Time for a change?

It's no secret that the Cherries have had a poor start to the season. The Cherries have conceded 6 goals in their opening 3 matches, only scoring 2 and picking up 1 point away at relegation favourites Yeovil Town. Some sections of the Bournemouth support have been screaming for changes.

Some would just like to see the return of long term injury absentees Josh Gowling and Warren Cummings.

Others think its time that Neil Moss is re-instated into the starting eleven at the expense of Gareth Stewart.

Some are wondering what all the fuss is about, after all it's a 46 game season and we have only played 3 games.

But others want a more drastic change with some screaming for the manager to be removed from his position, it is a hot topic of conversation on Cherries fan site rednblack.net but it also is the main topic in the Daily Echo Sports Post Bag.

With Patrick Brown of Lincoln saying...

With just one point from a potential nine, one really hopes that sought after attribute - consistency - is not too sought after by the over-processed and mis-firing Cherries.

For, were we to slip into consistency mode this season - and on the basis of current evidence - we would accumulate 15 points from the 138 on offer, score 30 lonely goals (66 per cent by Hayter) and have Gareth Stewart sidelined with back ache from picking the orb from the net 92 times come May.

Jim Stantiford of Bridport claims...

I know the season is only three games old, but I think it has got to be time to have a change of manager. This is not a knee-jerk reaction to a bad start, but we just seem to have followed on from last season and that was one of the worst since the Benson era.

Sean O'Driscoll cost this club dear by missing out on possibly getting into the play-offs the season before last. Then, we came so close to getting relegated and played some of the worst football for many a season.

Now the team is playing with no passion or fight and that must come from how the manager seems to react.

While R.S. Barber of Storrington bemoans...

THE start of another football season but with AFC Bournemouth nothing changes.

The same manager, mainly the same players and the same tactics combining in another home defeat watched by the second lowest gate in the division.

We also assume the same high level in debt. What happened to all those special events that could be held at the new ground to raise money?

It could be said that while a community club saved it from folding, it all meant that in the end it kills off any ambition through lack of resources.

While R.S Barber has a point with the lack of resources (after all we are a side that doesn't own it's stadium and where money for loan players comes from Playershare) isn't it all a bit early to hit the panic button?

Sean O'Driscoll with the previously mentioned lack of resources has assembled a young team that no doubt has potential to play some entertaining football.

He has brought in 6 new players over the summer. 2 loan signings from Championship clubs, 3 youngster's and 1 who turned down a chance of re-signing a deal at Premiership champions Chelsea.

Do these new players not deserve a chance to gel and settle into their new surroundings?

Doesn't the team on a whole deserve the chance to get the balance right and show the obvious talent that they possess?

What good would a change of manager bring to the club? What resources would the club have of funding a new manager and his new ideas?

What exactly has Sean O'Driscoll done wrong that any other manager in his position would have done?

The upset of missing out on the play-offs on the last day of the season in 2004/05 was a down point, but didn't Sean O'Driscoll assemble that side to get into that position in the first place? Didn't O'Driscoll over perform to give the Cherries that chance of promotion?

Yes, 1 point and a goal difference of minus 4 after 3 games is a disappointment, but it was only 4 years ago that we failed to win in our first five games and we went on to win promotion from the old Division 3.

A league campaign is a marathon not a sprint, so lets get behind the lads on Saturday and cheer them on to a victory against Cheltenham Town.

UP THE CHERRIES!!

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