Roberto De Zerbi
Posted inDaily News

Roberto De Zerbi prepares Brighton to face Marseille after heavy Aston Villa defeat #BHAFC

October 2, 2023
Roberto De Zerbi is lifting his squad following a 6-1 defeat and ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash at Marseille. Albion have time to prepare before flying to the south of France on Wednesday. But there is plenty to do after they were torn apart by, principally, an Ollie Watkins treble. Head coach De Zerbi expects to see “the true Brighton” in France and said of the Villa game: “It may be one of the most important days of our lives and our time in Brighton because the level is changing. “We wanted to reach this level and now we can play, we can compete for the history of our club, for the history of ourself. “We are playing for different things than our football. “If everyone thinks like this, you can find the mental energy to play.” De Zerbi took off Danny Welbeck, Evan Ferguson and Pervis Estupinan at half-time but not with thoughts on Marseille. He said: “In my head, there was only Aston Villa. I wanted to change something in that part of the pitch because I thought to change the game.”
Vincent Kompany
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories – Burnley boss Vincent Kompany on upcoming Manchester United test #BurnleyFC

September 22, 2023
United lost 4-3 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night to continue an early-season slump which has already seen them lose three of their opening five Premier League fixtures. With off-field issues also mounting for Ten Hag, the pressure will be on United to deliver a result at Turf Moor, but Kompany is interested only in his own players. “I only try and assess (United) in a way that I need to do for my team, their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “I’ve been in a big club before and I know what it is when you lose a couple of games. Pressure can mount but it’s not for me to talk about them. I focus on the pitch… “We’re not busy with what is happening at the other team, that doesn’t concern us. I have to myself manage the results of our team and the performances. “I think we’re a calm camp, we’re at a place where we feel there is something really exciting ahead of us and we want to build on that moment. Everything that happens elsewhere is not our concern.” Kompany is looking to build on the positive signs shown in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, Burnley’s first point of the season and one that could have been all three but for a contentious VAR decision that ruled out Lyle Foster’s late strike for a handball by Sander Berge. After three consecutive home defeats to Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham, the draw was a welcome step forward. “We’ve had three games against three of the top eight sides in the league and the gap has always been there,” Kompany said. “Against Forest we felt we were on an even playing field. Now it’s up to us to close the gap to the teams at the top. “I’m really looking forward to this game to see if we’ve made those steps forward. I really believe in the attacking threat in our team in terms of being able to create something and I hope that shows on Saturday.” Although Burnley’s first season back in the top flight began with three straight home games – a situation caused by the postponement of their trip to Luton in August – they were thrown in at the deep end, with the reigning champions first to visit before Villa and Spurs. Even given United’s troubles, Saturday’s 8pm kick-off appears no easier, and Kompany knows his side need to deliver more consistency over the course of a full match. “I really want (Turf Moor) to become a difficult place for any team to come,” he said. “At this moment in time when we have played against teams of the calibre of United it’s fair to say we haven’t been able to put in a 100-minute performance. “We’ve always had a threat, good spells, but we’ve got punished in spells when we weren’t at our best. “For us it’s looking at this game and saying, ‘Can we step it up and get a result against one of the best teams in the league?’. Burnley will need to do that without Foster, who has scored two of their four Premier League goals so far this season. The South African saw red late on at the City Ground on Monday and starts a three-game suspension. “We’ve built a decent squad and there’s a few players I’d like to see anyway,” Kompany said. “It’s for someone else now to step into those shoes, give it their own flavour and hopefully it pays off on the day.”
Vincent Kompany
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Burnley boss Kompany on Man City game, Ramsey and Berge #BURNLEYFC

