Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil wants PL Fans to remember role of entire coaching staff to help club #AFCB

May 3, 2023
While O’Neil and the players have taken the plaudits in recent weeks for a run of four wins from five, Cherries’ head coach was keen to praise other members of staff for their role. Victory over Leeds United on Sunday, a resounding 4-1 success, moved Cherries up to 13th in the Premier League table, nine points clear of the relegation zone with just four games to play. That win came just three days on from a 1-0 triumph away at Southampton. Asked if he feels some of the behind the scenes work can go unnoticed from people on the outside when there is such a quick turnaround between fixtures, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I don’t think it gets overlooked on purpose, or I don’t expect people not to overlook it because it’s just part and parcel of what we do. “If you’re not in it, you wouldn’t know. “There’s an awful lot of work that goes into prepping a team for a Premier League game, because the game has moved to a point where there are huge tactical changes all the time. “You need to be extremely well-prepped. The guys that I work with are dedicating their lives to trying to keep the club in the Premier League at this moment, every single one of them. “There’s an incredible amount of work that goes in from so many members of staff.” LONG READ: Bill Foley promised survival, but Gary O'Neil delivered it He added: “The amount of work that goes into prepping for an opposition - I think Southampton changed shape four times in the first 30 minutes. “We’d prepped for every single one and we managed to move people around in every single scenario to help the lads cope with that. “So the amount of prep that went into that Southampton game in such a short time to cover all the tactical aspects was huge. “To have to repeat that again, for the coaching staff and the analysts and the boys that work on it to make sure we’re as well prepared for Leeds as we were for Southampton, obviously takes a lot of effort.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Ruben Selles insists he remains positive about survival chance #SAINTSFC

April 29, 2023
The St Mary’s side are beginning to get cut adrift after the latest 1-0 defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth, courtesy of Marcus Tavernier’s winner. It means Saints remain six points adrift of safety with five games to go – including Newcastle United, Brighton and Liverpool still to play. The Cherries – promoted from the Championship last campaign and heavy favourites for the drop – have raced to 12 points clear of Saints. After three managers and 14 signings to the first-team squad, an 11-year stay in the top-flight looks to be coming to an end at SO. Selles is not ready to admit that, saying: “Of course, the disappointment is there – but I always keep my positivity as I see them working every day and see what they can do. “I will keep my positivity until the very end, I still think we can do it and I still think everybody in the club is able to do it. We need to keep that belief. “It will be very early in the morning that I start to work on the things we need, analysing video etcetera.” Ahead of facing Newcastle for a fourth time this season – the previous three were all losses – Selles added: “I think we have been talking about must-wins for the last five or six games. "Of course, it is one we must win – more now than ever – but we are trying to go for it. “In the last game (at St James’ Park in the League Cup semi-final), we started a little bit slow and conceded two quick goals to put us out of the game. “We cannot make those mistakes again as it is very difficult to make a comeback if you are down in the Premier League. “We have to be brave from the very beginning, we have shown that we can cause damage in certain situations. We need to go for it.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss happy with Bedanrek stand-ins after Arsenal draw #SAINTSFC

April 27, 2023
The central defensive duo have found opportunities limited under Selles thus far with Caleta-Car starting once in the Premier League under the Spaniard while Lyanco is yet to earn a starting berth. But both defenders were called upon from the bench at Arsenal last Friday, Caleta-Car replacing Jan Bednarek after he suffered a concussion before Lyanco came on for Charly Alcaraz when Selles switched to a back five during the interval. And despite Saints conceding twice late on to draw 3-3 with the Gunners, Selles feels the two defenders have now proven they are able to step in when necessary. “Duje and Lyanco proved the centre-backs that they are and that they've been working hard for their opportunity,” Selles told the Daily Echo.  “They got it. If some of them need to start tomorrow or both of them if we change to a back five, then they are ready.  “I talk about players being able to make an impact on the game and it's not just words. You can see immediately, especially in the Arsenal game, how players like Lyanco who have not been used enough this season, he stepped in and does a fantastic job.  “Duje in the West Ham game and on Friday. I have no doubt any of them can play from the beginning.” After keeping three clean sheets in their first four league matches under Selles, Saints are without such a defensive rearguard in their last six.  The status of Bednarek remains up in the air ahead of Saints’ meeting with Bournemouth as the Polish international gets set to clear concussion protocols Wednesday night before he’s assessed on Thursday ahead of the game.
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.”
Eddie Howe Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Eddie Howe reflects on leaving AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

