Saturday Fulham Stuff (20/04/19)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Celtic's Neil Lennon on the list of potential candidates for Fulham job

The Hoops position is still his first choice, but failing that, the gaffer has other options


(Image: SNS Group)

He's the favourite to be made full-time Celtic boss, but Neil Lennon might have other options if that doesn't pan out the way he wants.

The 47-year-old coach made a suprise return to Celtic Park back in February after Brendan Rodgers' sudden exit  with one goal - maintain the club's winning ways and deliver the at least eight in a row, but ideally the treble Treble.

Lennon had already kicked off the quest for 8IAR during his first period in charge, with the initial three titles, as well as two Scottish Cups and guiding the Hoops to the Last 16 of the Champion's League, something that Rodgers never came close to achieving for all his domestic domination.


(Image: SNS Group)

This time around, the manager has achieved an eight-game undefeated run and will finish the season contesting the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.

Despite all this, his position at Celtic Park still remains undecided and the Northern Irishman has admitted himself he is in the dark as much as anyone to Celtic's major shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell's plans for him and the role.

If he isn't given the post full-time though, there might be a future for him at Craven Cottage.

According to The Scottish Sun, the already-relegated London club have placed the Lennon on a list of candidates to succeed caretaker manager Scott Parker, who stepped in after the departure of Claudio Ranieri in February.

Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke is thought to be the top choice for the job though, but Lennon's success at both Celtic and Hibs have him firmly on the radar of the Fulham owners if they can't land the Killie man.

Fulham isn't Lennon's first choice either though and it is thought that he would only consider a move to another club if he was not made Celtic manager on  permanent basis.



https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/celtics-neil-lennon-list-potential-16152916

[WhiteJC]

Fosu-Mensah Update

Following assessment of an injury sustained in the recent Fulham versus Everton game, Timothy Fosu-Mensah will undergo knee ligament surgery. He will return to Manchester United for rehabilitation.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/april/19/timothy-fosu-mensah-update

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham heading into weekend with 'massive confidence', says Parker

The Cottagers lasted just one season back in the top flight.



Fulham caretaker boss Scott Parker has his sights set on delivering the club's first Premier League away win of the season on Saturday.

The relegated Cottagers head to Bournemouth already preparing for life back in the Championship.

A decision on who will be at the helm for the challenges ahead remains to be seen.

Parker replaced Claudio Ranieri in February, but was not able to halt the slide towards relegation.

The 38-year-old, though, feels there are positive signs following last weekend's 2-0 home win over Everton, which ended a nine-match losing run.

"It is going to be a tough task for us (at Bournemouth). We have not won away from home this year, but I feel like we are going into it with massive confidence from the weekend," Parker said.

"Of course it's going to be difficult, but it is one which we are looking at thinking we can try and get some points.

"I have stated many times my main objective is to put a team out that is well prepared, has a clear idea of what we want to do.

"Certainly that takes time, I understand that, it is a process, but the Everton game was one that was pleasing for those reasons.

"Player-wise, they are starting to see the rewards for their hard work over the last few weeks."

Bournemouth will be in confident mood themselves following a 5-0 romp at Brighton, which all but secured their own top-flight status once again.

Parker is full of admiration for the way Eddie Howe's men continue to punch above their weight.

"We are playing against a very, very good team who have got a first-class manager," Parker added at a press conference reported on the Fulham website.

"They are a team and a football club who have really put themselves as a firm fixture in the Premier League and that is credit to Eddie Howe and what he has done."

Defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah continues to be assessed on a knee ligament problem, so Parker could be forced to change a winning line-up.

Tim Ream has challenged his team-mates to make sure they finish the campaign on a positive.

The American defender said to FulhamFC TV: "We have approached this week the same as we did for Everton, so we are going to do what we can to pick up points.

"You can only go out to do your best, to try to win matches and to put yourself into being in a stronger position, a stronger unit going into the Championship (next) season."



http://sport.bt.com/news/fulham-heading-into-weekend-with-massive-confidence-says-parker-S11364356402861

[WhiteJC]

 
No new injury concerns for AFC Bournemouth as Cook recovers well from Brighton outing

CHERRIES have no fresh injury concerns ahead of tomorrow's clash against Fulham at Vitality Stadium (3pm).

