Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton’s Graham Potter reveals Aaron Connolly setback #BHAFC

November 5, 2021
Graham Potter expects Aaron Connolly to deal with the disappointment of missing out on international action. The Albion striker is not part of the Republic of Ireland squad to play Portugal and Luxembourg in forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. Potter and Republic boss Stephen Kenny both reported Connolly had a minor heel issue. There appeared a slight difference of interpretation as to why he was not in the Irish squad. But Kenny recognised he would probably be fit in time for next Thursday’s fixture against the Portuguese. Potter said: “He picked up a heel injury after the Leicester game. “It was only minor but we just probably felt the game at Liverpool came too soon. “It was only a couple of days’ recovery time so that was disappointing for him. BRIGHTON V NEWCASTLE - GRAHAM POTTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE   “I thought he did well against Leicester, worked hard for the team. “I imagine he will be frustrated and disappointed not to play for his country because he wants to do that. “But, at the same time, he will respect the decision of Stephen. “That’s life. You have to accept the coach makes these decisions and that is what Aaron does.” Kenny was at Leicester and watched Connolly in Carabao Cup action. He said today: “It was great to see him get 90 minutes in because he has not had that often over the last fair period of his career. “He has had a heel issue since then. “He missed the league game, he hasn’t trained at all. “He is unable to train at the moment so, on that basis, he has been left out.” Kenny said he had been in touch both with Potter and Connolly. He added: “I spoke to Graham in midweek. I have a good relation with Graham. “He hasn’t been training for Brighton. “I spoke to Aaron yesterday and he didn’t feel he was really right. “Technically he could possibly be available next Thursday for selection.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter hails incredible Brighton performance after draw 2-2 at Liverpool #BHAFC

October 31, 2021
Graham Potter praised an "incredible" Albion performance as they stunned Anfield. The Seagulls came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and were close to taking maximum points at Liverpool. Enock Mwepu and Leandro Trossard scored to secure a point. Albion boss Potter said: “It was a wonderful game, one of the best games I have been involved in I think. I can’t think of another one better. "And the guys in the second half, an incredible performance. "I didn’t think we were too bad in the first half, we were just punished by a really good team. "They had some really good moments and that can happen here especially. "We survived the third goal when it gets disallowed and from there we have a bit of belief, a response to score and then the second half was a wonderful performance." Albion momentarily thought they had gone 3-2 up when Trossard rounded Alisson to cap a great move – but he was a yard offside. Potter said: “It was a fantastic move, great goal but it’s offside so that’s life. “But take nothing away from the performance of the team. The way they played, showed togetherness and trust in what they were doing. “Resilience, character, all the things you want - and also quality.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Graham Potter reveals strategy for Brighton against Liverpool #LFC #BHAFC

October 30, 2021
ALBION boss Graham Potter believes that his side needs to be balanced when they take on Liverpool in the Premier League. The Seagulls travel to Anfield on Saturday and will hope to finish a tough week on a high. The match will be a tough task for the Seagulls, as former Reds and Albion defender Mark Lawrenson believes that if they attack Liverpool they would be committing footballing suicide. Graham Potter, however, thinks that the club needs to be balanced in their approach as going to defensive against Jurgen Klopp's men could be just as dangerous. Potter told the Argus: "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that is the world we are in and, I respect that opinion. "We have to be balanced clearly because the opponent is of a high level, and that is normal in football, and you have to try and get the balance right between defence and attack. "If you just do one thing like defend then, it can also be suicide as you can never get out of your own box and you can never do anything, and in the end and their quality beats you. "So I think we have got to offer both, but in a balanced way." Brighton manager Graham Potter Albion have been good defensively this season, keeping four clean sheets in the Premier League alone. This has been down to the good form of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and defenders Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy, Dan Burn and Joel Veltman. The defence has provided the backbone for the positive start to the season that has seen Albion climb up the Premier League table and are now sat in the fifth position ahead of their tie with Liverpool. Although, with Dan Burn out of the match against the Reds, Potter will have to find a way to fill the gap he leaves in the defence. Speaking about the absence of Burn, Potter said: "He provides a bit of flexibility on the left, is naturally left-footed, can play on the left of a three, can play at left-back, left wing-back. "So we lose that position, but we have other guys who can do things in a different way. We just have to find that solution." The positive is the timely return of Adam Webster, who made his return to the pitch in the Carabao Cup defeat on penalties against Leicester City. While shaky at first, Webster grew into the game and could provide a good option for Potter to call upon for the clash against Liverpool.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Ralph Hasenhuttl reveals his goal of high intensity football is starting to come at Southampton #SaintsFC

