Bournemouth fan Tierney answers our questions in our Fan Interview ahead of Sunday’s game at the Fitness First Stadium.
1. What is your name and how long have you been a Cherries supporter?
James Tierney. Fan for approximately 5 years. Could be considered plastic, but support the side as my local team, rather than the team of my heart!
2. After finishing 19th last season, what were your expectations this year?
I think people expected more than where we currently are. Bond gambled and it hasn’t paid off. Yet. He decided he would relase 11(?) players and bring in his own side, so he can’t moan with the players he has, as he brought them in. However, I think people will be happy with survival, though the club is a low-midtable side. Gone are the days of play-off contendors with O’Driscoll for the time being.
3. You’ve made a number of signings this Summer, 9 I think to be exact, how do you rate these new players and who has been your worst and best arrival?
Well with the current league position, they can’t all be that good! However, having not seen a game since the pre-season friendlies my judgement could be rather unfair. People who have arrived and been successes though are Ryan Garry (a centre-back from Arsenal), who appears to be very composed at the back and was forging a good partnership with Josh Gowling. Unfortunately, his injury record has come back and he won’t be present on Sunday. Jo Kuffour has also looked bright at times, when he’s given some service. Disappointments have been the erratic Asmir Begovic (goalkeeper on loan from Pompey). He’s prone to mistakes and regular ones at that. To keep fan favourite Neil Moss out of the side for so long was a huge error from bond. Thankfully, Mossy is now back in the sticks and hopefully will be on Sunday. Russell perrett and Marvyn Bartley have been injured, whilst Garreth O’Connor hasn’t reproduced his old form with us so far. And Paul Telfer hasn’t lived up to his big reputation in recent weeks if reports are to go by.
4. Your manager Kevin Bond struggled with your side last season and is struggling again this year, is he the right man for the job still or should he be shown the door?
He’s on thin ice I think. However, two wins on the bounce will have instilled some confidence throughout the club. However, I believe the board’s mistake was to give him a 2-year contract at the start of the season, in my opinion it should have been a season-long rolling one. If we to get rid now, we would have to pay compensation, which frankly, we can’t afford. Club’s future over team’s success going have to be the fans mentality perhaps?
5. Your picking your points up away this year, and are yet to win a game at home, why do you think you are struggling at Dean Court?
Low crowds. Poor football. Pressure on. Too many mistakes. Lack of service. Lack of Goals. Injuries.
6. What are your current strengths and weaknesses in your side? And what changes need to be made if things are to improve?
When everyone is fit I think the team is relatively strong. Moss, Gowling and Garry will be a great trio. Cummings is slowly coming back to his best (injuries still intervening), Anderton is class, whilst Vokes is showing real promise for the future. However, the squad is down to the bare bones and needs to keep winning to keep confidence up. We don’t have the money to make changes. I believe we have too many players on loan at the moment anyway, possibly disrupting the team by coming and going.
7. The Swans travel to Dean Court on the back of a 5-0 win at Leyton Orient. What are your predictions on the game?
I think we’ll either sneak a win, or be batterred about 3-0. Being the optimist though, I’ll plump for a 2-1 home win.
8. What are your views on your opposition? Who do you see as our main threat and do you think we can gain promotion at the third attempt this year?
You’re a growing club, that has big ambitions. You desperately need a season in The Championship though. This season is make or break I think. You can definetely go up, if the players stay focussed, but expect the challenges from Forest and Dirty Leeds inevitably. As for your main threat I think Warren Feeny could be key. A former player of ours, loved my many, disliked by others. He’s scored at every club he’s been at, and seems to be in form for you. Can be quiet for 89 minutes but get you a goal in the 90th. Hopefully for us, Gowling will keep him quiet.
Thanks to Tierney for his answers.
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