Adam Smith Bournemouth
Posted inDaily News

Adam Smith reveals AFC Bournemouth ‘totally different’ under Andoni Iraola #AFCB

December 19, 2023
The club made a bold move in the summer to replace Gary O’Neil with the sought-after Iraola, when his contract expired at Rayo Vallecano. Iraola, a former Spain international, spent most of his playing career in Bilbao with Athletic Club, where he made over 500 appearances. Smith recently passed the 350-game milestone at Cherries, with Iraola the seventh different boss he has played under at Dean Court. During his loan spell in 2010-11, the Tottenham Hotspur youngster played for Eddie Howe and then Lee Bradbury. Smith then signed from Spurs permanently in 2014, again under Howe, before going on to feature regularly for Jason Tindall, Jonathan Woodgate, Scott Parker and O’Neil. The 32-year-old has recently enjoyed a run back in the starting XI under Iraola, impressing at right-back having played second fiddle to new signing Max Aarons for much of the campaign. Asked how different things have been on a day-to-day basis since Iraola’s arrival, Cherries’ first ever overseas boss, Smith told the Daily Echo: “Yes, it probably is (completely different). “We are in most days, so there are less days off. Training is still intense but not as hard, but we train mostly every day. “Everything is totally different, so I think that is why I think it took us a bit of time to adapt.” Asked what his initial reaction was when he heard Iraola was being hired to replace O’Neil over the summer, Smith recalled: “It was just a big shock, to be honest, as I’m sure it was for everyone else. “But I read up on him. He played under (Marcelo) Bielsa and it looks like he had a great career as well. “I was definitely excited for him to come in and to work with him.” Iraola spent most of his playing career featuring at right-back, the same position as Smith, before retiring in 2016. “It is good that he has a better understanding of what me and Maxy go through, him playing as a full-back,” said Smith. “He can definitely help us with certain aspects of the game.” Smith has now featured in eight Premier League seasons, having debuted in the competition for Spurs in 2012. In Cherries’ first top-flight campaigns, Smith nailed down his starting spot, rarely missing a fixture, unless injured on suspended. Last season the defender played in 37 of Cherries’ 38 Premier League matches, with his tally in the competition now approaching 200. Discussing the differences he has noticed over the years, Smith said: “Back in the day, you felt like the top five teams had wingers who were dangerous, but now it is every team in the whole league. “The left winger is probably always their best player, if I’m honest! “For me and Maxy it is really tough, with some of the wingers we come up against. “It’s what the Premier League is now, with scouting all over the world, they are bringing the best players here. It is going to be tough every game.” Smith will hope to keep his place when Cherries go to Nottingham Forest on Saturday (3pm).
Tom Lockyer
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Luton defender Tom Lockyer happy to get 90 minutes after a ‘weird’ pre-season #LUTONTOWNFC

July 29, 2023
Luton defender Tom Lockyer was overjoyed to get a first 90 minutes under his belt since the play-off semi-final second leg win over Sunderland back in May after what he described as a ‘weird’ pre-season.The 28-year-old started training later than the rest of his team-mates after undergoing extensive medical checks following his on-field collapse inside the opening 10 minutes of the play-off final at Wembley, which eventually required an operation to correct an atrial fibrillation in June.Following his new contract, Lockyer was back at the Brache with Town’s squad, but was held back to begin with when the physical activities started to ensure he had made a full recovery.He didn’t play as Town beat Peterborough United 3-1 in a behind-closed-doors at St George’s Park, before heading out to Slovenia for a warm weather training camp.Lockyer then played an hour in the 1-1 draw against Ipswich on Tuesday night, going on to start at Hillsborough for the Hatters’ second match, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Carlton Morris on target in the victory.The Welsh international lasted the entire match, along with James Shea, Alfie Doughty and Mads Andersen, as speaking to the club’s official website on how he found it and the training so far, he said: “Tough, really tough, it's been a different pre-season for myself.“It's been a weird one if I'm being honest, I’ve always been told I’m a couple of weeks behind, but it doesn’t sit right with me.Tom Lockyer applauds the Hatters after a 2-1 pre-season friendly win at Sheffield Wednesday - pic: Ashley Allen/Getty Images“I want to be up with the lads, so to finally get 90 is a good feeling and I know it's in the locker now."When the lads start running in the off season ready for the pre-season, obviously I wasn't allowed to do too much."I was only allowed to do a couple of 5ks just to see where I was at and obviously when the lads are doing their own stuff, they’re sprinting box to boxes and very S&C (strength and conditioning) specific, which I wasn't able to do, which meant when I came in, they were very conscious of me not breaking down as that would set me back further.“So it’s been a different pre-season, but hopefully now with 90 in the tank I can look forward.”With Town heading to Wolves on Wednesday and then travelling to Germany to take on Vfl Bochum in two matches next weekend, on what he expects to do before the Premier League season starts in full at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, August 12, Lockyer continued: “Who knows? It's the S&C who run everything with their numbers and data, whatever I'm asked to play, I’ll play."Obviously I’ll always be pushing for more, but the main thing is to try and be as fit as possible going into that first game.”On the prospect of facing the Seagulls in what will be Town’s first top flight encounter for over 30 years, Lockyer added: “You don't really want to look too far ahead, you can get carried away with the season that is coming up."We have to focus on getting our principles right on the pitch, doing everything we can in training for the first game, so we’re well drilled for that first game."You want to win the pre-season friendlies, but there’s a deeper meaning for us at the minute."Shape, how we want to play, how we want to move the ball, getting to know new players who’ve come in and them getting used to our style of play."So you’ve got to see preseason for what it is, but I’m delighted to get 90 minutes under my belt and I know a few of the lads have as well.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Mark Travers wants more game-time after losing AFC Bournemouth spot #AFCB

