Bournemouth

Sam Davis
Fan writer

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The furthest Bournemouth have reached in the FA Cup has been the quarter-finals in the 2020-2021 season. However it was a run that Cherries fans never got to experience given it was during the Covid campaign.

Other than that, there have been numerous times that we have graced the last 16, so after the weekend win, fans are now pondering whether Andoni Iraola's charges might look to go further than ever before.

A comprehensive 5-1 win over West Brom set Bournemouth up for a fourth-round trip to Everton, a side they have already done the double over this season. Easily dispatching Championship opponents in the third round may not seem that significant to most, but in the past three seasons the Cherries have gone out to lower league sides, so a swing in fortunes is certainly a good place to start this time around.

Despite something of an injury crisis, the club are sat comfortably in the top half of the Premier League table and, although Europe may be a dream for many fans, it still feels incredibly unlikely. So that being said, could a cup run be on the agenda?

The club are in a rare place of being all but mathematically safe in terms of relegation, so therefore it may be the first time in a while that Bournemouth can have a proper crack at some cup glory.

It will be a big ask, but with Premier League rivals Arsenal, Brentford and West Ham already exiting the competition, it may genuinely be an aim for which the club could strive.

We know the draw has to be kind, but ultimately, defying the odds is what Bournemouth do - so could we?

Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

This is going to be another close game. Chelsea really need to win it, after going four league games without a win.

It feels like the busy festive period has taken its toll on their young squad but they are not just going to give up on their title hopes, no matter how slim they are.

Bournemouth, who have gone eight league games unbeaten, are in much better form and I feel like I have doubted them too often when I have made my predictions this season.

The Cherries always create chances and score goals. I don't think that will change much even with Evanilson and Enes Unal both out injured, but will they be quite as ruthless? I am not sure - but that could just be me being too cautious about backing them, again.

The other part of my thinking here is that Chelsea are going to return to winning ways at some point. They are at home, and they should have beaten Crystal Palace in their last league game, so they could click again here.

I just know that whichever way I go with this game, I am going to get it wrong. I suppose the safe bet is a draw, but I am not very confident about it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Max Aarons' loan move to Valencia for the remainder of the season has now been confirmed by Bournemouth.

Aarons joined the Cherries from Norwich in the summer of 2023 and made 20 Premier League appearances as Andoni Iraola's side finished 12th on a club-record top-flight points total of 48.

However, the 25-year-old has struggled for game time this season, starting just one league game and making two other substitute appearances.

Iraola said in his earlier news conference that Aarons, "wasn't playing the minutes he wanted" at Bournemouth and "the opportunity that has arrived for him is amazing".

"I hope he does very well because he deserves it," the Spanish manager added.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola confirmed the club's intention to sign a new striker following the injuries to Enes Unal and Evanilson: "Everyone in the club is trying to sign a striker. This week we lost Enes and Evanilson. It's not going to be one or two days and then a striker signs - they're very valuable."

• He continued: "I understand clubs don't want to lose strikers half way through the season - we need a striker with the level to start and play Premier League games, it's not going to be easy but everyone in the club is working on this."

• He confirmed Max Aarons is set to join Valencia: "We've thought the best for him, if he wasn't playing the minutes he wanted here. The opportunity that has arrived for him is amazing, Valencia is a big club and I hope he does well there."

• He also praised Aarons' attitude: "His behaviour is very good, the other day knowing that it was almost a done agreement we asked him to play 45 minutes and he played very well and gave us everything - I hope he does very well because he deserves it."

• Marcus Tavernier, Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Alex Scott, Adam Smith and Luis Sinisterra all remain out with injuries and Kepa Arrizabalaga is ineligible to play against his parent club on Tuesday.

• Ryan Christie is available again after missing the victory against West Brom with illness.

• Iraola does believe the club can cope without a striker for now, and the club try many different options in training, He said: "During games we can swap positions more confidently, all the wingers we have can play as a 10 and as a nine - we have the tools to make the right calls."

• On Daniel Jebbison, who has returned from loan, Iraola said: "Hopefully he gets to speed quickly because we will definitely need him - we are asking him to change things that he was probably doing at Watford. He has come with the spirit of solving everything quickly - I hope he is able to do it."

• On Chelsea: "They are having a fantastic season, they are using the depth of their squad, they are changing their starting 11s and everyone is playing a lot and they're a lot more familiar with their roles. They are doing very well."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full commentary of Chelsea v Bournemouth from 19:25 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Bournemouth and West Brom.

Here are some of your comments:

Charl: A masterstroke handing the captaincy to David Brooks. He was exceptional and controlled the midfield - everything went through him. Tyler Adams put in another sterling performance - he's a very good signing. The young Julio Soler looked as if he'd been here all season: comfortable in possession and a good all-round awareness.

