Wednesday 4 May 2016

It's been a long season for AFCB - but Howe has been fantastic

While Sunderland can mathematically get enough points to overtake AFCB on goal difference, I can't see them getting wins over Chelsea, Everton and Watford, while Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa can't catch the Cherries any longer as they only have two games left, so safety is assured for the Dorset club - Premier League status has been retained.

The late defeat by Norwich to Arsenal at the weekend assured AFCB's Premier League status would finish this season at least in 17th place even if they don't earn another point. That is quite some achievement by Eddie Howe's side and the club as a whole. It may not seem a happy day after having been defeated by Everton but everyone of AFCB's 41 points were very well earned and just to know the club is safe in this league for another year is fantastic with two games to go. An amazing job has been done by Eddie and his staff and players.
Eddie beat the odds this season. Can he do it 2016/17 as well?

Planning for next season can start to go ahead and as Callum Wilson said the manager is already looking at partnerships up front and how the team might set up next season. The early days of August seem a long, long time ago now. AFCB are no longer the new boys but are closing in on their first full season in the Premier League and I think it has been everything that the fans have expected and more. While the players are now well prepared for games at this level there is still a massive desire to do better and it will be down to Howe and Jason Tindall to find the players that can add to this team over the summer to take it on again.

There should be more celebrations this coming weekend though at Dean Court in the last home game against WBA. A win would of course be a good way to round off the home games and to get a double against a side is something that AFCB have not achieved yet and they only have this game and the match against Man Utd to try and achieve that.

I also see that Southampton are wondering if they can nab Eddie Howe as a replacement should Ronald Koeman leave the Saints in the summer - I can tell them now forget about Howe - he's staying at AFCB.

Later today I should have a new Shoot article out - Should we redfine what AFCB is now - A bigger club than you think?

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