1. ROBERT SÁNCHEZ (7.6)
This wasn’t quite the response, overall, that we were looking for after the defeat against Leeds United, but at least the defending wasn’t completely shambolic and we even managed to keep a clean sheet. Some of that was down to luck, and some of it was down to Bournemouth’s own failings, but part if was also certainly thanks to Bob.
While it still feels like we’re never too far away from a self-inflicted disaster with him in possession — and perhaps that’s an unavoidable side-effect of all this modern playing out from the back style — he’s been very steady otherwise with his shot-stopping, aerial presence (he and Nick Pope are far and away the two dominant goalkeepers in “crosses stopped” in the league, for example, with 17% and 15%, respectively), and command of his area. Only Arsenal’s David Raya has more clean sheets.
2. WESLEY FOFANA (6.4)
Speaking of non-dirty sheets, we’ve conceded just two goals in Fofana’s last six starts, since he came back from concussion. Coincidence? Probably not! And we’ve only lost one game in which he’s played this season, the one where he got hurt (and we played a man down for 85 minutes).
Injuries have not been kind to Wes since he joined Chelsea (or even before then), and he can’t play him much as we’d want to (see also: Reece James), but we seem to be managing the situation well enough at the moment, allowing him to hopefully become the key contributor at the back just as we imagined it.
3. MARC CUCURELLA (6.0)
Cucu possibly had our best chance to score, and was solid as usual off the ball.
vs. AFC BOURNEMOUTH (PL, A, D 0-0)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): Sánchez (7.6)
GOOD (6.5-7.4): —
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Fofana (6.4), Cucurella (6.0), James (6.0), Chalobah (6.0), Neto (5.8), Gusto (5.5)
SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Garnacho (5.4), Enzo (4.9), Guiu (4.8, sub), Palmer (4.8), João Pedro (4.6, sub), Estêvão (4.6, sub), Delap (4.5)
BAD (3.5-4.4): —
TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): —
CRY UNCLE (1.0-2.4): —
OVERALL
