Ryan Christie
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ryan Christie admits Bournemouth need time to grieve last minute loss against Arsenal #AFCB

March 7, 2023
Cherries have suffered a string of setbacks so far this campaign, and now sit bottom of the Premier League table with 13 games to try and avoid relegation. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Emirates Stadium was the third time Cherries have lost having led by two goals this campaign, also beaten by Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United. That adds to the humbling they received at Anfield in August, in a record-equalling heaviest defeat in Premier League history. Cherries threatened a shock win in north London at the weekend against the league leaders with Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi putting them 2-0 ahead. Three goals in the final half an hour, including one in the final seconds from Reiss Nelson, saw the Gunners snatch victory and leave Cherries devastated. Reflecting on the defeat, Christie, who was introduced off the bench with the game level at 2-2, told the Daily Echo: “It is just gutting, to be fair. “Because I think the boys were superb from the first minute to the last. “All credit to the boys - not many teams can come here and have a 2-0 lead. “They are such a good team that they are going to create chances. “I think we actually limited them throughout the 90 minutes to very few. It was an incredible finish, to be fair, in the last minute - or the last second I should say. It is pretty sickening.” Asked what the message was from boss Gary O’Neil after the game, Christie added: “He is obviously as gutted as we are. “I think his message was to try as much as we can to keep our heads up. “You probably take tonight (Saturday) and then Sunday and Monday to almost grieve a bit after a loss like this. “But you need to get going again. Not many teams this season have come here and put on a performance like that and taken Arsenal to genuinely the last kick of the ball. “Again, plenty of positives to take from it. Obviously hard to see them right now.” Christie, in his first season in the Premier League having arrived from Celtic in August 2021, started the infamous 9-0 loss at Liverpool, before being hooked at half-time with Cherries having already conceded five. Asked to sum up the contrast in emotions between that defeat and the last-gasp loss to the Gunners, the Scotland international said: “It is tough. Liverpool was a bad day for all of us. “That was more of an embarrassing feeling to be honest, speaking for myself, personally. “We managed to bounce back from that superbly well. “Saturday, in a way it is even worse because I think we deserved something from the game. “You take it to the absolute death of a game and somebody puts it in the top corner against you. That is the way football works sometimes. “We can’t put it to bed straight away. It takes a couple of days to get over something like that. “We have another massive game against another great team (Liverpool) next week. Games like that will give us confidence.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil wants no credit for Bournemouth’s opener against Arsenal #AFCB

March 6, 2023
Philip Billing scored the second fastest goal in Premier League history in Cherries’ 3-2 defeat to Arsenal, the game just 9.11 seconds young when the Dane poked home following just three passes. Marcos Senesi doubled Cherries’ lead early in the second half at a corner from a routine also worked on during training according to O’Neil. However, Arsenal rallied back through Thomas Partey and Ben White, before Reiss Nelson broke Cherries’ hearts deep into stoppage time to complete the comeback. “The kick-off was prepared, yeah. Just something I thought of (Thursday), maybe. “But you don't expect to score from it. Just thought maybe you could catch them cold, get up the pitch quickly. Gave us a lovely start. “And then a nice routine for the corner goal.”O’Neil went on to lament Cherries’ spurned chances, with Dango Ouattara denied by former Cherry Aaron Ramsdale after a dangerous counter attack. He continued: “Real big chance - Aaron Ramsdale makes an incredible save on the counter-attack, but of course, they arrive in our final third an awful lot. “The lads put in an awful lot of work and you suffer to an incredible strike from the edge of the box, with maybe two or three kicks of the game left. Asked if he was taking credit for the pre-planned move, O’Neil responded: “I don't want any credit. The team scored a goal from it, so there's about 35 of us involved in it. The club (gets credit).” Southampton’s win over Leicester City in the evening kick-off saw Cherries drop to the foot of the Premier League table, with the Dorset outfit in 20th with 21 points from 26 games. Only three points separate Leicester in 15th and Cherries at the bottom of the division, highlighting how tight the relegation battle is as it enters its final throes.    
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Ruben Selles admits team showed ‘character’ in Leicester win #SAINTSFC

March 5, 2023
The result at St Mary’s lifts Saints off the bottom of the Premier League for the first time this season with two wins in the last three league contests. Charly Alcaraz scored the only goal of the game on Saturday to beat Brendan Rodgers’s Foxes – despite defender Harry Souttar heading onto the crossbar with the final play of the game. James Ward-Prowse had his penalty saved by Danny Ward before Argentine midfielder Alcaraz netted his second Premier League goal following a January move. It was the first clean sheet at home this campaign and the first win since beating Chelsea back in August when Ralph Hasenhuttl was still manager. “It was not the best football match that we can play but we showed character and we showed awareness in some of the moments we prepared during the week. We will take it,” Selles said. “You need to understand the game was about mindset, which is very important for us. When you are in the position we are, it is not easy to keep possession and calm things down with the lines open. “Sometimes it is about let’s fight for the last 10/15 minutes, it is not something you can tell them to do but instead it just comes. We are getting there,” he added. Saints had to hold on through a rocky final 20 minutes and were only let off the hook as Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho had a disappointing day in front of goal. St Mary’s was still full of nerves before and after Saints had taken the lead, while Moi Elyounoussi was booed onto the pitch when he came on for Alcaraz due to injury. “I think it is natural for everybody to be nervous as they haven’t seen a victory here since last year. It became natural in the last minutes to become nervous, it’s not like we want that but it is natural,” Selles admitted. “I think we managed it well, although we were lucky in the last action. If we scored the penalty it could have been 2-0, those are the margins and we have them today for us.” Selles had changed tact from his previous two league matches as boss, dropping the 4-2-2-2 in favour of a 4-2-3-1 with Alcaraz in the 10 position. The Spaniard explained: “The game plan was to have Charly in that second striker role, jumping into possession in the central spaces and making it difficult for them. “I think we showed that we want to defend high, especially in the first half. The reward was we won some balls at their end of the pitch and the goal was a reflection of what we needed to do. It was a brilliant finish from Carlos and a great pass from Che (Adams).”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Selles expands on ‘step up’ comments about Romeo Lavia #SAINTSFC

