Bournemouth news: Opinion – Are Cherries ‘Europe ready’?

It has been another remarkable season for the Cherries, with the club eclipsing their previous best-ever points tally with games to spare and also remaining in the race for European football next season, but are they ready to host European nights on the south coast?

I think the majority of Bournemouth fans would agree that the club will simply cross that bridge when it comes to it, but the evident drop off in intensity levels this season begs the question as to whether they could sustain such high performance levels if another competition was added into the mix.

Andoni Iraola’s and Bournemouth’s style is there for all to see – a brave relentless press that is joyous to watch but also energy zapping.

It is no surprise that keeping up such a tactic is a tall order during the gruelling Premier League schedule, but this isn’t Andoni’s first rodeo.

He implemented this particular way of playing at both Mirandes and, more notably, Rayo Vallecano in Spain. But, as much as they were both highly successful, they too showed a clear decline in form in the latter stages of seasons.

He may well have learned from such experiences but if the Cherries are to achieve European football, either this season or in the future, then the powers that be would need to be busy recruiting more depth to assist Iraola in being able to maintain his philosophy.

It’s something that is quietly being debated but, on the whole, football is about those memories – those moments you never forget.

So it could well be a demanding task for the south coast outfit, but following ‘little old Bournemouth’ around Europe is something every Cherry would embrace.

Let’s cross that bridge IF it comes to it, I say.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net