November 8, 2022
EDDIE Howe revealed how he would have departed Cherries no matter the outcome of their 2019-20 campaign, saying: “I think it was time.” Cherries legend Howe called time on his second spell as manager at the Vitality Stadium following relegation from the Premier League in the summer of 2020. The fan favourite had won promotion to the Championship in his first season back on the south coast in 2013, before taking Cherries to a new high by winning the second division title in 2015. A five-year stint in the Premier League followed, with Howe departing after being unable to prevent Cherries slipping back into the Championship. Shortly after relegation was confirmed, it was announced Howe would be leaving his childhood club. Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Howe revealed that even if Cherries had beaten the drop he would have departed. He shared: “I think it was time. I knew that season that it had taken every ounce of energy from me to try and keep the team up. "There was a moment in my head that I just knew. “I knew I had to leave at the end of that season, because I think there was a two-week break because of COVID. “So two weeks, the lads were back in for pre-season training, and I wasn’t there mentally. I would not have been the manager Bournemouth needed me to be. “But if that was the case with Bournemouth, that would have been the case with anybody else. “I just needed to get away. It was a mutual decision, we had such a good relationship and such an unbelievable time together. We sat down and I discussed my feelings and it was mutual. “It was hard decision when football is my life, but also Bournemouth was my life.  But I always felt in my heart that I had to do what was right for Bournemouth, not for me. “Which was absolutely true at the time, I was thinking of both sides of it. “My history with Bournemouth, and not just the club but my history with the town, my time there was intertwined with everything.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admits big jump up for goalkeeper Cameron Plain #AFCB

November 5, 2022
GARY O’Neil insists he has “no concerns” over Cherries’ current goalkeeping situation, but admitted Cameron Plain taking his spot in the squad for Premier League matches is “a big jump up from where he’s been”. Following an injury to one-time Brazil international Neto at West Ham last month, young Irishman Mark Travers was recalled to the starting XI. But, with third choice Will Dennis being left out of Cherries’ 25-man Premier League squad, teenager Plain is suddenly next in line, having been named on the bench for last week’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur. Neto is set to be missing until after the World Cup break due to his hamstring problem, meaning Plain will again take a place on the bench when Cherries head to Leeds United this weekend. Plain, who does not need to be registered in the top flight as he is under the age of 21, joined Cherries from Winchester City under-16s. His highest level of competitive experience came during a loan spell with Wimborne Town in the Southern League Premier, having previously spent time cutting his teeth at Ringwood Town and Bashley. Asked how Plain has reacted to his extra responsibility in the past couple of weeks, now being next in line should anything happen to Travers, interim head coach O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He’s training really well. He’s on the bench in Premier League fixtures now, so it is a big jump up from where he’s been. “He’s trained really well, he’s a good lad, always works his socks off, so a good experience for him to be in and around it.” O’Neil also insisted he is not overly concerned with having such an inexperienced goalkeeper on the bench for the next few matches. “We’ll deal with situations like that as and when they come around,” he said, when quizzed on how he would feel about having to throw Plain into a Premier League contest. “I think all we can do is work hard with Cam to make sure that he’s in the best place possible. “He always gives everything. He has a real good goalie in Travs ahead of him at the moment, so no concerns.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl outlines what Saints need, to be successful #SAINTSFC