June 10, 2023
Goalkeeper Travers enjoyed a memorable 2021-22 campaign, winning a host of individual awards, including the Daily Echo/Micky Cave player of the year, after playing a key role in the club clinching promotion from the Championship. That form saw him rewarded with a new five-year contract last summer, and he began 2022-23 as the club’s first-choice stopper. However, after keeping a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on the opening day, Travers was powerless to prevent Cherries shipping 16 goals across the next three fixtures, including the 9-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. Scott Parker then left the club, with one of the first acts of Gary O’Neil as interim boss being to drop Travers to the bench and install the experienced Neto between the sticks. The Brazilian started eight games on the spin, before Travers got another chance due to an injury to Neto. However, when he returned to fitness, Neto took the gloves again, before going on to be named as the new club captain, with Travers not featuring between January and the final game of the season at Everton. Republic of Ireland international Travers impressed at Goodison Park, stepping in at late notice after Neto returned to Brazil following a family bereavement. Reflecting on his season on a personal level, having made 15 appearances, the 24-year-old told the Daily Echo: “It’s very tough. You want to be playing every week. “Getting that buzz again (at Everton) was great and you want to replicate that every week. “But it’s been a massive learning curve, I suppose. A difficult time, the first time sitting on the bench. “I’ve been third choice, played last year and then second choice this year. “It’s been tough coming in and out, but hopefully I can build on it and go again next year.” Asked if there is a decision to be made over the summer regarding his future, and whether he may need to go elsewhere for more game-time, Travers said: “I don’t know, it’s obviously up to the club. “But I know I want to play every week and at my age, I don’t want to be not playing. “It’s up to them. We’ll see what happens in pre-season and whatever happens, happens. “But I’ll come back to Bournemouth fighting, giving 100 per cent and then whatever the decision is, it is.” Asked last month if there was an argument Travers could do with a loan move next season, boss Gary O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “We haven’t gone into that yet. There’s a lot of thinking and decisions that will need to be made around a lot of players. “No decisions made yet on ins and outs and loans and who needs what. “As soon as the season is done, we can start to put some real clear focus into the detail of what’s best for everybody and, firstly, the football club.”
Kyle Walker Peters
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Walker-Peters shows confidence in Russell Martin to help Southampton get out of Championship #SaintsFC

