Ben Pearson
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ben Pearson on Blackburn playing days and Aston Villa after making Premier League Debut #AFCB

August 11, 2022
IT WAS not just supporters who were somewhat surprised to see Ben Pearson listed in the starting XI for the first game of the Premier League season. Not only had the tough-tackling midfielder been left out of the squad for the final pre-season friendly of the summer against Real Sociedad a week earlier, instead sent to get minutes with the development squad against a youthful QPR side at Canford Arena, but Pearson also only played a bit-part role during the back-end of the last campaign. Stuck behind the likes of Jefferson Lerma, Lewis Cook and Philip Billing in the pecking order, Pearson had racked up just 40 minutes across seven late substitute appearances in the league in the past six months, since his last start in the Championship, at Barnsley in January. He had made one start since then - substituted at half-time of the embarrassing FA Cup defeat to non-league Boreham Wood at the start of February. Fast forward six months to the day and Pearson was back in the fold, partnering Billing in central midfield, with Cook having to settle for a place on the bench. And the former Preston North End man excelled, ensuring a winning debut in the top flight, as Cherries began their campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa at Vitality Stadium. Pearson joins the celebrations as Lerma puts Cherries ahead against Villa    "It couldn't have gone any better really," Pearson told the Daily Echo. "Obviously starting the game was a slight surprise. But it went perfectly really. "I thought it was a top performance." Asked when he found out he would be starting, Pearson said: "Friday really. Maybe a little bit on Thursday. But I was prepared for it. "Maybe not expecting it, but I was preparing just in case. The gaffer gave me an opportunity and I just tried my best to help the team win." Pearson was among the scorers in that 8-0 rout over QPR for the development squad. Asked what it was like to go from that to starting in such a high-profile fixture a week later, the 27-year-old said: "It’s been a bit weird really. "I played 90 minutes in the development game, just to get some minutes. Obviously you never know when you might be called upon, so I’ve been prepared. "I got the opportunity and I think the game suited me (on Saturday). "We soaked up the pressure and I could sort of nick the ball and start the attacks. So it worked out perfectly." For Pearson, the hopes of making it in the Premier League would have seemed a realistic ambition as he came through the youth ranks at Manchester United, named as the club's young player of the year in 2013, an accolade also won over the years by the likes of Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Danny Welbeck and Marcus Rashford. But, despite signing a pro contract, a competitive first-team appearance never arrived and, in 2016, following a successful loan spell at Barnsley, Pearson exited Old Trafford to sign permanently for Championship Preston. After a five-year stay in Lancashire, where he made 165 appearances for the Lilywhites, Cherries came calling for Pearson in January 2021.   Asked what it was like to finally make his Premier League bow, Pearson said: "Probably the biggest moment of my career up to date I think. "Obviously I have worked 20 years tirelessly to get to this moment and to get that opportunity, to win the game, at home, against Aston Villa is a pretty perfect day. "Probably the most proud day of my life up to now. "I had a few mates here, so that was nice. But obviously I wasn’t fully expecting to start the game. I’m sure my family will get down at some point. "It’s only the start, it’s the first game, there’s a long season ahead. If we perform like that, I think we’ll be okay."     Speaking shortly after arriving on the south coast, in Cherries' matchday programme, Pearson revealed one of his pre-match superstitions. He said: "This is going to sound weird! On the day of a home game, I'll have a tin of Heinz ravioli. "I played Blackburn a couple of years ago and was scrambling for a pre-match meal. All I could find in the cupboard was a tin of ravioli, so ate it. "I played really well so, ever since that day, I've made sure I have a tin of ravioli." Asked last summer by the Echo what the Cherries sports scientists make of that, Pearson said: "I’ve mentioned it to them and they’re fine with it! "I think whatever makes you tick is what is fine for you. I’ve probably done that for five years, so I don’t think anyone can tell me otherwise!" Quizzed after the Villa game on if he is still sticking with that as his pre-match meal now he is a Premier League footballer, Pearson admitted: "I had someone round on Friday to cook me a meal so I was prepared! "So I have gone off the ravioli since that’s been the case. "I was prepared as much as I could do on Friday night. I made sure my sleep and my nutrition was all ready. It all worked out in the end."
#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s new signing Marcos Senesi on his transfer from Feyenoord #AFCB
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s new signing Marcos Senesi on his transfer from Feyenoord #AFCB

