Bournemouth Fan View: Josh King must play on the wing

Josh King must play on the wing for my side AFC Bournemouth. It even rhymes, so it must be true. Watching him cause Newcastle United so many problems out wide with his pace and power on Saturday only confirmed this.

Now he’s obviously had a huge amount of success with us in the past playing as a lone striker. But with Callum Wilson seemingly undroppable in the main forward role, Josh King must be accommodated somehow.

Josh King, a future on the wing?

This is because, quite simply, he cannot play behind the striker. He has never been able to, and Eddie Howe continually trying it is getting rather frustrating. Take the hint Eddie – it doesn’t work mate.

So we either play King as a lone striker and drop Wilson, or play him on the wing. After Saturday, I think he should be tried in the latter position. He has the strength and pace to create issues for almost any full-back when he plays there.

He also looks more comfortable in that role – where his sole aim is to push forward and deliver crosses – than a position behind the striker, which can require a little more guile and subtlety. Something King lacks, despite his many strengths.

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Smith superb

There’s also the chance he could forge a good partnership with Adam Smith on that left flank. Smith was superb when he came on at half-time to replace the off-colour Charlie Daniels. He offered us – like King – a much-needed thrust going forward.

Even though he is naturally a right back, it’s unlikely he’ll play there anytime soon. This is largely due to the fact that Simon Francis won’t be dropped by Howe. He does, however, look a much better full-back at this time than Daniels. Much much better.

In any case, if King and Smith don’t start next week at Leicester in similar positions, then I’d be worried about Howe’s thought processes. To say the very least.

Complacency could cost us

This is because on Saturday we looked worryingly complacent for the majority of the game against Newcastle, and simply can’t afford to sink into a run of poor form in this last segment of the season. Only for the last 10 minutes did we cause the Tyneside club any serious problems.

That was in part due to Rafa Benitez going far too defensive with his subs. This was when we were there to be finished off, too. But the fact we needed the opposition manager to, er, mess the bed to get a foothold in a match, against a relegation rival, is concerning.

For much of the game it looked like the spanking at Huddersfield Town had left no scars on the team, as they still lacked any real fight or zip. So, despite our lofty current position of eleventh – five points from the danger zone – I hope our squad realise they are still a long way from confirming safety.

In my mind, the only thing that will relegate us this season is if our players continue to play like they believe we’re already safe. As they have in the previous two games. If they all put in 100% effort for our remaining fixtures however, we have more than enough about us to stay up.

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