Dominic Solanke Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Dominic Solanke reflects on goals against Leicester City in previous Premier League meeting #LCFC #AFCB

October 8, 2022
CHERRIES star Dominic Solanke highlighted the side’s last meeting with Leicester City as a “turning point in his career”, with his brace against the Foxes in 2020 helping to kick-start his stint on the south coast. Arriving at the Vitality Stadium in January of 2019 with one goal in 21 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, Solanke drew a blank for 38 top-flight fixtures at Cherries before breaking his duck in a 4-1 victory over Leicester City. Whilst the win did not lead to a late revival in Cherries’ survival hopes, with Eddie Howe’s men relegated at Goodison Park two weeks later, it marked a turn in fortunes for the one-time England international. Solanke notched in the 3-1 victory away at Everton, before knocking in 44 goals in 86 Championship appearances across the last two campaigns. Reflecting on his side’s previous encounter with Brendan Rodgers’s charges, Solanke commented: “Yeah, that game of course was special. “My first two goals in the Premier League for Bournemouth. It was definitely a special game. “I probably say after that game I found my feet and confidence a bit and from then I've scored a lot of goals. “It was probably a turning point in my career.” Leicester became the last side in this year’s Premier League to record a win this campaign, emphatically firing past east Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest 4-0 on Monday evening. Prior to the drubbing of Steve Cooper’s Tricky Trees, the Foxes had sat bottom of the pile, with just one point from their opening seven fixtures. Speaking before Leicester’s win on Monday night, Solanke shared: “Of course there's no easy game in the Premier League and obviously they’re not in the best of spells right now, but we know they're top side. “A lot of top players in that team.”
Thomas Frank
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Thomas Frank outlines three important Cherries players ahead of clash with Bournemouth #BRENTFORDFC #AFCB

October 1, 2022
THOMAS Frank pinpointed three Cherries players his Brentford side will need to be wary of this weekend. Frank brings the Bees to Vitality Stadium on Saturday, for the first meeting of the two clubs at Premier League level. The last time the pair battled came in the Championship play-offs in May 2021, where Brentford prevailed over Jonathan Woodgate's side 3-2 on aggregate. They went on to defeat Swansea City in the Wembley final, with Cherries joining them in the top flight with promotion last season. Looking ahead to the challenge on the south coast, boss Frank said: "It will be another big challenge. I think Gary (O'Neil) and his staff and players have done a very good job. "On the results side they’ve had two draws and a win, but also the performances have been very solid. They’re difficult to play against. They look good. “I remember us playing them in the Championship two years ago and they have many of the same players. "They were two very, very even games in the Championship, two very even games in the play-offs and I expect a very even game (on Saturday). Hopefully we’ll come out on top. "We’ll go down and attack and do what we can to get three points. “We know they have players that can hurt us. Especially (Dominic) Solanke I think is a very good striker. I think (Ryan) Christie has done well as well and (Marcus) Tavernier." O'Neil is set to take charge of his fourth game as interim boss, following the sacking of Scott Parker after Cherries' were embarrassed 9-0 by Liverpool. Asked how impressed he is by the way Cherries have bounced back from the humiliation at Anfield, Frank said: "It’s very impressive. "Either you fall apart after a game like that, or you stick together and show that you're stronger. "We know Bournemouth is a club with a lot of experience still. "It's only two or three years ago they were in the Premier League. A lot of these players that are playing now also played in the Premier League back then. "So it's an experienced squad with good players. "In this league, besides the top six, that are from another galaxy, the rest of us are more humans and we need to fight for every point. "All 14 of these teams can end in a situation where it is getting tricky. Bournemouth is a good side." Cherries currently sit 12th in the Premier League, one point and three places behind Brentford after seven matches.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil recognizes contributions of Eddie Howe to Cherries development as a club #AFCB #NUFC