Jonathan: Five goals with no striker, impressive. Despite losing both strikers within a few days of each other, there seems to be no sense of panic. West Brom could have been a potential upset, but the team have shown again why they're not to be underestimated this season.

Wing: Brilliant display from the Cherries, who had to play a number of reserves throughout. After a shaky start, we were totally dominant once we got the equaliser. We could have scored plenty more in the second half for an even more emphatic victory against a strong Championship side going for promotion. Hopefully, we will have a great cup run this season!

Tom: Wow! What a game. Missing strikers? What we saw here was amazing and hugely reassuring. Let's go with what we have.

Pete: Impressive display, with the amount of injuries Bournemouth currently have. Dango Ouattara played in his third position of the season and got two goals. It was also great to see Daniel Jebbison score after his loan at Watford.

The draw for the FA Cup fourth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the weekend of 8 February.

• Manchester United v Leicester

• Brighton v Chelsea

• Exeter v Nottingham Forest

• Coventry v Ipswich

• Blackburn v Wolves

• Mansfield/Wigan v Fulham

• Birmingham v Newcastle

• Plymouth v Liverpool

• Everton v Bournemouth

• Aston Villa v Tottenham

• Southampton v Burnley

• Leyton Orient/Derby v Manchester City

• Doncaster v Crystal Palace

See the full draw

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

The FA Cup third round continues on Saturday, with several Premier League sides in action:

• Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion

• Chelsea v Morecambe

• Norwich v Brighton

• Nottingham Forest v Luton

• Brentford v Plymouth Argyle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Salford City (17:45) - watch on BBC One, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app

All times GMT and kick-off at 15:00 unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 FA Cup third round games and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.

For this week's matches he is up against actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton, who is a Liverpool fan.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

The injuries to Evanilson and Enes Unal this week are a blow for Bournemouth but, even without them, they are still dangerous going forward.

The Cherries are another club like Fulham and Brentford, where I look at them and hope they throw a lot at the FA Cup this season.

I said the same last year, when Bournemouth reached the last 16 for only the sixth time since they were founded in 1899, and lost to Leicester.

The furthest they have got is the quarter-finals, in 1957 and 2021, and they have never won a major trophy, so if you're a fan then you want them to have a real crack at it now they are doing so well in the Premier League.

So this should be the start of a cup run for Andoni Iraola's side, even if he makes a few changes.

I don't think Albion will be pushovers, but they are still managerless at the moment and Bournemouth should be too strong for them at home.

Billy's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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The FA Cup third round is well under way, with Premier League sides Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa the clubs already booking their places in the fourth-round draw with wins on Thursday and Friday.

But for other sides hoping for a healthy cup run this season, when will the draw take place?

The draw will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer following the conclusion of the Arsenal v Manchester United tie, which kicks off at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

It will include 32 teams - with all third-round matches this weekend settled on the day - and the resulting ties will be played over the weekend commencing Saturday, 8 February.

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola says new left-back Julio Soler will have a part to play against West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup on Saturday, after the 19-year-old Argentina youth international signed for the Cherries this week.

Soler joined on Tuesday and has already made an impression on his new boss.

"He has been training with us this week and I have liked his attitude," said Iraola. "He has come with the willingness to show the player he is.

"He is someone that doesn't speak the language but he is smart and he will be quick to learn.

"I plan to involve him in the squad. At least he has had a first-team impression and then we will wait [for him to return from the Under-20 South American Youth Championship]. I am sure he will be a good addition."

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup game West Bromwich Albion (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his interview with BBC Radio Solent:

• Recent serious injuries to Evanilson and Enes Unal have tied Iraola's hands: "A very difficult week for us. Starting from the personal side because from the footballing side, it is devastating but from the personal side, it is even worse. In Evanilson's case he finished the game and complained about another player stomping on him but we didn't think it was more than this. He developed a broken foot, surgery and a difficult situation. Then I will say Enes' one was worse because it was probably the moment he was waiting to have the chance to play more minutes and start more games. To have an ACL [anterior cruciate ligament injury] in the next training, and the process that comes with it that he already knows, is really sad for him."

• As a result, Iraola expects Bournemouth to be active in the transfer window: "It is a difficult situation because it was unexpected. One week ago, we were perfect. We had two players performing very well. You cannot control football and we are in a difficult position and I am sure the club will do a good job. They are analysing all the options in the market."

• Bournemouth's owners' track record with transfers gives Iraola confidence they will sign the correct replacement for his injured striking duo: "Now we will have to adapt a little bit and see who is available. I have trust in the club and I know they are working. I hope, as they have done a lot of times, they will make the right call."

