Roberto De Zerbi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi reveals pride after Brighton’s 3-0 win at Arsenal #BHAFC

May 15, 2023
But he added they still have work to do if they are to secure a European place. The Seagulls roared to a 3-0 win at Arsenal less than a week after their 5-1 defeat by Everton. They move back up to sixth place and effectively ended the Gunners’ title hopes. De Zerbi said: “Very delighted for the performance but I am really happy, really proud because the last five days were very difficult after the defeat on Monday. “It was a very difficult moment. Today we showed our passion, we showed we are serious people. “My players showed they are great people and then we can speak about football, our style, our quality of the players but first of all we won the game because we suffer a lot after the defeat.” “We have 58 points, not enough to qualify for Europe League. We have another four games, tough games. We have to fight because 58 aren’t enough to play (in Europe) next year.” (Additional reporting: Carlos Acosta Juckes)
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLSories- Roberto De Zerbi highlights roles of Peupion, Moran, Offiah #BHAFC

May 14, 2023
Even if it is in keeping levels high on the training ground. Cam Peupion is the latest to enjoy some positive publicity after being named Premier League 2’s player of the month for April. He was on the bench for the recent win over Manchester United and could feature again on the team sheet at Arsenal. De Zerbi hinted that he could be in the group – and that we are unlikely to see Solly March, Jeremy Sarmiento or Adam Lallana again this season. Peupion scored a hat-trick for the under-21s to beat leaders Manchester City in a golden month which saw him total goals and assists. De Zerbi said: “He is a young player. We will see in this game. “We will play without Solly March I think for the last five games. “We have Ferguson, Welbeck, Undav, Enciso, Facundo Buonanotte and Mitoma. “We have to finish the season with these players. “Without Sarmiento, without Lallana, without Solly March. “The young players can be important. “Cam, (Andrew) Moran, Odell (Offiah). “I am lucky because the academy of Brighton is top. “I can take some players for the games and for the training sessions.” De Zerbi will attempt to measure his young players’ progress just right and there are signs he has done hat with Julio Enciso. The Paraguayan has become increasingly important in recent weeks and it would appear a good bet he will return to the XI at the Emirates. De Zerbi said: “It’s difficult to understand the right moment when you can put one young player on the pitch. “I think you have to feel the condition and the right condition. “For Julio, the first part of my time, he wasn’t ready. “I waited some months, and now he is becoming a great player. “I think the most important thing is to understand the quality and level of the young player and give them the possibility to make mistakes. “You can only grow up and progress with mistakes. “I think in Brighton’s team, it is normal working with young players.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’ Neil reveals that AFC Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma is undecided on future at the club #AFCB

May 12, 2023
Sources close to the player have told the Daily Echo that he has doubts on leaving Cherries due to a strong affection he holds for both the club and fanbase. A club record signing, Lerma arrived at Vitality Stadium in the summer of 2018 for a fee believed to be in the region of £25 million from then La Liga outfit Levante. With his contract expiring this summer, the 28-year-old has been free to discuss a pre-contract with clubs outside of England since January. After reportedly making no headway in earlier talks over an extension, negotiations between Cherries and Lerma's representatives were seemingly paused to focus on the clubs’ bid for survival. As it appears Cherries have all but confirmed their Premier League status for a second successive season, there is now an opportunity for talks to restart. Speaking on Lerma’s future at the start of May, head coach Gary O’Neil commented: “No decision made at the moment, as far as I'm aware, so hopefully he'll be here. “Jeff's a great guy, so incredible around the place, incredible around the group, especially if you're in a relegation battle when you need to get in the trenches. “And me, Jeff, the club, have been fully focused on that up until this moment. “I think you've seen in Jeff's performances that there was just no doubt that he was fully committed to the cause. “Now that the relegation stuff is all but beyond us, then hopefully we can start to put something in place where he stays, but no confirmation either way.” Whilst the Daily Echo understands that there are numerous European clubs that have made proposals to the midfielder, no agreement has been reached with any side. In March, Lerma told Spanish outlet AS.com that he was open to a return to Spain, but while Spanish clubs have enquired into the availability of the Colombian international, they are unable to match the potential wages on offer in the Premier League. Although teams based in England must wait until the expiry of a player’s contract before making an official offer, there are also numerous Premier League clubs that have registered an interest in Lerma. Reportedly London clubs West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Fulham are keen on Lerma. Since arriving from Spain, the Colombian has made 181 appearances for Cherries, the majority of which have come in the top-flight. One of the first names on the team sheet under five different bosses, many expected Lerma to depart Dean Court when Cherries were relegated from the Premier League in 2020. However, the former Atletico Huila man remained at Cherries, helping them to a return to the first tier at the second attempt last season. At the age of 28, Lerma is regarded to be in his prime, with the likelihood that his next contract will be his last chance of a financially lucrative deal.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil happy with progress of Jaidon Anthony #AFCB

