Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter admits uncertainty about playing squad before Brentford game #BHAFC

December 25, 2021
Graham Potter is hoping for for a healthy Christmas and New Year – starting with his squad as they prepare to face Brentford. The Albion head coach wants no unpleasant surprises ahead of the Boxing Day evening clash at the Amex (8pm, Sky). Two Premier League games have already gone from Sunday’s programme with Liverpool v Leeds and Wolves v Watford postponed after requests from the away teams. Albion will train tomorrow, then allow players home for lunch and family time. Potter is set to welcome back up to five senior players while the return of Shane Duffy from a ban is balanced by Yves Bissouma’s one-match suspension. He said: “I think we'll have a couple not available but obviously we have a couple more days of testing to go so you never know. “That was certainly our experience last week because last week we said four and by the time the game comes around we had more than four.” Potter is happy to play on, despite talk of a possible postponement over Christmas. Managers and head coaches met to discuss player welfare yesterday. Potter said: “I don't really think about it in terms of our situation. “I think that's short-sighted. I think you've got to think what's the best thing, the right thing. PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURE DEBATE HEATING UP “The people to make that decision should be the league, the health experts. “Some people will think they are better off in the moment, others will think that's a shame. “You just have to trust there is integrity, support it, and do your best to get on with it as best we can.” Potter outlined his plan for the squad ahead of the Brentford game. He said: “We will train in the morning, get the guys in. “As a father of three young lads, I am quite happy for a little bit of a break on Christmas Day. GRAHAM POTTER FEELS FOR FANS OVER KICK-OFF TIME “A chance to get out of the house. A nice excuse for me – although not too long. “They will have the afternoon with the families and lunch. “We will report on Boxing Day for the game. “We might stay over in a hotel for some lunch and a rest to prepare for the match. That’s the plan for the game.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter reveals Danny Welbeck among Brighton stars set to return to playing squad #BHAFC

December 23, 2021
Albion have received a major boost ahead of their Boxing Day clash with Brentford. Danny Welbeck, Neal Maupay and Pascal Gross will all be available to face the Bees. Welbeck has been missing since the draw at Crystal Palace in September. Maupay and Gross were absent when the Seagulls lost to Wolves last week. Adam Webster could also return from injury depending on how he trains for the rest of the week. Head coach Graham Potter said: “There are a couple still Covid-related issues. “Joel Veltman is not too bad, he is more fatigue. GRAHAM POTTER'S BRIGHTON V BRENTFORD PRESS CONFERENCE “We need to just monitor him. We will probably make a decision with him later in the week. “We have got a lot of people returning.” Webster has trained so far this week so is currently on course for the Brentford game.
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter will continue to take his time with Tariq Lamptey #BHAFC

December 4, 2021
ALBION boss Graham Potter will continue to tread carefully with Tariq Lamptey despite the youngster’s dynamic performances in the last two matches. Full-back Lamptey is still building up his strength and fitness a year after suffering a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him for nine months. The 21-year-old gave Leeds a torrid 75 minutes before being withdrawn in the 0-0 draw at the Amex last weekend and then climbed off the bench to set up Neal Maupay’s late equaliser in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham. Albion fans are hoping for Lamptey to get more minutes on the pitch, but Potter says the hectic December schedule means he cannot risk the Chelsea youth product from the start in every match. “We’re going through a period where we’re going to play lots of games in a short space of time so that’s the only thing that’s going to stop the regularity of Tariq,” said Potter. “We all know his qualities and what he brings to the team. It’s just the close proximity of games will challenge him and us in terms of how much he plays and when he plays.” Lamptey is likely to return to the starting line-up when Albion travel along the south coast to face Southampton on Saturday.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl on reported takeover of Saints #SAINTSFC

December 4, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl admits he speaks "very often" with the Saints board about the possibility of a takeover at the club, but added: "As soon as there is any news, they will put it out." A report by The Athletic today claimed "there is a growing need" for majority shareholder and chairman Gao Jisheng "to offload his stake sooner rather than later" for "financial reasons". The report goes on to claim Saints could even be sold as early as this month. Asked if he has spoken to the board about a potential takeover at the football club, Hasenhuttl said: "Yes, I have. As you can imagine, nearly every day I get information from the board, from (CEO) Martin (Semmens). "We speak very often also about this topic and the only thing I can say is as soon as there is any news, they will put it out and everybody will know it then. "We know this is a situation we had for long in this club and there is nothing new coming to it. "So when there is a final decision taken about our future then it will be announced, not earlier."
Aaron Connolly Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton manager confirms that Aaron Connolly could make return to squad #BHAFC

December 3, 2021
ALBION manager Graham Potter has played down injury fears ahead of the weekend's match against Southampton. Three Albion players will miss the game after picking up injuries against West Ham last night. Adam Webster, Adam Lallana and Jeremy Sarmiento all picked up injuries and needed to be substituted in order to receive treatment. However, fans can rest easy as the boss has played down concerns that the squad would not be able to deal with the added strain, suggesting that he is prepared to call upon some of the younger players at the club. Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter Potter has hinted that Aaron Connolly could make his return to the matchday squad following the injury to Lallana. Potter said: "We were hoping to get some minutes into him with the under 23s, but it looks like he will be with the group come the weekend. "We are still in the process of checking on everyone and recovering. "We will make some decisions tomorrow - if we need some of the under-23s then, of course, we will use them. "but at the moment, it doesn't look like we will need to.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager provides injury update ahead of Brighton match #SAINTSFC

December 3, 2021
SOUTHAMPTON manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has hinted that he could have two star players back for the visit of Albion. The Seagulls travel to St Mary's to take on the Saints on Saturday in the Premier League and will be hoping to end their run of ten games without a win. Albion's task will be a bit more difficult as the Saints manager has confirmed that Theo Walcott and Ibrahima Diallo could be back amongst the squad. The duo were left out of the team during their 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Wednesday night, despite training on the day. Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl gives instructions to Tino Livramento from the touchline during the Premier League match between Southampton and Leicester City at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. Picture date: Wednesday December 1, 2021. The Austrian manager is using the full depth of his squad during the busy festive season, making sure he has his team at top fitness for matches. When asked about the two missing Saints players and whether they were injured, Hasenhuttl said: "No. It is important that we have the players who are not playing having proper sessions for a week, to get them on the highest level. "I do not want the gap between the players who are always playing and the players who are never playing to get too big. "I may need those two on the weekend, so I need them to have a good week. We need to do this in the week." Stuart Armstrong remains the only player in the physio's room at Staplewood as he continued with his calf struggles - but he has now been joined by Jan Bednarek who was forced off the field with a calf problem of his own. Southampton will now assess his issue before Albion's visit and an update is expected on Friday morning. The Saints boss said: "Hopefully he [Bednarek] is okay. I hope that he stepped out just in time so that the problem did not become an injury."