Liverpool's Sporting Director Richard Hughes is ruthless. His chess-like game-play for Alexander Isak is causing intense angst for his old Bournemouth-based pal Eddie Howe, who is stuck between a rock and a hard place with the wantaway Swedish star. As Bournemouth travel to Anfield on Friday night, we preview the Premier League curtain-raiser, and discuss Hughes's contrasting off-seasons on Merseyside, plus we review the latest Cherries news from the week. For the first part of the show, Sam and...
Aug 14, 2025•49 min
With the Summer Series over and just one pre-season friendly left for AFC Bournemouth, attention quickly turns to the Premier League, with the curtain-raiser against Liverpool just 11 days away. The frustrating 2-0 defeat against West Ham in Atlanta saw Cherries dominate the game, yet go down to two clinical moments from the Iron, so with one win and two defeats across the pond, what will Andoni Iraola have taken from our three Stateside games? Sam and Tom take a candid focus at the state of our...
Aug 04, 2025•47 min
Back of the Net is fastly approaching 21K subscribers, and we've got to this point by carefully creating an engaged and involved community, which in turn has helped us fund our equipment and ongoing costs. The challenge to run a podcast and Youtube channel whilst holding down a career is tough, but somehow, with the help of an army of backers, we've hopefully managed to represent the AFC Bournemouth's fan community with content that you're proud of. Next season, we're looking to enhance our outp...
Aug 02, 2025•26 min
Manchester United destroyed Bournemouth on Thursday morning in a showing which suggests that the Red Devils might be back! But how much of United's brilliance was down to Bournemouth's insufficiency? Two goals either side of half time saw off the Cherries at a blustery Soldier Field in Chicago, with Iraola's men managing to claw back a consolation at the end, but there was a substantial gap in industry at times, so at this point, how much should Bournemouth fans be concerned? Sam and Tom are the...
Jul 31, 2025•52 min
On Saturday, Bournemouth kicked off the Premier League Summer Series in style with a 3-0 romp against Everton at the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey. After a tentative first half, the second 45 sprang into life with goals from Phillip Billing, Dango Ouattara and Daniel Adu-Adjei. The game was followed up with Manchester United beating West Ham 2-1, so as it stands, Cherries are top of the league! Sam and Tom are at the Queens Park Hotel to discuss what happened! Visit the QP at 482 Holdenhurst Rd...
Jul 28, 2025•38 min
This week, local residents were invited to find out about Cherries' planned redevelopment of Vitality Stadium - where there will be an upgrade from 11,300 to 20,200 seats. The presentation from the club included senior figures from AFC Bournemouth, as well as personnel connected with the proposed development - who were on hand to answer questions about what is planned, how long it will take, as well as providing a bit of background about the logistics of the move. Sam and Tom are at the Queens P...
Jul 18, 2025•44 min
With another season ahead of us, we wanted to update you about the future of Back of the Net and how you can help us as we navigate the 2025/26 season! Also, we'll go over the latest news and events emanating out of Dean Court, including Semenyo's contract extension, Alex Scott winning the U21 Euro's, and Bournemouth's pre-season friendlies. Plus, whilst Adrien Truffert is through the door at Dean Court, nervous Cherries fans will be hopeful of further incomings over the forthcoming fortnight, b...
Jul 09, 2025•1 hr
With rumours continuing to surface regarding another potential Bournemouth departure in Illia Zabarnyi, Sky Sports' Mark McAdam joins Sam and Tom at the New Forest Pantry in Ringwood to mull over the latest goings on at Dean Court... We discuss the prolonged Milos Kerkez deal, the conjecture about Zabs's potential move to PSG, and the concern at having to replace 4 of our 5 back-line - plus we ponder whether Andoni Iraola has the hunger to continually oversee these season-on-season transitions. ...
Jun 22, 2025•1 hr 3 min
The fixtures for the 2025/26 season are out for AFC Bournemouth, and there are some BIG headlines and KEY observations! Sam and Tom pour over today's release, ponder how it could possibly pan out for Andoni Iraola's men for the upcoming campaign, plus, we predict how many points we'll get from each team! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to all our platforms. If you’re enjoying this show, you can help support us by buying us a coffee at https://www.afcbpodcast.com/coffee – we really ap...
Jun 18, 2025•40 min
In the close season, Andoni Iraola's Cherries have been linked with no less than TWENTY SIX different players! In a bid to sort the fact from the fiction, we attempt to analyse each and every bit of conjecture - predicting which soundbites are tittle tattle, and which of are them are potential "Here We Go's™". Thank you to everyone who has contributed to all our platforms. If you’re enjoying this show, you can help support us by buying us a coffee at https://www.afcbpodcast.com/coffee – we rea...