August 12, 2023
The deal for the 20-year-old from Aston Villa is expected to be completed imminently and Kompany is excited by his potential, having seen him during loan spells last season at Norwich and Middlesbrough. “The latest I’ve heard is that we’re close,” said the Clarets boss. “He’s not our player yet but I hope he will be soon. “Those who have followed the Championship and know a bit about the up-and-coming talents in English football (know his potential). He will be an England international for me, it’s just a matter of time.” Ramsey would make it 11 summer signings for Kompany as he prepares for his first campaign as a Premier League manager. Norway midfielder Sander Berge was the latest to arrive on Wednesday after moving from fellow newly-promoted side Sheffield United. “Sander Berge is a player with Premier League experience, which is important for us,” said Kompany. “We don’t have a lot at the moment. “He’s a player with size, technically good, able to receive the ball either in the first phase or in between the lines a little bit higher up. And a player who we hope we can bring to his full potential.” Burnley fans will have to wait longer to see if last season’s loan stars Ian Maatsen and Nathan Tella will be returning to Turf Moor, with Kompany saying: “I have to respect that the decision is not ours even if they’re very good players that we like.” He will not be pursuing a deal, though, for former Everton winger Andros Townsend, who has been training with the club following his release by the Toffees. “He’s been brilliant, he’s been fit, working hard, but, in terms of what we already had in the building and the players we also wanted to bring in, it didn’t make sense for us to complete,” added Kompany. “My advice to any manager that’s still looking for a winger is to approach him.” The fixture computer threw up an immediate reunion for Kompany with his old team Manchester City, who will make the short trip to Turf Moor on Friday. If there is a good time to play the three-time defending champions, this could potentially be it given Burnley were in pre-season before City completed their treble by winning the Champions League. “I’m sure after winning the treble he’s all right starting the season slightly behind,” said Kompany with a smile. “It’s probably the best challenge you could ever ask for. I want the team to embrace this game and hopefully the fans can do the same.” Kompany remains close to many people at City, including Pep Guardiola, and he said: “There’s been an awkward month where there was just congratulations flying back and forth between a lot of people. “They are people that I’ve worked with and lived with for many years in my life. The contact will always be there. “Now for a minute we have to put everything behind us and just go toe to toe, and we’ll try and do the best we can.”
David Moyes
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Praises reciprocated between AFC Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and West Ham United manager David Moyes #WHUFC #AFCB

August 12, 2023
The Hammers visit Vitality Stadium tomorrow afternoon (3pm) as the first competitive opponents Iraola will face as Cherries boss. It is not the first time Iraola has crossed paths with the Scot, having played against Moyes on one occasion whilst playing for Athletic Club in La Liga. Moyes managed Athletic’s fierce rivals Real Sociedad for a year, all three Basque derbies ending in ties. Speaking about the man in the opposing dugout this weekend, Iraola stated: “David (Moyes) is a very, very good coach. “He has been really successful. “Past season, they won a European championship. “He also coached in Spain, so I knew him before. “But overall they are a really solid team. “They have quite a lot of options. "They can go more direct, they have very good wingers, they are really good in set pieces. “I think we have to be really focused not to make mistakes because they are the kind of team that if you make one mistake, they score the first goal and then it's very difficult to play against their result.” Praise was reciprocated by Moyes in his own pre-match press conference. The West Ham boss shared: "Bournemouth have always done well and they have a new approach this season under Andoni Iraola. "I think it's always a hard game at Bournemouth, but we had a good win there last year and we hope we can get another one tomorrow." "I made the transition to Spain and it's not easy going to manage in La Liga, just as it won't be easy for him coming to the Premier League, but he must have done something for Bournemouth to appoint him and I'm sure he has the characteristics to adapt. "Andoni is from the Basque Country, where there are really good people, and I'm sure he is one of them."  
Rob Edwards
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Luton chief anticipates his Hatters side will have a ‘different look’ for Seagulls opener #LUTONTOWNFC

