Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said that while Eddie Howe took Bournemouth to the absolute limit in the Premier League, his chances of receiving a job at a top club is now over.
Speaking on Off The Ball, the former Chelsea player praised Howe for staying with recently relegated Bournemouth for so long but feels it will come at a price in his managerial career.
Even after a 3-1 victory over Everton on the last day of the league, Bournemouth dropped to the second tier of English football finishing on 34 points, one point off safety.
“I think Bournemouth have overperformed for a long time. You got to applaud Eddie Howe for what he got out of this club for so long. However, eventually all of this was going to catch up with him,” said Nevin.
“Players were playing to the absolute limit of their capabilities and scoring to the limit of their capabilities. The spirit was fantastic too. But the fact they lasted as long as they did in the Premier League is amazing.”
Nevin pointed out that the stronger teams in the league learned about Bournemouth but he puts their relegation season down to injures and bad luck.
“Teams in that league know what you’re capable of doing and they learned that about Eddie. Even though the team has gone down, I’m impressed with them.
“At the start of the season they had a bunch of injuries, especially with defenders and that is the difference with some clubs. Sometimes it’s not even tactics.
“Aston Villa got players back just in time when they needed them. Sometimes it’s a bit of luck and the strength of your squad.”
For all the praise Nevin did bestow on Howe, he felt he should have walked away from the job to take a bigger gig. Nevin says relegation for Bournemouth was always inevitable.
“Through no fault of his own, it’s just the way life is, Eddie Howe has now got a relegation on his CV. Is he going to get the next Arsenal job? No. Where there was a time that could’ve happened.
“I admire him for staying. He was sensible because he got a club that sticks with him. If he comes back up again, the star has risen again and maybe then that’s the time to go.”
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