Andrew Surman (calf), Diego Rico (ankle), Charlie Daniels (kneecap), Lewis Cook and Simon Francis (both knee ligaments) are all still ruled out for the visit of the Cottagers, but all those who thrashed Brighton 5-0 last Saturday are fit to take to the field again.

That includes Steve Cook, who made his comeback from two months out to captain the side at the Amex and lasted 87 minutes before being replaced by Jack Simpson.

Providing an injury update ahead of the game, Howe said: "We're pretty much as we were. I don't think we've got any major differences from last week.

"We still have a lot of players out on the long-term list but no great changes.

"Steve had only done a couple of sessions last week in the build-up to the Brighton game but he'd done a lot of fitness work with our sports conditioning coaches and we were hopeful that he would be OK to play a large proportion of the game and that's how it turned out.

"I think there's a little bit of stiffness naturally from the game but nothing that would worry us."

Already-relegated Fulham beat Everton 2-0 last weekend, ending a run of nine straight defeats, and they are set to name a similar squad again.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a doubt with a knee problem while Marcus Bettinelli and Alfie Mawson remain sidelined.



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/17585805.no-new-injury-concerns-for-afc-bournemouth-as-cook-recovers-well-from-brighton-outing/

[WhiteJC]

 
'We are going into this with massive confidence': Fulham boss Scott Parker says spirits are sky high after Everton win as he insists side can end miserable away run at Bournemouth

    Scott Parker is confident Fulham can pick up their first away win this year
    The relegated side take on Eddie Howe's Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon
    Parker insisted spirits are high in the squad following their 2-0 win over Everton
    He said: 'It will be tough but it is a game we think we can get some points from'

Fulham caretaker boss Scott Parker has his sights set on delivering the club's first Premier League away win of the season on Saturday.

The relegated Cottagers head to Bournemouth already preparing for life back in the Championship.

A decision on who will be at the helm for the challenges ahead remains to be seen.


Scott Parker insists his Fulham side are confident of ending dire away run at Bournemouth

Parker replaced Claudio Ranieri in February, but was not able to halt the slide towards relegation.

The 38-year-old, though, feels there are positive signs following last weekend's 2-0 home win over Everton, which ended a nine-match losing run.

'It is going to be a tough task for us (at Bournemouth). We have not won away from home this year, but I feel like we are going into it with massive confidence from the weekend,' Parker said.


Ryan Babel scored Fulham's second goal during their home win over Everton last weekend

'Of course it's going to be difficult, but it is one which we are looking at thinking we can try and get some points.

'I have stated many times my main objective is to put a team out that is well prepared, has a clear idea of what we want to do.

'Certainly that takes time, I understand that, it is a process, but the Everton game was one that was pleasing for those reasons.

'Player-wise, they are starting to see the rewards for their hard work over the last few weeks.'

Bournemouth will be in confident mood themselves following a 5-0 romp at Brighton, which all but secured their own top-flight status once again.

Parker is full of admiration for the way Eddie Howe's men continue to punch above their weight.

'We are playing against a very, very good team who have got a first-class manager,' Parker added at a press conference reported on the Fulham website.

'They are a team and a football club who have really put themselves as a firm fixture in the Premier League and that is credit to Eddie Howe and what he has done.'


Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a doubt for the trip to Bournemouth due to a knee ligament problem

Defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah continues to be assessed on a knee ligament problem, so Parker could be forced to change a winning line-up.

Tim Ream has challenged his team-mates to make sure they finish the campaign on a positive.

The American defender said to FulhamFC TV: 'We have approached this week the same as we did for Everton, so we are going to do what we can to pick up points.

'You can only go out to do your best, to try to win matches and to put yourself into being in a stronger position, a stronger unit going into the Championship (next) season.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6939589/Fulham-boss-Scott-Parker-insists-end-miserable-away-run-Bournemouth.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Bournemouth vs Fulham preview: Eddie Howe warns against underestimating visitors
Watch highlights on Sky Sports app at 5.15pm on Saturday

Eddie Howe insists his Bournemouth players cannot afford to underestimate Fulham as they seek to make it back-to-back Premier League wins.

The south coast club banished any lingering fears of relegation by thrashing Brighton 5-0 last weekend.

The convincing win at the Amex Stadium moved the 12th-placed Cherries on to 41 points, five shy of their record Premier League points tally with four fixtures remaining.

"The target is to win the next game and we'll see from there what happens with the rest of the season," said Howe.

"We need to make sure we don't drop our levels.

