Simon Francis played 295 times for Bournemouth from 2011-2020, under Eddie Howe, and knows all about Howe’s training methods, and what he demands from his players.
Simon is now the assistant first-team Technical Director at the Bournemouth club, who are currently top of the Championship table: and Simon often appears in the media these days.
He has kept in touch with both Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson since they joined Newcastle, and found out that the two players wanted the Newcastle players what to expect from Howe in training, and boy – was that true last week.
Howe told our players we train as we play – and he wants and demands his players to go all out in training and no resting against goalposts or sitting on the ball during an Eddie Howe training session.
🙂
This is what Simon has told Premier League Productions, as reported in the Chronicle today:
“I think there will be a positive influence within there but, ultimately, it will be about Eddie in the first couple of weeks.”
“If he can get performances out there on a matchday from the training ground and get all the players buying in in that short period of these two weeks even, I think that’s going to be very important.”
“Maybe it’s a little bit easier for him going into a football club when he knows a couple of the players already and they can help mix within the group so I think it’s a positive all round.”
“I speak to Matt Ritchie and Callum quite a lot,”  “It’s funny, a lot of players who leave Bournemouth or stop working under Eddie Howe go into football clubs.”
“And they realize training is not as intense or they’re not getting as much out of training and you see that reflected on a matchday as well.”
“They’ve been telling the lads, ‘Look, if Eddie does get this job, be ready to work hard in training because that’s what it’s going to be about’. “
“I think the last few days have been that.”
“The new players have bought into it. They’ve been excited by it. They’ve enjoyed training more than anything and Matt Ritchie and Callum will be that sounding board for the dressing room.”
“I think there will be a positive influence within there, but, ultimately, it will be about Eddie in the first couple of weeks.”
“If he can get performances out there on a match day from the training ground and get all the players buying in in that short period of these two weeks even, I think that’s going to be very important.
“Maybe it’s a little bit easier for him going into a football club when he knows a couple of the players already and they can help mix within the group so I think it’s a positive all round.”
The training has looked difficult and intense for our players, and that’s good.
Our players have not been fit enough so far this season, so we are hoping on Saturday at home to Brentford we can get all 3 points.
When Steve Bruce was here, he gave the players too many days off – that will not happen under Eddie Howe.
And one thing we will see on Saturday is a rejuvenated starting eleven who will be well organized by Howe, and keep on the front foot for the whole 90 minutes.
Comments welcome.
127 comments so far
Optimistic prime
Nov 16, 2021 at 5:12 PM
Comment #121Gary “scapegoat” Hoffman.
Would gotta way with it, if it wasn’t for that pesky Keith.
Mund
Nov 16, 2021 at 5:13 PM
Comment #122BUZZING got a ticket for Brentford and for a low price of £25
Over the footin moon!!!
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 16, 2021 at 5:13 PM
Comment #123IrishRob – Yeah, I’m sure they know a fair amount but it makes sense to keep it quiet when a player is struggling a little and won’t have the stamina or speed they usually. And same goes for keeping it quiet if a player has been working really hard for a period and has increased their stamina or speed. Any advantage the club can get is worth it. If they think X player will tire after 70 minutes so they target him a bit more after that, I’d rather they didn’t know that a special fitness programme means that player can last 90 minutes now.
Scythe
Nov 16, 2021 at 5:16 PM
Comment #124As mentioned in that SSN article, I hope when the rights to the league are sold in the US that NBC keep their current package. I’m worried if CBS or whoever get in on the act that they’ll have American commentators. They absolutely ruin any game I watch. Using all the wrong terminology like ‘he shoots a goal!’ or ‘this team has a great offense’ or ‘he wins a PK for his team!’
Argh!
Ashingtoon62
Nov 16, 2021 at 5:23 PM
Comment #125I’m willing to wager,that Joe won the bleep test.
If you look at the NUFC TV vid of Hayden’s post match interview from the Amex stadium (which also showed Fraser training).lol
Everyone goes for a bath,then there’s Joe deeing a Forrest Gump. 😆
https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/hayden-everyone-can-see-that-the-lads-are-all-together/
IrishRob
Nov 16, 2021 at 5:26 PM
Comment #126I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Masters is a scapegoat as well. Was very odd the way or Manor in which both of them got appointed.
Maybe both of them were never going to be there longterm and that’s why they got the jobs so it would be easy fire them and once they’re gone they can take the blame and the Prem gets away Scott free.
What I’m thinking is maybe who they had in line for the job before Masters will step in and take over longterm if he’s fired any time soon.
Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if all this is pre planned, and they are complicit in being pawns that are just there to appease the public when ultimately the heat got turned up.
Jay b bedlingtoon
Nov 16, 2021 at 5:30 PM
Comment #127I don’t understand how all the club’s can complain about our Saudi owners get are ok with the Chinese owners at Wolves, or Abromovich at Chelsea, or the City owners… Where was the uproar when these clubs were taken over, it’s an absolute joke and stinks of jealousy and hypocrisy. And how and why have the other clubs even got a say in who takes over who and who sponsors who. It stinks of corruption and anti competition. Good to see Hoffman out of a job though, I’m sure he’ll get quite a pay off.