Jaidon Anthony
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony on assist for David Brooks against Swansea in League cup #AFCB

August 30, 2023
Anthony provided a fantastic assist for Brooks to equalise after Cherries trailed 1-0 in Wales thanks to Matt Grimes’ first-half penalty. The away side then took a lead through Hamed Traore, before the hosts again levelled scores via Jamie Patterson. In the end it was substitute Ryan Christie who had the last say, finding the bottom corner in the 90th minute to send Cherries through to the next round. Discussing his assist for Cherries’ first, Anthony insisted that Brooks deserved the credit for applying the finishing touch. He told the Daily Echo: “It was a good ball and to be fair it's not an easy finish either, on his weak foot. “I think he's had a really good pre-season and a start to the season in front of goal. “I'm happy he could put it away and help us to win.” Brooks’ goal came about after Cherries won the ball high up the pitch, with Anthony believing the strike to be representative of the way Andoni Iraola wants Cherries to play. “I think the manager wants us to be aggressive in every game,” explained the 23-year-old. “It's a perfect example of the high press and what that can do. “Win it back and then attacking pass, and we get the goal - happy days. “The most important thing was getting through to the next round. “The first half, we knew we weren't at the races and we knew we had to react in the second half. “I think obviously the second goal is probably a bit unfortunate, but I think we deserved what we got in the end.” The draw for the third round will be made on Wednesday evening, following the conclusion of second round ties. Teams will not be regionalised, meaning Cherries could be handed another lengthy trek. Sides competing in Europe enter at this stage of the competition, with third round ties being staged the week commencing Monday, September 25.
Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Andoni Iraola on first win as AFC Bournemouth boss in league cup #AFCB

August 30, 2023
Cherries had to come from behind to triumph 3-2 in south Wales, Ryan Christie netting a stoppage-time winner after earlier strikes from David Brooks and Hamed Traore. Matt Grimes had put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the eighth minute, a lead they held until half-time. It marks a first victory for the Spaniard since joining the club over the summer, after three Premier League games so far without a win. Ryan Christie fired home a late winner (Image: PA) Asked if the feeling was relief at eventually getting over the line against Championship opposition in Swansea, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think it was a game with two very different parts, two very different halves. “I think we started very bad. Probably the worst way to start, conceding a penalty and we were very slow to move the ball in the first half. “We only had to improve in the second half. I think the rhythm was different in the second half. “We moved the ball much quicker, the rhythm was much higher. And then we were in control of the game. “I think we should have probably won the game earlier, but in the end this is the cup and sometimes you have to suffer.” Iraola’s frustration with the first-half display was evident by his triple substitution at the break. “It was about not only the names and the subs, it was about the attitude, the willingness to attack the spaces, to be more direct, not receive the ball only facing our goal. “To be more aware of the situations, open the game and the pitch a little bit more. “I think especially with Milos (Kerkez) and Jaidon (Anthony), we were opening the left wing very well and then we could find Junior (Traore) and Philip (Billing) inside and from there we were much better.” Although Iraola made seven changes to the starting line-up which had faced Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, it was a strong selection full of players who have featured in the league this season, aside from debutant Andrei Radu in goal. Discussing the importance he places in staying in the cup competitions, Iraola said: “In the end it is not that you make changes or play a weaker team in the cup and they give you an extra (free) weekend. “No, they are not giving you anything. “At the end, it is also a way of very good training for us and in the next round also we will try to win the game, because at the end you never know when a good run can happen. “You have to try it every single year.”
Eddie Howe Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Eddie Howe admires tough games against Southampton in league cup and praises Nathan Jones for doing a brilliant job’ #NUFC #SaintsFC

