Why Christian Atsu will be Bournemouth’s MVP

Christian Atsu ’s loan spell at Everton didn’t really go to plan, did it!?

In principle, the move appeared to make complete sense. Having moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2013, the former FC Porto wideman spent a wholly encouraging year on loan at Vitesse Arnhem. This wasn’t too much of a surprise; he had already featured in the Champions League, shone in Portuguese football and begun to demonstrate his ability to make an impact for the Black Stars.

Everton represented something of a natural stepping stone; they would allow the wideman to sample life in the Premier League, with a team that should be hoping to win an admirable proportion of their matches, and who could also offer the player the chance to feature in the Europa League.

From the club’s point of view, they were acquiring a menacing impact player—a starter in Europe, perhaps, and an effective substitute in the Premier League—who would help them pad out a limited squad.

There was also the Roberto Martinez factor. The Spanish coach had cultivated something of a reputation for improving young offensive players—names like Callum McManaman, Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu come to mind—and Jose Mourinho may well have hoped that Atsu too could benefit from the former Wigan coach’s mentoring skills.

Sadly, all parties were left dissatisfied.

Atsu managed a meagre five outings and one assist in the Premier League. His return was slightly better in the Europa League—although that ended with elimination at the hands of Dynamo Kiev—where he played seven times, of which three were starts.

Partly, Everton’s taxing campaign—the Toffees lost their way, finished in a miserable 11th place and struggled both with injuries and a collective disintegration of defensive composure—was to blame for Atsu’s failure to assert himself. However, the player too came across as lightweight, while his decision-making also left a lot to be desired.

A star turn at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations reminded the watching world of the player’s class, but the arrival of Aaron Lennon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur essentially meant the end of his opportunities at Goodison Park. It was little surprise when 80% of respondents in a poll with local paper the Liverpool Echo indicated that they wouldn’t want to see Atsu back at the club next season .

Enter Bournemouth.

Eddie Howe’s South-coast side secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history, despite being tipped for relegation to the third tier at the beginning of the game. Ultimately, they finished the year as Championship champions after pipping Watford to first place.

Howe—something of a managerial wonderkid—moved quickly to bring Atsu in once the 2014-15 campaign ended.

The timing of the move must have been vital for the player. Rather than dwell on his unhappy spell at Goodison Park, Atsu was immediately sought after and in demand. That must surely have helped the player remember his value and his qualities once again, and it also meant that several weeks of potentially-unwanted transfer speculation were avoided.

It also ensured that Atsu got a complete pre-season in with his teammates, meaning that now, as we stand on the threshold of the new season, the player should be well settled and familiar with his new teammates.

They are likely to go through a lot together over the coming weeks and months.

While Howe’s guidance and a series of shrewd signings this summer have led to many pundits tipping the Cherries to avoid the drop, they will likely be in the midst of a relegation battle for much of the campaign.

It’s not overstating his quality to suggest that the performances of Atsu—a player who has featured in the World Cup, and in an Afcon final—could be critical in determining whether Bournemouth enjoy a second term among the elite.

Ostensibly, the Ghanaian may prove to be an inspired addition.

Tactically, Bournemouth may risk finding themselves caught between two stools this term.

Last season, Howe employed an entertaining and offensive approach in the Championship; ensuring that his side attempted to boss possession and take the game to their opponents. They bagged 98 goals—just one measure of their success.

That tactic may not be so viable in the Premier League. It’s one thing playing keep-ball against Rotherham, a different story altogether trying to control a contest against Manchester City.

While Atsu could have—and may still—thrive in this approach, as part of a forward line alongside lighting Callum Wilson and another new recruit, Max Gradel, it remains to be seen to what extent Bournemouth can preserve such a bold approach.

However, Atsu need not worry, as Bournemouth’s Plan B may also play to his strengths.

The Cherries are clearly cultivating a second method ahead of their maiden EPL campaign, evidenced by the signing of Sylvain Distin. At 37, Atsu’s former Everton teammate cannot be expected to participate should Bournemouth look to play a high defensive line as they did to such great effect in the second tier.

The acquisition of the experienced-but-sluggish centre-back demonstrates that Howe must be anticipating that Bournemouth will spent at least a portion of the coming campaign ‘bedding in’ and absorbing pressure, before launching forth in counter attack.

Here, the devastating pace of Atsu, Wilson (who scored 20 in the Championship last season) and Gradel could prove to be hugely effective. Speed is valuable at any level of the game, and in the Premier League, it could emerge as Bournemouth’s saving grace.

While the 2015-16 campaign will surely be testing for Bournemouth and Atsu, the Ghana winger must be dying to get out onto the field and prove that he can be a decisive operator in the Premier League. This, at least, unlike at Everton, he will have plenty of opportunity to do over the coming 11 months.