October 29, 2021
SAINTS manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has insisted “normally it should look like this, this is possible” when reflecting on the high-intensity game with Chelsea on Tuesday. Both teams ran each other into the ground in the 1-1 draw before penalties were needed to separate the sides, with an end-to-end contest that excited the staff and supporters alike. The Austrian boss pointed to extremely high running statistics from his players, as well as suggesting that being allowed five substitutes played a big role. The Burnley fixture last Saturday at St Mary’s was a similar feeling in periods, with Saints racking up chances – albeit often unable to finish – in what should have been another three points. And looking ahead to the trip to Watford this weekend, Hasenhuttl has told supporters that exciting, end-to-end football should be the norm for Saints. “We want to have it like this,” Hasenhuttl said, “our games, normally it should look like this because we like to have it active and fast. “When you have also the five subs in the end it was good for the players, some raised their hands and said they’re finished at 70 minutes, the stats for running were very high, it was massive. “Yes this is why I can agree it must be a very good football match to comment, it was for us a very good football match to watch and for all the supporters inside the stadium it was a fantastic cup game. “This is possible I think yeah, when you have the five subs even more so, you can have a bigger side and rotate a little bit more like we did.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Ralph Hasenhuttl reveals goalkeeper competition in Southampton squad #SaintsFC

October 29, 2021
SAINTS manager Ralph Hasenhuttl admits goalkeeper Fraser Forster has given him a selection headache after his performance at Chelsea on Tuesday. The six-foot seven ex-Celtic stopper made a number of sharp saves to keep Blues at bay during the 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw, including preventing the likes of Kai Havertz from getting a late winner with one-on-one opportunities. Forster then followed that up with a save from Mason Mount in the penalty shootout, but it was not enough to prevent the home side from taking the 4-3 win and progressing to the quarter final of the EFL Cup. Alex McCarthy has started every game of the Premier League season so far, keeping his first two clean sheets of 2021 in consecutive 0-0 draws with West Ham and Manchester City last month. Read more But Hasenhuttl admitted that the performance of Forster, among others, is difficult to ignore. Fraser Forster is yet to get a Premier League chance this season (Pic: Stuart Martin) Speaking ahead of the match, he said: “Yeah, yeah, not only him but a lot of players are giving me a headache. This is how it should be. “We must a little bit look at how much they invested on Tuesday, for sure it is not a disadvantage when you have a few fresh players every weekend for the game. “It would be a good decision to make for me but not the easiest one, this is less of a headache than when you don’t have any players left though, that is something I don’t want again.” Forster has played in all three of Saints' EFL Cup games but following elimination they will only be involved in Premier League action until January. Saints' last clean sheet on the road came with Fraser Forster in net in March (Pic: PA) Both goalkeepers’ contracts are set to expire at the end of this campaign, but 31-year-old McCarthy is expected to see a new deal signed in the coming months while Forster could leave the club. It is expected that Saints will search for a new goalkeeper to bring in on a permanent basis, but whether that could be one that is a first-team starter or provides competition to McCarthy is yet to be seen. Forster’s last Premier League game came for Saints in a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace back in May, while his last shutout was also Saints’ last away clean sheet during a 2-0 victory over relegated Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Sean Dyche reveals he was looking for league cup win to kickstart Clarets season #BURNLEYFC