February 2, 2023
NEWCASTLE United manager Eddie Howe insisted Saints boss Nathan Jones is "doing a brilliant job" after two tough EFL Cup semi-final ties.  Howe masterminded his side to a 3-1 aggregate victory over Jones’s charges, with Sean Longstaff scoring twice to settle the tie at St James’ Park. Saints had scored to end goalkeeper Nick Pope’s 10-match clean sheet run through Che Adams, but could not find a second to level on the night after Adam Armstrong saw an effort saved. Howe inherited this Newcastle side in a relegation battle in November 2021, but new owners have allowed him to propel them to new heights with a cup final and potential Champions League qualification. Jones must lift his side, also backed by new owners who have spent in the January transfer window, off the bottom of the Premier League table and to safety by the end of May. Assessing his opposition, Howe told the Daily Echo: “Two really tough games. I think Nathan is doing a brilliant job. “We knew it was going to be a tough game today, we knew they would have a plan. They changed systems a couple of times in the game and that makes it awkward for you as a team to control the flow and momentum of the game.” The former AFC Bournemouth man added: “They’ve got some dangerous players, Che Adams’ goal was an excellent strike, and they were in the match right until the end. That was no surprise, we knew it was going to be a difficult game.” After all three of Newcastle’s goals came from midfielders drifting into space inside the Saints penalty area, the Daily Echo probed Howe on whether this was a deliberate part of his plan. “It’s an important part of our game with our system and how we set up,” he responded. “We need goals from midfield areas, I’m really pleased with the way we created the goals. “I’m sure I’m going to enjoy watching the second goal back. But it was a really well-constructed move, the type of goal we’d love to score on a consistent basis. So yeah, that’s part of our game.” Tuesday night’s victory over Saints at a packed St James’ Park kept alive the Magpies’ hopes of landing a first piece of major silverware since 1969 and a first domestic prize since the 1955 FA Cup. However, with Manchester United awaiting them at Wembley on February 26, head coach Howe insists they cannot be done yet. He said: “You always want something. We’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve, which was getting to the final, but then you say, ‘Well, I’m not happy with that, we want to win it’. “We really want to embrace our past and be very proud of what’s happened here before, but we also want to create new history for ourselves so that’s what we’re determined to do.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.
Adam Armstrong
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC forward Adam Armstrong wants to change Newcastle semi-final atmosphere in league cup #SAINTSFC

January 27, 2023
NEWCASTLE-lad Adam Armstrong insisted Saints will need to “turn the St James’ Park crowd right away” on Tuesday if he is to fulfil a childhood dream of playing in a cup final at Wembley. The 25-year-old boyhood Magpies fan thought he had scored against his former side during the eventual 1-0 defeat to Eddie Howe’s men at St Mary’s on Tuesday. READ MORE: Jones hints at potential Saints departures - but wants incoming signings first His goal was ruled out by VAR for accidental handball just minutes after Joelinton had opened the scoring in the EFL Cup semi-final’s first leg. Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope went on to keep a 10th consecutive clean sheet while his team have not lost at home during the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign so far. But despite the odds being stacked against them ahead of the trip to the North East on Tuesday, January 31 – also transfer deadline day – Armstrong retains “100 per cent” confidence. “We’re looking forward to the next leg because it will be a massive game and we’re only 1-0 down, we’re still right in it,” he told the Daily Echo. “100 per cent, we’re going there with confidence again and we’ve got nothing to lose. It will be a really good atmosphere, I’ve seen it first-hand myself and it’s an unbelievable stadium. “We’re going to have to turn the crowd right away. We do have to start taking our chances because we’re getting a lot now in the second-half of games.” He added: “We’re staying in games at half-time now so we just have to put them away and we’ve stopped giving away sloppy goals, but I know they scored on the counter. “They’ve put a ball across and had a tap in from a few yards, that can’t happen, the gaffer (Nathan Jones) is mad on that. We can’t give goals away but it’s something that we will work on. “It’s nothing to lose, we’ve got to put on a good performance because it’s a chance to get to Wembley. “It’s every kid’s dream to get to Wembley. It’s certainly mine and something I’m looking forward to trying to achieve. “We have to take confidence in everything we can at this point, the lads are upset they’ve been beaten but we’ve got to dust down and prepare for the weekend.” The former England under-21 international’s ruled out goal would have been only his third in all competitions this season and a fifth in a Saints shirt since a £15million move from Blackburn Rovers. VAR overturned the decision after a tussle in the six-yard box between the imperious Dan Burn and Armstrong saw legs locked and the ball bounce into his arm. “That’s football and we’ve seen decisions like that all year, I know it’s handball even though it’s accidental but that’s the rules nowadays,” Armstrong admitted. “It’s harsh but we have to just take it and move onto the next leg. I looked on the big screen after it and it’s hit my arm but you just have to get on with it, it’s one of those things.” 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.
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Nathan Jones admits ‘We are looking more solid, that’s the disappointing thing’ after league cup loss against Newcastle United #SAINTSFC

