Bournemouth still learning about Premier League, says boss Eddie Howe
Friday 23 October 2015 18:06, UK
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe hopes his side learn positively from last week's thrashing at Manchester City.
The Cherries manager admits his side have been a little naive since being promoted as Championship champions and admitted they got it wrong at the Etihad.
Howe's side now face an in-form Tottenham team at home on Sunday and he will be "tweaking" his team again as they look to find their feet in the division.
"I don't think we have been particularly good managing some game situations but it comes with the territory for us in terms of lack of experience," he said.
"West Ham, where we were 2-0 up at half-time and won 4-3, was hard to watch because we had been so dominant and we should have been out of sight, and suddenly we were clinging on to the win.
"I would probably agree with the assessment for Man City and I have no problem handling criticism. I'll take that rather than aim it at the players, but with the more experience we get, and the more hardened we get to these situations, we will lose the naivety.
Everyone will see the experience of City as a negative, but we are trying to embrace it as a positive to see how far we have to go to be competitive with these teams.
"From our perspective, this season was always going to be really tough and an incredible learning experience, not just for myself but the rest of the squad.
"Everyone will see the experience of City as a negative, but we are trying to embrace it as a positive to see how far we have to go to be competitive with these teams.
"You can't take away the instincts of the players. We were 4-1 down and tried to attack, but the alternative is to sit on your 18-yard box and put your tin hats on, and then you are maybe looking at worse.
"But you can't find yourselves 2-0 down after 10 minutes and not expect a tough afternoon from that position. Hopefully we have learned lessons from it.
"We did make tweaks before the game and we will continue to make tweaks until we get it right."
