Premier League: Team of the Week XIV

Add as preferred source on Google

Coach: Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)

Formation: 4-3-3

It can’t be understated how much of a tough call this was. It was a two-horse race between Howe and his counterpart at Chelsea, Antonio Conte. Chelsea’s game was a comeback where Conte’s tactics were spot on in terms of shutting down Guardiola’s Manchester City and showed a team never losing faith in the game-plan. For Howe to mastermind Bournemouth’s victory however, the sentiment was that it took just that little bit more.

One of the youngest manager’s in the Premier League, at the helm of a smaller club with lesser resources, it’s fair to say his Bournemouth side were far more up against it against Liverpool than Conte’s Chelsea were against Manchester City. It was Howe’s inspiration and animation on the touchline which continued to motivate his team to get forward and even when they restored parity and potentially had a point to salvage from the game having been 3-1 down, instead of shutting up shop for a draw, he kept ushering his side forward for the winner.

Managers are often tested the most when they are forced to abandon Plan A and make inspired decisions and Howe did just that. When Junior Stanislas was forcibly withdrawn through injury, he gambled on youngster Ryan Fraser in his stead, and it proved an inspired substitution as the young Scotsman won a penalty, helped himself to a first Premier League goal and registered an assist to help the Cherries to another first: their first ever win over Liverpool. Dramatic, awe-inspiring and history-making, and for the magnitude of the comeback and the victory we thought it only fitting that Howe takes the plaudits this week, though that takes nothing away from Conte and Chelsea.