Eddie Howe should be wary of abandoning principles despite Bournemouth’s shaky form

Eddie Howe has not encountered too many lows as Bournemouth manager since he first took charge in December 2008, when the club were second-bottom of League Two and seven points adrift of safety. Back then, supporters of the south-coast side would have laughed had it been suggested that, a little over eight years later, they would supposedly be in crisis while occupying 14th place in the Premier League. That is the nature of the game today — the ruthless removal of history-making Claudio Ranieri from his post as Leicester City manager demonstrated how seriously the threat of relegation is taken — and Bournemouth’s recent form means the scrutiny of Howe has intensified. Last weekend’s 2-1 defeat by West Bromwich Albion extended their winless run to seven top-flight matches, a barren stretch that leaves Bournemouth nervously looking over their shoulders ahead of Saturday’s trip to Manchester United. A four-point margin separating them from the relegation zone means there is at least a little breathing space for Howe and his players, but things could get altogether more difficult if Jose Mourinho’s men emerge victorious at Old Trafford this weekend. __________________________________ Read more ■ Diego Forlan: On Enrique's decision to step down as Barca manager ■ Steve Luckings: Same problems to blame for Liverpool's season ■ Predictions: Can Liverpool bounce back against Arsenal? __________________________________ Bournemouth’s poor form has inevitably led to calls for Howe to move away from his favoured possession-based and attack-minded approach. Conventional wisdom states that teams battling against the drop should primarily focus on keeping things tight at the back, but it is difficult to envisage Howe abandoning his principles and enacting a drastic transformation in style. “I think very much we have to do our style of game better,” Howe, 39, told reporters after the loss to West Brom. “You are constantly looking to find a better way of doing it, but in terms of how we play and what we do there will be no change.” In many ways, that makes sense. Bournemouth’s players have been trained in a particular way all season long, and there is no guarantee that abruptly ripping up the rule book would induce an upturn in either performances or results. Yet Howe will be fully aware that his glowing reputation will take a hit if he proves unable to keep Bournemouth in the Premier League this season, and it will be interesting to see whether he remains just as faithful to his philosophy if his side’s slump continues in the weeks ahead. It is worth remembering, though, that Howe found himself in a similar position last season. Granted, expectations have heightened since then, but Bournemouth were also advised to adapt their expansive ways after collecting just three points from a possible 24 between late September and the beginning of December in 2015/16. In the end, they comfortably avoided relegation despite winning only one of their final eight games. All of which is not to say that the same will necessarily happen this time around, nor that Bournemouth should rest on their laurels and merely wait for their form to pick up. Staying true to the methods that got them this far may not represent naive idealism but rather their best chance of staying up. “It’s very easy when everyone is lavishing praise on you to accept it but you have to accept the other side, which is where we are at the moment,” Howe said last Saturday. “I wouldn’t say I’m enjoying it but I’m certainly facing it.” The next two-and-a-half months will be a big test for the Bournemouth manager, with the outcome of the campaign likely to play a big part in shaping his future. Sakho starts to prove a point at Palace Mamadou Sakho. Twitter / @mamadousakho The Crystal Palace board cannot be accused of failing to invest in the squad this season. After spending more than £50 million (Dh224.7m) on Christian Benteke, Andros Townsend, Steve Mandanda and James Tomkins last summer, Palace were the Premier League’s highest net spenders in the January transfer window. Holding midfielder Luka Milivojevic, who cost £11m from Olympiacos, is a much-needed and belated replacement for Mile Jedinak. Patrick van Aanholt (£10m) looks to have solved the left-back problem and £9m Jeff Schlupp offers another option on that side of the pitch. Perhaps the most significant mid-season addition, though, is a player who joined Sam Allardyce’s side on a four-month loan deal until the end of the campaign. Mamadou Sakho was superb in last weekend’s 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Middlesbrough, as the Frenchman once again proved himself to be a commanding figure in the heart of the backline. It was Sakho’s first senior appearance of the season, having been exiled by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after turning up late on three occasions during a pre-season tour of the United States. It is difficult to avoid the feeling that his parent club — whose title bid has been undermined by their defensive vulnerabilities — could have done with him, but Liverpool’s loss is Palace’s gain. “His experience and composure was there [to see] … we needed him today,” Allardyce said of the centre-half after his team’s defeat of Middlesbrough, which edged them closer to safety ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Brom. The coming weeks will be massive for Palace as they attempt to pull away from the drop zone and maintain their Premier League status. The same is true for Sakho, a player who, with some justification, will say he deserves to be playing at a much higher level next season. Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport

Eddie Howe should be wary of abandoning principles despite Bournemouth’s shaky form

Greg Lea looks at the situation at Bournemouth and their manager Eddie Howe.