With the 2015/16 English Premier League season a matter of weeks away, Richard Jolly provides his thoughts on each of the 20 teams and predicts their final league finish. Here he looks at Bournemouth.
In 2009, Bournemouth required a win on the final day of the season to stop them dropping out of the Football League. Six years later, they did leave it, but for the Premier League. It is an extraordinary rise, with Eddie Howe masterminding all three promotions over two spells in charge, and means they are likely to get the neutrals’ support. Like any club entering the top flight for the first time, Bournemouth will begin among the relegation favourites especially as, apart from the vastly experienced new signing Sylvain Distin, they lack much Premier League pedigree. Their excellent midfielder Harry Arter is a case in point: he was playing non-league football in 2010 and cost a mere £4,000. He and fellow midfielder Matt Ritchie have the potential to prosper in the Premier League. So does the 23-goal striker Callum Wilson, but the chances are that Howe, who has made seven signings, will have to find a fine balance and mix and match between lower-league stalwarts and newcomers. Maintaining momentum will be crucial and as Bournemouth’s last five opponents include Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United, they could do with getting plenty of points on the board before the run-in.
Key Man: Callum Wilson – It has been a meteoric rise. Two years ago, Wilson had only scored one league goal. Now he has recorded 20 in back-to-back seasons for first Coventry and then Bournemouth. It would be a feat to repeat that at the higher level.
Pivotal Signing: Tyrone Mings – There are not too many teams with an £8 million (Dh45.7m) left-back. Still fewer are promoted clubs who have smashed their transfer record to get him. The fee will put pressure on former Ipswich man Mings.
Crucial Factor: Finding the right balance. Howe has an attractive, attacking style of football. He invariably plays with two strikers and Bournemouth scored 98 goals last season. Yet they might have to be more conservative against better teams.
Prediction: 19
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