Bournemouth kept up their strong start to the season with another impressive victory, this time at home to Fulham on Friday night. So despite some apprehension ahead of the new campaign, is it time for the Cherries faithful to set a higher bar and increase their ambitions somewhat?

It was understandable that many fans and media outlets were fairly sure that Andoni’s men would struggle to hit the heights from last season’s ninth-place finish. After all, the only remaining member of their regular defensive unit was stalwart Adam Smith, and even he has missed four of their opening seven league games through injury.

The club did well to try and replace what they had lost, but it’s fair to assume that those new additions would have needed some time to bed in and adjust to what is a very specific style of play with Iraola. No one had needed to worry, though, as the new boys have more than settled in at rapid speed, as Bournemouth currently sit joint third in the Premier League table.

Many would agree that Djordje Petrovic looks like an upgrade on all three of their departing keepers so far. Equally, Bafode Diakite has seamlessly slotted into the side to partner Marcos Senesi at the heart of the defence, plus left back Adrien Truffert has been playing like he’s an “adult version” of the departing Milos Kerkez.

The Cherries have always had goals in them, particularly with the way the coach sets them up, but to look harder to break down following such enormous defensive departures? It’s remarkably impressive.

It’s early days, but I for one certainly don’t believe it’s fanciful for Bournemouth fans to start dreaming that their best ever top-flight finish may be around the corner.

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