AFC Bournemouth-Club | EPL24x7

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Joe Rothwell on competition for starting spot #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan April 4, 2023

After arriving on a free transfer in the summer following his departure from Blackburn Rovers, Rothwell is currently enjoying his longest spell in the Cherries team, featuring in all but one of the previous 12 fixtures and starting the last four games. Considering it took until October for the former Oxford United man to make his Cherries debut following a quad injury, it seemed like Rothwell would be a bit-part player this campaign. The arrival of further players in January seemingly reduced his chances further, but since the end of the window, Rothwell has earnt the bulk of his minutes this campaign. Asked if he took personal pride in earning a starting spot despite the influx of January signings, Rothwell told the Daily Echo: “Definitely. “It was a tough start to the season for myself, especially picking up the injury and then coming back with a break and then it was basically starting all over again. “But I always have I believe in myself. “I knew if I got in, I could give the manager a headache and try and force my way into the side and stay there. “Thankfully, at the moment, I've done that, but we’ve got some quality coming back now and the bench (against Fulham) was probably the strongest it’s been all season. “It's a fight for us to even get into the 20 now. “So I just go out there, give everything I've got every game and give the manager a headache.” With all but two players returning from injury, head coach Gary O’Neil has the unenviable task of leaving out at least five members of the 27-strong first team squad for a Premier League game. Rothwell continued: “Everyone's role fighting for the same goal at the end of the day, but internally, players coming back, it gives you a bit of a kick up the backside to perform every week. “You know if you don't, there's someone there to come take that shirt and it drives everyone on. “We've got a massive 10 games now to achieve what we want to achieve.” Cherries are in action again on Tuesday evening, hosting Brighton at the Vitality Stadium. “A brilliant team, fantastic with the ball,” began Rothwell. “We went there earlier on in the season. We were unlucky, I thought. “I felt we definitely deserved something out of the game and they just nicked it with one goal. “We'll sit down, we'll look at what their strengths and weaknesses are and hopefully put a game plan together that can end in a positive result for ourselves.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil comments on recent Premier League sackings #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan April 4, 2023

Potter became the 12th managerial casualty of the Premier League this season when he was let go from his role at Stamford Bridge, news of his sacking coming out hours after Cherries’ relegation rivals Leicester announced they had parted ways with Brendan Rodgers. Asked for his thoughts on seeing the pair leave their roles, O’Neil responded: “My thoughts, firstly on Graham and Brendan is two incredible managers. “The work that Graham had done at Brighton and clubs before that, he did some incredible work there. “So disappointed for him that at a very big club like Chelsea, he didn't get as long as he would have liked. “But also 100 per sure that he'll bounce back whenever he's ready and show everyone what a good manager and football coach he is. “Again, Brendan's time at Leicester, obviously some real highs in there. “Has been there quite a long time and won the FA Cup, knocking on the Champions League door a few times. So, he has had a successful spell at Leicester. “I'm sure we'll see him back whenever he's ready.” Hired permanently in November after initially being appointed on an interim basis at the end of August, O’Neil has served as Cherries head coach for 216 days – long enough to make him the 10th longest-serving manager in the division. “I understand the nature of the job,” he continued. “Just because other people are losing theirs doesn't make me feel any differently around what it is. “I accept that if things don't go well, you lose your job. That's the nature of being a football manager. So, I’ve always understood that and accept that and then concentrate on doing the job the best I can.” Questioned if that highlighted the reality of management, O’Neil responded: “It seems to be. “I mean, I haven't checked the numbers, but it seems to be more so now than it ever has been. “I guess it's the nature of it. Obviously, it's my first go, so I haven't got much experience in it, but from my point of view, it isn't any more or less pressurised than I expected. “It's exactly where I thought it would be. I'll just take it as part of it. “Losing your job is a real possibility at any given moment if things don't go how you want them to. “So, yeah, let's try our best, see if we can achieve what the club set out to and enjoy the spell that we have.” Despite being thrust into his first head coach role somewhat unexpectedly, as admitted by O’Neil, the former Portsmouth midfielder stated the pressures involved had not come as a surprise. He continued: “I think I wouldn't have expected to start in the Premier League. “Of course, not many do, so the spotlight is obviously huge. The pressure is bigger. The level of coach you're up against, the level of team you're up against. “Any small mistakes you don't get away with too much when you're sat in this seat. “But, yeah, I'm enjoying it. I'm giving it my best go. “Lads are giving me absolutely everything. Fans are on board, as you saw at the weekend. “Everyone is pushing in the same direction and all desperate to achieve what we set out to in August.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke’s reaction to Fulham win #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan April 3, 2023

On a goal drought of 10 Premier League games without scoring, Solanke helped bundle the ball over the line in the 79th minute. Although Fulham defender Antonee Robinson seemed to get the final touch, as of the time of writing, Cherries’ talismanic striker has been credited with the goal, his fourth in the league this term. Cherries had trailed at the break thanks to Andrea Pereira’s 16th minute opener, before the hosts restored parity via a long-range Marcus Tavernier curler. Asked if he was claiming the winning goal, Solanke told the Daily Echo: “For sure - I need to take it! “So, yeah, I'm happy to get that goal, especially as it turned out to be the winner. “I think we deserved to win today. So, yes, it's a really good result for us.”In his last four starts against Fulham, Solanke has scored on each occasion, his goals effectively earning his team six points. He has only drawn a blank once against the Cottagers, in his first meeting with the London side, a 29 minute cameo appearance during the 2018/19 season. Asked if he felt more confident going into matchups with the Cottagers, Solanke replied: “I think so. “It just shows that, I've done it before so I can do it again. “But I think every game, obviously I look to try and score, but obviously my record against Fulham is decent, so I'm happy to add to that.”After a sub-par first 45 minutes, Cherries required significant changes at the break to spark the comeback, Gary O'Neil introducing Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie to the fray. “I think the second half we came out on top, started really fast,” continued Solanke. “Tavs (Marcus Tavernier) scored a screamer, got us back into the game and we built on it from there. “We're not in a position to sulk if we go 1-0 down, we need to make sure that we react. As soon as we came into the second half, we was on the front foot and we showed it.” When probed for head coach O’Neil’s approach to the half-time team talk, Solanke revealed: “Not too heated. I think it's important that we need to look at what we need to do better. “Obviously, we tell each other what we need to do better, but it's never a bad vibe in there. “But like I said, we're not in a position to be nice and take a step back right now, so, we need to carry on like that.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil felt win over Fulham was ‘deserved’ #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan April 2, 2023

A poor first-half performance was compounded by Andreas Pereira’s 16th minute opener, but changes at the break sparked Cherries to life, substitute Marcus Tavernier levelling five minutes before the restart. Dominic Solanke bundled home the winner 11 minutes from the final whistle, allowing Cherries to claim their seventh win of the campaign. Speaking after the game, O’Neil began: “There was a lot of work that went in today and it didn’t look like it for the first 25-30 minutes. “I spoke to the group before the game around the belief that I have in them. “And that I feel that energy now in the dressing room that even if went 1-0 down today, there would be a refusal to lose the football match. “We’re so determined to get to where we need to get to that I felt we would find a way to do it. And that was tested today.” O’Neil then went on to detail how he thought his side deserved to win the fixture, explaining: “It just felt, especially the way the goal came off the training ground, the second one, the way the boys played through the structure, I just felt it was what they deserved. “I didn’t want us to not get what we deserved today, because I would’ve been answering a very different set of questions I’m sure. “The lads believe already, but for me to have spoken to them today about it being a real test and that we will definitely find a way to get over the line today, I can feel it in the room, the quality we have and the belief we have. “Even if you suffer and you go 1-0 down, I know full well that this group finds a way to come back today. “For the lads to show the quality and the endeavour and to get what they deserved I thought was big.” Asked about his celebrations following Solanke’s winner, O’Neil replied: “Because we kept missing chances and it was bouncing around the goal. “I don’t celebrate goals very often, but that one felt like a ‘celebratable’ moment. “I don’t know if ‘celebratable’ is a word, but if it is, it was a ‘celebratable’ moment!”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier on goal against Fulham #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan April 2, 2023

Brought on at the break with Cherries trailing to Andreas Pereira’s opener, Tavernier restored parity with a beautiful curling effort five minutes into the second period. Dominic Solanke bundled home with what proved to be the winner 11 minutes from time, lifting Cherries to 15th in the Premier League table. A summer signing from Middlesbrough, Leeds-born Tavernier has now scored four goals in his debut Premier League season. In an interview with BBC Radio Solent, he shared: “I knew as soon as the ball came to me that my first thought was to shoot. “I know my touch wasn't the best to start off with, but that was my first intention. “As soon as the ball left my foot and watching it go into the back of the net, that was an unbelievable feeling.” The goal marked the winger’s return from injury, with Tavernier having missed the last four with a hamstring complaint. He had scored in his last appearance, grabbing the only goal in Cherries’ 1-0 win at Wolves, his first start since the World Cup break after recovering from a different hamstring injury. He continued: “I've had a tough few months recently, being injured, coming back and getting back on the pitch there, so it's great. I've got to thank the medical team for getting me back again and now I've just got to stay fit and help the team stay in this league.” Hailed as a gamechanger for his goal-scoring appearance off the bench, Tavernier insisted that it had been a team performance that changed Cherries’ fortunes. “It’s about the team,” he restarted. “Some players have good individual games, but at the end of the day, it's about the team. “And the team performance in the second half was amazing. I think you've seen that with the reaction we gave and the way we pressed and played football. “It was great. We got the two goals and then we defended for our lives at the end.” Asked what was discussed at half-time, Tavernier responded: “It was just more of a calmness to us. “We know that it wasn't going in the way we thought it was, but the manager spoke to us about pressing and getting in the faces and I think we did a real good job of that in the second half. “We got up against them and caused them to make mistakes and played on the front foot.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believes he deserves criticism for poor start against Fulham #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan April 2, 2023

Andreas Pereira gave the visitors the lead on 18 minutes at Vitality Stadium, with the hosts facing a smattering of boos when they headed in at half time behind. But, sparked by the arrival of Marcus Tavernier off the bench, Cherries rallied after the restart. The former Middlesbrough man’s brilliant goal quickly levelled the contest, before Dominic Solanke’s bundled finish secured a 2-1 victory, which lifts Cherries out of the relegation zone. It is the second game in succession Cherries have started slowly, also falling behind early at Aston Villa last time out, before going on to lose 3-0. “Any credit I get for the turnaround, I equally deserve criticism for the way the game started,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo. “It was very different. I was disappointed with the lads for the start at Aston Villa, for a lack of intensity and losing duels. “There wasn’t anything tactical at Aston Villa, it was just we didn’t quite look like we were ready to go. “Whereas today I could tell they were ready to go and we made some errors tactically. “Very different, but of course you don’t want to start like that, giving a good side like Fulham a one-goal lead will cost you more often than not. “We managed to wrestle it back and win the game today, but we need to perform well for the whole 90 obviously if we can.” He added: “I didn’t expect us to start how we did. “But to come back the way they did in a stadium that started to get a little bit flat and grumbly, 1-0 down at home in a winnable football match, to show the bravery, the determination, the togetherness and the quality to produce that from that moment was impressive from them.” Asked what was said at half time to turn the game around, O’Neil explained: “The lads knew. Out of possession first half we were really poor. “We prepped really hard on it and the lads were managing to make some errors in it. When you play against a good side who know their patterns and their rotations with the ball, if you’re slightly off out of possession they cause you problems, and they did. “I was desperate to get to half-time, either obviously taking one of our chances or only being 1-0, because there was a bit of detail that needed to be given out of possession to help us. “Managing to fix that at half time and then introducing two fresh faces to change the energy a little bit gave us some momentum.” He added: “It looked like they weren’t getting up to things, it looked like they were a yard off the pace (in the first half). “It was more tactical really. It was more them making mistakes. “They were definitely trying and we managed to fix it. We gave Fulham a tough 45 minutes.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil ‘extremely confident’ Bournemouth will avoid relegation #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan April 1, 2023