• The Cherries boss sees his team as the ideal opportunity for a striker who wants to make their mark in the Premier League: "It is always difficult in the winter but also we are a great opportunity for a number nine who wants to have an important role in the Premier League. There will be strikers looking to take that chance and I hope we can sign the right providers."

• On a tough game against promotion-chasing Championship side West Brom, whose manager Carlos Corberan recently left for Spanish team Valencia: "I think they haven't changed a lot. They are doing the same things they were doing with Carlos [Corberan]. They are very disciplined and very organised so it is not going to be easy."

Follow all of Friday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Valencia have made an enquiry about the availability of Bournemouth defender Max Aarons.

The interest is said to be driven by former West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan, who is now managing at the Spanish club, having faced Aarons, 25, multiple times in the Championship.

However, the move would need Valencia's attempts to sign first-choice defensive target Ivan Fresneda, who plays for Sporting, to fall through.

A sudden injury crisis at Bournemouth also complicates the situation with Evanilson, Enes Unal, Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Alex Scott, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra and Adam Smith all currently out.

Four Bournemouth stars are attracting interest from top Premier League clubs, with Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, Antoine Semenyo and Dean Huijsen all being monitored by Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool. (The i, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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This is the first FA Cup meeting between Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion since January 1999, with the Cherries winning a third-round tie 1-0 thanks to an Eddie Howe goal.

Following the news that Enes Unal is set for an extended spell out with an ACL injury, just a day after it was also confirmed that Evanilson has had surgery on a broken bone in his foot, we asked you who you would like to see come in up front.

Here are some of your comments:

Kev: Marcus Rashford would be the perfect fit for Andoni Iraola. Bournemouth would be the perfect place for him to come on loan for six months to regain his confidence and form, while acting as a temporary replacement for Evanilson. He also has the experience to get us into Europe!

Lewis: 100% need to get into the transfer market. It does not need to be a permanent deal but we need a strong forward. Rashford would be ideal given the style of football Iraola plays, but would imagine that is unlikely - although Kepa was an unlikely but awesome deal!

Barney: Maybe there is an opportunity to secure Rashford on loan for the remainder of the season until he finds a permanent new home? Particularly if Manchester United are showing interest in Milos Kerkez, there should be a window of communication between the two clubs.

Paul: Top priority now for two strikers. Evan Ferguson and Callum Wilson or Elijah Adebayo would be my picks.

Tom: We need to go into the loan market to try to get a striker, potentially with an option to buy. Daniel Jebbison will do as back-up. I'm sure we will also see Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert step into the role.

Jake: Someone external with a proven track record needs to step in. While Semenyo can play there, he is excelling in his current position, and, heaven forbid, if he picks up an injury too, it could be a catastrophic blow. I believe we need experience in this situation - we cannot afford to gamble on youth. Their time and experience will come, but this is Bournemouth's time right now!

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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The Bournemouth rollercoaster shows no sign of stopping – in the past week alone, Andoni Iraola's side stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to an unprecedented eight games thanks to a sublime David Brooks volley sinking Everton, signed two players, but lost both of their main strikers to injury.

While USA youth international defender Matai Akinmboni is very much "one for the future", and fellow teenager Julio Soler from Argentina provides some depth where there previously was none - with Milos Kerkez the only recognised left-back in the squad for the first half of the season - speculation will now ramp up over how they will fill a now-glaring void in attack.

While the best-case scenario for Evanilson after metatarsal surgery could mean the Brazilian is back in a couple of months, his regular deputy Enes Unal's ACL injury in training means the Turkey striker looks unlikely to feature again this season.

Even before both injuries, there had been reports Daniel Jebbison's loan at Watford was likely to be terminated this month as it has not worked out as planned - and Bournemouth have now confirmed his recall - though at Premier League level the 21-year-old is more of a back-up than a starter.

Any transfer efforts set in motion by Evanilson's injury will have been redoubled after losing Unal, and it will not harm Bournemouth's recruitment plans that owner Bill Foley is in town this week if a permanent move rather than a loan needs to be sanctioned at the highest level.

And while all that takes place, Iraola has an FA Cup tie against West Brom for which to prepare. The Cherries' injury issues mean they do not have the personnel available to name an entirely different starting XI as some top-flight managers will no doubt do in round three.

"I'd go strong," ex-Cherries midfielder Joe Partington told BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked podcast, which has returned this week.

"Have Bournemouth ever been better set up than they are now to go after a cup competition?

"You only have to look at last season when Leicester were doing very well in the Championship, and maybe Bournemouth's fans would have expected them to win that [fifth-round tie] with a watered-down team.

"But Leicester won that game. You think 'ah, that's a shame' as they'd have been very close to a semi-final. Even though I don't agree with the semi-finals being at Wembley, it's a great day out. Show respect to the cup and play your best team."