Tom Crocker

Aug 23, 2024 | berwick.starcommunity.com.au | David Nagel |Tom Crocker |Byron Walker |Joel Cuman

By David Nagel With the final sirens now blown on the 2024 WGFNC home-and-away season, we take a look at the seasons of the bottom six who missed out on playing finals. Some will be disappointed with their output, but there are a couple of sleepers that will head into the pre-season with some real hope of improvement in 2025. Here’s our take on the vanquished.

Aug 16, 2024 | bournemouthecho.co.uk | Tom Crocker

ANDONI Iraola insists Cherries are not on a desperate hunt for a new left-back, feeling there is already adequate cover within the squad. Julian Araujo joined from Barcelona this week, making him the third right-back in the squad, after Adam Smith and Max Aarons. Milos Kerkez is the only recognised senior left-back at the club, with the now departed Lloyd Kelly having often filled that role last season.

Aug 16, 2024 | bournemouthecho.co.uk | Tom Crocker

Romain Faivre has joined Brest on loan (Image: Richard Crease) ANDONI Iraola says Romain Faivre’s desire for game-time was behind his loan move away from Cherries. The 26-year-old joined Cherries from Lyon last summer, before spending the first half of the season on loan at Lorient. Faivre played six times, as a substitute, for Cherries last season and was involved in all of the club’s friendlies this summer.

Aug 16, 2024 | bournemouthecho.co.uk | Tom Crocker

Only four players in Cherries' squad are older than Lewis Cook (Image: Richard Crease) LEWIS Cook feels it is “hard to fully grow up” as a footballer, adding: “It consumes you every day.” Cook, 27, this summer penned a new contract at Cherries, having already spent eight years at the club. The squad is becoming increasingly younger with the summer arrivals of Daniel Jebbison, Julian Araujo and Dean Huijsen.

Aug 15, 2024 | bournemouthecho.co.uk | Tom Crocker

2 1/1 ANDONI Iraola warned Cherries must “improve a lot” just to repeat their achievements of last season. In Iraola’s first campaign at the club, Cherries ended 12th in the Premier League with 48 points, the most they have managed in the top flight. Expectations are now rising, with many fans hoping for a push towards European qualification. But head coach Iraola insists the club could slip down the standings if they do not perform even better than they did last year.