Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Andoni Iraola reveals loan move of Jaidon Anthony to Leeds United was not controlled by him #AFCB

September 5, 2023
Anthony had featured regularly under new boss Iraola, starting three of the first four games this season. However, after Cherries moved late to sign winger Luis Sinisterra on loan, Anthony was suddenly deemed surplus to requirements, shipped out to Leeds United in the Championship for the rest of the season. Iraola explained earlier in the summer how he has little to do with transfer dealings, leaving that to the likes of Richard Hughes and Neill Blake. Asked how much of a say he had in the shock Sinisterra and Anthony swap deal, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “It is a situation that happened on the last day of the window. “The club thought that we could be stronger adding a player like Luis Sinisterra. “He was on Saturday (at Brentford) watching the game. Now he is going with the national team, so we will not have him for the next 10 to 12 days. “But it is another player we have who can make the difference, starting from wide. It is a good addition for us.” Quizzed on if he supported the idea of Anthony going to Leeds, Iraola added: “It is a decision he had to make. “I tried to help him as much as I could, because Jaidon, I love him as a person and as a player. “Of the four games he has been with me, he has started three. He was very good in pre-season. “But he had to take the decision, because we have a lot of options there out wide. “It is the decision he finally took and I hope the best, because he deserves it. “I know he is going to play very well there in Leeds and I hope he returns next season even better as a player.” Luis Sinisterra joined Cherries on deadline day (Image: PA) Anthony was with Cherries’ squad in the team hotel, getting ready to face Brentford in the Premier League the following day, before his sudden departure. Detailing his conversations with the 23-year-old, Iraola said: “I tried to be as honest as I could, because he deserves it. “I had no problem if he was to stay here, no problem at all. “And you can see because he has played with me, he has started. He is a reliable player. “You tell him to do this, he will do it or he will try to do it. He will make mistakes, like everyone else, but he is a very reliable player. “He had to take the decision knowing the players he will be fighting for in his position. “The option he had also I think was really good, to a very good team. “He decided to take that route. It’s a loan, so I hope he comes back with us, for sure he will, like a better player. “As a person, he is a top, top guy. I think he deserved all the honesty, as much as I could. “I tried to help him, but he was the one with the final decision.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi assess Albion’s summer signings so far #BHAFC

August 12, 2023
But he is pleased with the signings made so far. The Seagulls head coach spoke for the first time since his club agreed a British record £111 million fee with Liverpool for Moises Caicedo. De Zerbi said: “James Milner is still a top player. READ MORE: ROBERTO DE ZERBI REACTS TO MOISES CAICEDO'S LIKELY MOVE TO LIVERPOOL “(Mahmoud) Dahoud last year did not play so many games but he is a top, top, top player. “Maybe he needs much time to come inside in idea and condition but he is a top player for us, for our level. “Joao Pedro is a potential crack. (Simon) Adingra is one attacker, one winger more and he will be very important for us because we will play more or less 60 games and we need a stronger squad. “Igor is a good player. Like Dahoud he needs much time because his position is crucial for us. “The centre-back can touch 100 balls per game. “But we have not finished yet the transfer market. “I think we are building a very, very good team”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi shares objectives for Brighton’s 2023-24 season after club exits and new joinees #BHAFC

August 7, 2023
The Seagulls closed pre-season with a 1-1 draw at home to Rayo Vallecano at the Amex. Joao Pedro converted a penalty and Danny Welbeck twice hit the woodwork for a home side who conceded a gift opening goal to the Spanish visitors. Lewis Dunk enjoyed his first appearance of pre-season and both James Milner and Igor got welcome outings for their new club in the later stages. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: “We are starting I think the most important season in our career, until now. “We have to be happy, to be proud, because we have the possibility to play in the Europa League and to fight another year in the Premier League. “I think we can become stronger than last year. We lost Mac Allister and Levi Colwill but we brought new players. “All of these are very good players. Different for (Mo) Dahoud and Milner because they are not so young. “But Joao Pedro, (Simon) Adingra, Igor, have big potential and we have to find the balance between the players who played last year with me and the new players.”
Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Andoni Iraola wants AFC Bournemouth to sign more midfielders #AFCB