July 28, 2023
Hatters boss Rob Edwards anticipates his Luton side that makes their Premier League debut against Brighton & Hove Albion in under a month’s time will look ‘very different’ to the one that earned a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at Colchester United on Tuesday night.With a number of first team players missing, including summer signings Marvelous Nakamba and Issa Kabore, plus Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Amari’i Bell, Reece Burke and Gabe Osho all sitting the match out, the Town chief included a number of young pros on the bench for their match against the Championship new boys.They still managed to earn a 1-1 draw courtesy of striker Carlton Morris’s second half penalty, as summing up the performance on the club’s official website, Edwards said: “The no injuries bit is important, it was a really difficult game and that is why we wanted to play them, because they are a good team and will cause a lot of problems this year in the Championship.Chiedozie Ogbene won Luton a penalty during their 1-1 draw against Ipswich“That’s why we wanted that style of game because that's what we're going to come up against probably times 10 going forward."We are starting to push one or two, a few people got 90 minutes and we started to push the minutes up.“Some of the new players are getting a feel of what we are about more, which is good, so there were positives there."There’s lots to work on, I have to stress that straight away, lots to do."I’ve just said to the lads, it’s not to sound negative, but that is a very different look team to what I anticipate us being in a couple of weeks time.“The group will remain very similar, but there's going to be some changes.“We’ve got some work to do, I’ve got some work to do on the grass.“We have to be a bit better with our decision making."I thought in the first half, in terms of how we went about it out of possession we could have been better, which is down to me.“So bits to work on, but there were plenty of positives.”Edwards was pleased to see his summer additions in action in front of fans for the first time, as Mads Andersen, Tahith Chong and Chiedozie Ogbene all earned some valuable game time.It was Ogbene who won the penalty for Morris to find the net after a surge into the box was ended by a foul, with Edwards adding: “It was a little bit different for Mads, I wanted to have a look at him on the outside of that back three without having Gabe and Burkey, or Amari’i as well."It was important for him to experience that and I thought he also did well when he went back into the middle when Locks came off.“Chongy, the supporters can see very, very busy, very intelligent, wants to try and get on the ball, wants to try and make things happen."He’s very good in transition, he’s got athleticism, we saw that from the counter attack when he ran the length of the pitch and created a good chance."I thought Chieo when he moved upfront was beginning to look a real threat, starting to get in behind, gave us a little bit of a different dimension, he won us the penalty, so an important moment."It’s really good for them to get out there in front of fans with our lads, so that was a big plus for us, but lots more learning to do.”With Sheffield Wednesday now coming up in another friendly on Saturday, Edwards added: “There’s a number of players back at the Brache who have been working hard, not quite ready for minutes, but hopefully we’ll see Amari’i, hopefully we’ll see Issa, hopefully we can see Marv, which is great."One or two have got some knocks, Gabe, Burkey and Pelly, so we’ll see how they are going into the weekend.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi takes pressure off Brighton at Arsenal #BHAFC

May 13, 2023
The Seagulls have already achieved the club's previously stated targetd of a top-ten finish. But De Zerbi has set the bar higher and aimed for European competition. Ahead of Sunday's game at Arsenal, the head coach said: “We don’t feel the pressure because we fixed our target higher than normal situations. “Before I started to work here, the target was tenth place and after two months I fixed the target in Champions League, Europa League and I am not afraid if we don’t achieve our target. “You lose when you don’t fight, when you don’t compete, when you don’t try and you don’t fix the target higher. “If we don’t achieve our target, we will lose nothing in my head. “If I don’t achieve my target, you will say: ‘Roberto, you lose your target’. But I have a different vision, I have different opinion about this." “To play five games in 15 days will be impossible, I think. But impossible was to achieve Europa League three or four months ago.”
Jan Bednarek
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jan Bednarek admits losing a lot of games that Southampton could have won #SAINTSFC