September 17, 2022
INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil is hoping to keep his team on message when Cherries face Newcastle, whilst understanding the narrative surrounding the reunion with legendary manager Eddie Howe. Focus this season has turned to Howe’s first encounter with the club after his departure in the summer of 2020, with numerous current Cherries handed their debuts by the now Newcastle United manager. READ NEXT: Newcastle hosts Cherries with both sides on seven points after six games, and whilst stand-in head coach O’Neil understands that there will always be sentimental links and storylines ahead of games, he believes his side will be unwavering in their approach to today’s game. Reflecting on the reunion, O’Neil shared: “I think the boys are very used to there being noises outside that can take away from what is another game. “And the boys will always approach it as the next game, whether it's going back to your old club, whether it's an old manager, whatever it may be. There will be things like that for somebody every week and we just approach it like it's another game. “Obviously, Eddie's impact on the club was huge. “I'm sure everyone around here is still grateful for the fact that when he came in, they were in League Two and he took him to the heights of the Premier League. “So it’s an incredible job he's done. But the boys will approach it like we're going to Newcastle to win a game of football and see if we can accomplish that.” The match with Newcastle marks O’Neil’s third game in charge of the side as the club continues their search for a permanent manager. After a dull 0-0 draw with Wolves to mark his managerial debut, O’Neil’s charges bounced back to complete a rousing comeback win over Nottingham Forest last time out. When asked if the 3-2 victory looked good in terms of showing his managerial credentials, O’Neil shared: “That isn't what I'm thinking, but, yeah, I'm sure it would have been. “I'm not considering my CV. I'm just fully focused on the 25, making sure they're ready, making sure I've given them everything they need and that they're ready to go and represent the club again on Saturday.” O’Neil then shared his belief that his side will face a tough atmosphere at an amped up St James’ Park, with the former Bolton man stating: “I think the style of football they're playing at the moment helps get the fans off their seats and create an atmosphere. “The boys will be ready. We know what's coming. We go up there determined to show a real resilience and show our qualities.”
Steven Gerrard Manager
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Steven Gerrard believes Southampton are more direct in their play this season #AVFC

September 16, 2022
ASTON Villa boss Steven Gerrard believes Saints have "recruited really well" over the summer and feels they have "gone a little bit more direct this season". Villa are set to host Saints tomorrow evening (8pm) as the Premier League returns, following a pause last weekend as a mark of respect after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Saints are currently three points above Villa, sitting 12th in the Premier League table. They signed 10 players over the summer, with the likes of Romeo Lavia and Armel Bella-Kotchap in particular impressing early on. One of their more experienced recruits was midfielder Joe Aribo, who worked with Gerrard at Rangers. Discussing the challenge of facing Saints tomorrow, Gerrard said: “They’ve recruited really well, and he seems to be recruiting young players that are full of energy and have no fear. “I worked with one of them, Joe Aribo, up at Rangers and I know what he’s capable of. “They’re a dynamic team, they’re young and athletic. They’re capable of pressing in transition. They’ve gone a bit more direct and shown they’re up for the fight. “The challenge is there for us – it’s an exciting one. For us, it’s very much game on.” Asked about Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, Gerrard added: “I’ve been impressed with his work. I like the way he’s really positive with how he goes about it. “They’re a pressing team. They’ve changed slightly and gone a little bit more direct this season. He likes to give youngsters a chance and play high-energy football. “During his tenure they’ve had some really impressive results and faced some issues, like ourselves. When you’re building these projects, they take time and a lot of hard work and effort. “I’m sure during his tenure he’s experienced what I’ve experienced during my short time at Villa.” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Bruno Lage manager
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Bruno Lage says ‘pressure is on’ Wolves against managerless Cherries #WOLVESFC #AFCB

August 31, 2022
BRUNO Lage believes Cherries must forget their Anfield nightmare and the pressure is all on Wolves in Wednesday’s Premier League showdown. The south coast side sacked Scott Parker today, after their record-equalling 9-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday. Wolves go to Vitality Stadium still looking for a first top-flight win of the season. But Wanderers boss Lage expected the message from Bournemouth caretaker manager Gary O’Neil would be for his players to move on fast. He said “I know it’s strange to say it but (you) don’t mention it. It’s in the past, you know that kind of games can happen. They took nine, we took five against Manchester City (in May). Sometimes it happens. “I saw the goals, any shot went in. It happened with us against City, Kevin De Bruyne – any shot he got he scored an amazing goal. These things can happen. “When you score one, two, three goals in 20 minutes after that you can score six, seven, eight, nine or 10. It’s important to move on. “If I was on the other side, I would take nine, forget the game and put all my energy into the next one. We will go with full energy. “It’s just a game, it’s three points. I know it’s hard to take but it’s just three points.” Wolves drew 1-1 with Newcastle on Sunday, after Allan Saint-Maximin’s last-minute leveller, to continue their winless start. Willy Boly is not expected to feature after failing to show up for the Magpies draw as he tries to force a move to Nottingham Forest while Chiquinho (knee) is out. Lage added: “They have more points than us. I know the place is a hard place to play but we have to go there with the same spirit we had against Tottenham. “Every game is a chance to get points, the pressure is on our side to have points. “For now it’s more important to have the time to understand what kind of work we are doing. Any manager, especially us, we don’t have the time we’d like to prepare the team. We need that time.”
Thomas Tuchel
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Chelsea’s Tuchel reserves special praise for Hasenhuttl and admits N’Golo Kante’s injury record #CHELSEAFC #SaintsFC