March 4, 2023
The 19 year old has been the subject of media reports this week linking him to the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal during his first season of senior football. Sky Sports interviewed the Belgian and asked what he thought of the interest and Lavia responded that he does not read it and is instead focused on enjoying his football. Selles was asked later the same day if he has been impressed by Lavia but insisted he has 'not been' and warned that the youngster needs to ‘step up’ to move forward. READ MORE: Lavia responds to reports of interest from Man United and others With a second section of the same press conference embargoed for 10:30PM, Selles was later asked if he could expand on those comments following Lavia’s impressive start to his career. “We are talking about a young player who is in the Premier League for the first time. It has been a very hard season for all of us,” the Spaniard said. “I think Romeo has all the qualities to be a great player but I don’t think he’s there yet. This is why he didn’t impress me. “To make the next step, he needs to show more domination in the games, more domination in possession and more leadership on the pitch if he wants to become the thing everyone is saying he is.” He added: “He needs to give more for me, more for the team, and needs to show more for himself. It is nothing that it is about personally, and it is something the competition is giving him. “He is growing through the competition, both from the internal competition and in the Premier League. We need to be careful when we talk about kids starting in the Premier League. “I have no doubt he will be there but he needs to make more steps and everyone around him needs to be calmed down. When you try to make four steps forward, usually you don’t make the first one. “It is one step at a time, you stay here with us, you perform, you make this team win football matches, you lead on the pitch and in the dressing room and then when the season is finished and everybody is in the Premier League, we can think about something else. “If we don’t make the target together and we start to put individual targets, then we are not going to make it.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil admits Emirates Stadium is toughest stadium in England #AFCB

March 4, 2023
However, despite the task ahead of his charges, O’Neil was adamant that “tomorrow could be our day”. Stephens believes Cherries can take learnings from City clash into Arsenal trip Mikel Arteta’s Gunners currently top the Premier League, five points clear of Manchester City, who handily dispatched Cherries at the Vitality Stadium 4-1 last time out. The trip to north London is sandwiched between the aforementioned City loss and the visit of Liverpool. Cherries will be unfancied in all three fixtures, but despite there being little expectation of a result at the Emirates, O’Neil reiterated that the side would always be competitive no matter the opposition.  “I think that the lads are very good at putting things into context, of course,” O’Neil explained to the Daily Echo. “But that doesn't make losing on a Saturday feel any better. “Like the fact that we lost to Manchester City, no one felt any better about it, sat in the dressing room after. “We want to be competitive, of course, and the league and where we are at this moment, we need to make sure that it's always, it can't just be: “okay, we've got a team that's near us in the league, let's make sure we're up for this one.’ “It's like, ‘yeah, we need to be up for tomorrow’. “You never know when it's going to be your day. Tomorrow could be our day, so let's make sure we're ready.” Only Manchester City have bested Arsenal at the Emirates home in the Premier League this campaign, with the Gunners taking 29 points of a possible 36 from home fixtures. Explaining the task ahead of his side, O’Neil continued: “The (Emirates is the) toughest place to go, no doubt, at the moment. “They're a fantastic side, top of the league, going to their place as well. “So, yes, it's the toughest test you can face at this moment, but we go there with ways that we feel we can cause them a problem. “Obviously, the intensity they show and how aggressive they are without the ball and how good they are with the ball. “They're a very good side. And having watched them a lot this week, no surprise that they are where they are and that they're clear at the top. So they'll be difficult to catch, I'm sure. “But from our point of view, we go there, we try to be well organized, we stick to our plan, and we use ways that we feel we can hurt them.” After taking charge of his first Arsenal game in a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day in 2019, Arteta went on to lift the FA Cup in August 2020. A lean year followed the initial success, with many sections of the Gunners’ fanbase calling for the Spaniard to be sacked as the London club finished eight in his first full season in charge. However, the former Arsenal midfielder was given time, with the club now reaping the rewards with the Gunners top of the division. Asked if Arteta’s success showed that managers should be given more time, O’Neil replied: “I think if you're good, you will show you're good. That is basically how I see it. “I think if you're not very good and you're given time, you'll still be not very good. “So, yeah, I think you just need to be good at your job. Mikel was always going to be. “I had no doubts about it - working at Manchester City, he had a big reputation already from the work he'd done there with Pep. So, yeah, no surprise to me that he's doing very, very well. “I think it depends what people are judging you on, I guess. Was he doing terribly at the start? I don't know enough about the situation, where Arsenal in a bad place at the time? “Was what he was doing normal? “So, yeah, I don't know too much about it, but generally, if you're good and you get long enough, you'll be able to show you're good.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil’s praise for Ryan Christie during spell out of side #AFCB

