Back Of The Net - The AFC Bournemouth Podcast

Cherries' Quarter Final FA Cup exit on Sunday felty like a microcosm of the season so far - an explosive start followed by a troubling second half. In reality, Bournemouth's recent "dip" has only been a few games, however, with relatively few options on the bench, the side has visibly looked leggy and drained recently. So, why is this? The fatigue is perhaps understandable. In January we were play...

Andoni Iraola was at AFC Bournemouth's brand new Performance Centre on Friday, looking forward to a HUGE FA Cup clash against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, knowing that a victory could get Bournemouth back to Wembley in the cup for the first time since 1998. Sam and Tom at the QP to preview Sunday's epic encounter which will see the Citizens desperate to rescue an underwhelming season by gettin...

Bournemouth's defeat at home to Brentford on Saturday saw Thomas Frank's side fully control the narrative. Whilst Iraola's side have often been the architects of their own demise recently, this time, the Bees were excellent at manipulating the outcome. As a result, they are currently three points behind Iraola’s side in the table, and after their 2-1 win at Dean Court, the race for Europe is hotti...

On Saturday, Cherries will be desperate for three points against the Bees, alas, there’s an issue with that, because we have NEVER beaten them in the Premier League! AFC Bournemouth have entered the final ten, and with Cherries sitting ninth in a congested top half of the table, a win could put us sixth. There are a number of reasons why this game is important, including European impetus and FA Cu...

A point gained? Or two points dropped? Thanks to Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth fans sense the latter. On Sunday, Cherries travelled to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face the Lilywhites in buoyant mood thanks to the levels of expectation set by our Basque boss. Whilst Bournemouth's Premier League form has been shaky of late, there still remain great expectations for this season, and the pre-match c...

This season, Spurs and the Cherries have been the same, but different. Both sides have been plagued with debilitating injury woes which have caused calamity in the dressing room, but whilst one of sides is on the cusp of Europe, the other is languishing in the bottom half of the table. One manager has decided to embrace the challenge, whereas the other has used it as a reason for their recent fail...

On Saturday, AFC Bournemouth’s penalty prowess ensured that Cherries progressed to the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup, only to then be drawn against the favourites in the Quarter Finals. Alas, Manchester City ARE beatable, so what chances do Andoni Iraola's side have, especially given the key absences? Sam and Tom return with a Second Look to cover a dramatic day at Dean Court where Wolverhampton Wa...

Despite Cherries registering two consecutive losses in the Premier League, they still sit in a European spot, just three points behind the Champions League places. Sam and Jeff are on Brighton seafront to chat to BBC Radio Solent's commentary team Jordan Clark and John Williams, talking about the season so far, reminiscing over some of our BIG moments. Plus, given Bournemouth's personnel crisis, w...

Kaoru Mitoma likes playing against Bournemouth, and on Tuesday night we travel to Falmer with the aim of keeping the Japanese star quiet. Whilst Brighton have a number of stars that can cause mischief, it's the Seagulls' number 22 that has often been the thorn in Cherries' side recently, so can a Zabarnyi-less Boscombe prevent the in-form striker from influencing the game? Sam and Tom discuss the...

On Saturday Andoni Iraola's Cherries face Wolverhampton Wanderers at home in the Premier League, in the first of two consecutive matches against Vítor Pereira's men. By looking at the the league table, the form table, the baseline tracker, everything should indicate that this should be fairly routine for Boscombe, but football is NOT played on paper, and looking at Wolves’s last performance in the...

Bournemouth's 3-1 win over south coast rivals Southampton propelled Andoni Iraola's side up to fifth in the Premier League, sparking conversation amongst fans that making the grade for Europe's elite tournament could actually be a possibility. Whilst fans gleefully chanted "Champions League awaits for me", we're now at a point where we're questioning whether the song we're singing is just another...

Whilst Cherries fans will be singing "mind the gap", Andoni Iraola will be telling his players to "be careful" of the gap - with Bournemouth's trip to relegation-threatened Leicester earlier this season being the prime example that league positions should be treated with a pinch of salt. We know that both statistics and recent history indicates that Bournemouth should wipe the floor with our Hamps...