August 9, 2022
LATEST signing Marcos Senesi revealed how quickly his move from Feyenoord to Cherries transpired. The Argentinian international became Cherries’ fifth addition of the window, signing a four-year deal on an undisclosed deal rumoured to be worth around €15 million. READ MORE: Huge signing for us' - Cherries complete deal for Argentina international Senesi Whilst Cherries were defeating Aston Villa 2-0 on Saturday, Senesi was training with Feyenoord ahead of the Dutch team’s season debut on Sunday. By the time his teammates had taken the pitch against Vitesse, he had flown over to the UK to jump through the final hoops a transfer entails. Speaking to afcbtv after his move, the 25-year-old shared: “I am really happy to be here. It’s a dream come true to play in the Premier League. “This club wants me, and I am really happy to be here. “It’s a dream. Since I was young, I wanted to play in one of the best leagues, and this one, I think is one of the best ones. “Actually it was pretty fast. “Everything goes really fast, I’m here and I signed my contract. I’m really excited to meet those of the team.” Senesi then explained what he would bring to Cherries, sharing: “I’m the kind of player that really likes to have the ball, play good football, also hard-worker. “I really like to help the team, and give everything for the team. “I will try to do my best, work hard, try to give my best to the team. “I really like the facilities here, I think they are nice. “They have everything that’s good to develop, to keep on growing as a player.” READ NEXT:
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s new goalkeeper signing Neto speaks about Premier League move #AFCB

August 9, 2022
NEW signing Neto did “everything” to fulfill his dream of playing in the Premier League, with the goalkeeper switching Barcelona for Cherries. The Brazilian international became the Dorset club’s fourth recruit of the window on Sunday, arriving from Catalan giants Barcelona on a free transfer on an initial one-year deal. Aside from his stint in La Liga with Barca, Neto has also represented fellow European royalty in the form of Juventus, and has played 10 times in the Champions League. His arrival at the Vitality Stadium comes with the view of pushing youngster Mark Travers, providing head coach Scott Parker with both depth and competition in between the sticks. Speaking after arriving on the south coast, Neto told afcbtv: “I’m really happy to be here, and really excited to start this new season with this new experience in this amazing, brilliant club. “It was important days, where I understand the opportunity to be here arrived in my hands. “I arrived with my family, we do everything to come, because I think it is a good opportunity, a good experience. “The Premier League, it was always my dream. “When I was a young guy, my dream was to always be here in the Premier League, play in the Premier league.” Aside from experience in the Champions League with Valencia, Barca, and Juventus, Neto has featured in over 160 top-flight games in Serie A and La Liga. He continued: “I (have been) lucky to be in Serie A, lucky to be in La Liga. An amazing experience. “I think that God brings me here for a reason. I’m really lucky to have this opportunity. “I think I can help, I can bring the experience, what I learn, what I know. And I can improve, too. I think it is really important I arrive with the ability to learn, to learn with my teammates. “I think with the experience what I did in football, what I learn, I can put here and help. “What is the most important is to stay together with teammates and do things.” “I hope and want to do the best to help my teammates, to help Bournemouth, to do great things.” The 33-year-old also revealed that he had spoken to Parker, hailing his new boss as “an amazing guy”. "I already spoke with him,” mentioned Neto. "He's an amazing guy. I think it will be an important point for this club in this season. "When we have a coach and people like that, the players understand who is the leader and that we have to follow him. “If we follow him, we have a great opportunity to do great things."
Scott Parker Fulham
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Set-piece preparation in pre season and young team with potential was key to win according to Cherries manager Scott Parker #AFCB