March 3, 2023
The Scotland international featured in 19 of the club’s first 21 Premier League games of this season, starting 12 of those. But Christie has been left as an unused substitute for each of Cherries’ past three matches, with January recruits Dango Ouattara and Hamed Traore selected instead in the advanced attacking midfield areas. Asked if there was a danger of Christie being left behind given the profile of player Cherries have recruited in his area of the pitch, or if he still had plenty to offer, boss O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He’s still very, very important. “He’s an incredible lad as well. “His training levels have not dropped by one per cent since, as you say, his minutes have got slightly less over the last couple of weeks. “Most of that is just situation based, what you feel you need at the time. “Some changes you can make here or there and just for the last couple it hasn’t been Ryan Christie, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be moving forward. “He’s a really important player for us and I’m still delighted he’s part of the group.” Christie, who turned 28 last month, joined Cherries from Celtic for £2.5million in August 2021. He played a key role in Scott Parker’s side clinching promotion from the Championship last term, providing three goals and eight assists in 38 league outings. Having previously played all his career north of the border, with Celtic, Aberdeen and hometown Inverness Caledonian Thistle, this is Christie’s first season in England’s top flight. He has been unable to replicate the type of offensive numbers he managed both in the Championship and Scottish Premiership. Christie is yet to register an assist this term, while his only league goal was the winner in a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in October. He did also score in defeat to Burnley in the FA Cup in January. Asked if he would like to see Christie contributing more goals and assists, or if he focusses more on the defensive work the midfielder brings to the side, O’Neil said: “I think he can do both. “Obviously one of his real strengths is how diligent he is and how hard he works for the team, of course. “But he has good quality on his left foot and he can provide key passes and crosses and has quality. “He can improve those numbers. Of course, being in the Premier League in a team that has been at the bottom of the league makes it difficult in attacking numbers. “But he’s very, very important. “He can do lots of things that are important to a club like us in the position we are in. “I have no issues with Ryan Christie whatsoever.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Ruben Selles ‘very disappointed’ after loss in FA Cup to minnows #SAINTSFC

March 2, 2023
Gavan Holohan scored twice from the spot to dump the Premier League outfit of the fifth round of the competition in their home stadium. Duje Caleta-Car netted one to bring Saints within contention but they could not avoid a seventh defeat in nine matches in all competitions. Selles, taking charge of his second match as the new permanent Saints boss, admitted his disappointment but was still keen to apportion blame across everyone fairly. “I’m very disappointed with the performance and the result, we didn’t expect that as we prepared and dominated the opening part of the game, but it is difficult when you concede those two penalties,” he said. Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. “The first one, there is some errors in the build-up. We then set up everything to come back, because in a cup game this sometimes happens, but when you concede another penalty that shouldn’t happen it is difficult. We tried, we scored a goal and had one disallowed, but it was not enough from us. “Both penalties were very, very frustrating for me and the staff. You should not allow this to happen because you do not allow yourself the opportunity to win football matches.” Selles made nine changes to his team that were defeated last time out at Leeds United, as fringe players in his 30-man squad were given a chance to make a point to the Spaniard. “I am disappointed with the whole team, it is not about one player or more. They have been working well but when the moment has come to perform they are not there,” Selles said. “We were not robust enough to go through moments in the game and come back, I will not change because I think the players are working well but the disappointment is big for all of us.” Selles revealed that firm conversations had been had in the dressing room following the shock defeat, but insisted it will become a period of group reflection. “We’re upset so we have had a conversation and made some points clear, from them to them and from me to them,” he said. “Then, it is a period of reflection. Everybody needs to reflect and tomorrow we will see where we need to continue going. “We didn’t lack purpose, we didn’t create enough chances but we had a couple of situations and we know in these cup games it is hard no matter the opponent. You need to be composed but the two penalties put us out of the cup and out of the game.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reflects on two-year anniversary of his joining date at Cherries #AFCB

