James Milner
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- James Milner hails Evan Ferguson and Brighton progress #BHAFC

September 5, 2023
But it is the Irish teen’s willingness to work in that respect which has impressed his senior team-mate as well as the goals. Ferguson fired in a hat-trick against Toon to secure a 3-1 win. There was as much focus on the defending he faced as there was on his finishing. Newcastle didn’t get close for the first two goals. They got a bit nearer for the third and it resulted in a deflection to wrongfoot Nick Pope. But Milner saw something else in that regard which impressed him as he watched from the substitutes’ bench. The former Liverpool man said: “It was pleasing to put in a performance like that, although there are still things to work on. “Evan set the tempo early on. He closed down and blocked a ball going forward. “That might seem a minor thing looking at the game overall, but it sets a tempo. “It shows his intent without the ball. And anyone who knows him so far in his young career, he is an unbelievable finisher. “He is a goalscorer. And when he is doing the ugly side of the game too and being the first line of defence, he was outstanding. “He is still so young but what a player for us and the ceiling is very high for him.” Ferguson snapped up a rebound for his first, then curled home from outside the box before seeing this third ricochet in of Fabian Schar. Milner said: “The first one – that was the sign of a goalscorer. “That natural movement in the box, sniffing it out the chances in the box, being on the move expecting a slip. “He scores all types of goals and it’s up to us to keep his feet on the ground and keep driving him and keep pushing him. “The manager is on him hard as well, because he knows how good he can be and wants him to improve. “He is a great lad with a great attitude and he can only get better. “For the second one, they almost offered him a chance to put it in the corner – and he did! “The more he scores like that, he might get closed down a bit quicker. “But it was a great and clam finish, and another finish of a goalscorer.” Around the interview area on Saturday evening, anyone from the Albion side who put himself forward for questions was being asked the same thing. Who does Ferguson remind you of? Who would you compare him to? Roberto De Zerbi saw some likenesses to Christin Vieri. Pascal Gross was not willing to offer a comparison. Milner has been around far too long to be tempted into mentioning any names as he spoke about an 18-year-old still some way short of the first anniversary of his first Prem goal. He said: “I don’t really want to compare him to anyone because as soon as I do that it puts pressure on him. “I want to make sure his head doesn’t get too big! “But he’s a top talent and has started his career fantastically well. “Hopefully he has a long one ahead doing the same thing. “When you compare him to other players, that puts more pressure on him than we need to at this moment. “He is at a fantastic place right now with great players around him, a great bunch of lads that will push and support him, and a manager that wants him to prove all aspects of his game.” Amid the exciting group of young players, De Zerbi has also assembled a lot of experience. And experience of good things. Success. Doing things the right way. Milner said: “When I was a young player (at Leeds United) it was the likes of David Batty and Dom Matteo that kept my feet on the ground. “Very old school, probably more than now although I still have a bit of that old school in me. “There are no tea cups being thrown around now. “But now it is our job to push Evan and advise him. “He will have ups and downs.” Ferguson has already had his hiccups. A costly missed penalty for Republic of Ireland under-21s, a couple of injuries. Those injuries were, thankfully, not as bad as they first looked although the second, sustained at Chelsea, denied him a Wembley outing in the FA Cup semi-final. He appears to have taken those setbacks in a mature way and come back strongly. The glimpses we see on social media of him trading mickey-takes with Lewis Dunk suggest someone who is confident and comfortable in his surroundings. Milner likes what he sees from the set-up in general. He said: “I am learning a great deal from the manager. “It’s great to be here, a great bunch of lads and the manager has such a passion for the game. “He pushes you every day and wants maximum effort and concentration and attention to detail. “That is massive and I am really enjoying it. I was excited to come here and you never stop learning, off players, the manager and coaching staff. “It is a lot different from what I did for a long time under Jurgen Klopp and I am enjoying it immensely. “It is exactly what I hoped for in this later stage of my career, to keep learning and improving and seeing different ways of playing.”
Jaidon Anthony
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony on assist for David Brooks against Swansea in League cup #AFCB

