Andoni Iraola
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola on goalkeepers Andrei Radu and Neto #AFCB

August 2, 2023
Goalie Radu became the latest addition at Vitality Stadium this summer, joining Cherries on an initial loan from Italian giants Inter Milan. Cherries reportedly hold an option to convert the temporary move to a permanent one in the summer for £7million. The arrival of Radu has allowed Mark Travers to join Stoke City on loan for the season, the highly-rated goalkeeper being given the opportunity of more consistent gametime in order to aid his development. With Iraola’s penchant for knockout competitions and Radu’s notable record of saving penalties, the idea of the goalkeeper being brought in as a shootout specialist for cup campaigns has arisen. However, rather than having Radu serve merely as a back-up to established first choice Neto, Iraola believes the Romanian is more than capable of making the position his own. Asked if Radu had been brought in to serve as a “cup goalkeeper”, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think goalkeeping situation, okay, it’s kind of a different position, but we will make the decision for day one. “Then after we will make the decision for day two. “We cannot plan so far ahead because things happen in trainings, performance matters. “I think there was a need on the club because especially I think Mark and the club wanted the situation to be like this. And I think it's good for everyone. “So I think Andrei can help us straight away because he has performed in a high level. He's ready to compete for the position. “And we'll take the decisions day by day, game by game.” Cherries supporters got their first look at Radu last weekend, the goalkeeper coming off the bench to feature in the second half of the 3-1 defeat to Atalanta. FC Lorient visit Dorset as guests for Cherries’ final pre-season friendly, on Saturday, August 5.
Asmir Begovic
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Asmir Begovic on Mark Travers losing place to Neto #AFCB

July 2, 2023
Travers enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2021-22, scooping a host of individual awards for his efforts in helping Cherries clinch promotion to the Championship. He then started last season as Cherries’ first choice, before Gary O’Neil took the reins and instantly took him out of the side, bringing in experienced new signing Neto in his place. The Brazilian would go on to become club captain, restricting Travers to just 15 club appearances in all competitions last season. Speaking to the Daily Echo following the final-day loss at Everton, where Travers featured for the first time in more than four months, the Irishman admitted it had been a "very tough" season personally adding: “I know I want to play every week and at my age, I don’t want to be not playing.” Prior to his spell as first choice in 2021-22, Travers played second fiddle to Begovic, before the Bosnian departed to join Everton. Discussing Travers losing his place last season, Begovic told BBC Radio Solent: “First and foremost, Neto has been fantastic. “Obviously a top-level goalkeeper, who has played at the highest level for many, many years. “Of course for Trav it’s an experience, it’s part of development. “There’s going to be ups and downs in football, there’s no doubt about it. It’s never smooth sailing, that’s for sure. “He’s maybe dealing with a bit of a different experience now after having the games over the year previous to that. “I’m sure he’ll take stock in the summer and see what he wants to do and I’m sure the club will as well. “They’ve got a fantastic goalkeeper coach in Neil Moss and his staff. So they’ll all put a plan together for his development and make sure he keeps going in the right direction. “But it’s part of a goalkeeper’s life and a professional footballer’s life. There’s ups and downs and you have to take them all in your stride, deal with them in the best way possible.” Travers was dropped by O’Neil following the 9-0 humiliation against Liverpool in the fourth league game of the season. Reflecting on that decision to leave Travers out for the next game against Wolves, before he was sacked and replaced by Andoni Iraola last week, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “Conceding nine as a goalkeeper, he was not at fault for too many. But then to be taken out after that and it’s not the season he would have wanted, I’m sure. “But he’s trained with real professionalism. I’ve had a real comfort in the fact I know Trav can come in if he’s needed, because of the way he works and the way he is around the group. “A difficult day for me as well that day (at Anfield). “As an interim head coach to have a day and a half to prepare for Wolves and have to make a call on last year’s player of the season and the number one goalie, to take him out wasn’t an easy conversation for me to have with Trav, who I obviously have a fantastic relationship with. “I’m extremely grateful to Trav. “Whether he feels like he had a big impact on the season or not, because he hasn’t played much, but his impact around the group and the way he’s held himself and behaved since that disappointment definitely helped the group manage to get over the line.”
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Neto on defeat to Crystal Palace #AFCB

