Fan Focus: What can we expect from Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side today?

After a run of 11 league games without a win, Bournemouth are unbeaten in 7 – what the key factors behind your upturn in form?

I’d say it’s actually quite difficult to pinpoint what has happened specifically, the make-up of the team hasn’t changed too much and if anything we lost some key players to injury and Manchester City.

When we got that first win in some time against Dr. Tottenham some belief came back and the performances improved slightly, but more importantly the results turned, even if we haven’t played that well.

One of those cases where things have evened out over a season it seems.

Losing Antoine Semenyo was a huge loss, but new Brazilian winger Rayan looks a tremendous buy. What has he brought to the table?

Well he’s done a lot of things similarly to Semenyo. He works hard, he is incredibly physically developed for his age and isn’t afraid to take on his man and get a shot off.

He certainly isn’t as technically developed as Semenyo was, and is much more liable to make a mistake given his age, but he is capable of blocking out those mistakes and can impact a game at any moment.

Bournemouth have lost just twice at home all season – what makes Dean Court such a tough place to go at the moment?

When things are going well and the crowd are active, there probably aren’t too many places as intimidating to go in the league.

Now I know that sounds ridiculous and Sunderland certainly have the rightful claims to put themselves near the top of that list, but the fans are right on top of you in our tight ground and we have pulled off some memorable late goals this season because the supporters can help drag the team over the line.

In the summer, Sunderland were linked with Djordje Petrovic, Bafode Diakite and Amine Adli. How have they all performed six months into their Bournemouth careers?

As I spoke about in the build up to the reverse fixture, Petrovic had been solid but not exceptional. In the months since he had started to become a liability, but since bringing in some genuine competition in January, he has found his feet and produced his best performances of the season recently. Hopefully this can continue.

Adli suffered for lack of game time in the first half of the season and struggled to produce any impact. Since Semenyo left he has become one of the few options at LW in the squad and that consistent game time has led to improved performances, including some massive goal contributions, notable winners against Liverpool and Everton.

Diakhite was dropped after the 4-1 loss to Brentford in late December and hasn’t made a start since. With James Hill in form he wont be coming back in anytime soon, but I can absolutely see him becoming a great prem defender, he just needs more time to adjust to the team and the league.

Now we’re over half way into this season, who would you say have been your players of the season so far?

Top picks so far would be Eli Jr. Kroupi, Alex Scott, Adrien Truffert and Alex Jimenez. Kroupi’s goals speak for themselves as a teenager in the premier league.

Alex Scott’s England call up last year surprised many who haven’t been paying attention to him but he has really developed this year into a top class central midfielder, who we struggle to keep hold of for more than one more season.

And the two full backs have been exactly what was needed. Both very capable going forward but very solid at the back. Truffert was replacing a big outgoing in Kerkez, whilst Jiminez is the right back we’ve been looking for to follow in Adam Smith’s footsteps after so many poor transfers in that position.

On the other hand, which players have been the most underwhelming?

Petrovic doesn’t quite fit in the category anymore and Adli now has started to show what he’s capable of, but Diakite has been disappointing. Like I said, I think there is a player there, but he’s been quite poor so far this season.

While his work rate is greatly appreciated and he is a vital to the team, Evanilson’s lack of goals this season has been a frustration.

If you were Regis Le Bris, how would you set up to exploit Bournemouth’s weaknesses?

I would set up to drop deep and sit in a very low block. This Bournemouth squad is full of dribblers but not enough passers, and they struggle to breakdown teams. With plans for swift counterattacks this team can be easily caught out.

When in more settled possession you can disrupt the defensive unit quite easily with good movement, due to how much we like to set up in a man-to-man press. Get Brobbey to stick close to Senesi and he should win the physical battle, after which get midfielders moving close and beyond him to link up and the chances will come regularly.

How do you expect Adoni Iraola to set up tactically?

The same way we have for the last 3 seasons. The only difference this year has that we have not been quite as aggressive in pressing opposition defences in possession to save energy for the second half of matches and the season.

But given we are at home you should expect to come under a lot of pressure. Long balls will be played regularly to get us up the pitch quickly, and we will do our best to isolate Rayan 1v1 with his full back.

Are any players missing and what do you think the starting XI will be?

Our injury list is currently Justin Kluivert, Lewis Cook, Ben Gannon-Doak and Julio Soler. Arguably Kluivert and Cook would be in our best XI but they would certainly strengthen the bench if not.

Importantly we have Tavernier, Brooks and Adams all back from recent injury now so the squad is looking not far off full strength which we haven’t been able to say for some month now.

My starting XI would be: Petrovic; Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Rayan, Kroupi, Adli; Evanilson.

Sunderland game from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-2 earlier this season – what is your prediction for the final score this time around?

In the reverse I was anticipating a loss and was regrettably proven right. This time around we are going into this game with form, unbeaten in 7, whilst Sunderland have lost 4 of their last 6, and no win away in 11.

If we are going to make a late run for Europe we need to win this game. I’m going for a nervy 2-1 win.