Searching for the silver lining | OneFootball

There is never a good time to end a winning (or goalscoring) streak, but it inevitably happens, so to borrow this from Eddie Howe, we’ll get back to the drawing board.

Credit where it’s due, well done Bournemouth. They deserved their victory.

Fans and journalists down south with a week’s worth of material to dissect how they comprehensively beat an in-form team.

Bournemouth are just one point behind us with a limited squad, yet they are looking good. Depth matters and they simply don’t have enough of it, however, a Champions League spot is possible if they keep playing like that.

I’m trying hard not to be overly critical after all we have achieved, but whilst we praise the team when they perform well, we must point out when they don’t.

To be clear, this isn’t an “Eddie Howe out” article, nor am I unnecessarily dissing the team. There’s every chance I’ll be praising the same players next week.

Constructive criticism doesn’t mean hate, it is something I’m sure Eddie Howe himself will do behind closed doors. No doubt, he’ll have a dossier of individual mistakes that led to this thrashing.

Observations

Winning streaks are hard to maintain, especially with a limited squad. Focus wanes, complacency and/or overconfidence can creep in. On Monday, Eddie will likely have a field day reviewing the mistakes, though hopefully sparing Tonali. This analysis will keep the players sharp and ready to push for another run.

When we triumphed against Manchester United, Spurs, and Arsenal, the knee-jerk reaction from their fans was to demand new signings. Similarly, while our squad needs improvement, we should bide our time until the summer. By then, we’ll have greater spending power and hopefully, the allure of Champions League qualification.

Yes, it’s a gamble, but even if we spent big now, there’s no guarantee of success. Eddie Howe rarely integrates new players immediately, any January incoming player might feature in ten games max the rest of this season if signed now, as he gets them to adapt to his system. His loyalty to players is commendable but even he acknowledges the need to refresh the squad. It’s time for Paul Mitchell to prove his worth. Otherwise, as Paul Merson quipped, we might as well go down there and throw whatever money Bournemouth wants and get their director of football.

Individual Concerns

Bruno Guimaraes

Against high-pressing, quick, possession-based teams like Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham, and occasionally Southampton, Bruno should not drop deep to help beat the press. It’s no secret that opposition managers target him. On Saturday, Burn passed to Bruno, and three Bournemouth players immediately swarmed him.

We all love Bruno, he’s brilliant, but these situations often end in one of three ways:

He wriggles free, gets fouled, or produces a world-class pass (remember Liverpool?).

He loses possession and we concede.

Instead, let Tonali or Joelinton receive the ball while Bruno stays higher up to wreak havoc.

Joelinton

Is it just me, or has Joelinton been slightly below his best this season? During our Champions League qualification campaign he was a dominant force, dispossessing opponents with ease and launching attacks.

Now, he seems more like a battering ram, often fouling opponents or engaging in unnecessary fights that unsettle the team. He’s still a powerhouse but the balance between brawn and brain has shifted. Seriously, it is time for him to attend anger management counselling.

Jacob Murphy

Murphy, the man behind the iconic “whaaaaat” celebration, is an enigma.

While I pray his purple patch continues until we find a more consistent replacement, his defensive work leaves much to be desired. Jogging back while your team is under attack is unacceptable. Say what you will about Almiron’s crossing but he wouldn’t give Kluivert the space Murphy allowed.

Looking Ahead

Our defeat is not solely due to the players above and as a team they contributed a lot, but in football, an individual mistake may affect the performance of our team, but each and everyone is equally accountable and hopefully, raring to go and rectify the mistakes for our next game. When you are on a high, going back to earth is a very painful fall.

Despite the disappointment, this defeat could serve as a much-needed reset. Who knows, with the right management of our talented players, the relief from pressure of maintaining the winning streak, our team could again play to their true potential. Here’s to hoping that we will be only days away now from kicking off our next winning streak.