August 30, 2023
Anthony provided a fantastic assist for Brooks to equalise after Cherries trailed 1-0 in Wales thanks to Matt Grimes’ first-half penalty. The away side then took a lead through Hamed Traore, before the hosts again levelled scores via Jamie Patterson. In the end it was substitute Ryan Christie who had the last say, finding the bottom corner in the 90th minute to send Cherries through to the next round. Discussing his assist for Cherries’ first, Anthony insisted that Brooks deserved the credit for applying the finishing touch. He told the Daily Echo: “It was a good ball and to be fair it's not an easy finish either, on his weak foot. “I think he's had a really good pre-season and a start to the season in front of goal. “I'm happy he could put it away and help us to win.” Brooks’ goal came about after Cherries won the ball high up the pitch, with Anthony believing the strike to be representative of the way Andoni Iraola wants Cherries to play. “I think the manager wants us to be aggressive in every game,” explained the 23-year-old. “It's a perfect example of the high press and what that can do. “Win it back and then attacking pass, and we get the goal - happy days. “The most important thing was getting through to the next round. “The first half, we knew we weren't at the races and we knew we had to react in the second half. “I think obviously the second goal is probably a bit unfortunate, but I think we deserved what we got in the end.” The draw for the third round will be made on Wednesday evening, following the conclusion of second round ties. Teams will not be regionalised, meaning Cherries could be handed another lengthy trek. Sides competing in Europe enter at this stage of the competition, with third round ties being staged the week commencing Monday, September 25.
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.”
Andrew Surman
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Andrew Surman on replacing Jefferson Lerma at Bournemouth #AFCB

June 8, 2023
Surman, 36, left Cherries in the summer of 2020 following relegation from the Premier League, having made 226 appearances for the club across two spells, scoring 11 goals. He retired from professional football in 2021 and in January of this year returned to Cherries, taking up a role as under-18s assistant manager. Central midfielder Surman made 13 appearances alongside Lerma during the pair’s crossover at Cherries, under Eddie Howe. The Colombian, who is the club’s record £25million signing, is set to leave on a free transfer this summer as his five-year contract expires. 'Wherever I go, I will carry them in my heart' - Lerma's farewell to Cherries Asked if Cherries need to find a direct replacement for the 28-year-old, or if the likes of Joe Rothwell and Lewis Cook can plug the gap, Surman told BBC Radio Solent: “Obviously he got me out the team, so I can’t say too much! No, I’m only joking. “I think they need to replace him, 100 per cent. “I think Rothwell is a really, really good player and Lewis Cook is proven over the years. “But I don’t think you can underestimate the physicality of the Premier League. Losing a player like Jefferson Lerma, you have to replace the physicality side of that. “You look at someone like (Romeo) Lavia at Southampton, physicality, gets you up the pitch, puts tackles in, he’s all-action. “I think that’s what they’re going to need, especially strength in depth wise, because you’re relying on those two midfielders. “If one of those gets injured, then you’re looking at it going ‘who is going to step up and play in there?’ “I think they need to replace him with a physical asset. It’s a shame that he’s leaving, because I think he’s a really good player, Jeff.” Lerma leaves having made 184 appearances for Cherries, with Crystal Palace his reported next destination.
Julio Enciso
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton’s Julio Enciso makes peace with Miguel Almiron after fiesty encounter against Newcastle United #BHAFC

May 19, 2023
The opposing players sorted out their differences and hugged after full-time as the Seagulls went down 4-1 at Newcastle. Merseyside-based referee Robert Jones had earlier found himself in the middle of a Paraguayan disagreement at St James’s Park. Enciso clumsily fouled Almiron during the second half as Albion tried to force an equaliser. Almiron angrily pursued his opponent to make a point. But Enciso was having none of it and rather dismissively pushed Almiron in the chest. Argentina star Alexis Mac Allister looked to intervene and everything was eventually calmed down. Almiron stood out for Newcastle while Enciso also injected some spark for the visitors when he went on as sub. While a minor incident for English viewers, their disagreement made headlines back home. Enciso posted on social media: “Seeing everything that I’m being mentioned in, first off I want to say that the things that happen on the pitch stay on the pitch, I never want to fight with anyone and especially with Miguel. “Those that know me and the way I am know the respect I have for Miguel. “Still, I apologised, we apologised and now we’re fine. Miguel is an idol of mine, I adore him a lot and we both work hard to put our country at the top. “Today he won and I wish him the best. Thank you, brother for all the advice and the chat we had after the game, I learned a lot from you. “I know I didn’t leave a good image but I would never do anything bad. “I’m young and I’m learning everything every day.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil to speak to PGMOL after Jefferson Lerma broken nose #AFCB