August 7, 2022
SCOTT Parker enthused how “clever” and “diligent” Cherries earned their 2-0 win over Aston Villa via dead ball situations. Set-piece goals from Jefferson Lerma and Kieffer Moore were more than enough to see Cherries pick up three points. Lerma smashed home after Lloyd Kelly knocked down a Tavernier corner in the first half, and Cherries’ captain again served as a middle man for the second strike. He recycled Tavernier’s cleared free-kick back into the box, allowing Moore to head home and make sure of the result. Set plays have apparently been a focal point of Cherries’ recent training sessions, according to Parker. Speaking after the game, Cherries’ head coach told the Daily Echo: “We’ve worked very hard on our set-plays in pre-season. Try to be taken up a level and be dominant in them. “It was pleasing we executed that in terms of what we did. “I thought overall, in terms of what I asked for the team in our setup defensively, I thought we were incredible really. “The players took every bit of the information we have given them over the past six weeks and more detail around this game in terms of what we were going to need to do.” Parker also heaped on praise the defensive efforts of his charges, stating: “I thought they were diligent in everything they did, showed real desire at times, crisis defending at times when we needed to be.” “Bodies on the line and a real organisation about us where we were calculated, we were clever in our times. “We showed different speeds in terms of being a low-ish block but then into we could be progressive and try to inject speed and put them under pressure. “There are certainly elements we need to improve on in possession, there were areas we need to get better at. “We’re still really early stages, so overall I was pleased.”
Philip Billing
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Philip Billing highlights changes in his position after Cherries win against Aston Villa #AFCB

August 7, 2022
PHILIP Billing hailed Cherries’ “positive start” to the season, stating that the side were “tactically unbelievable” in their 2-0 win over Aston Villa. The Dane played the full 90 minutes as goals from Jefferson Lerma and Kieffer Moore saw Cherries victorious on the opening day of the season. Scott Parker committed to the three man central defence experimented in pre-season, with Billing sitting in a midfield two with Ben Pearson. Speaking to the Daily Echo after the game, Billing shared: “Obviously a good win against a top side. “We’re only one game in but it's definitely a very positive start. “I think what we showed today is what we're all about and, just back enjoying it. "Three points back home against Aston Villa, a top side to play against, good players. “We were tactically unbelievable today, and aggressive in everything we did. We were unbelievable all over. We have to keep on going.” When asked how his new role in midfield differed to his swashbuckling displays last term, Billing detailed the changes to his duties. “It’s a lot different,” he added. “Last season I was more box to box, obviously got ten goals, ten assists, so this season is a bit different, more of a holding midfielder. "I have to stay back and watch the front three, create chances. “I'm sure the more season the goes forward, the more I get forward as well. But today again, that’s a good team, so you just have to be aware and be consistently good. "And that's what I was just focusing on today.” Billing also stressed how it was key for Cherries to get off to a winning start ahead a tough run of fixtures. “I think it was very important, looking at our next games but like I said it's the Premier League at the end of day,” commented the 26-year-old. “11 v 11, anything can happen. It's our start of the season. It's a tough one but it's one you just got to look at and enjoy. “You come up against the best in the world so we’re going to have to get ready for it and go and enjoy the moment.”
Scott Parker Fulham
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Scott Parker’s rallying cry ahead of Premier League opener and frustrating transfer business #AFCB

