6:03 Howe explains why this is the most difficult season he has faced at the club
The club lost five straight games between early November and December 7 – the longest losing run of any Premier League side this season, and Howe has had to draw on all of his experience in order to steady the ship.
Prior to the break, Bournemouth secured important home victories over Brighton and Aston Villa, while there was disappointment at taking just a point from a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. So did Howe change anything to bring about a change in fortunes?
“You look at everything when the team is not playing with the rhythm that you want it to,” he said.
“We stripped training right back to basics, and I think you go back to your core beliefs and to what you know works. You simplify everything for the players and try to build their confidence from that and I think that’s what we tried to do.
“It took a little bit of time, but I feel we got there. The last group of performances before the season was halted were much better and much more like us.
“We’re hopeful that if we can come back and play in the same type of form that we were, then we can stay in the Premier League again.”
Howe is fully aware of the economic consequences the coronavirus pandemic will bring, becoming the first Premier League manager this month to take a voluntary pay cut, along with his assistant Jason Tindall.
Safeguarding the financial stability of the club is of paramount importance, and while Premier League status must be preserved in the immediate term, Howe is keeping sight of the bigger picture.
The 42-year-old believes there are two areas in particular that will need addressing.
“The ultimate aim is to build the club season upon season, building layers that we haven’t had previously. We’re still looking at the infrastructure of the club.
“How much this knocks those plans in terms of finance available to build the club inwardly, we’ll have to wait and see. It’s going to have a huge impact on football for the foreseeable future. We’re going to have to adapt like every other club will.
“But right now, it is about preserving our Premier League status, and then growing the club so we become stronger and bigger for the long term. There’s two main things to look at: one is the stadium.
“I don’t feel we need a huge leap, but a gradual step forward where more people can come and watch us play. This would lead to increased revenue and all the things that would come with that.
“But secondly, and most importantly for the day-to-day work of the players, is the training ground. Getting a permanent, bigger base will be key where we can interlink all our departments so that our development squad and our youth team can be brought closer to the first team.”
Howe is currently the longest-serving manager in the Premier League at over seven years, just ahead of Burnley’s Sean Dyche, and it is clear he has lost no appetite for his position on the south coast and the fresh challenges it brings.
“I’m not sure there’s a secret to longevity as a manager in one role, but hard work is an absolute must. To do any job properly and to the best of your ability, I think you really need to dedicate yourself to it.
“I’ve tried to do that every day. I’ve tried to do the best that I can for AFC Bournemouth. I think that’s vitally important – I’ve never worked for myself, but always for the club.
“I’ve just worked day to day – I haven’t set out with any great plans to be here forever or for a long time; I’ve just tried to do my best day by day, and then seen where it would take me. That’s where I currently am.”
Five years on from gaining promotion, it is worth remembering just how far Bournemouth, and Howe, have come.
Sourse: skysports.com