"I would be very disappointed if we didn't see the same team in terms of endeavour, spirit and togetherness that we saw against Brighton."

Following their win against Everton last time out, Fulham are looking to secure back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since April 2014.

Fulham caretaker boss Scott Parker believes now is the perfect time for the club to "get ahead of the game" in their preparations for a promotion push next season.

Parker has yet to learn whether he will be at the helm to try to tackle the challenges of an unrelenting Championship campaign head on next season.

The former Fulham midfielder, who replaced Claudio Ranieri in February, believes the rebuilding process needs to begin quickly to stay ahead of their promotion rivals.

Parker said: "I'll be beneficial for everyone to take this time to really focus, reassess and plan for next year [in the Championship]. It's going to be a big year, in a difficult league. Now is an opportunity to get ahead of the game.

"The Everton win was a relief for everyone. Performance-wise, at home, it was very, very pleasing.

"We're playing against a very good team [Bournemouth] with a first class manager. It'll be a tough task for us, but we go into it with massive confidence after a strong performance."

Team news
Steve Cook came through the 5-0 win over Brighton unscathed and will be available once more for selection after a week of fitness work.

Artur Boruc looks set to continue in goal having replaced Asmir Begovic in the victory over the Seagulls.

Diego Rico (ankle), Charlie Daniels (knee), Andrew Surman (calf), Simon Francis (knee) and Lewis Cook (knee) all remain sidelined.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah is doubtful for Fulham. The on-loan Manchester United defender has a knee ligament problem and is the only fresh injury concern for caretaker boss Scott Parker following the win over Everton.

Defender Alfie Mawson is close to a return from his knee injury while goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli (knee) and midfielder Lazar Markovic (calf) also continue their recovery.

Opta stats
    Bournemouth have lost just one of their last 11 league games against Fulham (W7 D3 L1), a 3-1 defeat at the Vitality Stadium in January 1994 when both sides were in the third tier.
    Fulham have only won two of their 13 league visits to Bournemouth (W2 D3 L8), and are winless in their last three trips to the Vitality Stadium (D1 L2).
    Fulham have had a player sent off in each of their last two games against Bournemouth, Fernando Amorebieta receiving a red card in March 2015 and Kevin McDonald in the reverse fixture in October.
    Bournemouth's Premier League games have seen 110 goals scored this season, more than any other side in the competition (F49 A61).
    Fulham have won just two points from their 51 available on the road this season (W0 D2 L15).
    Ryan Fraser provided two assists in Bournemouth's 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage in October, the only time the Scotsman has achieved this feat in a Premier League game.
    Bournemouth pair Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson have combined for 11 Premier League goals this season - only one duo has ever combined for more in a season; Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for Blackburn Rovers during their 1994-95 title-winning campaign (13).
    Following his goal and two assists against Brighton last time out, Callum Wilson has become the first Bournemouth player to register 20 goal involvements in a single Premier League campaign (12 goals, 8 assists).
    Ryan Babel has been directly involved in seven Premier League goals since his debut for Fulham in January (4 goals, 3 assists), at least four more than any other player at the club.

Merson's prediction
Both had great results last weekend with Fulham beating Everton and Bournemouth destroying Brighton. It will be an open game in the sunshine, and I expect both teams to really go for it, with little riding on it.

Bournemouth have found their goalscoring touch once again so I expect them to come out on top.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1



https://www.skysports.com/football/bmouth-vs-fulham/preview/391098

[WhiteJC]

 
AFC Bournemouth v Fulham
SAT 20 Apr 2019   Premier League
Venue: Vitality Stadium

Fulham defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah was injured against Everton last weekend

TEAM NEWS

Bournemouth have no fresh injury concerns for Eddie Howe's 500th match as a manager.

Captain Steve Cook returned to action last weekend after a seven-match lay-off with a groin injury.

Fulham defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a doubt because of a knee ligament problem.

Floyd Ayite could return from a muscle injury, while Alfie Mawson is close to recovering from the knee injury he suffered while changing his boots.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

@SimonBrotherton: Another season of Premier League football is all-but guaranteed for Bournemouth, who sit on 41 points after last week's thrashing of Brighton along the coast.

The run-in suggests they might overhaul their best Premier League tally of 46 points, set two years ago. Emulating their ninth-place finish from that season looks less likely.