March 2, 2023
Last Thursday marked two years to the day since O’Neil arrived on the south coast, leaving a job in Liverpool’s academy to take up a role as senior first team coach under newly-appointed boss Jonathan Woodgate. Despite Woodgate leaving the club a few months later, O’Neil remained in his post, working underneath Scott Parker. Following promotion to the Premier League, Parker was sacked four games into the new campaign, with assistant boss Matt Wells also departing. O’Neil thrust into the interim head coach role, taking charge of 12 matches, before being given the reins on a permanent basis in November 2022. Asked to sum up the past two years, O’Neil said: “Enjoyable, firstly. Obviously stopping playing is never easy, especially when it’s an injury that causes it. “So to go from stopping playing, doing a little while at Liverpool, who helped me of course, and then come down here to help Jonathan. “We fell just short of promotion the first time, but one of the remits when I came to the club was to help the club get back to the Premier League. “So, pleased that I managed to play a part in that, at the second time of asking. “Now obviously roles have changed a little bit and I’m responsible for trying to keep the club in the Premier League, which is what I spend most of my time now working on. “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a fantastic club, good people, good staff, a fantastic group of players willing to work and a fanbase that are always behind the players and supporting as best they can. “So an enjoyable couple of years for me.” Asked if he is further along in his coaching journey than he thought he would be at this point, the 39-year-old added: “Things have happened maybe quicker than you would think. “It’s hard to plot these sort of journeys. I always thought I would keep playing for a long time, because I was fit, and I would probably fall into management from playing at a lower level, would’ve been how I predicted it going. “But we had to take a different route. I was grateful for the time at Liverpool and then in the hotseat in the Premier League maybe slightly quicker than expected, but I’m enjoying it. “I love the work. I appreciate the belief and the trust that the club have shown in me and am working every hour I have to repay that.” When O’Neil arrived at Cherries in February 2021, the club sat sixth in the Championship. Asked what his first impressions were of the place, the former Portsmouth and West Ham United midfielder said: “That we had a very good squad for the level at that point, still some fantastic players. “Obviously the club had done well to bring in some funds as well and managed to sell a few to sort of balance the books, but still kept a very competitive squad. “And just the feel of the place. It was COVID I think when I came in, so the supporters just started to come back in in small numbers at the time, so when I first arrived, you never really got the full feel of the place. “But then once the fans were back in, you get a real feel for what the club is and how important it is to everybody in the area. “I feel fully embedded in that now really. I feel like I’m part of Bournemouth. “I’ve loved my time, love the way everything works, love how close and together everything is, love the fact that the whole place has been through some tough times together and came out the other side. “It’s a really special feel. I’m privileged to be working here.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles issues rousing call to Southampton supporters #SAINTSFC

March 1, 2023
The Spaniard, set to take charge of the Saints team for the second time as the new permanent boss in the FA Cup fifth round versus Grimsby Town, wants fans on side. Selles orchestrated a 1-0 win over Chelsea in his one match as interim boss but the side fell flat in a vital six-pointer at Leeds United over the weekend. It leaves them four points adrift of safety but they remain just two wins away from Wembley in the cup and also have 14 games to save their league season. Selles issued a message to supporters, saying: “I need all of them. If I can make a call right now, it's that I need them not for the next two games but for the rest of the season. “To make the environment at St Mary's a really strong environment. Being with us, supporting us. We know the performances have not been the best from our side, but we are trying to work to make them proud. “What I need from them is unconditional support. To be there in every game and play as the number 12. We need to do it together and see where we are at the end of the journey. He added: “We need to be proud of what we did and everybody put their piece in to be successful. I will tell fans to come, support, believe and stay with us until the very end." Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles reveals inspiration from Hasenhuttl principles but aims to ‘improve’ attack #SAINTSFC

March 1, 2023
The Spaniard admitted you cannot survive in the Premier League being only a defensive team as he reflected on the defeat to Leeds United over the weekend. Saints have lined up in Hasenhuttl’s trademark 4-2-2-2 – with an unchanged starting XI – in both of Selles’s matches as boss since Nathan Jones was sacked. It had initially been a consequence of circumstance as Selles felt he did not have time to implement his own ideas ahead of facing Chelsea, before beating the Blues in London. Speaking to the Daily Echo, Selles offered a detailed breakdown of his thought processes regarding tactics heading into an FA Cup fifth round tie versus Grimsby. Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. He said: “The ideas implemented, especially the high-pressing, is an idea that I have developed and especially with Ralph got to know, that is not a question. “One or a lot of the principles of the defensive high-pressure are coming from that, but I think we are also improving situations – especially in possession with different ways to build up. “We probably did this better in the Chelsea game than the Leeds game, there were moments where you can see a team that find the offensive lines, find diagonals and can play between the lines and combine.” Selles admitted: “That is what we need to continue doing, you cannot be a good team in the Premier League only being a defensive team. “If you want to stay in the Premier League you need to take control of the game in possession, know when you need to stop the game or accelerate the game, when is the moment to make a short pass or a long pass. “We cannot go and only play direct, second-ball action because then we will not make it. We have players that can really play football at the best level possible and that’s what we’re trying to do. If we do that and have a system, a platform, that can allow us to not concede goals – but unfortunately in the last game we were more in the defensive moment than with the ball.” Speaking after the defeat at Elland Road, Selles commented on how he is trying to “create a net” for his players to feel comfortable in. The boss has inherited a squad with many key areas limited in Premier League experience, including goalkeeper, central defence and in the forward positions. Saints – who have lost 10 times this season by a margin of just one goal and been beaten 1-0 on three occasions by the team in 19th – have been accused of lacking bravery and spirit. “What we need to do is to be clear with what we want, communicate it in a clear way for everybody to understand, and then to evaluate the process,” Selles responded. “Then, we will see where we are. It’s not about leadership, I don’t believe only one person is taking lead of the group. “There are many types of leadership and what we are doing is simple and clear, everybody counts and everybody has an opinion but at the end of the day I make the decisions. “But everybody needs to feel that this is their club and they have the right to express themselves.”
chris mepham Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham on Manchester City defeat #AFCB

