Bournemouth are better off WITHOUT Dominic Solanke's goals - and Andoni Iraola can take the credit, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH
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Just outside Pokesdown railway station, the nearest train station to Bournemouth’s Vitality ground, there’s a small football memorabilia shop with a framed Dominic Solanke shirt propped up in the window for passers-by to admire. It serves as a reminder of the influence of the former Cherries striker, whose £65-million move to Tottenham in the summer after netting 19 Premier League goals last season was supposed to derail Andoni Iraola’s second season in charge.
![[Bournemouth found another late goal against Everton and have more strikes from subs than any team in the Premier League]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/14/93754491-0-image-a-57_1736086498824.jpg)
But the way in which Iraola has managed to not only recover this team following Solanke’s departure, but actually improve it, is testament to the Spaniard’s forward-thinking and coaching prowess. Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier were the most used attackers last season behind Solanke, and the three of them produced 18 goals. At the midpoint to this season those three have already scored 12.
![[Andoni Iraola deserves credit for instilling self-belief into his side, who are pushing for Eurpe]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/14/93754615-0-image-a-59_1736086822521.jpg)
Evanilson, Solanke’s £40-million replacement, has five of his own and impressed against Everton, but crucially the goals are no longer coming from just the one man. Iraola has instilled self-belief in this squad, epitomised by the way in which Bournemouth now top the leaderboard for most goals scored by substitutes in the Premier League this season.
![[Their frontline has been a thing to behold and they are spreading out the goals nicely]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/05/14/93754497-0-image-a-60_1736086861271.jpg)
Bournemouth have ended up better despite losing last season's 21-goal man Dominic Solanke. Bournemouth found another late goal against Everton and have more strikes from subs than any team in the Premier League. Andoni Iraola deserves credit for instilling self-belief into his side, who are pushing for Eurpe.
