Elliot and O'Connor move on Wade Elliot and Garreth O'Connor have both moved to Burnley, and sections of the Bournemouth fans have reacted with precitable hysteria.

Seriously, we must have the most negative fans in the league, as every last incident means we are doomed and we must find someone to blame. In truth, it is not quite as bad as all that. That it happened at the same time was a bit of a shock, but really it's been obvious for a while that O'Connor was going to leave, while Elliot has been treading water for a couple of years. Yes, we'll miss them, but we'll also replace them. We always do; it's the way football works.

In fact this mini-clearout may be exactly what is needed, as it means the team will be fundamentally different next season to the one which failed to be promoted this. It's the perfect opportunity to go three at the back, and introduce a proper ball winner into midfield; or bring in a proper left winger, which we haven't had for who knows how long; or maybe stick Stock out on the right and get him ot play a Beckham style crossing role.

I'm sure that O'Driscoll and co. have plenty of replacements lined up, the available wages may even allow us to bring in more than two players to strengthen the squad further. Who knows?

One thing is for certain it is far too early to write off next season before this one has even ended. Sure, we may face a relegation battle; or we may win the league. Or we might have to settle for mid table obscurity. Whichever way it goes I wouldn't miss it for anything.  ¶ 7:29 PM 0 comments

Sunday, May 08, 2005

AFC Bournemouth 2-2 Hartlepool The season comes to an end three games earlier than we had hoped, and in the customary style. For the third time in seven years we miss out on the playoffs by failing to get the result we needed in the last game of the season.

It had all been going rather well for the first 70 minutes, but when the second Pools goal went in the players dropped their heads and ran out of ideas, much as they had been doing during the last five home games when we failed to pick up a point. And that was the real reason we missed out - you can't go on a losing run like that without paying for it in the end.

So where from here?

It's probably best to let the dust settle before specualting too much. Inevitably there are a handful of morons on the Rivals messageboard calling for SOD to go. Yes he can be frustrating, and he certainly should have made his substitutions earlier yesterday, but I truly suspect it won't be until he does leave that people realise exactly what a good job he has done. I hope he stays; although a mini-clear out of some sort could be what is needed.

What is undeniably needed is someone to add a bit of steel to the side. when we look back on the season in the next few weeks the most telling statistic may be not those five home defeats in a row, but but 35 bookings from 46 games. How many times have opposition managers said we play nice football but are too lightweight? This is the one thing we really need to change.  ¶ 2:32 PM 0 comments

Thursday, May 05, 2005

So it all comes down to this

We always knew that the Hartlepool game would be the crucial one, and
so it is. There's no other games to take into consideration - if we
win, we're through; if we don't, we're not.

Five home defeats in a row, and no goals in the last four is hardly
the best preparation, but these runs do often seem to come to an end
in style. Which means it will either be 0-1 or 4-0.

  ¶ 1:07 PM 0 comments