Jun 14, 2025•37 min
After a record-breaking season for Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth, the brutal reality of being a small fish in a big pond is now being laid bare with the departures of some key Cherries' figureheads. Whilst it is public knowledge that Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Kepa will not be at Vitality Stadium next season, rumour has it that Illia Zabarnyi could follow... It's a bittersweet situation - Bournemouth, as a club, is in its best ever moment, but the startling truth is that this success only serv...
Jun 13, 2025•29 min
If soundbites are to be believed, AFC Bournemouth could be in for a BIG summer. With Dean Huijsen already gone and Milos Kerkez seemingly next to depart, fans are now starting to ponder what life could be like next season for Andoni Iraola's Cherrries. With rumours also circling about the future of other stars such as Illia Zabarnyi, Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier, Sam and Tom get together to have a candid look at the current squad, perhaps facing the difficult reality that some Bournemout...
Jun 11, 2025•23 min
Daniel Jebbison, Marcos Senesi and David Brooks are at the AFC Bournemouth Performance Centre to discuss Cherries' phenomenal 2024/25 campaign and the opening of the brand new multi-million pound Performance Centre. ▫️ How does training under Andoni compare? ▫️ Were there any set-pieces the media DIDN'T notice? ▫️ How different Was training during Bournemouth's injury crisis? ▫️ Which bit of AFC Bournemouth. Training do players HATE the most? ▫️ What does "back on the grass" mean?! Thanks to Com...
Jun 11, 2025•31 min
AFC Bournemouth had a PHENOMENAL 2024/25 campaign collectively, but what about individually? Sam and Tom are the Queens Park Hotel to to score every player that registered significant minutes this season - and some of the scores are eye-opening! Visit the QP at 482 Holdenhurst Rd, Bournemouth, BH8 9AR. Check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/queensparkpub - or give them a call on 01202 301747 or 07876213400. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to all our platforms. If yo...
Jun 02, 2025•35 min
Bournemouth's faint hopes of Europe officially ended on Tuesday night as Manchester City did a job on Iraola's men in a more than convincing 3-1 win at the Etihad. Although Cherries fans are disappointed finishing outside the qualification spot, the end-of-season showdown against Leicester is still a crucial one - with £9m on the line! The merit money difference between coming 9th and 12th is over £9m, and whilst it does depend on other results going our way, the opportunity to finish in a recor...
May 23, 2025•44 min
Pep Guardiola is fuming! His side were just embarrassed in an FA Cup Final, plus they sit SIXTH in the Premier League - outside the Champions League places. With Bournemouth up next, pressure will be on for the Citizen's to get a result against Andoni Iraola's men, but this just how Bournemouth would want it... Can Cherries' take advantage of City's desperation to deliver? Former Cherries hero and BBC Radio Solent co-commentator John Williams gatecrashes Sam and Ben's preview at the Queens Park ...
May 19, 2025•40 min
Bournemouth registered their HIGHEST amount of possession at a home Premier League game this season on Saturday, having the ball 69% of the time. Unai Emery's game-plan meant that his side didn't need much of the ball, and with Iraola's men consistently coming up against a disciplined and well-oiled unit, Aston Villa out-Bournemouthed Bournemouth. It felt like a very un-Villa like performance, but it would have been everything their Basque boss wanted - resolute at the back, not giving our winge...
May 12, 2025•54 min
Since the Birmingham bin strikes started earlier this year, Aston Villa have been far from garbage, reaching a Champions League Quarter Final as well as an FA Cup semi, and whilst fans are possibly be disappointed that they didn't progress in those competitions, all eyes are now on the league, and with the Villains sat in a precarious seventh place, most of their fans are calling their match with Bournemouth a "must win" game! Cherries have their own European ambitions this season, and FA Cup fi...
May 08, 2025•36 min
Arsenal's mastery at the set-piece was thrown back in their faces on Saturday in North London as Bournemouth scored two goals straight from the training ground, ensuring that Iraola's men emerged with three points. Ten days ago Cherries fans agreed that just four points would be an excellent return from Manchester United and the Gunners, and whilst it turns out that Boscombe got that, it didn't happen the way we thought we would. Sam and Tom review a match from which ensured Andoni's men secured...
May 05, 2025•53 min
After Arsenal's chances of not winning the title were rubber stamped last weekend, a defeat at home to PSG in the Champions League has left them with a lot to do in Paris. With second place as good as confirmed, and little left to fight for in the league, fans are wondering if Arteta might hold back his first choice players on Saturday ahead of Bournemouth's visit. Both teams are going to be angry, with the visitors also having a disappointing last match-week, dropping points to Manchester Unite...