Fulham are of course long gone, a £100m net spend over two transfer windows not coming close to extending their stay in the division beyond the minimum. They did see off in-form Everton 2-0 last week, but have only taken a woeful two points from 17 away games all season.

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Bournemouth's Eddie Howe on reaching 500 games as a manager: "Where has the time gone? It doesn't feel like I've been in charge of 500 games. I'm very much enjoying the challenge of management right now.

"We needed that result last weekend. Everything came together and it was a very good afternoon for us. We need to see more of the same and end the season strongly."

Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker: "I think it will be beneficial to everyone at the football club to take this time to really focus, reassess and plan for next year.

"It is going to be a big year, obviously a difficult year in a difficult league. But we know where we are and I feel this time is a massive opportunity to get ahead of the game, to plan and prepare for a massive campaign to try and get back into this division."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Both of these teams returned to form with good wins last time out - and it is good to sees some signs of life at Fulham following their relegation.

The Cottagers have got the worst away record in the top flight, though, so I am backing Bournemouth.

Prediction: 3-0

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

    Bournemouth's only defeat in the past 11 league meetings came at home in January 1994 when both sides were in the third tier (W7, D3).
    Fulham have had a player sent off in each of their last two games against Bournemouth: Fernando Amorebieta in March 2015 and Kevin McDonald in last October's reverse fixture.
    The 3-0 win for Bournemouth last autumn was the first top-flight match between the clubs.

Bournemouth

    Bournemouth could go five Premier League home games without a win for the first time since February 2017.
    Their nine home league defeats since November 2017 have come against the established top-six sides and Burnley (twice).
    The Cherries are unbeaten in all 10 Premier League home matches against promoted opposition, winning seven and scoring 27 goals.
    One more win in 2018-19 would establish a club record of 13 in a Premier League season.
    Bournemouth's Premier League matches this season have produced an unrivalled 110 goals.
    Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson have combined for 11 Premier League goals this season - a tally only surpassed by the 13 of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for Blackburn during their 1994-95 title-winning campaign.

Fulham

    Fulham's win over Everton last weekend ended a run of nine league defeats in a row.
    They are vying to earn back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since April 2014.
    However, they could equal the club Premier League record of eight consecutive away defeats, set from December 2005 to March 2006.
    The Cottagers have only earned two points from their 17 league away matches this season. The lowest away tally for a Premier League season is three points, set by Derby in 2007-08.
    Hull were the sixth and most recent side to go an entire Premier League season without an away victory, in 2009-10.
    Ryan Babel has been directly involved in seven league goals since his debut for Fulham in January, four more than any team-mate during that period. He has four goals and three assists.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47917527

[WhiteJC]

 
Celtic could lose Neil Lennon as manager to Fulham

Celtic caretaker manager Neil Lennon could be moving to Fulham at the end of the season.

The Irishman is one of the numerous candidates for the post vacated by Scott Parker.

The Cottagers are relegated from the English Premier League and are in dire need of a fresh start.

Could Lenny be the one to bring that, and what will this mean for the Hoops?

Neil Lennon may head south again
The 47-year-old temporary boss is on the radar of chiefs in the London club according to the Scottish Sun.

Despite getting Celtic over the line to the league and setting up a Scottish Cup final, his future is still in doubt.

Fulham could offer the Irishman stability and a good budget to work with and a familiar name too with Stefan Johansen on their books.

A lot of hoops fans don't want Lennon as manager as it seen as taking a step back compared to former gaffer Brendan Rodgers.

However, the former captain is getting the results, even if the performances aren't there.

Should he win the treble with Celtic, then he will have a strong case to answer for the permanent post.

This said, Lennon may want to get his stock back up down south after his dismal run as Bolton boss.

Neil Lennon not the only Premiership manager in frame
According to The Sun, Kilmarnock manager is another man in the mindset of the Fulham board.

The Scotsman has worked wonders under a shoestring budget at Killie and does have plans to go back to England where his family are based.

Fulham would be a massive opportunity for Clarke to also get his stock in England high again.

This said, the Scotland post has become available again and Clarke or even Lennon may be candidates.

The next manager for both positions may fall down to circumstances.

Could Clarke be secretly eyeing the Celtic post or does Lennon even want to go to Fulham at all?

