The season of the underdog – words best describing the
recently concluded English League campaign. Leicester’s meteoric rise to the
champions of England has been well documented throughout and deserved plaudits
meted out to their manager as well as the players. Much, if not all of the
attention has been directed towards the likes of Leicester, Tottenham, and the
traditionally big clubs. A title triumph is near miraculous for a club that
staved off relegation by the skin of their teeth. But there has been another
club who had a miraculous season themselves, but have gone about their job
silently without creating much noise among the football faithful or the
traditional media. No, their success has not been of the grandiose nature of
the foxes, but when you consider that they went into near extinction 8 years
ago, AFC Bournemouth’s inaugural campaign has been nothing short of miraculous.
Whilst a 16th place finish, with a total of 42
points for a newly promoted club isn’t unheard of. The size of the club and the
odds they faced to fight to get here, make this a story worth telling.
Bournemouth, a tiny city on the south coast of England has a
rich footballing history with their club being formed in the late 1800’s.
However, poor management and ownership troubles drove them to near extinction
in 2008. In a season where two big English clubs, Aston Villa and Newcastle saw
themselves relegated, the cherries secured safety way back in early April and
were never involved in a relegation dog-fight.
RISE TO THE
PREMIER LEAGUE
After heading into administration for a second time, the Football
League gave a 17 point deduction and an 18 month transfer embargo. The club, in
the lowest division of the football league, headed into 2009, 10 points off
safety and relegation looming large, meaning extinction if they failed to stay
up. Chairman, Jeff Mostyn, took a decision, what most people considered lunacy by
appointing a 31 year old rookie manager.
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| Howe, was named the football league manager of the decade in 2015. |
Eddie Howe, the youngest manager ever in the Football League
was a product of the Bournemouth academy and had been at the club since the age
of 10. Severe injuries forced him to retire at 28 and he immediately took over
as reserve team manager. He was initially appointed as caretaker manager, but
despite suffering defeats in his first two games, he secured the permanent
position in January, 2009. Howe then took the club to safety, after they secured
a dramatic 2-1 win over Grimsby on the final day of the season.
The following season saw them promoted to league one. Howe
was receiving rave reviews for his management and the style of play he
professed. Sought after by a number of championship clubs he refused to leave
the club.
Finally, in 2011 he took over championship side Burnley.
With the exit of Howe, the club went back into adversity with a dismal start to
the 2011-12 campaign. Hanging close to the relegation zone, the club decided to
bring back their young prodigy. Howe made his return to Bournemouth in November
2012. He steadied the ship and not only ensured safety, but earned them a promotion
with a second place finish.
Life in the championship was not all rosy in the beginning
as the cherries could only manage a 10th place finish, 8 points off
the playoff berths. Howe, a manager not known for splashing the cash was being
backed by the new club owner, Maxim Denim. Denim, a Russian oil baron, bought
the club in 2011. With money available, Howe signed league one star Calum
Wilson and made smart loan deals for striker Kenwyne Jones and Keeper Artur
Boruc.
New additions and rise in the level of play of the existing players
helped Bournemouth to a promotion to the premier league. They went onto win the
championship (2014-15), scoring 94 goals en-route. Midfielder, Matt Richie,
finished with 15 goals and 17 assists, and was voted their player of the
season. Wilson would finish with 20 goals, 4th highest in the
championship.
In Wilson and Ritchie the club possessed players who had the
skill and desire to make it big in the Premier League and had experience in
players such as Simon Francis, Harry Arter and Adam Smith. Addition of quality
in the form of Max Gradel and Tyrone Mings promised them a bright first
campaign in the top flight.
LIFE IN THE
PREMIER LEAGUE
As most pundits expected, the Cherries made an off start and
problems seemed to mount with both their summer signings sustaining season
ending injuries.
Untethered, Howe stuck to his style of play, never altering
to a more defensive and lower possession game. The confidence he placed in his
players and the system resonated through his squad with players stepping up
their games to come up with some key victories. Striker Wilson was on a
brilliant run, scoring 5 in his first 2 months in the league. In him they had a
reliable source of goals, they had a player who promised goals and was
clinical.
The ghost of 2008 struck them again as Wilson sustained an
injury that would end his season. Devoid of their star striker and new
signings, the Cherries looked to be heading back to the championship.
“Together, anything is possible”, the motto of the club. The
manager, players, fans live by it and the feeling of togetherness is persistent
in and around the club. In Howe, they possessed a man who had the ability to
bring out the best from every player. Results improved and they went on mini-undefeated
runs. Their most noteworthy run coming in December, with back to back victories
against Chelsea and Manchester united.
TURNING POINT
If one had to point to a single game as their turning point,
it would be the 3-3 home draw to Everton. Going into half-time trailing by 2,
they came out all guns blazing to level matters. A 95th minute Ross
Barkley goal, looked to have sealed off the points for the Tofffees and condemn
Bournemouth to another home defeat. The match, 98 minutes in was allowed to
carry on by the ref, and it was enough time for one more attack. Junior
Stanislas heading in from a Charlie Daniels cross, sparking title-winning like
celebrations among the fans. The cherries never looked back from then, and had
reached 38 points before the start of April. They were well and clear of the
drop zone and assured of another year of football in the top flight.
Fatigue from a first season of high octane football coupled
with knowledge of safety sent the club fizzled out their momentum and they went
into a slew of defeats. They collected only 4 points from the last 8 games.
Defensive weakness very evident, it is an issue Howe will have to solve over
the summer, if he wants to achieve a top table finish the next season.
With Maxim Denim at
the helm, they have an owner who has the financial muscle to back the club. And the new TV deal money kicking in from next season, some key transfers look
very possible.
The current crop of talented, hard-working players and a manager whose age has no relation to his footballing acumen; the
cherries will continue dreaming and hope to add more chapters to their fabled
rise. The Leicester Story maybe one of a kind and might never happen again, but
what their success has taught is that one can always dream and dreams do come
true.
First published on www.sportskeeda.com
First published on www.sportskeeda.com
