Elliott Bennett Blackburn Brighton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #ElliottBennett is disappointed with how his time at Blackburn ended #BHAFC #Rovers

June 20, 2021
Former Brighton winger Elliott Bennett is disappointed with the way his time at Blackburn ended but is looking forward to what the future holds for him at Shrewsbury. The 32-year-old saw his five-and-a-half-year spell at Rovers come to end on Thursday evening and he has now joined League One Shrewsbury Town on a one-year deal. In his time at Blackburn, Bennett made 192 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing 19 assists. However, what proved to be his final season at the Championship side did not go as he would have planned. He made just 11 appearances in all competitions for Rovers, due to having surgery on his ankle which saw him miss 24 games between October and February. But Bennett admits last season was tough. He told The Argus: “It has been tricky, it has been difficult for a lot of people in terms of what has been going on with Covid, no fans and all that kind of stuff. I got my injury and my ankle feels better than it ever has done if I am being honest, I feel like I have got a new ankle now. “But unfortunately, I couldn’t force my way into the team at the back end of the season, I didn’t play as many games as I like and that is obviously disappointing. “At the same time the games are what they are, you get to a certain age and at some point, your influence at a certain place can dwindle. He added: “I have had an absolutely amazing time at Blackburn. “I have had an amazing five-and-a-half years there, which is the longest I have been at a football club since when I was younger at Wolves. “I have got a lot of really good memories, but in football and life things change, life moves on and football moves on. “I didn’t play as much as I wanted to and I didn’t get to say goodbye to the people that matter at the football clubs which are the fans. “But that is just the way life is, everything moves on and I just look forward to what happens next.” The winger believes he still has plenty to offer despite his age. He said: “I am still confident in my own ability; I am still confident in what I bring to any football club and for me now it is all about seeing what the future holds. “I just want to enjoy however many years I have got left in the game because I love playing this game and want to keep playing as long as I possibly can.” Bennett will now link up with his former manager and Steve Cotterill at League One side, Shrewsbury. He played under him at Bristol City when he was on loan there in the 2015-16 season. Prior to Cotterill’s sacking in January 2016, Bennett made 15 appearances, which included starting in their 2-1 defeat to Albion at the Amex in October 2015, with Bobby Zamora scoring the winner. But Cotterill is delighted to have secured the services of Bennett. He told the club’s website: “I’ve know Elliott for a long time, I had him at Bristol City; I know what I am getting with him. It’s five years on since I had him but he’s a good leader and a good lad. “He crosses the ball really well and he’s an excellent professional. He will be able to educate our younger players in the dressing room. “I like to have one or two ‘go to’ experienced boys around my teams. I am hoping he can come in and be a good influence in and around the team. “His best position is out on the wide. He can play wide-right or as a wing-back. His crossing ability is great and he can cross with both feet. “We are delighted to have him on board and it was a pleasure seeing him today (Thursday).”
Ashley Young
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Aston Villa secure #AshleyYoung signing as Burnley miss out #AVFC

June 18, 2021
BURNLEY have missed out on the signing of Ashley Young after the former England international rejoined Aston Villa on a free transfer from Inter Milan. The Clarets saw the versatile 35-year-old as someone who could help supplement them in wide areas and at one point looked to be in pole position to secure his signature. Young, who scored 38 goals in 190 appearances for Villa between 2006 and 2011, has however signed a one-year contract to return to Villa Park. “It feels amazing to be back, it feels like I’ve not left,” he said. “I’m just delighted to be back, seeing some old faces, being back at the training ground, seeing the facilities and how well they’ve grown. “You can see how much the club has evolved since my time and I’m just ready to get down to work now.” Young, who won 39 England caps and travelled to Euro 2012 and the 2018 World Cup, joined Villa from Watford before leaving for Manchester United. He won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League while at Old Trafford before moving to Inter – where he clinched the Serie A title last season – in January 2020. Young, who can operate at full-back or on the wing, has made 369 Premier League appearances in total and had also been linked with a return to Watford before opting for Villa Park. “When I heard of the interest from Aston Villa, it was straight to my agent, ‘get a deal done, whatever you can, get a deal done’,” he added. “I think someone said (about me), ‘he’s coming to the end of his career’, ‘he hasn’t got that hunger any more’, ‘he’s just going there for a swansong’… “That’s not me at all, I’ve still got that winning mentality, that winners’ attitude, that desire and hunger to go and win.” Head coach Dean Smith said: “Ashley brings with him a wealth of experience of top-level football both at club and international level and he is joining having just won a league championship in Italy. “He is a player who can play in a number of positions and, having spoken to him at length, I know he is determined to make a real impact with us this season.”
Gao Jisheng Southampton Owner
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #WesleyHoedt joins Anderlecht on permanent deal from Saints #SAINTSFC

