Shane Duffy
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton’s #ShaneDuffy wants to get back to his best next season #BHAFC

June 11, 2021
The 29-year-old had a tough time during his loan spell at Celtic. After a great start to life in Scotland, where he helped Celtic win their five league games and scored two goals in the process, his form dipped. He played the last game of his loan spell in their 2-1 win over St Johnstone on February 14. On top of that, the Republic of Ireland international was also targeted by social media trolls. But Duffy is now hoping to rediscover his best form with Albion next season. He said: "I think it has been well noted I've had a tough time on and off the pitch. I feel that I've dealt with it as best I can. "I didn't plan for it to go like this, but that's the setback I've got and I'm big and ugly enough to deal with it and come out the other side. "This season is over now, and I feel mentally I've turned a page, and I'm not going to stop now. “I'm going to keep going through the summer and be ready for pre-season and hit the ground running. "I feel I've had a year off where I haven't played my best stuff and I am ready to get that back next season." Duffy is currently on international duty with Ireland, where he played the full 90 minutes in their 0-0 draw against Hungary in a friendly, who will compete in the Euros which gets underway tomorrow. Ireland had a tough start to their World Cup qualifying campaign in March, after losing to Serbia (3-2) and Luxembourg (1-0), meaning they sit fourth in group A having yet to pick up a point. But with Portugal, Azerbaijan, and Serbia to come in September, their task will not get any easier. However, Duffy who played represented Ireland at Euro, the last time they qualified for a major competition, believes it would be stupid to write off their World Cup hopes just two games into the qualifying campaign. He said: "You always have that belief. It was only a couple of games played and if you write us off now, it would be stupid, I'd say. "We're just getting going, hopefully, and it's about the performances turning into results and we'll shock a few teams hopefully and kick on. "We fully believe the manager has the right thing going here and with a little bit of luck with players and Covid and stuff like that, we can kick on."
Che Adams
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #CheAdams says Everyone at Southampton calls me McAdams! #SAINTSFC

June 10, 2021
FRONTMAN Che Adams revealed there had been plenty of banter flying around about his Scotland selection and said: “Everyone at Southampton calls me McAdams!” Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed the striker’s new moniker to the media back in April, after he had netted his first international goal against the Faroe Islands. Adams qualified to represent the Scots through a maternal grandparent, having previously represented England’s under-20s. He also reportedly turned down an opportunity to play for Antigua & Barbuda. But now with two goals in four international games for the Scots, Leicester-born Adams is a key figure of the Tartan Army’s Euro 2020 plans. He told the Daily Record: “There’s been plenty of banter going around. Everyone at Southampton calls me McAdams! “I get it every day! “When I came to my first camp the boys told me to do my first interview in a Scottish accent, which was quite funny. “It’s part and parcel in dressing rooms and you need that.” Scotland famously qualified for this month’s tournament after beating Serbia on penalties in a play-off back in November. Goalkeeper David Marshall was the hero that evening with the experienced stopper leading a post-match conga during the celebrations in the aftermath. And it was moments like that which fuelled Adams’s desire to join Steve Clarke’s side. “I watched the videos of all the lads celebrating, the clips of Marshy and so on and how good it looked. I was so happy for all the people involved and I want to be a part of it,” he added. “I have had a look on YouTube and the lads speak so much about it. The Scotland-England game was on the other day and everyone sat around the table and just wanted to enjoy the moment and make it happen again.” Scotland kick off their Euro 2020 Group D campaign against Czech Republic at Hampden Park on Monday (2pm). They then take on England on Friday, June 18 (8pm) before a clash with Croatia to round off their group fixtures on June 22.
Richard Masters Premier League
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Rebel Super League clubs have apologised to Premier League rivals and will pay out £22m #MUFC #MCFC #CHELSEAFC #LFC #TOTFC #ARSENALFC

June 10, 2021
ENGLAND'S six Super League rebel clubs are set to pay out a combined £22million and have apologised to other Premier League clubs, it has been revealed. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham announced themselves as founder members of the competition on April 18, but had withdrawn within 72 hours amid fan protests and opposition from the Premier League, UEFA, FIFA and even the British Government. The clubs indicated their intention to remain in the Premier League, but their involvement in the Super League would have had a hugely negative competitive and commercial effect on the English top flight. Sky News reported the settlement on Wednesday afternoon and sources within one of the clubs have subsequently told PA that agreement has been reached, with clubs facing a £25million fine and 30-point deduction if there are further attempts to break away. The Premier League and the FA later released a statement confirming the news. “The six clubs involved in proposals to form a European Super League have today acknowledged once again that their actions were a mistake, and have reconfirmed their commitment to the Premier League and the future of the English game,” the statement began. “They have wholeheartedly apologised to their fans, fellow clubs, the Premier League and The FA. “As a gesture of goodwill, the clubs have collectively agreed to make a contribution of £22million which will go towards the good of the game, including new investment in support for fans, grassroots football and community programmes. “Furthermore, the clubs have agreed to support rule changes so that any similar actions in the future would lead to a 30-point deduction. Each of the six clubs, in that event, would also be subject to an additional £25 million fine. “The Premier League and The FA have worked closely together throughout this process and this agreement brings both investigations into the matter to a conclusion.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl reveals summer plans as transfer window opens #SAINTSFC

