Eddie Howe is one of the most clever managers in the Premier League but his teams are very streaky. He will look to build a winning one against Chelsea.
Eddie Howe is good for one terrible run of form a season and one amazing run of form a season. That has held true every single year that they have been in the Premier League.
Currently, they are more or less in the terrible run of form. They just beat West Ham but A: it is West Ham and B: it was their first win in six and their third in fifteen. That run has seen them tumble from nipping at Europa League to midtable as it has every other season.
Still, Howe is a clever manager. And once he finds the new solution, it is likely to work for a while again. Maurizio Sarri has already beaten Howe twice this year but neither match was easy for the Blues. Sarri will know this one will not be either as Howe looks to make it third times the charm.
Generally, Howe sets his team up in a 4-4-1-1 formation. But against tougher opposition, like Chelsea, he has favored a back three formation as his side looks to absorb and counter more than take the game to the opponent. So it should be pretty much expected that he will go with a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2 to counter Chelsea.
In previous matches against Chelsea this year, Howe opted for the 3-4-3 with the side defending in a 5-4-1 shape. This sacrificed possession in the center but allowed Bournemouth to attack down the flanks more easily.
Howe could opt to go that route again, but given the rise of diamonds stifling Chelsea, he could just as easily go with a 3-5-2 formation with a striker dropping in to support. That is how Tottenham got momentum back in the League Cup and Howe is sure to have looked at that and come up with some ideas.
If Bournemouth take that route, they can stretch Chelsea out where their short, quick passes are less useful. It will be a big ask on the front two and wingbacks of Bournemouth to make it work, but it is doable.
Chelsea will likely find it difficult to draw Bournemouth out to create vertical space, but the Blues should have success in drawing someone out higher up the field. Howe has his side well drilled, but they all want to press the ball. That can leave space in behind that a running Chelsea player can exploit. Of course, Chelsea will have to actually have a running player in the first place.
Howe is clever and one of the league’s most tactically astute managers. Sarrismo is all fine and good but it is static over time. If Howe has been watching game tape, he likely has a solution to Sarri’s style even with the introduction of Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard playing wide again.
The problem for Howe is whether or not he has the players to do what is needed. So far against Chelsea this season, he has not. The Cherries have put together a good squad, but Howe still has them punching above their weight. Sarri will need to be careful but the Blues should be able to take this one.