Marcus Tavernier
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Marcus Tavernier reveals joining Cherries ‘best decision I’ve made so far’ #AFCB

December 3, 2022
MARCUS Tavernier has labelled his summer switch to Cherries as “the best decision I’ve made so far in my career”. The 23-year-old arrived at the Vitality Stadium from Championship side Middlesbrough in August for a reported fee of around £12million, making Cherries just the third club Tavernier has represented at a senior level, after a six-month loan spell at Milton Keynes Dons in 2018. Leeds-born, Tavernier started his footballing career in the youth system at Newcastle United, before making the switch to Teesside at under-14 level. Apart from the aforementioned loan at MK Dons, Tavernier spent just shy of a decade at the Riverside, joining the club in 2013 and progressing into the first team, where he made 155 senior appearances for Boro. Tavernier has been ever-present in the Premier League since joining Cherries, starting in all 15 league fixtures under both Gary O’Neil and his predecessor Scott Parker. Whilst Cherries fans were largely impressed with his livewire performances early on in his career on the south coast, Tavernier quashed doubts regarding his output in the final three games before the break, bursting into life with two goals and four assists. The former Boro man attributed his seamless transition to his teammates with helping him settle quickly in Dorset. Reflecting on his transfer this summer, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “I think this is probably the best decision I've made so far in my career. “I can't thank the boys enough for helping me settle in down here. “I just feel like I can be my normal self and play with confidence on the pitch.”Cherries as a whole will take confidence from their league position heading into the second half of the season, with O’Neil’s charges sitting in 14th with 16 points from their opening 15 games. Although only three points separate Cherries from the relegation zone, Tavernier believes his team have shown they have what it takes to go and secure safety in the latter half of the campaign. “I think everyone looking at us and the performances we've put in, we've shown that we're capable to stay in this league. “We've had a couple of performances where we haven't got the results, and we haven't put the points on the board but I think if you see and watch us play, that we're more than capable to stay in this league.” Tavernier is currently with Cherries in Dubai as O’Neil’s side gear up for their return to competitive fixtures at the end of the month. Cherries return to action on Wednesday, December 21, when they travel to Newcastle in the fourth round of the League Cup.  
Mark Travers Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Goalkeeper Mark Travers reveals Gary O’Neil ‘took everything in his stride with management’ #AFCB

November 30, 2022
GOALKEEPER Mark Travers has shared how Gary O’Neil has taken “everything in his stride with management”. Cherries’ hunt for a permanent manager following Scott Parker’s sacking in August ended on Sunday, when the decision to install caretaker boss O’Neil on a permanent basis was made. In 12 games in charge of Cherries, O’Neil has steered the club to 13 points from 11 Premier League games, as well as securing safe passage through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with victory over Everton. Clearly popular with the squad at Cherries, O’Neil’s first steps into management were to pick up a side still reeling from a 9-0 loss away at Anfield. During O’Neil’s brief reign so far there have been mixed results, Cherries starting with a six-game unbeaten streak before falling to four straight losses, including two games where the Dorset club threw away two-goal leads to lose 3-2 and 4-3 to Tottenham and Leeds respectively. However, Cherries again rallied, ending the first half of the season with a pair of victories over Everton. Recently reinstalled to the starting XI after O’Neil’s first choice ‘keeper, Neto, was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Travers believes his side were unlucky not to have more points after 15 games played. Following their last game, a 3-0 victory over Everton, the Irishman told the Daily Echo: “He’s been brilliant, really, since he’s come in. “I think it’s been 12 games now. He’s done really well. We’ve played some unbelievable football. “We’ve been unlucky not to get more points, the last 60 minutes against Leeds and Tottenham. “I thought we were excellent and played really good football, it was just us at the back trying to tidy things up and I thought we did that (against Everton). “He’s been really good with all the lads and really took everything in his stride with management. I thought he got us playing really good football and some really good results as well. “I think to bounce back after the start of the season and the results we had was great credit to the lads. “We know it’s going to be a tough league and we know how tight it is. One win can push you up a few places or a couple of defeats and you’re back down there again. “So we’ve got to remain level-headed and we know there’s a long way to go in this season. Cherries fly out to Dubai tomorrow for a warm weather training camp, where they will also face Belgian top-flight outfit Royal Antwerp in a friendly on Sunday, December 4.  
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura reveals his one big wish from the World Cup #AFCB

November 30, 2022
CHERRIES full-back Jordan Zemura revealed his one big wish from this year's World Cup - to see Lionel Messi finally get his hands on the trophy. Widely considered as the greatest player to have ever played the game, Messi is looking to fire Argentina to glory in Qatar. This will likely be the final chance for the 35-year-old to win the World Cup, having come so close in 2014, when Argentina lost to Germany in the final. PSG superstar Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, has scored a remarkable 93 goals in 167 appearances for his country. Two of those have come during this World Cup, against Saudi Arabia and Mexico. However, Messi could exit the tournament on Wednesday. Following a shock defeat to the Saudis, Argentina kept their hopes of progressing out of Group C alive by defeating Mexico. They need a result against Poland, to move through to the last 16. Asked who he would like to see win the Wold Cup, Zimbabwe international Zemura told the Daily Echo: "I want him to do it. "I’d love an African team to do it, obviously for Africa, so I’m team Senegal, even team Morocco and team Africa. "But I want him to do it, the little GOAT. I want Messi to win it. "Hopefully, it’s his fifth World Cup. I’d love him to win it." Discussing the hopes of the African nations, with Cameroon, Tunisia and Ghana having also qualified, Zemura added: "They’re getting really close. Hopefully one day Zimbabwe, my team, my country, my nation can hopefully join the elite forces up top. "2026, you might be reporting on me going to the World Cup, who knows!?"
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals to ‘ask more of’ to Cherries squad after permanent appointment #AFCB

November 30, 2022
GARY O’Neil will be demanding more from his charges after being appointed on a permanent basis, stressing: “I’m going to ask more of them still”. Cherries announced that O’Neil had been promoted from his position of interim head coach on Sunday, with the board impressed with the rookie’s return of 13 points from 11 Premier League games. In his first interview since being confirmed as permanent boss, O’Neil shared with afcbtv: “They’re a great group. I think they gave a lot, of course. I’m going to ask more of them still. I think there is still more in there, I think we can do more. “I think everyone can do more. It is a tough league, the best league in the world, so every game is going to be very, very difficult. “I’m just really excited to see where we can take the group, see how far we can push them, see what levels we can get to. Ultimately to make sure we survive this season.” Detailing his plans for the break, O’Neil continued: “The interim spell, there was a next game coming very quickly all the time. “Now it’s (time) to lay down some real foundations for how things need to look, what’s expected, how we play. “To try and just improve the boys’ understanding, so they’re better at managing each situation that they find themselves up against, without need of things from the side all the time. “Just to improve how well they understand what they do will be massive for us. “The fitness as well – the boys have had a little break, we’ve had a few boys that have been out injured, so be good to get them all back and make sure we’re all firing come the cup game against Newcastle.”  
Marcus Tavernier
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier on World Cup dreams #AFCB

November 29, 2022
CHERRIES star Marcus Tavernier’s dreams of one day going to the World Cup seem that little bit more real by watching his teammates on the biggest stage. Tavernier’s fellow Cherries Kieffer Moore and Chris Mepham are gearing up to salvage their World Cup campaign when they face England tomorrow evening (kick-off 7pm), with Wales knowing an unlikely victory over their rivals may not be enough to secure passage to the knockout stages. By swapping Championship Middlesbrough for Premier League football at Cherries this summer, Tavernier is frequently rubbing shoulders with world-class internationals, as well as sharing a dressing room with those that have experienced a World Cup, such as Jefferson Lerma. The 23-year-old has eased into life in the top-flight, recently adding goals and assists to his game after a bright start to his Premier League career. In the three league games prior to the break, the Leeds-born midfielder grabbed two goals and set-up four goals, opening his account for the club in the 4-3 defeat to Leeds United. Asked if seeing his teammates playing on the biggest stage in Qatar made his dreams of playing at a World Cup feel more like a possibility, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “Yeah, definitely. “I congratulated them when they got announced, and I'm looking forward to seeing them out there. “It's every kids’ dream to play at the World Cup and I'm no different. “It’s something that I want to do in my life, but I know that I have to keep working hard and putting the right performances in on the pitch. “Hopefully I can do that, and one day I can get a call up to the national team.” Members of the squad who were not called up for international duty, either for friendlies or the World Cup returned to training this morning, with Gary O’Neil leading his first session since being confirmed as permanent head coach. Cherries will shortly fly out to Dubai later this week for a warm weather camp, where they will also play a friendly with Belgian top-flight outfit Royal Antwerp on December 4. Speaking about the job O’Neil had done prior to the announcement that he was Cherries’ solution to their head coach vacancy, Tavernier commented: “Give him all the credit in the world because he’s been nothing but great for us. “It was a tough ask when he first came in and you see straight away the performances and the way that we're playing, it's been great and we can't thank him enough for what he's done so far.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil always felt he was on a ‘journey’ to management after full time appointment #AFCB

November 29, 2022
GARY O’Neil insisted he always saw himself taking on a managerial role at a club – before being announced as Cherries’ permanent boss. The 39-year-old on Sunday was confirmed as the Dorset club’s head coach on a full-time basis, signing an 18-month deal with the provision to be extended for a further 12 months. O’Neil stepped up from being a first-team coach at Vitality Stadium to lead Cherries, after the sacking of Scott Parker just four league games into the season.   But the former Portsmouth and West Ham midfielder insisted he was always on a journey to management. Speaking after Cherries’ 3-0 victory over Everton, before the World Cup break, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I always saw myself as a manager when I set off and when I went to Liverpool to do the under-23s as assistant. That was just part of the journey to become a manager. “I always felt like a manager, waiting to be a manager. “I enjoy it. I enjoy the intricacies of it, trying to make sure the lads are ready tactically, mentally, physically.” O’Neil has picked up 13 points from 11 Premier League games while in interim charge of Cherries. A number of the club’s players voiced their backing of the 39-year-old to be awarded the role on a full-time basis. “If I speak about the lads, I couldn’t think any more of them. They are an incredible group,” said O’Neil.   “We have suffered some tough moments together. I have asked a lot of them with the ball, without the ball, physically. “I speak highly of them all the time but they are an incredible group and I’m lucky to work with them.” Cherries’ next test comes at Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, December 21.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Cherries chief executive Neill Blake explains why AFC Bournemouth chose Gary O’Neil to be permanent boss #AFCB

