Tom Lockyer
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Tom Lockyer left ‘speechless’ after being made Hatters captain by Rob Edwards #LUTONTOWNFC

August 12, 2023
Luton defender Tom Lockyer said he was left ‘speechless’ after being made club captain by manager Rob Edwards. Previous captain Sonny Bradley left in the summer, meaning 28-year-old Lockyer will become the first Hatters player to step foot onto a pitch in a Premier League game when Luton take on Brighton in tomorrow’s season-opener at the Lamex Stadium. “It’s surreal,” said the central defender. “I’m a little bit speechless and how to describe how it feels, but it’s incredible – a massive honour not just for me but my family as well. It’s not something I take lightly. I’m speechless.Tom Lockyer“Saturday will be a special occasion. As I’ve said, it’s a massive honour to lead such a good club, which has felt like home since I stepped through the door, to walk out the lads in the Premier League with the armband on. It’s really special.“It’s a great squad and good that we don’t have to manage any massive egos. Everyone is pretty grounded, we’re all normal fellas. We all get on really well but it won’t just be me driving the standards or keeping people in line. That comes from everyone. Everyone’s got their own high standards, and whatever those were last year, this year they need to be higher.”Explaining why he chose Lockyer, Edwards said: “He was the natural choice. His performances for us since we arrived have been incredibly high and incredibly consistent. He demands high standards and has the respect and trust of us all.“We’re delighted to have him as captain, it’s something he thoroughly deserves.”
Moises Caicedo
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Moises Caicedo thanks fans on the awards night of Brighton before impending transfer #BHAFC

August 2, 2023
The midfielder was named Player Of The Year at the club’s belated 2022-23 prize night. He was also voted Players’ Player Of The Year by his colleagues. The Ecuador international, who is wanted by Chelsea, used his improving English in two acceptance speeches at the Amex. He told fans: “I am so happy. I am very proud of myself. “Thank you to my team-mates and all the fans for their amazing support. “It was fantastic this season. I am so happy to reach the Europa League with Brighton, who were the team who opened the doors in the Premier League. It was so good. “Why not give my best for this amazing club?” Asked whether he had a message for supporters, he replied: “Thank you all the fans for your amazing support. “It was amazing last season. Without your support, it would be impossible. I am grateful to you.” He added: “I do this for my family because they are my inspiration. My mum and dad always were there for me in good and bad moments. “I am going to give my mum this present (the award). “She is here in Brighton. I am going to arrive in my flat and say, ‘Mum, this is for you.” Caicedo was rapturously cheered and appauded by supporters, although many will also be aware his double emulates the feat of Marc Cucurella - who went on to join Chelsea within weeks.
Milos Kerkez
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Milos Kerkez explains reasoning behind joining AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

July 21, 2023
Cherries parted with a reported £15.5million to bring the Hungarian left-back to Vitality Stadium, swooping in after it seemed Kerkoz was close to joining Champions League outfit Lazio. Having already worn the famous red and black of AC Milan, the 19-year-old will wear the same colours on the south coast next season. Discussing the move with afcb.co.uk, Kerkez shared: “It's a really warm welcome and I'm really happy and delighted to be here, also my family's, so I'm really, really happy. “We got in touch with Bournemouth and I feel the kind of respect the club and the people showed us, really, that was the big part of me coming here, so was a few busy days, but now that I'm finally here, I'm really happy and excited.”Born in what is now Serbia but opting to play for Hungary internationally, Kerkez believes all young footballers dream of playing in the Premier League. He continued: “It was a big decision, but really, since I was a kid, I believe everyone dreams of playing in the best league in the world. “That’s the Premier League and to have opportunity to come to a club like Bournemouth is a big thing. So I'm really, really happy to be here. “Like I said, really, the respect that me and my family got, really from Bournemouth, the people, they came to visit us at home to talk to us about the project, about the plan, and that was the big thing for me and my family to decide to come here.” Cherries swapped head coaches in June, with rookie boss Gary O’Neil dismissed when highly-rated Andoni Iraola became available. LONG READ: AFC Bournemouth moving away from pragmatism towards ideals with Iraola Iraola’s style of play was another big part of Kerkez’s decision to join Cherries. He restarted: “The coach has a big impact on my move to come here. “He comes from the Spanish League, so also, his philosophy, I like it. “The club's philosophy, his philosophy, I love it. “And that's what makes me come here now.”    
Ryan Christie
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Ryan Christie keen to extend AFC Bournemouth contract #AFCB