March 1, 2023
Welsh international Mepham returned to the starting XI for the first time since the trip to Brighton at the weekend, playing the full 90 minutes as Pep Guardiola’s side ran out 4-1 winners over Cherries at the Vitality Stadium. ANALYSIS | Cherries' game plan against City was the right approach but let down by mistakes Although his team were well beaten, Mepham expressed how he thought their attacking threat boded well for future games. Speaking after the match, Mepham told the Daily Echo: “It was a tough game, coming up against one of the best teams in the world and we knew that we'd have to suffer for large periods. “I think we would have liked to maybe stay 0-0 as long as possible, try to get to half-time and then it puts a bit more pressure on them to make something happen. “But when they get an early goal it's always uphill back from there. But with that being said, we stuck with it. I thought in the second half we created some chances and looked a threat going forward. “I think you take big belief from that because not many teams can do that against Man City. So yeah, obviously disappointed but positive as always.” Cherries’ attacking threat was undermined by the cheapness of the goals they conceded to the current Premier League Champions. Hamed Traore’s loss of possession in his own half proved costly, with the Cherries defence unable to reset in time to prevent Julian Alvarez from converting the opener. Similarly, the 25-year-old will not like to watch the second goal back, with the defender bypassed by Nathan Ake’s throughball that saw Ilkay Gundogan peel off Mepham and find Phil Foden at the back stick, which eventually led to Erling Haaland powering home. Philip Billing did not cover himself in glory for the third, his misplaced pass allowing Foden to swoop in and score past Neto, before Mepham suffered the ignominy of an own goal, the defender unfortunate as his attempt to block Alvarez’s shot bounced into his own net. Discussing City’s ability to penalise opposition’s mistakes, Mepham restarted: “I think that's why they are where they are. “It doesn't take a lot for them to capitalise on something. “One split moment of not concentrating or someone being dragged out in the wrong position and you get punished. “And it felt like pretty much every big chance they had they scored and that's really frustrating. “But yeah, we'll review it and see where we are.”
Mohamed Elyounoussi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton ace Mohammed Elyounoussi insists there is ‘no question’ they can still survive #SAINTSFC

February 28, 2023
The Norwegian international remains confident despite admitting the match at Leeds United – in which Saints were beaten 1-0 – was “a big” occasion. Junior Firpo scored the only goal of the clash, which Saints legend Matt Le Tissier told the Daily Echo was a “proverbial six-pointer” last week, to leave the St Mary’s side rooted to the bottom. Ruben Selles must lead his charges from four points adrift if they are to survive after losing to the team in 19th and directly above them for the third time in 2023. READ MORE: Saints reportedly tracking Aberdeen forward after breakout debut season Prior defeats versus relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Wolves under former boss Nathan Jones had already made the task a mammoth one in the club’s 11th consecutive top-flight campaign. Speaking to the Daily Echo, Elyounoussi said: “It’s disappointing, obviously. Disappointing from our point of view, obviously. I think it was a typical game, you could see two teams or two clubs fighting to stay in the Premier League. “Two teams who are breaking down the rhythm for each other. We couldn't really find a rhythm or composure with the ball, I think in the second half we looked better and then again they broke it and we did the same for them. So there weren't a lot of chances. And then when they did score it was soft from us.” Asked directly by the Daily Echo if he thinks Saints can still survive despite the costly concession in Yorkshire, Elyounoussi responded: “Absolutely, yeah, no question about it. “I strongly believe that with the squad we have, with the staff we have, I think we can do it. With the fans behind us, hopefully, they push us even more next weekend. “I think we're in the game the whole time. It’s always one goal deciding it, even if it’s our side,” he added, knowing it was the 10th time Saints have lost by the odd goal in the league this season.   “The only way to get those margins on our side is by earning it, we're there for every inch. It starts with the duels and our aggression and intensity without the ball, then a bit more composed with the ball when we have it. The only way to do it is by sticking together, now more than ever.” The defeat spoiled manager Selles’s first match as the permanent successor to Jones and, by extension, his own former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, having been appointed on Friday. Although Saints did defeat Chelsea in his game as interim, it is the third manager this season to fall foul of the same patterns of destruction. Elyounoussi insists the players take full responsibility. “We always do. I mean really, we always look at ourselves in the mirror. Me included. I am always looking at myself and asking what I could do better, before looking around us and the manager,” he said. “Ruben has come in and shown a lot of passion, and dedication. I think preparation was good but we couldn't put it out there, what we worked on, I think we could do a bit more. The occasion was a big one, but there are plenty more games to play. Next week is going to be huge as well.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles refutes claim that Southampton do not have bravery needed to survive #SAINTSFC