May 8, 2023
Saints enter the weekend six points adrift of safety with just four games remaining in their Premier League season, making them firm favourites for the drop.  Yet, despite the disastrous nature of their campaign, they could end the round of bank holiday fixtures just three points away from a survival spot. READ MORE: Saints predicted XI for Nottingham Forest trip as time ticks on Premier League status Granted, results would have to fall their way and they would have to beat Nottingham Forest and that is no certainty considering Ruben Selles’s men have failed to emerge victorious in any of their last nine league matches. But speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Saints defender Bednarek insisted that they have a chance of getting back into the survival fight as long as they put in a ‘perfect’ performance at the City Ground. “In my life, I’m used to noisy stadiums. I played in Poland in derby games, that’s really noisy,” Bednarek said of the atmosphere that will greet his team.  “So yeah, there will be pressure but we have pressure every day. For us, it should be a normal game, we can only win three points and we have to focus on the task.  “We have to focus on the things we have to do on the pitch, what the manager asks us to do, and that’s the most important thing: not to focus on what surrounds us, what sort of game it is, we just need to go and enjoy it.  “The game is 90 minutes, you can’t start the game in the 10th minute and you can’t finish the game in the 70th minute. The most important thing for us is to go there and from the first minute to be consistent, to be dangerous, to keep the ball well. I think we need to have a perfect game to win it and I think we can do it.” Saints have struggled desperately for consistency this season, both in individual games and across the campaign as a whole. They are yet to win back-to-back Premier League matches while last weekend’s Jekyll and Hyde performance at St James’ Park yet again showcased how good they can be in individual moments before crumbling. Honest in his verdict of Saints’ disastrous season, Bednarek admitted that they just haven’t been good enough - even if the margins are incredibly tight at times. “We’re in a tough situation,” the 27 year old added. “I think a lot of things were against us, a lot of games we should have won we lost. It’s tough, it’s a really difficult situation for the club, for each player, because we all care and all we want to do is win.  “But I think we’re just not good enough and not consistent enough in the games. I think - like against Newcastle or Arsenal - that we can perform at the highest level for the majority of the game but there is a little bit missing and that is the decider.  “In the Premier League, the quality of the opposition, the intensity of the game is so demanding, so we are missing those things. But also I think we are learning. We have a really young group and it’s not easy.  “I think from the outside, some people don’t realise how demanding and how tough the Premier League is. And for the younger players who came here in the beginning of the season or the winter, now they understand how demanding and how tough this league is.” READ MORE: Saints squad exodus could be blessing in disguise - Sport Republic must make that true Bednarek has been something of a revelation since returning to St Mary’s from his failed Aston Villa loan in January.  The Polish international has now started each of his side’s last 14 Premier League matches and while he would no doubt be a valuable asset to keep regardless of Saints’ fate this season, Bednarek refused to be drawn into a discussion about his personal future. “It’s still four more games to go and I’m not thinking about it. It would be really unprofessional and disrespectful to the teammates, to the staff, to the club.  “We have four more chances and it’s not done yet. We are aware of the situation, I’m aware of the situation but the most important thing is to win the next game.  “I have my agents who take care of my future, they will see what the situation is like but for me, this is the club that gave me a lot. I learned here, I grew up as a player, so I just try to give my best on the pitch, I try to learn and listen, and give my best for the club.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believed Chelsea as favorites to beat Bournemouth #AFCB

May 6, 2023
Cherries currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, level with Frank Lampard’s Blues on 39 points. That gap has been closed after a stellar month from O’Neil’s men in April, where they recorded five wins from seven matches. Meanwhile, Chelsea have collected just one point from their past six league matches over the past month, losing each of the last four. Put to him that some could be expecting Cherries to win the contest, despite the London club splashing out more than £500million across the past two transfer windows, O’Neil said: “We’re definitely not favourites for tomorrow, absolutely no chance. “Chelsea are a very good side with fantastic players. It hasn’t clicked yet. “If it clicks tomorrow, it’s a tough afternoon for the lads and we need to be at 100 per cent, as we have been for the last few to give Chelsea a real good game. “I think it would be silly of us or anyone to think that we’re a better side than Chelsea going into this football match. “They’re still very, very dangerous and have fantastic players all over the pitch, World Cup winners, Thiago Silva, an absolute superstar, fantastic centre-back. “They have a good side and when it starts to click for them, I’m sure they will be very, very dangerous.” Asked what he would have thought if he was told when he took over Cherries back in August that they would have the chance to leapfrog Chelsea this weekend, O’Neil said: “Of course, I wouldn’t have believed them. “Not because of where we are, really, but because of where Chelsea are. I think everybody in the country is surprised that is hasn’t really happened for Chelsea with the high levels that they set themselves. “It’s been a disappointing season so far for them. I still think, especially the players, will be coming here with an eye on next season and making sure they finish this season strongly. “They’re a dangerous team with fantastic players. “I’ve watched a lot of their recent games and they’ve not managed to win one recently, but, obviously, they still have some world-class players that could cause you problems.”
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi wanted Brighton fans to be 12th man against Wolves #BHAFC

