The departure of Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer to Crystal Palace, combined with the sale of Ben Pearson to Stoke City this transfer window has seen Cherries’ numbers in the middle of the park dwindle. Gavin Kilkenny has returned to the first team following a loan spell at Charlton, but the youngster does not seem central to the Basque boss’ plans, whilst Joe Rothwell is still not fully fit after an injury at the end of last term. With Philip Billing injured for the visit of Atalanta, Iraola resorted to playing Ryan Christie beside Lewis Cook as his midfield pairing, the Scot usually deployed behind the striker or on the wing. Iraola also explained there was further experimentation with David Brooks, the Welsh international operating as the number 10 behind Dominic Solanke.
Andoni Iraola said: “Right now, especially with Philip being out today and Joe (Rothwell) also being in this recuperation process, we lacked players inside. But we tried Ryan as a number eight. We tried also Brooksie playing inside.
Probably they are not their better positions, but right now I think they can help us there in some moments. And is the time to make this provocation. Expanding further,
Andoni Iraola said: “I think Ryan I prefer him as a number ten. I think he’s more suited for this position or even from the side coming inside. But right now with the players we have, he can help us. He played some minutes also against Maccabi there and I think he’s tactically smart, so he can be valuable anywhere.”
Asked what type of midfielder he would like to see signed,
Andoni Iraola continued: “I think we need probably more than one player there. I think we need different styles, different types of player that can help us in these three positions we use in the midfield. But right now we have to wait at the end, the club is trying to sign the players. Like all the teams, but we have to wait for the right situation. We all think that it’s better to wait a little bit more, even if you don’t train (with the new players), but at the end you make the right decision with the correct player, the player that suits your style and think is going to be better for the club.”
Cherries host FC Lorient next weekend, before starting their Premier League campaign with the visit of West Ham on Saturday, August 12.
