How Much Time Does Marco Rose Have To Get Things Right As AFCB Manager?

There is no skirting around the fact that Saturday's loss to Chelsea was by far the worst performance of the season. Defensively Cherries looked sloppy, the midfield looked like it could be easily bypassed in every transition, and the attack looked toothless and lacking firepower.

When speaking to BBC Radio Solent after the 5-1 loss, Rose said that Bournemouth were 'not ready' and that that is on him. There are two ways in which this could be interpreted, he could be stating the obvious by saying that conceding 2 goals inside 3 minutes is not being ready, or he could have been saying that the preparations were not up to standard and that the team was not equipped ahead of the visit to Stamford Bridge.

Either way, conceding 2 goals in 2 minutes and 29 seconds, and a third goal less than a minute after the half time restart is unacceptable against any team. 

The biggest worry is that this performance came after a 3 week break, where there were plenty of players in the squad like Marcus Tavernier, Evanilson and James Hill that had the time off competitive football. 

Cherries are set to play twice a week every single week before Christmas if they beat Aston Villa in round 4 of the EFL Cup, and the performance against Liverpool 3 days after a Thursday Europa League game show that the options in the squad are thin, and fatigue as the weeks go on is a given.

There were encouraging signs in the first 4 league games of the season, but the last 2 games have lacked quality across the board. Intensity has looked lower, options off the bench have been ineffective and injuries are ramping up. Every AFCB fan knew that getting points on the board early into the season was key to being able to balance Europa League and Premier League football, and that has not happened. 

The pressure on Marco Rose is increasing, as the Premier League is one of the most cut throat leagues in Europe. Wins need to come before the November international break in 6 weeks time, otherwise this chapter of the Bill Foley ownership era will go down as a failure.

On a more positive note, all 3 losses have come against 'big 6' opposition, and if luck had been on Cherries side in some of the games played, they would be in a much more comfortable position. 

Playing more games in succession will be difficult to manage, but can easily help build up a a head of steam one that first league win comes. A win against Sturm Graz on Thursday in front of a bumper crowd at Dean Court could be the game that starts a run, just like the Burnley win in 2023 at the start of the Andoni Iraola era.

It is too soon to call for Rose to be sacked, as giving Iraola 10 league games ended up in a European qualification less than 3 years later. If wins aren't on the board by the November international break, then a change may be needed, but for now, as Tyler Adams said, trust the process!