April 29, 2023
The Seagulls take on Wolves tomorrow in their first home game for four weeks. De Zerbi said he was proud of his side in defeat as they lost at Nottingham Forest in midweek, three days after penalty trauma at Wembley. He added: “We are looking forward to play in our stadium to receive the fans’ support. READ MORE: DE ZERBI RESPONDS TO JOAO PEDRO REPORTS “The players need the passion of our fans and I would like to play with 12 players tomorrow, eleven on the pitch and one in the stand.” Albion have played their last four Premier League games away, in which they lost twice. After the FA Cup and Nottingham loss, they look to redeem themselves in order to tackle the last spell of the season. De Zerbi said: “We should have forgotten the Wembley match but I think we took the disappointment to Nottingham. “We will improve by playing this level of games more often. I´m not talking about quality of players, I´m talking about mentality.” “I loved my players more in Nottingham and more in Wembley than at Stamford Bridge (where Albion beat Chelsea). “Our fans should be proud of Nottingham – we gave everything.”
chris mepham Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Chris Mepham thinks win over Leeds could get Bournemouth over the line #AFCB

April 29, 2023
A Marcus Tavernier goal earned Cherries a 1-0 victory at Southampton on Thursday night, a result which moved Gary O’Neil’s men seven points clear of the relegation zone with just five games to play. Many pundits believe the 36 points Cherries have already amassed will be enough to avoid the drop, with O’Neil’s charges now sitting 14th in the table. But the head coach and squad and eyeing victory over another side battling to avoid the drop in Leeds at Vitality Stadium this weekend, to all but rubber-stamp a second consecutive top-flight campaign for Cherries. Discussing the win over Saints being a huge step in Cherries achieving their goal, Mepham told the Daily Echo: “That’s exactly what the manager said at the end of the game. “We are so close now. Credit to us, we’ve put ourselves in an unbelievable position. I think that’s our third away win in a row now. “We’ve done our bit. We just need to keep pressing, get us over the line on Sunday hopefully. “I think the last thing we would want now is complacency. There are still lots of points up for grabs. “We want to finish as high as possible and the relegation fight isn’t done yet. We go into Sunday wanting to win and hopefully we can get over the line then.” He added: “It’s not done yet. Until it’s mathematically impossible for us to go down, we will still be fighting for every point. “Sunday is no different. We will approach it like we do every game, which is wanting to win and hopefully we can get a result on Sunday.” Reflecting on the victory at St Mary’s, Mepham said: “Massive win. Especially the way the drama was at the end (Che Adams disallowed goal). Obviously panic stations at the end when you think you’ve lost two points. “I think we thoroughly deserved the points. First half, complete control. Second half, I think they were always going to come out and put a lot more pressure on us and play higher up the pitch. “Sometimes you need a bit of luck, like we got at the end and I felt like we deserved that with the way we applied ourselves in the first half.” Asked how impressive the win was given Cherries had just suffered a 4-0 home defeat to West Ham United a few days earlier, Mepham said: “To be honest, Sunday felt like a bit of an anomaly for us. “I think the way we’ve performed the last couple of months, that performance on Sunday was very unlike us. “We knew we had so much more to offer. Then again (on Thursday) it was a case of bounce back and I thought we did that really well. We started the game well. “I think the first 10 minutes they came out quite quick, but once we settled into the game, we had control and it’s a perfect response.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil recalls Francis Benali incident as teenager before game against Southampton #AFCB

