Episode 47: James Appell

Despite being an Aston Villa supporter, I owe as many of my formative footballing years to AFC Bournemouth. Then very much a third tier club, I watched on from the New Stand as Tony Pulis and Mel Machin worked wonders, getting the very best out of a side typically blended from sharp youngsters, Cherries stalwarts and big name loanees.

By the time Sean O'Driscoll made the move from the pitch to the dugout, I was able to focus more on Villa and, save for a run of exciting games in 2003 culminating in a wonderful afternoon at the Millennium Stadium, have attended shamefully few matches since. O'Driscoll moved on to bigger things after impressing in the job, and was followed out of the club by some excellent players, not least Wade Elliott of Premier League Burnley.

Since O'Driscoll's departure Bournemouth have been through the mill and were in desperate need not only of a takeover - finally provided by Eddie Mitchell - but of heroes. Brett Pitman has added the firepower to a strikeforce often featuring Steve Fletcher, a genuine Cherries legend who was a regular fixture when I began watching football at Dean Court and returned to the club to aid their remarkable escape from relegation to non-league last season despite a 17-point deduction.

The mastermind, of course, was Eddie Howe. Another Kings Park icon, Howe took over after Kevin Bond and then Jimmy Quinn had failed to make significant inroads into the deduction. Their proximity to oblivion this time last year, added to the 14-month transfer window which prevented Howe bolstering his squad and the fact that he was only able to select a full substitutes bench on seven occasions this season, meant he understandably played down expectations this year.

Bournemouth's 2-0 victory at Burton Albion last Saturday confirmed their promotion to League One, an incredible achievement that has made Howe the hottest prospect in management. He operated under such restrictions that he agreed for his assistant, Jason Tindall, to come out of retirement, and had to bring through players of such youth that at least one of them needs his headmaster's permission to play league football.

This week, the TFT Podcast features plenty of praise for Howe, as well as the usual looks at the Premier League, Champions League, Major League Soccer and the Football League's various promotion and relegation battles.

And with Russian football bod and The Cynical Challenge blogger James Appell in the studio, we glance back over the first seven games of the 2010 Russian Premier League season, as well as a quick word about the Eredivisie and the redemption of Smilin' Steve McClaren. Has he learned what Sir Bobby Robson and Roy Hodgson learned during their European adventures?

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Have a great week.

You can listen to this week's episode below:
Download link (mp3, 47mb, 69 mins)