January 22, 2023
SAINTS manager Nathan Jones was disappointed to not take a single point from their match with Aston Villa, saying: “We are looking a much more solid outfit.” Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the game with a header from a free-kick in the 77th minute, after Che Adams and James Ward-Prowse saw efforts ruled out. The latter came following a VAR check both supporters and Jones have expressed disappointment towards – with uncertainty if it was initially a clear and obvious refereeing error. It ends a run of three consecutive wins for Saints and means they have lost all three Premier League games at home since Jones’s appointment. “It’s really disappointing to have the disallowed goal and then concede in the manner which we did, a soft goal with a bit of naivety shown,” Jones admitted. “That’s the disappointing thing, when you work religiously on something we pride ourself on and it’s costing us at the minute. “We had a good week and showed we could be an aggressive and potent side, but today we weren’t as potent as we could have been. They’re a good side and it was difficult but once we got to grips with it we were able to create more ourselves.” He added: “We are looking a much more solid outfit and that’s the really disappointing thing, they haven’t looked a solid outfit for a long time but now we have a platform to win games. “Then we can work on being clinical and being fluent but we can work on that and if we’re conceding silly goals we wont games, no matter how entertaining we look. “At the moment, it’s more important to win games than being entertaining. Everyone has to contribute to these performances. “The players might lack confidence or whatever it is but we need something to turn and today and today we right in the game, it was a marginal thing. “We think we’ve scored and got the breakthrough, we have a wonderful chance with Adam Armstrong and the keeper makes a save. “Our keeper didn’t really have anything to save, apart from the goal. That’s the real frustrating thing for us because we’re looking solid, we’re defending better and we’re more aggressive but those little margins are going against us.” 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.
Che Adams
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Che Adams believes everyone is pushing in the right direction under new manager Nathan Jones #SAINTSFC

December 26, 2022
FRONTMAN Che Adams said “all you can do is go on what the club want” when working with a new manager – and insisted Nathan Jones had the squad on board at Saints. The Scotland international was speaking after scoring twice in Jones’s first home game at St Mary’s, in a 2-1 home victory over Lincoln City on Tuesday. Former Luton Town boss Jones replaced Ralph Hasenhuttl at St Mary’s last month and has been hard at work with his squad over the World Cup break. Saints head into Jones’s first Premier League home game on Boxing Day, when they take on Brighton at St Mary’s (3pm). Asked whether there has been a mentality shift in the squad since Jones’s arrival, Adams told the Daily Echo: “Definitely. It’s always different when a new manager comes in. “He’s got his own people, his own ideas and the hardest thing is getting the lads on board but I think he’s got that, you know? With a lot of the young boys now and a few of the senior boys. “Everyone is pushing in the right direction, everyone is looking forward to the second half of the season. As we know, we need wins.” Saints restart their league campaign in the bottom three of the top flight, with 12 points from 15 games played. Put to him it must be energising to have new ideas and the club rallying round the new boss, Adams replied: “As a player, all you can do is go on what the club want. “That’s what the club wanted, so it’s up to us now to perform on the pitch because it’s up to us now to get the wins.” 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
Eddie Howe Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Eddie Howe admits making late calls on first-team stars for Cherries cup clash #NUFC

