Bournemouth

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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is optimistic Evanilson will continue to progress further, despite being yet to open his account for the club.

The Cherries signed the Brazil striker from Porto last month for a club record fee which could rise to £40.2m.

"He has been very good. I think he played very well against Newcastle and West Ham, probably not against Everton," Iraola said.

"But he has played about 120 Premier League minutes. We all want him to score straight away, but I'm happy with the performances he has had."

Iraola is pleased with what the 24-year-old has brought to the team and believes he has taken advantage of more time to practise during the international break.

"It's been very good for him because we could spend more time with him individually, analysing things that we will ask from him, to understand better collectively what we will try to do," Iraola added.

"It's also been a very good time for him personally - to settle in, to find his house and the school for his daughter. He's probably more relaxed now.

"I'm not focusing on whether he is going to score or not. I want him to help us and that's what we'll ask him [against Chelsea on Saturday]."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Tyler Adams and Dango Ouattara will not be available for the game: "Tyler is still recovering from his surgery - I think he is doing well. Dango has come back injured from the national team - it is unlucky for us and unlucky for him." Iraola confirmed that Ouattara "twisted his ankle".

• However, David Brooks and Enes Unal could be in contention after recovering from their injuries. Brooks has "trained properly for two weeks" now and Enes "has a chance to be involved" after training with the squad this week.

• On-loan Kepa Arrizabalaga will be ineligible to play against his parent club, so Mark Travers will start in goal and Iraola is "confident" he will "do well".

• On preparing to face Chelsea with so many first-team players away on international duty: "It is a strange one. You have almost two weeks to prepare, but you are really training with nine or 10 players and then everyone comes back and you have one or two days to do everything you were preparing. I suppose it is the same for every team."

• Iraola said there are "some similarities" between Enzo Maresca's new-look Chelsea and the Blues side he faced last season: "They have most of the same players, but it is going to be a difficult game for us. Tactically, in these first three games, they have used three different structures because they have lots of players and alternatives."

• He revealed that he "loves" a late kick-off: "I think the big games are at night. It is probably easier for me because in Spain kick-offs at 8pm on a Saturday are quite normal. I like it and I remember liking it when I was a player."

• On having the opportunity to work with new signing Evanilson during the international break: "For me and him, it has been very good. We have been able to spend more time with him individually, analysing things that we will ask from him on the pitch. I think he understands better, collectively, what we are trying to do."

• Iraola said Adam Smith is "very important" to his project at the club, after he signed a contract extension until 2026: "He understands the game and realises that, once you get to a certain age, he has to earn the right to continue playing in the Premier League. He has really done it and he deserves it."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Bournemouth defender Adam Smith has spoken of his delight to sign a one-year contract extension and of the "amazing impact" Andoni Iraola has had at the club.

Speaking to the club's official website, external, Smith said: “I’m absolutely delighted to stay here for another season.

“I feel absolutely amazing to be honest and the journey continues.”

The 33-year-old joined the club permanently in 2014 from Tottenham and has gone on to make over 350 appearances for the Cherries.

Last season he helped Bournemouth achieve their highest ever points total in the top division, and he praised Iraola for what he has done in his time at the club.

“I think it was what I needed when the gaffer came in, something different," said Smith.

“A different style of play, I think the age I’m at, it really suits the way I play at the moment. The front-foot pressing.

“Since he has come in, he has been amazing and hopefully we can have an even better season.

“I think it’s probably one of the best squads I’ve played in over these years. So much talent, all still very young with a lot of improvement. It’s very exciting times.”

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We asked you to tell us one thing that is going under the radar at Bournemouth at the moment. It's simple, what is something nobody is talking about but really should be?

Here are some of your comments:

David: The stadium, or lack of, seems to be on the back burner at the moment.

Jack: Lewis Cook. He quietly went about his business under Gary O'Neil and has flourished under Iraola. Cook might not rank highly for goals (his one against Everton a collector's item) and assists but his work rate, tackling, running and range of passing is excellent. With a lack of central midfield options, it's time Cook got an England call up!

