Bournemouth vs Aston Villa – Cherries play first ever Premier League game

Bournemouth kick off thier first top-flight campaign in their 116-year history at home to Aston Villa on 8 August, following three promotions in six years.

“The manager is very strong in his opinion on how the game should be played and how he wants it played”. Commanding centre-half Ron Vlaar is a certain absentee, having recently undergone surgery on a troublesome knee problem. A number of stars have been added to the Villa squad over the summer, and debuts are likely to be handed to defenders Micah Richards and Jordan Amavi, midfielders Jordan Veretout and Idrissa Gueye, and new striking duo Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede.

Huge personnel change, an inexperienced manager and some tough rivals at the bottom of the league could mean the end for Villa after 28 seasons in the top flight.

Bournemouth’s last game was a 3-0 dumping of Charlton Athletic in the Football League last May 2, via SkySports.

Bournemouth full-back, Simon Francis, was instrumental in the club’s rise to the top flight. Winger Matt Ritchie was a standout performer last campaign, and the form shown by the player was enough to see him handed a full worldwide cap by Scotland manager, Gordon Strachan.

Mark Hughes is re-branding Stoke as a footballing team and the summer arrivals of Barcelona’s Ibrahim Afellay, one-time Real Madrid striker Joselu and Chelsea’s creative youngster Marco van Ginkel suggest attractive football will be on the menu for the Britannia faithful in 2015/16.

Ten of Yann Kermorgant’s 15 league goals last season were the game’s winning strike. Callum Wilson’s 20 goals last season helped Bournemouth secure the Championship title but he will need help if he is to perform similarly.

While he is unlikely to be spotted by the Sky Sports or BT cameras this season, numerous other Irish personnel who are thriving in roles away from the pitch for various Premier League clubs will be caught in the camera’s glare.

“We will be fearless and take the game to teams”.

Good old Hans could spin a yarn, but few veterans of bedtime stories could remember a Russian benefactor lending the emperor £25million to spend on new clothes or acting as matchmaker for a little mermaid and her prince. A £6 million price tag now upon his head, those associated with Villa will hope the powerful forward will fill the void left by Christian Benteke’s move to Liverpool.

Preparing to embark on their eighth Premier League season after going up via the play-offs, Norwich City are the most familiar of the three promoted clubs.

His replacement, Quique Sanchez Flores, a man who has won the Europa League and Copa del Rey with Atletico Madrid so he arrives to the Premier League with some pedigree.

Eddie Howe faces a selection dilemma for Bournemouth’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa with nine new signings vying to start.

Howe has also invested wisely with some excellent additions being made with Lee Tomlin and Max Gradel all joining the side. Goals are in abundance in both sides, so expect the match to be an open affair.