After moving from Bristol City to the south coast for £25 million in the summer of 2023, expectations were high amongst Cherries fans for new signing Alex Scott, and it was assumed that the midfielder would be key in leading the club to success.
The talented England Under-21 midfielder came into the side with an array of natural qualities and everyone was ready to see Scott light up the Premier League, just like he did the Championship.
But a serious injury shortly after completing his move and a later knock picked up again before Christmas saw a difficult start to his Bournemouth career, and that is not to mention his fellow teammates’ performances keeping him out of the starting XI.
As a result, Bournemouth fans have been discussing Scott’s place within the team and how Andoni Iraola can get the best out of him after a frustrating debut season last year.
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Style of play
Scott is known for his versatility and technical prowess, and operates primarily as a central midfielder but can be deployed in various roles across the pitch thanks to his ability to read the game and adapt to it.
His playing style is characterised by being resistant to the press, making him excellent at retaining possession under pressure.
He excels at breaking defensive lines through his dribbling and incisive passing, often linking defence with attack seamlessly.
His box-to-box energy allows him to contribute in both attacking and defensive phases, showing remarkable maturity for such a young player.
Additionally, Scott’s intelligence in occupying half-spaces and creating opportunities from these areas showcases his tactical awareness, key when playing in the middle of the pitch.
With his blend of creativity, work rate and spatial awareness, Scott has drawn comparisons to elite midfielders and it is for these reasons that people have him down as a key figure for Bournemouth's success in the Premier League.
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Fitting into Bournemouth’s system
Andoni Iraola's tactical approach at Bournemouth centres around an aggressive, high-pressing system, which is highly influenced by his past mentor, Marcelo Bielsa.
Iraola’s team is designed to disrupt opponents high up the pitch by pressing intensely and closing gaps between their lines.
This strategy emphasises winning back possession quickly and transitions to vertical attacks.
He has adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, which gives the Cherries structure in defence and fluidity in attack.
A key feature of their play is their work rate; Bournemouth players are required to cover a lot of ground under Iraola and are particularly focused on winning second balls, which wins back possession.
Bournemouth’s style balances a high-risk, high-reward pressing game that always promises fast, end-to-end football.
As a result, Scott is a natural fit for Iraola’s Bournemouth system and offers versatility, energy, and creativity.
With Iraola’s high-pressing, possession-based approach, Scott’s press resistance and ball-carrying ability are key in maintaining fluidity during transitions.
He can slot into a central midfield role in the 4-2-3-1 formation, either as a No. 8 or even in a more advanced No. 10 role when needed.
His box-to-box work rate complements Iraola’s high-octane pressing, whilst his dribbling and passing help unlock opposition defences.
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Setbacks and frustrations
This is largely due to the exceptional form of his teammates, rather than any shortcomings in his ability.
Midfield duo Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie have formed a solid partnership, excelling at the pressing, passing and organisation demanded by Iraola, and have made it impossible for the manager to drop them.
Moreover, Justin Kluivert, just ahead of them in the No. 10 role, has also impressed with his energy, quick decision-making, and creativity in attack.
It has meant that Scott has not even had the opportunity to impress when returning from injury with both of his preferred midfield roles being occupied with solid and consistent performers.
Scott’s injury setbacks kept him sidelined for much of last season, which limited his ability to develop consistency and cement a place in the starting line-up too.
When he did feature, it was evident that he had something different to offer the side and impressed fans with his displays.
So far this season, Scott has struggled to fully match the intensity of Iraola’s high-pressing system, as seen in the Chelsea game when Bournemouth lost control of the midfield after his introduction.
While Scott is skilled on the ball, he does not yet meet the standards of Cook or Christie in off-the-ball play like pressing or tracking runners.
He has often played as a No. 8, likely due to Tyler Adams’ absence, but could be better suited to a more advanced No. 10 role, where his creativity and vision can be maximised.
All of this has seen Bournemouth fans become accustomed to seeing Scott starting on the bench, which was not expected when he joined from Bristol City.
With such a talent in their ranks, it is up to Bournemouth and Iraola to find Scott’s best position within the squad and use him accordingly.
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Scott’s future at Bournemouth
Despite the rocky start, Scott’s future at Bournemouth remains bright, and patience will be key in him carving out his position within the team.
While his pathway into the starting XI is currently blocked by the outstanding form of Cook, Christie and Kluivert, an injury to any of these players could open the door for him to shine.
Scott has mainly featured in deeper midfield roles, but a shift to the No. 10 position could better utilise his passing and vision, allowing him to link play and feed Bournemouth’s attackers.
Given his talent, Scott’s time will come, and when it does, he could become a vital creative force for the Cherries.
Every Bournemouth fan wants Scott to make this move work and believes he has the quality to become an important player within the side.