Robbie: We should talk about Bournemouth's squad depth and the ability of Iraola to utilise this to the max. As demonstrated against Everton, there are plenty of game-changers on the bench and the manager is tactically adept enough to make the most of them.

Stew: Why won't everyone admit that Andoni Iraola will not be coaching Bournemouth next year? He will be managing one of the top five clubs in Europe because at least three of the top five will be sacked as their managers are not good enough.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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Buried in Tuesday’s announcement from the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) review panel that Declan Rice’s red card for Arsenal against Brighton was justified, was the news that most at Bournemouth had suspected – that in the previous week, their disallowed goal against Newcastle should have been allowed to stand.

In that 1-1 draw on 25 August, Dango Ouattara’s stoppage-time header was given as a goal by on-field referee David Coote with no protests from the Newcastle defenders, but video assistant referee (VAR) Tim Robinson decided it was a "factual handball" and chalked it off, without even allowing Coote to visit the replay screen to make up his own mind.

But as reported by ESPN, external, the five-strong KMI panel unanimously agreed that VAR had made a mistake and the goal should have stood. Those five votes were among only nine out of 420 votes (on 84 incidents reviewed across the first three rounds of fixtures) where the panellists felt VAR was in error.

Someone who will be hoping for better fortunes from the officials when he returns to action will be local boxer and lifelong Bournemouth fan Chris Billam-Smith, who will be putting his WBO world cruiserweight title on the line in a unification bout against WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez in November.

Billam-Smith has a strong following among Cherries supporters – and will be at Vitality Stadium this Thursday evening for a special BBC Radio 5 Live show, where he will discuss his career with presenter Steve Bunce and take questions from the audience in a special recording of the 5 Live Boxing podcast.

Tickets for the show are still available – and are free – and can be booked via the BBC Shows and Tours website.

It has been a positive start to the season for Bournemouth with one (memorable) win at Everton and two draws from their opening three games.

There have been some plaudits for the way Andoni Iraola has got the Cherries playing, but what is the one thing - good or bad - that nobody is talking about?

Tell us over here, external - and we'll feature replies on Thursday

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Bournemouth and Chelsea have scored four second-half goals in the Premier League this season, which is a joint league-high.

The Cherries' goals have all come after the 86th minutes, while all four of the Blues' came in their only away game so far - a 6-2 victory at Wolves.

Sam Davis
Fan writer

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Following Bournemouth’s late, late show at Goodison Park, Lewis Cook earned a place in Alan Shearer’s official Premier League "team of the week". To some Cherries fans, it was quite a surprise, not least maybe to cook himself who told Match of the Day it was one of his "worst performances".

As a whole, the Cherries only showed up with 10 minutes of football to play; however, Cook did finally notch his first Premier League goal, fittingly on a day where he took on the captaincy following Neto’s departure to Arsenal.

Therefore, it definitely feels the appropriate time to talk about him, particularly as it often seem as if he is overlooked outside of the Bournemouth fanbase. Cherries fans love him. He is the glue that makes everything stick in the middle of the park and, after some tough spells on the sidelines, he’s definitely providing the football intelligence and quality we have been pining for since his arrival back in 2016.

We knew what we were signing back then - a young, exciting player with a ridiculous amount of potential - but sadly it has been a bit too stop-start due to many fitness issues and injuries.

But now, a fully fit Lewis Cook, when combined with Andoni Iraola’s brand of football, is a sumptuous thing to witness. A special player.

Operating in the deeper midfield role in Iraola’s system, Cook is tasked with receiving the ball and getting the team playing, a role he is relishing. As a result, he has made himself one of the first names on the teamsheet under Iraola.

An England call-up around the corner? Watch this space.

Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

The Premier League's summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Bournemouth had a net spend of £32.7m.

The joy and despair of football.

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Just the despair.

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Some things you wait for.

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And others never take long to arrive.

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There are awkward moments.

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There are planned moments.

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Chaotic moments.

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Sometimes there are moments of genius.

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And, occasionally, the moment just calls for romance.

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We asked you for your views on how Bournemouth have started the season - and where you thought they might finish.

According to our little poll on Wednesday, Cherries fans are confident of a successful season with two thirds predicting Andoni Iraola's side for a top-half finish.

