FIVE Things we learned vs Manchester City
AFC Bournemouth began Marco Rose’s reign with a trip to Manchester City, hoping to cause an upset against Enzo Maresca’s new look side. Somehow, they managed to leave the Etihad without at least a point. Here are five things we learned as football returned, with that all too familiar feeling of heartbreak:
1. The Etihad curse will never be broken
It doesn’t feel particularly dramatic to say that AFC Bournemouth will never get a point at the Etihad. Having failed to pick up a single point there in the previous nine attempts in the Premier League, it felt like something of a miracle for the Cherries to go ahead – even that they had never managed before. After Marcus Tavernier’s well-taken goal, Rose’s side managed to hold onto the lead until the 84th minute, until something of a self-implosion allowed City to inexplicably grab all three points. To have not even grabbed a point when winning with six minutes remaining tells you it may never happen. Against an undeniably sub-par, frustrated Manchester City, nothing like the team at their prime, they will likely not have a better chance. Perhaps it is the results of a curse placed when AFCB last managed a point at Manchester City, which back then was Maine Road. On the last day of the 1988/89 season, City needed to win to stay up, and found themselves 3-0 up at halftime. But a sensational second half comeback from the Cherries, including a last minute penalty converted by Luther Blissett (given away by Andy Hinchcliffe, who was on co-commentary on Sky Sports for the game this weekend) denied City automatic promotion. I think we’d all trade that back for a few points at the Etihad now – but if it makes you feel better, you can watch the highlights of the draw here.
2. Nicolas Gagnon has some serious work to do
As debuts go, it was a fairly dreadful effort from newly appointed set piece coach Nicolas Gagnon. The Cherries have never had a specialist set piece coach before, and Gagnon did nothing to prove why we should have one now. Offensive set pieces looked especially unthreatening, only Daniel Jebbison fashioning something out of nothing with a superb header, which was well saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, coming at all close. But the set-up and general defending from Manchester City’s set pieces was nothing short of abysmal. There should have been alarm bells ringing in the first half when Nico O’Reilly, City’s tallest outfielder, ghosted to the back post unmarked from a corner, but headed harmlessly over the bar. Then, in the 51st minute, Marc Guehi ran unchallenged and unmonitored through the box, meeting a corner just inside the 6 yard box, but somehow glanced the ball wide with the goal gaping. Incredibly, this was not enough of a warning sign, and in the 84th minute, with three points firmly in sight, Guehi remained unopposed in the area, met the ball again, and after a deflection from Adrien Truffert, headed the ball home. It was an incredibly embarrassing piece of defending to witness, which sounds strong, but if my five-a-side team conceded that, I would be fuming. Choosing to zonal mark is one thing, but leaving the centre of the box (especially the 6 yard area) completely unguarded whilst having almost everyone on the post/goal-line absolutely dumbfounded me. It will be interesting to see if Gagnon changes approach for this weekend, but it simply can’t continue like this. Goals cannot be given away for free at the highest level, but they will if the set-up remains as is.
3. Antonio Silva looks a more than capable Senesi replacement
The game at the Etihad was the first real opportunity I had to watch Antonio Silva, having only watched the friendly against Betis in pre-season. There couldn’t have been much more of a baptism of fire for Silva’s first game in English football, coming up against the world’s best striker in Erling Haaland. But Silva and partner James Hill dealt with the big Norweigan superbly, keeping him fairly quiet throughout the game. Silva’s reading of the game was evident, helping him along the way to 11 (!!) clearances and two blocks for his 13 defensive contributions (the most in the game). He looked very comfortable on the ball too, completing 36/39 passes, with three passes into the final third and eight ‘line breaking passes’, something which will be key as Silva becomes the dominant ball-playing centre back. Similarly to Senesi, Silva is not blessed with pace, but his defensive awareness looks to make up for that weakness.
4. Fundamentals remain the same as under Iraola
We knew that this would likely be the case, but it was very much evident that the fundamentals that saw us do so well under Andoni Iraola remain in the system under Marco Rose. If you had told me that Tavernier’s goal was scored with Iraola in charge, I would very much have believed you, with a direct ball from Adam Smith causing problems and allowing Rayan and Evanilson to combine for Tavernier to convert. It was something we saw so often previously, a direct ball with a numb er of players pushed up the pitch to try and feed off of them. Rayan, Kluivert and Tavernier all also had moments after quick counter attacking moves that we have become so accustomed to. A lot of long balls were attempted, 69 in total, but it’s hard to play through City any other way, so there may be some different patterns of play evident against Everton. There may need to be, too, given previous struggles against sides who sit back and allow AFCB to keep the ball. Fans might have wanted to see an even higher press, but conservatism was needed, as when the Cherries did press high at every chance, they were played through too easily, with Tyler Adams perhaps a miss in that regard. There was also a clamour for more attacking intent, but although not at their best, when a team like City are penning you in, there is not a whole lot you can do about it. This team will be absolutely fine under Marco Rose – no need for overreaction.
5. Our full-backs remain remarkably consistent
Adam Smith and Adrien Truffert must be a manager’s dream, hardly ever dropping anything less than a 7/10. Some might have feared for Smith, at age 35 going into his 14th season with the club, up against former teammate Antoine Semenyo, whose qualities we do not need to be reminded of. But Smith more than held his own, the highlight undoubtedly when he sent Semenyo sprawling to the floor after a shoulder-to-shoulder. Whilst Semenyo did carry a threat, Smith did more than enough to prevent him from adding any goals or assists to his already impressive CV. Adrien Truffert, meanwhile, is very much in discussion for best left-back in the league, and proved why once again, with another astute display. Try as he might, Phil Foden failed to dribble past Truffert, who was also able to showcase his impressive motor down the other end of the pitch when given the rare opportunity. If he continues that defensive solidity and is able to get more opportunities going forward, there is every chance he could get his maiden call-up to the French national team this season.
There was lots of overreaction to what was a heartbreaking defeat, but there was more than enough shown in the game to have me under the impression that things will be fine this season.
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Excellent points well made
I was very impressed by Silva - an outstanding PL debut. Having come through the ranks at Benfica, then with the exception of games against Sporting & Porto, & also CL games, he will have done virtually no defending! A huge ask to start his PL career against Haaland & co, but he did really well