December 20, 2022
NEWCASTLE United boss Eddie Howe is set to make late calls on a number of players ahead of tomorrow’s Carabao Cup clash with Cherries (7.45pm). For the second time this season, Howe is set to take on his former club at St James’ Park, after the two sides drew 1-1 in the Premier League back in September. This time, a spot in the cup quarter-finals is up for grabs, in Gary O’Neil’s first match since being named as the club’s permanent head coach. Howe is set to make late calls on the fitness of Dan Burn, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron, while Allan Saint-Maximin picked up a knock during Saturday’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano. Discussing Saint-Maximin, Howe said: "I think there's a slight injury - we'll see today how he comes in. “Obviously after a game things can be sore, but they can settle quickly, so hopefully that's the case." Newcastle also had five players away at the World Cup. Two of them – England duo Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier – played against Rayo Vallecano, while compatriot Callum Wilson, Switzerland defender Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes of Brazil were not involved. Howe did however describe former Cherries striker Wilson’s physical condition as “fine” but would not confirm if he would be involved tomorrow. Howe said: “I spoke with all the international lads when they came back, obviously. Kieran and Nick were very keen to play in the game (against Vallecano). “Those conversations are important because those boys have had not just the physical load from being at the World Cup, but the mental side of it can’t be underestimated, so I’ll continue those conversations with the other lads and we’ll see where we are.” Discussing the importance of this fixture, ahead of the Premier League returning next week, Howe added: "We've tried to give this game the same importance as a Premier League game, and for us it is, because it's a chance to progress in a very important competition for us. “That's how we've approached the game."
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admits changes were made after virus hit group during 10 day training #AFCB

December 20, 2022
BOSS Gary O’Neil will make late calls on the involvement of some of his first-team players for the Carabao Cup clash at Newcastle tomorrow, revealing a virus had spread through the squad. Cherries return to competitive action after a five-week break for the World Cup, making the trek north to face Eddie Howe’s Magpies. And exactly how the side will look is yet to be fully determined. Looking ahead to the return to action, O’Neil said: “I think we have a good chance of winning the game. We’ve done some real good work. “We’ve had a  tricky last 10 days, a real bad virus that went through the group. “So we’ll have to make some last-minute calls on quite a few. “Some of the boys have missed real, long spells with it – up to 10 days some of them have missed training, so it was a nasty one. “I think we had eight to 10 missing at one point last week. And that has run over a little bit into this week. “But we have enough available and I’m hopeful when we get there tomorrow things will look a little bit better and we can name a real, strong team.” Away from the first team, Cherries’ development squad face Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League Cup this evening. But their squad looks set to be depleted with some players instead travelling with the first team to Newcastle. “The under-21s play in the Premier League Cup tonight, a big fixture for them,” said O’Neil. “Hopefully we don’t have to take too many of their players off them because of the virus!”
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Nathan Jones admits taking cup contest ‘seriously’ – with one eye on Brighton #SAINTSFC

December 20, 2022
SAINTS boss Nathan Jones stressed his side would take “seriously” their Carabao Cup fourth round clash against Lincoln – his first home fixture in charge. The St Mary’s side return to competitive action when they welcome Mark Kennedy’s Imps to the south coast tomorrow (7.45pm). Saints have progressed past Cambridge United and Sheffield Wednesday to reach the last 16 and set up a tie with the League One outfit. And while admitting he would have an eye on their Premier League home clash with Brighton on Boxing Day, Jones insisted he would respect the cup competition. The former Luton boss said: “I’ve always as a manager and a person treated every competition I have been involved in with the greatest respect and we will do that here. “Not to give anything away, it’s a game that players will want to win and it’s a chance to get into the quarter-finals, which is never to be sniffed at, at whatever club you’re at. “We will take it seriously. That’s all I can say, is we will take the competition seriously. “We will have one eye on Brighton in terms of four or five days’ time – a busy period but a lot of people who got minutes on the weekend. “We are all going to have to get it – we want to win the game.”
Frank Lampard
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Frank Lampard says Everton XI was strong enough to beat Bournemouth in league cup #EVERTONFC