Cherries currently sit second-from-bottom of the Premier League table with 11 matches to play. They are one point from safety, ahead of hosting mid-table Fulham tomorrow (3pm). Cherries’ squad has been bolstered in recent weeks by players returning from injury. O’Neil is set to have 25 senior players to choose from to face the Cottagers, with only Ryan Fredericks and Junior Stanislas unavailable. With the final international break of the season now gone, two action-packed months await Cherries, notably April which features seven matches. Discussing the challenge ahead, O’Neil said: “There needs to be a real extreme diligence and focus into how important the next period is. That should drive how you perform, how focused you are, because you know the importance of it. “Hopefully we manage to do that as a team and then over the period, with games coming so quickly, how well we reset, as in physically and mentally from each result. “Whether it’s a good one that gives you a little high or whether it’s a bad one that gives you a low, how quickly we can move on from that and get ready for the next one, because the next one is always going to be the biggest one, regardless of what has happened before. “That will be really important for us.” Asked how confident he is Cherries will stay up, O’Neil added: “Extremely confident, really confident. “I have a huge belief in the group, as I always have, from the moment I took over as interim. “I never lost the belief in the group. They’re an incredible group and they will give absolutely everything. “I believe, with what we have in the room now, giving everything will be enough.” Cherries currently sit on 24 points from their 27 matches, with just four points currently separating the bottom nine clubs. Asked how many points he feels will be required for survival, O’Neil said: “I haven’t set a points target. “It’s impossible to know, because you could go off the current rate that teams are performing at and then you’d need 35 or 36. “But teams down the bottom generally start to pick up some wins as it gets closer to the end and things get a little more desperate. “It’s impossible to know how many you need. There are 33 still to play for, six of the games are at home for us, a lot against teams in and around us. Games that we need to be really positive in and have a real good go. “I’m really confident in the group what we have available in the room now, where they are mentally and physically that we can give this a real good go for the next 11 games and I’m sure if we do that and we do what we know we can, we’ll be absolutely fine.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil pleased with progress of Marcos Senesi #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 31, 2023

The 25-year-old arrived with a good reputation from former club Feyenoord, where he had just helped them reach the UEFA Europa Conference League final. The centre-back also made his international debut shortly before joining Cherries, featuring for Argentina in the summer of 2022. Senesi was quickly thrust into action by then-boss Scott Parker. He lasted just 45 minutes of his first Premier League start, subbed at the break against Arsenal, before then playing the full contest of the embarrassing 9-0 loss at Liverpool. After two games out of the side in O’Neil’s first games as boss, Senesi was brought back in following an injury to Lloyd Kelly and embarked on a long run in the XI. Fans have begun acknowledging the defender’s performances, voting him as the club’s February player of the month, during which time he also scored his first Cherries goal, in a draw with Newcastle United. Senesi netted again a few weeks after, in the narrow loss at Arsenal, before impressing and keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Liverpool. Asked how he would assess the progress made by Senesi at Cherries this season, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He’s come on loads. And I don’t want that to sound like he was in a terrible place to start with, he was obviously already a very good footballer that had played for Argentina and had success at Feyenoord. “Just the adaptation to the Premier League was a big one for him. “It was very, very different to where he was. “There was an awful lot of work that went in, him as well being fully committed to it and being happy to engage and try and improve things that he did and tweak certain things. “Obviously he has incredible quality as well. He is willing to put his body on the line, he’s good with the ball. “I expected him to do as well as he has, but there was a lot of work that needed to go in early, just to help him adapt and I agree, I think he’s had a real good time recently. He’s in a good place.” Discussing the recent centre-back partnership between Senesi and Jack Stephens, prior to the 3-0 loss at Aston Villa, O’Neil said: “There are always tough decisions to make. I know there are always a few eyebrows raised, I’m asked questions about it when we’ve changed centre-backs a few times. “I think the first time when we put Marcos and Jack together, there were a few questions around it. “Obviously Meps (Chris Mepham) has done well as well in games when he’s played, Lloydy is back, Illia (Zabarnyi) will be back soon. “There will be big decisions to make. But Jack and Marcos have done really well in the last few games, so, pleased with where they are.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil’s early assessment of Antoine Semenyo after move from Bristol City in January window #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 30, 2023

Semenyo has been eased into life at Cherries, following his £9million move from Bristol City in January. The Ghana international, who netted for his country last week, is yet to score for his new club, having made six appearances. Semenyo, 23, joined Bristol City’s academy in 2017 and, after three loan spells away, became a regular for the Robins. He departed the second-tier club having scored 21 goals and provided 22 assists in 125 appearances. Of Semenyo’s six outings for Cherries so far, two have come as a starter, while he has been utilised both as a central striker and wide player. Discussing his early impressions of Semenyo, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I don’t think you can underestimate how big the step is, even tactically. “So his two starts have been against Brighton, who are an extremely tactical team with a very good head coach. There will be a lot of tactical info in there that he needs to take on at this level. “And again Arsenal, a lot was asked of him. It’s a big step up from where he’s come from. “But he’s willing, works his socks off, takes on every bit of info you give him and has real good attributes that can hurt teams.” Asked in which position he sees versatile Semenyo playing most of his football at Cherries, O’Neil added: “I think probably his best position is a nine. “But he can play anywhere across the top line. He’s both footed, equally off both sides. “He has attributes that are a real threat when he’s on the top line. “So sometimes playing wide and getting in behind attacking full-backs could be a use for him, which was sort of the hope for him at Arsenal, that they would attack and there would be spaces left and we could try and catch them. “But as a nine as well, he’s very good across the top line. He is flexible.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O Neil excited as Neto signs new three-year deal to extend Cherries stay #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 28, 2023

The 33-year-old arrived on the south coast last summer on a free transfer from Catalan giants Barcelona, initially signing a one-year contract. His new deal will last until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, taking him just shy of his 37th birthday. After being installed as number one following Gary O’Neil’s original appointment as caretaker at the end of August, the Brazilian international has made 18 appearances for Cherries, recording four clean sheets. Speaking after signing the new deal, Neto told Cherries’ club media: “I am very happy and very proud. From the first time (I arrived here), I loved to be here. Me and my family are really enjoying the moment of our life. “It is the perfect place, because we have kids, a young baby, and we are really easy people. We are enjoying the place, it is very quiet, very nice. “My daughter is enjoying the school, my wife is enjoying the place. This is the most important in your career, when you have this connection. Everything is perfect.” Aside from his spell at the Camp Nou, the keeper lists Juventus, Valencia, and Fiorentina as previous employers. Capped once at senior-level by Brazil, Neto also represented his country twice at the 2012 Olympics in London, where he won a silver medal. Neto has shared dressing rooms with a full host of stars, including Leo Messi, Neymar, Mo Salah, Luis Suarez, and Gianluigi Buffon. The goalkeeper also boasts significant experience in continental competition, playing 10 times in the Champions League for Barcelona, Valencia, and Juventus, as well as 24 games in Europe’s secondary tournament, the Europa League. Such has been the Brazilian’s impact since arriving at Cherries, O’Neil decided to appoint Neto as club captain in February, the goalie donning the armband for the first time in the defeat away at Brighton. An established figure in the dressing room despite only being at the club for eight months, the fact that Neto can speak English, Spanish, and Italian was also a deciding factor in his receiving of the captaincy, with Cherries’ dressing room now speaking numerous different languages. At the time of the appointment, O’Neil shared: "I just feel that Nets is an impressive individual, on and off the pitch. He has real leadership qualities. Since he’s come in, I’ve just been very impressed with how good he is around the group. “Neto has some real, good qualities that we would be silly not to tap in to. I think especially in the transfer window with the players we’ve recruited, Neto has a real good standing in the group. I think it will benefit us."

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- David Brooks hopes to make impact during Premier League run-in for Cherries #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 22, 2023

Brooks stepped up his bid to return to full fitness with a 45-minute run-out for the club’s development squad on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old shone with a hat-trick as well as an assist as Cherries beat an experienced Portsmouth side 5-2 at Vitality Stadium to book their spot in the Hampshire Senior Cup semi-finals. Brooks made his long-awaited return for the first-team on Saturday, coming off the bench for the final 11 minutes of the 3-0 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa. It was the Wales international’s first competitive outing for the club since being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in October 2021. He announced he was cancer-free in May 2022 and has been working his way back ever since, set back by a hamstring injury and illness along the way. COMMENT: Brooks offers reminder of his quality with hat-trick against Portsmouth And while the Hampshire Senior Cup is not the end goal for Brooks, Tuesday felt like a significant night in his recovery, impressing in front of first-team boss Gary O’Neil. “I think if you look at it, it’s obviously been a difficult 18 months,” Brooks told the Daily Echo. “It’s not been without it’s challenges. “I’m under no illusion, I’m not exactly going to be starting the next game and playing 90 minutes. “I know where my role is and I think everyone at the football club knows where I’m at physically and what the demands of the Premier League are. “Days like (Tuesday) I’m just ticking off boxes to try and get in the best shape possible to obviously help the team.” Asked if he feels he showed a glimpse against Portsmouth of what he may be able to provide Cherries in their bid to avoid relegation, Brooks added: “That’s what I’m hoping for. “These are the nights where I’m coming in trying to build fitness, just to be able to do the end of games at the moment. “Just to try and help the team. In the best case scenario, I want to be coming on when we’re winning 3-0! But obviously that’s not going to be the case every week. “So I need to be as fit as possible, as sharp as possible if the gaffer needs me in any scenario.” The perfect return for @DRBrooks15 ✨The winger netted a hat-trick for the development squad this evening 👊 pic.twitter.com/86rKQWBuke — AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 21, 2023 Reflecting on his hat-trick, one of which was a deflected strike and another he knew little about as the ball was fired against him, Brooks admitted: “It was nice. I don’t think it was the cleanest of hat-tricks I’ll ever get! “But it’s always nice to put the ball in the back of the net and it was just nice to be back out there.” Asked if he had ever scored a 13-minute hat-trick before, Brooks said: “I can’t say I have. It was a bit of a scruffy hat-trick so I won’t be replaying the highlights that much, but it was nice to put the ball in the back of the net. “It’s a nice habit to have and hopefully I can score a few for the first team.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil disappointed with impact of subs at Villa #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 20, 2023