May 11, 2023
It has been a rapid rise for the 23-year-old, who just three years ago was out on loan at non-league Weymouth, helping them clinch promotion from the sixth tier. The talented winger played a bit-part role for Cherries the following campaign, before starring under Scott Parker in the Championship last season. Anthony missed just one league game in 2021-22, starting 38 of the 46 fixtures, providing eight goals and six assists. With the arrival of Marcus Tavernier, Anthony has found starts harder to come by this term under O’Neil, but has still played a big role. The former Arsenal youngster has played 27 Premier League matches in his first year at this level, starting 10. He has netted three league goals and provided an assist. With his contract winding down, Anthony penned a new deal in February of this year, which runs until the summer of 2027. “I think he’s had a very successful first Premier League season,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo, when asked about Anthony. “Last season was obviously an incredible success for him, from the journey that he’d been on through youth set-ups and academy, to come into a team trying to get promoted and to have the impact that he did was incredible. “To take that on again this year and record some decent numbers around assists and goal involvements and chances created that he has, still shows his quality every day.” Previously seen as one of Cherries’ main attacking outlets, Anthony has at times this season been utilised as a wing-back, adding more defensive responsibility to his game. “I don’t see us using him overly differently,” said O’Neil, discussing Anthony’s role on the pitch compared to his time in the Championship. “Of course, we’ve been at the different end of the league, which means we have a little bit more defending to do than we did last season. “And then occasionally, you’re right, we lost Tav for a long spell and I do like someone being able to do that role within the squad where you’re attacking player, but you have some sort of responsibility to sometimes turn us into a back four-and-a-half type thing, which Tav is very good at and Dango (Ouattara) is also very good at and Jaidon was used in that a few times. “He’s so diligent, so hard-working and then still brings you the quality going forward that he has no problem with it. “I’m sure if you ask him, after the end of the season, when he’s reflected, he’ll be really happy with the first season that he’s had in the Premier League, because it’s a tough step up. “I expect more from him again in the next few weeks and especially next season.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss Ruben Selles says Tino Livramento may be out for the rest of the season #SAINTSFC

May 6, 2023
Livramento has been out for more than a year after suffering a severe ACL injury away at Brighton last April before requiring a second surgery on a hamstring issue at the turn of the new year. And his much-anticipated comeback seemed to be going smoothly when he played 45 minutes for the Saints B team in mid-April. READ MORE: Saints boss says the 'club, city, and fans all deserve to be in the Premier League' He managed to get through the contest unscathed but felt discomfort in the days following and while there was no indication of a new injury, Selles explained that the club will continue to be ‘very careful’ with the 20-year-old. “After the game that he played for the B team (against Stoke City on April 14) he felt discomfort in the knees,” Selles said on Friday afternoon.  “We had a scan and there's nothing that indicates there is any injury there. We just need to be very careful. He's a boy right now that is more than a year without being able to play football matches in the top level.  “And the last thing that we want is that he will come back and have a reinjury. So that's why we are trying to be very careful with those moments.  Tino Livramento in action for the Saints B team last month. (Image: Craig Hobbs - SFC) “We don't know if he will be able to compete at the end of the season or we will just wait for him to restart with the team in the pre-season and make a normal preseason with the rest of the team.” Selles and his side are back in action on Monday evening when they visit Nottingham Forest, in desperate need of three points in order to give themselves a chance in the fight to avoid the drop.  Saints enter the weekend six points adrift of safety and without a win in their last nine matches, the season seems a near-certainty to end with relegation to the Championship. 
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals Lewis Cook will be back in the team at some point #AFCB

