So much stick recently from other clubs and pundits about Eddie Howe's signing of Ibe, Solanke and Smith. So let's remember for every Ibe, there is a Wilson. #afcb

A thread.

One of Eddie's first signings when he was thrust in to management, trying to save the club from extinction, was Liam Feeney. The direct pacey winger was signed on a free from Salisbury. Survival and promotion followed before being sold to Millwall for £250,000. Bargain!

Next, we have Anton Robinson, also signed Feb 2009. Free transfer from Weymouth. A box to box midfielder, with a little bit of class. Helped keep the club up, followed by a promotion. Play off defeat to Huddersfield led to a move to the Terriers for around £275,000.

June 2010, was a transfer of the century. A rough diamond in the centre of midfield, called Harry Arter, was signed for £4,000 from Woking. Harry has made over 200 appearances for the Cherries, guiding them from League 1 to the Premier League. Currently on loan to Fulham.

Next up Rhoys Wiggins, the left back has been signed 4 times by Howe, twice on loan. Promotion from League 2 led to a free transfer from Norwich. He starred in the Cherries play off push in 2011 and a transfer to Championship Charlton for £200,000 followed. Retired due to injury.

During AFCB's promotion from Lg 2, Hereford scored 3 goals against us. All by Marc Pugh, this led to a free transfer to the Cherries in League 1, June 2010. A tribunal ordered AFCB to pay a £100,000 fee for the winger. 9 yrs, over 300 apps and over 50 goals during the rise to PL.

With the Cherries in the top 2 of League 1, Eddie Howe chose Burnley over a host of other clubs including Crystal Palace. Notice any of his signings there? He moved back to AFC Bournemouth in Oct 2012 after the death of his mother. 3 resold for around £28m, the other: PL captain.

Eddie returned to AFC Bournemouth in October bringing with him a loan from Bristol City, Brett Pitman, who would sign 2 months later for £60,000! 40 goals in around 100 appearances resulting in promotion to Championship and then the Premier League.

Jan 2013 also brought a 'wee man' from Aberdeen. £400,000 was spent on the teenager. Speedy but lightweight Howe developed him in to a solid Premier League player. Last season he was second in assists to Hazard. Shame this year he played something befitting of a grandma.

Jan 2013 was a killer window for Howe. Next up, after having a bid rejected for £1m, Howe signed Matt Ritchie from promotion rivals Swindon for £500,000. L1 player of the year, Championship player of the year, and a solid PL player now at Newcastle, sold for £12m.

After promotion to the Championship, Howe brought in ageing left back Ian Harte. This put pressure on Daniels to improve and the experience was invaluable. A free signing from Reading, he was part of the squad who finished top half, then Champions. 28 games, 1 goal, 1 promotion.

June 2013 also saw the experience and return of Andrew Surman. A £800,000 signing from divisional rivals Norwich. Forming a lethal partnership with Harry Arter, promotion followed in 2015. 200 apps and out of contract this year. Stalwart.

A short sharp stint from this one, but a good signing none the less. Lee Camp came in on loan at the back end of 2014 before signing for free in Jan 2014. Gave us stability at the back allowing us to make a late push for the play offs. Still a solid 'keeper.

Another returning player, but this time permanently. Adam Smith came for £250,000 from Spurs. The right back had to play second fiddle to an incredible Simon Francis in the Championship, but what a contribution in the Premier League gaining over 100 PL appearances. Value.

With AFCB looking tidy but missing something up front, Howe signed Yann Kermorgant in January 2014. The missing piece had arrived for around £500,000. Promotion to the premier league followed the season after. On his full debu he netted a hat trick. 69 apps, 27 goals. VaVaVoom.

Summer 2014 Howe dipped in to the free transfer market again. To sign Junior Stanislas, again. Free. Although unable to find consistency due to injuries, he is AFC Bournemouth's third highest PL goal scorer. Hopefully a run of games isn't far away. Almost 100 apps and 20 PL goals

Another free transfer in the summer of 2014 as Howe looked for the unreachable. Enter Dan Gosling, from Newcastle. A solid squad player in the Championship and Premier League, with over 100 appearances. What he may lack in quality, he makes up with effort. Terrier. Solid signing.