With injury woes easing, Cherries’ squad has been bolstered in recent weeks, with O’Neil blessed with a bench of nine full internationals at the weekend. After a poor first-half display, in which the hosts led 1-0 through Douglas Luiz, O’Neil opted against turning to his bench at the break. He made a double switch just before the hour mark, introducing Hamed Traore and Antoine Semenyo in place of Joe Rothwell and Jaidon Anthony. David Brooks was the next man to come on, with 11 minutes to play. But none of the trio could haul Cherries back into contention, with Villa going on to score twice more to go 3-0 up. Kieffer Moore and Matias Vina were then brought on in stoppage time, as the hosts closed out the win. Asked if he was tempted to make any substitutions at half-time, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “We threw a couple on early, 55 minutes or something. “Obviously they didn’t have the impact that we’d have hoped. It didn’t make us any better at that point. “At 1-0, I felt that we were right in the game. But we needed to take one of our situations and we didn’t. “I felt there was a game there that if we’d have grabbed it more by the scruff of the neck and we’d have shown some quality in the final third, we could’ve hurt Aston Villa.” With Adam Smith withdrawn as the game approached its final 10 minutes, Cherries fell apart defensively. Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia both scored, while Tyrone Mings also went close and Villa had a goal ruled out. Discussing the final 10 minutes of the fixture, O’Neil said: “I’m really disappointed. “There is a risk of that, of course, when you try and get as many attacking players on as we did. “But I was disappointed it changed the way the game is now seen. “Because it wasn’t like that for a very long spell. “We need to make sure that in that situation it doesn’t turn that way.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil says No blame on Dominic Solanke after big miss at Villa #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 20, 2023

Cherries were beaten 3-0 at Villa Park, with Solanke squandering the side’s biggest chance, failing to convert a one-on-one with the visitors just one goal behind. Villa went on to score twice late on to condemn O’Neil’s men to defeat, which sees them slip down to 19th in the table. Striker Solanke is now on his longest goal drought for two years, having failed to find the net in each of his last six appearances. He went eight games without a goal from January to March 2021, under Jason Tindall and then Jonathan Woodgate. His last goal came in an FA Cup loss to Burnley in January, with his run without a Premier League goal now at 10 matches, since netting in defeat at Leeds in November. The 25-year-old looked like ending that drought when latching onto a Hamed Traore pass and racing through on goal on Saturday. However, he delayed his shot, allowing former Cherries defender Tyrone Mings to get back and produce a sliding block. Asked if that miss highlighted a lack of confidence in Solanke’s game at present, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I’ve not seen it back. Obviously the view from the bench is tricky on that one. “But we created a few opportunities. “We got Dom in behind a few times, got Dango (Ouattara) in behind a few times. “At this point in the season and the level we’re playing at, we need to be better in those situations. “Aston Villa were more clinical than us. They probably didn’t arrive in situations too many times more than we did.” Asked later how big of a concern Solanke’s lack of recent goals is, O’Neil added: “We need to work with Dom, of course. “There was a lot out there I thought we could’ve done better with. “There were individual performances where I would expect better from them. “But it’s always as a group. So there’s no blame on Dom. Everyone has weekends when you’re slightly below your best. “It’s the way it is. We stick together. The group understand it fully, we need to bounce back again, make sure we keep creating chances. “My job is to work with the players and make sure we are better at taking them.” One-time England international Solanke, who netted 30 goals last season, has notched just four times in 24 appearances across league and cup this term. His overall record in the Premier League, for Liverpool and Cherries, reads played 85, scored seven.

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil on Bournemouth’s slow start against Aston Villa #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 19, 2023

The hosts dominated possession in the early stages, breaking the deadlock when Leon Bailey's low cross was turned in by Douglas Luiz in the seventh minute. Late goals from Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia saw Villa run out 3-0 victors, leaving Cherries in the relegation zone. Asked if the sluggish start at Villa Park was down to a problem with the gameplan or individuals not successfully carrying out their tasks, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "If you watch back the goal, we’re pressing and the midfielder manages to wriggle away from one of ours. "If you lose a one v one duel like that, it obviously creates a situation and we don’t manage it well enough from that point." He added: "But then the game looked exactly how we expected it to from that moment. "We expected to be able to have the ball at times, expected to be able to hurt them in behind, tried to press when we could. "So from their goal up until when we change and try and open it up and put a load of attacking players on the pitch. "We were more than in the game, just really disappointed that it was a game that we were in and we don’t show enough to take anything from."

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth defender Adam Smith hoping to replicate Cherries performances against Liverpool and Arsenal repeat #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 18, 2023

AFC Bournemouth defender Adam Smith has urged his teammates to replicate their performances…

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O Neil explains how Aston Villa changed after Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard #AVFC #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 18, 2023

When Aston Villa played Bournemouth on the first weekend of the first weekend…

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals not being involved in Jordan Zemura contract situation #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 18, 2023

With Lloyd Kelly and Matias Vina returning to fitness, Zemura was a surprise omission from the squad to face Liverpool last weekend, having impressed in recent weeks. The Daily Echo understands the 23-year-old was left out due to his ongoing contraction situation. Zemura's current deal expires this summer, after the club triggered a one-year extension clause in his contract in March 2022. It is understood the club have offered Zemura a significant pay-rise from his current terms, but the London-born ace or his representatives are yet to respond or engage in discussions. Speaking after the win over Liverpool, O'Neil said the Zimbabwe international's absence was an "internal decision". Ahead of tomorrow's trip to Aston Villa, O'Neil was asked if Zemura had a future at Cherries. He said: "I think Jordan has had a good time here, of course. "My job at the moment, I don’t get involved at all in contract situations, just purely on team selection. "As we saw, Lloyd Kelly is back fit now and can play left-back. "We’ve got a Uruguay international back available, Matias Vina, who has trained well. "So we have three very capable left-backs at the moment. So some tough decisions for me, but also positives that we have more options." Asked if Zemura remains in his thoughts when picking his team, O'Neil added: "All of them are, always. "I’ll always make an honest and what I believe to be a sensible decision around who is best to play." Zemura, who arrived from Charlton Athletic in 2019 after a successful spell on trial, made his first-team debut in September 2020. His breakthrough campaign was last season, under Scott Parker, featuring in 33 Championship matches, helping the club clinch promotion. Cherries have long been trying to tie Zemura down to a longer-term contract, but no agreement has been reached, with other Premier League clubs credited with an interest.

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on Dango Ouattara #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 17, 2023

The Burkinabe international has provided three assists in seven Premier League appearances since arriving at the Vitality Stadium in January from FC Lorient for a reported £20million. Ouattara teed up Phil Billing for what proved to be the winning goal on Saturday, Cherries defeating last year’s Champions League finalists Liverpool 1-0. Prior to the opener on 28 minutes, Ouattara had two decent chances to open his scoring account for his new club. In the more notable of the two opportunities, the former Lorient man found himself one-on-one with keeper Alisson, the winger’s touch to try and take the ball around the goalie too strong, forcing the resultant shot from a tight angle into the side netting. However, despite the misses, O’Neil believed Cherries would have struggled to get into the same areas without Ouattara in the team. He told the Daily Echo: “I think we wouldn't have had that chance before he arrived, unless Tav (Marcus Tavernier) was fit. “We might have managed to get Tav in those situations. “So he's brought an awful lot. “And obviously we knew this before and we've done some work on (it), Alisson's incredible in one-v-one situations, so even when you're going through, they're tough to finish, those. “He just has a slightly too big a touch. “He's 20 years old and adapting to the Premier League, so, yeah, still plenty of work to do with him.” There was also praise for Ouattara’s defensive contributions throughout the game, with O’Neil detailing how Cherries had asked the winger to track back and form a five-man backline when Liverpool had the ball. O’Neil explained: “I don't want to speak too much about it, but we felt there was certain people that we could get after, certain people that we were happy to leave with a bit more time on the ball. “It was sort of a back four, but we knew Dango would have to track down with Andy Robertson, so it would look like a back five at times, which it did. “Dango did it well in the majority. I think Andy Robertson got behind him once or twice early on. “I thought we'd be able to hurt them on the counter, because their fullbacks are obviously attacking. “Andy Robertson plays higher, Trent (Alexander-Arnold) rolls around, he ends up in midfield sometimes and there are spaces then down the side to try and counter. “And we didn't quite make the most of it, but we did enough to win the game.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admits Ryan Christie ‘unfortunate’ with injuries #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 16, 2023

The Scot came off the bench at the weekend as he helped Cherries over the line against Liverpool, playing the final 20 minutes of the 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium. A regular starter for much of the campaign, the 28-year-old has had his playing time limited since the closure of the January transfer window. The arrivals of Antoine Semenyo, Hamed Traore, and Dango Ouattara, all players who can operate in a similar position to the Scottish international, have seen Christie restricted to the bench in Cherries’ last six games. In that time Christie has made three appearances, playing just under an hour of football (57 minutes). When goalscorer Philip Billing tired at the weekend, Christie was introduced to great effect, the Scot able to calm play down and add much-needed composure to Cherries’ midfield. Speaking about the former Celtic man, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “Phil was struggling a little bit (on Friday) with something, so Ryan Christie knew the role as well, knew tactically what was going to be expected of him. “Ryan's been unfortunate really in the last few, and he knows this as well, to play as little as he has. “Because his training effort and his performances when he does come on have been of a very good level, the same as (against Liverpool). “So we're getting stronger. There's people coming back. Jeff back today. Lloyd back today. Makes a big difference to us.” With new arrivals in January combining with the return of players from injury, Cherries’ bench looks far stronger than it has in recent months. O’Neil concurred, continuing: “If we'd have been short numbers wise, and Liverpool had made four subs to freshen things up, and we'd have been sat there with three of the young lads on the bench, it makes it very, very difficult. “You're relying on people that look like they're tired. “So Philip Billing, Jefferson, Jaidon Anthony had put a lot in, and the ability to freshen them up without weakening the team is huge. “I felt that really helped us (against Liverpool).”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook on recent spell on sidelines with injury #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 16, 2023

One-time England international Cook had missed five games following an ACL sprain suffered away at Brentford in January. The 26-year-old had previously sustained ACL ruptures, most recently missing eight months out between March and October 2021. Those two injuries put in perspective the most recent setback according to the former Leeds United man. Cook told the Daily Echo: “I think when I when I look back on six weeks out, I knew straight away when I did the injury, I don't think there's anything to compare to what I previously had. “Six weeks is nothing, really. “It was just obviously the ligament was, not an awkward one, but I kind of catch it now and again, leading up to coming back to full fitness, so it's a bit of a different rehab. “But they (the physio team) were great. We worked really hard and, yeah, I felt like it might have been a bit longer than it was going to be, but we worked really hard to try and get back as quickly as we can.” There was concern when the Yorkshireman went down clutching the rear of his knee at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Cherries fans unsurprisingly fearing the worst considering Cook’s previous ACL tears. However, the player himself had nothing to fear, calmly explaining: “I knew straight away what I'd done. “And I knew it was nothing to do with a previous injury. “I think that mechanism of how I got injured, is quite common in football and it happens to a lot of players in their career, so I knew what it was and how we were going to deal with it. “And like I said, we worked hard to get back.”Cook made his return to the matchday squad for the trip to the Emirates two weeks ago, coming off the bench to play the final 20 minutes of a heart-breaking defeat to league leaders Arsenal. He then made another cameo appearance against Liverpool, helping see out the final nine minutes of a famous win over the Reds for Cherries. Asked if he had any doubts about being thrown into the deep end after injury, Cook responded: “No apprehension, no. “I feel like you do your rehab, your running, your technical work to build you up to play in these games. “I feel like I was ready. “The lads have been working their socks off to try and get these points on the board, so I just wanted to try and be available to help.” Cook and co. return to action this weekend, when they travel to Aston Villa in the final game prior to the international break.