October 23, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl insists he has not once considered his position as Saints boss being under threat in recent weeks as he outlined what he feels is required for the club to be successful. Multiple media reports suggested the Austrian's time on the south coast could be nearing an end, as Saints recently endured a four-match losing streak. They have since snapped that run, with four points from two games against West Ham United and Bournemouth. Saints welcome Premier League leaders Arsenal to St Mary's tomorrow (2pm). Asked how much easier the past two results have made his job, Hasenhuttl said: "Not really easier, because my job is never easy! "I also never had the feeling that we don't believe in what we are doing here. "I think, for me, the only response I really want to see is the response from the players. "For me, when I see them doing what we ask them to do on the pitch, you know that this relationship is there. This is the only thing interesting me. "The view from outside on the work from managers is a strange one sometimes. I think they don't really know what it is about and what are the key facts that you are really concentrating on. "This is definitely not about thinking about being sacked or the last game or whatever. Never one time have I thought about my future. "I have been here now nearly four years. There aren't a lot of managers longer serving than I do at the moment. I knew in the summer, with all the changes we made in the team and in the staff that the pressure will be higher this season. "This can be a problem for a very young group, because we need to have to time to develop them. But the issue meanwhile is in this league you don't get a lot of time anymore and this is a fact." Hasenhuttl added: "You have to have short-term results and for this, it helps to calm things a little bit down. But the key factor is when you want to have a successful time as a club, that you have a plan where you want to go and you have a philosophy you want to follow. "When this philosophy is to go with the young kids, then you have to know what it is about. "We have potential and we have to turn it into excellence. This takes a little bit (of time). But you need results consistently. "You cannot say 'in two years they are a great team'. Because maybe in two years you are not in the Premier League any more." Asked if it is mission impossible to expect an inexperienced, young side to instantly produce results in the Premier League, Hasenhuttl replied: "It's the mission we need to do, because it is without alternative. "As we have seen in the summer, players who have just reached high levels are not so easy for us to get. "This is the fact. You can complain about it, why we don't get them or why they don't come to us, or you can say we trust the guys we have and make them into big stars. "I think we did it in the past very often and that is the reason why we always lost our best players after a season and they are going somewhere else." 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 in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss accepts importance of midweek clash with rivals AFC Bournemouth #SAINTSFC

October 18, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl accepted the importance of Wednesday’s clash with Cherries but insisted he retains “all the belief” in what Saints are doing. The St Mary’s side visit the Vitality Stadium five points behind their fellow south-coast Premier League rivals after 10 matches. Cherries, first managed by Scott Parker before Gary O’Neil took over on an interim basis, were firm favourites for relegation with bookmakers before the season began. They were defeated 9-0 by Liverpool but are the only team in the division to remain unbeaten since. Saints, who are in the bottom three with eight points, must start picking up victories and crucially against teams they are likely to be competing with come the end of the season. "For us, it's a Premier League game and an important one,” Hasenhuttl said, asked if there is any added incentive given the locality and shared objectives of the clubs. “We go there and I think we know that they are in good shape at the moment, but we go there like we have always gone into in the past with all the belief in what we are doing to make it a good evening for us.” The meeting comes off the back of a 1-1 draw with West Ham United, at St Mary’s, that ended a run of four straight defeats in the Premier League for Hasenhuttl and Saints. It could have been a first win since the August victory over Chelsea, after Romain Perraud put Saints ahead and Che Adams squandered two big chances. "For everybody it is very frustrating because these are the moments where you can make a big step forward,” Hasenhuttl admitted. “But it would still be a long way to go. There's no guarantee that you win games but it makes it a little bit easier. And then you can definitely play a little bit calmer but we are never in the situation." He added: "Let's say every point we get is a point gained and we know that we need every point. “We are now going to Bournemouth and then against Arsenal so another two games this week. We have to be ready for the Wednesday game, immediately focus is on the game and hopefully we can get a win there."
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Bournemouth interim boss Gary O’ Neil reminds that points earned so far are ‘decent’ but will not win ‘any prizes’ #AFCB

October 18, 2022
CHERRIES’ points haul from their opening 10 games has been labelled as “decent” by Gary O’Neil, with the interim head coach adding: “I wish it was more”. Since taking charge of Cherries following the departure of Scott Parker at the end of August, O’Neil has steered the Dorset outfit to 10 points from six games, adding to an initial tally of three from four matches. The points total matches Cherries’ second best start to the season, with their largest haul 20 points from the first 10 games in the 2018-19 campaign. Unbeaten since being installed as caretaker boss, O’Neil stated: “I wish it was more, obviously, but, yes, 13 from 10 is a decent tally so far, but definitely don't get any prizes for that. “We won't focus too much on where we are and what we've done. “We need to keep going. We need to go again.” When asked if the unbeaten streak bolstered his own chances of earning the job full-time, O’Neil mentioned: “It's a good run. “My main feeling around it is just more points for the club. “Let's try and put as many points on the board for AFC Bournemouth as we can give ourselves and the club the best chance of spending another season in the Premier League.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil shares ‘love’ for all his players #AFCB

