According to Transfermarkt, the football database website, Chelsea signed 15 of their current players for more money than Bournemouth‘s biggest-ever signing.
A third of them are unwanted and out on loan including goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga who is now, ironically, at the Vitality Stadium.
His fee was more than double the initial £31.7million paid by the Cherries for their most expensive player, Evanilson.
Yet despite the chasm – and Stamford Bridge being nearly four times as big as Bournemouth’s 11,000-capacity stadium and the small matter of a £350million+ difference in income per season – the two clubs are both on 43 points and fighting for the final Champions League spot.
It shows that, in the shorter-term, there are ways to bridge the financial gap.
You need a manager, in Bournemouth’s case a virtual unknown on these shores, Andoni Iraola. One who isn’t polluted by the self-entitlement that often seems to befall managers and a group of players who are in touch with reality and willing to listen.
Bournemouth have enjoyed a stunning campaign thus far and are pushing for a top four spot
The Cherries’ rise asks serious questions about the money being spent at the likes of Chelsea
And an owner, Bill Foley, who is across the detail and close to where his money is being deployed, thus making sure it’s spent with rhyme and real reason.
It’s no coincidence that, like Nottingham Forest and Brighton, who are also defying conventional wisdom, Bournemouth have a good manager. Iraola was a real left-field appointment and thus needed time to find his way. He’s found it now.
Unlike many Premier League bosses, he doesn’t have delusions of grandeur or get carried away with himself. He’s cut from the mentality that, to plagiarise the famous JFK speech, is based on: ‘Don´t ask what your club can do for you, ask what you can do for your club.’
He’s also in an environment which is allowing him to extract a high level of performance from very committed players. In comparison, the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea are the living embodiment of spending a lot without a great deal of return.
Bournemouth don’t hit the jackpot every time, but they’re not afflicted by many bad buys. I put that down to people at the top of the club ensuring greater accountability over spending. Shopping at the modest end of the market can have advantages.
We know Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali at Chelsea, or the Glazers at United, fish in a different pond, with more scrutiny and seemingly bloody wider margins of error.
If Antony or Mykhailo Mudryk bomb at £80million, it has more visibility than when Bournemouth’s signing of Jordon Ibe didn’t work out, for example.
The players that Bournemouth sign also appear to appreciate their opportunity and listen to what their managers ask of them. I’m not suggesting every player at a big club is corrupted by money, but they can tend to become islands in their own minds, to the point where they don’t like being rotated or spoken to in a certain way.
Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has played a big role in transforming the club in recent years
Manager Andoni Iraola isn’t polluted by self-entitlement that often seems to befall managers
When Iraola speaks, his players adopt, enhance and embrace, rather than resist or debate. The club is configured to find players willing and eager to improve. At Chelsea, you’re dealing with fat transfer fees, higher wages, player entourages and, of course, bigger expectations.
There is more of a collective unity at Bournemouth. The names of their players don’t roll off the tongue on arrival, but the impact of Antoine Semenyo, Milos Kerkez and others is inarguable.
There is a relaxed feel at the club. The shirt isn’t as heavy as it would be at Chelsea, with their expectation and price tags.
Chelsea’s business model is also different. Sporting prowess has to form part of their strategy but, being a world brand concerned with business acumen, digital footprints and global perceptions, lavishing money on the most expensive players creates an image. They have been historically one of the jewels in the Premier League crown when it comes to broadcasters and one of the iconic clubs that enable such lucrative TV rights deals.
At Bournemouth, Foley has slightly more fluidity and can travel his own path. It’s not a catastrophe every time they lose a game. You’re not pushing against a stream of expectation.
They can incubate and develop the players they have and, every so often, sell a Callum Wilson or Dominic Solanke at profit.
All owners delegate, but Bournemouth’s recruitment record – that consistent ability to turn water into wine – suggests an almost zealous attention and focus from the boardroom on who they are signing.
It’s not just a Billy Beane Moneyball mentality, but there is an element of it. They buy the right players for the right positions within the collective.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has struggled to find success since taking charge at the club
There is more of a collective unity at Bournemouth as they continue to rise up the league
My attitude to a manager pushing to sign someone I wasn’t sure of was: ‘If it doesn’t work out, I’ll be coming for you. Do you still want them?!’
You feel Bournemouth, and clubs like Brighton, do their due diligence better than some clubs far bigger. Maybe that’s simply needs-must! I think it’s a laser focus and very good disciplines.
Foley has also shown himself to be a bold leader. Gary O’Neil did a good job and was being talked about in glowing terms. But he wasn’t Foley’s hire and despite him keeping Bournemouth in the top flight against expectations, the new owner went with his own vision within months of taking over.
Nobody in this country knew much about Iraola and Foley was up front about it, making it clear it was his decision and he would take responsibility and not complain about the consequences should it not work.
Chelsea’s owners also changed managers, Graham Potter for Thomas Tuchel, but that wasn’t as imaginative given that Potter was flavour of the month at that time.
Iraola has worked out spectacularly well. I like the way Bournemouth compete, always at it. They move the ball quickly, rat out the opposition, work as a unit and playing with the energy and panache their manager requires.
This is a team, an effective collective not a collection of very expensive players.
Will it have a fairytale ending and Champions League football next season? Over the course of a full season, you would expect a good big’un like Chelsea, or comparatively speaking an Aston Villa or Newcastle, to have an advantage, even if the effect of PSR has led to more outlierst, because it’s restricted clubs from doing precisely what they want.
Bournemouth’s success thus far is illuminating and invigorating, long may it continue
Following a healthy start to the season, I don’t think Chelsea’s hierarchy will be happy to miss out on the Champions League given the likelihood of five spots being available, even if this campaign hasn’t been the car crash some predicted.
As for Bournemouth, the results of all their quiet building are pure alchemy. It probably won’t last forever, but their story is illuminating and invigorating. Long may it continue.
Right now they’ve got momentum and with that you can start to slay dragons.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The Champions League format is moving along at a rate of knots and this week we’ve seen the completion of a new innovation, the second legs of play-offs to reach the last 16.
The Saudi League is moving quickly too, attracting more and better quality players. Given that money talks, I imagine there will be discussions at some point for their big clubs Al Ittihad and Al Nassr to regularly meet ours.
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