May 15, 2023
During the first half of Cherries’ contest against Crystal Palace, with the game goalless, Eagles defender Joachim Andersen’s hand connected with the face of Lerma, the latter defending from a corner. The Colombian went to the floor and the game was stopped, but video assistant referee Andy Madley did not recommend to on-field official Michael Salisbury to review the footage, after checking for a potential red card for violent conduct. Webb, a former top-flight referee in England and in international competition, became chief refereeing officer of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) earlier this season. Asked for his take on the incident in the 2-0 defeat at Selhurst Park, Cherries’ head coach O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “Jefferson Lerma has broken his nose from it. “It looked like a fairly clear punch in the face to me, on the footage. “I spoke to the on-field ref and I understand them not spotting it. I think it’s from a corner, so there’s a lot of bodies and things moving fast. “The ref needs to be trying to look at everything, so it’s difficult for him to spot it. “But the fact that we got the usual check complete from VAR, as one that’s going against us, was a surprise. “It was a significant blow to Jeff’s face with a closed fist by the look of it. So I’m disappointed something wasn’t done.” Asked if he will speak to PGMOL about the decision, as he has done in recent weeks about various decisions, O’Neil said: “It’s an interesting one. I speak to Howard Webb most Sundays at the moment! “I’ll speak to him tomorrow, because I feel like this one is an important one. “Jeff’s obviously not happy about it. I’ll speak to him, as we have done even with the penalty decision last week (in defeat to Chelsea) on Dom (Solanke). “It didn’t go our way. It’s important we discuss it, because it’s a significant blow to the face and Jeff has injured and broken his nose from it.” Meanwhile, Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson played down the incident. Asked if he was concerned Andersen may be in trouble at the time, Hodgson told the Daily Echo: “I don’t know, I haven’t seen it. “The penalty box is 65 to 70 yards away from me. My eyesight is not bad, but it’s not an eagle eyesight. “All I know is I was watching the corner kick and trying to assess our organisation and suddenly the game was stopped and there’s a player on the ground. “I have no idea what happened or how he landed on the ground, but I have to trust the referee, who at the time did not see any reason to give a free-kick. “And that was backed up by VAR, so that’s perfectly good enough for me.”
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- James Ward-Prowse accepts responsibility but points to Southampton mistake at start of season #SAINTSFC

May 11, 2023
The 28 year old cut a frustrated figure as he chatted through Monday’s 4-3 defeat at a sodden City Ground, Nottingham Forest. Ward-Prowse converted an added-time penalty after having set up Lyanco with a corner-kick delivery at the start of the second half but Saints could not salvage a result. The defeat leaves them eight points adrift of safety with only nine more to play for – relegation could be confirmed as early as this weekend. READ MORE: Orsic nearing exit to bring to end puzzling Southampton transfer saga Ward-Prowse, who admitted he does not know where his future lies next season as he told the Daily Echo his focus is on the remaining games, assessed how the club have reached rock bottom. Obviously, a disappointed captain as James Ward-Prowse insists his focus is on "giving my all for the club – which I always have done".But he says "what happens beyond, who knows? I don’t know." A side note sadly but very good performance from him at City Ground. #SaintsFC — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 9, 2023 “Ultimately it is players on the pitch that reflect where the club is,” he said. “But we all know the changes that happened at the start of the season have had an impact. “They have had an impact going into the season in terms of where we are as a group with the players we lost and the players we brought in.” Saints doubled down on their policy of signing talented young players to replace experienced leavers such as Fraser Forster, Oriol Romeu and Nathan Redmond. The St Mary’s side have been beaten by one goal in all but one of their meetings versus relegation rivals in 2023, just not exhibiting enough to get over the line in key moments. They have also suffered definitive physical breakdowns in young players such as Romeo Lavia, Armel  Bella-Kotchap, Juan Larios and Tino Livramento over the last 13 months. “Of course, the young players we have brought in are going to have fantastic futures and we are all hoping that they will do,” Ward-Prowse added. “But equally the players that we lost and the experience that we lost in the dressing room, and not just on the pitch, did take an effect and has led us to where we are now. “We gave away two sloppy goals, pulled a goal back and to concede four goals says a lot about where we are as a team. “We know the situation we find ourselves in. It is not over until it is over. I don’t think it is any different to the previous weeks. “We know we have to take maximum points now and hope results go the right way. That is our focus going forwards now.” Ward-Prowse also addressed some interesting full-time scenes at City Ground after the defeat, which saw Saints players standing rooted to the spot staring blankly back at their supporters. Many of the travelling contingent applauded their players while others made their feelings known with a season in the Championship next campaign almost a guarantee. “There was a lot of frustration. As players you feel the responsibility of why the club is where it is,” Ward-Prowse explained. “Decisions can be made off the pitch about personnel or managers but ultimately it is you as players going out to deliver on the pitch in those fine moments. “We all know the fine margins of the Premier League. Right from day one of pre-season we have not done that as a club. Not just the players, but as a club and that is why we are where we are.”
Theo Walcott
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton attacker Theo Walcott says players must take responsibility as relegation is just about confirmed #SAINTSFC

