THE DECISION to swap Gary O’Neil for Andoni Iraola is a statement of intent from Cherries, but it also represents a move away from pragmatism to footballing ideals.

Response from neutrals and the national media was one of bemusement and mourning for the perceived job O’Neil had done with Cherries.

It cannot be, and it should not be, understated the size of the task accomplished by O’Neil and his team last season.

One of the least experienced Premier League teams, fresh off the back of a promotion campaign that threatened to falter at the end, left reeling after conceding 16 goals in three games and placed in the interim charge of a rookie head coach.

The World Cup break was a further hinderance, and whilst Bill Foley’s takeover for Cherries can only be viewed positively, the uncertainty it brought as 2022 slowly came to its conclusion could not have been productive for anyone involved at Vitality Stadium.

At no point did O’Neil ever have the full backing of the fanbase, a fact made very clear during the lean period during winter.

Bottom of the pile following a deflating late defeat at the Emirates, the achievement of Premier League survival can never be taken away from O’Neil – he should rightly have that on top of his CV as he looks to continue his management career elsewhere.

But just because it was achieved does not mean it was achieved efficiently, despite the fact survival was confirmed with three games to spare.

Throughout his time as Cherries boss there was doubt in the stands over the long-term viability of O’Neil.

Supporters could not see a clear style of play, with O’Neil frequently tinkering in between games in a bid to win matches.

It was not pretty on the eye, but it just about worked. The underlying numbers indicated there had to be an improvement, however.

How much of Cherries’ success in survival came down to there being at least three teams worse than them?

An interim spell followed by a permanent role with the sole objective of survival was never going to be fertile ground for tactical evolution of any kind.

Maybe we would have seen more of an identity formed over the summer, the first proper chance for O’Neil to show what he was about as a manager.

In what proved to be his penultimate press conference as Cherries boss, O’Neil spoke of his ideals as a football manager, and the need to balance that with pragmatism in order to achieve results.

“I firstly have an ideal of how I would like the team to look,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo.

“Then my job from that point to judge what is realistic, not only for the season but each weekend.

“So I think obviously I like our team to press when we can.

“But we went to the Emirates (against Arsenal) and I didn't feel like that was a realistic plan for us, so we didn't.

“Then other games, teams come here - Fulham, for instance, we were trying to be really aggressive. Brighton, we tried to be aggressive, win the ball high up.

“So, sort of somewhere in between,” he continued.

“I have an ideal, but I just think if you always stick to your ideal, especially when you're one of the smaller clubs in the league, it can cause you more problems than it solves.

“So, trying to find the right balance always of having an identity, but being realistic about how much of it we use each week.”

With Iraola, Cherries will be using all of their identity every week – his Rayo Vallecano side rarely changed their approach no matter who they were facing.

Since promotion to La Liga two seasons ago, Iraola has beaten Barcelona three times in four meetings, drawing the other encounter at the Camp Nou.

There was not a drastic change to the gameplan out of respect and anticipation for Barcelona’s style, Rayo getting right into the faces of their opponents.

Of course, blind optimism and faith in tactical approach does not guarantee results.

The other Spanish giant, Real Madrid, beat Rayo three times over the last two seasons – but it cannot be said that they outclassed their smaller neighbours.

Rayo also defeated the Galacticos on one occasion, and never lost by more than one goal in the other three meetings.

Contrast that with Cherries’ two results against Manchester City, and it certainly does not make bad reading.

Iraola will make slight tweaks and address strengths and weaknesses of opponents, like any manager, but there will be no sacrificing of his tactical principles.

The cosy nature of the Vitality will be somewhat familiar to the 40-year-old, Rayo Vallecano’s Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas hosting around 14,000 fans.

What he will not be used to is the scale of resources at hand, a combination of the wealth of the Premier League and Foley.

Already Cherries attack in a similar fashion to what Iraola will demand of his charges - a fast and direct style.

The biggest change will be with their defensive work - pressing will go up another level under the Basque.

Rayo forced 367 high turnovers in La Liga last term – 100 more than Cherries managed in the Premier League.

Only Barcelona and Real Sociedad allowed lower PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) scores, an indicator of how quick and ferocious a team presses.

In appointing Iraola, Cherries have done away with pragmatism and opted for ideals, with the hope that a concrete philosophy will serve as a strong foundation for future success.