November 28, 2022
CHERRIES chief executive Neill Blake has explained why the club opted to make Gary O'Neil their new head coach, insisting: "We have been impressed with the way he has conducted himself." O'Neil, 39, was thrust into his first head coach role on an interim basis when Scott Parker was sacked in August. He galvanised a side which had just lost convincingly three league games on the trot, embarking on a six-match unbeaten streak. A string of four defeats on the bounce followed, before back-to-back big wins over Everton at Vitality Stadium, prior to the international break. Experienced boss Marcelo Bielsa was heavily linked with the job in recent weeks, but Cherries have opted to keep O'Neil in his post, tying him down to a deal until at least the summer of 2024. "Gary did an excellent job on an interim basis and the board are delighted to make his position as head coach permanent," Blake told Cherries' website. "We have been impressed with the way he has conducted himself from the moment he joined the club and feel he has earned this opportunity to continue to take the team and the club forward. "Gary has worked tirelessly and diligently on the training pitch and the players have responded by producing some excellent performances and results. "It was evident from the reception he received from our supporters following the Premier League win against Everton that they have also appreciated his efforts and we are all looking forward to continuing our working relationship with him."
Mark Travers Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Mark Travers ‘buzzing’ for Chris Mepham display at World Cup after ‘tough’ Cherries spell #AFCB #Worldcup2022

November 25, 2022
MARK Travers is “buzzing” to see Chris Mepham get a chance to showcase his talents on the world stage, after a “tough” spell out of the Cherries side. While Travers was playing week in, week out as Cherries clinched promotion from the Championship last season, Mepham was often forced to watch on and play a bit-part role. Having been sent off for a costly error in the play-offs the previous season, Mepham began the following campaign in the starting XI under new boss Scott Parker. But he slowly drifted out of the side, utilised as a late substitute to see out games, as Gary Cahill and Lloyd Kelly forged a strong centre-back partnership, before the arrival of Nat Phillips. Mepham made 22 league appearances last season, playing just over 1,000 minutes. He has already eclipsed that tally in his 14 Premier League outings this term. After Phillips and Cahill departed the club and Kelly picked up an injury, it gave the 25-year-old a run in the team. The former Brentford man’s future at the club looked uncertain as he entered the final year of his contract, but his early season form was rewarded with a new deal to extend his stay until 2025. Now, Mepham is in Qatar, competing in the World Cup with Wales. He played the full 90 minutes of Monday’s 1-1 draw with USA and will be hoping to keep his spot for Friday’s crunch clash against Iran (10am). “Massive credit to Meps,” goalkeeper Travers told the Daily Echo. “He has come in this year and been a massive, massive player for us in the centre of defence. “He’s been class. It was obviously tough, he didn’t play much last season, but it just shows you the type of person he is to come in this season and claim his spot in the team and do brilliantly. “So I’m buzzing for the two lads away with Wales. “I’ll be rooting for them, because it will be a tough group but I think they’ll do really well and they’re excited for it.” Travers himself has been on the international stage, making three senior appearances for Republic of Ireland. They failed to qualify for Qatar, finishing third in their group behind Serbia and Portugal. “It would’ve been nice to get to a World Cup, obviously, but hopefully in the future that can happen,” said Travers. “But of course I’m rooting for all the lads really. “We work day in, day out together. “It’s a dream for them (Mepham and Kieffer Moore) to go to a World Cup, so of course you want to see them do well and win games. “It’s really exciting for them.”
chris mepham Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Chris Mepham says ‘People are starting to notice’ Kieffer Moore’s technical ability #AFCB

November 22, 2022
CHRIS Mepham believes his teammate for club and country, Kieffer Moore, is finally getting his dues for his technical ability, rather than just his physical qualities. Mepham and Moore are currently away on Wales duty for the World Cup in Qatar, with the pair facing the USA in their Group B opener this evening (7pm). The duo have been a revelation at club level this campaign, Chris Mepham stepping out of the shadows to become ever present after spending last season on the fringes of Scott Parker’s squad. Meanwhile, Moore has featured in some capacity in every league game this term, bagging four Premier League goals during his top-flight debut. Moore has received a lot of plaudits for utilising his frame and physique to the best of his abilities, but his teammate Mepham believes other aspects of his game go under the radar. Speaking about Moore on the club’s official podcast, the 25-year-old told afcb.co.uk: “I think he is quite deceiving. “People almost think, because he’s six-foot five, that all he can do is bully people, good in the air. “But I think he is very, very good technically as well. “People are starting to notice that. “It’s something that he’s added to his game well. “He can do both sides of it really – when the ball is going into him, he can deal with it, and he can be that brute that gets his head on things, and bring other players into the game.” Asked what Moore was like off the pitch, Mepham shared: “I wouldn’t say he’s that mysterious a man – what you see is what you get. “To be fair, his dress sense, I don’t mind. I’m not a massive lover, but I also don’t hate it.” You can listen to the full podcast with Mepham by visiting afcb.co.uk, where he discussed his footballing journey and his World Cup call-up.
Ben Greenwood
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Ben Greenwood speaks about Dominic Sadi #AFCB

November 19, 2022
DEVELOPMENT Squad skipper Ben Greenwood revealed his first impressions of summer signing Dominic Sadi – commenting that Cherries have “got a player on our hands here.” Left-back Greenwood will lead young Cherries out again when the development squad restart their Premier League cup campaign away at QPR on Monday, November 21 (kick-off 7pm). The 19-year-old defender scored in their last foray in the competition, a 2-1 win over Derby County that puts Cherries top of their group with two wins from two games. Sadi and Greenwood made their first-team debuts in the League Cup victory over Norwich City in August, skipper Greenwood coming off for winger Sadi as Cherries chased an equaliser. It was a gambit by former head coach Scott Parker that paid off, Sadi teeing up fellow substitute Brooklyn Genesini to grab an equaliser to send the tie to penalties, Cherries winning the shootout to advance past the Canaries. Sadi’s stock has continued to rise, with the 19-year-old again substituted on in the dying embers of Cherries’ 4-1 rout of Everton in the third round of the competition. Asked for his thoughts on Sadi, Greenwood enthused to the Daily Echo: “What a player! “Honestly, some of the spaces he gets in, you think ‘how is he going to get out of there?’ “And he comes out with the ball. It's crazy, honestly. Ever since he's joined, I’ve thought ‘we've got a player on our hands here.’ “He makes my job easy. “Go forward, give him the ball and he'll give it back to me sometimes. “He is phenomenal.” Cherries will be looking to make it three wins from three in the Premier League cup on Monday when they visit QPR. During the week they were defeated 3-0 by an Eastleigh side containing a mixture of first-teamers and development squad players, with Greenwood looking for his side to make amends quickly. He told afcb.co.uk: “For me personally, and everyone in there, we can’t wait for Monday now, we’ve got even more reason to prove a point.“Obviously, with the momentum we’ve got in that competition at the moment, it’s a massive game for us.”
Philip Billing
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Philip Billing reveals challenge of ‘expecting more from myself’ despite strong start with Cherries #AFCB

November 19, 2022
DETERMINED Philip Billing insisted he was still “expecting more from myself” this season, despite his impressive start to the Premier League campaign. The attacking midfielder has featured in all 15 of Cherries’ top-flight games since their return to England’s elite level, starting on 13 occasions. He has netted four times in total, his strikes coming in games against Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Leicester and Leeds United. The former Huddersfield Town man also registered an assist for Cherries in their draw at Fulham, helping Dominic Solanke score as part of a slick counter-attack. Despite his dazzling form for his club, Billing was overlooked for Denmark’s 26-man World Cup squad, having not been in the final five names revealed on Sunday evening. But, reflecting on his season as a whole, Billing insisted he was still eager to impress even further. Speaking about his form to the Daily Echo, before the Denmark squad was finalised, Billing said: “It’s going alright, still expecting more from myself, just finding the rhythm and trying to carry it on from last season. “The past two seasons in the Champ, the big question was can you score goals in the Prem as well? “I have got my own goals. I just want to keep going and working hard for the team. I should have had another one on Saturday which I was disappointed about. “I’m not going to get too high or get too low. I am just going to continue doing what I’m doing and do my own thing.” Cherries have headed into the World Cup break 14th in the league table with 16 points – three above the relegation zone. They are still odds-on with the bookmakers to be relegated this season, with an array of pundits insisting the Dorset club were destined for the drop at the start of the campaign. Billing added: “To go away and be on 16 points going into the World Cup break – it’s very good. We have to just be proud of that. “We can look around and see what the pundits are saying. You see it every year that someone is surprising, or the pundits think someone is going down and they don’t go down. “People can speculate and all of that but it’s been our focus from the start of the season to take each game at a time. “No matter who it is against we are going to give it our best shot because I think we can see we have more than enough quality in this squad to score goals, to defend, to get clean sheets. “Whatever is going on outside, at the end of the day the XI that goes on the pitch, we have each other, we back each other. We are going to do that throughout this whole season.”
chris mepham Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Chris Mepham dreaming of starting Wales World Cup opener #AFCB

November 18, 2022
CHERRIES defender Chris Mepham believes he has given himself “the best possible opportunity” to start Monday’s World Cup opener for Wales. After some tough spells at Cherries, with high profile errors, injuries and being left out of the team, Mepham has risen to the challenge this season and been a staple of the team’s top-flight XI. He had started all of Cherries’ Premier League matches this season, playing all-but eight minutes, until missing Saturday’s win over Everton due to suspension. Mepham will be looking to add to his 33 caps in Qatar, with Wales set to get their campaign underway against USA on Monday. They will then face Iran and England in Group B. The 25-year-old is set to compete with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon and Ben Davies for a starting centre-back berth under boss Rob Page. “First and foremost, I want to play,” Mepham told Sky Sports. “I think I’d be lying if I said otherwise. You come here and it’s such a big stage. “For me it will be a dream to play on this stage. “My form has been good going into it. I’ve had a good run of games, which is something that I’ve always asked for. “I’ve given myself the best possible opportunity to be in that starting XI come Monday.” Asked if progressing out of the group is what Wales have in their sights, Mepham said: “100 per cent, that’s the first thing we’re looking at. “Come out the group, and see where that takes us. We’re more than good enough, we all know that.” The warm weather in Qatar has been a talking point this week, with temperatures upwards of 30 degrees. Discussing how difficult that is making preparations, Mepham said: “It’s tough. Playing in England, it’s obviously a very different climate, different altitude. “But I think where we’ve had warm weather camps in the past, we went to Portugal before the Euros, you kind of try and acclimatise yourself to it. “Naturally it’s going to be tougher. You’re going to need to get fluids on board a lot and I’d imagine there could be (drinks) breaks, I’m not sure. “But we just need to give a good account of ourselves and try and not let the weather and climate affect us.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals everyone has helped him and he loves Bournemouth #AFCB

