Eddie Howe’s A.F.C Bournemouth slipped into the relegation zone following a heavy defeat to West Ham on New Year’s Day. The club have now scored just two goals in the past seven Premier League matches and are the third lowest scorers in the division behind only Watford and Crystal Palace. They have suffered from a chronic lack of underinvestment in forward areas, and those who have joined the Cherries have failed to have the desired impact.
Dominic Solanke was a highly sought-after youth player at Chelsea before making the switch to Liverpool. It was perceived to be a great coup when Bournemouth nabbed him off the current Premier League leaders, though in 28 English topflight games he is yet to find the back of the net. While there is still time for the youngster to kick start his career at 22-years-old, it may be elsewhere or in the Championship if a lack of goals fails to keep the Cherries in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, the only other striker Eddie Howe has spent more than £10m on is Benik Afobe, the now Bristol City player had two seasons on the South Coast scoring a meagre six times in 48 Premier League matches. Clearly there has been a lack of appropriate investment in the forward areas, though this is partially due to already having Callum Wilson.
The England international is a bona fide Cherries legend having scored 38 topflight goals for the club, and only Josh King has more. But Wilson has struggled with injury issues since promotion to the Premier League, missing 327 days off action after suffering multiple knee injuries. Meanwhile, King has failed to replicate last season’s haul of 12 league goals, past the mid-point of this season he has just three to his name.
Other midfielders such as Harry Wilson, on loan from Liverpool, have chipped in with a significant proportion of goals, the Welshman has six so far this season and is Bournemouth’s top scorer. Howe is also unfortunate to be without David Brooks who was injured in preseason and remains unable to play.
It appears a lack of investment up top finally is coming back to bite Bournemouth, and Howe may be forced to dip into the market this month to salvage his side’s situation. But if their baron scoring run continues though they are only heading in one direction.
