Bournemouth are flying despite an injury list that would send Arteta and Guardiola crying to owners for transfer funds
IT’S pretty easy to miss AFC Bournemouth.
For starters, the club’s thumbprint of a stadium is almost hidden from the sweep of the passing A338 with its promise of the beach and the lure of inviting seaside towns further down the South-West holiday highways.
And much like ‘invisible kids’ at school who get overlooked in favour of the naughty class clowns, or the captains of the sports teams, everything they do on the football pitch comes and goes in the blink of an eye.
Manager Andoni Iraola comes across as an affable Spaniard, who would do it in a nice way even if he did say boo to a goose.
He wears middle-aged, turtle neck sweaters.
His predecessor Eddie Howe was regarded in a similar way before taking the plunge to join the world’s richest club in Newcastle. There could not be a greater contrast.
Howe faces a cosy reunion with his old team on Saturday lunchtime looking over his shoulder at the Cherries, who are just four points behind in what is a remarkable, sustained assault on the Premier League top ten.
From a club which by modern-day yardsticks should not even be in the division.
For more than half an hour on Tuesday night, Iraola’s team was level on points with billionaire boys’ club Chelsea before conceding a 95th-minute equaliser.
That was with six academy kids on the bench and no recognised striker because of an injury list equal if not worse than those at Manchester City, Arsenal or Tottenham.
Record £31.5million signing Evanilson has a broken foot.
Enes Unal tore ligaments in his knee the same day confirmation of his fellow striker’s predicament was announced. How’s your luck?
Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo and Alex Scott are in various stages of recovery from surgery on various parts of their bodies.
Luis Sinisterra has not played since the 2-0 win over ten-man Arsenal in October.
Taking Chelsea to the wire on Tuesday was done in the absence of defender James Hill who came off early with a hamstring problem.
But while Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola and Ange Postecoglou can reach for the keys to the club safe during the winter transfer window to bring in the reinforcements they hope will turn things around, there is no such luxury down at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth won’t be buying any more permanent players to add to the whopping £8m deal for Julio Soler.
Even if the Gunners do not rush out and splash £150m on Alexander Isak, with Gabriel Jesus crocked long-term, the pressure is on boss Arteta to go out and buy big up front.
Serial champions City have slumped so are looking to splash upwards of £100m on a forward and two defenders between now and February 3.
Centre-back Vitor Reis, 19, looks like one for the future at the Etihad — yet at £33m he cost more than Bournemouth’s biggest ever one-off outlay on Brazilian striker Evanilson, now sitting with his foot up at home.
Struggling Tottenham have bought a new goalkeeper — the Cherries couldn’t even play their first choice on Tuesday because he is on loan from Chelsea.
And they only got the deal over the line with Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga in the first place because they know each other from Athletic Bilbao.
Whether or not the bigger clubs actually do any major business this month is irrelevant.
The fact they can is the point. And everybody knows about it too, courtesy of social media and Sky Sports.
Iraola’s no-nonsense side are quietly getting on with things, yet are looking a lot of larger teams firmly in the eye — and down at some like Spurs and Manchester United.
This weekend heralds the start of a hellish run for Iraola.
After Newcastle it’s third-placed Nottingham Forest then leaders Liverpool. You could say it’s make-or-break time but given their recent luck with fitness that’s tempting fate.
Club captain Adam Smith and Marcus Tavernier are also sidelined for good measure.
Bournemouth’s highest finish in the Premier League is ninth and they are on course to beat that.
And that is in spite of an injury list that would have higher-profile managers sobbing on telly.
But if they do hang on against the odds, it is something worth shouting about. But they won’t because it’s not their style.
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