November 17, 2022
GARY O’Neil says he has had “huge support from everybody” since taking over as interim head coach from his assistants to the canteen staff, adding: “I love Bournemouth.” O’Neil has been in charge of the team since late August, following Scott Parker’s departure. He has led Cherries in 12 matches, racking up four wins and four draws in that time, taking the club into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup and up to 14th in the Premier League table. When Parker left, three members of his staff also followed in Matt Wells, Rob Burch and Jonathan Hill. No coaches have been hired by the club since, with former Cherries defenders Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper stepping up from their roles with the club’s development squad to act as O’Neil’s assistants. “They’ve been brilliant,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo, when asked about Cooper and Elphick. “Obviously a big step up for them from working with the under-21s. They’ve thrown themselves straight in, given me loads of support. “There’s an awful lot to do and they’ve supported me with all of it. I ask a lot of them sometimes on the touchline, when you’re under pressure sometimes it gets a little bit like ‘I need stuff now lads, let’s go’. “But they’ve always responded, they’ve been brilliant. “They all have, to be fair. Gaz Stewart, Fletch (Steve Fletcher), all the backroom staff. “The people in the canteen, because I don’t have as much time to make my own cup of tea anymore! “So people have been making me tea and things to try and save me every minute they can. I’ve had huge support from everybody.” Asked if they have mastered how he has his tea now, O’Neil said: “I’m not that fussy!” While Cherries’ current coaching set-up may lack in experience on the managerial side, they have bags of it from their playing days on the south coast. Striker Fletcher played more than 700 times for the club, goalkeeper Stewart close to 200, Elphick captained them to a first promotion to the Premier League and Cooper helped keep the club in the Football League against the odds. Asked how much having that club nous around has helped him, former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough midfielder O’Neil said: “Definitely. I get a real feel from them of what’s needed, what it’s going to feel like this week, where the boys are, what it’s been like before. “So they’ve been really helpful in more ways than one. I can’t speak highly enough of them.” O’Neil’s future remains unclear as Cherries look to make a decision on who to appoint as the club’s permanent boss. Asked if he will always feel an affection for the club no matter what happens, O’Neil said: “I love Bournemouth. It’s a fantastic club, got great support, a real nice feel about it. “So I’ll definitely have some friends from Bournemouth and my time here. They’re a great club.”
Ryan Christie
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie speaks about Scotland duty and last premier league game before World Cup #AFCB

November 16, 2022
RYAN Christie is looking forward to meeting up with Scotland for a friendly against Turkey tomorrow evening (kick-off 5pm) – even if it is “strange timing” according to the winger. With club football on pause for the upcoming World Cup, little attention has been paid to the Premier League players representing their countries in friendlies leading up to the tournament. Traditionally, World Cup-bound countries would play against other teams as preparation for the big stage, however, with the unconventional scheduling of a winter tournament, there is no room in the calendar for friendlies. However, that is not the case for those countries not heading to the World Cup, with Scotland missing out on a spot in Qatar after losing to Ukraine in the play-off semi-final over the summer. A proud Scot who has represented his country 34 times, Christie revealed he was always keen to meet up with his international teammates, even if the important of the game with Turkey paled in comparison to other international fixtures occurring in November. He told the Daily Echo: “I always love going up and meeting with Scotland. “Seeing all the other boys again and representing your country, there's nothing like it. “So, yeah, obviously a bit of a strange timing for it, but I'm sure everyone will be going there excited to play for our country again, to come together as a group again.” Christie will be arriving at the Scotland camp in high spirits, helping Cherries to two wins over Everton prior to the pausing of club football. Prior to Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Toffees, Cherries had lost four Premier League games on the bounce. The former Celtic man believes that the three points earnt will leave everyone at Cherries with a smile on their face, whilst also leaving them keen to get going again after the World Cup finishes towards the end of December. He added: “It was huge. “Gaz (Gary O’Neil) I think going into the game, he was desperate for us to finish with three points. “It sends everyone away from this period and going into the break all happy and positive and looking forward to getting back into it. “So we did just that. Again, after two frustrating results and performance, so I think we're delighted.” Members of the Cherries squad not on international duty will have two weeks off before the club fly out to Dubai for a week-long warm weather camp, according to the Athletic. The report adds whilst in the United Arab Emirates, they will face Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp in a friendly.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil’s message to AFC Bournemouth fans as Premier League pauses for World Cup #AFCB

November 14, 2022
GARY O'Neil thanked Cherries fans for the support they showed him towards the end of Saturday's thumping 3-0 win over Everton, adding: "They're massive to us here." O'Neil's future is up in the air, with the club expected to make a decision on whether to offer the interim head coach the role on a more permanent basis, or look elsewhere during the upcoming six-week break for the World Cup. Cherries are not due in action again until the week commencing December 19. Former Portsmouth midfielder O'Neil, previously a coach under ex-boss Scott Parker, has taken charge of 12 games as interim boss. He has overseen four wins, four draws and four defeats from his time in charge, with Cherries now sitting 13th in the Premier League table, three points clear of the relegation zone. Towards the end of the contest with the Toffees, fans around Vitality Stadium were singing O'Neil's name, and the 39-year-old reciprocated at full-time, making his way around the ground to applaud supporters. "I wanted to show my appreciation," O'Neil told the Daily Echo. "I’ve said it since day one – they’re massive to us here, they are. Because we will be underdogs in most of the games. "And when an interim head coach is put in charge, it’s important that the fans stick with it. "They’ve been through some tough moments with us. Obviously in the last few weeks some tough results, tough situations. "They’ve just stuck with us the whole time. "I just wanted to thank them really for being incredible for the boys and helping the boys get through some sticky moments and hopefully they enjoyed (Saturday)."
Marcus Tavernier
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier speaks on fine form and World Cup break #AFCB

November 13, 2022
MARCUS Tavernier joked that the break for the World Cup has come at the “worst time” – with the midfielder in fine form in the final third. Despite impressing in his first appearances in red and black at the start of the season, Tavernier did not produce a goal involvement in his first 12 Premier League appearances. Since grabbing a first assist in the 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in October, the former Middlesbrough man has become a frequent provider, opening his tally for Cherries in the defeat away at Leeds United last weekend. He set up the other two goals of the 4-3 loss, before again scoring and assisting in Cherries’ 3-0 win over Everton on this afternoon. The 23-year-old arrived to poke home the opener before seeing his header nodded home by Kieffer Moore in the first-half, before Jaidon Anthony made sure of the result in the second period. Speaking after the game, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “I’ve really hit form at the moment - it's probably at the worst time, in a way, now we've got a break. “But I'm just happy that I'm contributing to the team and can't thank them enough for showing me the support. “It's helping me and my game and it's now showing on the game.” Critical about his performances prior to breaking his duct, Tavernier was again looking to where he could improve further. He added: “I feel like me myself, I could have got another goal and assist. “That’s something to look back on but right now, all that we can do is be happy about the performance and the three points on the board. Asked what was the contributing factor to adding assists and goals to his game, Tavernier revealed: “It's definitely hard work. “I've been working hard on the training pitch, in the final third and working on that end product. “Finally seeing that now on the pitch, and hopefully that can continue.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admits Cherries showed ‘heart and determination’ against Everton in crucial win #AFCB

November 13, 2022
INTERIM head Gary O’Neil hailed his players for their “heart and determination” as they cruised past Everton 3-0 in their final game before the World Cup break. Cherries completed a brilliant week at Vitality Stadium with their second heavy win over the Toffees, having also progressed past them 4-1 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. O’Neil’s men move up to 13th in the Premier League table with this victory, which takes the interim boss’s tally to 13 points from his 11 top-flight matches in charge. Cherries came into the clash with Everton the back of four league defeats on the spin, including throwing away two-goal leads to lose to Tottenham and Leeds. Asked if this was Cherries’ best performance in O’Neil’s tenure, he replied: “We managed to maintain it for the 95 minutes, or whatever was required. “It looked similar to Spurs and Leeds, but they only lasted 60 minutes. “So, pleased that we did a lot of work this week on how you see out a game of football when you’re in front, what it takes. “I saw huge improvements, as we did on Tuesday, with obviously a different team, but it’s good to take the lead twice in the last two games and see them out so comfortably, it’s nice when you’ve worked so hard on something and it’s rewarded.” Asked if that performance from Cherries was a goodbye present from the players: “I won’t be commenting on the goodbye stuff, but I think they’ve given me that in every game to be honest. “I don’t think today was any different. We were very, very good with the ball, good without the ball, well organised. The lads showed heart and determination. We spoke before the game about getting to 16 points by the break and it being massive for everybody involved. “The lads deserve 16 points at least for what they’ve put in in my spell, I think they’ve been incredible.”
Frank Lampard
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Frank Lampard after Everton’s defeat to AFC Bournemouth #EVERTONFC

November 13, 2022
FRANK Lampard believes Everton fans had “a right to voice their opinions” after they booed their team following their 3-0 Premier League defeat at Cherries. The Everton players and manager were berated and subjected to jeers and whistles as they went over towards the travelling support after the final whistle. Former Arsenal man Alex Iwobi handed over his shirt, only to see it chucked back by the irate Toffees faithful. Qatar-bound Jordan Pickford was partially at fault for the Cherries opener when the England goalkeeper spilled a Dominic Solanke shot into the path of Marcus Tavernier, who slotted home. Kieffer Moore added a second in the 25th minute, before all three points were wrapped up by substitute Jadon Anthony in the second half. Lampard believes the performance of his players warranted the reaction from the travelling fans, with the Toffees also beaten 4-1 at the same venue in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. The Everton boss said: “The fans have a right to be disappointed because they’ve come down here twice this week and seen poor performances and before that we’ve been going OK. And then they see that there are performances that they don’t like. “So when they see after Palace – and we can see that they gave us a welcome – they have to voice their opinion. And their opinions were right today. “The players have to respect that the fans have a right to voice their opinions – and again they were right today.” The Toffees will finish the weekend just one point clear of the drop zone with manager Lampard severely under pressure going into the World Cup break. Cherries rise up to 13th in the Premier League table, three points clear of the relegation spaces. Despite the reaction the players received from the travelling support, Lampard believes it was important for the players to go over to them. He explained: “What was important today was the players went over to the fans, because they travelled down, they have to all go over. “The players – albeit the performance wasn’t good enough – are not bad lads and they were disappointed. There’s things we need to speak about and the footballing level (was not good enough).”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on World Cup break #AFCB

November 12, 2022
INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil would rather the “season just continued as normal” as the Premier League prepares to pause following this weekend’s fixtures for the World Cup. Footballing tradition has been broken with the biggest stage being hosted in winter for the first time, with all 21 previous iterations of the tournament being staged during the summer months. Whilst more serious concerns have been raised regarding host nation Qatar’s record over human rights and treatment of migrant workers, the rearranged schedule has also been a bone of contention for clubs around the world, with the World Cup final taking place two days before Cherries return to action in the League Cup. For Cherries, the break might offer the perfect chance to hire a permanent manger, with O’Neil still operating on the caretaker basis he took on at the end of August, following Scott Parker’s dismissal. Asked for his thoughts on the break, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I'd rather the season just continued as normal.  “But yeah, I mean, there are benefits and negatives to the break. “You will be able to do some good work with the group once you manage to get them back. “We'll be able to get some people back from injury. You will be able to put a real good plan together for the back half of the season.” Before the league schedule is interrupted, Cherries face Everton for the second time in five days, after the Dorset outfit knocked their Merseyside opponents in the League Cup on Tuesday. Victory in the cup marked Cherries’ first win since a 2-1 defeat of Leicester at the start of October, with O’Neil keen to add more points to the league table. “I think the last game before you have a break, you always want it to end on a positive,” he restarted. “So for the boys, before they go away and have a break, for myself, and most importantly for the position it puts the club in, three more points would be huge for us.” Only one point and one place separates 16th placed Everton from Cherries in the final safe spot of 17th. Asked if he viewed the game as a so-called six-pointer, O’Neil detailed: “No, I don't think so. “I can see six pointers sometimes towards the end of seasons. “I don't see them this early, really. I think there's so much that can still go on. “Obviously a winter break, a transfer window so there's so much that can change between now and the end of the season. “It's just a game that we're desperate to go and get more points from.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s interim manager. Gary O’Neil speaks on Jack Stephens #AFCB