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly discusses battle with Mo Salah after shock Cherries win against Liverpool #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 15, 2023

Defender Kelly was chucked somewhat into the deep end on his return from injury, slotting into the Cherries team at left-back against one of the world’s best wingers. However, the 24-year-old cut a composed figure throughout the encounter, keeping the Egyptian quiet and helping his side to a famous 1-0 victory over the Reds. Kelly had been sidelined with a calf injury since January, causing him to miss five Premier League fixtures. It has been a frustrating season on the injury front for the Bristolian, who missed nine games earlier on in the campaign with an ankle complaint. Discussing the win over Liverpool, Kelly told BBC Radio Solent: “I think I knew it was going to be a tough game, of course, being out for several weeks, but going into the game it was the same mentality of if I perform to the best, I’m sure everyone else did, we’d be able to come away with a result. “I think we stuck to what the gaffer wanted, from the start of the game till the end. I think we stuck to that, and produced a top performance. “We always knew that the game was going to start fast, and they put us under pressure. “We just needed to settle it, as soon as we’d done that, everyone felt a lot more comfortable and we were able to play through our shape and cause them problems.” Asked about facing Salah, Kelly continued: “He’s always tough. He’s a top, top player. You know he has quality on the transition, he’s proved that numerous times this season. “I knew that I had to be on my game, and be alert to those situations, and I think I’ve done that.” Salah’s quiet afternoon was compounded by a miss from the penalty spot, a rarity from the Egyptian. “There’s always a possibility (he’ll miss),” restarted Kelly. “It’s one of those things, you never know what it is going to happen. You just need to react to it, and luckily it went wide.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on Liverpool’s 7-0 win against Manchester United #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 11, 2023

Liverpool arrive at the Vitality Stadium tomorrow afternoon (12.30pm) riding high after putting seven past the Red Devils last Sunday. Cherries have already been on the end of a hammering from Jurgen Klopp’s Reds this season, losing 9-0 in the return fixture under Scott Parker – a Premier League joint record. Asked for his thoughts on seeing Liverpool’s big win last time out, O’Neil replied: “A couple of things - for us, not a great time for them to hit top form. “And then, secondly, hopefully they've used up all their goals was the last thing I was thinking! O’Neil also noted some differences in Liverpool’s approach, stating: “They've changed a little bit recently. “They're using a slightly different structure. “Last three or four weeks, they've mixed things up, changed how they play. “They probably haven't done that in quite a while, while Jurgen has been there. “So slightly new look, but, yeah, same threat on the top line. “Nunez, obviously a huge threat, lots of pace up front. “So, yeah, it will be a tough ask, but the boys are looking forward to it. “Again, an incredible opportunity for us to give ourselves a chance of putting another big result on the board.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals Bournemouth are in a different place from early season 9-0 thrashing #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 10, 2023

Cherries face Liverpool tomorrow (12.30pm) for the first time since the Premier League record-equalling loss on Merseyside. That humiliation, under then-boss Scott Parker, came on the back of a 4-0 loss at Manchester City and 3-0 home defeat to Arsenal. Cherries are facing the same sequence of fixtures now, with O’Neil’s charges beaten 4-1 by City and 3-2 at the Gunners prior to hosting Jurgen Klopp’s Reds. Parker was sacked in the wake of that 9-0 loss against Liverpool and boss O’Neil, who was a coach on the day before soon stepping into the interim head coach role a few days later, believes he has pushed the team forwards. Asked if that fateful day in August was the first thing he thought of ahead of facing Liverpool again, O’Neil said: “The 9-0 doesn’t come into my mind at all. “Obviously we were in a very different place then. “The lads will just prepare for this like it’s another game against a very, very good side. “They’re in good form at the moment. Obviously have fantastic attacking threat. “So it will be a tough ask, of course, but we approach the game like it’s a game we need to take three points from and that’s all.” Having faced the top two sides in the division in the past two weeks, Cherries now host a resurgent Liverpool, who thrashed bitter rivals Manchester United 7-0 last weekend. They have climbed up to fifth in the table, unbeaten in five in the Premier League, without conceding. Asked if there are positives of pushing Arsenal so close last time out, leading 2-0 before losing to a 97th-minute Reiss Nelson strike, into playing another top side this weekend, O’Neil said: “I think looking at the three-game run of fixtures when we faced it last time – we went to the Etihad and I don’t even know if we had a shot, maybe had a shot or two and didn’t really lay a glove on them. Arsenal came here and we didn’t lay a glove on them. “Obviously Anfield everyone knows about. “And in my opinion we’ve just gone toe-to-toe with Manchester City and created a lot of chances, had the most shots against them (of anyone) all year. “And we went to Arsenal and forced them to go past the allotted six minutes (of added time) to get their winner. “So a big shift in how well we’re doing against these sides, but it’s still very difficult to put points on the table against them. “But the lads understand that we’ve come on a long way, we just need to push on a bit further and make sure come May 28 (final game of the season), we’re the ones celebrating.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jordan Zemura on squad’s faith in Gary O’Neil #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 10, 2023

Cherries academy graduate Zemura enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Vitality Stadium last term, featuring 33 times and making the left-back spot his own as he helped his side win promotion back to the Premier League. The Zimbabwean international has further cemented his position as first-choice left-back whilst making the step-up to the top-flight, featuring in 19 of Cherries’ 26 league games so far this season. After a heart-breaking defeat in the dying embers of their last game against league leaders Arsenal, Cherries currently prop up the division, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League. However, just six points separate Cherries from 15th placed Leicester City, meaning there are six teams threatened by relegation in the final 12 games of the campaign. Speaking in February, Zemura shared: “I think he's a great guy, a great manager, and I think obviously it's not easy. “Like he says to us, we've got to deal with the result. “And then we’ve just got to move on. Every time it's a bad result, if it's a good performance and a bad result, he doesn’t say dwell on it too much, that we deal with it afterwards. “So for him, I know things will start working out and I'm sure of it. “I think we're working hard on the training ground, following his philosophy and his ethics. “As players, we are very with him and he's very with us. “He backs us when it comes to the media. He's always there putting himself on the line, even if it's us that haven't played that well. “So, you know, as players, we've got to keep on working hard with him and repay him, eventually.” Aside from the uncertainty of Cherries’ Premier League status, there is speculation surrounding Zemura’s own future on the south coast. The defender is currently into the last three months of his contract at Cherries. Zemura’s housemate and fellow starlet Jaidon Anthony recently signed a new deal, putting further pressure on both Cherries and Zemura to finalise terms. Zemura told the Daily Echo: “Firstly, congratulations to Jaidon, buzzing for him. Hopefully something can get sorted.” Asked if he was focusing on his football, Zemura replied: “Yeah, definitely. “For me, I think the infatuation I have for the club is obviously seen. “Every game I come out and give my all and it's something that, contracts, it's not an easy thing. “It takes time to work out. “So I just got to leave it to my agents and leave it to the club to resolve.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on Matias Vina #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 9, 2023

Uruguayan defender Vina was one of six new faces brought to the Vitality Stadium in the January transfer window, arriving on an initial loan basis from Serie A side AS Roma. Cherries have the option to make the deal permanent in the summer if they so choose. Prior to the arrival of Vina, Cherries only had one recognised left-back in their senior side, Jordan Zemura’s most natural back-up development squad captain Ben Greenwood. When Zemura had missed games, he was either covered by right-back Adam Smith, or centre-back Lloyd Kelly, highlighting the need to strengthen the position in the last transfer window. Asked if Cherries had been tracking Vina for some time before bringing him to England, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “Generally, January was very well planned. “Of course things move, but the signings that we made were generally ones we’d been looking at for a while. “It was a window that we’d planned and looked to fill certain positions, looked to sign some players we thought could help now and in the future. “We’re pleased to get Mati in. “Obviously left-back we were a little bit short, especially when Lloyd gets injured. “Smudge obviously plays there as well, but you can’t have Smudge in two places at once! “So left-back we were a little bit short and Matias has played some top-level football around different countries, so he’s more than capable of coming in and helping us.” The left-back has missed Cherries’ last two games with a knee injury sustained in training, although it is not thought to be too serious. Uruguay have named Vina in a 34-man preliminary squad for friendlies with Japan and South Korea during the international break at the end of March. Vina is yet to start a game since arriving from Italy, the 25-year-old restricted to appearances off the bench against Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Explaining how the defender required time to get up to speed with the demands of the English game, O’Neil shared: “Fitness-wise he needed a little bit of work. “He obviously hadn’t played a lot of football recently. “And he was surprised at the level of training and the intensity. “We did some work with him in the first spell to try and give him a chance so that when he was used, he was ready. “I thought he did well when he came on against Wolves. Still lots of work to do with him, but he will be an important addition.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ryan Christie admits Bournemouth need time to grieve last minute loss against Arsenal #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 7, 2023

Cherries have suffered a string of setbacks so far this campaign, and now sit bottom of the Premier League table with 13 games to try and avoid relegation. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Emirates Stadium was the third time Cherries have lost having led by two goals this campaign, also beaten by Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United. That adds to the humbling they received at Anfield in August, in a record-equalling heaviest defeat in Premier League history. Cherries threatened a shock win in north London at the weekend against the league leaders with Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi putting them 2-0 ahead. Three goals in the final half an hour, including one in the final seconds from Reiss Nelson, saw the Gunners snatch victory and leave Cherries devastated. Reflecting on the defeat, Christie, who was introduced off the bench with the game level at 2-2, told the Daily Echo: “It is just gutting, to be fair. “Because I think the boys were superb from the first minute to the last. “All credit to the boys - not many teams can come here and have a 2-0 lead. “They are such a good team that they are going to create chances. “I think we actually limited them throughout the 90 minutes to very few. It was an incredible finish, to be fair, in the last minute - or the last second I should say. It is pretty sickening.” Asked what the message was from boss Gary O’Neil after the game, Christie added: “He is obviously as gutted as we are. “I think his message was to try as much as we can to keep our heads up. “You probably take tonight (Saturday) and then Sunday and Monday to almost grieve a bit after a loss like this. “But you need to get going again. Not many teams this season have come here and put on a performance like that and taken Arsenal to genuinely the last kick of the ball. “Again, plenty of positives to take from it. Obviously hard to see them right now.” Christie, in his first season in the Premier League having arrived from Celtic in August 2021, started the infamous 9-0 loss at Liverpool, before being hooked at half-time with Cherries having already conceded five. Asked to sum up the contrast in emotions between that defeat and the last-gasp loss to the Gunners, the Scotland international said: “It is tough. Liverpool was a bad day for all of us. “That was more of an embarrassing feeling to be honest, speaking for myself, personally. “We managed to bounce back from that superbly well. “Saturday, in a way it is even worse because I think we deserved something from the game. “You take it to the absolute death of a game and somebody puts it in the top corner against you. That is the way football works sometimes. “We can’t put it to bed straight away. It takes a couple of days to get over something like that. “We have another massive game against another great team (Liverpool) next week. Games like that will give us confidence.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil wants no credit for Bournemouth’s opener against Arsenal #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 6, 2023