August 5, 2022
BOSS Scott Parker put to one side his concerns over a lack of signings, insisting "we're full battle ahead" for the start of the Premier League season. Parker vocalised his frustrations at a lack of defensive reinforcements following each of the past two pre-season friendlies, as Cherries lost to both Bristol City and Real Sociedad. Speaking last Saturday, the 41-year-old said: "It’s clear that we are lacking in a lot of areas. We need to work out whether we want to give ourselves a chance of being competitive this year." Asked if he feels those comments were a calculated risk, given the impact it could have on his current squad, Parker said: "It wasn’t calculated. Maybe it’s emotion after a game and I realise certainly now you’re in the Premier League and every comment is held on to as well. "But it is the truth. I am not criticising what I have here. The squad of players I had here showed me last year the fight, the spirit they have. "The facts are, like everyone at the football club knows at this moment in time, we need to bring in some players and everyone is trying their hardest to do that. "Me as a manager sitting here, I want them in three months ago, of course I do, that’s just because that’s where it is, that’s what I want. "I also understand at times it’s difficult, in a market where it is very competitive, in a market which is a lot of teams spending a lot of money. We’re probably in a different market to that, so we have to be creative, while also trying to bring in the right quality. "I don’t want to just bring in players here that are not going to improve us or not going to take us on those levels. "When you want to and bring players to improve and players to help, the players that you’re looking at are often are players that other clubs want and they don’t want to let go. He added: "Of course you can read a headline or my manner in certain moments will give the impression of that, but that’s not the case. "We need help, everyone has acknowledged that and everyone in their power is trying to do something about that." Discussing his mindset ahead of the start of the season, Parker added: "We’re full battle ahead now. This is where we are in terms of a squad. "My head and the team’s head is solely on Saturday, where we’re going into the biggest league, something we’ve worked tirelessly for last year, this group of players. "We need to bring something at the weekend, which is a fighting spirit, a real determination and something that this group of players, myself, the staff, the fans, the owner, the football club wanted all last year. And we worked tirelessly for that. "We’re now three days out from that occasion and we need to embrace that." He added: "From the minute we walked in on Monday, there was one focus and that focus is Aston Villa, that focus is the quality of what Aston Villa possess and the challenge for us is to go up against this quality, not shirk it, not back away from it, not be scared of it for one second. "But to go and try and take this opportunity and assert ourselves as much as we can. So that’s exactly where we are really."
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Sirki Dembele agrees with Gary O’Neil on Crystal Palace loss #AFCB

January 1, 2022
SIRIKI Dembele agreed with Gary O’Neil’s summation that Cherries’ 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace was “the worst” the head coach had seen his charges play. Lackadaisical defending from Cherries allowed the Eagles to score twice from corners, Jordan Ayew nodding home unmarked before Eberechi Eze slotted home from the edge of the area. Throughout the contest Cherries were unable to lay a glove on their opponents, with Crystal Palace in control throughout. Dembele was introduced as a first-half substitute in place of Philip Billing, the 26-year-old making just his third Premier League appearance. The result now means Cherries have picked up four points from their last eight Premier League fixtures. Asked if he agreed with O’Neil’s comments, Dembele told the Daily Echo: “I think we've been playing well with him, to be honest. “And what he said, I think that is probably true for today's game. “We haven't played like that in a long time, and I agree with that.” A smattering of boos followed the final whistle, with Dembele understanding but keen to ask for patience for the rest of the campaign. He restarted: “I think sometimes you’ve got to look further than what's just happened. “You know, it's a long season, you’ve got to wait and see what happens next, because it's very easy to get on people's back straight away. “But I think if you keep supporting, there'll be some good moments.”Prior to his substitution against Palace, Dembele had only played 40 minutes for Cherries across four cameo appearances. He played 52 minutes against the Eagles, more than doubling his total for the season. Cherries have made no bones about their intention to strengthen their squad, meaning there will have to be departures as the Dorset club with the full compliment of 25 players already registered. Asked about his future, Dembele responded: “It was very good to play as many minutes as I did today. “I want to play football. Here, if I get a chance to play, I play.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Furious Gary O’Neil admits Cherries have ‘struggled’ with set-pieces #AFCB

January 1, 2022
BOSS Gary O’Neil was left “furious” and admitted defending set-pieces is something Cherries have “really struggled with” all season. Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze were the latest beneficiaries of Cherries’ sloppiness from dead-ball situations, netting from Michael Olise corners. Ayew headed in from close range, before Eze swept in unmarked from the edge of the area as Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 victory. Cherries have conceded more goals from set-pieces than any other club in the Premier League this season, with 12. “There’s two things to look at,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo. “The performance being flat and the nature of the performance disappoints me. “I’m furious about the goals. I think if we defend the set-plays how we’ve worked on defending the set-plays, neither goal occurs. “Obviously defensive set-plays have been a thing all season really we’ve struggled with them. “It’s just so disappointing that they’re so avoidable today if everyone does what they’re supposed to be doing in those moments, neither go in. “So very disappointing and that magnifies the performance then, because you go a goal down against Crystal Palace at home and they’re a disciplined side who are comfortable to sit back and have real threat on the top of the pitch, a counter-attacking side. “So it was difficult from that moment. “And then the second goal obviously compounds that for us as well. “The goals are really disappointing, performance was really disappointing and we need to do better.”