November 11, 2022
INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil is backing Jack Stephens to be raring to go if he is included in Saturday’s clash with Everton – stating: “Jack's definitely ready.” Defender Stephens, a deadline day signing from neighbours Southampton on a season-long loan, made his first start for Cherries in the week, playing the full 90 minutes as the Dorset outfit comfortably cruised past Everton 4-1 to secure safe passage to the fourth round of the League Cup. The Plymouth Argyle academy graduate has made two Premier League appearances for Cherries so far, coming off the bench late on against Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. Alongside his first-team involvement, Stephens has also gained match fitness by playing with Cherries’ development squad. With Chris Mepham suspended after five yellow cards in the Premier League and captain Lloyd Kelly unlikely to return from an ankle injury in time for the weekend, it appears 28-year-old Stephens could be in line for his first Premier League start in red and black. Asked if he would turn to Stephens in the absence of Mepham and Kelly, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “Jack's definitely ready. “There's a few others that are ready to come in as well. “So, yeah, obviously going into a Premier League game with no Lloyd Kelly and no Chris Mepham is not something that you want to have to do as AFC Bournemouth. “But we have good replacements. We have options that can come in and help us in that position.” O’Neil would not be drawn on confirming that Stephens would partner Marcos Senesi at the heart of defence, claiming he was yet to decide on a XI for the rematch with Everton. Youngster James Hill is available, whilst Adam Smith has deputised numerous times as a centre-half in a back-three system. With numerous players drafted in from the cold during Tuesday’s League Cup victory, O’Neil could potentially have a selection headache on his hands. Asked if he had been given food for thought by the performances of fringe players, O’Neil responded: “I haven't landed on my starting eleven just yet. “And if I had, I definitely wouldn't be telling you guys at this stage! “But it’s a tough team to pick. We've got so many good players. “I have a good idea of the best way to go this weekend. I'm sure we'll be ready to go come 3pm Saturday. “We'll make it a tough afternoon for Everton, hopefully.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil shares pride over job done at AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

November 11, 2022
GARY O’Neil shared how he felt he had “done a good job” in his caretaker spell at Cherries, detailing how he was “proud of the job I’ve done so far.” Previously first-team coach under Jonathan Woodgate and his successor Scott Parker, O’Neil stepped up as interim head coach to lift a Cherries side off the canvas following a spell of three heavy defeats that ended with a 9-0 tonking at the hands of Liverpool. In his 10 Premier League games in charge since, Cherries have picked up 10 points, initially going on an streak of six games unbeaten, before falling to four consecutive defeats. O’Neil’s future is yet to be confirmed heading into the final Premier League game against Everton prior to the break for the World Cup. Asked for his take on his stint in the dugout at the Vitality Stadium, O’Neil shared: “I think I've done a good job. “I think if you look back to the 9-0 at Liverpool and where we were then, we've gone three games without scoring. “In the first game against Aston Villa, we've scored two set play goals, no goals from open plays in four football matches. “In the last three games against Premier League teams, we've scored nine, all from open play. “We have individuals in a great place. Marcus Tavernier's been excellent. Chris Mepham stepped up. “Marcos Senesi obviously didn't have long to adapt after losing Lloyd Kelly was huge for us, massive.”O’Neil then went on to detail exactly how much the loss of captain Lloyd Kelly impacted his side, linking the importance of the defender to Virgil Van Dijk’s impact at Liverpool. “A comparison would be -  remember how dominant Liverpool were in that season (2020-21)? And then they lost Virgil Van Dijk. I know comparing Lloyd to Van Dijk I don't mean it like that (in terms of quality). “I mean that's how big he is to us. To lose Lloyd Kelly, to us is huge. “And we've still managed to put 10 points on the board from 10 Premier League games, which, if you do that from every 10, is enough to keep you in the league.” Clearly bitten by the management bug after a brief taster, O’Neil continued: “There's been so much good work that's gone on. “I've loved it. I think I've proved that I can manage at a good level. “I think we've been up against Antonio Conte Spurs. “Obviously some other top managers have been here. Just confirmed to me that this is what I want to do and I'm proud of the job I've done so far.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s interim manager Gary O’Neil aiming to ‘end this little spell on a high’ #AFCB

November 11, 2022
CHERRIES are aiming to finish “this little spell on a high” according to Gary O’Neil, with the interim head coach targeting three points prior to the pausing of the Premier League for the World Cup. Everton visit the Vitality Stadium for the second time in a week on Saturday, with Cherries already recording one victory over the Toffees in the League Cup on Tuesday, a 4-1 victory booking their place in the fourth round. The two teams do battle again on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), with league points on offer. Victory for Cherries would lift them above their guests, with only one point and one place separating the two sides in the Premier League table. When asked how playing the same opponents back-to-back impacted preparations, O’Neil responded: “It just means there's more work to do, that's all. “There's just two games to prep for instead of one. “There's quite a lot of tactical info on Tuesday that the boys had to take on because you're never sure how Everton are going to come for that cup game, tactically. “So I think we managed to go through about five different systems in the game and the boys nailed all of them. “I think Saturday, as I say, will be very, very different. “But in terms of the week, I mean, it's easier preparing for Everton twice than it is preparing for another team.” Former transfer target Demarai Gray demonstrated his quality during the League Cup tie, his curling effort from outside the box Everton’s only goal of the 4-1 defeat. Asked if there were specific players Cherries would have to watch out for, O’Neil responded: “Yeah, they’ve got good players. “I think lots of them have caught my eye. “Obviously Demarai Gray's a good player. They've got loads of them. “(Alex) Iwobi has been excellent for them this year. “(Connor) Coady and (James) Tarkowski, two centre-backs, real solid, good with the ball. Jordan Pickford in goal, they're a strong side. “So our boys will be ready with forward to it. We want to end this little spell on a high.”
Frank Lampard
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Frank Lampard says Everton XI was strong enough to beat Bournemouth in league cup #EVERTONFC

November 10, 2022
FRANK Lampard insists the side he picked for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie should “absolutely” have been capable of beating Cherries, despite making 11 changes. Lampard named a new-look XI for the contest, from the one which lost 2-0 at Goodison Park against Leicester City in the Premier League at the weekend. However, it was still a team packed full of experienced and international players, until the final nine minutes when youngsters Stanley Mills and Tom Cannon were introduced off the bench. Cherries too made changes, nine in all, and ran out comfortable 4-1 winners after a fine second-half display. A forgettable first half ended with the hosts ahead of Vitality Stadium thanks to Jamal Lowe’s fortuitous effort, with Toffees pair Tom Davies and Anthony Gordon wasting glorious openings. Junior Stanislas doubled the tally shortly after the restart, after a slip by Mason Holgate. Substitute Demarai Gray pulled one back with a fine effort, before Emiliano Marcondes responded and Jaidon Anthony completed the victory. The two sides are set to go head-to-head again on Saturday in the league. Asked if he felt the XI he picked were good enough to beat Cherries on Tuesday, boss Lampard said: “Absolutely. There’s no doubt about that. Bournemouth also changed their team. “We can go into details of the game – we should’ve been winning at half-time. “They had one deflected shot, we had two golden chances that changes the feeling of the game. “The second goal is just an incredible goal from our point of view. It can’t happen at this level of football, that type of goal. “There’s no doubt about that. That makes the game difficult. You chase the game and what happened can happen. “And there was another mistake on the fourth goal. “So there are individuals that need to look at themselves and go ‘yeah I was absolutely culpable there’ and hold their hands up.”
Jaidon Anthony
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony on league cup victory over Everton #AFCB

November 9, 2022
STARLET Jaidon Anthony revealed how Cherries had worked on being more attacking to see out games after helping his steer past Everton 4-1 in the League Cup. Cherries have slipped to consecutive defeats in the Premier League after taking two-goal leads against Tottenham Hotspur and then Leeds United, with the side perceived by some as sitting deeper and inviting pressure. Once again the Dorset outfit found themselves with a two-goal lead, Jamal Lowe’s deflected opener added to by Junior Stanislas’ poke early in the second-half. When Demarai Gray’s perfect curler found the back of the net to cut the deficit, there were fears of a similar capitulation, but Cherries rallied again, Emi Marcondes tapping home before Anthony made sure of their progression to round four. Asked by the Daily Echo if Cherries had looked to attack further after taking two-goal leads, Anthony responded: “Yes, that's been the focus really, in the week. “Obviously, we've been in good positions in the past few games and we want to keep going and keep pushing. “I think we've been playing well, and it's easy to try and hold on to what you have. “But we didn't want to do that too early and give them a foot in the game. “And what they scored, it was still the same message, to keep attacking. “And we created openings and got the goals that we wanted to finish off the game.” All four of Cherries’ goalscorers have been somewhat bit-part players this season. Youngster Anthony revealed how the lack of gametime amongst the nine changes for the cup tie served as motivation. He continued: “We were all raring to go. “A lot of players that haven't got a lot of minutes this season and in the end, I think it's a top performance from everyone. “We deserved the win. “Everyone wants to be playing at the end of the day. That's what we all want to do. “And this is an opportunity to get some minutes in the legs and show what we can do. “I think everyone gave a good account of themselves. “I'm proud of everyone.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil praises rotated side for League Cup win #AFCB

November 9, 2022
GARY O’Neil believes Cherries’ rotated squad proved his point about how all his players are “equally as important to me”. The interim boss made nine changes for Cherries’ 4-1 win over Everton in the League Cup, with all four goalscorers drafted in from the cold to make an impact. Jamal Lowe made his first start of the season, opening the scoring in the first-half, whilst fellow fringe players Junior Stanislas, Emi Marcondes and Jaidon Anthony all struck in the second-half. O’Neil has been constant in his messaging surrounding players seemingly outside the first-team picture, stressing how he could rely on every member of his squad when called upon. He told the Daily Echo: “I always say the same about them, they’re all very, very important to me. “I’ve said that from day one. I know people may believe me, may not. “They’re all equally as important to me. “That shows this evening. I knew they could perform.” With sweeping changes made and starts handed to players with little game time, there could potentially be the risk of a lack of cohesion. However, Cherries were in control for large swathes of the game. “So when I spoke to them before the game, it was like, I expect to be exactly as it always is,” explained the former Portsmouth midfielder. “Because we’ve made changes, it makes no difference. It needs to look like us. “It needs to be high intensity, we need to be good with the ball. “There was so many of them that came out with so much credit.” Cherries are in action against the same opponents this weekend, when they again host Everton at the Vitality Stadium (kick-off 3pm). This time three points are the prize for a victory, with the two sides one point and one place apart in the Premier League.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil proud of ‘deserved’ win by Cherries in League cup #AFCB