May 16, 2023
Two finely taken goals from Eberechi Eze proved the difference, with Neto powerless prevent either effort in the eventual 2-0 defeat at Selhurst Park. It was the first time since March Cherries have lost back-to-back games, with the Brazilian admitting his side were second best. He shared: “We’re frustrated by the result. We wanted to win this game, it was very important for us but I think we didn’t deserve it.“By our interpretation, it wasn’t our right to win the game and we have to keep going. That’s football and we have to move on.” Whilst Everton’s subsequent defeat to champions elect Manchester City on Sunday confirmed Cherries’ place in next season's Premier League, Neto believes his team will give it their all in the final fixtures with Manchester United and the Toffees. “I think 40 points is the number for everybody at the beginning of the season and when the games happen, maybe you don’t need the 40 points,” he continued. “Our goal and objective is 40 points and we have two difficult games in the next weeks and we have to mentalise the right way to keep going and go win those games.”
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Neto on teams ‘spirit and fight’ as relegation looms for the club #AFCB

April 14, 2023
Gary O’Neil’s charges leapt out of the bottom three last weekend following a 1-0 victory over their relegation rivals Leicester. They face Champions League-chasing Tottenham Hotspur in north London on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). Asked what he was expecting ahead of the clash, the shot stopper told the Daily Echo: “I expect to keep the mentality, the spirit and fight until the end for the points. “I think we have to keep the mentality, the spirit and fight, because if you believe in yourselves and we fight until the end then we can play with all teams. So we have to keep this mentality.”A summer signing from Barcelona, Neto was named as club captain in February, boss O’Neil hailing his keeper’s influence amongst the squad. “To become a captain,” began Neto. “I think doesn’t depend about the player, but depends about the environment, the people who have to make the choice. “Really proud about it. And not just because I'm the captain, but I will always give 100 per cent for this team, for my teammates and try to find the victories in all our games.” Cherries’ transfer business this season has seen a host of new players from a wide array of cultures and countries arrive, with multiple different languages spoken in the dressing room. Having played in Italy and Spain, Neto can speak four languages – another reason why he was named skipper. He shared: “It’s just Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and English. “I'm fighting with English, but I can survive! “I think I can help. I can transmit the message for the players.” In one of his first acts as captain, Neto organised for the players to have a barbecue after a day of clay pigeon shooting. He explained: “From South America, our culture is when we are to be close, we always use the barbecue, to bring people close. “So we try to keep the people close. We try to organise this barbecue, this moment together because I think it was the right moment. And it was very nice. “We enjoyed the guys, enjoyed the moment.” Not only popular in his own dressing room, Neto has friends all over the Premier League. After making his Premier League debut against Wolves in August, former Barcelona teammate Adama Traore searched out for the goalkeeper in order to have a proper catch-up. There will be further familiar faces and reunions on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, with Neto having briefly played with countrymen Emerson Royal (Barcelona) and Lucas Moura (Brazil), as well as French centre-back Clement Lenglet. “I have some friends there,” commented the Brazilian. “Very close with Clement Lenglet. But now we have a good week, I think, to relax and prepare for this game because it's another final for us.”
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Neto believes Brighton’s Evan Ferguson goal at Bournemouth was ‘really strange’ after defeat against them #AFCB

April 6, 2023
Cherries fell back into the relegation zone after a 2-0 defeat to Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls on Tuesday night. Brighton took the lead on 28 minutes, in-form striker Evan Ferguson improvising to turn home Kaoru Mitoma’s low cross. Julio Enciso then made sure of the victory in second-half stoppage-time, after both sides squandered earlier opportunities. Reflecting on the defeat, goalkeeper Neto told BBC Radio Solent: “Of course a little bit disappointed because we created many chances and had many opportunities. “I think until the end they (Brighton) didn’t create a lot. Of course, they always had the ball because that is their style. “But the three or four opportunities that we created, if we score, the game could be completely different. “We have to look forward, we have to keep going, we can’t stop here. We know what we are fighting for. It was difficult, they are a good team.” On Republic of Ireland international Ferguson’s opener, Neto said: “They scored a really strange goal, their first goal. “Then we start from 1-0 and create one or two and didn’t score. That feeling of the situation that we are living is not the best, but we have to keep going. “We created many chances. If we create these chances in another game, 100 per cent we will have the possibility to win. We depend just on ourselves. “The performance I think was very good. Our team ran and gave it 100 per cent, so we are frustrated about it. “Brighton are a good team. Not all teams play like them, they keep the ball. It is not good to play against them. We spent a lot physically and we had to run too much. “Saturday is a different game. It is a big final for us.” Cherries head to another side in the relegation zone in Leicester City on Saturday (3pm).
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O Neil excited as Neto signs new three-year deal to extend Cherries stay #AFCB