April 18, 2023
Despite a decent opening half an hour, Saints folded after the break as Eberechi Eze struck twice in the second half to condemn Ruben Selles’s side to their third-straight defeat. The result leaves Saints bottom of the Premier League table but the gap to safety remains at four points though following Everton’s 3-1 defeat to Fulham. READ MORE: Three young players Saints should build around next season And as Saints move closer and closer to the Championship for the first time since 2012, Walcott has pleaded for the squad to remain positive and ignore outside noise while taking responsibility for their own personal performances. “Of course, it’s disappointing,” the 34-year-old said on Saturday afternoon. “I had a really good chance and should have done a lot better so I take responsibility for that.  “But you need to get the first goal in the Premier League otherwise it’s an uphill battle. We’re a team who don’t score many goals anyway. I think we actually were playing pretty good football in the first half, we just needed that goal.  “Then when they scored I think it took the stuffing out of us a little bit, especially the way we started the second half, a bit disappointing from all of us. We never really recovered from it for whatever reason.  “But essentially we need to try and stay as positive as we can. It’s a really difficult situation obviously, there’s rumbles going on in the background as well which is frustration and I get it. "As players we understand the frustration, we see it, but we need to stay positive and not start pointing fingers cause that won’t get us anywhere.” The full-time whistle on Saturday was met with boos by those who stayed at St Mary’s for the conclusion of another disappointing afternoon while there were smatterings of chants including ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ during the team’s meek surrender. Asked further by the Daily Echo about the ‘rumblings’ he mentioned, Walcott responded: “It just is what it is. When you’re at the bottom of the table there’s going to be a lot of disappointment, a lot of frustration, a lot of anger. Which is fine, I get it, we understand. “We don’t go in wanting to lose games, we want to win. We want to do it for our fans, for each other, for our families and it’s not working at the moment. Theo Walcott reacts after missing a chance to make it 1-0 against Crystal Palace. (Image: Richard Crease) “We will all stick together as a group and that’s all we can do. We can’t let the outside world affect us. "We have to stay in our bubble essentially and look after each other. Don’t start pointing fingers, that will get us nowhere, there would be little cliques and we would just hit a wall. And we don’t want that. "Because we still have points to play for. I want to stay really positive in a difficult situation. Because if you stay negative then it’s just a downward spiral.” Saints now have seven games to save their Premier League status and with fixtures still to play against Arsenal, Newcastle United, Brighton, and Liverpool - the first three of those away from home - it will be a mammoth challenge to get out of the hole they find themselves in. “There will be a big group of us that will try to build morale,” Walcott said of what comes next as Saints attempt to regroup from a damaging defeat.  “The manager is the main part of that, of course. The older guys and experienced players will try and do their best in a difficult time. But you have to take a little bit of responsibility for yourself as players and build yourself up. It’s not just down to the older players and the manager.  “You need to be able to work and we can’t be holding each other’s hands all the time. We’re there to help but you have to help yourself as well.  “Essentially we’re at that stage now and players will realise that and if they haven’t realised it already, then we’re finished. It’s a very interesting journey we’ve been on this season, there’s been a lot of change, a lot of disruption, a lot of discomfort for people.”