November 9, 2022
GARY O’Neil says his much-changed Cherries side produced a “performance they could be proud of” as they swept aside Everton 4-1 to progress into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Goals from Jamal Lowe, Junior Stanislas, Emiliano Marcondes and Jaidon Anthony secured safe passage through in the cup, cancelling out Demarai Gray’s fine effort for the visitors. It ensured Cherries ended their recent four-game losing run, which has including collapses from two goals up to suffer defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United. Asked how much of a boost it was to get the victory on the back of a poor run of results, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I wasn’t thinking about the other games. “I was purely focused on this one and the boys deserved the victory. “They put in a really good performance. So I’m really pleased for them. “Obviously some of them have come from not having played very much from longer-term injuries. It was great to get some minutes into them and great for them to put in a performance they could be proud of.” Discussing the way the side responded to the 4-3 loss at Elland Road, O’Neil added: “That was a gut-puncher for Saturday evening and then we switched to this. “Winning tonight was always going to be big, whether we’d won on Saturday or not. “I think the nature of it, if I look back over the last few games, the way the boys have carried out the gameplan, the detail of the gameplan. To go a goal down at Elland Road and to show the quality and the belief in the gameplan to carry it out perfectly and get 3-1 up is a big achievement. “I think to be 2-0 up against Antonio Conte’s Spurs is a big achievement. “And we spoke the last few days about making sure we managed the end of the game better. And the boys got a great test this evening. To be 2-0 up and it to go to 2-1 was a real test for them. “I was interested on the sideline! “Very calm, but just interested to say okay, we spoke about this for a couple of days, we know it’s something we need to improve, what a great test. They saw it out really well.”
Eddie Howe Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Eddie Howe reflects on leaving AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

November 8, 2022
EDDIE Howe revealed how he would have departed Cherries no matter the outcome of their 2019-20 campaign, saying: “I think it was time.” Cherries legend Howe called time on his second spell as manager at the Vitality Stadium following relegation from the Premier League in the summer of 2020. The fan favourite had won promotion to the Championship in his first season back on the south coast in 2013, before taking Cherries to a new high by winning the second division title in 2015. A five-year stint in the Premier League followed, with Howe departing after being unable to prevent Cherries slipping back into the Championship. Shortly after relegation was confirmed, it was announced Howe would be leaving his childhood club. Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Howe revealed that even if Cherries had beaten the drop he would have departed. He shared: “I think it was time. I knew that season that it had taken every ounce of energy from me to try and keep the team up. "There was a moment in my head that I just knew. “I knew I had to leave at the end of that season, because I think there was a two-week break because of COVID. “So two weeks, the lads were back in for pre-season training, and I wasn’t there mentally. I would not have been the manager Bournemouth needed me to be. “But if that was the case with Bournemouth, that would have been the case with anybody else. “I just needed to get away. It was a mutual decision, we had such a good relationship and such an unbelievable time together. We sat down and I discussed my feelings and it was mutual. “It was hard decision when football is my life, but also Bournemouth was my life.  But I always felt in my heart that I had to do what was right for Bournemouth, not for me. “Which was absolutely true at the time, I was thinking of both sides of it. “My history with Bournemouth, and not just the club but my history with the town, my time there was intertwined with everything.”  
Marcus Tavernier
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Marcus Tavernier admits they can’t keep have teams keep coming back against them #AFCB

November 8, 2022
GOALSCORER Marcus Tavernier could not hide his disappointment after his stellar display at Elland Road went unrewarded, insisting: “We can’t let this keep happening.” Tavernier scored his first Cherries goal and also provided two assists as Cherries went 3-1 up against Leeds United on Saturday. But the hosts battled back, eventually completing the turnaround in the 84th minute to win 4-3 and leave Gary O’Neil’s men facing up to a fourth straight loss. It was also the second week in succession Cherries had squandered a two-goal cushion to lose, having also done the same against Tottenham Hotspur. “I’m just devastated,” Tavernier told the Daily Echo after the loss at Elland Road. “We can’t let this keep happening where we feel like we’re in control of the game, we’ve got a two-goal cushion. “It’s happened back-to-back weeks now where we’ve been in that lead and we’ve let ourselves down. We have to really focus on defensive work this week and keeping the ball out the back of the net.” Asked there was a similar feeling on the pitch at Leeds as in the closing stages against Spurs, Tavernier added: “You don’t feel it on the pitch. I still felt like we were in control of the game. “I feel like we conceded sloppy goals and I can only say we weren’t good enough. “That’s all I can say right now. I’m sure the staff will pinpoint the areas that we need to work on and we really do need to fix up on this area of our game, because it’s happened. “Although we’ve played well, it doesn’t mean anything when you don’t get any points on the board.” Cherries impressed for the first hour of the contest, scoring three goals and also creating further chances to add to their tally. “I can’t pin this all on our defensive side of the game,” said Tavernier. “We had some other chances which we could’ve scored and us attackers, we have to put the ball in the back of the net. “That’s our job. I feel like we had a couple of chances where we could’ve done that. “It’s a team one to take and we can all look at ourselves in the mirror and really have a look at ourselves and see where we need to improve.” Having failed to record a goal or assist prior to the game against Tottenham, Tavernier now has three assists to his name as well as a goal in the past two fixtures. “Obviously it’s a bittersweet moment scoring my first goal in the league,” said the versatile midfielder. “At the end of the day, we haven’t got any points on the board and I can’t be happy right now. “All I can do is focus on next week, because we do really need to change the way we’re going into games and our performances on the pitch. “We need to be putting points on the board because we can’t afford to be letting teams get back in the game. Because at this magnitude and in this league, it’s just unacceptable.” Cherries now face two matches against Everton before the six-week World Cup break. The Toffees head to Vitality Stadium tomorrow in the Carabao Cup, before returning in the Premier League on Saturday. “We need to put as many points on the board before that break comes,” said Tavernier, with Cherries now sitting 17th in the table, just one point outside the relegation zone. “That’s what we’re working to do. I’m just disappointed, so, so gutted that we couldn’t do that (on Saturday) when we were so comfortable in the game, then it just slips out of our fingers. “I don’t know what to really say.” He added: “The beauty of it is we have a game with a quick turnaround. “We have to go into that showing a different side to our game. “We really need to prove to everyone that we can stay in this league and it’s a great opposition to do it against as they’re another Premier League team, so we need to be fighting and ready to go for that game.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admits ‘Incredible’ performance ‘goes down the drain’ after defeat against Leeds #AFCB

November 7, 2022
GARY O’Neil insisted Cherries produced an “incredible” performance against Leeds United, but says defensive lapses meant “the hard work goes down the drain”. Cherries had produced a superb display for the opening hour at Elland Road, leading 3-1 through brilliant goals from Marcus Tavernier, Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke. It could have been even better for Cherries, who saw a Jefferson Lerma header cleared off the line, before Kieffer Moore scuffed a golden chance when unmarked in the box. But Jesse Marsch’s Whites stormed back, netting three times in the final half an hour to win 4-3 and leave Cherries on the end of a fourth consecutive defeat. They now sit 17th in the Premier League table, just one point outside the relegation zone. Discussing his side’s performance, interim head coach O’Neil said: “It’s really hard because I don’t want to sound like I’m just sat here giving you the positives, but they (his players) were incredible for such a long spell. “They didn’t cause us any problems. We should be 4-1 up at half-time, two huge moments, and just don’t defend basic situations well enough. “Then the rest of the hard work goes down the drain, unfortunately. “I’m absolutely devastated for the lads, because they put in so much. “It’s just so disappointing for them that they allow those situations to occur and they come away from Elland Road with nothing, when that is definitely not what they deserved. “But on the flip side of that, I use the word deserved, if you defend those situations the way we did in a Premier League game, you’re going to get punished. And we have, two weeks on the trot. “We have to improve those.” Cherries return to action on Tuesday night, hosting Everton in the Carabao Cup. They then face the same opponents at Vitality Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League, before a six-week break for the World Cup.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admits big jump up for goalkeeper Cameron Plain #AFCB

November 5, 2022
GARY O’Neil insists he has “no concerns” over Cherries’ current goalkeeping situation, but admitted Cameron Plain taking his spot in the squad for Premier League matches is “a big jump up from where he’s been”. Following an injury to one-time Brazil international Neto at West Ham last month, young Irishman Mark Travers was recalled to the starting XI. But, with third choice Will Dennis being left out of Cherries’ 25-man Premier League squad, teenager Plain is suddenly next in line, having been named on the bench for last week’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur. Neto is set to be missing until after the World Cup break due to his hamstring problem, meaning Plain will again take a place on the bench when Cherries head to Leeds United this weekend. Plain, who does not need to be registered in the top flight as he is under the age of 21, joined Cherries from Winchester City under-16s. His highest level of competitive experience came during a loan spell with Wimborne Town in the Southern League Premier, having previously spent time cutting his teeth at Ringwood Town and Bashley. Asked how Plain has reacted to his extra responsibility in the past couple of weeks, now being next in line should anything happen to Travers, interim head coach O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He’s training really well. He’s on the bench in Premier League fixtures now, so it is a big jump up from where he’s been. “He’s trained really well, he’s a good lad, always works his socks off, so a good experience for him to be in and around it.” O’Neil also insisted he is not overly concerned with having such an inexperienced goalkeeper on the bench for the next few matches. “We’ll deal with situations like that as and when they come around,” he said, when quizzed on how he would feel about having to throw Plain into a Premier League contest. “I think all we can do is work hard with Cam to make sure that he’s in the best place possible. “He always gives everything. He has a real good goalie in Travs ahead of him at the moment, so no concerns.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil surprised by Leeds United’s Premier League position #AFCB