March 28, 2023
The 33-year-old arrived on the south coast last summer on a free transfer from Catalan giants Barcelona, initially signing a one-year contract. His new deal will last until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, taking him just shy of his 37th birthday. After being installed as number one following Gary O’Neil’s original appointment as caretaker at the end of August, the Brazilian international has made 18 appearances for Cherries, recording four clean sheets. Speaking after signing the new deal, Neto told Cherries’ club media: “I am very happy and very proud. From the first time (I arrived here), I loved to be here. Me and my family are really enjoying the moment of our life. “It is the perfect place, because we have kids, a young baby, and we are really easy people. We are enjoying the place, it is very quiet, very nice. “My daughter is enjoying the school, my wife is enjoying the place. This is the most important in your career, when you have this connection. Everything is perfect.” Aside from his spell at the Camp Nou, the keeper lists Juventus, Valencia, and Fiorentina as previous employers. Capped once at senior-level by Brazil, Neto also represented his country twice at the 2012 Olympics in London, where he won a silver medal. Neto has shared dressing rooms with a full host of stars, including Leo Messi, Neymar, Mo Salah, Luis Suarez, and Gianluigi Buffon. The goalkeeper also boasts significant experience in continental competition, playing 10 times in the Champions League for Barcelona, Valencia, and Juventus, as well as 24 games in Europe’s secondary tournament, the Europa League. Such has been the Brazilian’s impact since arriving at Cherries, O’Neil decided to appoint Neto as club captain in February, the goalie donning the armband for the first time in the defeat away at Brighton. An established figure in the dressing room despite only being at the club for eight months, the fact that Neto can speak English, Spanish, and Italian was also a deciding factor in his receiving of the captaincy, with Cherries’ dressing room now speaking numerous different languages. At the time of the appointment, O’Neil shared: "I just feel that Nets is an impressive individual, on and off the pitch. He has real leadership qualities. Since he’s come in, I’ve just been very impressed with how good he is around the group. “Neto has some real, good qualities that we would be silly not to tap in to. I think especially in the transfer window with the players we’ve recruited, Neto has a real good standing in the group. I think it will benefit us."
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil reveals goalkeeper Neto out with hamstring injury for long term #AFCB

October 28, 2022
CHERRIES will be without goalkeeper Neto for the “long term” according to interim boss Gary O’Neil, with the Brazilian suffering a hamstring injury away at West Ham. Former Barcelona man Neto was unable to continue on Monday night, initially going down after a clearance in the first half. He was replaced at half time by last season’s number one Mark Travers, with both goalkeepers conceding once during an eventual 2-0 defeat at the London Stadium. When asked for the latest on the 33-year-old, O’Neil shared: “Neto will be out. He has an issue with his hamstring. “We're not sure how long. It won't be short term, it'll be fairly long term, we think, in that. “I mean, it won't be a week or two. So Neto is going to be out for the next couple at least.” Travers’ substitute appearance against West Ham represented his first minutes under Gary O’Neil, his last appearances coming under previous boss Scott Parker, for whom he was first choice. Prompted if Travers would have a psychological challenge coming back into the side, O’Neil dismissed concerns, stressing his “full faith” in the Irishman. He restarted: “No, I don't think he'll have a psychological challenge. “I think his training performances since that moment have been top drawer. I've zero concerns around putting him back in. “I think I made it very clear when the change was made that I was delighted to have both of them and I saw them both as number ones and it was just Neto at that moment for whatever reasons I felt. “But yeah, putting Mark Travers back in doesn't concern me at all. I have full faith in him.” O'Neil made the decision to swap goalkeepers when appointed interim boss, taking Travers out of the side following a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool. The caretaker head coach believed Neto helped "steady the ship" for Cherries, again stressing that he was happy with either goalkeeper in between the sticks. "He brought calmness to us," restarted the former Portsmouth midfielder. "He helped us steady the ship when we had some tough results. "But when I was asked about it initially, I said I'm really pleased to have them both. "Because Travs is a top goalkeeper, he makes top saves when he trains with us as a team, when we do our team stuff, he's been making fantastic saves. "Whenever I check in with the goalkeeper coach as to what they're doing when they're not with us, he always says he was top again. "So yeah, as I said at the time, we're fortunate that we've got two that we can put in."
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto reveals squad intensity and mentality under interim manager Gary O’ Neil #AFCB

