Stepping up, Brett Pitman

After a move to Premier League Blackpool fell through, Brett Pitman is preparing to be unleashed on the Championship defences with Bristol City as Bournemouth say farewell to their prized asset. Pitman has been an enigma. Sean O’Driscoll once said that he could end up in the Premier League or a Sunday League, such is the nature of Pitman.

The Jersey born hitman was first picked up by Bournemouth in his teens when playing for St Pauls on the island. Nurtured in the highly successful youth team set up at Dean Court, his remarkable scoring record had him knocking on the door of the first team much earlier in his career than could conceivably have been expected. As the number of substitutes allowed increased, so Pitman would appear on the bench. Any time O’Driscoll’s charges were looking a little goal shy, yells of “get Pitman on” would echo around the ground, such was the reputation of young Brett.

It was maybe this early adulation that tainted Pitman’s early days. O’Driscoll used the youngster quite sparingly which didn’t prove terrible popular. When Sean left for pastures new, Pitman began to appear in the side more regularly under Kevin Bond, but people saw signs that perhaps started to alter their expectations. His goalscoring record was limited in those early seasons. During their relegation from League One in 2007/08, Bournemouth’s mercurial Channel Islander notched only seven goals in 39 matches. A particular match that added to speculation that he was a mood player was a bizarre night when Bournemouth somehow bundled Barrow out of the FA Cup. Having appeared doomed to an embarrassing exit at home to the non-leaguers, the Cherries were given a lifeline penalty in stoppage time. There ensued a highly embarrassing altercation between Pitman and then loanee Max Gradel as to who would take the spot kick, the pair of them playing tug of war with ball as Pitman started throwing his hands up at the Bournemouth bench in a somewhat childish manner.

The following season under Jimmy Quinn, Bournemouth managed to embarrass themselves in the FA Cup again, failing to beat Blythe over two matches, both televised (if you count ITV Digital as televised!) Pitman arrived as a substitute in the replay with his appearance lasting all of two minutes as he was sent off for a petulant lunge that whilst embarrassing him in front of dozens of viewers, ultimately did more harm to his then manager than it did his own career as Quinn would not last much longer in the role.

Enter Eddie Howe. Quiet, well mannered, intelligent youngster who may still have to show id in Waitrose to buy alcohol. Howe transformed Bournemouth’s fortunes and rejuvenated Pitman’s career. Scoring at a rate of more than a goal every other game during Bournemouth’s promotion success, Pitman became the focus of much transfer talk as Bournemouth’s financial issues continued.

For people who don’t know what to expect from Pitman before they see him play, well you will keep that attitude for some time. He runs somewhat like Chris Waddle. When he runs at full tilt, it still looks like he actually isn’t trying. After a while you will get to realise that this is just how he looks. He is without doubt a remarkable talent that when nurtured will blossom. Even on his off days when he appears disinterested he has the power to generate a moment of such extreme skill that you will forgive him the other 89 minutes of non-descript mediocrity.

Two years ago at Bournemouth he was unpopular. Now the Dean Court faithful are beside themselves, wondering how their side will cope without him. With a hat-trick against promotion hopefuls Peterborough in his only Bournemouth home game of 2010/11 already under his belt, Pitman appears to be picking up where he left off in League Two. He will frustrate some City fans, he will enthral others. He will embarrass some Championship defenders, other teams will wonder what all the fuss is about, such is the baffling genius that is Brett Pitman. Just how well he does is down to him.