October 28, 2021
Burnley boss Sean Dyche says a win in the Carabao Cup against Tottenham tonight could be the catalyst to sorting their Premier League form out. The Clarets are winless in the league so far, though performances have been improving in recent weeks and they took a point at Southampton at the weekend. Staying in the Premier League will be their top priority, but Dyche hopes seeing off Spurs could help with that. “The mood is good, a positive display down at Southampton, a few positive displays recently, trying to find the win is the next. “All winning increases the feel, we are well aware of how important the league programme is for the club of course, but it is still nice to do well in these trophies if you can do. “We have got through the first two rounds. It will not be easy against Tottenham whether they make changes or not, they are still a very high-level group of footballers, but we like to think ours are growing and getting fitter. We will definitely take on the game. “We have changed the team in the previous rounds, we have put a team out that I believe we can win and we have done. It is no easy task playing anyone, especially Tottenham, we know that. We will look to make changes, but I believe in the group. “We are nearly there back to full fitness, we want that to remain, so I imagine we will be making changes.” They welcome Spurs who have been inconsistent under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo. Nuno finds himself under pressure after the 1-0 loss at West Ham on Sunday was their fourth London derby defeat of the season. It could be a good time to play them, but Dyche said: “Ups and downs and ins and outs, changes of manager, levels of performance, at the end of the day the whistle blows and they will put out a strong team, I have seen their squad list. “The facts are you have got to perform whether it is a good time or not.” Max Cornet suffered from cramp in the 2-2 draw at Southampton and could be one of the players to make way. Dale Stephens is back out on the grass as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury but he will need more time. Meanwhile, Spurs boss Espirito Santo plans to take all of his big guns to Turf Moor as Spurs aim to reach the quarter-finals of the competition. The Portuguese has hinted there will be changes, but it will not be a second string outfit. “Basically yes, but we have players that we need, players that are working hard, maybe with the expectation that they will have more minutes, the expectation that they deserve more minutes,” he said when asked whether his Premier League squad would travel. “But it’s up to us to manage all these situations individually, at the same time looking at which are the best partnerships for what we want to be as a team. “It’s going to be a tough match like we expect because Burnley is a good team but it’s a good chance for us to improve, knowing that the Carabao Cup is an important competition for us,” he added. “We have to go game-by-game and then this game is a final. It’s a chance for us to improve our game, to compete well knowing that we have to manage some situations. “We have players who need minutes, who deserve minutes, but it’s up to us to manage the situation of the players because what we want is to build a competitive team. “Focusing only on the match tomorrow, we’re going to face a tough opponent, we know their characteristics - they are very physical, set pieces, aggressive - but at the same time I think we are improving our game. “The possession has been much better, the dynamics have been much better but they are details that we only can achieve during the competition, so that’s why it’s very important.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss Graham Potter happy with performance despite League cup exit #BHAFC

October 28, 2021
ALBION boss Graham Potter is happy with his side's performance against Leicester City, despite their exit from the Carabao Cup. The Seagulls came from behind on two different occasions as they battled against a strong Foxes side. Albion were hardly outplayed during the game either as Leicester's goals both came from errors from Potter's players, rather than them being outclassed by the Midlands side. Speaking after the game, Potter said: "Really positive team performance, I thought lots of individuals performances were really positive. "Overall it optimises the spirit of the team and group, with people coming in and helping the team and playing with personality "Disappointed that we went out, but happy with the guys." Albion lost the game on penalties after Neal Maupay and Enock Mwepu missed their spot-kicks, whereas the Foxes kept a perfect record throughout. Potter will now have to pick his team up again and get their focus on their big match away to Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday. The manager will be hoping to avoid his side losing three games in a row in a single week, after their defeat to the Foxes and to Manchester City on Saturday.
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss urges strikers to take their chance in League Cup #BHAFC