November 4, 2022
GARY O’Neil revealed he was “surprised” by upcoming opponents Leeds United’s league position, believing Cherries’ trip to Yorkshire will be a “tough test”. The Whites ended a run of eight Premier League games with a last-gasp win at Liverpool last time out, youngster Crysencio Summerville popping up in the 89th minute to snatch all three points in a 2-1 win. Leeds have not won at home in the league since defeating Chelsea at Elland Road near the end of August, with the Whites perceived to excel against the Premier League’s ‘top six’ whilst struggling with those lower down the table. Victory for Leeds at Anfield took them outside of the relegation zone, with Jesse Marsch’s charges one position and one point behind Cherries. Leeds sit in 15th, although they do have a game in hand on Cherries in 14th. Previewing the contest, O’Neil shared: “I’ve looked -  I'm really surprised they are where they are in the league. “They come up really well on all the sort of numbers and stats, of chances created and that big energy press, (they press) really aggressively. “Probably the highest pressing team in the league, so they have a real clear identity and a massive result at Anfield for them in the last game. “So it'll be a big test going to Elland Road. “It's always a tough place to go, especially the way they play at the moment. So front foot and so aggressive. It'll be a good test for us.” Legendary Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa first installed an identity of fast-paced and intense pressing, a trend that has continued under his successor Marsch. O’Neil then went on to share his belief that Leeds were unlucky not to win prior to victory against Liverpool. He restarted: “What I've seen of Leeds, they press really high. “They want to win the ball back high up the pitch. They've real pace in their team, especially on transition, so when they do win the ball back, they're a big threat. “And, I mean, those games, they were unlucky not to win, in my opinion. They performed well in all of those.”
jesse marsch leeds united
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Leeds United’s Jesse Marsch labels AFC Bournemouth ‘very lethal’ #LUFC

November 4, 2022
LEEDS United boss Jesse Marsch is wary of “very lethal” Cherries, with the Whites manager believing Gary O’Neil has done a “great job of taking them out of a moment early in the season where they looked like they were in trouble”. O’Neil’s charges travel to Elland Road this Saturday (kick-off 3pm) with a view to earning a first win in five league games. Leeds recently ended a winless streak of their own with a dramatic victory away at Anfield, a late 2-1 win their first in nine Premier League games.   Despite Cherries’ recent results, Marsch believes that his side’s next opponents are “actually improving” under O’Neil. The two sides are within breathing space of each other in the league table, with Cherries one point – and one position – above Leeds, in 14th, although the Yorkshire outfit do have a game in hand on their Dorset counterparts. Previewing Cherries ahead of this weekend’s game, Marsch shared: “Bournemouth, in general, I know that they haven’t gotten a lot of results but if you look at their metrics, they’re actually improving as a team and I think they’re more and more in matches. “We believe that they are very lethal in counter attacking situations and so they defend very hard, they defend sometimes a little bit deeper. “They sometimes like to press a little bit higher but get into a deeper block and they’re very intensive in some of those defensive moments. “And they’re very quick to get into the counter and it showed in the Tottenham match and in a lot of their matches lately. “I think the manager’s done a great job of taking them out of a moment early in the season where they looked like they were in trouble, to making them stronger and making them clear on exactly what their play model is.” Whilst victory against Liverpool slightly eased pressure surrounding Marsch’s future at Elland Road, defeat to Cherries would see the sharks circling once again. Under-fire Marsch has noted Cherries’ flexibility in shape, with the Dorset club frequently switching between five and four at the back under O’Neil. “Who they play and exactly how they play,” restarted the American. “They have some variability, they played five in the back in the last game and defended five in the back, sometimes they build with five but defend more with four so we have had to prepare for a few different things. “But we know that in the end, we have to know them but we have to be ready to perform at our best. “That’s a big focus this week, knowing the opponent but making sure that we are ready to be at our best.”
Emi Marcondes
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Cherries attacking midfielder Emi Marcondes keen to put in the hard yards to join first team #AFCB

November 3, 2022
EMI Marcondes described his spell outside of the first team picture at Cherries as “important as starting games” after again scoring for the development squad this week. The Dane grabbed two goals as Cherries romped to an 8-2 win over Newport County at Canford Arena Tuesday afternoon, with Dominic Sadi leading the way with four goals as Noa Boutin and Marcus Daws rounded off the scoring. Former Brentford man Marcondes has not been involved in the last four Premier League matchday squads for Cherries, with his only start this campaign coming in the League Cup win over Norwich in August. A summer arrival at the Vitality Stadium last season, the majority of his 17 Championship appearances under Scott Parker came in the first six months of the campaign. Marcondes was then left out of 10 matchday squads in a row to end the season, before being drafted back into the side for the final game at home to Millwall. His eight-minute cameo off the bench during the 9-0 defeat at Anfield against Liverpool remains the 27-year-old’s only taste of Premier League football, with his last inclusion in the 20-man team sheet coming in Cherries’ 2-1 win over Leicester City. Interim boss Gary O’Neil previously commented how the attacking midfielder was “keen” to keep things ticking over by playing with the development squad, with Marcondes playing in the youngsters’ last three games, scoring four times. Taking to social media to share his views on playing with Bruce Suraci’s development squad, Marcondes posted on his Instagram: “Part of a footballer’s career is going through periods when you don’t play as much as you’d like to. “Few people will tell you this, but these times are as common and important as starting games and scoring goals, because you can learn a lot about yourself, your team and the game. “Patience is the key, you’ve heard it before. But it’s essential to make these moments as productive and positive as possible. “You need to think of time as your ally and have a growth mindset. Soon you will find the opportunities in a situation that at first seemed frustrating and unfavourable.”
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura on AFC Bournemouth’s Premier League form #AFCB

November 3, 2022
JORDAN Zemura is unfazed by Cherries’ winless streak – believing that his side have to “take the good with the bad”. Zimbabwean international Zemura made his eighth Premier League start in Cherries’ 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, playing the full 90 minutes of a capitulation that saw the Dorset side surrender a 2-0 lead. Spurs’ comeback consigned Cherries to a third defeat in a row, following losses to Southampton and West Ham. Saturday’s trip to Leeds (kick-off 3pm) marks interim boss Gary O’Neil’s 10th game in charge, with Cherries’ current run of losses in stark contrast to the flying start the former Portsmouth midfielder made to life in management, steering the side to six games unbeaten. Rather than dwell on the poor form, 22-year-old Zemura is confident the good times are just around the corner for Cherries. He told the Daily Echo: “We went six unbeaten in the Premier League and it was great experience, a beautiful thing. Now we've lost our last three games. “You can't think (about) that because I know it will switch it again and then we'll go three wins on the bounce, and everyone will be praising us. “You’ve got to take the good with the bad.” When asked if his side could take confidence from the first hour of action of the Spurs game, a period where Cherries scored twice and were on top of their more fancied opponents, Zemura responded: “Yeah, of course. “I think anyone watching that game would know that Bournemouth put in a real good shift. “From a team that lost 9-0 at Anfield, and then now to be competing against some of the teams, it's good - this is where we want to be. “So we're just constantly learning, improving constantly, trying our best.”If Zemura makes an appearance at Elland Road this weekend, it will mark his 50th appearance for Cherries. The left-back made his debut in red and black near the start of the 2020-21 campaign, playing the full 90 minutes of a League Cup clash with Crystal Palace.  
Kieffer Moore
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Kieffer Moore says It will be ‘amazing’ when David Brooks returns from injury #AFCB

November 3, 2022
CHERRIES striker Kieffer Moore said it would be “amazing” when David Brooks eventually makes his return to first-team action for the Dorset club. The Warrington-born star has not featured for Cherries since September 2021. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last year, but revealed his cancer all-clear, on the same day Cherries were promoted to the Premier League back in May. Since, the 25-year-old has been working his way back to fitness and began training with Cherries' first team. Brooks stepped up his recovery by featuring in a development squad behind-closed-doors fixture against Brentford in August. He started the contest, but suffered a hamstring complaint and has not featured since. There has been no public timeframe on a return to action for the former Sheffield United star. He was however pictured away from his teammates ahead of Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat against Tottenham. Asked what it would be like to see Brooks back when he does return, Moore told the Daily Echo: “It will be amazing. “Everything Brooksy has been through. To go through what he did and then to do his hamstring is a lot to take. “It’s so much of a mental battle as well as a physical battle – well, I’d say equally similar. “The day he returns here, I am sure he is going to get one of the best receptions there has ever been here really. “With everything he has been through, had to overcome. I am sure everyone in that stadium will be full of emotion watching him step over that white line.” Moore and Brooks are yet to line up together in Cherries colours but have both represented Wales on the same international stages, along with fellow Cherries star Chris Mepham. Brooks has played 90 times for Cherries in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and contributing 12 assists. Asked how Brooks was mentally after dealing with his latest setback, Moore replied: “He is a great guy. “He is really happy, is keeping fit, working on his rehab and is doing really well. “I don’t know when he would be looking to come back but he looks in great shape.” Brooks signed a contract extension this summer, tying him to Cherries until the summer of 2026. Speaking about the playmaker back in September, interim Cherries boss Gary O’Neil said: “He’s obviously had a long, tough journey. "There will be no rush to get David Brooks back. "I will be led purely by medical and on what is best for David Brooks.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil insists Cherries ‘work hard’ to improve set-piece record #AFCB

November 3, 2022
GARY O’Neil insists Cherries “work hard” at defending set-pieces, but admitted: “We’re not a huge team.” In O’Neil’s nine matches in charge as interim head coach, Cherries have conceded 12 goals. Nine of those have come directly from set-pieces – four from the penalty spot and five via corners. The other three saw Patson Daka and Che Adams net for Leicester and Southampton respectively, after Cherries failed to clear a cross into the box, with the only other open-play goal courtesy of Tottenham Hotspur’s Ryan Sessegnon on Saturday. Discussing Cherries’ struggles from set-pieces, after conceding from two corners late on to lose 3-2 to Spurs, O’Neil said: “We work hard at it. We’re not a huge team. “I think, if you look at the match-ups in the penalty area there, Spurs were bigger than us. “So defending set-plays is obviously tricky. Plus the quality of the delivery Spurs put in. “But if we nail our detail and how we go about things, then we would’ve survived both. “And there was a lot of set-plays (on Saturday). Spurs were putting a lot of pressure on. “So, disappointed, but in open play, they didn’t create very much. “I think we created more in open play than they did, so some positives. We need to be ready to go again now.” With Neto injured, Mark Travers was called back into the side for his first appearance since August’s 9-0 loss at Liverpool. His part on Tottenham’s second goal was questioned, as he got caught in no man’s land before Davies got above Jordan Zemura to head home. But O’Neil refused to point the finger at the Republic of Ireland international. Asked if Cherries had missed Neto’s commanding presence in the box from set-pieces, O’Neil said: “No, I think there were a couple of things wrong with the set-play goals. “I would never single anyone out for any sort of criticism. “They gave me everything. Travs made some big saves. “He looked competent in the goal there, so no issue with Trav whatsoever.”
Jaidon Anthony
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth star Jaidon Anthony insists sacked manager Scott Parker ‘always gave you belief’ #AFCB