August 30, 2022
CHELSEA manager Thomas Tuchel insisted “I have a lot of respect” for Ralph Hasenhuttl, stating Saints teams have “his fingerprints are all over” them. The German boss faced Hasenhuttl three times alone last season with an EFL Cup tie in October, the Blues eventually running out winners in all three meetings. As did Hasenhuttl, Tuchel arrived in the Premier League from the Bundesliga – where he was the boss of giants Borussia Dortmund. Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s visit to St Mary’s, Champions League-winner Tuchel reserved some kind words for his Saints counterpart. "I have a lot of respect for Ralph, and we have played against each other a lot of times,” Tuchel said. “He is a very nice person and a very good coach, and his fingerprints are all over this Southampton team every year. "He will be very friendly before the match, but during the match, he will not be friendly with us. “Don't make the mistake, he is a competitor as we are. We will fight it out but always with fair play. It will be better to be on the sideline than in the stands." Tuchel had been serving a touchline ban after he was sent off during the recent ‘Battle of the Bridge’ – the fiery meeting with Tottenham Hotspur. In the meantime, he has been taking in the performances of Saints as part of his preparations. "I had the chance to watch the game of Southampton (against Manchester United) live and saw a very strong side,” Tuchel added. “They had a huge turnaround at Leicester to win the game, and you could see they gained a lot of confidence from it. “They conceded, but they had a lot of touches in the box, a lot of shots against Manchester United and were very mobile upfront. "What you can always expect in Southampton is a physical game, a running game, a high-intensity game. This is what it is. We need to recover well and be well prepared to repeat what we did last season." A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Scott Parker Fulham
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Scott Parker on Anfield ‘challenge’, transfers and Nat Phillips #AFCB #LFC

August 26, 2022
BOSS Scott Parker’s message to his squad ahead of Cherries’ trip to Anfield is clear – to ‘try and challenge’ Liverpool, rather than find the experience ‘daunting’. Parker will travel to Merseyside as the last manager to record a Premier League win away at Liverpool, with his Fulham side the last team to beat Jurgen Klopp’s Reds at Anfield back in March 2021, a 1-0 victory. Liverpool are yet to record a win this season, with Klopp’s charges tasting defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United on Monday. Their first home game of the campaign ended in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, with the away side opening scores. Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Parker shared: “These are the games that certainly when I was as a player and even now, sitting here as a coach, these are ones you thrive off, really. “You're going up in boxing terms, pound for pound. “They’re elite in everything they do. And you need to adopt an attitude, which is you want to go and try and challenge that. “You want to relish that opportunity and try and get the better of that, rather than the opposite, really. And I think that's probably the main message. “That was certainly the main message before when I’ve been to Anfield, certainly the way I thought about playing against these big players in these big teams. “It was one I embraced and one that I look forward to, really. So, yeah, I need to give that message to the team, really. "And these players, which is very new to some of them, the Premier League, Anfield, Man City away. “These are all big challenges, but ones they need to embrace and look forward to. “The other option is you find it very daunting, you find it very difficult. "And that's the polar opposite to what I want, really. So, yeah, we need to (It’s cliché), but we need to enjoy it. Of course we do. “We need to enjoy it in a real positive way. We need to establish ourselves. We need to show our qualities, for sure. “And while they may be limited and while they may be very difficult, is certainly something we need to embrace in that sense.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter makes Moises Caicedo admission and reveals admiration for David Moyes #BHAFC #WHUFC

August 21, 2022
The Ecuador international is due to make hiS 11th Premier League appearance when the Seagulls visit West Ham tomorrow. He has done enough in his previous ten to attract interest from several big clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool. But head coach Graham Potter says the 20-year-old’s feet remain firmly on the ground. Potter said: “He’s a really humble person. He loves playing football and is really low maintenance as a footballer. “He wants to join in with his team-mates and he’s really enjoying his football, as you can imagine. “He’s only young, but he’s got such a high possibility. “We love him here. As for speculation, it is what it is, you’re always going to get that stuff, but we’re really enjoying having him here.” Potter has said on several occasions he might have waited too long to give Caicedo his Premier League chance. He added: “I am happy for him that he’s enjoying his football. “He hasn’t played many games. He hasn’t played that many games in the Premier League, so maybe he thinks it’s easier than it is, but long may that continue.”
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley co-caretaker manager Mike Jackson admits late call to take charge of Burnley game #BURNLEYFC #WHUFC

