Bournemouth: Andoni Iraola launches bid for place in Europe with unique management style and respect for fundamentals | Football news
How does the club with the smallest ground in the Premier League manage to beat Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle in the same three-month period? It’s simple: establish the basics.
Bournemouth have schooled opposing teams in the art of fundamentals all season. They run harder and further than most opponents. They chase and press more aggressively. And most importantly, everyone works in harmony.
This is a side that thrives on synchronicity, bound together by a perfect understanding of how risk and reward work on the football pitch. No gimmicks, no famous stars with ridiculous salaries in the spotlight, just a team full of workhorses.
And in no way should it sound reductive, quite the opposite. Bournemouth aren’t blessed with wealth, or a particularly big squad, but they are led by a coach who knows how to maximize every inch of his squad’s strength and has a refreshing appreciation for football with and without statistics.
Andoni Iraola knows only one way. His transition style, consistently hunting down big loose balls, is fascinating to watch when it clicks, and Saturday’s demolition of Newcastle was just the latest in a long line of mesmerizing examples.
Bournemouth did what very few teams have done or will do to Eddie Howe’s side at St James’ Park. To have the guts to fight a team that has won nine straight in all competitions is either brave or foolish.
In recent weeks, Man United, Tottenham and Arsenal (in the Carabao Cup) have proven the latter. But not Bournemouth. The Cherries know each other too well and are all committed to the same “vertical” game plan week after week. Iraola’s way.
“If we’re going to lose, then let’s lose doing what we’ve been doing all season,” the boss told reporters after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. “Be more aggressive in the press, more vertical, more rhythm,” he added, as if the away point at Chelsea was less than satisfactory.
Recently against Newcastle, the Spaniard congratulated his players on a wonderfully “complete” performance. They made their hosts look ordinary.
Man-marking was happening all over the field. The regularly unheralded Ryan Christie typified the approach, racking up nine tackles at the weekend (jointly the most of any midfielder in the Premier League this season), with his pressure key to Bournemouth’s ability to quickly regain possession.
They also forced Newcastle to a season-high 38 unsuccessful passes in their own half.
Jamie Carragher examined Bournemouth’s success at Monday Night Football: “You’re going against a Newcastle midfield that I believe has been the best in the Premier League in recent months with Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
“Bournemouth like to press 4-4-2 and they matched Newcastle, they were combative, but it’s not just energy, it’s precise timing and organisation.”
Bournemouth move like a marionette on a string – one player jumps to press and close, triggering the movement of the next player to drop down the line, who signals to the next and it spreads throughout the team.
And they were forward with the ball, completing 80 passes beyond the backline – more than any other team during round 22 – and completing 16 dribbles, also a league record.
All this from a team that suffers from too many injuries in the middle of the season.
For perspective, Iraola are down to the bare bones with nine first-team players out of the machine. But that doesn’t change his demand for high-tempo aggression. The identity is consistent from game to game and has become the hallmark of each of their 10 Premier League victories, no matter what combination of players they field.
That’s the real spoiler here. While Mikel Arteta and Ange Postecoglou (and they’re not the only culprits) complain about their injury-hit squads, sending distress signals at most press conferences, Iraola just gets on with things.
If anything, Bournemouth look more energetic than ever – they have only been outscored once in their last six games (against Everton), and only by a paltry distance (0.6km).
In 16 of their 22 league appearances this season, Bournemouth have outscored their opposition’s expected goals total (xG), including games against Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea. Their 45 turnovers in the end is a number that even the Premier League leaders and Liverpool press cannot match.
The impact of the substitutions in the game also made a difference, with Bournemouth picking up 17 points through goals (13) from the bench. And it probably explains the growing buzz around Iraola’s position within the elite managerial pool, reportedly attracting the attention of struggling Tottenham and others.
Bournemouth’s boom will be one of the more unlikely underdog stories of recent months for many, but there’s no denying their authenticity. Work hard, work smart and punching above your weight becomes much less demanding.
The hype is definitely building and will continue to do so if Iraola can come up with more in this sensational hunt for European football.