November 2, 2022
WINGER Jaidon Anthony defended former Cherries boss Scott Parker and said he was “top” with the players behind the scenes. Parker was sacked by the Dorset club after just four games of the Premier League campaign, following losses to Arsenal, Manchester City and a humiliating 9-0 reverse against Liverpool. Following the defeat at Anfield in August, Parker said his side were “unequipped” after making the step up from the Championship to the Premier League. Asked what that was like to hear, Anthony told The Beautiful Game Podcast: “I always speak highly of the old manager as well. He was top with the players. “Probably behind the scenes, it wasn’t like that. As a player he always gave you belief as well. “I think when you are a team coming up and you’ve got Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool in your first few fixtures, it’s not going to be easy. “Anyone looking at it at the start of the season wouldn’t have written us off anyway. When you are in it and you get three big defeats it’s hard.   “Now it’s nice we have got some good results and are confident but it’s weird as a player in those moments. You don’t focus on it really.” Cherries have since gone on to register 10 points from nine games under interim boss Gary O’Neil.
Kieffer Moore
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier discusses teammate Kieffer Moore #AFCB

November 1, 2022
MARCUS Tavernier believed Kieffer Moore gave Cherries a “different aspect” in their 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. Summer signing Tavernier teed up Welshman Moore for the opener midway through the first-half, before the towering striker crashed home a header to make it 2-0 early on in the second period. Cherries were unable to see the result out, with Spurs’ pressure eventually telling via goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies, and Rodrigo Bentancur. Moore’s brace was his first since the opening day victory over Aston Villa, his inclusion in the starting XI a first start since the 0-0 draw with Brentford earlier in October. Speaking about the forward, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “He was great for us, helped us out. Gave us a different aspect up there and contributed with two goals. “We couldn't ask anything more from him. Me and the defenders, we're sorry that in a way we let them down and we conceded three goals, when they've done their job.” In the build-up to the game, former Middlesbrough man Tavernier had commented how he was looking to end his duct of no goals or assist since arriving at the Vitality Stadium this summer. The 23-year-old admitted his job was made easier with Cherries operating with two strikers in the form of Dominic Solanke and Moore. He restarted: “It definitely helps me. “There's more people to find in the box then and I think we did that more often and hopefully we can do that going forward. “Happy to get my first contribution to a goal. I'm just disappointed in the result, that's all I'm worried about. We didn't pick up any points and we know it is crucial in this league to pick up as many as we can.” “Just a disappointing result, you know, kind of feel for the strikers. Obviously midweek (against West Ham) we struggled to create chances, and (against Spurs) we're 2-0 up. “Some defensive errors there from myself and other players when it comes to set pieces. “We know we need to work on it, and it's something that we really do need to look at.”
Harry Kane Tottenham
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Harry Kane believes AFC Bournemouth are in the Premier League for a reason #THFC

November 1, 2022
ENGLAND skipper Harry Kane saw his Spurs side pick themselves up off the canvas to beat Cherries 3-2 before declaring: “They are in the Premier League for a reason.” The Tottenham talisman saw his charges fall two goals behind at Vitality Stadium thanks to a brace from Kieffer Moore – a man he could come up against when the Three Lions take on Wales in the World Cup on November 29. But goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur’s late effort eventually saw Spurs emerge winners in the dying embers of the clash on the south coast. Speaking to the Daily Echo post-match, Kane gave full credit to the way Cherries took the game to the north London side in the opening hour. Asked whether heading to Cherries proved a difficult task, Kane replied: “Yeah, for sure. “They are in the Premier League for a reason, they are a really good side and have picked up some good results this year. “We knew it would be a tough game, obviously them going 2-0 ahead was credit to them. “I think this season there are loads and loads of good teams, I think it’s really tight all the way through really. “The middle pack has got better, so it’s going to be interesting to see how everyone unfolds towards the end of the season. “All I know is every game in the Premier League is tough and Saturday was no different.” He added: “It was great to get the win, of course. “Areas we could improve for sure but great character, especially when we have been in a tough period, is really pleasing. It leads us up nicely for the rest of the week.” Defeat to Spurs left the Dorset outfit without a point in their past three games under Gary O’Neil. Prior to that, the former West Ham and Portsmouth midfielder had masterminded a six-game unbeaten run following the sacking of Scott Parker. Asked about the job done by O’Neil from the outside, Kane said: “He’s done great, credit to him obviously coming in. “He had six games or so and turned their results around but it’s tough. The Premier League is tough, you are playing great opposition every week. “They are going to come up against some good teams but they have been doing well this season, so fair play to them.” Cherries’ next test comes with a trip to Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday. Crysencio Summerville’s late goal saw Leeds claim a dramatic 2-1 win at Liverpool last time out to ease the pressure on head coach Jesse Marsch.
antonio conte happy
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Antonio Conte delighted that Tottenham played ‘more nasty’ to overcome AFC Bournemouth #THFC

October 31, 2022
TOTTENHAM boss Antonio Conte insisted his side had to “play more nasty” in a bid to topple Cherries on Saturday. Spurs ended their three-game winless run with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Vitality Stadium after second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur. Bentancur completed the visitors’ comeback from two goals down with a side-footed finish in the second minute of stoppage-time to spark jubilant celebrations from the away fans. But former Juventus manager Conte gave credit to Gary O’Neil’s side after Kieffer Moore’s double had put the Dorset club in the box seat. “I don’t want to think what my mood would be if we lose this game to be honest. “Also after the first half my feeling was positive. The only situation I asked of my players is we had to show more personality, to take more responsibility. “I think in the second half, despite conceding the second goal, we started to play more nasty. "With a desire to win, with a desire to hurt the opponent. “Not only to move the ball and show 'look, we are good, we are so nice'. But in an effective way. We created many chances to score at the end, we won the game at a difficult stadium. Because Bournemouth is a really good team.” Cherries had lined up with three centre-backs against the north London outfit, as well as playing two strikers in Moore and Dominic Solanke. Conte added: “It is not easy to play against them because when they play with these two strikers, it is very difficult also to put pressure on. “Because every time you go to put pressure, they play a long ball. They have good combination between these two good strikers. “But in the end it was vital for us, this win. Especially after two losses in the Premier League.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil outlines how Kieffer Moore was used in Tottenham game by Cherries #AFCB

October 31, 2022
INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil revealed how Cherries put in the work on how best to utilise Kieffer Moore’s strengths against Tottenham. The Wales international put in a stellar performance against the Lilywhites at Vitality Stadium on Saturday. Moore found the net twice before goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur sealed a dramatic 3-2 comeback win for the visitors. It was the 30-year-old’s first start for the club since Cherries’ 0-0 draw against Brentford earlier in October. Despite the away side eventually coming away with three points from the south coast, O’Neil hailed the performance of former Dorchester Town man Moore – as well as those playing to his strengths. He told the Daily Echo: “Sometimes when you put him on as sub you are relying on the lads to understand the difference in the game plan from that point. “Whereas we knew we were going to play him for a few days, so we managed to do some work on how best to utilise him. “We thought he would cause Spurs problems in their box. We thought he would help his defence in key situations. “I thought he was excellent and the lads used him really well with our forward play.” Moore has scored seven times in 17 appearances for Cherries since arriving on transfer deadline day from Cardiff City last January. He was sidelined with a broken foot for the majority of the second half of last season, before firing the winning goal to send Cherries to the top flight against Nottingham Forest back in May. “He’s something we can use. He does have a real strength. You can drop a ball into him, you can arrive in good areas like we did and cross the ball,” said O’Neil. “There are a lot of strengths that he brings. “As I’ve said before, we need to find a way to utilise the whole squad and get the best out of everybody at the times we feel are right.” Moore will hope to feature once again when Cherries make the trip to face Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday (3pm).
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil explains how game got away from Cherries against Spurs in a 2-3 loss #AFCB

October 30, 2022
GARY O'Neil says the way Tottenham battled back to get the better of Cherries was "just the way a game of football goes", insisting: "Momentum against a top side like that is really difficult to stop." Cherries impressed, leading 2-0 against their Champions League opponents early in the second half through a brilliant Kieffer Moore brace. But Spurs rallied, getting one back through Ryan Sessegnon, before pushing hard for an equaliser, which came via the head of Ben Davies. And the visitors were not done there, completing a 3-2 victory thanks to a stoppage-time Rodrigo Bentancur strike. Reflecting on the last-gasp defeat, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "There’s a big gulf between the two sides. That is known by everybody. "Did it look like that for large parts of today? No. I thought for a large part of today we managed to close that gap and we managed to be very competitive against a top side. "When they bring Lucas Moura, (Ivan) Perisic, Bryan Gil, Bentancur and just keep bringing world-class players off the bench, I think it can be tricky. "But we’ve lost a game against Tottenham, which is never a disgrace for us. "I think the way we went about it wasn’t a disgrace either. "I think we were really, really competitive and the boys can take a lot of credit for that. "But obviously until the dust settles, it’s hard for them to see it that way. So really disappointed that they put so much in and get nothing out today. "The nature of that is tough to take for them, of course. "I’m really disappointed for them, because they gave absolutely everything again." Asked if he feels there was anything working well in the first half that was lacking after the break, O'Neil said: "No, Spurs were better. And the lads get tired. "So they just keep bringing on really good players. "You will have watched enough football matches to know when you’re winning a game of football and the other team are superior, they will force you back. That’s all it was. "There was no change tactically, there was nothing more negative from us. "It was just the way a game of football goes where when a team is chasing, they start to take more risk. "They start to push things forward. But from open play they didn’t create very much at all. "I think they created less than us from open play. There are positives, but just at this moment, my emotions are purely disappointment for the boys." He added: "It’s hard, because you see the way the game is going and they are pushing you back and pushing you back. "You try and tweak things and you’re trying to get people on the pitch you feel might be able to help. "But at that moment, it’s just really, really difficult. Momentum against a top side like that is really difficult to stop. "But I think if you back at the first half and even the early stages of the second half, there are some real positives in there for us. "But, of course, we need to take points from games. So, disappointed to put as much in as we did and not take anything. Just disappointed with that."
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jordan Zemura speaks after 3-2 Premier League loss to Tottenham Hotspur #AFCB

October 30, 2022
STARLET Jordan Zemura labelled Cherries’ late collapse at home to Tottenham Hotspur as “heartbreaking”, before admitting he perhaps could have done better for Spurs’ equaliser. Goals in each half from Kieffer Moore had set Cherries on their way to a first win in three, only for the away side to claw one back around the hour mark via Ryan Sessegnon. At a corner, defender Ben Davies was not properly dealt with at the back post, the Welshman heading home an equaliser, before another corner spelt disaster for the hosts in injury time, Rodrigo Bentancur able to fire home after the initial set-piece was not cleared to give Tottenham a 3-2 win. Talking after the game, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “We’re gutted, because we worked so hard today to take a 2-0 lead against such a good side like Spurs, and then we lose 3-2. “It’s heartbreaking at the end of the day. “(Goals from) set-pieces are always the worst. Like, you work so hard to stop it from open play, you work so hard in the shape, and then you concede two set-piece goals. “It's like, ‘oh gosh, that's a no brainer.’ “We have to be stronger, we have to be strong as a team there and make sure we don't concede. “Today we suffered from that, and we end up losing the game. “We were here to win. And if you don’t win, you don't lose, as much as we made sure, we took that team all the way to 94 minutes, whenever they scored, it was one of those ones where we’re now left with zero points. “I felt like we were set up right from our manager and coaching staff. “We were ready to compete and then today was unfortunate. I guess that's how it is. That’s how cruel football can be.” Spurs’ final two goals highlighted a consistent deficiency of Cherries, an inability to properly deal with set pieces. Cherries have now conceded 15 times from set-pieces, more than any other Premier League side. Left-back Zemura revealed that Davies, who grabbed Spurs’ second, was actually his man. “Even today, myself, I’m gutted,” continued the Zimbabwean international/ “Ben Davies was my man and then he scored at the corner. I feel like I was so close to him but he still managed to score and it's one of those ones where I'm learning. “I know it's a goal conceded, but I'm learning from that moment. “I'm learning from being on the pitch how the first half was, you think everything's fine and then shortly after 60th minute, everything changes and then you have to switch your mindset. “I'm just grateful to be able to play today and then be able to help the team as much as I can. “We’re devastated, but we just brush ourselves down and go again.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admits errors leading to Spurs goals were ‘so avoidable’ #AFCB