Philip Billing scored the second fastest goal in Premier League history in Cherries’ 3-2 defeat to Arsenal, the game just 9.11 seconds young when the Dane poked home following just three passes. Marcos Senesi doubled Cherries’ lead early in the second half at a corner from a routine also worked on during training according to O’Neil. However, Arsenal rallied back through Thomas Partey and Ben White, before Reiss Nelson broke Cherries’ hearts deep into stoppage time to complete the comeback. “The kick-off was prepared, yeah. Just something I thought of (Thursday), maybe. “But you don't expect to score from it. Just thought maybe you could catch them cold, get up the pitch quickly. Gave us a lovely start. “And then a nice routine for the corner goal.”O’Neil went on to lament Cherries’ spurned chances, with Dango Ouattara denied by former Cherry Aaron Ramsdale after a dangerous counter attack. He continued: “Real big chance - Aaron Ramsdale makes an incredible save on the counter-attack, but of course, they arrive in our final third an awful lot. “The lads put in an awful lot of work and you suffer to an incredible strike from the edge of the box, with maybe two or three kicks of the game left. Asked if he was taking credit for the pre-planned move, O’Neil responded: “I don't want any credit. The team scored a goal from it, so there's about 35 of us involved in it. The club (gets credit).” Southampton’s win over Leicester City in the evening kick-off saw Cherries drop to the foot of the Premier League table, with the Dorset outfit in 20th with 21 points from 26 games. Only three points separate Leicester in 15th and Cherries at the bottom of the division, highlighting how tight the relegation battle is as it enters its final throes.

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil admits Emirates Stadium is toughest stadium in England #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 4, 2023

However, despite the task ahead of his charges, O’Neil was adamant that “tomorrow could be our day”. Stephens believes Cherries can take learnings from City clash into Arsenal trip Mikel Arteta’s Gunners currently top the Premier League, five points clear of Manchester City, who handily dispatched Cherries at the Vitality Stadium 4-1 last time out. The trip to north London is sandwiched between the aforementioned City loss and the visit of Liverpool. Cherries will be unfancied in all three fixtures, but despite there being little expectation of a result at the Emirates, O’Neil reiterated that the side would always be competitive no matter the opposition. “I think that the lads are very good at putting things into context, of course,” O’Neil explained to the Daily Echo. “But that doesn't make losing on a Saturday feel any better. “Like the fact that we lost to Manchester City, no one felt any better about it, sat in the dressing room after. “We want to be competitive, of course, and the league and where we are at this moment, we need to make sure that it's always, it can't just be: “okay, we've got a team that's near us in the league, let's make sure we're up for this one.’ “It's like, ‘yeah, we need to be up for tomorrow’. “You never know when it's going to be your day. Tomorrow could be our day, so let's make sure we're ready.” Only Manchester City have bested Arsenal at the Emirates home in the Premier League this campaign, with the Gunners taking 29 points of a possible 36 from home fixtures. Explaining the task ahead of his side, O’Neil continued: “The (Emirates is the) toughest place to go, no doubt, at the moment. “They're a fantastic side, top of the league, going to their place as well. “So, yes, it's the toughest test you can face at this moment, but we go there with ways that we feel we can cause them a problem. “Obviously, the intensity they show and how aggressive they are without the ball and how good they are with the ball. “They're a very good side. And having watched them a lot this week, no surprise that they are where they are and that they're clear at the top. So they'll be difficult to catch, I'm sure. “But from our point of view, we go there, we try to be well organized, we stick to our plan, and we use ways that we feel we can hurt them.” After taking charge of his first Arsenal game in a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day in 2019, Arteta went on to lift the FA Cup in August 2020. A lean year followed the initial success, with many sections of the Gunners’ fanbase calling for the Spaniard to be sacked as the London club finished eight in his first full season in charge. However, the former Arsenal midfielder was given time, with the club now reaping the rewards with the Gunners top of the division. Asked if Arteta’s success showed that managers should be given more time, O’Neil replied: “I think if you're good, you will show you're good. That is basically how I see it. “I think if you're not very good and you're given time, you'll still be not very good. “So, yeah, I think you just need to be good at your job. Mikel was always going to be. “I had no doubts about it - working at Manchester City, he had a big reputation already from the work he'd done there with Pep. So, yeah, no surprise to me that he's doing very, very well. “I think it depends what people are judging you on, I guess. Was he doing terribly at the start? I don't know enough about the situation, where Arsenal in a bad place at the time? “Was what he was doing normal? “So, yeah, I don't know too much about it, but generally, if you're good and you get long enough, you'll be able to show you're good.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil’s praise for Ryan Christie during spell out of side #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 3, 2023

The Scotland international featured in 19 of the club’s first 21 Premier League games of this season, starting 12 of those. But Christie has been left as an unused substitute for each of Cherries’ past three matches, with January recruits Dango Ouattara and Hamed Traore selected instead in the advanced attacking midfield areas. Asked if there was a danger of Christie being left behind given the profile of player Cherries have recruited in his area of the pitch, or if he still had plenty to offer, boss O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He’s still very, very important. “He’s an incredible lad as well. “His training levels have not dropped by one per cent since, as you say, his minutes have got slightly less over the last couple of weeks. “Most of that is just situation based, what you feel you need at the time. “Some changes you can make here or there and just for the last couple it hasn’t been Ryan Christie, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be moving forward. “He’s a really important player for us and I’m still delighted he’s part of the group.” Christie, who turned 28 last month, joined Cherries from Celtic for £2.5million in August 2021. He played a key role in Scott Parker’s side clinching promotion from the Championship last term, providing three goals and eight assists in 38 league outings. Having previously played all his career north of the border, with Celtic, Aberdeen and hometown Inverness Caledonian Thistle, this is Christie’s first season in England’s top flight. He has been unable to replicate the type of offensive numbers he managed both in the Championship and Scottish Premiership. Christie is yet to register an assist this term, while his only league goal was the winner in a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in October. He did also score in defeat to Burnley in the FA Cup in January. Asked if he would like to see Christie contributing more goals and assists, or if he focusses more on the defensive work the midfielder brings to the side, O’Neil said: “I think he can do both. “Obviously one of his real strengths is how diligent he is and how hard he works for the team, of course. “But he has good quality on his left foot and he can provide key passes and crosses and has quality. “He can improve those numbers. Of course, being in the Premier League in a team that has been at the bottom of the league makes it difficult in attacking numbers. “But he’s very, very important. “He can do lots of things that are important to a club like us in the position we are in. “I have no issues with Ryan Christie whatsoever.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reflects on two-year anniversary of his joining date at Cherries #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 2, 2023

Last Thursday marked two years to the day since O’Neil arrived on the south coast, leaving a job in Liverpool’s academy to take up a role as senior first team coach under newly-appointed boss Jonathan Woodgate. Despite Woodgate leaving the club a few months later, O’Neil remained in his post, working underneath Scott Parker. Following promotion to the Premier League, Parker was sacked four games into the new campaign, with assistant boss Matt Wells also departing. O’Neil thrust into the interim head coach role, taking charge of 12 matches, before being given the reins on a permanent basis in November 2022. Asked to sum up the past two years, O’Neil said: “Enjoyable, firstly. Obviously stopping playing is never easy, especially when it’s an injury that causes it. “So to go from stopping playing, doing a little while at Liverpool, who helped me of course, and then come down here to help Jonathan. “We fell just short of promotion the first time, but one of the remits when I came to the club was to help the club get back to the Premier League. “So, pleased that I managed to play a part in that, at the second time of asking. “Now obviously roles have changed a little bit and I’m responsible for trying to keep the club in the Premier League, which is what I spend most of my time now working on. “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a fantastic club, good people, good staff, a fantastic group of players willing to work and a fanbase that are always behind the players and supporting as best they can. “So an enjoyable couple of years for me.” Asked if he is further along in his coaching journey than he thought he would be at this point, the 39-year-old added: “Things have happened maybe quicker than you would think. “It’s hard to plot these sort of journeys. I always thought I would keep playing for a long time, because I was fit, and I would probably fall into management from playing at a lower level, would’ve been how I predicted it going. “But we had to take a different route. I was grateful for the time at Liverpool and then in the hotseat in the Premier League maybe slightly quicker than expected, but I’m enjoying it. “I love the work. I appreciate the belief and the trust that the club have shown in me and am working every hour I have to repay that.” When O’Neil arrived at Cherries in February 2021, the club sat sixth in the Championship. Asked what his first impressions were of the place, the former Portsmouth and West Ham United midfielder said: “That we had a very good squad for the level at that point, still some fantastic players. “Obviously the club had done well to bring in some funds as well and managed to sell a few to sort of balance the books, but still kept a very competitive squad. “And just the feel of the place. It was COVID I think when I came in, so the supporters just started to come back in in small numbers at the time, so when I first arrived, you never really got the full feel of the place. “But then once the fans were back in, you get a real feel for what the club is and how important it is to everybody in the area. “I feel fully embedded in that now really. I feel like I’m part of Bournemouth. “I’ve loved my time, love the way everything works, love how close and together everything is, love the fact that the whole place has been through some tough times together and came out the other side. “It’s a really special feel. I’m privileged to be working here.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham on Manchester City defeat #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan March 1, 2023

Welsh international Mepham returned to the starting XI for the first time since the trip to Brighton at the weekend, playing the full 90 minutes as Pep Guardiola’s side ran out 4-1 winners over Cherries at the Vitality Stadium. ANALYSIS | Cherries' game plan against City was the right approach but let down by mistakes Although his team were well beaten, Mepham expressed how he thought their attacking threat boded well for future games. Speaking after the match, Mepham told the Daily Echo: “It was a tough game, coming up against one of the best teams in the world and we knew that we'd have to suffer for large periods. “I think we would have liked to maybe stay 0-0 as long as possible, try to get to half-time and then it puts a bit more pressure on them to make something happen. “But when they get an early goal it's always uphill back from there. But with that being said, we stuck with it. I thought in the second half we created some chances and looked a threat going forward. “I think you take big belief from that because not many teams can do that against Man City. So yeah, obviously disappointed but positive as always.” Cherries’ attacking threat was undermined by the cheapness of the goals they conceded to the current Premier League Champions. Hamed Traore’s loss of possession in his own half proved costly, with the Cherries defence unable to reset in time to prevent Julian Alvarez from converting the opener. Similarly, the 25-year-old will not like to watch the second goal back, with the defender bypassed by Nathan Ake’s throughball that saw Ilkay Gundogan peel off Mepham and find Phil Foden at the back stick, which eventually led to Erling Haaland powering home. Philip Billing did not cover himself in glory for the third, his misplaced pass allowing Foden to swoop in and score past Neto, before Mepham suffered the ignominy of an own goal, the defender unfortunate as his attempt to block Alvarez’s shot bounced into his own net. Discussing City’s ability to penalise opposition’s mistakes, Mepham restarted: “I think that's why they are where they are. “It doesn't take a lot for them to capitalise on something. “One split moment of not concentrating or someone being dragged out in the wrong position and you get punished. “And it felt like pretty much every big chance they had they scored and that's really frustrating. “But yeah, we'll review it and see where we are.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jack Stephens speaks after defeat to Manchester City #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 27, 2023