June 18, 2021
The defender, who has not featured for Saints since November 2018, has signed a four-year deal with the Belgian club, who are managed by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. Hoedt, 27, arrived at Saints from Lazio for £15million in 2017, but only made 45 appearances, scoring once. After featuring regularly during his first season at the club under former boss Mauricio Pellegrino, Hoedt eventually fell out of favour when Mark Hughes took over. The Dutchman joined Celta Vigo on loan in January 2019, before another temporary move followed, this time to Royal Antwerp during the following transfer window. Hoedt then returned to former club Lazio on loan in October of last year, playing 26 times in Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Champions League. Capped six times by the Netherlands, Hoedt still had one year remaining on his contract at Saints. But an agreement has now been reached for him to join Anderlecht. A brief statement from Saints read: "Southampton Football Club have come to an agreement in principle with Belgian Pro League side Anderlecht for the transfer of defender Wesley Hoedt, ahead of the deal being formally completed on June 21. "The club would like to thank Wesley for his service and wish him all the best for the future." Hoedt, who will wear the number four shirt at Anderlecht, told their website: “The contacts between RSC Anderlecht and myself have been going on for more than a year now. "There was an immediate click with (sporting director) Peter (Verbeke) and Vincent but we had to wait for the right moment. "For me, the choice for RSC Anderlecht is primarily a sporting choice. I want to help make this project a success, to go for the highest again. "It is up to myself and (teammate) Lior (Refaelov) to give the dressing room the necessary maturity. And help the many young players develop to the fullest.” Verbeke added: “With Hoedt, we add leadership and experience to the team. This balance is necessary to allow our many young players to develop optimally and to strive for results. "Wesley is also good on the ball and plays with guts and confidence, which fits very well with the football this club wants to bring.”
Alexis Mac Allister
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #AlexisMacAllister thanks Albion and looks to the Olympics #BHAFC

June 18, 2021
Alexis Mac Allister has thanked Albion for allowing him to fulfil his Olympics dream. He sat out the squad’s recent trip to Spain, which included a training camp and two friendlies. Mac Allister played a huge role in leading Argentina through qualifiers before joining up with Albion early last year. He posted on social media today: “Since I was a child, taking part of this tournament with my country’s been a huge dream, the same as being part of a World Cup. BRIGHTON TARGET NICO GONZALEZ EXPECTED TO JOIN FIORENTINA “That’s why, when we qualified for the Olympics in Colombia, I decided to do everything I could to being available to play there. “I want to thank a lot to @officialbhafc and to every person who’s helped me to achieve this goal, and for understanding how important it is for me to play these games representing Argentina.”  
Stuart Armstrong Southampton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #StuartArmstrong says The whole of Scotland will be behind us #SAINTSFC