May 5, 2023
Cook started every league game under O’Neil, prior to picking up a knee injury which forced him off at Brentford in January. Since, Joe Rothwell has been given more chances in that central midfield role, with he, Jefferson Lerma and Philip Billing all in fine form in recent weeks. That has seen Cook’s chances restricted to cameo appearances off the bench, featuring for just 97 minutes across the past two months, since he returned to fitness. Asked how the 26-year-old has responded to the challenge of being out of the team, boss O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He’s been fine. He’s fully on board with understanding what’s needed. “It’s not about any one individual these next few weeks. It’s about all of us pulling together and Lew understands that. “Of course, if you get an unfortunate injury, you are open to the fact people can come in and do well and then you have to fight hard to get your place back. “I’m sure Lew will be back in the team at some point. There’s always things that happen. “He’s working hard in training every day to prove he’s ready and I can see he’s ready for when the opportunity comes up. He’ll be ready to grasp it, I’m sure.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil ‘gutted’ for Marcus Tavernier after latest injury setback #AFCB

May 4, 2023
Cherries look set for a second season in the top flight, moving nine points clear of the bottom three with a 4-1 win over Leeds United on Sunday. That followed a 1-0 triumph at Southampton three days earlier, Tavernier netting the winner. The only negative from that night at St Mary’s was seeing Tavernier forced off injured towards the end of the contest, with another hamstring issue. The 24-year-old has had an impressive first season at this level, since joining Cherries from Championship Middlesbrough for a reported £12million in the summer, contributing five goals and four assists from 23 appearances. However, his campaign has been hampered now by three separate hamstring injuries, which has seen him miss 11 Premier League matches. The severity of his current setback is yet to be confirmed, but head coach O’Neil says Cherries will now take their time to get him fully fit again, with the threat of relegation no longer looming. Discussing Tavernier after Sunday’s win over Leeds, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I think it’s important to mention Tavs. “He’s played a big part this season. Even though he’s had a real tough run, I’m gutted for him that he’s hurt his hamstring again. “To bounce back every time and to come straight back in and have the impact that he does. “He’s played a huge part on the points tally that we have, even though he has suffered a frustrating season from his part.” Cherries are awaiting further medical opinions to assess the current damage to Tavernier. Asked if he feels Tavernier’s hamstring issues could be a concern going forwards, O’Neil added: “It will fall on me eventually, but I won’t be the one planning how we make sure that he stays fit. “There will be some work that goes in, definitely. “Obviously in the midst of a relegation battle, which it has been, there’s always a pressure, because you know what he can do, a pressure to get him back and to use him. “So now we’ll see how he is, he might not even be that serious yet. “But if it is similar to the others, we have a nice, good block now where we can try and help him get in some real good shape and see if we can get him back stronger.” Cherries host Chelsea on Saturday (3pm), knowing a win would see them leapfrog Frank Lampard’s Blues in the table.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager accepts some things are not right at club but players want to give a fight #SAINTSFC

April 30, 2023
The St Mary’s side faces potential relegation from the Premier League for the first time since promotion to the top flight in 2012. They are six points adrift of safety after the recent home defeat to AFC Bournemouth and are facing a major playing overhaul in the summer. However, Sport Republic and the incoming director of football, Jason Wilcox, already have their hands full with appointments needed for outgoing directors. Head of recruitment Joe Shields, managing director Toby Steele (already replaced) and academy manager Matt Hale are all among those who have left or are leaving this season. However, Selles was not keen to suggest the turmoil could be linked to on-pitch performance. Speaking on Thursday night, he said: “No, of course. “When you are in a club in our situation, you have some issues and the daily routines but it's nothing that we can extrapolate into the pitch. “I think we are where we are and then we need to fight to show that we are good enough to compete in this league and then we can beat anybody so it's not any issues outside that are making the difference or disturbing us.” The Spaniard added: “Well, that's the problem that we didn't find any consistency in any of the moments and in the beginning with the team we thought we can make it. “We were considering what we do. I think we have had some good performances. “But in the last week, we combined some of the good moments with the bad moments so that lack of consistency is in that situation and we are trying to find it back and that we are trying to make it better. “And that's one of the things that we need to look at it and then say we need to do it better and then we need to be more robust in the things that we do.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on Lloyd Kelly after a stop/start season #AFCB

