Football Season Guide

Bournemouth surprised everyone last season as they secured a top six place, and they were even in the running for 2nd until a poor run at the end of the campaign. This time around other teams will know what to expect and manager Lee Bradbury, who is facing his first full season in management, has had to deal with the loss of three important players. Jason Pearce, Danny Hollands and Rhoys Wiggins have all left the club, but if there’s been one thing the Cherries have done particularly well over the last few years it has been finding and nurturing young talent, both in a speed and quantity unmatched by anyone else in the lower leagues. Bradbury will be hoping there are no more departures from Dean Court as the club’s team spirit, which was so integral to their form last year, could be damaged. Bradbury will also have to quickly integrate his new players into the squad as the Cherries cannot afford a poor start to the campaign with such a young side. The experience of Adam Barrett, who has joined from Crystal Palace, will be very useful, while injury-prone striker Steve Lovell will be looking to continue the kind of form he showed on his return from a long-term injury in the latter part of the last campaign.