June 18, 2021
SAINTS’ flying Scot Stuart Armstrong insists “the whole country” will be behind Scotland when they face off against bitter rivals England and added: “We need to produce a performance to match.” Steve Clarke’s side are set to make the trip south of the border to Wembley tomorrow (8pm), having lost their Euro 2020 opener 2-0 against the Czech Republic at Hampden Park earlier this week. Armstrong played 67 minutes of the Tartan Army’s first Group D contest and will hope to keep his place in midfield when they take on England for the first time since 2017. Former Celtic and Dundee United man Armstrong played 90 minutes that day four years ago, as the sides battled to a pulsating 2-2 draw. And the 29-year-old knows what a momentous occasion it will be when the nations collide once again in a major tournament. Armstrong told the BBC: “We try to focus on game by game, so now the first one is out the way, we can now look forward to what is a very big occasion. “The whole country will be behind us and we need to produce a performance to match.” Scotland face England and Croatia in their remaining group fixtures, with six points and qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament still up for grabs. It is the first time the Scots have reached a major finals since 1998. Armstrong added: “There were some positive moments (against Czech Republic), we just need to carry that through into Friday – a clean slate and it’s a big one. “I think we’ve got now two chances to produce a good performance and get something from them. “It’s about analysing what went wrong but not dwelling on it and moving forward quickly, because the days go quick and the games come up quick as well.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton chairman #TonyBloom says best is yet to come from Brighton academy #BHAFC

June 17, 2021
But he is “really encouraged” by progress made since the club stepped up their investment in player development. Academy graduates Robert Sanchez and Ben White are currently on international duty with Spain and England respectively at Euro 2020. Another reminder of the talent emerging came this week as under-23s skipper Teddy Jenks went on loan to Scottish big guns Aberdeen. Jenks will be tackling top-tier and European football with the Dons. Although many fans will hope not, White could provide a massive pay-off if he leaves this summer. What the club have been saved in transfer fees and wages can only be guessed at – but, for Bloom, it is still early days. Albion’s chairman told The Argus: “It was a huge decision to make, not only to find the first team a training ground but we put a huge amount of infrastructure and resources into the academy set-up which was always going to be long-term. “It’s eight years on and we are still early days, still catching up with some other clubs who have had this infra-structure in for many years before us. “But I am really encouraged by how the academy is doing, the players it is bringing forward. Even if some of the players on the verge of our squad don’t quite get into it, they have got an opportunity to perhaps be transferred and play in the Championship or League One. “We really want all of our players to do as well as they can and to ideally be professionals. “Obviously there is always disappointment, there is always a significant percentage who can’t do that. “But our job is to help those players get the best careers they can lower down the pyramid if they are not going to be in our squad. “So overall really encouraging and huge credit to (academy director) John Morling and all the staff.” Albion have combined local players with those signed from around the globe in their academy squads. They lead the way in terms of Prem minutes by homegrown players while the under-18s won their Premier League cup last season. It was put to Bloom that, rather than playing catch-up, Albion are now forging ahead in terms of academy football. But he is cautious when asked to go that far. He replied: “Eight years in terms of an academy, because you start from under-nines, is not a long time. “But, given the results and given the players coming through, we may have caught up with a lot of clubs and perhaps even overtaken them. That’s the goal. Let’s see how the next few years go. “But its really encouraging, the last few years in particular.” There are clearly high hopes for Jenks, who was a dominant force striding forward from midfield in the 23s last season. Speaking on the Footy, The Albion And Three podcast towards the end of the season, former skipper Gordon Greer backed Jenks to go into a competitive senior league environment in the 2021-22 campaign. He said: “Teddy is a player who I think the next step for him is to get a loan move and play in the league. LEANDRO TROSSARD HOPES TO GET ON FOR BELGIUM SPAIN PUT ROBERT SANCHEZ IN THE FIRING LINE “Jensen Weir has impressed as well. Again, the next step would be to get out and play in the league somewhere.” Weir could well follow Jenks out on loan. There will also be much interest in another top academy prospect in goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, who was named the club’s young player of the season for 2020-21.
Che Adams
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #SteveClarke reveals why #CheAdams did not start for Scotland #SAINSTFC

