Richard Masters Premier League
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- FA release statement regarding continuation of games and confirm weekend schedule #PL

September 13, 2022
CHERRIES fans are still waiting for official confirmation on whether their game at Newcastle United will go ahead this weekend. Football fixtures across the country were called off over the past few days, as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. However, the EFL have confirmed their fixtures will resume from tomorrow night, with lower leagues also returning. Some European fixtures have been affected, with Arsenal's scheduled match against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday night being called off, due to policing resources ahead of Her Majesty the Queen's state funeral next week. The Premier League is yet to officially announce plans for the nine scheduled matches this coming weekend. There has been suggestion games in London could be postponed, with other fixtures, such as Newcastle against Cherries, going ahead on Saturday as planned. But no final decision has yet been confirmed. The FA have this afternoon released a statement on other matches, stating: "After a period of pause and reflection for our national game, we can confirm that fixtures will resume as scheduled, including matches from the Barclays Women's Super League and Barclays Women's Championship, the Emirates FA Cup second round qualifying, Vitality Women's FA Cup, the National League system, steps 1-6, including the Vanarama National Leagues, the women's football pyramid, tiers 3-7, and all matches across grassroots football in England, Isuzu FA Trophy and FA Youth Cup matches will return this evening." It continued: "We will be recommending to clubs, leagues and competitions across the country that a minute’s silence is observed before matches are played, and that black armbands should be worn where possible. “All flags at Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park will continue to fly at half-mast this week and over the weekend. “The FA can also confirm that all scheduled football matches will be postponed on the day of Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral on Monday September 19. “Our thoughts at this time remain with His Majesty King Charles III, our president, HRH The Prince of Wales, and the whole of the Royal Family.” This means Cherries' development squad's Hampshire Senior Cup game at Folland Sports tomorrow will go ahead as planned, while Cherries Women will return to action, away at Swindon Town on Sunday.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl says Southampton could ‘feel tank was empty’ after heavy week #SAINTSFC

September 5, 2022
SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted “you could feel the tank was empty” during their 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Saturday. The Austrian used all five of his available substitutes and even trialled three different formations during the course of 90 minutes. However, the visitors could still find no answer to Daniel Podence’s first-half opener and suffered a third defeat of the Premier League campaign. The clash at Molineux came as a third game in seven days, with home matches versus both Manchester United and Chelsea proceeding it. “We have a third game in the week and when we see the sprints, from Romain (Perraud) in the left-back position for example, we had outsprinted Chelsea on Tuesday,” Hasenhuttl said, reflecting on the defeat. “You could feel that the tank was empty and we had to do something. When you see the workload we put on the pitch in every game, it is not surprising that we use all five subs. “It was necessary and the good thing is we can do this now and we have these players on the bench who can help us.” He continued: “We have a team that is working for each other. Even if we did not get something today, I cannot say that this was a big difference between the games." Saints had come from behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 days prior, thanks to goals from Romeo Lavia and Adam Armstrong – while United held on for a 1-0 victory last weekend. “You have to go all in to try and take something,” Hasenhuttl added, when probed on the efforts his coaching team made with tactical tweaks to get back into the Wolves clash. “I don't want to go home with a 1-0 defeat, because this is always the toughest to take and that's the reason why we try until the end. And I saw the belief, the behaviours that I wanted to see." A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl says English schedule ‘a little strange’ after midweek fixture reschedule due to FA Cup #SAINTSFC

May 3, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted the English football schedule “is a little strange” as Saints will now play their final home game of the season midweek due to the FA Cup final. They had been due to host title-challengers Liverpool on Saturday, May 14, but that match has been moved due to the Reds’ qualification for the domestic cup final that same weekend. They will face Chelsea at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup, and will now visit St Mary’s for Saints’ final home match of the season on a rearranged date of Tuesday, May 17. It is a disappointment for some supporters, who may not be able to make the match due to work or travel commitments but would have otherwise attended on the weekend. “As long as you have the FA Cup blocking game weekends from the Premier League, it will always end up like this that you have an end of season game during the week,” Hasenhuttl said. “It is unique from European leagues, I have not known it before like this. The Premier League sometimes also struggle finding dates for the games so it is not so easy. “I have heard in the past that teams end up with four games in the last week so this is a little bit strange. But if you want to have two cup competitions then it will end up like this, English football wants to see us more often.” The Austrian continued: “It is amazing, I must say, what teams like Liverpool and Man City are doing, you see the games where players are being substituted in the 70th minute when the game is decided and they look like they don’t understand it. “It shows how much they want to play every game and how fit they must be. This is amazing for me, but you as a manager have to take care of them because nobody else does it. “It is amazing what they do, they perform on the highest level and this challenge is one of the characteristics of English football what everybody loves.” Saints have just three matches left of the 2021-22 season, with Premier League visits to Brentford and Leicester City sandwiching the Kop clash. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl welcomes consideration of rule change consideration on fixtures #SAINTSFC