April 17, 2022
BURNLEY'S sacking of Sean Dyche came as a “shock” to the players, according to co-caretaker manager Mike Jackson. Dyche was the Premier League’s longest-serving manager but his near decade-long reign was ended on Friday with Burnley 18th in the Premier League and four points adrift of safety, with eight games left. The Clarets have only won four matches this season but the decision to dispense with the respected 50-year-old has been widely panned – and was unexpected by those outside of the club hierarchy. Under-23s coach Jackson – alongside academy director Paul Jenkins, under-23s goalkeeping coach Connor King and club captain Ben Mee – will take charge of the team for Sunday’s game against West Ham. “I came in (on Friday) to prepare for the under-23s game and I was told to come into the chairman’s office and was told then,” Jackson told a press conference. “It all came as a bit of a shock and we have to prepare the lads for Sunday. I think it has come as a shock to the players, that is human nature, but they are an experienced group. “For us it’s about the whole club coming together – everyone here, the fans and everybody bunkering in to take away all the noise and concentrate on what we need to do. “I don’t think we are going to change how we play in one day. The strength of this group is they will pull together. We might tinker with a few bits of detail but there will be no change of style.” Sam Allardyce and Wayne Rooney are the early frontrunners to succeed Dyche, with Jackson revealing he has been given no indication of how long he will be at the helm. “No, all we have been asked to do is prepare the lads for the game on Sunday,” he added. “Our full focus is to make sure the group is ready for Sunday.” The trip to the London Stadium marks the start of three games in eight days for Burnley, who welcome Southampton and Wolves to Turf Moor next week. It is a period that could go a long way to determining their season and Jackson, who revealed Mee is unavailable for selection but will be a “voice” in the dugout, is confident they can beat the drop. “Why not? We have to look at it like that, the performances have been fine details,” he said. “We have to try and look at the positives and take the good bits and use them and move forward.” Dyche’s departure brings to an end a reign in which he twice gained promotion to the Premier League and regularly overachieved on a small budget, including a seventh-placed finish in 2018 which earned the club a Europa League play-off place. “I think (Dyche) can be unbelievably proud of what he has achieved,” Jackson added. “More than anything else he has built not only a club but a culture and identity. “That is really difficult to do in football and it takes time and takes someone who knows what they are doing and what they want. “I think the job he’s done, you only have to listen to some of the interviews from other managers and his peers and what they said about him. “The fans will think that I am sure and they have had a great 10 years. I don’t think it will be long before the gaffer and his staff are back in another job.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss praises Tottenham star Harry Kane for being best footballer and not just a striker #THFC #BHAFC

March 16, 2022
ALBION boss Graham Potter believes that Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in Premier League history. Potter is preparing his side to take on Kane and co when they welcome Spurs to the Amex Stadium tomorrow night. After struggling at the start of the season, Kane is now back to his dangerous self as he has now racked up 11 goals and three assists in his 26 Premier League appearances. Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane Albion defenders Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman will have to be on their best form to contain the current England captain from finding the net, should Potter pick the same centre-back pairing as he did against Liverpool. Kane will be hoping he can continue to find the net until the end of the season to boost his side’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season. When asked where does Kane rank in the all-time best strikers in the Premier League, Potter said: “He’s up there. “It wasn’t so long ago that he was getting criticism because he wasn’t in the box and linking up and he should be in the box more, but then actually his ability to drop deep, his ability to find Son, he’s not just a goalscorer, he’s a top footballer, he’s captain of England, an inspirational figure on and off the pitch. “I don’t like comparing people, he is probably the best Harry Kane that there is."
Kyle Walker Peters
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl gives update on Kyle Walker-Peters and crucial Watford game #SAINTSFC #WatfordFC