February 28, 2023
The St Mary’s side came unstuck once more when the pressure was on versus relegation rivals, following a 1-0 defeat at Leeds United on Saturday. It meant Saints have now lost to Nottingham Forest, Wolves and the Whites – who were all in 19th place at the time of facing – since the turn of the year. Over 30 per cent of the points Saints have picked up this season have come versus Chelsea, while a cup win over Manchester City was also seen as a potential turning point. The young outfit are capable of a top performance, with quality individuals throughout, but many have suggested they do not have the mental strength to handle the really big moments just yet. Selles, however, responds: “I will not talk about bravery. I will talk about solutions. So for me bravery is out of the question, I think our players have it. “The thing is that we didn't find the connections and didn't find the time to put players in the box. So when we arrive into the last third, it was sometimes too quick that we didn't give ourselves the time to travel together into the final third. “Because if we give the time for two or three passes, then we know we can arrive into the last third with more players and with more travel in the box,” he explains, assessing Saturday’s defeat at Elland Road. “But we were trying to be too direct for some moments. And when you're trying to be too direct, you can have a lucky shot. But then you don’t have the habit and that's what we need to repeat. “So we need to travel even more together with the ball and then we need to be even more compact in possession. I think it's never just one thing or the other thing. I think, during the first half, we missed some of the triggers that we were ready to attack and perhaps I didn't explain that well. So it's my own fault. “And we tried to adjust with the 4-2-3-1 at half-time and I think we grew into the second half. And when we conceded the goal it was at a good moment for us in the game. When we controlled more of the ball, we had more and we were more in possession and that goal changed the momentum, and we never came back.” Asked if the players need to brush off the crucial defeat as soon as possible, with Premier League action resuming with a televised meeting versus Leicester City at St Mary’s on Saturday, Selles delivered a poignant one-liner. “Well, you know negative emotions stay in your head three times longer than positive emotions, so I expect that to happen,” he said. Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.
Jack Stephens
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jack Stephens speaks after defeat to Manchester City #AFCB

February 27, 2023
Southampton loanee Stephens played the full 90 minutes of the 4-1 defeat on Saturday evening, with City capitalising on Cherries’ errors at the back. ANALYSIS: Cherries' game plan against City was the right approach but let down by mistakes Two loose passes paved the way for two of City’s three first-half goals, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden the beneficiaries from Hamed Traore and Phil Billing’s misplaced balls. Those strikes sandwiched Erling Haaland’s goal, which came about after Cherries had been split open by Nathan Ake’s ball from deep. A second-half own goal from Chris Mepham was further damage, before Jefferson Lerma restored some pride with a late strike. Discussing the game, Stephens told the Daily Echo: “Obviously, it's a tough one. “They're a brilliant side. We've tried to be aggressive with them and we did that, caused some problems, but obviously they punished us with a few mistakes and that's what they do, that's what they're really good at. “They're ruthless and that's what it's about. “I thought we stuck at it, we kept going. It's very easy to go under there, 3-0 down at halftime and 4-0 just after the break. Very difficult, but we stuck at it and got to take this one on the chin.” Stephens and Cherries had faced a very different proposition the previous weekend in a 1-0 win over Wolves. The Cherries defence had to sit deep and contend with multiple crosses into the box, whilst against City, they faced a Pep Guardiola side looking to keep the ball on the deck. Asked about the differing styles Cherries had faced in recent weeks, Stephens responded: “I think that's the Premier League. “Every challenge is different. Like you say, last week was a lot of balls in the box, under a lot of pressure defending the box. “Whereas (against City), strangely, you'd think that you'd be defending the box a lot more, but it didn't feel like that. “They obviously take you to places that are uncomfortable. “They drag you out. There's not so much long balls, everything's on the floor. “It's a lot of concentration and just trying to stay in it because you don't have the ball for long periods, you know that's going to happen. “They do that against every team that they play against. That's not just Bournemouth, you see it in the Champions League. They have 60, 70 per cent possession against top teams. “So you've got to accept that that's what they're going to do, and you need to stay concentrated. “And when we win the ball back, we try to be positive with the ball. “I think we obviously gave the ball away a few times first half, but like I said, they punished us with them, and then we tightened up. “I think we did tighten it up second half. The football was a lot better, and we did create chances, there's no denying that. “But unfortunately we've been punished and it’s 4-1, and we have to take that.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believes there were lots of positives after Man City loss #AFCB #MCFC

February 26, 2023
Sloppy Cherries defending saw City race into a 3-0 half-time lead, adding another after the break before Jefferson Lerma's late consolation strike. The defeat saw Cherries slip back into the Premier League relegation zone, one point from safety with 14 games to go. Asked what his side could have done better to make the contest closer, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "Not pass to them twice in our half would’ve been a good one. "But I thought it was a decent performance. I thought we got punished for a couple of mistakes. I thought we were front foot. "Apart from the score-line, I thought it was uncomfortable for Manchester City. I thought they turned the ball over more than usual for them. "I thought we pressed well. I thought we gave it a real, good go. "We got heavily punished for a couple of mistakes, didn’t make the most of our opportunities. We arrived in decent situations a lot, and it took us a very long time to score a goal from that. "I thought there was lots to be positive about." He added: "I can sum it up fairly simply for you. We had a real good go, I thought. "We made mistakes that are uncharacteristic for us. We don’t turn the ball over a lot in those situations. I don’t think we overplay very often. "I think we generally mix it up fairly well. I don’t think we’re a team that takes huge risk playing out from the back. "But the boys obviously understand that every time the ball arrives at you as a footballer, you have a decision to make, whether you can secure it and make passes or whether you need to play forward. "We maybe got a couple wrong today, against a top, top side. They punished us heavily for that. "We kept going, we showed that we won’t stop and I thought that we caused them some problems."
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles reaffirms belief Southampton are Premier League level #SAINTSFC

