Matt Targett Aston Villa
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Former Southampton and Aston Villa defender Matt Targett delighted to join Newcastle United #NUFC #SAINTSFC #AVFC

February 1, 2022
NEWCASTLE United have completed the deadline day loan signing of Saints academy graduate Matt Targett from Aston Villa. The 26-year-old left-back will play under manager Eddie Howe for the remainder of the season, as they fight relegation from the Premier League. Targett could be available to face Saints at St Mary’s when the postponed league clash is eventually rearranged in the coming weeks. Speaking after completing his loan move, Targett told the club website: "I'm delighted to be here. I can't wait to get going and meet all the fans and hopefully we can have a successful end to the season. "My family have friends here and they've always said it's a football-mad city, so to experience it and be part of it - I'm really looking forward to it." Howe added: "We have gone into this transfer window with a plan to add strong competition in specific areas of the team and Matt will be a fantastic option for us on the left. "He has important Premier League experience and know-how at this level, so I'm really pleased we've been able to add him to the squad." The ex-England youth international made 63 first-team appearances for Saints after graduating from the academy and making his debut in the 2014-15 season.
Matt Targett Aston Villa
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Matt Targett thinks manager Dean Smith not at fault after defeat against former club Saints #SAINTSFC #AVFC

November 7, 2021
FORMER Saint Matt Targett insists Aston Villa’s players have to take responsibility for a run of five defeats which has seen pressure mount on manager Dean Smith. Adam Armstrong’s early strike was enough to see Saints inflict a 1-0 loss on Villa at St Mary’s on Friday night. The loss means Villa have taken no points since winning at Manchester United on September 25 and Smith admits he has “no idea” if he will be given the time to turn things around. Targett, however, feels the reasons for the poor spell fall at the feet of the players. “There’s only so much the manager can do,” he told Villa TV. “Us, as players, we’ve got to take responsibility. We’ve got to worry about our own performances and not many of us have been doing that this season. “I put myself up there too, I haven’t been as good as I was last season. It’s difficult to take. “At the moment, we’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror and just say it’s not good enough; we need to improve, every single one, we’re working hard on the training pitch but we need to transform that into the game. “We’ll reflect, the players who go away (on international duty), hopefully they’ll stay healthy, and then we’ll kick on from there.”