March 10, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl has confirmed he’s happy that defender Kyle Walker-Peters is “absolutely okay”, after the enigma was only introduced as a substitute in the Aston Villa defeat. The 24-year-old had picked up a minor hamstring injury during the FA Cup fifth round victory over West Ham last week. It meant he was left on the bench for Villa at the weekend, which was the first time he had not completed 90 minutes in a Premier League match since he had COVID in mid-January. Mohammed Salisu, who also had a hamstring injury, was absent from the squad altogether and is still waiting assessment for Newcastle United at St Mary’s on Thursday. Mohammed Salisu could make a return versus Newcastle (Pic: PA) However, the Austrian boss confirmed that Walker-Peters is “absolutely okay”, and can come in from the start versus the Magpies if selected. "Yes, he's okay,” Hasenhuttl said. “The good thing is that we have a few alternatives in this position and we don't need to risk anything. "This is the reason why I left him out at first (against Villa), but he is a fantastic player and we want him to be on the pitch, normally. “Especially because he can play different positions and I am happy that he is absolutely ok." Walker-Peters has operated in both right-back and left-back regularly this season, as well as deputising in wing-back and even right-midfield as Hasenhuttl has required. Kyle Walker-Peters scored his second goal of the season in the FA Cup clash with Coventry City (Pic: Stuart Martin) With Tino Livramento on the right of defence and Romain Perraud as the left-sided option, Hasenhuttl is not short of quality full-backs. Saints do not have much recovery time before their next match, when Watford also visit St Mary’s on Sunday. However, the boss revealed his focus is not yet on the potential XI he might field in that. "I don't have in my mind the Watford game at the moment, to be honest,” he continued. "Yes, I know it is only two days later, but the focus is on the reaction we want to show now on Thursday against a good opponent and we want to have an answer for some of the things that happened last weekend, and I am sure we will give this answer. "I don't want to tell you what was said, it stays in the dressing room. I also wouldn't want them to tell what I told them, so leave it with us.” Former Saints star Danny Ings scored the fourth at Villa Park (Pic: PA) Hasenhuttl added: "It is not always necessary to speak after the game, it is much more important what follows as a reaction on the pitch. This is what I like much more. “You hear about the discussions in the dressing room, but to be honest, the truth is on the pitch and when you show on the pitch the qualities that you have that helps you, definitely, much more. "Our job is to set them up to know exactly what they have to do on the pitch and there is no more discussion needed, this is my job that I have to do. "If I don't do this perfectly, then they are lost, and maybe also I didn't help them massively in this Villa game. But I think if we fail at all, we always fail everybody, or nobody. And the goal (against Newcastle) is to show a better performance, all of us."
Connor Roberts Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley defender Connor Roberts on Liverpool clash and Burnley’s Premier League survival chances #BURNLEYFC #LFC

February 13, 2022
BURNLEY defender Connor Roberts is confident the Clarets are building positive momentum in their fight against the drop. Burnley still only have one Premier League win this season and sit bottom of the table, but Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United means Sean Dyche’s side are now unbeaten in their last three after goalless draws with Arsenal and Watford, and have taken points in eight of their last 11 in the league. There has been a mix of encouragement and disappointment when results are viewed in isolation – Burnley were booed off after being held by Watford on Saturday, then roared off after a stirring second-half performance against United days later – but it is points that matter most now. “I think it’s been building since the Arsenal game (a goalless draw on January 23), the Watford game in the middle between two tough games was a little bump but we still had momentum, we didn’t concede any goals,” Roberts said. “Against United, no one expected us to get anything going 1-0 down and in the first half we could have been out of it but the boys pulled it out of the bag in the second and I thought we played some of our best stuff. “If you said we would lose against Arsenal and United and beat Watford for three points we would have taken it – and in the end, we got three points anyway.” That did not look like being the case at half-time on Tuesday night after 45 minutes in which United had seen two goals disallowed, while frequently threatening to add to the Paul Pogba strike that did count. Having heard boos days earlier, Roberts expected a repeat but instead Turf Moor offered chants of encouragement when Mike Dean blew for half-time. “I was waiting for the boos,” the Wales defender added. “I thought they were going to hammer us but fair play to them, they’ve been brilliant in the last few games and credit to them. Hopefully we can repay them.” The next opportunity to do that comes on Sunday, but it promises to be another hugely-difficult challenge against a Liverpool side seeking to chase down Manchester City in the title race. Jurgen Klopp’s side have an embarrassment of attacking riches – having added Luis Diaz to ranks that already included Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino. Roberts admitted he did not yet know much about Diaz – the 26-year-old said he rarely watches football at home and preferred to watch the darts than tune in for the Reds’ 2-0 win over Leicester on Thursday night – but he is not one to stress on the details. “You don’t need to watch anything to know he’s going to be good player if he’s just signed for Liverpool,” he said. “All we can do is give everything, do what we do, and hopefully get something from it.” Roberts’ start against United on Tuesday was only his fourth Premier League appearance of the season following his summer move from Swansea. Having come through the ranks with his boyhood club, Roberts’ adjustment to life at Turf Moor was disrupted first by injury but then by serious illness as he was hospitalised with pneumonia in December. “It’s been terrible since I came in,” he said. “When I signed I had an injury, my first real injury ever, so I couldn’t really get going, then I went away with Wales and then I got ill. “Not many people realised how ill I was. To come back and play as soon as I have has been a credit to myself, but it’s been stop-start. Now I think every game I play, I need to play well to play the next one. “But as long as I do myself proud and my family proud, that’s all I can do.”