June 4, 2023
Walker-Peters himself faces an uncertain future at St Mary’s following relegation from the Premier League with a number of top-flight clubs looking at him. The 26 year old will likely depart after three and a half years on the south coast, during which he earned two England caps back in March last year. Saints are looking to appoint Swansea City boss Russell Martin to replace the outgoing Ruben Selles and remain confident of doing so despite a compensation-related delay. READ MORE: Sport Republic detail Saints plan to win Championship with key incomings explained Walker-Peters spoke exclusively with the Daily Echo ahead of the final game of the season and was asked what a new man in the hot seat will have to do to help the club bounce back from relegation. “I think it will be important for him to really have an identity,” he said. “How you're playing to chop and change every week with a young squad is quite hard. “They're already young and learning how tough it is to play in the Premier League, to play in the Championship next season. And if you're changing style every week, it's even harder. “So I think, yeah, whoever the new manager is will need to ensure that he has an identity and tries to build some consistency from it.” He added: “I think there's going to be a lot of changes within the club, so I'm not really sure what the vision is as a player but I can assume their main focus will be to get back into the Premier League. “I try not to read into any rumours. I try to stay away from that and what’s going on over on Twitter, and I think the club will inform us when they're ready.” Martin has been managing in the Championship over the past two seasons and Walker-Peters admits he does know a few fellow players who have worked under him. “I believe he's a coach that likes to have the ball,” Walker-Peters continued. “He's really focused on possession and he's used to the Championship, so I'm sure he'll be able to help the squad if he does end up coming here. “Other than that, I don't know too much about him. I know he was recently a player so he'll know how a lot of the players in the team are feeling. And I think if that's who the club wants to take the job, I'm sure he'll be the right man.” Like teammate and club captain James Ward-Prowse, who was open about how much he enjoyed working for the Spaniard, Walker-Peters sympathises with the departing Selles. Although he was just returning from injury in Selles’s first two matches as boss, Walker-Peters played every minute bar one of the final 14 games of the season. “I think Ruben was put into a position which was really tough, but he took the job and he's given us absolutely everything to try and help us stay up,” Walker-Peters said.   “It will be really sad to see him go. I think I've said in a few meetings before, from the first session he took with me, I knew how good a coach he was. “I knew how determined he was to succeed at Southampton. Really disappointed for him. I'm disappointed that I won't be working with him next season.” Walker-Peters probably does not know who he will be working with at all next season – it is difficult to guess where he might end up beyond St Mary’s. The versatile full-back can play in most managers’ systems and would improve most squads either as a starter or backup. Although he cannot disclose anything more, he is honest about his ambitions. “It's tough for me to say right now but I'd be lying if I didn't say I want to be playing in the Premier League,” Walker-Peters admitted.   “I want to get an opportunity to represent my country again. That's a really big goal of mine, so yeah, those are my personal goals – but the most important thing is giving fans something to cheer about (in their final game vs Liverpool, which finished 4-4)."
Adam Armstrong
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton midfielder Adam Armstrong defends Ruben Selles on two key questions #SAINTSFC

May 3, 2023
The Scottish international defended manager Ruben Selles, though, even refusing to answer a question on instances of on-pitch frustration between players and the manager. Selles was an animated figure on the touchline during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United and his nervous energy transcended onto the pitch. There were a number of visible instances where players would turn to listen to the Spaniard’s screeched instructions before gesturing as if to say ‘we know’ or even ‘calm down’. READ MORE: On-loan Smallbone targeting a 'dream' return to Southampton squad  However, when Armstrong – who scored the opener from Kamaldeen Sulemana’s assist for his second Premier League goal of the campaign – was asked about them, he could not find words. “I don’t think it’s fair to say that,” he responded, after pondering quietly for a few moments. “It’s tough. “A few years ago that was a statistic that we did very well in the first 45 to 60 minutes but in that last third we couldn’t quite hang onto it and gave points away so there’s definitely a case of that today.” “It’s a tough job for Ruben to come into, it’s been an unusual season with a lot of change in the club,” Armstrong added. “But bringing it back to the weekend, the first 45 minutes were very good and we tried to hang on but Newcastle are a quality side chasing Champions League football and we didn’t quite have enough at a very important time of the season.” Armstrong was one of a trio of players to come off for substitutes after around 70 minutes with Saints still level at 1-1 in the match. The Scot, Kamaldeen and Lyanco were replaced by Adam Armstrong, Moi Elyounoussi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. No Armstrong touches from open play, one Maitland-Niles error leading to a goal and 10 minutes later and Saints found themselves two goals down and heading for a fourth defeat against the Magpies this season. Armstrong defends the changes, though, saying: “The team needed fresh energy of course and that dynamism to get forward once we do get possession. “We had a couple of instances but not enough. Throughout the game, the team, including myself, could have been better with the ball and controlled it more. If you have possession, they can’t score.” There is typically no shame in a defeat to Newcastle, who have gone from relegation candidates to nine points clear in the top four in two seasons under manager Eddie Howe. However, Saints have not afforded themselves the luxury of only beating the teams around them – now there are only four games left of the Premier League season and they sit six points adrift. “It’s a very difficult result, I thought we were very good in the first half but they have a lot of quality and had a few chances,” Armstrong reflected, on the game itself. “When you’ve got something to hold onto you get deeper and the pressure builds. We need to have more resolve in those situations, a tough result to take and a tough situation. “You need to find solutions and we didn’t, the more they have possession in your half the pressure naturally builds. It’s a very tough afternoon.”