June 10, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl says Saints will save back some money to allow them to pounce later in the summer, with the transfer window officially opening from today. Clubs in England have 12 weeks to do business between now and deadline day on August 31. Saints have already moved early to tie free agent Theo Walcott down to a two-year deal, when his contract at Everton expires at the end of this month. Walcott, a former academy star, returned to St Mary's on loan from the Toffees in October and impressed enough to earn a permanent deal. But the summer transfer business is not expected to stop there, with Hasenhuttl on the lookout for multiple players to bolster his squad as Saints look to improve on their disappointing 15th-placed Premier League finish. Full-back is a clear priority, particularly given the departure of Ryan Bertrand. Saints have already been linked with a host of players since the Premier League season finished last month, most recently Brest defender Romain Perraud. Asked if he is keen to get transfer dealings done early in the window, particularly with the European Championship potentially affecting the value of certain players this summer, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: "I think the first one or two signings should be early ones. “Then you should wait because sometimes things are popping up what you are not expecting. That can give you a very interesting opportunity to get maybe players in you didn’t expect. “Also to the end of the transfer windows, not every good player will find the spot he wants to go. “That is what we experienced last summer, somebody at the end – you needed a little bit of money rested for the special signing if somebody pops up because somebody else finally didn’t go for him." During last summer's transfer window, Saints signed Kyle Walker-Peters and Mohammed Salisu within three weeks of deals being permitted, before late swoops for both Ibrahima Diallo and Walcott, once the season had already begun.
Che Adams
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #StuartArmstrong has belief in the all-round game of flying #CheAdams #SAINTSFC

June 9, 2021
SAINTS midfielder Stuart Armstrong believes Che Adams has all the attributes to be a successful striker – as the pair get ready for Scotland’s Euro 2020 campaign. Frontman Adams netted his second goal in four senior games for Scotland in Sunday’s 1-0 warm-up victory over Luxembourg. It capped a winning end to Steve Clarke’s side’s preparations for the tournament, with their opening fixture against the Czech Republic on Monday. And Armstrong, who has played alongside Adams for the past two seasons for Saints, is delighted to have him as part of the international setup. Speaking to The Herald about Adams, Armstrong said: "He's got a lot of dimensions to his game. “He's powerful, strong and holds the ball up well but also good speed and very technical so he will run in behind and his shot's pretty ferocious. “He's got a good all-round game and that's key to being able to play up front these days.” Leicester-born Adams made the decision to represent Scotland earlier this year. A former England under-20 international, he turned down an approach from Scotland back in 2017 and was also offered the chance to play for Antigua & Barbuda in the past. However, the Saints striker has now pledged his allegiance to the Tartan Army, qualifying to play for them through a maternal grandparent. He opened his international goal account as Clarke’s men secured the first win of their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, with a convincing 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in March. Speaking after his country’s latest triumph, Saints striker Adams said: “A win’s a win at the end of the day. “We build momentum going into next week and we created a lot of chances and should have put a lot more away. “But we are happy with the win – it could have been better, we could have scored more goals but a win’s a win.” Scotland face England on Friday, June 18, before rounding off their Group D campaign with a clash against Croatia on June 22.
Ben White Leeds
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #BenWhite insists his England call-up has been ten years in the making #BHAFC

June 9, 2021
Brighton defender Ben White insisted his England call-up has been ten years in the making. The 23-year-old caught the eye of many in the 2019/20 season with his performances for Leeds in the Championship as he helped them win promotion back to the Premier League. However, prior to that he had been a regular in his first two loan spells away from Albion at Legaue Two side, Newport County and League One side, Peterborough United respectively. This season he made 36 appearances in his debut campaign in the Premier League for Albion. But White has stressed that his England call-up has come from ten years of hard work and not just his performances for Leeds in the 2019/20 season.  He said: "I wasn't made last year, I think I have worked hard for ten years and it doesn't suddenly come in a year and you are doing well. "I had two loans before that and played quite a few games there so that has helped me build and perform at the level that I have."
Ben White Leeds
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #BenWhite discusses his release from Saints squad and time at the academy #SAINTSFC #BHAFC

