Let me open with a disclaimer.
I find it difficult to take a balanced view of AFC Bournemouth.
The problem stems, of course, from its portrayal on the BBC and elsewhere as “plucky little Bournemouth”, “Cinderella team Bournemouth” and so on.
Not to put too fine a point on it, that’s irritating garbage which makes it hard for some of us not to feel overwhelming resentment towards the club.
The truth is very different. Through the financial instruments of AFCB Enterprises Limited and the Opalus Trust, Bournemouth is owned by the Maxim Demin family who’ve poured untold millions into the club.
In particular, in 2014-15 they calculatedly drove a coach-and-horses though the Financial Fair Play rules in order to assemble a team to win them promotion to the Premier League. They took the £5m fine with a smile – all the way to the bank.
With that off my chest, it’s right to acknowledge another side to the coin. Bournemouth stayed in the PL for five years, to the point where it was something of a surprise that they were relegated with us last season. Under the bright and engaging Eddie Howe, they played some good football, made the most of their resources and deservedly won many admirers.
OK – emotional indulgence over. That history’s interesting, especially for the contrast in corporate behaviour to that of our own club, but its relevance to Sunday’s game is limited.
Since the end of last season, Norwich fans have seen a few changes of playing personnel and tactical tweaks, but otherwise much of the same set-up.
Bournemouth have gone through greater upheaval.
Eddie Howe has been replaced by his assistant for over a decade, Jason Tindall. While that may indicate continuity of style and culture, they’ll be doing it with a seriously re-vamped squad: the turnover of players has been more dramatic than at Carrow Road.
Gone are many of the names we’ve associated with Bournemouth in recent years: Nathan Ake, Callum Wilson, Aaron Ramsdale, Ryan Fraser, Harry Arter, Charlie Daniels, Simon Francis, Harry Wilson – not to mention Andrew Surman, once of this parish.
Not that we should start thinking of Bournemouth’s team for Sunday as a weak one. They built considerable strength in depth during their time in the Premier League. Three of their four most expensive signings (all costing at least twice as much as Norwich’s record buys) are there and likely to feature on Sunday: midfielder Jefferson Lerma, striker Dominic Solanke and defender Diego Rico.
Highly-rated David Brooks is still at Bournemouth, as are seasoned top-flight pros like Dan Gosling. It’s not a bad squad to choose from.
So, to Sunday.
Norwich and Bournemouth have made parallel starts: a win and a draw in their first two league games. Both have shown positive spirit and encouraging signs; both have rough edges that they’ll be keen to smooth out.
For better or worse, Bournemouth will have played two extra games in the Carabao Cup – including an 11-10 win on penalties over Crystal Palace.
At an individual level, both teams’ main striker – Pukki and Solanke – will be relieved to be off the mark after a struggle in the Prem. It’s a great shame for City to lose Kieran Dowell to injury, but our creativity will be boosted by the return of Emi Buendia.
Jefferson Lerma against Oliver Skipp could be a tasty midfield encounter.
For the neutral, it should be a competitive and – by Championship standards – quality match. No wonder Sky originally picked it out for live coverage.
For the two clubs and their fans, there’s a psychological prize that outweighs the immediate three points.
Clubs who come down from the Premier League are inevitably favourites to bounce back – but we know that few actually do, especially at the first opportunity. The biggest reason is the losing mentality that accompanies relegation.
Both Bournemouth and Norwich have made encouraging starts, but with some lingering fragility. Victory over a fellow ex-Prem team would consolidate the mental upturn, while defeat would be a setback.
On the basis of our more stable squad, I’m going for Norwich win, 2-1. I wouldn’t be too unhappy with a draw.
Interesting struggle, Solanke scored 3 goals and Pukki scored 11 goals. Norwich was clearly worst team in premier league, still Pukki was able to score 11 goals which is more than for example Lacazette could for Arsenal. I just have impossible to understand all hate what Norwich fans have towards Pukki, you are not even willing to use official data but use rather your own imaginative data. Solankes stats in premier league are pathetic, he was playing there only because he is british. Last season Mitrovic was forced to play in championship, now its Pukki. Norwich is still mediocre championship team which sadly happen to have Pukki as their prisoner, maybe long time injury is only way to prove real level of Norwich.
Please don’t think I’m anything but a big admirer of Teemu Pukki!
However, it’s a fact that he didn’t score at all from open play in the second half of the season. His confidence was knocked, I think, by the outrageous VAR decision to rule out his goal against Spurs; he also carried an injury for much of the year.
But we can’t get away from the fact that, from December onwards, as City’s main striker he struggled.
If there is ever an MFW trophy for diplomacy beyond the call of duty Stew, you win it here and now.
Yes it is true that in second half of premier league season he didnt score, but that does not take away his scoring stats in first half of season. During the second half of season Norwich also started to play very defensively and it was same way difficult also to Drmic. Then there was covid break too..Please, look West Ham-Norwich before game press conference, there West Ham manager Pellegrini reveals game plan against Pukki. There all difficulties started. Also 1 other thing, Norwich had huge penalty scoring problems which also Pukki solved. I think Norwich fans are expecting too much from Pukki, team basically rely on him way too much and he should score every time he get a chance. There is not such a player in world. Norwich fans are worrying about things considering Pukki which are not reliable. His self confidence does not change from high to low, if it would then professional player like that just had to end his career. Its important also accept that goalkeepers in premier league are better than they are in championship, so are defenders. Scoring goals is most difficult thing in football.