Here is a flavour of your comments:

James: Five points from the first nine is a great start and if it wasn't for VAR it could easily have been nine out of nine. In my view, Saturday showed a willingness to fight for every point and that we never give up. This is all very promising for what will at times be a tough season.

Robin: For me, it's all about keeping our manager. I love our style of football. We have the players and our owner will spend to keep the squad fresh. An exciting time to be a Cherries fan.

Toby: An unbeaten start combined with a captivating comeback gives Bournemouth a superb springboard to work on. Antoine Semenyo, as predicted, is the electrifying enabler for the fans' ecstasy and elation - and he just keeps improving. While life without Dominic Solanke has not seemed erratic, it is essential that Evanilson accustoms to the Premier League quickly to ensure safety

Stew: Bad news I'm afraid. Our coach is so good that we will be lucky to keep him past this season but let's enjoy it while it lasts. He might stay if we qualified for Europe but I think that is a wish to far.

Kathryn: We can score goals! A bit earlier than in the last game though please! The new team still gelling but it's been a good start.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

While the football world enjoys giving out more and more awards to its teams and players each season, there is one prize where Bournemouth appear to be cornering the market.

Since 2021-22, the Premier League has handed out the 'Most Improbable Comeback' award for when the number-crunchers have calculated a team has come back to win from the most statistically unlikely circumstances.

The Cherries picked up the prize in 2022-23, after recovering from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Nottingham Forest, and in 2023-24 for their stunning second-half comeback from 3-0 down to beat Luton 4-3.

But, with the new Premier League season only three games old, Andoni Iraola's side have already laid down a substantial marker to take the 2024-25 award.

Trailing 2-0 at Everton as late as the 87th minute on Saturday, the Cherries somehow rallied to come away from Goodison Park with all three points.

After that Luton game in March, I was asked to shortlist half-a-dozen of the best comebacks in Bournemouth's history – and there is now undoubtedly another contender for that title because no Premier League side has ever trailed by two goals that late on and won.

Should the Cherries win the 'Most Improbable Comeback' honour for a third successive season, would they be allowed to keep it in perpetuity, like Brazil with the original Jules Rimet World Cup trophy?

Or should it just be renamed the 'Bournemouth award'?

All joking aside, Iraola's use of substitutions again bore fruit at Goodison.

Eyebrows may have been raised as record signing Evanilson – the only out-and-out striker in the starting XI and on the bench – was the first player withdrawn as Bournemouth chased the game, but his replacement Luis Sinisterra came up trumps with an assist and the winning goal.

While Evanilson adjusts from Portuguese to English football, Iraola has no shortage of options for the three attacking midfield roles behind the Brazilian.

He will hope to find the right blend to provide the attacking impetus his side showed in their grandstand finish at Everton – and in future, he will hope to find it before the 87th minute.

The dust has settled on the transfer window, the Premier League is well and truly back, and we are into the first international break of 2024-25.

So we want you to predict where Bournemouth will finish in the Premier League this season - thinking about the start to the campaign and summer transfer business.

Submit your prediction here

And also, please tell us what is the one thing - good or bad - you have learned about Bournemouth so far in the campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Saturday saw another weekend of "pure Barclays" and AFC Bournemouth were at the heart of the drama on Merseyside after Everton became the first side in Premier League history to lose a game whilst being 2-0 up after 87 minutes.

In all honesty, it's no surprise that the Cherries delivered the fatal blow on the Toffees. Even at this early stage of the campaign, it looks as if Bournemouth will claim the season's "most improbable comeback" award - a title they have been awarded two years on the spin.

So why do Iraola’s Bournemouth provide such late drama? Well, in the opening four games (3 league, 1 cup) there have been goals in the dying embers of each Cherries fixture. That, along with the back to back comeback awards, proves it's no accident when Andoni’s Cherries are in action.

The high energy and open approach that Bournemouth now deploy is the main factor to why there is often every reason to stay seated right until that full time whistle blows in our games. The tactical setup and approach centres around an aggressive press, often meaning a number of our subs are introduced relatively early, to continue this energetic style. This, in turn, allows for an open and end to end spectacle, which becomes even more evident when both sides’ legs are wavering come those final moments of games. It is as equally nerve-racking as it is incredibly exciting to watch.