February 26, 2023
Junior Firpo scored the only goal in a 1-0 win to seal a massive three points for Leeds United at Elland Road, as bottom-placed Saints visited the club just above them. Selles’s charges were lucky not to lose by more and did not test Illan Meslier in the Whites's goal, just seven days after the victory at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. The result leaves them in 20th and now four points adrift of safety, with three points between the St Mary’s side and the next closest rivals. Saints have now lost 10 games by just one goal this campaign. However, Selles, speaking after his first match as permanent manager of the club, was keen to calm concerns. “You can see the point from different perspectives, for me it shows we are there. We are there in every game and we have the possibility to perform and win the game,” he said. “We are not a team that is conceding a lot and is out of the game and therefore not competing. We are competing, we are there and we are Premier League level. We’re doing things and performing at that level, but what we want to do is give some kind of net for our players to feel comfortable and perform. “Obviously what we need to do is make the net even stronger, with even more solutions. But this is down to me and is our responsibility, we are trying to create this net where they feel more comfortable. “When you are making a process like we are building now there is going to be some errors. We need to be ready for the next step.” Asked what he can say to supporters, who feel their 11-year stay in the Premier League could come to and without rapid improvement, he added: “I just say we need to keep working, we are doing good things. “The week has been fantastic in terms of work but unfortunately we didn’t perform and we will need to do a review. I take responsibility, if we didn’t perform well it is probably because I didn’t explain all of my points and I need to do it better. “It is not about how we are building a process for the long-term, any coach who comes in here would tell you the same. We need to build into the idea and grow to find the connections. “Sometimes this is quicker than not, but we were not the best last weekend when we won and we are not the worst today. We are just a team that is continuing growing and sometimes to grow you need this kind of accident.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles says ‘It is a pleasure for me, but I don’t need to prove anything’ #SAINTSFC

February 24, 2023
The 39-year-old Spaniard took charge of his first league game as caretaker boss last weekend in the 1-0 win at Chelsea, and on Friday morning he was confirmed as Nathan Jones’ successor until the end of the season. Saints have been in the bottom three since Jones was appointed in November, with only one victory from his eight Premier League games in charge. After pulling off an unlikely win at Stamford Bridge, Saints now sit just three points off 17th place as they prepare to head to fellow strugglers Leeds, who are also under new management. The appointment of Selles, who has held various coaching roles across Europe during his career, comes after Southampton failed to agree a deal with former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch. Nevertheless, having also been part of the backroom staff under former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, Selles feels a sense of continuity can help guide the club back towards top-flight stability. “It is a pleasure for me and I think all of the technical staff deserve this, they have been amazing and working hard together,” said Selles. “We are one mission and we are all in for that, so there is not much time to take the focus away from that. “I am very thankful with the owners to give me the opportunity until the end of the season and with all the support that I got from the fans. “Once the club decided that I was the person to take it until the end of the season, I just continued, doing nothing special, continuing the good work that we have been doing for the last two weeks.” Selles told a press conference: “I have the job full-time. It is not an opportunity, it is just what it is. “It is the Premier League, it is a challenge and it is a way to lead a great organisation into a good moment and that is how I am going to take it. “I do not need to prove anything. I just think that we have a very, very, very good group inside to work and it is my pleasure to lead. “It is not about that I have been appointed as manager, it is about the technical staff and the group working in the same direction. “The players have been working hard the last two weeks and have made that position for me, so it is about all of us.” Selles maintains the squad must stay focused on producing consistent performances rather than worry about what the end of the season might bring. “I don’t think in the long term. I am just thinking about the game tomorrow and about how I make my boys to have the best chance tomorrow to perform,” he said. “If we perform well we can have the chance to win, and that is going to be our philosophy. “Then in the end of the season we will say this is enough for us to stay (up), but what we need is just to be proud of everything we do and that is what we are doing.” Saints will be without forward Che Adams and Croatian winger Mislav Orsic, because of concussion protocols, for the trip to Elland Road, but Mohammed Salisu has been able to return to training this week. Javi Gracia will take charge of his first match with Leeds, having been brought in as Marsch’s replacement earlier this week and now received his working visa. Selles said: “Javi is a great coach with a long career in Spain and also here in England with Watford. “He has a little bit different style than Jesse in Leeds and of course, as any manager, he will try to bring his own philosophy. “I think they will look a little bit different tomorrow than they looked before. Let’s see what they prepare for us.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil working to ‘blend’ short and long-term goals at Cherries #AFCB