One of the best is to come. Losing a goal scorer is hard for any side. Lewis Grabban left for Norwich. Howe spent £3m replacing him with Callum Wilson from Coventry. Despite 2 major injuries to each knee, he still amassed 160 apps and 60 goals, also scoring in an England shirt.

Summer 2015, PL time! Howe bought in Tyrone Mings from Ipswich for around £8m. The left back suffered a major injury on his debut. Howe converted him to centre back but he couldn't break in to the team. After 17 PL apps, 2 own goals and 1 stamp, he was sold for £27m. Profit.

Joshua King was next. Howe loves a freebie! Except we had to pay £1m. A strong, fast forward who can play across the front. 157 PL apps 47 PL goals, linked with a move to a bigger club for 20 times the price we paid. Howe's that!

One to shake a few. Jan 2016 saw the arrival of Benik Afobe. £10m from Wolves. 10 PL goals in his time, but some important ones in his first season. Pivotal to Wilshere signing. After a barren spell, he was sold back to Wolves for £12m. Who then sold him within days for profit.

Lys Mousset arrived in June 2016, from Le Havre. Just under £7m, he broke in to the French U21 side too. A couple of important goals but just a bit unfit / lazy. Sold for profit to Sheffield United for £10m. Scored a few, but 90 minutes looks beyond him still. Wasted talent.

2016 saw the signing of youngster Mark Travers from Shamrock Rovers for free. The 17 year old was shipped out to Weymouth for a loan spell where he scored on his debut. What. Then his AFC Bournemouth debut, kept a clean sheet against Spurs. Ireland international. One to watch.

Lewis Cook also joined that summer from Leeds. Highly rated midfielder, who looked an absolute steal for £8m, leading to an England cap! Injury looks to have had a recent impact, but still incredible vision and passing. As with all Howe's signings, a young lad, more to come.

This shouldn't count, as it was a loan, but it will count. Jack Wilshere. Eddie Howe managed to get the best out of Wilshere, whilst keeping him fit. Notching up the second most PL apps in a season in his career. Hit the woodwork 5 times, created endless chances. What a player.

January 2017 saw the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United for £1m. A successful loan spell at Wimbledon, led to him becoming number 1 for this season. Regularly called to the England camp, and in discussion as one of England's better keepers, looks a shrewd signing.

Summer of 2018 saw the arrival of David Brooks from Sheffield United for £12m. He hit the ground running winning plaudits all over the PL. Working his way back after being out for a year, still an absolute talent. 2019 Wales footballer of the year. Still only 21. Wizard.

2017 saw AFCB spend £20m on Nathan Ake from Chelsea, after his loan. Howe saw him as a centre back. One of the best outside the Top 6. Reading of the game, winning headers and covering for his kamikaze team mates, makes him a fans favourite. To be sold for double. Will be missed.

Summer 2018 saw a new transfer record. Jefferson Lerma. Reputation for yellow cards and being disruptive followed him. AFCB were crying out for this kind of player. Worth every penny of the £25m from Levante. Howe saw the need and delivered.

This could be pretty premature. However, he's being added. Lloyd Kelly joined in June 2019 for £12m from Bristol City. The England U21 left back has battled injuries. Since the restart he looks incredibly composed at centre back. Can see why Howe wanted him signed early.

Last summer also saw the arrival of Jack Stacey. £3.5m for the right back from Luton. Strong, athletic, the overlap. All the raw components to be successful in a Howe team. At only 23 a typical Howe signing who looks to have taken to playing at a higher level. Another to watch.

I'm done, there will be more I've missed. Howe likes to go for a younger player he can develop. That is a risk, always. Some work, some don't , some work instantly, some work in a few seasons. That is the model he takes.

Senior pros like Harte, Distin, Wilshere, Ake, Boruc have all been a success and bought in to him. Begovic and Defoe were terrible in performance.
Ibe had a stinking attitude and failed to develop. Howe clearly can develop players.

If you think his recruitment has been bad, it's because you've known about him in PL. Is his recruitment any worse than any other manager in PL. Of course not. Longevity, league position and small squad impact make him easier to hold to account. Don't be lazy it's boring.

Thanks to all those who've wasted your life reading this. Stay safe!

Missing Tweet! Artur Boruc joined on loan in September 2014 before a free transfer from Southampton. An absolute rock in promotion season conceding less than a goal a game. 90 Premier League games helping the club remain in the top flight. Now used for experience. Warrior.