Southampton loanee Stephens played the full 90 minutes of the 4-1 defeat on Saturday evening, with City capitalising on Cherries’ errors at the back. ANALYSIS: Cherries' game plan against City was the right approach but let down by mistakes Two loose passes paved the way for two of City’s three first-half goals, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden the beneficiaries from Hamed Traore and Phil Billing’s misplaced balls. Those strikes sandwiched Erling Haaland’s goal, which came about after Cherries had been split open by Nathan Ake’s ball from deep. A second-half own goal from Chris Mepham was further damage, before Jefferson Lerma restored some pride with a late strike. Discussing the game, Stephens told the Daily Echo: “Obviously, it's a tough one. “They're a brilliant side. We've tried to be aggressive with them and we did that, caused some problems, but obviously they punished us with a few mistakes and that's what they do, that's what they're really good at. “They're ruthless and that's what it's about. “I thought we stuck at it, we kept going. It's very easy to go under there, 3-0 down at halftime and 4-0 just after the break. Very difficult, but we stuck at it and got to take this one on the chin.” Stephens and Cherries had faced a very different proposition the previous weekend in a 1-0 win over Wolves. The Cherries defence had to sit deep and contend with multiple crosses into the box, whilst against City, they faced a Pep Guardiola side looking to keep the ball on the deck. Asked about the differing styles Cherries had faced in recent weeks, Stephens responded: “I think that's the Premier League. “Every challenge is different. Like you say, last week was a lot of balls in the box, under a lot of pressure defending the box. “Whereas (against City), strangely, you'd think that you'd be defending the box a lot more, but it didn't feel like that. “They obviously take you to places that are uncomfortable. “They drag you out. There's not so much long balls, everything's on the floor. “It's a lot of concentration and just trying to stay in it because you don't have the ball for long periods, you know that's going to happen. “They do that against every team that they play against. That's not just Bournemouth, you see it in the Champions League. They have 60, 70 per cent possession against top teams. “So you've got to accept that that's what they're going to do, and you need to stay concentrated. “And when we win the ball back, we try to be positive with the ball. “I think we obviously gave the ball away a few times first half, but like I said, they punished us with them, and then we tightened up. “I think we did tighten it up second half. The football was a lot better, and we did create chances, there's no denying that. “But unfortunately we've been punished and it’s 4-1, and we have to take that.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believes there were lots of positives after Man City loss #AFCB #MCFC

By Kanak Chauhan February 26, 2023

Sloppy Cherries defending saw City race into a 3-0 half-time lead, adding another after the break before Jefferson Lerma's late consolation strike. The defeat saw Cherries slip back into the Premier League relegation zone, one point from safety with 14 games to go. Asked what his side could have done better to make the contest closer, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "Not pass to them twice in our half would’ve been a good one. "But I thought it was a decent performance. I thought we got punished for a couple of mistakes. I thought we were front foot. "Apart from the score-line, I thought it was uncomfortable for Manchester City. I thought they turned the ball over more than usual for them. "I thought we pressed well. I thought we gave it a real, good go. "We got heavily punished for a couple of mistakes, didn’t make the most of our opportunities. We arrived in decent situations a lot, and it took us a very long time to score a goal from that. "I thought there was lots to be positive about." He added: "I can sum it up fairly simply for you. We had a real good go, I thought. "We made mistakes that are uncharacteristic for us. We don’t turn the ball over a lot in those situations. I don’t think we overplay very often. "I think we generally mix it up fairly well. I don’t think we’re a team that takes huge risk playing out from the back. "But the boys obviously understand that every time the ball arrives at you as a footballer, you have a decision to make, whether you can secure it and make passes or whether you need to play forward. "We maybe got a couple wrong today, against a top, top side. They punished us heavily for that. "We kept going, we showed that we won’t stop and I thought that we caused them some problems."

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil admits Manchester City “Ask a lot of questions” during premier league games #AFCB #MCFC

By Kanak Chauhan February 25, 2023

Defending Premier League Champions City visit the south coast chasing a third successive top-flight title whilst also fighting for further glory in the FA Cup and Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s men trail Arsenal by two points in the battle for the Premier League, with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners also boasting a game in hand. Cherries have never beaten Manchester City, losing their last 11 Premier League games to the Cityzens. Discussing the test, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “They ask you a lot of questions, tactically, Man City. “So they'll test how far you want to come in on things, test if you're brave enough to come out. If you do, they'll try and exploit the space you leave. “They ask you an awful lot of questions. Physically, they ask you questions. Generally, all their players are quick and strong as well. So, yeah, they are the biggest threat you can face in this country in my opinion.” With a trip to league leaders Arsenal on the horizon, O’Neil quipped: “Obviously, Arsenal going very well as well. We get to try that one next week! “But, yeah, (City) ask a lot of questions.” Wary of the threat Cherries’ upcoming opponents pose, O’Neil believes his side are ready to face the challenge of City. “The boys are well prepped, they're in a good place,” he continued. “I have full belief in them with the game coming tomorrow that they're going to go out and give it a real good go, and hopefully we can take a positive result.” Despite grabbing 32 goals in 32 games across all competitions, Erling Haaland has scored just once in his last six City appearances. This has led to speculation that the Norwegian international is not a natural fit to City’s possession-based style, an assertion O’Neil does not agree with. Asked about this theory, Cherries’ boss replied: “No, I think his goals record is fantastic. “I think they're still a threat from so many different areas of the pitch that they can hurt you with the ball, they can hurt you by being direct and behind. “Good set plays, they can play round you or they can play over you. “So, yeah, it's still a very good side and most of the metrics, they're the best side in the league. “So, yeah, now I feel like they'll feel like come to the end of the season, everyone will see them pretty much where you expect them to be.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s praise for AFC Bournemouth duo Dominic Solanke and Philip Billing #MCFC

By Kanak Chauhan February 25, 2023

The Premier League champions head to Vitality Stadium tomorrow, looking to extend their run of wins against Cherries to 13. Cherries have never got the better of City in the club's history, but have showed promising signs in recent weeks with a draw against Newcastle United and victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. Asked for his assessment of Gary O'Neil's men, Guardiola said: “I saw many good things I like about Bournemouth. “They got good results. The game against Wolves. They draw against Newcastle, with how tough it is. The defeat at Brighton but in the last minute. “They are so intense. If they do it away, imagine at home - so intense in high pressing. Really, really good. "After they defend compact, they want to try and play to play in different shapes. “They link really well with (Dominic) Solanke, the wingers and (Philip) Billing has huge quality. “My people help me a lot to discover what they do and I am quite impressed. “They do really good things. “I had the feeling that this season until the end, for all the clubs not just for us, that every game will be so tough. I don’t know why but that is the feeling I have this season, particularly.

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil working to ‘blend’ short and long-term goals at Cherries #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 23, 2023

O’Neil’s performance as interim head coach saw him handed the reins on a full-time basis in November. But the 39-year-old had a long wait to record his first win in permanent charge. A run of nine games without a win saw Cherries knocked out of both the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and slip to 19th in the Premier League table. They arrested the slump with a vital 1-0 triumph at Wolves on Saturday, a result which lifted Cherries out of the bottom three. During the poor run of form, some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the direction the team was heading in with O’Neil in charge. Asked if he had been given any assurances by those above him that they were happy with the job he was carrying out during the recent struggles, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I speak to Richard Hughes (technical director) more regularly, but Neill (Blake, chief executive) as well. “I haven’t had any discussions or I haven’t asked for any assurances. “I’m doing the job as asked, as I was before the transfer window and as I was before the break. “It’s just head down and try and win the next football match.” When Jonathan Woodgate was drafted in as interim boss at Cherries in 2021, a move which eventually became permanent, he revealed he leaned on the vast experience of Harry Redknapp for advice to help him during the early stages. Asked if there was anybody he had turned to during Cherries’ tough spell, O’Neil replied: “There are people that I trust and whose opinion I value. “I do think it’s difficult sometimes, you hear opinions sometimes of people that aren’t close enough to it to know what is actually going on. “You need to make sure you take the right opinions of people that have a knowledge of what’s going on in the football club. But I’m happy to take advice from people I value.” Quizzed on if his remit when taking the job on a permanent basis was just based around avoiding relegation this season, O’Neil explained: “There’s a few things attached to it. “I won’t go into too much detail, but there’s a few things that needed progressing at the football club. “We’re working hard, everybody, not just me as the head coach, as you saw in January with the type of players we tried to recruit, the age of them, the profile. “It wasn’t just a short-term transfer window where we were trying to fix things for the here and now. There was a lot of planning that went in. “Obviously new ownership as well with long-term plans. As always with football there are short-term needs and there are long-term plans. “You need to blend the two. You need to do well enough in the short-term to make sure you see the long-term. “But my work is always around both, making sure the club is in a good place, long term. And in the short term, trying to make sure we win every Saturday.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil talks about Marcus Tavernier #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 23, 2023

The 23-year-old marked his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury with the game’s only goal on Saturday, helping Cherries to their first win since November. Former Middlesbrough man Tavernier had missed eight games prior to returning to first-team action off the bench in Cherries’ 1-1 draw with Newcastle. Injury came at arguably the worst possible time for the winger, Tavernier ruled out right before domestic football restarted following the World Cup. Before the Premier League break, the Leeds-born attacker had scored two goals and provided four assists in his last four appearances. Discussing Tavernier, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I thought Tavs did well to get his goal, but I felt you could see that he'd been out for a while. “I thought some of his decision making, understandably so, he’s been out for a very long time and the Premier League moves fast. “So, yeah, some of his decision making, some of his ball handling, maybe wasn't quite at the level that it was before the break. “But delighted to get him back.” Despite admitting his star was yet to reach full match fitness, O’Neil did credit Tavernier for making the required run to get on the end of Dominic Solanke’s cross. He explained: “We worked hard this week on trying to arrive (in attacking areas). “That sort of half space run that Dom produced for the goal and making sure we arrive in the goal frame. “And maybe some of our other wide players wouldn't have arrived, or some of our midfield players would have been on the penalty spot looking for cutbacks, and Tavs fully commits, arrives in the penalty area. “Tavs is a big player for us and big players sometimes come up with moments even when they've not been at their best.” Tavernier was replaced after 57 minutes at the weekend with a complaint with his other hamstring, with O’Neil stating precautionary checks would be carried out ahead of Cherries game with Manchester City this weekend.