October 27, 2021
Brighton boss Graham Potter hopes Aaron Connolly can use the Carabao Cup tie at Leicester to show why he should be given more game time in the Premier League. Potter is expected to utilise his squad again for Tuesday night’s last-16 clash, with Alexis Mac Allister, Enock Mwepu, Yves Bissouma and defender Adam Webster also likely to be in the frame. Republic of Ireland forward Connolly, 21, scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Swansea in the third round but has since featured only as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Potter accepts team selection is never an easy topic to address with players when they are not involved, but expects all of his squad to be ready whenever needed. “Anytime the guys get to play is an opportunity, that is the life for professional footballers,” said Potter. “Of course everybody has opinions and it is easy to speak and talk, but actually the best way to do it is to let football speak and what you do on the pitch. “We were really pleased with Aaron in the last (cup) game. It was nice for him to get some goals. “We have been picking up points in the Premier League so it is not so easy (on the bench), but that is how life is. “You have to wait your chance, be patient, you have to keep working, to keep focus on yourself and make sure that if the opportunity comes that you are ready and you can take it.” Brighton were beaten 4-1 at home by Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday but nevertheless have enjoyed a fine start to the new campaign – which in itself gives Potter another selection dilemma. “It is a bit more of a difficult conversation if you are down the bottom of the league and you haven’t got any points, but we have been fourth in the Premier League, so clearly the 11 who are playing are doing okay,” the Albion boss said. “So sometimes it is the life of a professional footballer, sometimes is not fair, sometimes the coach makes a different decision, and there is competition because it is the highest level. “All you can do as a player is not let the coach’s decision affect your response really. “Make sure you are ready, make sure that when you are on the pitch you are doing your best and that you make it difficult for the coach not to play you. “All you can do is be honest, articulate your thoughts to the player, and then the response is their responsibility.”
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Sean Dyche hopes league cup win will help Burnley kickstart their Premier League form #BURNLEYFC

October 27, 2021
BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche says a win in the Carabao Cup against Tottenham could be the catalyst to sorting their Premier League form out. The Clarets are winless in the league so far, though performances have been improving in recent weeks and they took a point at Southampton at the weekend. Staying in the Premier League will be their top priority, but Dyche hopes seeing off Spurs could help with that. “The mood is good, a positive display down at Southampton, a few positive displays recently, trying to find the win is the next. “All winning increases the feel, we are well aware of how important the league programme is for the club of course, but it is still nice to do well in these trophies if you can do. “We have got through the first two rounds. It will not be easy against Tottenham whether they make changes or not, they are still a very high-level group of footballers, but we like to think ours are growing and getting fitter. We will definitely take on the game. “We have changed the team in the previous rounds, we have put a team out that I believe we can win and we have done. “It is no easy task playing anyone, especially Tottenham, we know that. We will look to make changes, but I believe in the group. “We are nearly there back to full fitness, we want that to remain, so I imagine we will be making changes.” They welcome Spurs who have been inconsistent under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo. Nuno finds himself under pressure after the 1-0 loss at West Ham on Sunday was their fourth London derby defeat of the season. It could be a good time to play them, but Dyche said: “Ups and downs and ins and outs, changes of manager, levels of performance, at the end of the day the whistle blows and they will put out a strong team, I have seen their squad list. “The facts are you have got to perform whether it is a good time or not.” Max Cornet suffered from cramp in the 2-2 draw at Southampton and could be one of the players to make way. Dale Stephens is back out on the grass as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury but he will need more time.
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter hoping Brighton’s league cup run continues #BHAFC

October 27, 2021
GRAHAM Potter wants Albion to progress in the League Cup when they take on Leicester City tomorrow evening. The Seagulls were dumped out of the league cup in the third round last season by Aston Villa, but they have a chance of making it into the final eight teams of the competition this year. Potter's team will travel to the King Power Stadium tomorrow and will be hoping to put in a better performance than they did against Manchester City on Saturday. In his pre-match press conference, Potter said: "It is not something I have given a massive amount of thought to, we want to win the game, in cup competitions, there is no point thinking anything other than the next match you play. "We are ambitious, we understand that a cup run can help the positivity and something that the supporters will like and enjoy. "We will do our best in the game, and we want to be competitive, and we want to win as I am sure Leicester will want to as well. We go tomorrow and we will give it a go." Albion have beaten the Foxes already this season in the League, but Potter does not think that will count for much when the teams take on each other. Potter said: "I don't think the past counts for much, it will be two completely different teams, Brendan will make changes, and we will too. "It is at their place, they will look to be dominant at home, and we need to be ready for and that we will have to compete and do our best. "We will do our best. It is a great game for us and a good opportunity for the guys, we are looking forward to it."
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss Graham Potter gives positive injury update before league cup match #BHAFC

