An underwhelming season back in the Championship could yet have a happy end for Bournemouth whose form has improved markedly since Jonathan Woodgate took over as caretaker manager. We spoke to @RobMatLee for the latest.

How's the season been so far?

Season has actually been underwhelming. Most of our performances have been disappointing considering the talent our squad has. We're very lucky to still be in the playoffs in all honesty.

Bournemouth league results so far…
Bournemouth 3-2 Blackburn Stacey 25, Lerma 53, Groeneveld 84 — Johnson 42, Armstrong 73
Boro 1-1 Bournemouth Browne 81 — Solanke 38
Bournemouth 1-0 Norwich Groeneveld 35
Coventry 1-3 Bournemouth Godden pen 39 — Lerma 7, Gosling 51, 60
Bournemouth 0-0 QPR
Cardiff 1-1 Bournemouth Wilson 62 — Solanke 35
Watford 1-1 Bournemouth Perica 12 — Mepham 90
Bournemouth 1-0 Bristol City Groenveld 81
Bournemouth 1-1 Derby Riquelme 81 — Shinnie 13
Sheff Wed 1-0 Bournemouth Bannan pen 71
Birmingham 1-3 Bournemouth Hogan 55 — Groenveld 9, Brooks 42, 50
Bournemouth 4-2 Reading Solanke 56, 89, Groenveld 59, Cook 77 — Joao pen 4, Aluko 44
Bournemouth 2-0 Forest Stanislas 3, pen 51
Rotherham 2-2 Bournemouth Ladapo 37, 50 — Stanislas pen 20, Solanke 63
Bournemouth 2-3 Preston Stanislas 71, Surridge 86 — Barkhuizen 16, Sinclair 49, Bauer 86
Barnsley 0-4 Bournemouth Billing 12, Solanke 45, Rico 52, Surridge 68
Swansea 0-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth 5-0 Huddersfield Solanke 8, 13, Brooks 21, Stanislas 67, Surridge 70
Bournemouth 1-0 Wycombe Stanislas 68
Luton 0-0 Bournemouth
Brentford 2-1 Bournemouth Dalsgaard 37, Fosu-Henry 79 — Solanke 25
Stoke 0-1 Bournemouth Stanislas 79
Bournemouth 1-1 Millwall Solanke 45 — Smith 79
Bournemouth 0-1 Luton Dewsbury-Hall 67
Derby 1-0 Bournemouth Bielik 32
Reading 3-1 Bournemouth Laurent 24, McIntyre 31, Joao 43 — Stanislas 85
Bournemouth 1-2 Sheff Wed Stanislas pen 66 — Patterson 44, Rhodes 90
Bournemouth 3-2 Birmingham Groenveld 36, Wilshere 61, Billing 77 — Hogan 27, 68
Forest 0-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth 1-0 Rotherham Billing 15

Seemed a bit odd to appoint Eddie Howe's assistant if you were looking for a clean break, any complaints about Tindall's sacking?

I get why JT was installed, a short turnover, need for a little bit of continuity. However, the performances were dire, and he looked out of his depth. The players seemed to have no confidence in him or themselves. A shame because he has had such a long connection with the club, but it absolutely needed to happen.

Who do you want as a replacement?

It's hard to say, everyone comes with risks. David Wagner and Patrick Vieira are heavily linked, either one of them would be fine with me.

I've watched you quite a bit recently (Forest, Reading, Derby) and you're certainly underperforming for the players you have, some pretty big names going through the motions, is that how you guys see it and if so why is that happening?

Yeah, absolutely. I don't know in all honesty. Tindall’s tactics? I feel as though the players need to be held to account, a lot of them have shied away this season, and rocked up with an arrogance of assuming they win because on paper they are better players. All of our attacking creative players have been very quiet throughout.

What January transfer activity was done and what did you think of it?

We bought in Jack Wilshere, Ben Pearson from Preston and Shane Long on loan from Southampton. We lost Josh King to Everton, Jack Simpson to Rangers and Nnamdi Ofoborh to Wycombe before he joins Rangers as well. We also sold Dan Gosling to Watford. Three excellent signings. Wilshere has already made a massive impact, he's such a wonderful technical player. King had to go, he's wanted out for a year. Simpson wasn't highly rated here. Ofoborh was but was seventh choice, I feel we may have done a bad bit there by not tying him down, looks a talent. Gosling was sixth choice out of contract in the summer and wanted games. A shame to lose a leader but a good deal for everyone.

Summer Ins >>> Rodrigo Riquelme, 20, RW, Atletico Madrid, Loan >>> Cameron Carter-Vickers, 22, CB, Spurs, Loan

Winter Outs >>> Josh King, 29, CF, Everton, Undisclosed >>> Jack Simpson, 24, CB, Rangers, Undisclosed >>> Dan Gosling, 30, CM, Watford, Undisclosed >>> Mark Travers, 21, GK, Swindon, Loan

Where is the team strong and weak?

The team (on paper) is strong in the middle. Plenty of choice in Cook, Lerma, Billing, Wilshere and Pearson. We're a bit light on the ground up top with Solanke being out for a month leaving us Long and Surridge.

Fancy yourselves to see promotion through? What are the consequences if you don't?

On current form, I'd be amazed if we got play offs. Hopefully the new manager comes in and galvanises the team sharpish. Realistically, it's catastrophic if we don't. We would lose Lerma, Lewis Cook, Danjuma, Brooks probably Kelly as well. There's a lot of quality that people would take a chance on. I can't see many of them doing another Championship season.

Links >>> Bournemouth official website >>> Bournemouth Echo — Local Press >>> Up The Cherries — Forum >>> AFCB — Blog

The Twitter @loftforwords, @RobMatLee

Pictures — Action Images

Action Images

TacticalR added 13:08 - Feb 20 Thanks to RobMatLee. I heard Tindall interviewed on Five Live Football Daily, and it did sound like the manager's job had just been dropped on him. Whatever the performances, Bournemouth are still one of the top-scoring sides in the division.
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