A recent haul of injuries for AFC Bournemouth have seen Head Coach Scott Parker forced into adapting and being flexible in both team selection and tactics. A direct correlation can be seen between results and the missing absentees from the matchday teams. A clear consistency in rhythm and set-up is being missed and Parker is looking for a return to such sooner rather then later.
As expected throughout any gruelling Championship season, AFC Bournemouth have experienced their fair share of injuries in the recent weeks. Big absences from matchdays such as Jordan Zemura, Lloyd Kelly and more have forced Scott Parker to be flexible and adapt in both tactics and personnel.
Up to the special night away to Reading where the Cherries broke a 60-year long record and ultimately enjoyed the last of their unbeaten streak, we had seen a consistent back four in Zemura, Kelly, Cahill and rotation between Jack Stacey and Adam Smith for the right-back spot. From that game onwards, each player has picked up an injury except Stacey. It is no coincidence that the following six games after the away trip to the Royals has seen Parker’s side achieve only one win, just as the defence experiences a haul of injuries.
Zemura has been a huge miss in the left-back position after being forced out of the Reading game with an ankle injury. Kelly is also currently recovering from a quad injury obtained after the home win to Swansea. It seems as though Cahill has been forced to play through minor injuries, with him being expected to miss out on games such as Fulham yet feature in the starting XI (Lerma’s red card versus Coventry as he filled in at defence did not do Cahill any favours). Smith has been picking up knocks during the period, but Parker confirmed today that the full-back has picked up a recurring knee injury and will be side-lined for the coming weeks.
Despite having one of the strongest squads in the league, there is no hiding that this set of injuries have caused some big problems and posed some bigger questions for Parker. The Head Coach has a number of strong players eager to gain more minutes amongst the squad, with the likes of Chris Mepham, Leif Davis and Steve Cook being called in to replace injured players. But as a result of the situation, we have also seen a change in formation and tactics as well as personnel.
Consistency was a vital element in Parker’s set-up during the unbeaten run, and this rhythm has been interrupted. 4-3-3 with a deeper lying midfielder has been the chosen formation in Parker’s identity, and there was evidently a system that was based on the players in this particular set-up. The recurring patterns of play down the flanks with Smith and Zemura charging from full back were seemingly too difficult for opponents to stop. Kelly’s ability (which has grown over the season) to be comfortable on the ball and quickly distribute to the wingers as well as pick out the inside balls has been dearly missed. The touch of finesse and quality in distribution from the back has been particularly missing over the current rough patch.
As important as these players are in the defensive side of the game, they are also vital to the way Bournemouth attack. Bournemouth have at times looked disjointed in the forward areas as the tactics and formation have changed to adapt to the personnel. We have seen a three at the back used to accommodate, taking away the patterns of play between winger and full-back which have been crucial. The partnership of Cahill and Kelly was proving to be a remarkable part of the defence. The organisation and discipline they brought together has evidently been missed whether that is with the traditional two centre halves or three.
The 15-game unbeaten streak to kick-off the season demonstrated that Parker is a coach who enjoys consistency. There was very little change in team selections and very few times where a change in formation was seen to be needed. It was at a point where why change what is winning. This was certainly the attitude of Parker, and rightly so as Bournemouth were displaying a clear, dominant, and aesthetically pleasing identity.
But as Parker has been forced to adapt, the results have shown that the change in the rhythm of consistency in his set-up has left Bournemouth drop to second in the league and only take six points from a possible 18.
When asked if he was desperate to return to a rhythm where the set-up was as consistent as during the first 15 games, Parker told Nerve Sport: “Yes, definitely.”
He continued: “We’ve had to manage certain situations and change it up a little bit of course due to circumstances.
“But I think it is fair to say that I would like to get back to exactly what we’re about and what we are, and we will. I have no doubt we will.
“I think it is fair to say that we want to the team that we have come to see in our way and style.”