AFCB Vs Aston Villa – Match Preview

Pre-season is over.

We’ve watched all the streams of the friendlies, the interviews with the players, read all the previews from the pundits and now we are set to go.

So who will play?

I have picked Boruc in goal as just can’t see Federici dislodging the Pole this early.

Francis gets the nod at right back, based on his ability to break forward.

Cook and Elphick for me start at Centre-Back. As much because I think they have earnt the right to start but also because I think Eddie will want to see if they can perform at this level. We know what Distin can do but see no reason to break up the pairing yet.

At left back, I would start with Mings. I’ve liked what I have seen and think he has a real talent plus gives us a bit more height over Daniels when it comes to defending set pieces. We have spent a lot of money on the lad so Eddie must rate him.

Central midfield is a tough one with the decision to be made of who will partner Surman with Arter out injured. I would go with Gosling. He’s had a good pre-season and think he can help with sitting deep with Surman to let our full backs push forward.

Out wide I would start Ritchie on the right and Pugh on the left. Both bring consistency to our established way of playing and are good enough to retain the positions they held down last year.

Up top I can’t see how you wouldn’t play Wilson and then behind him I would bring Gradel straight into the side.

That would leave a bench of:

Federici
Distin
Smith
McDonald
Atsu
Tomlin
King

Score prediction

AFC Bournemouth 3 – Aston Villa 1.

Wilson, Gradel, King with the goals to start this season with a bang!

I am being positive and going for a win in our first ever Premier League game.

We played Villa away last year in the FA Cup so they won’t be a ‘scary big team’ to us and just think we will come out the traps fast and will be keen to get on the front foot.

The ground is going to be buzzing, the lads will be full of confidence, and I think we will prove too much for a Villa side who have lost their two best players in Benteke and Delph and will be trying to quickly bed in their new signings versus our more established line-up.

Of course, we could start nervously and be overawed by the occasion but I just can’t see it.

Eddie has the team too well drilled to consider anything outside their roles on the pitch and what they need to do to win and there appears to be a level-headed approach to everything we do which will help us on these big occasions.

3 points in the bag on the first day will set us off towards the 38 points which on average, is needed for survival…

Bring on the game and ‘Up The Cherries… IN ALL DEPARTMENTS!’