Bournemouth currently lie 18th in the Premier League table with just two wins since the beginning of November in the league. They are bottom of the league in xG, with a total of 19.4 compared to the league average of 29.29, bottom of the league in xG per shot at 0.097, and are 17th in the league for xGA. All of this points to real troubles at a side who have consistently performed well since their arrival in the Premier League, and has also led to some questioning of Eddie Howe and his 4-4-2 system.
Bournemouth have played a 4-4-2 (or variations of it such as 4-4-1-1 and 4-2-3-1) virtually all season and analysis of their style of play reinforces what the xG metrics tell us, Bournemouth arent a great attacking side. In this tactical analysis, I will explain what is going wrong at Bournemouth both offensively and defensively, and seek to find some solutions of how these problems within their tactics can be solved.
Lack of central possession
A bad habit teams playing within a 4-4-2 can fall into is consistently playing down the lines in order to advance up the pitch. This involves the simple build-up pattern of playing from centre back to full-back, and down the line to the winger. This a particularly poor way to progress the ball, as it revolves around straight passes being received with the receiver facing their own goal. This gives little options for the player in possession, who also has the added difficulty of pressure from behind or from the opposition full-back.
This isnt the cleanest way to progress the ball, but if you have players who are talented with their back to goal then some success can be found, with forward movements from the midfield. However, if possible, a cleaner method of progression is through diagonal passes into the centre, as the player receives at a better body orientation (forwards) and can therefore receive the ball easier., as we can see below. There are also more options available from this central position, as the options of directly forwards, left and right are available compared to just inside and backward for the winger.
The below examples illustrate in deep areas Bournemouths struggles in this regard. Here the full-back receives from the centre back and looks to progress play. The central midfielder doesnt particularly offer himself to receive, and the full-back is determined to play the ball down the line. The full-back is pressed well and the passing lane down the wing is cut off fairly easily (another disadvantage), and as a result, Bournemouth lose the ball deep in their own half.
Here again, the full