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Marcus Tavernier credits Cherries’ defence for Wolves win #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 21, 2023

Tavernier returned to the starting XI for the first time since November, having recovered from a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old had a mixed afternoon, but did grab the game’s only goal before being substituted just before the hour mark. Wolves dominated possession and shots at Molineux, but Cherries’ defence held firm, with centre-back duo Jack Stephens and Marcos Senesi in particular singled out for praise by boss Gary O’Neil after the contest. “It's just good to contribute to the team and help us get a win,” Tavernier said. “It was massive. We've been saying in every other interview that we needed to build on last week (against Newcastle) and I feel like we did that, both in going forward and a big, massive thanks for the defence, for the performance they put in. “I feel us forward players (in the first half) could have could have been better in going forward and be more clinical on counter attacks, with the final pass and myself included, we could have been a lot better. “But the manager told us at half time to just compose ourselves and take that into the second half, and we did that. “And then the defence played the same way they did in the first half, keeping the ball out of net. And that's got us the three points. “It’s massive, always, to get the first goal, so you're not chasing the game and we've done that. As attackers, our job is to put the ball in the back of the net and we've done that. “The defence is there to keep the ball out and they were great throughout this game.” He added: “We've got a lot of belief in that changing room. And we know we can't get too high or too low in this league. “We have to just keep taking it a game at a time. And I think with the last couple of performances, we can be happy with that, but we can't get settled. “We have to just keep building on it and getting better each week.” The win lifted Cherries outside the relegation zone, sitting one point ahead of West Ham United with 13 games remaining. Cherries remain odds-on favourites with the bookmakers to go down, with their next three fixtures against the league’s current top two Manchester City and Arsenal, before hosting Liverpool. “I take no notice and we haven't got here by luck,” Tavernier said, when asked about people writing off Cherries’ chances. “It's not luck to get in this division so we have every right to stay in it and it’s just up to us to do that and make sure that happens.” Asked how confident he is of Cherries’ survival chances, the former Middlesbrough man added: “That's why we're here. We're in this league, like I said before, we're not in here by luck. “We've earned it. The boys did a great job last season to get promoted, and now it's our job to stay in here and it's not going to be easy. “It’s the toughest league in the world, but we’re here to fight and do that.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil speaks after beating Wolves #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 20, 2023

Marcus Tavernier marked his first start since November with the game’s only goal to give Cherries a precious 1-0 win at Molineux. Victory was Cherries’ first in 10 games, adding a vital three points to their tally by finally converting improved performances into a result. O’Neil credited the win to Cherries’ ability to edge the game in their favour. Reflecting on the game, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I think (Wolves) was a big game for us - as they always are. “I think since Nottingham Forest probably where we were really short players and we put in a good performance, unlucky not to win. “Good performance at Brighton, unlucky not to beat Newcastle. To go four on the trot where their performances have given us a real chance of taking something from the games. “Spoke a lot this week, I think I mentioned it in the pre-match (press conference) as well, that some things that we need to do to try and swing the fine margins our way, because it's not always luck. “I think you saw that (against Wolves). “I think the boys had a real focus around managing the game, certain situations that the boys did well, that doesn't look like a lot, but if you can just try and grab a centimetre here and there, it can make a big difference at the end. “And (against Wolves) felt like that. “I felt we weren’t too different to some of the other games we’ve just played in, but we managed to make sure that the fine margins fell in our favour.” Wins for Everton and Southampton, as well as an impressive draw for Nottingham Forest against Manchester City poured cold water on Cherries’ result. Asked for his thoughts on other side’s results, O’Neil replied: “I haven't seen any other results. “I'm not really too interested in those.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil issues injury update on playing squad after Wolves win #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 19, 2023

Summer signing Tavernier was the match-winner at Molineux, the winger converting from Dominic Solanke’s cross. It was the 23-year-old’s first start since November, with Tavernier missing eight fixtures following a hamstring injury. Lerma came off at the break, with O’Neil revealing that the Colombian had fallen ill prior to the game. Unable to continue for the remaining 45 minutes, Lerma was replaced with Joe Rothwell. O’Neil explained to the Daily Echo: “Jeff was ill very close to kick off, so it was a bit late to change him from the starting XI. “But he wasn't feeling very well so we knew we might have to change him. At half time he was struggling, so we have to change.” There were fears that when Tavernier went down injured that he had suffered a reoccurrence of his aforementioned hamstring injury. However, O’Neil said that the winger’s issue is not with the same hamstring, also sharing his belief that it was not a serious problem. Cherries had been preparing to take Tavernier off before he went down requiring treatment, with Jaidon Anthony brought on in his stead. Asked about Tavernier, O’Neil insisted: “No, it's not a reoccurrence. “We were about to take Tavs (Marcus Tavernier) off anyway. I think we were doing Dango (Ouattara) and Tavs together, I think, for Antoine (Semenyo) and Jaidon (Anthony). Then Tavs went down. We're not sure. “It's the other hamstring, for starters, he thinks there was a contact on it as well from the tackle. So the best news would be that it was just a contact. “And even if it wasn't, he seems to think it just tightened up a little bit. “So we're hopeful that it won't be anything too serious, but there'll obviously be checks that need to go in place.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on tactical changes at half-time against Wolves #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 18, 2023

Marcus Tavernier’s goal shortly after the restart proved to be the difference at Molineux, the 1-0 win Cherries’ first since November, and only their second league victory on the road this campaign. Jefferson Lerma was an enforced change at the break, the midfielder coming off with illness and replaced by Joe Rothwell. Cherries spent most of the opening 45 minutes camped in their own half, with O’Neil’s side unable to make the most of their opportunities on the break. Discussing the game, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I felt the first half, we were slightly more passive than I wanted us to be. “A couple of reasons – we sat a little bit too deep, too early, and we turned the ball over too easily. So we just had to suffer constant phases without the ball. “Under massive threat, the boys dug in. “First half, I felt we could have been better. “We had some real good counter-attacking situations that we wasted, but, yes, second half, couple of tweaks to try and help the boys be more aggressive at half time. “I thought the second half was very good. “Should have probably took more from some of the situations that we had. “Overall pleased, but as always, still things that I would have liked to have been better.” When pressed for the tweaks he made at the break to change Cherries’ fortunes’ O’Neil explained: “We tried to get Dango (Ouattara) slightly higher, press slightly higher up, try and win the ball back slightly higher than we were. “Because although we were well organised first half, and they weren't ripping us apart, it's just a long time to be without the ball. “So tried to help the boys. We had to be aggressive, but the shape first half maybe didn't allow us to be as aggressive as we wanted to. “Second half, just tried to change a couple of things and I thought Joe Rothwell did well when he came on.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil shares players’ cheeky request for time off after win against Wolves #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 18, 2023

Marcus Tavernier’s second-half goal was enough for Cherries to record their first win in 10 games, taking all three points via the 1-0 scoreline at Molineux. After a tricky run of results that saw Cherries drop into the drop zone, the win saw the Dorset outfit rise to 17th ahead of West Ham’s fixture with Tottenham on Sunday. Asked what the mood was like in the dressing room following the result, O’Neil quipped: “They enjoyed it. Of course they enjoyed it. “They asked for Monday off, I said no! “You have to win more than one game to get a day off, lads!” Whilst Cherries’ performances have improved in recent weeks, results had not, with O’Neil maintaining that belief was high in camp. “They enjoyed the win, of course, because they've been working so hard the last few weeks and I've been telling them that it's coming. “They have a real belief in the group that that we can cause team's problems. “See, I'm delighted for them because, as I've said before, sometimes I have to come in here and explain how well they've done and how hard they've worked, but today the result makes that easier. “You can see yourself.” O’Neil’s attention has already turned to next weekend, with reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in town. “Big game next week,” he restarted. “Let's get ourselves dusted down. “Make sure the boys that had to come off today, or Jeff (Lerma), that was ill, make sure we get them ready to go again because we have another big game.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on Dominic Solanke’s defensive work rate #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 18, 2023

Cherries talisman Solanke returned to action during the side’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend, the striker coming back from a knee injury sustained in innocuous circumstances during training. With three goals and three assists in the Premier League this campaign, the 25-year-old is one of the biggest sources of goals in the Cherries squad. However, the striker also works hard off the ball, often dropping deep to help his side either win the ball back, or provide a passing option to help drive the side forward. This has not gone unnoticed by Solanke’s head coach, with O’Neil sharing how the Cherries coaching staff were looking for the former Chelsea and Liverpool forward to stay higher up the pitch in order to act as a focal point of the attack. Asked about the one-time England international’s work off the ball, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I think Dom is extremely honest and hard working, as you picked up, and if anything, his tendency would be to come down too much and want to help. “So we do a lot of work with him on the right times to come down. “Obviously always working hard, which is a given with Dom, he always works hard. “We're trying to help him with still making sure that we have a threat at the top of the pitch while we're working hard. “Some of the other lads behind him, pushing him forward sometimes and saying: ‘we don't need you at this moment, Dom. ‘We're fine, you can stay on the top line.’ “So the main thing you have to work with Dom is trying to make him a little bit less for the team, and a little bit more for himself. “But he's been fantastic for us and I like to have him back.” O’Neil also explained how he was also looking for his side to be “more aggressive” during games, especially when defending. He explained: “Disappointed with the goal against Newcastle, but there's been a lot of work going, not only to the back four, of course, but the boys in front of them. “Tendency sometimes in the group is similar to what I spoke about with Dom, really. “There's a real honesty and wanting to help within the group and sometimes that can lead to having a lot of bodies trying to help out behind the ball when sometimes we can still be more aggressive. “So a bit of work on that maybe showed up a little bit in the Newcastle game. We tried to stay aggressive in that. “We need to keep improving that, really, because when you get yourself in good situations, you need to try and have a good shape and a good structure, but try and stay aggressive from that and still carry a threat.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier on return from injury #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 17, 2023

Summer signing Tavernier was one of Cherries’ standout performers before the World Cup break, the former Middlesbrough man coming into his own on the south coast just before the Premier League paused midway through November. When domestic football restarted, Tavernier was absent, with the winger sidelined with a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old made his return to competitive action off the bench during Cherries’ 1-1 draw with Newcastle, having missed eight games. Discussing his rehabilitation, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “I can't thank the physios enough off for getting me back this quick. “It was going to be a little bit longer, but I'm happy to be back now, playing and doing what I love. “It was a hamstring injury. “ It was one which we didn't expect. We didn't think it was as bad as it seemed, and then the scans and the MRI came back and it was a lot worse than we presumed. “But like I said, the physios have been nothing but great. “They helped me through the process and they've got me got me back for this game (Newcastle). “We pencilled it in as soon as I was injured and we worked towards it. And here I am now.” Cherries have struggled for points in the absence of Tavernier, with their draw with Newcastle producing just their second point since Gary O’Neil was appointed on a permanent basis. “It's been hard to come by at the moment, to get points,” restarted the Leeds-born attacker. “It's been tough, but it's good to get one on the board and with a strong performance as well from the whole team, it's great. “We’ve got a few more lads back now from injury and a few more to come. So it can only get better from here.” Tavernier then went on to detail how he found watching on from the sidelines as his side struggled on the pitch. He explained: “That’s been the toughest part for me. “It's probably been the longest time I've been injured and the worst thing is just watching and not being able to have an impact on the game. “But I feel like I'm back now and I can only have that impact I had beforehand and help the team.” The World Cup break and injury came at the worst time, with Tavernier scoring twice and producing four assists in his last three appearances. “I feel like it's probably the best form I’ve been in my life so far,” he continued. “But I'm happy now just to be back playing again. Hopefully I can get that form again and contribute to the team.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke speaks after return from injury #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 15, 2023