This all remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, movement on all three positions must be done fast.



https://www.67hailhail.com/news/celtic-lose-neil-lennon-manager-fulham

[WhiteJC]

 
Can we expect Wilson to power AFCB to a win over Fulham?
Callum Wilson managed to snatch one goal in the last match against Brighton on a day when he probably thought he could have come away with a few more goals. That is what always so appealing about Wilson - he's a great striker for AFCB, he is always looking to do better.

The partnership with King might not be as fluent as Howe would like, but with Ryan Fraser there is a great understanding with Wilson. The two of them have been making the difference for Bournemouth and they are two of the players that Howe will be very keen to keep hold of this summer.

Before the Brighton game, Wilson had been getting into good positions but missing good chances. He was in a bit of a slump and Howe probably needs Wilson to be happy to be banging in more goals rather than any other player at AFCB. When Wilson is believing that he can't miss, he is a frightening prospect. I have no doubt that most of Scott Parker's team talk will be directed at how to try and stop Callum Wilson.

This season, Wilson has added different kinds of goals to his game. He is a much better at heading and thrives off low crosses into the box as well. He has also managed the art of special goals as well as he did against West Ham at the start of the season. Stopping Wilson is something that other teams have to deal with, and if you imagine being in Scott Parker's shoes it is not easy to come up with any simple answers.



https://afcbchimes.blogspot.com/2019/04/can-we-expect-wilson-to-power-afcb-to.html

[WhiteJC]

Cottage Talk: View Of The Opposition - Interview With Bournemouth Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic
Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

This episode is an interview with Bournemouth Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. He shared his thoughts on his time at Bournemouth, along with how his club has been doing this season so far. Later on, he discussed Fulham, and what he is expecting in this upcoming match.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/4/19/18507704/cottage-talk-view-of-the-opposition-interview-with-bournemouth-goalkeeper-asmir-begovic

[WhiteJC]

 
Dan Gosling's respect for Fulham boss Scott Parker

MIDFIELDER Dan Gosling spoke of his respect for Fulham caretaker boss Scott Parker and tipped him to be a success in management.

Capped 18 times by England, Parker earned his first top-flight victory in charge of the relegated Cottagers with a 2-0 home success against Everton last time out.

During his time at Newcastle, Gosling competed against the former Chelsea, Charlton and West Ham ace. Parker was part of the Tottenham team which reached the top four under Harry Redknapp.

Asked about the Fulham boss, who brings his side to Vitality Stadium tomorrow (3pm), Gosling told the Daily Echo: "He was a very good player and maybe a great manager as well to come.

"He was a top player and was England's holding midfielder for a good while and moved from playing as a 10 to a four as he got a little older."

He added: "Fulham beat Everton last week and are probably all playing for their futures, which makes it a tough game.

"We will be ready for whatever they have. They are a good side with good technical players.

"We are expecting a battle. We will go into it with a lot of confidence after the win against Brighton, we need to maintain it and hopefully we can do that."



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/17586626.dan-goslings-respect-for-fulham-boss-scott-parker/

[WhiteJC]

 
Ryan Fraser says relegated Fulham can 'play freely' against AFC Bournemouth

RYAN Fraser is wary of Fulham being able to "play freely" when they visit Vitality Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

The Cottagers have already been relegated from the Premier League but did beat Everton 2-0 last time out for Scott Parker's first win in caretaker charge in six attempts.

And Fraser says he is taking nothing for granted, recalling the struggle Cherries had to break Fulham down in the reverse fixture in October, before eventually closing out a 3-0 win.

He told the Daily Echo: "The pressure of the Premier League is massive.

"They can just play freely now.

"It's amazing how things can change and people don't obviously expect much from them now going down but we need to be ready for them.

"We know they're a good team. We've played them away and it was a tough first half an hour for us.

"We ended up winning the game but we know how good they can be."

Cherries got back to winning ways in style by winning 5-0 at Brighton, having lost their previous two matches.

That included a 3-1 home reverse against Burnley, which left some fans booing the side off the pitch.

Fraser said: "We want to make ourselves happy, make the fans happy and I think the win at Brighton will give us the confidence to just go and play our football again.

"We just went back to basics, played our football and that's what we can do.

"Hopefully the gaffer will implement that again in training, don't come away from it and then we'll go into Fulham and we'll hopefully just pop it."



