Bournemouth could not start the season as they would have hoped for as they were humbled by a 1-3 defeat against Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at home on the opening game week. However, Eddie Howe’s boys should not be too disappointed with the result and should focus on a strong comeback from the heavy defeat. The Cherries made their seventh signing of the summer in the form of a £2m deal for defender Marc Wilson from Stoke City which will be a big boost for the South Coast side.
The 28-year-old was in the stands and witnessed Bournemouth’s defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. The Northern Irishman had two previous spells on loan with the club nearly a decade ago, while he was a Portsmouth player. Bournemouth needed defensive reinforcements badly as Simon Francis or Steve Cook were the only two central defenders left at the club following the void left by Tommy Elphick’s summer move to Championship side Aston Villa.
Wilson is quite an experienced defender in the Premier League having played 178 games for stoke City over the last six years. Getting a versatile defender like Wilson for just £2m marks solid and shrewd business from young Eddie Howe. Wilson is equally capable of playing as a central defender, as a left-back, as a defensive midfielder or even as a right-back.
Whether Eddie Howe sees Marc Wilson as a replacement for Tommy Elphick who will play about as many games is hard to say at this stage. Given how Cook and Francis fared last season, Wilson is likely to be thought of as reserve unless a major injury happens to the duo.
Just aged 28, Wilson still has plenty of football left in him and his experience will prove to be a big addition to the Cherries. The South Coast side needed a reliable cover at centre-back, especially, as Francis is only playing his second season there and Ake perhaps would be better served by playing in midfield.
With the bargain deal for Wilson, Howe once again proved that he is one of the best young managers in world football. He has plenty to learn though or else there is a chance that he might become the next Roberto Martinez, plenty of promise but zero improvisation. With the squad Howe assembled at Dean Court, keeping everyone satisfied is going to be difficult and this is his chance to master the rotation policy, something you need to become a successful manager.