June 8, 2021
JAMES Ward-Prowse missed out on being England’s 26th man for Euro 2020 after defender Ben White was added to the squad. The Saints skipper impressed during the Three Lions’ 1-0 friendly win over Romania on Sunday before being replaced in the 65th-minute. Many thought Ward-Prowse would be the man to occupy the spot left void by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was forced to withdraw through injury last week. But 23-year-old White, who featured in Saints’ academy growing up before being released, earned the call to book his place at the tournament. Brighton centre-back White made his debut in last week’s 1-0 friendly win over Austria and impressed as he started alongside Tyrone Mings in the victory against Romania. Everton defender Ben Godfrey and Saints star Ward-Prowse were options who both started the Romania game, while Jesse Lingard and Ollie Watkins were also on the standby list, but will now return home. White grew up in the south, attending Queen Elizabeth's School in Wimborne, while also playing football for county side Poole and East Dorset. Asked who was in Saints' academy at the same time as him, White told YouTube channel GAFFER: "I think (Alex Oxlade) Chamberlain, Prowsey (James Ward-Prowse), (Jack) Stephens, who are all playing in the Premier League now. “They’re not really my age, they were three years older than me, but they were the ones that I was watching. "After training they would be playing on the Saturday and I’d watch all their games." Discussing his release from Saints, White said: "It was hard. I didn’t get anything at 16. You’re just booted out and that’s it really. "You’re done and you’ve got to find your own way back. Luckily I managed to do that and get my trial at Brighton." White’s inclusion was announced by the Football Association on Monday morning as the team continue preparations for their European Championship opener against Croatia. Having trained in Middlesbrough, with both friendlies taking place at the Riverside Stadium, the squad will now be based at St George’s Park. Euro 2020 kicks off on Friday night, with England’s clash with Croatia at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
Che Adams
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #SteveClarke reaction after #CheAdams scores for Scotland in Euro 2020 warm-up match #SAINTSFC

June 8, 2021
STEVE Clarke is ready for the real action to begin at last after Scotland beat Luxembourg 1-0 in their final Euro 2020 warm-up match. After an encouraging 2-2 draw with Holland in Portugal last Wednesday, a Che Adams goal against the 10-man home side at the Stade Josy Barthel set the Scots up nicely for their European Championship opener against Czech Republic at Hampden Park on June 14. Saints striker Adams’s goal came in the 27th minute before Luxembourg defender Vahid Selimovic was shown a straight red card for a ‘last man’ foul on Lyndon Dykes. It is the second time Adams has scored for Scotland, in his fourth appearance, since declaring his allegiance to represent the nation earlier this year. Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour, who came on at half-time for his second cap, had to go back off after a shuddering challenge but Clarke revealed the 19-year-old was “fine” as he looked forward to Scotland, with just two defeats in 16 games, making their first appearance at a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup finals in France. The boss said: “We had lots of chances. Lyndon Dykes is a little bit disappointed in himself that he didn’t get the match ball to be honest, he had so many chances. “Che had a few as well. It was nice to work with the two strikers. I wanted to have a look at them in one of the two games so it was nice to have a look at them. “I wanted to have a look at a different combination in midfield with John McGinn and Scott McTominay and that was interesting and there was more game time for some of the players that required it. “So, good exercise, good training camp, two good friendlies and I can’t wait for next week. We are in a good place.” After the opener against Czech Republic, Scotland travel to Wembley to play England before returning to Glasgow to face Croatia. The former Scotland defender said: “We are going try to be on the front foot as much as the opponents allow us. We are playing good teams so at times we might suffer without the ball. “But when we have the ball, we are going to be on the front foot and create chances like we did tonight and against the Dutch the other night. We look forward to it. It is a tournament that has been a long time coming and we want to make the most of it.”
Ben White Leeds
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton’s #BenWhite reflects on a great first week with England #BHAFC

June 8, 2021
Brighton's Ben White has reflected on his first week with England, after making his full debut yesterday. The 23-year-old defender has won two caps in the last six days after being handed his first cap when coming off the bench in their 1-0 win against Austria to replace Jack Grealish. Yesterday he was then handed his first start in their 1-0 win over Romania. In total he has kept two clean sheets in both of his caps so far. White capped off what has been a great week for him this morning by being called up to their 26-man squad for the Euros to replace Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who withdrew through injury. Read more: Ben White makes full England debut against Romania. But after playing the full 90 minutes against Romania yesterday, White knows what he needs to do to get to the next level and become a regular for England. He said: “It’s been a great experience playing with the players that I have been playing with this week and shows me the level I need to be at, to be a top player like these boys. “It has been a great experience for me and obviously it has been tough, but really good.”