July 20, 2023
Christie, 28, is heading into the final year of his deal at Vitality Stadium, having arrived from Celtic in the summer of 2021. The Scotland international has made 75 appearances for Cherries, scoring five goals and providing nine assists. He played a key role in clinching promotion from the Championship, before then helping keep the club in the Premier League last season. The hard-working midfielder has featured in both friendly matches under new boss Andoni Iraola so far. He played 90 minutes in the 4-0 win over Hibernian, before again starting and playing the first half of Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Christie has previously expressed how settled he feels on the south coast of England, becoming a dad for the first time last month. Asked if there has been any dialogue with the club regarding his future and current contract situation, Christie told the Daily Echo: “No discussions yet, but I’m more than happy (here). “Especially with the baby now, I love living in Bournemouth. It’s a great place to stay and my family is nice and settled as well. “I’m not really thinking about that right now. Obviously the pre-season is pretty tough, so you just need to get the head down and keep working hard. “My main hope is to impress the new boss as much as I can. “If that leads to talks about a new contract, so be it. I’ll be looking forward to that hopefully.” Christie and his fiancée Georgie welcomed a baby boy into the world last month. For Christie, that capped off a busy summer, which had seen him away representing Scotland just five days before his son was born. “It was absolutely amazing, to be fair,” he said, discussing his new arrival. “It was obviously a bit of a whirlwind when he came, but I think we kind of timed it perfectly. “I got back from Scotland camp and two days later we went into labour. “It was nice because I got two weeks at the end of my break just in the house with him getting used to baby life.” Christie’s final game before returning home was the bizarre Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia at Hampden Park. The Highlander was introduced for the closing stages of the 2-0 win, coming onto the pitch at 11.16pm after the game had been delayed due to wet weather in Glasgow. “That was one of the strangest games I’ve been a part of,” Christie admitted. “The rain was absolutely mental and then there was talk of the game being postponed and playing the next morning. “I think everybody was desperate just to get the game done, especially me with a pregnant fiancée at home, waiting for me to get home. So I was watching the clock half the night! “The most important thing is we got a win to round off another very successful camp for us.”
Justin Kluivert
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Justin Kluivert on Premier League ambitions at AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

June 26, 2023
Kluivert joined Cherries on Friday for a reported initial £9.5million, arriving from Roma. The Dutchman has penned a long-term contract with the club, which is believed to run until 2028. Asked what he hopes to achieve with Cherries in that time, Kluivert told afcbTV: “My hopes and ambitions are just to be very important for the club. “I want to be that type of player. And just to do my best and give my all. “I know what my abilities are and I want to show that for the club and for the fans. I can’t wait. “To be honest, everybody knows it’s the best league in the world. “This is the dream, to play in the Premier League. That’s why I’m really excited to get started. “I’m looking forward to it.” Kluivert, 24, already has plenty of varied experience, playing in the top league of five European countries with spells at Ajax, Leipzig, Nice and Valencia, as well as Roma. “I’ve just turned 24 and I’ve learned a lot from my career already,” he said. “It is actually just the beginning and I’ve already been through a lot. “So I’m very happy that I’ve been through all of that and it will help me in my future, I know for sure. “I speak to people who say it looks like you’ve been 24 for 10 years! I say yes, I have been in the game since I was very young and I’m still quite young. “I can’t wait to get started and show my qualities here in this league for years to come.” Netherlands international Kluivert is the son of former Barcelona and Newcastle United striker Patrick Kluivert, one of his country’s all-time leading goalscorers. Significantly shorter than his father, Justin has played most of his football out on the wings, using his pace and tricky to score and create goals. Quizzed on what type of player Cherries fans will see, Kluivert said: “They can expect a player who is willing to do everything for the team, to attack. “I guess I could say I run quite fast! My mind is to score goals and be important for the team, also in the defensive area.” He added: “I am very delighted (to sign). “I’m part of the family right now and I can’t wait to get to know the teammates and the new coach also. I can’t wait to get started.”
Lewis Cook AFC Bournemouth
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Lewis Cook assesses his Premier League season with AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

