The new "Premier" league season will start on August 13, which means that there are only 16 days left until the start of the English championship. As the competition approaches, Eurofootball.com will provide you with an overview of all twenty "Premier" league teams. This time, we will review the successful debut season of the "Bournemouth" team in the "Premier" league, which finished in sixteenth position. "Bournemouth" History: The team was founded in 1899 and will play their second season in the "Premier" league. Their best finish in this league was 16th place. The team will play their second consecutive season in the "Premier" league. Last season: The "Bournemouth" team made their debut in the 2015-2016 "Premier" league and finished in sixteenth place. However, they could have achieved a much better position - they were in eleventh place with five rounds to go, but only managed to earn one point in the remaining matches, which dropped them five positions down. Changes after last season: This summer, a clear new direction for "Bournemouth" could be seen - the team rejuvenated by acquiring young players who can successfully compete one-on-one. Four players left the club who played in the "Premier" league last season. Three of them were sold to lower league clubs - Matt Ritchie was sold to "Newcastle" for 12 million euros, Tommy Elphick moved to "Aston Villa" for 3.9 million euros, and Lee Tomlin left for "Bristol City" for 3.5 million euros. The team also said goodbye to 38-year-old veteran Sylvain Distin. Meanwhile, all the new players acquired by the team are 22 years old or younger. Two of them arrived without any transfer fee - midfielder Emerson Hyndman joined from "Fulham" and left-back Nathan Ake was loaned from "Chelsea". The team also added two players from "Liverpool" - left-back Brad Smith cost 3.6 million euros, and Jordan Ibe became the most expensive signing in the club's history. The club did not hesitate to pay 18 million euros for this winger. The team was also supplemented by two players who played in lower leagues last season. Defender Lewis Cook, who played in the "Championship," and forward Lys Mousset, who played in "Ligue 2." The first cost "Bournemouth" 7 million euros, while the latter cost 6.5 million euros. Players to watch: Lewis Cook. The nineteen-year-old Englishman has been a solid starter for the last two years at "Leeds United," and his game convinced "Bournemouth" executives to pay seven million euros for him. Last season, he stood out with his dribbling abilities and proved that he can defend successfully, but this year he will face a new challenge playing in the top league. The England youth international is determined to embrace this challenge. Jordan Ibe. It's not even necessary to say that the club's most expensive signing is expected to lead the team forward. Over the past two seasons, Ibe has had more chances at "Liverpool," being the player who often went one-on-one with opponents. Having more time in "Bournemouth," he should continue to improve, but the 20-year-old winger will have to take the initiative in the new team. With his brave style of play at "Liverpool," he has proved he can do it, so adjusting to a new role should not be too difficult for him. Benik Afobe. In January, he became the club's record signing, but lost that title this summer when Ibe was acquired. Afobe has not yet revealed his potential in "Bournemouth." Having played only in lower English leagues so far, the forward ended the season with four goals in 15 matches. The 23-year-old player will adapt to playing in the "Premier" league, and the team hopes that Afobe can be the forward who stands out with his effectiveness in this team. Team strengths: Creating opportunities with individual raids. Last season, "Bournemouth" created the most chances when their wingers created opportunities for their teammates with individual breakthroughs. The team lacked players who could successfully pass the ball to a scoring teammate, so the players often had to create chances for themselves. This plan worked quite well, because both by creating opportunities and scoring goals, they were in the middle of the "Premier" league. The newly acquired players this season should further improve the attacking game one-on-one. Fierce competition in the attacking line. By acquiring Lys Mousset this summer, "Bournemouth" now has six players competing in the central forward position. None of them significantly outperforms the others in this position, and last season, the most productive player in the team was Joshua King, who scored only six goals. Without a standout and effective player, "Bournemouth" can be pleased with a large selection of players in this position and make frequent changes in the attacking line, hoping that one of these players will excel in the respective matches. Successful play away from home. Last season, "Bournemouth" along with "Everton" and "Chelsea" were the only teams that earned more points in opponents' stadiums than at their own. Successful away games helped the team stay in the top league - based on points earned at home, they finished just second to last in the "Premier" league. If 22 points in away games seem like a decent achievement, players from "Bournemouth" who earned 20 points at home last season will surely want to improve this number next season. Interesting facts about "Bournemouth": Nine of the most expensive signings for this team were made since the beginning of last summer. Only one of them plays in defense, while five are forwards; Last season, the fewest number of people attended "Bournemouth" home matches in the entire "Premier" league - 11,118 per game. However, they could not rise from the last place even if the stadium was full every time - "Dean Court," where this team plays, has a total capacity of 11,464 spectators; In 2009, "Bournemouth" was just one goal away from relegation to the fifth-ranked English league, but they were saved by a victory against "Grimsby." The winning goal in that match was scored by club legend Steve Fletcher, who scored his 100th goal for the team. Fletcher now works as a club scout; The current team manager, Eddie Howe, started his career at the "Bournemouth" club, then moved to the "Portsmouth" club. However, he was so popular among fans that they raised money for his return to the club; Howe also started his managerial career at the "Bournemouth" club. In the 2011-2012 season, he left the team for a year and managed the "Burnley" team, but later decided to return to this team; Throughout the club's 116-year history, the team spent just six years in a league higher than the second, and this season will be the seventh; Among the most famous players who played in this team during the early years of their careers are Jermain Defoe and Rio Ferdinand. Harry Redknapp started his coaching career at this club, where he worked for nine years; The player who played the most matches for the team is Steve Fletcher, who appeared 493 times on the field. The top goal scorer is Ron Eyre - 202 goals.
Tautvydas Sakalauskas