Does this style always benefit the Cherries? No. Will Andoni continue to set them up in this particular way? Yes. Does it entertain and get the Bournemouth fans purring? Absolutely!

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Tom asked: Bournemouth have almost been forgotten in the Everton narrative this weekend but they're still unbeaten in the league so far. How do you rate their chances this season? And how do they keep hold of Andoni Iraola when the 'big' clubs inevitably start sniffing around? Elite manager!

Phil answered: It was a remarkable turnaround given they had been dominated for 87 minutes but they deserve huge credit for the way they ruthlessly grabbed their chance and sensed the panic in Everton's ranks.

No guarantees they will keep Andoni Iraola, who is a fine manager, but he seems very happy at Bournemouth and has the support of a club that kept faith with him after a very rocky start when he first arrived.

I tipped Bournemouth to finish 14th and certainly do not see them being in trouble.

Follow Phil's Q&A and the rest of Monday's football news here

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Ben: Everton FC - finding new and interesting ways to make the lives of their fans a misery. On the positive, for 86 minutess it was good. Really good in fact. But to lose like that is the kind of gut punch none of us needed. It’s a miserable time being an Everton fan and this loss just compounded that feeling.

Tony: This type of result has been going on for far too long - managing to grab defeat from victory in the final minutes, whether managed by Roberto Martinez, Rafa Benitez or Marco Silva. There have been so many of these debacles at Goodison and I’m afraid it’s looking increasing likely we are going to crash out of the top flight in the Old Lady’s final season.

Mary: Sean Dyche once again was tactically inept. I have always been a supporter of him but he got it wrong today with his substitutions. When he took our most creative forward off, he should have put Jake O'Brien on to shore up the defence. But he is so set in his 'I know best' attitude that he brought on Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has been awful for the past two seasons. Time for him to go.

Neil: Utter joke. You absolutely cannot switch off at 2-0 against any team and expect to come out on top. This one has to be shouldered by the defence. Why is O’Brien not playing?

Bournemouth fans

Chas: It was about small measures, passes given away and players out of sorts. Key players trying too hard. Then, 10 minutes of sheer delight. Passes, movement and the will to win. Loved it.

Rob: A match we deserved nothing from! As soon as we scored our first you could see Everton coming apart at the seams. Absolute limbs in the away end when Sinisterra scored the winner. Unbelievable!

Mat: Truly exceptional comeback from a team that collectively never gave up. Should really have nine points and three straight wins. Vindication for two horrendous third-party decisions. Onwards and upwards from now on.

Simon: We didn’t play well in the first 70 minutes. We could barely string a pass together and we seemed disorganised in midfield. However, that performance was indicative of the Cherries brand…excellent substitutions, never-give-up and breaking hearts in the dying moments. Up The Cherries!

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Here's a stat pack Bournemouth fans won't tire of seeing.

Saturday's remarkable Goodison Park turnaround was scarcely believable.

The Cherries had just one shot on target in the first 86 minutes…and that was in the 82nd minute. But they had an incredible six shots on target in the final 12 minutes (final four minutes of normal time plus eight mins of injury-time).

Watch all the highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures with Gary and the team.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa

• West Ham 1-3 Man City

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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Outplayed throughout this encounter, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola could scarcely believe what he had just witnessed at the final whistle.

Coming into the match on the back of two frustrating Premier League draws and a Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham, he was able to savour their first win of the campaign in barely believable circumstances.

However, there was also some delight in way his team pressed forward late on to punish a wasteful and ultimately vulnerable Everton side, who panicked after Antoine Semenyo's 87th minute tap-in brought them back to 2-1.

The Spaniard should also take credit for attempting to go on the offensive as his side struggled, with the introduction of Django Ouattara and Luis Sinisterra proving key to the final outcome.

Burkina Faso winger Ouattara's assist allowed Semenyo to give the visitors hope, then the Colombia winger delivered an assist and a goal as the Cherries' sensational fightback moved them up to seventh in the table.