cherries have gained essentially the most possessions within the closing third (6.6), most tackles within the center third of the pitch (8.7), second most interceptions (9.6), and most fouls dedicated (13.7).
They’ve the fourth highest xG at 30.9, regardless of solely netting 23 objectives. Their attackers are underperforming in entrance of aim, so they need to be even extra profitable than they’ve been. They’re additionally prime six or seven in almost each attacking statistic besides possession, the place they rank sixteenth (44.8%).
Three of the highest 4 gamers with most possession gained within the closing third are Cherries: Alex Scott is first (2.4 per 90) regardless of his meniscus harm, whereas David Brooks (1.9) and Luis Sinisterra (1.8) sit third and fourth respectively.
Key gamers
Even after Scott’s harm, Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook dinner have maintained the power, forming a cohesive ball-winning partnership within the midfield. Tyler Adams can be coming again into the image, including management and depth to the combo.
The assault enhances the midfield on this system. Sinisterra and Antoine Semenyo are each among the many prime wingers within the league in possession gained within the closing third. Dango Ouattara has made 2.4 profitable tackles per 90 (93.3% success price), essentially the most by any attacker. Membership-record-signing Evanilson matches seamlessly into this technique, providing a excessive press that has already led to 5 penalties. None of those gamers are family names however they every present a pivotal piece to the puzzle.
Dean Courtroom
There may be additionally one thing distinctive about Dean Courtroom (AKA the Vitalit Stadium for sponsorship causes) that makes it such a troublesome place for groups to go to. Not solely is it geographically among the many furthest distances to journey in England, nevertheless it’s intimate nature performs a big issue. Given its measurement, there may be an echo that reverberates across the floor. A facet that thrives off of inflicting opponents discomfort with an brisk excessive press features nicely in a small, compact enviornment, particularly when the house crowd will get behind their facet, pouncing on each misstep from the opposition. This creates a much less acquainted atmosphere for these large golf equipment.
Current outcomes setting the usual
The two-0 win in opposition to Arsenal delivered a primary case examine of Iraola’s effectiveness. When immense strain compelled the Gunners right into a harmful backpass, William Saliba was obliged to make a rash determination to deliver down Evanilson, whose chaotic affect obtained him despatched off. Their second aim got here from a penalty from one other stray ball backwards, forcing David Raya to take down the Brazilian striker. Bournemouth misplaced the possession battle 51-49% regardless of being a person up, however dominated in each different class. Iraola didn’t closely shift the system after the crimson card, they nonetheless conceded possession and it paid off.
The Cherries almost scored a minute into their 2-1 win in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, after Semenyo gained it in midfield and sparked a spirited counter assault. This set the tone for the match and Metropolis by no means recovered. Once more, Bournemouth misplaced the possession battle 64-36%, however had greater xG and missed 4 large possibilities, so it may have been a larger margin of victory.
Of their latest 1-0 win over Spurs, they misplaced the possession battle 66-34%, but gained the xG battle 3.71 – 0.87, missed six large possibilities and scored a number of offside objectives straight from successful possession. If something, 1-0 was a flattering scoreline for the guests.
Bournemouth’s success in opposition to the Premier League’s elite is not any fluke. They aren’t simply successful however outplaying these groups. By embracing their limitations and turning them into benefits – by means of relentless power, fearlessness, and personnel – the Cherries have change into a facet nobody desires to face.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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