July 31, 2023
The departure of Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer to Crystal Palace, combined with the sale of Ben Pearson to Stoke City this transfer window has seen Cherries’ numbers in the middle of the park dwindle. Gavin Kilkenny has returned to the first team following a loan spell at Charlton, but the youngster does not seem central to the Basque boss’ plans, whilst Joe Rothwell is still not fully fit after an injury at the end of last term. With Philip Billing injured for the visit of Atalanta, Iraola resorted to playing Ryan Christie beside Lewis Cook as his midfield pairing, the Scot usually deployed behind the striker or on the wing. Iraola also explained there was further experimentation with David Brooks, the Welsh international operating as the number 10 behind Dominic Solanke. Iraola told the Daily Echo: “Right now, especially with Philip being out today and Joe (Rothwell) also being in this recuperation process, we lacked players inside. “But we tried Ryan as a number eight. We tried also Brooksie playing inside. Probably they are not their better positions, but right now I think they can help us there in some moments. And is the time to make this provocation. Expanding further, Iraola told BBC Radio Solent: “I think Ryan I prefer him as a number ten. “I think he's more suited for this position or even from the side coming inside. “But right now with the players we have, he can help us. “He played some minutes also against Maccabi there and I think he's tactically smart, so he can be valuable anywhere.” Asked what type of midfielder he would like to see signed, the former Athletic Club man continued: “I think we need probably more than one player there. “I think we need different styles, different types of player that can help us in these three positions we use in the midfield. “But right now we have to wait at the end, the club is trying to sign the players. “Like all the teams, but we have to wait for the right situation. “We all think that it's better to wait a little bit more, even if you don't train (with the new players), but at the end you make the right decision with the correct player, the player that suits your style and think is going to be better for the club.” Cherries host FC Lorient next weekend, before starting their Premier League campaign with the visit of West Ham on Saturday, August 12.
Rob Edwards
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Hatters boss Rob Edwards insists Nakamba signing ‘speaks volumes’ about club’s Premier League ambitions #LUTONTOWNFC

July 20, 2023
Luton boss Rob Edwards believes the permanent signing of Marvelous Nakamba 'speaks volumes' for the ambitions of the Hatters this season.The acquisition of the 29-year-old, on a three deal, something the club don’t usually publicise, represents a fantastic piece of business from the Town board.Although the Zimbabwean international cost Aston Villa £11m in 2019, and still had 12 months to run on what was a lucrative deal at Villa Park, Luton have been able to persuade him to make Kenilworth Road his home, as they prepare for their first ever season in the Premier League.Discussing his latest addition, Edwards told the club’s official website: “A massive thank you to Gary (Sweet, CEO) and the board, they’ve worked so hard on this, and to Aston Villa for making it happen.“It’s a huge statement for the club going forward."To bring in a player of his quality on a permanent transfer speaks volumes of where this football club is going, how ambitious we are and where we intend to go."We want to keep moving forward, it’s really exciting times and Marv is another addition, together with the ones we brought in, that I think are really going to improve us.”Marvelous Nakamba enjoys Luton's promotion to the Premier League at Wembley - pic: Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesGoing into more detail on just how good the midfielder was during his stint with the Hatters, he added: “We, the supporters, the board, the staff and the players, all fell in love with Marv for what he gave us."Not just his work ethic, but his humility."He’s so unassuming; he just slotted in from day one and it felt like he had been at Luton for 10 years.“I think he felt that love. Everyone felt that he enjoyed himself and that it felt like home for him."That’s why it is special because he felt it was right, he felt comfortable, at home, and now he is.“As a footballer, he was the glue that knitted us together, he allowed everyone to do their jobs."There were quotes out there last season saying it was like having three of him on the pitch at times, he covered every blade of grass."