🔗 Share this article

Bournemouth fans must have worried about a downturn when a significant number of first-team players departed in the summer.

However retaining one star proved an total brilliant move, as the Ghanaian forward has inspired their climb to second spot in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old found the net on two occasions and provided one as the south coast club overturned a deficit to defeat Fulham 3-1 on Friday, moving to within a single point of Premier League table-toppers Liverpool.

The opening goal to equalise was special as he collected the ball on the left wing, left defenders in his wake, advanced to the touchline and fired the ball through the goalkeeper's legs from a narrow position.

He then, he assisted Justin Kluivert's goal before netting in stoppage time on a counter-attack.

This takes him up to six Premier League goals this campaign, only behind Manchester City's prolific goalscorer the Norwegian.

Since the start of last spring, he has been directly involved in a greater number of goals than every other player in the English top division (12 – eight goals, four assists).

Impressive for a player Bristol City signed from the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College academy at the age of seventeen.

"It was a stormy night to play football, but it didn't matter to Semenyo," stated former England player the pundit on Sky Sports.

"He moves across that surface. An amazing, unique player. So wonderful to see.

"Doesn't matter if it's his right, his left, makes no difference for him."

Semenyo in Top Condition

Photo source

Although almost 50% of the club's first team departed during the off-season, the forward was rumored with transfers to United, the Reds and Spurs.

However instead he agreed to a long-term deal back on 1 July.

This has proved to be fantastic business for the club, for he is among the form players in the Premier League right now.

In the previous campaign, the Ghanaian forward hit double figures for the first time in his career – 11 goals in the Premier League, thirteen in all competitions.

Now, he has scored six times in his first 7 top-flight matches and assisted an additional three.

Semenyo was asked following the game if this was the peak form of his life.

"Yeah, I'd like to think so," he responded. "I'm grateful to God enormously. He's played a massive part in my journey and I'm just enjoying the benefits now. So yeah, I thank him always."

Many clubs wishing they had taken the gamble on him before.

Semenyo is eligible for the Black Stars through his parent, but he is hails from London. He was turned down by Arsenal, Spurs and the Lions as a teenager before landing in a West Country academy run by former Leeds and Rovers manager Dave Hockaday.

Bristol City acquired him in 2017, but he needed temporary moves at City, Newport and the Black Cats before breaking into the Bristol City starting eleven in 2020-21.

In January 2023, he made the multi-million pound transfer to Bournemouth – and he has been progressing continuously.

"I think he is a footballer with self-belief," said manager Andoni Iraola.

"His confidence has been increasing with him. He has played in other divisions, earning his way into the top division. He is extremely fundamental for us."

His statistics are exceptional now. He is first in the league for duels won, first for ball won in the attacking area, second for high-speed runs and among the best for dribbles. Plus all those goals, of course.

Fellow player Kluivert said: "He is incredible. He shows it every game now. He is just top-tier."

'Iraola Could Coach Any Club'

Image credit

The Cherries boss Iraola will be a coach in demand when he decides to move on.

He, a Spanish coach, has been at the helm since last year after the surprise sacking of Gary O'Neil.

Several were not happy at the time, with Iraola not being a well-known figure – and having only coached AEK Larnaca, Spain and La Liga.

However the appointment has been a remarkable achievement, with the club finishing 12th and then ninth.

The club has never been as elevated as second place in the Premier League more than two games into a season.

Apart from his impressive work in maintaining a winning squad, despite it appeared most of their stars were departing in the summer, his strategies were perfect on Friday.

During a brief period he had three defenders on the pitch in place of four. And that changed the match.

Late in the game he brought on a winger for a defensive player. The score was 1-0 down.

In the 85th minute, he brought on a winger for a back. The team was 2-1 up.

"It was necessary to be bold and introduce more attacking personnel and it paid off," he said. "Our squad have to create the impact and today they made it."

Justin Kluivert said: "The manager is incredible. If you see even the players that have departed the team, how we are performing at the moment is remarkable.

"I always say that the pilot of the team is the coach and he is driving us on a amazing route. Brilliant leader, so we trust him."

Jamie Redknapp said: "Iraola could coach every team in the sport.

"He improves players, all they do is exciting. They have to enjoy him while he is here. How long? It's uncertain?

"Can they keep doing the unthinkable, like reaching the Champions League spots? They merit it and everything is possible as long as they retain the coach because he is such a major an asset for the club."

Bournemouth Take Summer Rebuild in Their Step

Several believed that the Cherries exceeded expectations when they finished ninth the previous campaign – and for a while there was even talk of Europe.

Subsequently three of their defensive line – Zabarnyi, Kerkez and Huijsen – left for some of Europe's elite clubs for almost £150m.

Additionally they failed to secure {goalkeeper|shot-st