Bournemouth Fan View: Is Benik Afobe a busted flush?

What on earth has happened to Benik Afobe? I’m sure he was considered a bright young talent at one stage. That seems a long time ago now though.

As an AFC Bournemouth fan I’ve seen many frustrating players wear my team’s colours. There was the hard-working but ineffective Willie Huck. The all too fleeting flashes of genius from Dani Rodrigues. Then there was Tokelo Rantie, the very definition of an enigma.

Benik Afobe is a player that can stand not-so-proudly besides all those not-so-greats though. His form for my club has been as up and down as a yoyo on a seesaw.

Benik Afobe, Bournemouth’s goal machine?

When he arrived back in January 2016 he was in decent goal-scoring form for Wolves. He also impressed while on loan to Milton Keynes Dons.

Signed for an alleged ten million pound fee – our most expensive signing at the time – he had a lot to live up to. And initially at least, he lived up to the hype.

He scored vital goals against fellow relegation strugglers Crystal Palace and Sunderland. They were predatory finishes, which would make sense as he was by and large a poacher at his previous clubs. But that version of Afobe soon disappeared.

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Howe’s tinkering

It’s well known that Eddie Howe prefers strikers who have multiple facets to their game. Whether that’s running the channels, bullying defenders with physicality, or just being a part of a high press.

So Benik Afobe’s one dimensional goal poaching style was never going to be enough for Eddie. In the last couple of seasons I’ve therefore seen the striker play deep, high, and almost as another central defender (when it comes to defending set pieces anyway.

By doing this Afobe has seemingly lost everything that made him effective however. Yes, he was only slightly effective at the start – but at least he was effective.

His recent display against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup was a worrying one indeed. He not only looked shot on confidence – he’s scored just one goal this season – but didn’t seem to know what he was supposed to be doing either.

Over-coaching

Howe has a record of getting rid of players that don’t wish to be coached on how to improve themselves – Lee Tomlin and Glenn Murray being two notable exceptions – but I do genuinely believe Afobe is trying to learn from Eddie.

Sadly for whatever reason he simply never brings much of what he may of learnt onto the pitch. He never performs consistently. One decent performance is inevitably followed by one where he looks like he belongs in the Championship.

It’s a real shame too, as not only is he clearly willing to learn under Howe, but he seems like a hugely positive character in the squad – doing much to help the local community to boot.

Ultimately though charitable acts mean little in the often cold and mean world of football. I’ve given Afobe enough chances to prove me wrong, but he just ends up letting me down far too often.

However he does have one last chance – thanks to the recent injuries to Josh King and Jermain Defoe. If he can somehow grab a goal while they’re on the treatment tables, then we might just see the old Afobe back.

Sadly, I wrote that previous sentence far more in hope rather than expectation. Benik – please prove me wrong.