November 10, 2022
FRANK Lampard insists the side he picked for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie should “absolutely” have been capable of beating Cherries, despite making 11 changes. Lampard named a new-look XI for the contest, from the one which lost 2-0 at Goodison Park against Leicester City in the Premier League at the weekend. However, it was still a team packed full of experienced and international players, until the final nine minutes when youngsters Stanley Mills and Tom Cannon were introduced off the bench. Cherries too made changes, nine in all, and ran out comfortable 4-1 winners after a fine second-half display. A forgettable first half ended with the hosts ahead of Vitality Stadium thanks to Jamal Lowe’s fortuitous effort, with Toffees pair Tom Davies and Anthony Gordon wasting glorious openings. Junior Stanislas doubled the tally shortly after the restart, after a slip by Mason Holgate. Substitute Demarai Gray pulled one back with a fine effort, before Emiliano Marcondes responded and Jaidon Anthony completed the victory. The two sides are set to go head-to-head again on Saturday in the league. Asked if he felt the XI he picked were good enough to beat Cherries on Tuesday, boss Lampard said: “Absolutely. There’s no doubt about that. Bournemouth also changed their team. “We can go into details of the game – we should’ve been winning at half-time. “They had one deflected shot, we had two golden chances that changes the feeling of the game. “The second goal is just an incredible goal from our point of view. It can’t happen at this level of football, that type of goal. “There’s no doubt about that. That makes the game difficult. You chase the game and what happened can happen. “And there was another mistake on the fourth goal. “So there are individuals that need to look at themselves and go ‘yeah I was absolutely culpable there’ and hold their hands up.”
Jaidon Anthony
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony on league cup victory over Everton #AFCB

November 9, 2022
STARLET Jaidon Anthony revealed how Cherries had worked on being more attacking to see out games after helping his steer past Everton 4-1 in the League Cup. Cherries have slipped to consecutive defeats in the Premier League after taking two-goal leads against Tottenham Hotspur and then Leeds United, with the side perceived by some as sitting deeper and inviting pressure. Once again the Dorset outfit found themselves with a two-goal lead, Jamal Lowe’s deflected opener added to by Junior Stanislas’ poke early in the second-half. When Demarai Gray’s perfect curler found the back of the net to cut the deficit, there were fears of a similar capitulation, but Cherries rallied again, Emi Marcondes tapping home before Anthony made sure of their progression to round four. Asked by the Daily Echo if Cherries had looked to attack further after taking two-goal leads, Anthony responded: “Yes, that's been the focus really, in the week. “Obviously, we've been in good positions in the past few games and we want to keep going and keep pushing. “I think we've been playing well, and it's easy to try and hold on to what you have. “But we didn't want to do that too early and give them a foot in the game. “And what they scored, it was still the same message, to keep attacking. “And we created openings and got the goals that we wanted to finish off the game.” All four of Cherries’ goalscorers have been somewhat bit-part players this season. Youngster Anthony revealed how the lack of gametime amongst the nine changes for the cup tie served as motivation. He continued: “We were all raring to go. “A lot of players that haven't got a lot of minutes this season and in the end, I think it's a top performance from everyone. “We deserved the win. “Everyone wants to be playing at the end of the day. That's what we all want to do. “And this is an opportunity to get some minutes in the legs and show what we can do. “I think everyone gave a good account of themselves. “I'm proud of everyone.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil praises rotated side for League Cup win #AFCB

November 9, 2022
GARY O’Neil believes Cherries’ rotated squad proved his point about how all his players are “equally as important to me”. The interim boss made nine changes for Cherries’ 4-1 win over Everton in the League Cup, with all four goalscorers drafted in from the cold to make an impact. Jamal Lowe made his first start of the season, opening the scoring in the first-half, whilst fellow fringe players Junior Stanislas, Emi Marcondes and Jaidon Anthony all struck in the second-half. O’Neil has been constant in his messaging surrounding players seemingly outside the first-team picture, stressing how he could rely on every member of his squad when called upon. He told the Daily Echo: “I always say the same about them, they’re all very, very important to me. “I’ve said that from day one. I know people may believe me, may not. “They’re all equally as important to me. “That shows this evening. I knew they could perform.” With sweeping changes made and starts handed to players with little game time, there could potentially be the risk of a lack of cohesion. However, Cherries were in control for large swathes of the game. “So when I spoke to them before the game, it was like, I expect to be exactly as it always is,” explained the former Portsmouth midfielder. “Because we’ve made changes, it makes no difference. It needs to look like us. “It needs to be high intensity, we need to be good with the ball. “There was so many of them that came out with so much credit.” Cherries are in action against the same opponents this weekend, when they again host Everton at the Vitality Stadium (kick-off 3pm). This time three points are the prize for a victory, with the two sides one point and one place apart in the Premier League.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil proud of ‘deserved’ win by Cherries in League cup #AFCB