Bournemouth's win at Everton on Saturday, twinned with drawing Wolves at home in the fifth round, has made fans believe that FA Cup glory could be around the corner. But what chance have the Cherries SERIOUSLY got? Sam and Tom are at the QP to review the game, plus we gauged the reactions of Cherries AND Wolves fans ahead of the two meetings we'll have against Vítor Pereira's men - on two consecut...

After smashing the Baggies 5-1, Bournemouth travel to Merseyside for the very last time on Saturday, as they face Everton in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. Cherries fans have travelled to Goodison Park twice previously wondering if it’d be the last time we see the Great Old Lady - but with the new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock DEFINITELY ready for the start of the 2025/26 season season, this WILL be...

Darren England's refereeing return played out in inevitable fashion on Saturday in a tasty tussle between two of the Premier League's form sides. With Bournemouth on a record unbeaten run, Cherries fans were buoyant ahead of Liverpool's arrival - but despite a busy opening for the home side, the tone was set on 28 minutes, when Arne Slot's side were awarded a spot kick after a Cody Gakpo fall. Deb...

Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot locking horns on Saturday is arguably THE most important match of the weekend, and judging by Liverpool's selection again PSV in the week, one might suggest that THIS the match they are worried about... Bournemouth are in sparkling form at the moment - on an unbeaten run which is a club record, but so are our opponents Liverpool. The Red half of Merseyside are cruising...

We’re running out of superlatives at the moment. We’re running out of words. Every week, AFC Bournemouth fans are being surprised by what Andoni Iraola and his side are producing, but it’s now happening with such regularity that - maybe we shouldn’t be surprised after all? This weekend’s delicacy was a rampant win against high flying Nottingham Forest, and in this Second Look, Sam and Tom pour ove...

On Saturday, Andoni's AFC Bournemouth face Nuno's Nottingham Forest in a clash which feels like it has got a lot riding on it. Many people had Forest down as relegation fodder before the season, but now, with only 16 games of the campaign to go, fans of the Tricky Trees are sauntering into work whistling the Champions League theme tune. What have Forest done? How have they done it? And WHERE could...

On Saturday, AFC Bournemouth fans made the LONGEST trip of the Premier League to face Newcastle at St James Park. Andoni Iraola's Cherries hammered the Magpies in a phenomenal performance which saw them score FOUR, three of them coming from Justin Kluivert - his second hattrick of the season. We know the Cherries have had some big results in their recent history, but is that the best of the lot? W...

Former AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe had a shaky start to the season, and some Magpies fans were questioning his future, but with NINE wins in a row, one foot in the Carabao Cup final, and sitting pretty in the Premier League table - it's fair to say that Tyneside is now United behind Eddie and co. With Bournemouth awaiting this weekend, they can make it ten in all competitions, and they'll f...

Chelsea's dramatic draw with AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday was littered with contentious issues, leaving fans from BOTH sets of fanbases flabbergasted by actions, of lack of, by referee Rob Jones. David Brooks's coming together with Marc Cucurella left Blues fans reeling, but at the other end, the build up to the late equaliser sparked a debate about a rule that NO-ONE seems to know, not least the of...

On Tuesday night, AFC Bournemouth face their second match in the space of seven days. Whilst on Saturday, Cherries soundly defeated West Brom in the FA Cup, next up for Andoni Iraola's men is a tough test against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. But Boscombe have an injury crisis, right? So how will this play out, and what would represent a satisfactory points tally from our next...

This weekend, Cherries take on manager-less but five time winners West Brom in the 3rd round at Vitality Stadium. But Cherries are DEPLETED, and Philip Billing seems to be the latest departure (albeit on loan)... so what will Iraola do? Can the FA Cup be a welcome distraction to the relentless nature of the Premier League? Sam and Tom are at the QP to preview our cup clash! Visit the QP at 482 Hol...

Bournemouth started the New Year in style on Saturday against a terrible Toffees. A number of Cherries fans were expecting the Cherries to steamroll Sean Dyche’s side, but true to form, Everton were purposeful and pragmatic. With 11 men in blue behind the ball and seemingly little drive to go and win the game, it was always going to be a scrappy affair, with something special required to win the p...

Under Sean Dyche, Everton have a canny way of making it very difficult for Bournemouth. Whilst their league position is lowly, they have a habit of playing in a way that Andoni Iraola has often found hard to combat, so whilst form and history might tell you the Cherries should chew up and spit out the Toffees, the reality is that Saturday's match at Dean Court will be far from academic. This seaso...