October 15, 2022
GOALKEEPER Neto believes Cherries “have a great opportunity to have a good season” – but only if they keep going. One time Brazil international Neto is yet to taste defeat since joining Cherries, helping his new club to shootout success in the League Cup over Norwich before being parachuted into Gary O’Neil’s side for five games in the Premier League, in which Cherries remain unbeaten under their interim boss. The former Barcelona and Juventus man is expected to start in between the sticks for Cherries when they travel to Fulham tomorrow (kick-off 3pm). Speaking to talkSport, Neto shared: “I am happy with the results. I am very competitive and don’t like to lose and we are in a good moment, so we have to keep going. “We are working with a lot of intensity and the mentality is very positive. We are a good unit. “Fulham will be a very difficult game. We know they need the result and we need the result. “They came from the Championship as well and we both want to stay in the Premier League. “We have to be focused, have to keep going and have to keep pushing and if we do that, we have a chance of a good result.” Brought to the club when Scott Parker was still head coach, Neto had to bide his time on the sidelines, with Mark Travers the preferred number one at the start of the season. However, following the change in management, Neto found himself foisted into the starting XI for the visit of Wolves, keeping a clean sheet on his Premier League debut. “This is football and everything can change in a minute,” the 33-year-old restarted. "The guys were prepared for it, and I am happy for Gary O’Neil because it was important he got some positive results. “We have to keep working and we can do great things. “Me and Junior (Stanislas) are the most experienced guys in the dressing room, and I enjoy it because it is the first time for me and I am happy to help the team and the club. “We have a great opportunity to have a good season.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Cherries interim manager Gary O’Neil believes ‘Leader’ Neto helped with defensive ‘organisation’ at Newcastle #AFCB

September 19, 2022
GARY O'Neil described Neto as a "leader", but played down suggestion of the goalkeeper being a key difference-maker against Newcastle. The Brazilian earned lots of plaudits after the 1-1 draw at St James' Park, particularly for an eye-catching double save just before half-time to deny Joelinton and Ryan Fraser. He was only beaten by a second-half Alexander Isak penalty. Former Barcelona man Neto also looked assured at dealing with aerial crosses during the latter stages to help the visitors hold on for a point, but O'Neil was visibly becoming frustrated at times on the sideline by the goalkeeper's distribution in the second half. Asked how big a role the 33-year-old played in earning the draw against Eddie Howe's Magpies, interim boss O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "A lot of people have asked me about Neto. "It’s a bit of a whirlwind when you’re on the side, but I don’t remember any massive saves where I think ‘we’ve got away with one there’. "I felt fairly comfortable. Of course there are moments and at the end of the first half there was a sequence of set plays. "I remember them having a long distance one that he had to tip over or around the post." O'Neil added: "Nets was really good for us. He’s a leader. He helps with the organisation of the back-line. "But I didn’t feel like he was ever flat-out keeping us in it, to be honest."
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PSLtories- Gary O’Neil believes Mark Travers understood decision to be left out and Ryan Christie forgets Manchester City defeat #AFCB

