03 Jun 2026 17:59:10
Hi Ed001
Do you happen to know what Andoni Iraola was like at Bournemouth with regards to the youth set up, did he show any interst on the youth teams, unlike Slot.
Thanks
{Ed001's Note - he will look at whatever is available to him mate. As he coaches, he likes younger players, they tend to listen more to advice and coaching than older ones.}
04 Jun 2026 08:33:48
The trust he placed in Alex Scott did not go unnoticed, being just one example of how he developed youngsters.
04 Jun 2026 08:43:50
Iraola will have to use the squad to its fullest extent, that's part of his coaching style. It has been reported on Bournemouth fan channels that he tells his players to give 100% on the pitch and not hold back, and the moment they feel like they can't continue to give that, to gesture to the bench, and Iraola will put a replacement for them on without a second's hesitation. He has also lamented that the Bournemouth squad depth was not deep enough for them to really compete at critical moments, because even though every player in the squad knew their job and could execute fitness-wise, maybe in terms of quality they weren't at the same level as the starters.
Very different approach to the one we have seen from Slot last season, and will require a big squad to implement.
04 Jun 2026 08:45:54
Burkey, Scott might not be the best example considering he joined for 25m as a highly-coveted 20 year old with big expectations on his shoulders from Bristol City, wasn't exactly an Bournemouth academy prospect or anything. He did go up a few levels under Iraola's coaching though.
04 Jun 2026 09:36:57
I'm really not sure re Scott, I have a feeling he's another Charlie Adam one season wonder.
04 Jun 2026 09:51:25
Regardless of Scott, he's not scared to play young players - Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Scott, Rayan, Kroupi, Kerkez.
04 Jun 2026 10:22:06
The pathway from the youth team to the first team is going to be well and truly open under Iraola.
We are going to need a strong shadow squad, beyond anything we've known before.