This week I spoke to Bournemouth supporter Peter from the Cherry Chimes Blog.
1) What are your expectations for Bournemouth this season? Where can you finish in the league?
Survival is the first requirement for every team and then it is to try and do better than last season. That will be difficult as the league looks stronger, but the quality of the players brought in is high and two or three of them will feature straight off in the starting 11. I’m predicting a confident 14th place this season.
2) Which three teams do you think will suffer relegation and who will lift the title this season?
Like most fans I wonder how on earth Hull City are going to climb out of the mess they are in and they have already been labelled the Aston Villa team ready for the drop! And yet they go and get a result against the Champions with just 13 players available. I am not confident that David Moyes will fit in perfectly at Sunderland and I think the Black Cat fans may not take to his unadventurous style. Lastly, I am going to pick Middlesbrough as Aitor Karanka has not managed in the Premier League before and if things start to go wrong I can see Boro panic. If one of those survive then it could be Crystal Palace that do us a favour.
3) How do you rate West Ham’s manager Slaven Bilic first season in charge, how will he fare in his tricky second season?
It was an unusual season for West Ham. They played some tremendous football for most of the time and even got results against some of the top four and yet in some games they really struggled in the second half of the season. I thought they could have challenged for top four at Christmas, but they just couldn’t sustain it. Bilic is tactically very good and he gave the team enthusiasm and structure, while letting them enjoy their football. He did that while having the pressure of having to keep the team up in a very important season leaving Upton Park so it was impressive as were his signings – Dimitri Payet in particular.
4) What league position can West Ham realistically achieve this season?
I don’t think the Hammers have strengthened enough in the summer to finish higher than they did in 2015/16. Plus, getting used to playing in the Olympic stadium is not going to be quite the same for the fans or the team. I still see them being a top 10 side, but the Europa League is going to distract them more this season. Maybe a finish of 7th, considering what other teams have spent.
5) If you could have any current West Ham player in your first team who would you choose and why?
I’ve had this question before and last season I said Michail Antonio as he would have fitted in well with where AFCB have come from. Now we have Jordan Ibe, I don’t think he would get a look in. So the obvious choice is Dmitri Payet – what team would not want a player who is that gifted at running at defenders and hitting the top corner at 9/10 free kicks?
6) Which Bournemouth player will be key to your hopes this season?
Jodan Ibe is going to be the main man. A lot of fans will expect to see goals from Callum Wilson but Jordan has already shown in pre-season that he has another gear that is spell-binding to watch. The crowd is lifted whenever he gets on the ball and he’ll make things happen.
7) What is Bournemouth’s achilles heel? What will they need to improve on this season?
AFCB don’t defend set-pieces at all well. We were delighted when Andy Carol pulled up early in the game at Dean Court last season as we don’t have strong headers of the ball. Sadly we can’t defend great free kicks either and Payet did his stuff! I still think our keepers have a mistake in them every few games as well and that did not change this pre-season.
8) West Ham have now moved into their new home at the London stadium. Will this help them progress as club in the short term in your opinion or could it hinder them as they get used to their new surroundings?
It is a mentality thing I suppose. As long as the fans get behind them they will enjoy their surroundings, but if results are slow to build and all those fans that bought season tickets become fed up with the results, then things could turn for the worst – but I doubt it will. West Ham can build on the enthusiasm of a new stadium and if they embrace it they will flourish.
9) How do you expect Bournemouth to setup against West Ham on Sunday/ Team/formation prediction?
4-5-1
Boruc, A Smith, Francis, S Cook, Daniels, Ibe, L Cook, Arter, Surman, Gradel, Wilson
10) What is your score Prediction for Sunday?
West Ham win 2-0. I think you’ll remember last season and will have too much for us in this first home game of your season. Hope I am wrong though.
My thanks to Peter from Cherry Chimes for his answers www.afcbchimes.blogspot.co.uk Twitter: @CherryChimes
I am happy to agree with Peter on a two Nil Hammers win but I must admit I am nervous about our Premier League debut at the London Stadium and it could all end in tears if we don’t get off to a good start.
I completed an Opposition Q&A for Cherry Chimes in return which can be found HERE Needless to say I answered these questions from Andre Ayew’s long term injury.
Come on you Irons Sean @WestHamFootball on twitter.