Cherries’ talismanic striker had missed the previous three Premier League fixtures prior to the 1-1 draw with Newcastle at the weekend after picking up a knee issue in training. Boss Gary O’Neil described the incident, sharing how the striker had jarred his knee with no one around him. Speaking about his return from injury, Solanke told the Daily Echo: “Yeah, it was a bit of a freak accident in training, which was annoying. “Bit of a scare, but luckily didn't end up being too bad. “It was just nice to get back (out there).”It could have been a goalscoring return for the former Liverpool man, with his flicked backheel cleared off the line by Kieran Trippier late on. “Yeah, I've scored a few like that,” began the 25-year-old. “The way it fell to me, in those moments, that's probably the most comfortable way to try and put in the back of the net. But I was unlucky today. “Didn't expect him to be on the line, but it was good defending.” Aside from his attacking threat, Solanke was frequently seen dropping back and helping his side regain possession. He explained: “I think that's just part of the game, really. “Especially in the Premier League. We know that every game is going to be difficult. “We need everybody attacking and defending. So, yeah, I'm happy to play my part. That's it.” Brought to the Vitality Stadium by Eddie Howe in January 2019, Solanke has gone on to establish himself as a key player for Cherries. With his former boss in the opposing dugout managing Newcastle, the ex-Chelsea man was pleased for Howe to receive a ‘deserved’ welcome. He restarted: “I don't really need to say what he done for the club. “He's a hero here, so for him to come back, and get that welcome, it was deserved.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Jordan Zemura backing Bournemouth to ‘kick on’ after Newcastle draw #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 15, 2023

JORDAN Zemura is backing Cherries to “kick on” after an improved performance against Newcastle. Left-back Zemura played the full 90 minutes as Cherries shared a point with Newcastle, Marcos Senesi’s opener cancelled out by Miguel Almiron just before the break. Whilst Cherries are still without a win in seven Premier League games, performances in recent weeks have improved. However, late goals conceded at home to Nottingham Forest and Brighton meant hardly any points were produced for the efforts Cherries put into the games. Discussing the Newcastle game, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “I feel like you can see that our performances have been improving. “Obviously, last week was quite tough to take, a 1-0 defeat to Brighton, especially at the last bits of the game. “(Against Newcastle) you could see that from the lads we were switched on from minute one and then just working for each other, giving it our all. “It’s annoying to concede the goal right before half time, but definitely something to build on. “But we need to start turning these performances into wins because at the end of the day, they’re what’s needed most.” The Zimbabwean international then went on to explain his confidence in the side improving further, pointing to returnees from injury and new signings bedding in. Dominic Solanke and Marcus Tavernier both made their return from injury, the attacking talents noticeable absences in recent weeks. “I think you can see it from that Nottingham Forest game at home. Our squad was quite bare, a few players were injured and now people are coming back in. “The likes of Junior (Hamed Traore) coming in, Tavs (Marcus Tavernier) coming back from injury, Dango coming in. “It makes a big difference. “Players like that can affect the game. “And I think you could just see the squad start to start to really kick on a little bit now.” “It’s only a matter of time. “I think you could see from all of the boys, the players from injury coming back in, it’s a very strong unit, a very good dressing room. “Fredo (Ryan Fredericks) coming in, hasn’t played the last couple of weeks, out with injuries, he just comes in, fits in nicely. “It's nice to have those players coming back in and affecting the game. “To the players starting, you have to be on your A game because people are there to come in and take your place. It’s a good environment. Solanke almost made a goal scoring return to the side, the striker’s flicked effort cleared off the line by England international Kieran Trippier. Zemura added: “It’s fine margins. They clear the ball off the line in the 95th minute, inches before it goes in. “We could be here celebrating three points against one of the best teams in the league.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Eddie Howe admits Cherries Dean Court stadium has a special place in his heart after Bournemouth draw with Newcastle #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 14, 2023

Howe returned to Dean Court on Saturday for the first time since leaving the club more than two years ago, with his Newcastle United team. The game ended level, with Miguel Almiron cancelling out Marcos Senesi’s opener in a 1-1 draw. Cherries are now winless in nine matches across league and cup since Gary O’Neil went from interim to permanent head coach. Despite that, Howe believes his former club have what it takes to avoid the drop, following a busy January transfer window. Asked if he thinks Cherries’ new-look squad will get the points required in the second half of the season to avoid the drop, Howe told the Daily Echo: “Yes, without a doubt I do. “Coming here, the power of the home ground and what this ground can do, I’ve been the beneficiary of that, many, many times. “I think home form will probably be absolutely crucial. “But definitely I think they’ve got the players and the manager to stay up.” Dorset-raised Howe came through the academy at Cherries, before going on to make more than 300 appearances for the club across two spells. Having retired early due to injury, he was then thrust into the managerial hotseat aged just 31, masterminding the ‘Greatest Escape’, keeping the club afloat despite starting the 2008-09 campaign on minus 17 points. Howe then piloted the club all the way up from League Two to the Premier League, returning after a brief spell away at Burnley, keeping them in the top flight for five seasons. He left Cherries by mutual consent in August 2020, following relegation from the Premier League, taking a sabbatical before returning to management with Newcastle in November 2021. Since moving to Tyneside, Cherries legend Howe is already a fans’ favourite with his new club, guiding them away from relegation trouble last season before taking them through to a first cup final since 1999 this year. They will face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup showpiece later this month. On top of that, Newcastle currently sit fourth in the Premier League. “My heart will always have a place here, because of my history,” Howe said, reflecting on his return to Cherries. “Not just mine, but my family’s. My brother played here and I’ve got a long association. “So an element of my heart will always be here, but I’m very much focused on my challenge now at Newcastle and enjoying that immensely.” Discussing seeing some of his former players having such a key role in Cherries’ current side, Howe added: “I’m really pleased for those players. I think they’re all top players. “They’re all very different, of course. I won’t sit here and talk about each and every one of them. “But I’m very pleased to see the club doing well and back in the Premier League. “I hope it continues to go from strength to strength.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil hoping to welcome back more key players from injury ‘ahead of schedule’ #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 13, 2023

Cherries welcomed back both Dominic Solanke and Jack Stephens to the starting XI for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Fredericks were also introduced from the bench for their first appearances since November. In recent weeks, Cherries’ list of substitutes have included a handful of inexperienced players from the under-18s side. But at the weekend, O’Neil had nine first-team players to choose from, with a number of players still yet to return from injury. “We still have key players to come back, of course,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo. “Still Brooksy (David Brooks), Lew (Cook), Lloyd (Kelly) and Illia (Zabarnyi). “So still four massive players for us that are missing. But the group is in a good place. “And when they start to tire on 78 minutes and you have the full backing of the fans and even from the first minute to be honest, the fans were excellent. “So I’m pleased for the lads because I’ve spoken about it since I took over.” He added: “It’s important for the players. You can see we have a group that are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure they’re performing at their maximum. “It’s been tough for them at times, because we’ve been a bit short with injuries, so they’ve had to suffer some tough results. We have a group that is a lot, lot stronger now.” Asked if the four players he mentioned are close to returning, O’Neil added: “They’re slightly different and a couple we’re hoping to get back ahead of schedule. “A couple are doing really well. Obviously I’m hopeful to get them back as soon as possible.” Cherries go to Wolves on Saturday.

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Eddie Howe on ‘special moment’ with Bournemouth fans after fighting draw against ex team #NUFC

By Kanak Chauhan February 12, 2023

Howe was making his first return to the club he made his name, both as a player and manager, before leaving in August 2020. The 45-year-old is enjoying a brilliant campaign in charge of Newcastle United, the Magpies sitting fourth in the Premier League after Miguel Almiron’s strike cancelled out Marcos Senesi’s opener. Touching moment for Eddie Howe as he leaves the Vitality Stadium to a standing ovation! 👏🍒 pic.twitter.com/K2xuPd0Ju6 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 11, 2023 Following the game, all four sides of the ground stood to applaud Howe and sing his name, with the Newcastle boss taking in the adulation and showing his thanks. Asked about that moment with the Cherries fans, Howe said: “It was emotional. I’m not going to hide that fact. “I think with how long I’d been at this football club without the chance to say goodbye to people who had given me so much in my life. “And not just for me, for my family as well. That was difficult. “I thought the Bournemouth supporters were amazing with me today. “I can’t thank them enough for that and it’s just a chance really for me to thank them. It was a very special moment. “To have that reception from two sets of supporters means the world to me. I’m just very, very grateful for it.” He added: “The long association, coming here as a 12 year old with my mum driving me to training. “All of those sort of memories come back.” Discussing what it was like entering the stadium as an away manager, Howe said: “That part was fine. “The walk through the stadium and so many familiar faces and surroundings. But anyone who knows me, I was just very much focused on the game. “The game was the only thing that mattered. Trying to win the game, trying to produce a team that gives a good performance. “Those thoughts never change. So I was really focused on that. It only really struck me on the final whistle when I knew what was about to happen really and I knew I had to thank both sets of supporters obviously. “Firstly my set of supporters, Newcastle, for travelling this journey, the length of the country, to support their team. And they did brilliantly for us again today. “And then the long wait to thank the Bournemouth fans for everything they gave me in my time here. That’s as a player and a manager. I really felt the need to do that.”

2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on draw with Newcastle United #AFCB

By Kanak Chauhan February 12, 2023

Marcos Senesi’s first goal for the club was ruled out by Miguel Almiron’s strike on the stroke of half-time, and in the second half, returnee Dominic Solanke must have thought he had sealed the points late on when Kieran Trippier cleared his backheel off the line. O’Neil shared how he thought the performance was a further improvement despite not earning his side all three points. He began: “There were some improvements. “I thought we built on a decent performance against Brighton last week with another one. “I thought the longer the game went on, we looked more likely to win it. “Slightly disappointed that we didn’t take all three. “The boys’ performance and the chances we created deserved three, but against a very good side that have not lost a game in a long time, it was probably as close as they’ve come to losing one.” Cherries’ head coach went on to expound on his belief that his side deserved all three points, pointing to chances spurned by Solanke and Marcus Tavernier in the second period. “Obviously the Solanke chance, the Tavernier chance, two big chances,” he restarted. “I thought we were very threatening. It will be interesting to see the sort of numbers and stuff on it, but I would suggest we were unlucky not to go on and win it.” O’Neil also commented how he had been “desperate” to get into the break unscathed, with Almiron’s equaliser Newcastle’s only clear-cut chance of the first half. He explained: “I was worried about the last ten minutes because they were forced into a change of shape when Gordon came on. It took our lads a bit of a while to (adapt) to the tactical change. “I was desperate to get to half time so we could fix a couple of things. “We didn't quite get there. Disappointing with the goal, obviously some errors in it, as there always are. “I think if you look at the performance, at the atmosphere, the connection between the lads and the fans today. “It was a good afternoon, but disappointed for the lads that they didn't get all three.”