October 27, 2021
ALBION boss Graham Potter has delivered a positive injury update on his squad ahead of their Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City. The manager confirmed that there were no new injury concerns and that Adam Webster would be involved in the match against the Foxes. The defender returned to training last week and made the bench against Manchester City on Saturday but did not come on as a substitute. Potter said: "We have 20 plus players who are fighting every day to play, and they are supporting each other, and this is an opportunity for guys who have not played as much to play. "Whenever Adam is available, it is a timely occasion, he is an important player for us. If you back to the Watford game, he was probably our most effective attacking player, he gives us a different dimension. "He is competing for his place, and he needs to build up his minutes, and he will be involved tomorrow, which is good news for us." Tariq Lamptey has also only recently returned to action following his own injury issues. The full-back has made a couple of cameo appearances in the last couple of weeks and impressed against the Citizens. Potter said: "We have a plan with Tariq, and we have had a plan, it depends on how much involvement he has and he played quite a bit against Manchester City. "So with a view to Liverpool, we will make the call about him. We don't have any fresh injury problems, and we just need to make the decision about who's playing in the squad."
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl praises Tino Livramento after Burnley draw #SAINTSFC

October 24, 2021
TINO Livramento scored his career-first senior goal with a headed effort during the 2-2 draw against Burnley, and could have had even more. As well as putting chances on a plate for teammates Nathan Redmond and Armando Broja, Livramento hit the post and saw it travel back across the goal line before he eventually got his maiden strike five minutes before the half-time break. Livramento evaded detection inside the Burnley penalty box to glance home a rare Redmond corner. Not only scoring it in the Premier League, following his summer transfer to Saints from Chelsea’s academy, he was playing alongside one of his best friends in Blues loanee Armando Broja – who netted in the second period – making it all the more special. Supporters were left purring with the performance of the 18-year-old right-back, who already looks like the best player in Saints’ side. “He has everything what he needs to be a big player, attitude good, technical qualities,” Hasenhuttl insisted, speaking to the Daily Echo after the game. The Austrian boss insists Livramento is not done there, and that he wants to help him reach his potential as a Premier League star. “Finally as a club we really want to develop him to a higher level,” the boss continued. “It’s what we do every day. It would mean definitely a better player next year.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl reflects on Burnley draw #SAINTSFC

October 24, 2021
MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted that he thinks the draw was a fair result but regrets “one minute where we were sleeping” which cost Saints all three points against Burnley. Armando Broja’s storming run had put Saints ahead and in the driving seat straight after half-time but that lead only lasted a matter of seven minutes, before a long ball forward was nodded down to Maxwell Cornet. Jan Bednarek was unable to get close to the strong Clarets attacker and he was allowed to sweep home past Alex McCarthy from outside the area. It came after Saints had utterly dominated both before the break and after it, and likely should have been one or two more ahead. Speaking after the game, Hasenhuttl admitted: “We saw a very lively game I think from both sides. “We had a better first half after the early goal we conceded, we were after 15 minutes found in the game and found the right answer for this I think. “Before half-time we had massive chances to score more than once, we were a little bit unlucky when Tino two times hit the bar I think. After the half-time, the message was clear. Come out immediately and find a way to the second goal. “We did it. What happened then I think we had not so much control over the long balls, and especially when the goal happened not enough pressure on the long ball. The defending there was not good, we know this. “This is their biggest quality and every long ball was a threat today. We had one minute where we were a little bit sleeping and they scored the second goal which killed our mentality a little bit. He continued: “From that point on, we had not really a big chance, a few half-chances, the Tino one, a shot from Redders but not enough to come back and win the game. “In the end, I think a draw is a deserved result for both teams, I saw some good moments from us and good moments for them. In the end, interesting game for a neutral supporter.”