Pukki missed scoring chance against Ireland, its not an issue that he miss a chance. In that case he should have rather pass than not try to score by himself. Against Huddersfield he made fine pass and Norwich fans were still complaining even it was goal. He made right choice. He is important player for Finland too, but not in same way as in Norwich he is. In Norwich Hugill and Idah are not in same level with him, but Joel Pohjanpalo is realistic option for Finland as main striker. Comparing Solanke with Pukki was reason why I commented. Bournemouth has better team on paper than Norwich, so has Watford. To me Brentford is overrated and overhyped, good luck for Norwich against Bournemouth. Level difference between championship and premier league is quite large, now for example WBA seems to be a team which has very little hope for surviving.
In fairness Norwich’s problems were all over the itch. That includes Pukki who looked like he was labouring after a brilliant start – but take your pick, seive-like defence, powder puff defensive midfield, placeless midfield and wing play, there were problems all over the park except in goals.
Hi Stewart
It a wonder that the Sandbank millionaires or Billionaires hadn’t purchased the club a long time ago but most of the south coast clubs have extremely rich owners even Portsmouth, it seems Norfolk only Billionaire isn’t interested and moving his production and infrastructure to India.
Anyway enjoyed your article and I will go for a 2 – 2 but hope city can prevail with a 2 – 1 win
Little Bournemouth were exactly that . Getting out of League Two , after the previous
17 point deduction was a minor miracle . The major one was promotion to the
Championship . With Demin on board , what would you expect stagnation ,
relegation ? The Premier League refused to allow him to buy a club , Go and buy a
small club and bring it up they said . Now we are down , he has given assurances of
his loyalty .. By the way , he is a very humble man , unlike some owners .
In those early days, I agree – and more recently. The promotion to the Premier League is a different matter.
What would I expect? Integrity and following the rules. Maybe I’ve been spoilt by supporting a club which acts that way.
But thanks for the comment, and good luck to you (except tomorrow).
Anybody thinking that Leitner, Trybull and Drmic have been harshly done by? Especially when Lewis, Buendia, etc, have left the sinking ship?
Has Buendia left??
How come I missed it…can someone enlighten me, please??
O T B C
I am glad Cantwell and Emi were pulling up trees for us this afternoon when we needed them!
As a Bournemouth fan I’ve never understood how Norwich fans can criticise us for our spending in the 14/15 promotion season. Norwich spent £18m on players whilst Bournemouth only spent £4m (whilst receiving £3m off you for Grabban!) For years we had charlatan owners who took us to the brink of financial ruin on many occasions and nothing was said. As soon as we get a decent owner who wants to invest in the club, everyone pipes up. A lot of the excess spending was due to legacy debts from previous shoddy ownership (we still don’t own our own stadium, still being held to ransom by the investment company that bought it) and expenditure following promotion. I like Norwich and think you’ll do well this season, just don’t get the bitterness!
Norwich lived within their means, as we always do.
In 2014-15 Bournemouth incurred a loss of £38m – not just breaking the Financial Fair Play rules, but smashing them to smithereens. Hence the record fine. Eddie Howe was honest enough to admit he was “embarrassed” at the amount of money put at his disposal.
I’m with you Stewart. I’ve always believed there is a ‘natural’ place for all Clubs in the English Leagues. And Bournemouth, much like my local Club Wigan, are way above theirs. We all know the reason why – in both cases. Mega rich owners, spending silly money to propel their plaything way above its traditional station in the the football world. It irks me when Clubs like these get to the Prem, on money alone, and then get lauded in the media for their efforts. Small clubs, with small grounds, limited support base, little or no tradition and in non-football areas.
For what its worth, the Canaries don’t make my “top 20 English Clubs” either!
Dan: like every other Norwich fan, I dearly wish our owners had financial resources to match their emotional commitment.
They don’t. Check the stats – easily available – of owners’ wealth in the top two divisions. Norwich weren’t just bottom of the Premier League in that regard, but behind all others by an order of magnitude. We’re nowhere near the top of the Championship list either.
There is no such thing as a top 20 of English clubs otherwise Preston, Huddersfield and Blackpool would have a decent shout according to their historical success – fortunes change over time, as do populations, transport networks, etc. To the benefit of Norwich and to the detriment of many once-great northern club. And I don’t think we can really say there are non-footballing areas any more not entitled to a taste of success – everywhere is entitled to a bit of glory and I don’t think Middle Eastern finance is better if it is spent at Citeh, Bournemouth or anywhere.
Stew, if I’m honest I really don’t have an issue with anyone who decides to put money into a football club. It’s always happened in the past and will almost certainly continue into the future.
Where I do have concerns, however, and where I have a degree of empathy with your view, is when something artificial is created, with club living well beyond its means. To an extent, that’s fine until they either loss interest or can no longer afford to continue funding the situation.