When these two teams met on the opening day of the season, no one thought these former relegation rivals would be fighting out for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Only leaders Liverpool have a better away record than Forest but trips do not come much tougher than a day out at the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth have beaten Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham there, three of last season’s top five, already this season.
This was a manager, after all, that failed to win any of his first 10 league games in charge and was in serious danger of losing his job but is proof that if you give the right man enough time to get it right, they can create something special.
Players and recruitment are important but it’s the manager who works with the tools. It’s his messaging and his style. It’s him that has catapulted Bournemouth to within reach of European football.
Iraola is mild-mannered but he’s really a smiling assassin. He’s ruthless and it comes out in his team’s performances. Just a few minutes into their dominant victory at Newcastle, he sat in the dugout with pen and paper in hand and a hint of a grin. He knew he had the better of Eddie Howe‘s side tactically – and physically.
At his former club Rayo Vallecano, he had the distinction of being statistically one of the most aggressive pressers in Europe and that’s continued to the south coast.
Trips do not come much tougher than facing Andoni Iraola’s side at the Vitality Stadium
Bournemouth have beaten Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham and are the Champions League fight
Forest, meanwhile, have been excellent this season but face tough test on Saturday afternoon
His players buzz around the pitch with ravenous hunger, pushing up high and pinning opponents back. They have won the ball back more often than any other side this season. They press in one-on-one situations all over the pitch and there isn’t one player who doesn’t give everything for the cause.
Against Newcastle, midfielder Ryan Christie pushed up to join the front four of Dango Ouattara, Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert and David Brooks as they pressed high in a five.
They took Newcastle’s composure away and the game was up. They were forced into playing long balls and when they did the centre-backs just gobbled it up.
Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi are like twins. They both wear gloves, both with their socks rolled down to their ankles. If we’d worn gloves 20 years ago, we’d have been told to take them off! But maybe this is the modern-day centre back in the making, looking more like a relative of Jack Grealish.
They are both tidy passers and like to play great raking cross-field balls but aren’t afraid to run with it when they have the time and space. They have got pace, too, something that’s often in short supply for centre backs.
Huijsen is only 19, joined for just £15million in the summer, and already looks a bargain with Chelsea and Real Madrid said to be interested.
Milos Kerkez is another young defender with the world at his feet. He can tuck into midfield or overlap down the left. His understanding with Semenyo is superb. If the forward moves inside, he’ll fly down the wing.
Bournemouth’s recruitment is becoming Brentford-esque.
Bournemouth’s recruitment is becoming Brentford-esque – they have got pace everywhere
Iraola’s side play great football, as their league position shows, but are also dark arts masters
They have got pace everywhere. And while Iraola’s side play great football, cutting Newcastle to ribbons with lots of one-touch, two-touch passing, they are masters of the dark arts too.
One thing I always used to do as a player was if I couldn’t win the ball I’d make sure I’d get a bit if my opponent, just to slow them down and make some impact.
Bournemouth are great at this, it’s no wonder they have made the most fouls in the league this season.
They have done this with a huge injury list too. They have nine first-team players ruled out but still seven of the side that started that season opener against Forest did so against Newcastle too.
By the time City and Chelsea take to the field on Saturday, Iraola’s side could be above the reigning champions in the table and remarkably level on points with Chelsea.