May 02, 2025•35 min
On Sunday, AFC Bournemouth dropped points in a match which was riddled with controversy, with a red card decision taking centre stage - sparking massive debate on social media. Whilst the hindsight of a glorious few days of being a Cherry supporter may temper *some* emotion after a Manchester United draw, the overriding emotion amid Bournemouth fans is that they were robbed - in public view. Sam and Tom discuss the events of the last few days as Bournemouth open their brand new Performance Centr...
Apr 28, 2025•54 min
Not so long ago, Bourrnemouth fans would be giddy at the thought of facing Manchester United, but having scored 8 again them in our last three games, now we are salivating for completely different reasons. Whilst Cherries have been enjoying a record-breaking season, in the background, a once great football club has lost it's identity, slipping off to 14th in the Premier League - but with Ruben Amorim in charge, the Red Devils DO feel like they are going somewhere. His job though is huge, as chan...
Apr 24, 2025•37 min
Bournemouth's Monday night victory against Fulham came just at the right time for Andoni Iraola. After a period of poor results, he masterminded a 1-0 win over the Cottagers where he home side's performance was impactful, resilient, and resourceful - and as a result of getting the three points, Cherries have elevated themselves to eighth in the Premier League. The victory ensures that European hopes remain for Bournemouth's fans, but it has also coincided with some rumours which suggesting that ...
Apr 17, 2025•32 min
Bournemouth's Monday night victory against Fulham came just at the right time for Andoni Iraola. After a period of poor results, he masterminded a 1-0 win over the Cottagers where he home side's performance was impactful, resilient, and resourceful - and as a result of getting the three points, Cherries have elevated themselves to eighth in the Premier League. The victory ensures that European hopes remain for Bournemouth's fans, but it has also coincided with some rumours which suggesting that ...
Apr 15, 2025•44 min
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva are having contrasting fortunes recently, but both are still looking at the possibility of European qualification for their respective sides, and the upcoming match in front of the cameras between the Cherries and the Cottagers *feels* like it could be pivotal. At the same time, both managers have been inexorably linked with the Tottenham Hotspur top job, and with Daniel Levy's patience wearing thin with current Spurs gaffer Ange Postecoglu, the two head coaches tha...
Apr 11, 2025•35 min
After 31 games, AFC Bournemouth are TENTH in the Premier League, and recent form suggests that the chance of European football is ebbing away. A draw at West Ham on Saturday kept us in the mix, but with some difficult games ahead, can it be achieved? And who else will be in the mix? It was Cherries' Brazilian striker Evanilson who excelled again at the weekend, scoring his sixth goal in six games as Bournemouth both took the lead then came from behind to claim a point in an absorbing encounter a...
Apr 08, 2025•42 min
On Saturday, Bournemouth travel to the London Stadium in need of points as they look to arrest their decline in the Premier League. The Cherries' form has been poor of late, however they face Graham Potter's West Ham United - a side who have similar issues - and whose current form is worse than our own. For Andoni Iraola, the unneeded news of Justin Kluivert's potential absence has thrown a spanner in the works, and with Ryan Christie also out, it will likely be up to star-boy Alex Scott to be t...
Apr 04, 2025•27 min
On Wednesday, Bournemouth lost again to a well drilled and well disciplined Ipswich Town. The away side showed will and desire, spearheaded by their talismanic number 19 Liam Delap - but Bournemouth didn’t exactly help themselves, so with our Premier League points trajectory dropping like a stone, there are some questions we need to ask about how we have got to where we are... Sam and Tom are at the Queens Park Hotel to discuss the fallout. Visit the QP at 482 Holdenhurst Rd, Bournemouth, BH8 9A...
Apr 04, 2025•41 min
Andoni Iraola is all too aware that Cherries’ Premier League form is concerning, and with Ipswich Town around the corner, there might not be a better chance to get the train back on the tracks. The clash against Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys however will be anything but academic, as they themselves are scrapping, and with the visitors being statistically better on the road this season than at home, they’ll be looking to recreate their exploits at Spurs at Dean Court on Wednesday night to give th...
Apr 01, 2025•28 min
Cherries' Quarter Final FA Cup exit on Sunday felty like a microcosm of the season so far - an explosive start followed by a troubling second half. In reality, Bournemouth's recent "dip" has only been a few games, however, with relatively few options on the bench, the side has visibly looked leggy and drained recently. So, why is this? The fatigue is perhaps understandable. In January we were playing with very few senior players, putting in shifts to accrue unlikely points in some crunch clashes...
Mar 31, 2025•39 min