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/17586635.ryan-fraser-says-relegated-fulham-can-play-freely-against-afc-bournemouth/

[WhiteJC]

Three Players to Watch: Matchday 35 vs. Bournemouth
Can Fulham Finally Win On the Road

Guess what? Fulham are coming to Bournemouth off the back of a win! That's right, this football club got their first victory since January 29th. It's also their first clean sheet since defeating Huddersfield back on December 29th. Yes my friends, this Fulham season has been dark and full of terrors.

But enough Game of Thrones quotes. Let's talk about looking forward to an away fixture against a team worse then Everton in the Premier League table. Now Bournemough aren't that much of a slouch; especially since they are coming off of a 5-0 thrashing of Brighton last weekend. When these two teams met last time, Bournemouth were looking like they could be reaching a place within the Europa League next season. After all, the Cherries gave the hosts a 3-0 thrashing and Shahid Khan a scowl that will last an entire campaign.

Nowadays, Fulham are on their third manager and Bournemouth have regressed quite a bit. Mostly, it's been because Eddie Howe's team didn't play anyone within the top six. Still, that didn't fully prevent the fact that they only picked up two wins and one draw in their next 13 Premier League contests after that Fulham fixture and were outscored 30-10 in the process.

But if you really want to get into further detail, Bournemouth have lost nine of their last ten since the Fulham fixture against England's top six and have been outscored 28-9. Against the rest of the Premier League, they have only gone five wins and three draws in 14 fixtures while being outscored 20-19. So in short, they only showed up in the big games when Maurizio Sarri may or may not have been on the verge of losing his job and haven't racked up enough points to maintain a top half finish this season. That's the harsh nature of being a football club with not that much cash and hoping to establish themselves at the top of English football.

Now their defense is among the worst in the Premier League and has caught up with their lack of pressing ability all season. If Fulham can exploit that in some capacity now that they're in a consistent 4-2-3-1 formation with three central midfielders against Howe's two-midfield 4-4-2, they might be in the taking for another upset. Until then, Bournemouth do have the home crowd at their side and will hope that it will carry them through to a strong finish to the season.

On that note, here are three players to watch wearing the black and red.

Ryan Fraser
First up is shockingly among the league leaders in assists. Simply put, the Scotsman is having a career season with seven goals and 11 assists in at age 24. And his assist total is not a fluke thanks to his massive 2.41 key passes per 90 minutes. Not only is this a sign that he is reaching the peak of his career, but this is a sign that he might eventually be overqualified to play for a team struggling to make the top half of the Premier League every season.

It's been Fraser's contributions that have really put Bournemouth as one of the best attacking units that are outside the top six. Add in Calum Wilson's unselfish play along with the developments of David Brooks and you see why the Cherries are so difficult to defend against.

Jefferson Lerma
Next up has been a holding midfielder that hasn't completely lived up to the billing so far after being the most expensive player in club history. But at 23, Jefferson Lerma still has room to grow. I would wonder if getting an upgrade over Andrew Surman or Dan Gosling can do wonders for Bournemouth's midfield. Instead, it's an area of the pitch that looks to be a major weakness for teams to exploit. Then again, Fulham have had their troubles against other holding midfielders that haven't produced the sexiest of radars.

Nathan Aké
Lastly, I present to you Bournemouth's leader in minutes played in the Premier League this season. Nathan Aké was never going to get the opportunities to develop at Chelsea, but he is able to shine since going South. Now he's a part of a group of center backs that include Virgil Van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt that have revived the Dutch National team. Aké is a complete ball playing defender and almost never lets any one get past him. This season, he is averaging 5.36 successful tackles for every event of a player dribbling past him. Add in the fact that he's always been fantastic at blocking shots and he's everything you want in a talisman.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2019/4/20/18507854/three-players-to-watch-matchday-35-vs-bournemouth

[bog]

Neil Lennon? 

[Woolly Mammoth]

Neil Lennon? 

Just when I thought it was safe to leave my Bunker, Mr Lennon and Mr Clarke are being mentioned in the same breath as Fulham FC.

[Fulham76]

Neil Lennon? 

Agree. Celtic aside, his record is poor.

[snarks]

Lennon or Clarke - are we madder than I thought

[Twig]

Neil Lennon? 

Please no

[sunburywhite]

We could have Neil Lennon as director of football and Mick McCarthy as manager

That way we could compete with Liverpool as we would have Lennon and McCarthy

[rogerpbackinMidEastUS]

We could have Neil Lennon as director of football and Mick McCarthy as manager

That way we could compete with Liverpool as we would have Lennon and McCarthy

:0)