November 9, 2022
GARY O’Neil says his much-changed Cherries side produced a “performance they could be proud of” as they swept aside Everton 4-1 to progress into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Goals from Jamal Lowe, Junior Stanislas, Emiliano Marcondes and Jaidon Anthony secured safe passage through in the cup, cancelling out Demarai Gray’s fine effort for the visitors. It ensured Cherries ended their recent four-game losing run, which has including collapses from two goals up to suffer defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United. Asked how much of a boost it was to get the victory on the back of a poor run of results, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I wasn’t thinking about the other games. “I was purely focused on this one and the boys deserved the victory. “They put in a really good performance. So I’m really pleased for them. “Obviously some of them have come from not having played very much from longer-term injuries. It was great to get some minutes into them and great for them to put in a performance they could be proud of.” Discussing the way the side responded to the 4-3 loss at Elland Road, O’Neil added: “That was a gut-puncher for Saturday evening and then we switched to this. “Winning tonight was always going to be big, whether we’d won on Saturday or not. “I think the nature of it, if I look back over the last few games, the way the boys have carried out the gameplan, the detail of the gameplan. To go a goal down at Elland Road and to show the quality and the belief in the gameplan to carry it out perfectly and get 3-1 up is a big achievement. “I think to be 2-0 up against Antonio Conte’s Spurs is a big achievement. “And we spoke the last few days about making sure we managed the end of the game better. And the boys got a great test this evening. To be 2-0 up and it to go to 2-1 was a real test for them. “I was interested on the sideline! “Very calm, but just interested to say okay, we spoke about this for a couple of days, we know it’s something we need to improve, what a great test. They saw it out really well.”
Scott Parker Fulham
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Scott Parker shares delight after Norwich City cup win, transfer business and David Brooks contract signing #AFCB

August 22, 2022
BOSS Scott Parker is hoping players with Premier League experience can be added to his Cherries squad by the end of the transfer window, insisting: "Everyone is trying everything they can to try and strengthen us." Cherries fell to a second humbling defeat in as many weeks on Saturday, crashing to a resounding 3-0 home loss against Arsenal, having been beaten 4-0 at Manchester City seven days earlier. Parker's men currently sit 14th in the embryonic Premier League table, picking up three points from an opening-day win over Aston Villa. They are set to drop to 15th tonight, once the third round of matches have been completed. Speaking after the loss to Arsenal, Parker slammed his squad's first-half performance, in which they conceded twice in the opening 11 minutes. He said: "In terms of our general endeavour, our body language, our humility to accept certain situations, I thought we were just easily disappointed. Our general demeanour was pretty poor really and I was disappointed immensely with that." Asked if he felt any of that could be put down to his squad lacking in Premier League experience, and perhaps some players being overawed by the occasion, boss Parker told the Daily Echo: "Maybe, it could be. "I think you’re right to maybe say that. "This is a young team. There’s a lot of young players out there, players that have probably not experienced the level and the quality that they’re going to be facing. "That’s my job to obviously let them understand that that’s part and parcel of the Premier League. "Many a bigger team than us have faced what they faced (on Saturday) and Arsenal have done that to them. But we need to understand that and keep going in those situations really." Cherries have so far this summer recruited five players, but only one of those arrived having played in the Premier League before, in injured full-back Ryan Fredericks. Asked if he would like to bring in some more players with Premier League experience before the transfer window slams shut on September 1, or if it is hard for the club to get deals over the line for players within that sort of bracket, Parker added: "Hopefully that can be the case, for us to evolve as a football club. "When you get promoted, the expectation of getting promoted and the levels of what you’re going into, to evolve and to improve is certainly something that hopefully we can do with obviously getting promoted. "There’s 10 days left and everyone is trying everything they can to try and strengthen us and try and move the squad on in that sense."