Howe whips up Cherries storm
THE stiff breeze blowing across Kings Park and into the front doors of the Vitality Stadium offered a reminder Storm Bronagh was still causing some mischief across the south coast.
But while the trees swayed, the leaves swirled and paper fluttered around outside, all was calm inside the home of AFC Bournemouth yesterday.
As it should have been, with the Cherries sitting pretty in fifth place in the Premier League after three wins from their first five games, and preparing to head north today to face manager Eddie Howe’s old team Burnley.
Bournemouth have never been higher and the position is in stark contrast to this time last season, when Howe’s side finally sparked to life with a win over Brighton after a frightening start of four straight defeats.
Early this season it is Burnley – having last term finished an astonishing seventh to secure Europa League football – who are the team in trouble, with just one point to their name and rooted to the bottom of the table, their continental adventure already over.
Stormy times then at Turf Moor – not too different to the circumstances when Howe left Bournemouth in January 2011 to take over at Burnley.
Widely regarded as a blip in his stellar career, Howe insists the 21 months he spent at Burnley were crucial in shaping him as a manager.
“That time was hugely important,” he said. “I was set a huge challenge: build a new team after they had been relegated from the Premier League, make cuts to the wage bill, recruit cheaper players in an environment where there was a lot of expectation. A totally different set of circumstances to Bournemouth.
“Then, in League Two, we had no money, a 17-point deduction and a transfer embargo. At Burnley I was trying to build a new team, which is not easy when you go into a new club that does not know you. But I really enjoyed it.
“It was tough, but I learnt a lot and it shaped me in many ways. When you look back now that time seemed to go by in a flash, but it was a season and a half.”
Cherries fans, now seeing their team entering their fourth year in the top flight, can barely believe their eyes. And they all point to Howe as the key factor.
Ken Clayton, 63, has been watching since he was two years old, when the Cherries were the old Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.
“My first game was an FA Cup tie against Manchester United. We were in the old Third Division South, we lost 2-1,” he said.
“Eddie has done an unbelievable job. It is his man-management. Some of these players could have gone to bigger clubs. My only gripe is the stadium is not big enough. You can’t get tickets.”
The Vitality – at 11,360 the smallest capacity in the Premier League – is too small. The club are planning a new 25,000-seater ground on the Kings Park site, but progress is slow.
Supporter John Bowman, 73, said: “What has happened here is a fairy tale. Eddie is a hometown boy. It is in his heart. The players know he is committed to the club, so they believe in him.”
As usual, Howe was linked with bigger clubs in the summer, including Arsenal and West Ham, but he insisted he was still in the middle of a project.
He acknowledged the good start and said: “There’s more to come from the team. We have got better performances in us. Individuals can do better. I am still looking for the team to grow.
“This is the best squad I have had here. Through time you evolve and improve your methods, with new players coming in. Pre-season went well and the players are getting their rewards. But everything in football is short term. “We had a really difficult start last season, and that’s never been forgotten by me, how tough that was, how strong we had to be mentally.”
Howe is adamant Sean Dyche and Burnley will solve their own problems.
“In terms of performances they have been strong. They are a very difficult team to beat,” he said. “They won’t be in this position for long.”
Outside, the gale blew. Today, Howe intends to take the storm northwards.