September 3, 2022
INTERIM boss Gary O'Neil says Mark Travers has "responded well" to the disappointment of being dropped for Wednesday night's clash with Wolves, adding how he "understood" the decision. Having played second fiddle to the likes of Aaron Ramsdale and Asmir Begovic earlier in his Cherries career, goalkeeper Travers got his big break under Scott Parker last season. The young Irishman played in all-but one of Cherries' 46 Championship fixtures, and was named as the club's player of the season after helping them clinch promotion to the Premier League. Travers also won a host of other awards, including the Daily Echo/Micky Cave trophy, and the Championship's golden glove having kept the most clean sheets (20) in the division. The 23-year-old was then rewarded with a new five-year contract over the summer, also taking the number one shirt for the first time. He got off to the perfect start, with a clean sheet in victory over Aston Villa on the opening day this campaign. But Travers was then part of the side which conceded 16 goals in the next three Premier League fixtures, including Parker's final game in charge, the 9-0 humiliation at Liverpool last weekend. That proved to be the end of Travers's consecutive run of starts, as one of four players dropped to the bench for O'Neil's first match as interim head coach in midweek. While a lot of the blame in recent weeks could not be solely attributed to Republic of Ireland international Travers, O'Neil decided it was time to take the Maynooth-born ace out the firing line. Experienced Brazilian Neto took the place of Travers, keeping a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw. Asked how being the goalkeeper for such a heavy defeat had affected Travers, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "After the 9-0, he was fine. I mean, it hits everyone losing 9-0, of course. "But Trav no more than anybody else. I think everybody suffered in that moment at Anfield. "He has responded well, training-wise. Obviously being left out is disappointing to every player. "A goalkeeper always feels a little bit different because there is only one place to fight for. "But he understood that I felt it was best for him and mainly the group. My main concern is the group. "I felt it was best for the group at that time and that’s what my decisions will always be based upon." Neto looks likely to keep his spot when Cherries head to Nottingham Forest for their next top-flight encounter tomorrow (3pm). Discussing the former Barcelona man's Premier League debut against Wolves, O'Neil said: "He handled it well. He had some big moments in the game, he handled them well. "Same as a lot of the players really, especially the defenders handled some big moments well. "It’s nice when you feel that things do need shoring up a bit, to have some experienced boys around."
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s new goalkeeper signing Neto speaks about Premier League move #AFCB

August 9, 2022
NEW signing Neto did “everything” to fulfill his dream of playing in the Premier League, with the goalkeeper switching Barcelona for Cherries. The Brazilian international became the Dorset club’s fourth recruit of the window on Sunday, arriving from Catalan giants Barcelona on a free transfer on an initial one-year deal. Aside from his stint in La Liga with Barca, Neto has also represented fellow European royalty in the form of Juventus, and has played 10 times in the Champions League. His arrival at the Vitality Stadium comes with the view of pushing youngster Mark Travers, providing head coach Scott Parker with both depth and competition in between the sticks. Speaking after arriving on the south coast, Neto told afcbtv: “I’m really happy to be here, and really excited to start this new season with this new experience in this amazing, brilliant club. “It was important days, where I understand the opportunity to be here arrived in my hands. “I arrived with my family, we do everything to come, because I think it is a good opportunity, a good experience. “The Premier League, it was always my dream. “When I was a young guy, my dream was to always be here in the Premier League, play in the Premier league.” Aside from experience in the Champions League with Valencia, Barca, and Juventus, Neto has featured in over 160 top-flight games in Serie A and La Liga. He continued: “I (have been) lucky to be in Serie A, lucky to be in La Liga. An amazing experience. “I think that God brings me here for a reason. I’m really lucky to have this opportunity. “I think I can help, I can bring the experience, what I learn, what I know. And I can improve, too. I think it is really important I arrive with the ability to learn, to learn with my teammates. “I think with the experience what I did in football, what I learn, I can put here and help. “What is the most important is to stay together with teammates and do things.” “I hope and want to do the best to help my teammates, to help Bournemouth, to do great things.” The 33-year-old also revealed that he had spoken to Parker, hailing his new boss as “an amazing guy”. "I already spoke with him,” mentioned Neto. "He's an amazing guy. I think it will be an important point for this club in this season. "When we have a coach and people like that, the players understand who is the leader and that we have to follow him. “If we follow him, we have a great opportunity to do great things."