October 30, 2022
GARY O'Neil says the errors Cherries made leading to two of Tottenham Hotspur's goals were "so avoidable". Cherries squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Vitality Stadium, with goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur, cancelling out a Kieffer Moore brace. The final two Spurs goals came via set pieces, including Bentancur's stoppage-time winner. "Really disappointed with the nature of the goals, because there are mistakes in there that will cost you at this level," O'Neil told the Daily Echo. "So as hard as the boys worked, as committed as they were, as well as they stuck to the gameplan, if you make little slips in key areas from set plays or whatever it may be, the boys will find out that you can be punished, especially against world-class opposition." He added: "There were some errors from us in there. Spurs are a big threat from there (set pieces), so we’d obviously worked hard on some stuff. "There was a couple of errors in their corner goals from us, which is disappointing." Asked further how disappointed he was with the nature of the goals conceded, O'Neil said: "The two set-play goals especially, because there are errors in there that are so avoidable. "And obviously there’s an error in the build-up to the first one as well. "So, disappointed. If they score from a moment of brilliance or something that you haven’t covered, then it is easier to accept. "But when they come from something that you’ve worked hard on, it’s obviously disappointing."
Kieffer Moore
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Kieffer Moore felt he showed ‘what I can give’ with double against Tottenham #AFCB

October 30, 2022
GOALSCORER Kieffer Moore said Cherries' 3-2 defeat against Tottenham was “tough to take” but insisted he showed “a little bit more about what I can do”. The Wales international netted either side of the interval at Vitality Stadium, to put his side into a two-goal lead. But Antonio Conte’s side fought back with goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Ben Davies coming before Rodrigo Bentancur’s last-gasp winner. Moore told the Daily Echo: “To go 2-0 up against such a good side. I suppose we can take the positives out of that. “But ultimately, to concede the goals we conceded – especially the last set-piece in the dying embers of the game is a tough one to take. “I felt like everyone really put a shift in out there. Ultimately, it’s down to the finer details which let us down. “But down to each man, everyone put a great shift in. It’s not nice when that’s not rewarded really but it’s lessons to be learned.” Moore was recalled to Gary O’Neil’s starting XI for the first time since the 0-0 draw with Brentford at the start of October. Asked how pleased he was with two goals on his return to the side, the former Cardiff man replied: “Of course, I am buzzing that I got on the end of some good deliveries. “It’s never easy when you find yourself out of a team and you trying to get back in, you’re trying to do everything you can really to keep pushing and pushing. “Thankfully Gary gave me the chance and I feel like I showed him a little bit more about what I can do and what I can give to this team.” Cherries’ next test comes at Leeds United at Elland Road next Saturday.
Lewis Cook AFC Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Lewis Cook feels for forwards after capitulation against Spurs #AFCB

October 30, 2022
LEWIS Cook revealed his disappointment for Cherries’ forward players after their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur – sharing: “we kind of let them down”. Kieffer Moore provided goals in either half to send Cherries seemingly on their way to a 2-0 win. However, three goals in the last 30 minutes from Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies, and Rodrigo Bentancur swung the game – and the points – in Spurs’ favour. Defeat spells a third consecutive loss for Cherries, who now sit 14th in the Premier League at the time of writing. Reflecting on the match, Cook shared with the Daily Echo: “I think it was a fantastic first half. “A real marker in the game the (first Spurs) goal – the thing is if you switch off for one moment in this league you get punished. “It's an incredible league, and we all know that. We know we've got some bits to sharpen up on. “It's a real tough one to take, to be honest. Felt like we worked hard enough to get the win. Against a top team, you get punished.” Interim boss Gary O’Neil made two changes to the side that tasted defeat at West Ham on Monday, shuffling his deck to bring Kieffer Moore and Jordan Zemura into the team, marking a big tactical switch. The game plan almost paid off, with Cherries on top for large periods of the opening 60 minutes, before Spurs took control of proceedings. Cook continued: “I think we executed the game plan fantastic. “We pushed up the pitch pressing, created our own chances, so on another day it could be a few more goals. “But I think it was a tough one to take, especially for the forward players. “I felt like in some sense we kind of let them down a little bit, with them scoring the goals and working incredibly hard. “But we're a team and we stick together no matter what. We put this to bed and we focus on the next week.”
antonio conte happy
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Antonio Conte raging on VAR ahead of trip to Cherries #THFC

October 28, 2022
TOTTENHAM boss Antonio Conte was angry at the decision by VAR to rule out Harry Kane’s stoppage-time strike against Sporting Lisbon and accused the technology of being dishonest against his team. Kane fired home in the fifth minute of added time last night to spark wild celebrations with the hosts believing the effort had sent them through to the last 16 of the Champions League. Dutch official Pol van Boekel, who was in charge of VAR, ruled Kane had been ahead of the ball when Emerson Royal’s header hit Flavio Nazinho and ricocheted into the path of the striker, who smashed in with aplomb to briefly make the score 2-1. Sporting players and staff celebrated the decision to rule out the goal, which meant Marcus Edwards’ first-half strike – cancelled out by Rodrigo Bentancur’s 81st-minute header – left all four teams in Group D with a chance of making the knockout stage going into the last game. “I think there are moments that maybe you can be a bit intelligent to understand you have just disallowed a regular goal because the goal was regular. The ball is in front of Kane,” Conte insisted in his press conference before he walked out after one question. “And then the VAR. I repeat you know I don’t comment on referee decisions but the VAR, this season, I don’t know why between Premier League and Champions League, we are not so lucky. “I don’t know why until now we are also the only team who repeated the penalty and every penalty I go to see, if the keeper move on line, I see a lot of the time. I want to see repetition of a penalty in Premier League. “I think we are not so lucky with VAR but I think they create big damage. I would like to see if this type of decision you can take with a top team, in an important game, yeah I would like to see if VAR is so brave to take this decision. “I repeat this unfair decision because the ball is in front of Kane. Sorry, but I am really upset because sometimes you can accept this situation and sometimes I think it is not good because I don’t see honesty in this type of situation and when I see this I become really, really upset.” Spurs head to Vitality Stadium to face Cherries this weekend, another side who feel hard done by regarding VAR decisions in recent weeks. Speaking after Monday night's 2-0 defeat at West Ham United, interim head coach Gary O'Neil said: "It's getting a little bit ridiculous now as I think we've had about 10 VAR decisions go against us since I took over. “I’m obviously disappointed with the first goal. I thought it was a terrible decision."
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil reveals goalkeeper Neto out with hamstring injury for long term #AFCB

October 28, 2022
CHERRIES will be without goalkeeper Neto for the “long term” according to interim boss Gary O’Neil, with the Brazilian suffering a hamstring injury away at West Ham. Former Barcelona man Neto was unable to continue on Monday night, initially going down after a clearance in the first half. He was replaced at half time by last season’s number one Mark Travers, with both goalkeepers conceding once during an eventual 2-0 defeat at the London Stadium. When asked for the latest on the 33-year-old, O’Neil shared: “Neto will be out. He has an issue with his hamstring. “We're not sure how long. It won't be short term, it'll be fairly long term, we think, in that. “I mean, it won't be a week or two. So Neto is going to be out for the next couple at least.” Travers’ substitute appearance against West Ham represented his first minutes under Gary O’Neil, his last appearances coming under previous boss Scott Parker, for whom he was first choice. Prompted if Travers would have a psychological challenge coming back into the side, O’Neil dismissed concerns, stressing his “full faith” in the Irishman. He restarted: “No, I don't think he'll have a psychological challenge. “I think his training performances since that moment have been top drawer. I've zero concerns around putting him back in. “I think I made it very clear when the change was made that I was delighted to have both of them and I saw them both as number ones and it was just Neto at that moment for whatever reasons I felt. “But yeah, putting Mark Travers back in doesn't concern me at all. I have full faith in him.” O'Neil made the decision to swap goalkeepers when appointed interim boss, taking Travers out of the side following a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool. The caretaker head coach believed Neto helped "steady the ship" for Cherries, again stressing that he was happy with either goalkeeper in between the sticks. "He brought calmness to us," restarted the former Portsmouth midfielder. "He helped us steady the ship when we had some tough results. "But when I was asked about it initially, I said I'm really pleased to have them both. "Because Travs is a top goalkeeper, he makes top saves when he trains with us as a team, when we do our team stuff, he's been making fantastic saves. "Whenever I check in with the goalkeeper coach as to what they're doing when they're not with us, he always says he was top again. "So yeah, as I said at the time, we're fortunate that we've got two that we can put in."
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals his son Carter-Jay puts aside Tottenham loyalty to cheer on Cherries #AFCB

October 28, 2022
THERE will be a conflict of interest in the O’Neil household this weekend – with Gary O’Neil’s Cherries set to take on Tottenham Hotspur, the team his son Carter-Jay supports. Antonio Conte’s Spurs side arrive at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), with both sides without a win in their last three fixtures. Despite Carter-Jay’s split loyalties, O’Neil senior insists that his son will be supporting his charges at the weekend. O’Neil commented: “He wants us to win, he said. “He's keen for Bournemouth to win. So, yeah, that was nice of him!” O’Neil, who was a boyhood Millwall fan, represented Spurs’ fierce rivals West Ham United during his career, as well as another London club in QPR. Explaining how his son ended up following the Lilywhites, O’Neil shared: “My wife's dad was a big Spurs fan and obviously I'm fairly busy at weekends, generally, so he started going to Spurs with my wife’s dad. “I was keen for him to go and watch. And, yeah, he loves it. It’s a nice stadium, so I thought I'd send him to a nice stadium to watch his to watch his football. “I've been a couple of times with him. Not as often as you would like to, but yes, occasionally if the game (doesn’t clash). “I think last year we went a couple of times on a Sunday. He loves his football, but yeah, he'll be pushing for a Bournemouth win, like the rest of us.”