January 21, 2022
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl was in favour of the Premier League’s decision to consult clubs regarding changing rules on match postponements. Clubs are expected to meet next week, when the league is effectively on its winter break, to discuss changes to the criteria for calling a game off. Currently, where a club cannot field 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper either from their squad list or their appropriately experienced under-21 players, the match will be postponed. The rules allow for postponements to be approved where players are unavailable due to a positive COVID-19 test or close contact with someone who is positive, but also if they are sidelined by injury or away on international duty. The Premier League board also considers a range of other factors in making its decisions, including a club’s ability to safely prepare its players in the lead-up to a match – for example if their training ground has been closed – or any other guidance from the UK Health Security Agency. A Premier League spokesperson said: “The Premier League is consulting with our clubs regarding COVID-19 postponement rules and guidance in light of the changing national picture and the falling number of cases within our squads. “The league’s current guidance was amended in December following the emergence of the new Omicron variant and we continue to monitor the ongoing effects of the virus and will update our guidance accordingly.” Saints have yet to apply for any of their fixtures to be postponed this season, with Hasenhuttl one of a number of top-flight bosses who have called for more clarity regarding postponements. The Austrian boss also questioned whether new signings from teams added before the original fixture date should be allowed to feature in rearranged matches. Asked about the Premier League reconsidering the current postponement rule, Hasenhuttl said: “First, good that they look again over the rules. It's very important. I think everybody sees the situation was not ideal for the league. “Second, the new signings. It's not so easy because some teams have lost some players in the transfer window so the whole situation is different. “Some teams have five games less than others. It's a difficult situation to change rules during the season anywhere. “In the end we all have to be clear that we only have a certain amount of fixture dates where we can play these games and they're getting less and less. “We need to play every game that is possible. The easiest way would be if the COVID situation is gone but we don't know if this happens or how things will be in the future. “It looks good now that we are running through the Omicron variant and finally back to normality. This would be great for the league, definitely. “We are still ahead of other leagues in Europe and I see German football without supporters in the ground. “We are in a very, very privileged situation I must say and hopefully it stays like this and in the end hopefully we replay every game that is coming up because this is important for the fans and clubs." New regulations regarding postponements could apply when the English top flight resumes on February 8.
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Sean Dyche reveals his faith in Premier League when postpone applications are submitted #BURNLEYFC

January 18, 2022
Burnley’s game against Watford has been postponed after the Premier League accepted the Clarets’ application that they had fewer than the required number of players available. Manager Sean Dyche, speaking at a press conference to preview Tuesday's match, revealed only 10 first-team players took part in training on Monday before the club applied for the postponement. Dyche said the relegation-threatened club were in a worse position than they had been before the Premier League agreed to call off Saturday’s match against Leicester, with Charlie Taylor having taken a knock in training to add to the list of absentees. “We’re at such a stretched moment in time that it’s very difficult all round,” Dyche said. “At training today there were 10 recognised first-team players. That’s where we’re at.” A statement released by the Clarets and the Premier League on Monday evening read: “The Premier League board accepted Burnley’s application with the club having fewer than the required number of players available for the match (13 outfield players and one goalkeeper), due to ongoing Covid-19 cases, injuries, and representation at the Africa Cup of Nations.” Burnley sent their apologies to both sets of supporters, with the Premier League also apologising for the “inconvenience and disruption” caused by the match “regrettably” being called off. Premier League guidance says clubs should have a minimum of 13 outfield players and one goalkeeper available for a match to go ahead, though applications for postponements can also be accepted under other circumstances. Dyche had spoken on Monday afternoon about the decision to put in the application to postpone the game. He said: “We know over the last few weeks how clear the Premier League has been on the whys and wherefores and the level it needs to get to. We’ve put the application in in good faith. It’s only three days on from a game that was called off… “We’ve worked really hard to get games on when we’ve been stretched but it’s just too far below the threshold.” Asked if the postponement request could have been lodged earlier, Dyche said the club had waited for the results of Monday morning’s tests before making a call. In a statement, Burnley had said their application for postponement was made due to a “high number of injuries and Covid-19 cases within the squad”. Some managers have questioned whether clubs were taking advantage of the current rules to avoid playing while dealing with lengthy injury lists. Dyche did not reveal how many of his players have Covid-19, but said the situation can be more complicated than raw numbers indicate. “There’s a mix of all of that,” he said. “There are some double bubbles as well. Johann (Berg Gudmundsson) is injured and has Covid. “In the Premier League you need two clear days of training but players might have only been back for one day. That’s no use when you’ve had seven or 10 days in isolation doing very little. “There’s a mix of what’s going on and it stretches you to the limit.” Saturday was the fourth time this season Burnley had a matched called off due to cases of Covid-19, but the first time the request had come from the Turf Moor club. Tuesday’s fixture against Watford had already been rearranged – it was originally due to be played on December 15 but was postponed due to positive cases within the Hornets camp. Burnley last played on January 8, when they were without seven players for the 2-1 FA Cup loss to Championship side Huddersfield – a match which was also missed by Dyche and coach Steve Stone following positive tests. Since then, the Clarets have lost Chris Wood in a surprise transfer to Newcastle – forced on Burnley due to a release clause in the New Zealand striker’s contract – while Ivory Coast international Maxwel Cornet is at the Africa Cup of Nations. Dyche’s side have played only 17 Premier League games, the fewest of any team, and sit bottom of the table after Saturday’s results, three points shy of 17th-placed Watford. In addition to the Watford match, Burnley’s fixtures against Everton and Aston Villa were postponed last month, while they must still reschedule November’s match against Tottenham, which was called off at short notice due to heavy snow. A total of 21 Premier League games have been postponed this term due to coronavirus cases. On Monday, the Premier League said that, of 13,625 Covid-19 tests administered on players and staff last week, 33 came back positive, down from 72 for the week of January 3-9, and 94 for the week of December 27 to January 2.
Thomas Tuchel
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Thomas Tuchel unhappy with consecutive fixtures for Chelsea #CHELSEAFC