June 16, 2021
SCOTLAND boss Steve Clarke offered a blunt eight-word response when asked why Che Adams was not selected from the start for his side's Euro 2020 opener against Czech Republic. The Saints striker was named on the bench at Hampden Park, before being introduced at half-time. Adams impressed during his 45-minute display, but could not prevent Scotland from falling to a disappointing 2-0 home defeat, leaving them with a tough task to qualify out of Group D. Leicester-born Adams, who only declared allegiance to Scotland in March, came into the tournament having scored twice in his four international appearances. That included the winning goal against Luxembourg earlier this month. But Clarke opted for a strike duo of QPR forward Lyndon Dykes and Celtic's Ryan Christie, with Adams replacing the latter at the break. Two goals from Bayer Leverkusen frontman Patrick Schick settled the contest in Czech Republic's favour. Asked for his thoughts on the contribution of Adams and if there was an argument for him starting the game, Clarke replied: "Hindsight is a wonderful gift. Nobody's got it." Scotland's preparations were hampered by an injury to Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney in the build-up to the fixture. That saw the Tartan Army start with a back three, with Saints star Stuart Armstrong implemented from central midfield. “Obviously we’d done a lot of work on team shape and Kieran was involved in that," said Clarke. “With 48 hours to go when he picks up the little niggle that kept him out, it does take a little bit of changing, it changes the dynamic of the team. “Kieran has been an integral part of how we have played recently but I don’t think we defended too badly. “The moments in the game that got away from us; the first one is preventable, the second is really good. “The dynamic was okay in the rest of the team. I went with Stuart Armstrong to get someone driving from midfield. “The way the game panned out, there wasn’t much midfield play in the first half. It was only when the game opened up and when we started to get the opportunity to play through midfield that I thought we were decent and created some good chances. “Sometimes a football match doesn’t go your way. “I don’t think there was much between the two sides if I am being honest. “You look at our attempts at goal, our possession was good, we weren’t quite clinical enough." Scotland head to Wembley to take on England on Friday (8pm).
Stuart Armstrong Southampton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #StuartArmstrong says Long-ball approach backfired for Scotland #SAINTSFC

June 16, 2021
STUART Armstrong admitted Scotland’s long-ball approach backfired as they came up well short against the Czech Republic. Steve Clarke hoped to use Lyndon Dykes as a battering ram to open up the Czechs’ defence in their Euro 2020 opener at Hampden. But instead of a precision operation, the QPR frontman found himself having to work off scraps as Scotland persisted in shelling a succession of aimless balls forward. The ploy left midfield men like Armstrong, Scott McTominay and John McGinn watching for much of the game as the ball sailed over their heads. The introduction of Armstrong’s Saints team-mate Che Adams at the break took the burden off Dykes’s shoulders but Scotland were ultimately undone by Patrik Schick’s daring double. But Armstrong confessed Scotland got themselves lost persevering with their route-one tactics. He told the BBC: “It was a difficult one, the game was very compact, there wasn’t much space, and we were playing too many long balls for our liking. “When we passed it, we did quite well but it was hard to break them down. “Disappointed with the way the first goal went in, apart from that we defended pretty well, and they showed real quality for the second goal.” Schick angled a sublime header past David Marshall for the opener just before half-time, then doubled the Czechs’ lead with a 50-yard goal-of-the-tournament contender seven minutes after the change of ends. Scotland created a number of golden chances themselves but could not find the lifeline they needed. Clarke’s side now head to Wembley to face England with their chances of reaching the knock-out stages hanging by a thread. Armstrong added: “We had chances and tried to push. They were clinical. At this level you do need to be clinical. “We need to take experiences (of Monday), learn from what happened, make a few little tweaks to our game. “Fundamentally there were some positive moments and we have to carry that through to Friday. “We’ve got two chances to produce a good performance and get something from it.” Scotland round off their Group D campaign against Croatia on June 22.