June 24, 2023
Cook is one of Cherries’ longest-serving players, having joined the club from Leeds United in the summer of 2016. Two serious knee injuries have restricted the availability of the one-time England international during his time in Dorset. In his seven years at Cherries, Cook has racked up 180 appearances, scoring two goals and last summer signed a contract extension which runs until 2025. The 26-year-old played a key role in the first half of last season, starting 16 Premier League games in succession, before injury saw him forced off during defeat at Brentford in January. Cook would be unavailable for the next five league games, with Joe Rothwell excelling in his place. When fit again, Cook would still find game-time hard to come by, with Rothwell, Philip Billing and Jefferson Lerma featuring more regularly in midfield. The York-born talent ended the campaign having made 31 appearances in league and cup. Asked for his reflections on the season, Cook told the Daily Echo: “I had a spell out, but it’s not as long as I’ve had in the past. “Playing 30-something games, in the best league in the world, I can’t complain at all. “I’ve really enjoyed it and am just looking forward to next year.” Discussing his lack of game-time from March onwards, Cook added: “The lads have been playing unbelievable. “We can’t complain with having this many points four games before the end of the season. “It’s part of football. Whoever has got the shirt is going to try and keep it. “It’s my job to try and keep training, keep working hard and keep enjoying my football to try and get back in. “But it’s part of football and we’re definitely all in this together. “I think the lads played a big part in the season, whether it be the start, the middle, or the end. We’re a big team and we’re together, definitely.” Cook will be hoping for another new lease of life under new boss Andoni Iraola, when he joins the rest of his teammates for pre-season testing on Saturday, July 1. Cherries will then train in England, before heading off to Marbella for a warm weather training camp. During that spell, they will face friendlies against Scottish outfit Hibernian (July 13) and Israeli giants Maccabi Tel Aviv (July 16). Cherries will then return home, welcoming Atalanta (July 29) and FC Lorient (August 5) to Vitality Stadium before the Premier League campaign gets underway at home against West Ham United seven days later.
Gabe Osho
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Hatters defender Gabe Osho backs Luton to ‘surprise’ a few in the Premier League #LUTONFC

June 22, 2023
Defender Gabe Osho is confident that Luton can ‘surprise’ a few when they begin their Premier League campaign in just under two months.The Hatters will be taking their place among the big boys next term after winning a nerve-jangling Championship play-off final penalty shootout with Coventry City at Wembley to reach the top flight recently.Although Town will be everyone's favourites to get relegated before a ball has even been kicked, Osho believes that with a raucous Kenilworth Road behind them, and a continuation of their excellent form on the road, Luton losing just four away games all season, they will be able to shock some of their opponents during the campaign ahead.Town centre half Gabe Osho - pic: Getty ImagesHe said: “It’s going to be some ride."It will be difficult of course, I think everyone’s aware of that, no-one thinks it’s going to be an easy ride, but Kenilworth Road is going to be different for many, many Premier League teams to come to."If we can make that a fortress, then we have a really, really good chance of staying up."Our away form last season was really good in the Championship as well, so I think we’re going to surprise a lot of teams.”Although Osho is aware of just what a force Town's home support will be, he doesn’t want that to detract from how a good footballing side Luton have become, particularly since Rob Edwards took over in November.He added: “It’s interesting as we know the stadium is a big talking point, but I don’t think a lot gets made of how we actually play."I think that’s going to surprise a couple of teams when we come up against them.“Everyone’s kind of expecting a tight changing room, this and that, but when we actually get on the pitch and play the football we know we can play, it’s going to surprise teams and pick up points where we’re not expected to.”
Ryan Christie
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ryan Christie reveals AFC Bournemouth were experimenting in final games after survival was confirmed #AFCB