April 27, 2023
O’Neil came through the ranks at Pompey, featuring in three south coast derbies, winning one and losing two during the 2004-05 campaign. Now as boss of AFC Bournemouth, he takes his side to St Mary’s tomorrow for a key contest in the Premier League relegation battle. Reflecting on his memories of matches against Saints as a Pompey player, O’Neil said: “They were fierce. They still are fierce, I guess. “My first ever reserve game was against Southampton for Portsmouth at Havant & Waterlooville and there was about 3,000 fans in. “I was only 15, playing right-midfield against Francis Benali. And as soon as I tried to run in behind him from kick-off, he smashed me in the face with a cast on his arm. “I’d come straight from maths, gone to play for Portsmouth’s reserves and got a cast smashed in my face. I was like ‘this is what senior football is going to be like’. “And that was just a reserve game! “There was some fierce games between Portsmouth and Southampton. Obviously a real memorable one where we won when (Lomano) LuaLua scored two at home. “That was sort of a relegation battle as well, Portsmouth and Southampton were both involved in it. So some good fixtures. “We’ve had some good games with them as well since I’ve been at Bournemouth. “We’ve not managed to come out on top since I’ve been here yet, but we will try to change that on Thursday.” Asked if he will have a word with Benali should he see him at St Mary’s tomorrow night, O’Neil added: “I’ve spoken to him before. I think we did some TV stuff together and he doesn’t actually remember it. “But it definitely happened! If I bump into him, I’ll mention it again.” Given his allegiance to Pompey, O’Neil could be on the receiving end of a hostile reception from the home fans. Asked if he would welcome that ire to take some pressure off his players, Cherries’ boss said: “If the source of everyone’s focus could be on me and let my players go and perform then that would be a benefit, but I don’t see it like that. “We’ve had two away games at Tottenham and Leicester recently. Leicester were fired up for it, home fans knew it was a big game for them and the lads managed to put in a performance. “And a huge crowd at Tottenham, going 1-0 down and the place bouncing at that point and the lads managed to put in another real good performance. “I don’t know what sort of reception I’ll get. It doesn’t bother me too much either way.” Victory for Cherries tomorrow would push rock-bottom Saints closer towards relegation with just a month of the season remaining. But O’Neil insists that is not on his mind. “No feeling towards what it does to them at all,” he said. “Just purely us and what it means to us. I wouldn’t get any more pleasure out of beating Southampton than I would out of beating anybody else. “Hopefully we can go there and put another big result on the board for ourselves, the club, the players, the fans and if we do that, we’ll be in a really good place.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on facing Southampton which could be relegation decider #AFCB

April 27, 2023
O’Neil side visit St Mary’s tomorrow (7.45pm kick-off) in a key clash in the battle for survival. Saints currently sit at the foot of the Premier League table, nine points below Cherries in 15th. Cherries are five points above the bottom three, with Saints’ gap to safety the same margin. Since Selles took charge of Saints, initially on a caretaker basis before being appointed permanent boss, Southampton have taken nine points from 10 Premier League fixtures. Asked about facing Saints, O’Neil replied: “It'll be a big challenge. They've made big improvements since the new head coach took over. “They've improved. They're not really in relegation form since he's taken the job. “I think they have nine points from nine games, so a decent return. “High energy, front-foot, aggressive, had some good results, fantastic performance at Arsenal and result. “So, yeah, it's not like we're going to a team that are losing every week and have been rooted to the bottom of the table because they're in terrible form. “They're putting in some real good performances, picking up some good results. “So, it'll be a real tough test. If anyone is in any doubt then I can assure them it'll be a really tough game for us on Thursday.”