October 18, 2022
INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil joked that he was “not sure” if all of his charges liked him – even if he loves “all of them”. Former Portsmouth midfielder O’Neil has become a popular figure amongst the Cherries fanbase following an unbeaten streak of six games since replacing Scott Parker on a caretaker basis at the end of August. Cherries twice led against Fulham at the weekend, first-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Jefferson Lerma pegged back by Issa Diop and a Aleksander Mitrovic penalty. Since being installed as interim head coach, numerous Cherries players have detailed their liking of O’Neil, who has been a part of the first team coaching set up at Cherries since February 2021. Despite the public displays of support from senior players, O’Neil shared with jest: “I'm not sure they all like me! “I love all of them, they're all massive to me. “All 25 that I can use, maybe 26, they're all massive to me. “I mean, I'm gutted when some of them don't get to come on the pitch because the game goes that way. “They're all so important to me. They've all got things that we're definitely going to need at some point.” When asked if he believed if his side were the hardest working in the Premier League, O’Neil would not be drawn on making outright claims, instead suggesting that they would “give everything” until “someone tells them to stop”. “I don't know enough about the other teams,” O’Neil restarted. “I know that this group will give me everything. They'll give whoever they're playing for everything. “They'll fully commit to the gameplan, and they won't stop until someone tells them to stop. And that's a big quality that we're going to need this season.” Cherries are next in action on Wednesday evening, when they host neighbours Southampton at the Vitality Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm).
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals he is a ‘big fan’ of Chris Mepham #AFCB

October 8, 2022
INTERIM boss Gary O'Neil heaped praise on in-form Chris Mepham, admitting: "I've liked him since the moment I got here." O'Neil joined Cherries as a first-team coach, working under Jonathan Woodgate, in February 2021. Since August 30, O'Neil has been working as interim head coach, after Scott Parker was sacked. During O'Neil's tenure, Mepham has not missed a minute of action. He has played a key role in clean sheets against Brentford and Wolves, as well as helping Cherries pick up points on the road at both Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The 24-year-old has also seen his centre-back partner change in that time, with new recruit Marcos Senesi stepping in for the past two fixtures, due to an injury to captain Lloyd Kelly. Asked if he has seen a change or boost in confidence around the place from Mepham in recent weeks during his fine run of form, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "I’ve always liked him. I’ve liked him since the moment I got here. "Of course he suffered tough moments a while back, that you do as footballers. I spoke to Meps again (last Saturday) before the (Brentford) game around how important he was for me, how good he’s been, having to play next to a new signing now who hasn’t played in England in Marcos Senesi and Meps’s role in helping him. "To be fair to Marcos he’s stepped up as well. "So I’m a big fan of Meps. I loved him again (against Brentford). I thought he was really, really good defensively against a tough centre-forward (Ivan Toney)." Asked if he feels Mepham is developing into a leader at the back, O'Neil added: "I think I’m just really keen for Meps to show what he is. "When I speak with him, it’s like ‘yeah mate, I have full trust in you. I love how you defend, I love how you are with the ball, let’s go again mate’. "We’re going to have bad moments, of course. "When I played I had probably more bad games than I did good. But they come, you brush them off, you go again. "So really pleased with Meps, pleased with Marcos. Pleased with them all really." Discussing Senesi and Mepham's blossoming partnership, O'Neil added: "To go into a Premier League season and to lose someone as good as Lloyd Kelly and then to play Newcastle and Brentford, two real sides that look to test you defensively for Meps and Marcos, and all the boys to be honest, not just them, to produce two real solid defensive displays. "We were unlucky to concede at Newcastle, we didn't concede against Brentford. "So from that standpoint I’m pleased." Cherries host Leicester City on Saturday (3pm).