April 21, 2023
Named skipper by previous head coach Scott Parker last term, Bristolian Kelly led Cherries as they secured promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking. However, since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, the 25-year-old has been blighted by injury in what O’Neil described as a ‘stop-start season’. With Kelly dipping in and out of the team, O’Neil took the decision to name goalkeeper Neto as club captain, with Adam Smith remaining vice-captain. Kelly has enjoyed his longest spell in the team this campaign in recent weeks, recording six consecutive starts. Asked if Kelly’s improved form was in response to the removal of the captaincy, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He's still the same. Still very vocal, still trains really well. His performances have been excellent as well, since his return this time. “So really pleased with where Lloyd is. Nothing to do with the captaincy, really. I think he's just had a stop-start season and he's managed to put some real good work in back-to-back weeks recently, and you can see the benefits of that in his performances. “Lloyd, he's always been really important to us and last few weeks has sort of just been confirmation of that. “He’s an impressive defender. I thought he was very impressive last season in a group that were chasing promotion. “He’s had a tricky season, sort of stop-start a little bit, injury-wise. But whenever he’s injured, you’re keen to get him back very quickly, which shows how important he is to the group and the team.” During Kelly’s time on the south coast, he has been used as both a left-back and centre-half. Primarily trusted as a centre-back under Parker, his recent run in the side has seen him used as a full-back, with O’Neil comfortable with Kelly in either role. “I think he can do both,” he continued. “We use him quite low in it as well. “We generally have one full-back high and one low and the low one has suited Lloyd. “But he can play both. I don’t see any issue with him playing left-side centre-back or left-back. I think he has real good physical attributes that can help him with both. “We’re always working with him on improving the attributes that he needs to play in both positions. It’s a real good quality to have that you can be an expert at both. We try to get him to that level.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Ruben Selles reveals everyone in the squad dis working hard and defends his team selection #SAINTSFC

April 21, 2023
The Spaniard started the eventual 2-0 home defeat versus Crystal Palace last weekend without a recognised striker, with £18million Paul Onuachu on the bench. It was the second successive match Saints had set up without a traditional number nine following the loss to Manchester City – in which substitute forward Sekou Mara scored their only goal. Selles was asked if he is going to change tact and put Onuachu in for his first start since losing to Leeds United in February, in Selles’s second game as boss. However, Selles, facing media ahead of the trip to Emirates Stadium, was defiant in his answer and insisted: "I don't make my line-up or tactics to do with what anyone else thinks. "We need to be competitive in the game until we can score the goal. It is not about one number nine, this is a different challenge for all of us so the solution is not to put one, two or three strikers on, it's about putting people in situations. "We are going to try and press them and win the balls high as possible to win the game," he added. “If we play our game we have options to win the game. “We know what we can do if we can keep the performance as we did in the first half against Manchester City. "It has been desperate from the very first second but the only difference now is we are running out of games. We haven't transformed performance to points. "In every game that the result is not for us, it is hard. Everybody is working hard and the most important thing is you wake up the next day to fix the mistakes."
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi wants to help Julio Enciso hit new heights #BHAFC

April 18, 2023
The 19-year-old forward from Paraguay fired into the top corner to secure the club’s first ever league win at Chelsea. His goal was just part of his most exciting performance yet for the club. The 2-1 success keeps the Seagulls’ push for Europe on track follows his late strike in the recent success at Bournemouth. Roberto De Zerbi highlighted the fact he sent Enciso on before the more experienced Danny Welbeck as Albion made injury-enforced substitutions. The head coach added: “Enciso is one of my players and I believe in him. “He is improving. I think he can improve more. “I think he finished playing after his goal and I don’t want to see like this. “He has to think first of all of the squad, the team and then for himself. “But I’m helping him. For me it’s not a problem. “If he wants to become a great player, he has to improve in mentality and my work is to help my young players to progress.” Enciso said he would never forget his afternoon at Stamford Bridge as he sparkled even before the goal. Get more Albion stories delivered to your inbox every day by signing up to our Albion newsletter He added: “I have been trying to score a goal like that and my manager has a lot of belief in me. “I always do my absolute best when opportunities like that come my way.”