Have AFC Bournemouth all but sealed their Premier League status?

Let’s face it – even though the likes of Claudio Ranieri and Mauricio Pochettino will both likely find themselves high in the running for the manager of the season award come the final culmination of the 2015/16 campaign – AFC Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe will surely deserve a great deal of credit should his current Cherries outfit successfully maintain their Premier league status before the end of the season.

 

It was a task that many previously deemed impossible for the 38-year-old English tactician, and whilst the current domestic season remains anything but finished right in the here and now, the former Burnley boss has seriously impressed several fans of the English top-flight throughout 2015/16 thus far.

 

So, as the Vitality Stadium remains a relatively positive cauldron for Eddie Howe and co. to work their magic between now and the end of the season – have AFC Bournemouth all but confirmed their Premier League survival when all is said and done, or is a dramatic late upset just waiting around the corner for this determined, yet vastly inexperienced, Cherries outfit?  

 

Well, after successfully seeing off Steve McClaren’s increasingly concerning Newcastle United side last time out at St. James’ Park, perhaps the good times are only just beginning for AFC Bournemouth this season…

 

Bournemouth's season has been almost as heroic as Leicester's. Stand-out favourites for relegation, but are now almost guaranteed mid-table.

— Jonathan Wilson (@JonnyPWilson) 5 March 2016

 

Several Premier League onlookers have nonetheless been taken by the Cherries and their resolute never-say-die attitude this term…

 

Bournemouth have impressed with results but have also done so playing positive / expansive football. #EPL

— Premier League Talk (@LFCLegacy) 5 March 2016

 

…with Eddie Howe himself also taking his fair share of the plaudits…

 

Eddie Howe is a top manager,never complains about how many injures he has, got Bournemouth 11 points off the drop as well,credit due ???? #afcb

— Katie Louise Knight (@katiielouisee21) 5 March 2016

 

Some – albeit slightly unorthodox opinions – have subsequently gathered around the current Bournemouth boss this season…

 

Eddie Howe for England by the way. Made Bournemouth…BOURNEMOUTH comfortable Premier League team. Doesn't get enough credit.

— Glen Vardy (@glennvardy) 5 March 2016

 

…leaving many non-Cherries fans in awe of how well this team have actually presented themselves in 2015/16…

 

In this great season, it's easy to forget the story of Bournemouth. Nailed on to go down they haven't at any point looked in real danger

— Grigory Rasputin (@TheRedTsar) 5 March 2016

 

In fact, it’s becoming increasingly harder to find any right-minded football fan willing to criticise Eddie Howe’s side this term…

 

Bournemouth were very good though, I love what Eddie Howe has done with that team, they'll stay up and they deserve to.

— nath (@nathan_scarff) 5 March 2016

 

…regardless of the unmistakably demanding task on their hands at the beginning of the season…

 

Bournemouth must be in dreamland right now. No one gave them a chance at survival and they look to be on track to stay up

— Bruce Wayne (@_Major_Goodman) 5 March 2016

 

So then, as Leicester City seem to be plugging along nicely at the top of the Premier League table this weekend…

 

If Leicester win the league, and Bournemouth stay up, this could be the best year for the prem yet. The year of the underdogs????

— Callum Fry (@CallumFry7) 1 March 2016

 

…perhaps Bournemouth’s proposed top-flight survival could very well signal the year of the underdogs among the English top-flight in 2015/16!

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