June 5, 2023
After all-but securing mathematical safety with a 4-1 victory over Leeds United at the end of April, Cherries head coach Gary O’Neil took the opportunity to use the remaining four games of the season to try new ideas and playing styles. Cherries’ place in next season’s Premier League was confirmed despite defeat at Crystal Palace two weeks later, meaning they went into the final two clashes with Manchester United and Everton with little pressure. Whilst Cherries were unable to add to their tally of 39 points, it proved more than enough, with Leicester City in the final relegation spot going down with a total of 34. Asked if Cherries had been trying new things in their final games, Christie told the Daily Echo: “Absolutely. I mean, we're in a nice position where we can try these things this season, going into the next season. “These last three games we've been kind of tweaking stuff, experimenting a little bit. For the most part, I think it's worked. “I know that the results these last three, four games have been frustrating, but the games - Chelsea game, thought we played well for the most part. “Man United, we were in the game the whole game and even (against Everton). “Obviously, Palace was a bit of a frustrating one for us. “Plenty to work on, but quite positive.” Arriving on deadline in August 2021, Christie helped Cherries earn promotion last season before making 32 top-flight appearances as the Dorset outfit secured another season of Premier League football. “Another season in the Prem, that's the exciting thing,” continued the 28-year-old. “Getting to do this all over again and hopefully have an even more successful season. “If we’d got a better result (against Everton), we could have jumped another couple of places. “So hope for next season to constantly keep pushing. “All the staff are on that wavelength, all the boys are on that wavelength and come back and ready to do all again.” Discussing the final day defeat at Goodison, Christie surmised: “ I think we wanted to come and given a good account of ourselves, obviously the game would have been on TV and stuff and obviously we wanted to finish the season as well with a positive result. “Frustrating we didn't do that. “But I think for the majority of the game we played well. “Definitely took the game to them, obviously frustrating that we didn't get a result. I think we would have deserved it.”
Tino Livramento
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Tino Livramento wants to repay Southampton supporters and staff after return from injury #SAINTSFC

May 24, 2023
The 20 year old made his long-awaited return from an ACL injury and subsequent setbacks 392 days later during Sunday’s defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Saints were already down 3-1 at the time he replaced James Bree, with the club’s relegation also confirmed the weekend before. Livramento was one of Southampton’s top performers in his debut season at Premier League level last season and could be a star in the Championship. But the focus for the former Chelsea man is to keep fit and try to repay the club’s staff for the effort they have put in to reach this point. “Everyone will look at it from the outside and think returning was another mental block but for me, it’s just about coming back and playing football,” he told club media. “No matter where I’m going to be, if the manager wants me to come in and play then I’m going to come in and play. It just happened to be Brighton, the first game back that I’m available for. I’m happy that I’m back and hopefully, my fitness continues. “It’s been very difficult. I’ve had a few setbacks with the main injury I had. It’s not nice but when you’ve got a strong team and great physios, I can’t speak highly enough of them.” Livramento added: “Without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now. I’m happy that I can now repay them by showing their hard work has paid off. I’m a footballer again! “I’m as confident as I can be. I haven’t played a lot but I think you saw when I came on I had a few actions where I was mostly defending. "It’s always nice to show you can do that stuff first before doing stuff on the ball. Hopefully, I can show the fans what I have been doing before and more. So I’m looking forward to it.”
Romeo Lavia
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Romeo Lavia ‘grateful’ for Premier League chance #SAINTSFC

May 19, 2023
The 19 year old Belgian prodigy is among the favourites to win the Southern Daily Echo’s Player of the Season in what has been a disappointing year for the club. Lavia, who is now a full international, has been a standout performer despite relegation from the Premier League being confirmed with two games still to play. The former Anderlecht youngster joined from Manchester City last summer despite being well-liked by Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne in order to play men’s football for the first time. READ MORE: How Southampton FC's ideal starting XI should look in the Championship He faces an uncertain future with interest from the big six clubs in England, while Man City have a buy-back clause that only activates next summer – that is the club’s best chance of keeping him. Lavia, speaking to club media for the most recent matchday programme, said: “First of all, I’m really, really grateful that Southampton gave me the chance to have my first step in professional football. “Looking back, I’m really happy to have made this step here. I’ve enjoyed it so far. I’ve learned so much about the club, and honestly, I feel like part of a family. “I know most of the people around the building, and you just want to give back to them for everything they do for you during the week, and the whole year really, so that gives me the motivation to give my all for the rest of the season.” Lavia spoke to the Daily Echo in his first month at St Mary’s and gave good insight into the mentality that has taken him this far. “I don’t feel the pressure, if there is any pressure I think it is always positive as it means people expect something from you. It’s always a positive,” he told us. “It wasn’t a hard decision (to leave Manchester City for Saints), not really, because I felt ready to make the next step and to get experience in men’s football. I feel like it was the right moment. “I think just by training with the first-team at Man City, I was speaking to a lot of the first-team players and had a good connection with them. They were telling me that I was ready to play and it was up to me to move up.”