January 18, 2022
Thomas Tuchel says Albion have been handed a “huge” advantage - after complaining about a Tuesday night trip to the Amex. The Chelsea boss delivered a series of moans about scheduling and injury risk after his side drew with the Seagulls almost three weeks ago. This time he has argued the sides should meet on Wednesday rather than Tuesday. He believes Albion are helped by the fact they played on Friday evening and his own team were in action on Saturday lunchtime, when they lost 1-0 at Manchester City. Tomorrow’s match was shifted from February 8, when Chelsea will be at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Chelsea and Albion do not play until Sunday this coming weekend, something which has not gone un-noticed in West London. Tuchel said: “It is very hard to understand. It’s nothing to do with City, but there are three away games in a row. WHY GRAHAM POTTER IS SO HAPPY AT BRIGHTON "Both Brighton and we have our next game on Sunday, so there was no need to have it on a Tuesday. “Actually, Brighton played on Friday so it makes a huge difference (in their favour) also. We have the schedule that we have.
Mikel Arteta Arsenal
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #MikelArteta thinks Tottenham have an unfair advantage against Arsenal due to changes in fixture dates #ArsenalFC #THFC #NorthLondonDerby

March 5, 2021
Here are your Arsenal evening headlines for Thursday, March 4. Arteta makes Spurs admission Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that Spurs will have a slight boost ahead of the North London derby due to Uefa's decision to reverse the date of their Europa League home and away ties against Dinamo Zagreb. The decision means that Spurs will have the added bonus of not having to make a 4,000 mile round trip during midweek before the derby against Arsenal, and Arteta says it does give Jose Mourinho's side an advantage. "It does," he said when asked if it gives Spurs an edge. "But unfortunately we're not going to change that. We can raise our voices and we should do that, because we want to have at least two teams that are in equal conditions. "But the decision has been made and that's it. I don't want to use one bit of an excuse going towards that game saying 'ah they have an advantage'. "So, no probably I will use that to take it into our hands." Read the full story here. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel Ibrahima Konate transfer hint Arsenal have already been given a boost in their attempts to sign RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate. The Gunners are one of several clubs across Europe interested in signing the 21-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window. Having offloaded Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis in January, the report states that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could lose several more central defenders in the summer amid talk of David Luiz, Calum Chambers, and Dinos Mavropanos all leaving. Therefore, it would appear he wants to sign Konate in order to increase his options that could include Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, and William Saliba at the start of next season. And the chances of Konate leaving RB Leipzig in the summer seem pretty high after the club's CEO Oliver Mintzlaff revealed in January that their future transfer business hinges on further player sales. Read more on Konate here. Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles Lacazette replacement Arsenal are understood to be eyeing an exit for Alexandre Lacazette this summer while they can still recoup a fee for the French striker. One replacement that has been linked is Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, but there is already an option at the Gunners who could save them millions should they decide not to go for the 21-year-old. Folarin Balogun is still going through contract negotiations with the club, but a new deal for the young striker would be far cheaper than splashing out the reported £21.5million Celtic are searching for to part ways with Edouard. Sign up to our Arsenal newsletter for the latest transfer news By signing up for our Arsenal newsletter, you will receive a once-daily email, focused around goings-on at Emirates Stadium. You won't miss a thing when it comes to the Gunners - you'll get all you need to know directly into your inbox. We'll also send out special newsletters with any big breaking news too. And with the January transfer window now open there's plenty of content to get your teeth into. How do you sign up? It's easy and only takes seconds. Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article - or any article on the Arsenal section of football.london in fact - labelled 'Get the biggest daily stories by email' and click 'Subscribe'. And that's it, you're all set. If you decide later that you no longer wish to receive the emails, simply follow the unsubscribe link in one of the newsletters - but we don't think you'll want to. For more details, click here. There are reports that Balogun's wage demands are in the region of £40,000 per week, which is very high for a player who is still yet to start a senior game in his career. There is little to suggest any validity to these exorbitant claims football.london understands, but if Arsenal were seen to be offering these sorts of wages to young players then future Hale End graduates would be within their rights to demand similar salaries in contract negotiations going forward. But Arteta admits that keeping young stars is something the club need to be doing to keep traditions alive. "[Edu has] been spending a lot of time and energy to try and make that deal happen because it’s important for us to keep our talent in the house," he said.