February 23, 2023
O’Neil’s performance as interim head coach saw him handed the reins on a full-time basis in November. But the 39-year-old had a long wait to record his first win in permanent charge. A run of nine games without a win saw Cherries knocked out of both the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and slip to 19th in the Premier League table. They arrested the slump with a vital 1-0 triumph at Wolves on Saturday, a result which lifted Cherries out of the bottom three. During the poor run of form, some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the direction the team was heading in with O’Neil in charge. Asked if he had been given any assurances by those above him that they were happy with the job he was carrying out during the recent struggles, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I speak to Richard Hughes (technical director) more regularly, but Neill (Blake, chief executive) as well. “I haven’t had any discussions or I haven’t asked for any assurances. “I’m doing the job as asked, as I was before the transfer window and as I was before the break. “It’s just head down and try and win the next football match.” When Jonathan Woodgate was drafted in as interim boss at Cherries in 2021, a move which eventually became permanent, he revealed he leaned on the vast experience of Harry Redknapp for advice to help him during the early stages. Asked if there was anybody he had turned to during Cherries’ tough spell, O’Neil replied: “There are people that I trust and whose opinion I value. “I do think it’s difficult sometimes, you hear opinions sometimes of people that aren’t close enough to it to know what is actually going on. “You need to make sure you take the right opinions of people that have a knowledge of what’s going on in the football club. But I’m happy to take advice from people I value.” Quizzed on if his remit when taking the job on a permanent basis was just based around avoiding relegation this season, O’Neil explained: “There’s a few things attached to it. “I won’t go into too much detail, but there’s a few things that needed progressing at the football club. “We’re working hard, everybody, not just me as the head coach, as you saw in January with the type of players we tried to recruit, the age of them, the profile. “It wasn’t just a short-term transfer window where we were trying to fix things for the here and now. There was a lot of planning that went in. “Obviously new ownership as well with long-term plans. As always with football there are short-term needs and there are long-term plans. “You need to blend the two. You need to do well enough in the short-term to make sure you see the long-term. “But my work is always around both, making sure the club is in a good place, long term. And in the short term, trying to make sure we win every Saturday.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil talks about Marcus Tavernier #AFCB

February 23, 2023
The 23-year-old marked his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury with the game’s only goal on Saturday, helping Cherries to their first win since November. Former Middlesbrough man Tavernier had missed eight games prior to returning to first-team action off the bench in Cherries’ 1-1 draw with Newcastle. Injury came at arguably the worst possible time for the winger, Tavernier ruled out right before domestic football restarted following the World Cup. Before the Premier League break, the Leeds-born attacker had scored two goals and provided four assists in his last four appearances. Discussing Tavernier, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I thought Tavs did well to get his goal, but I felt you could see that he'd been out for a while. “I thought some of his decision making, understandably so, he’s been out for a very long time and the Premier League moves fast. “So, yeah, some of his decision making, some of his ball handling, maybe wasn't quite at the level that it was before the break. “But delighted to get him back.” Despite admitting his star was yet to reach full match fitness, O’Neil did credit Tavernier for making the required run to get on the end of Dominic Solanke’s cross. He explained: “We worked hard this week on trying to arrive (in attacking areas). “That sort of half space run that Dom produced for the goal and making sure we arrive in the goal frame. “And maybe some of our other wide players wouldn't have arrived, or some of our midfield players would have been on the penalty spot looking for cutbacks, and Tavs fully commits, arrives in the penalty area. “Tavs is a big player for us and big players sometimes come up with moments even when they've not been at their best.” Tavernier was replaced after 57 minutes at the weekend with a complaint with his other hamstring, with O’Neil stating precautionary checks would be carried out ahead of Cherries game with Manchester City this weekend.
Gavin Bazunu
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC’s Gavin Bazunu opens up on difficult ‘learning’ season #SAINTSFC

February 21, 2023
It wasn’t just that the 21-year-old - as of Monday - put in perhaps his most complete performance of the season against one of the league’s supposed elite. It wasn’t just that he made a crucial late save to deny Conor Gallagher and help his side keep their points. And it wasn’t just that he notched his second clean sheet of the season. It’s that he did all of that when Saints were at their most desperate, following a period fraught with collective - and personal - strife. When questions were asked of this entire Saints team and of Bazunu’s place in the side - and the league - the Republic of Ireland international stepped up in the only way he knows how: with calm assuredness and eye on whatever comes next. READ MORE: Fixtures confirmed for busy Saints April with FIVE of six games set for new times “I think it’s been difficult at times but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world," Bazunu told the Daily Echo of his first season in the Premier League.  "I’ve learned so much and I’m going to continue to learn. I think I always knew it was going to be like this, I knew it wasn’t going to be plain-sailing. "It’s the best league in the world, I’m coming in as a young goalkeeper, seeing these things for the first time and I think the most important thing is to not get caught up or get too disappointed about things and keep a level of confidence that I’m where I need to be and I just need to keep working hard.” Gavin Bazunu makes a save against Newcastle in the EFL Cup. (Image: PA) Saints spent upwards of £10m recruiting Bazunu from Manchester City this summer in part because of the immense talent he had already displayed on loan at Rochdale and Portsmouth. But also because of what he has the potential to become. And that potential is no doubt due to the way he thinks, not just what he shows on the pitch. Breaking into the Shamrock Rovers first team at the age of 15, Bazunu’s route to the top has been a lot longer than the age on his driving licence would lead you to believe possible. It’s this journey that’s helped Bazunu develop the mindset that makes everyone around him so confident he’ll reach the lofty heights expected of him. While he admits that he would have constantly replayed mistakes over in his mind earlier in his career, he’s managed to find focus as he’s gotten older. “I think that’s the whole reason I had the two loan spells at Rochdale and Portsmouth, to go out and gain that experience and learn what it’s like to make mistakes when points are needed," Bazunu explains. "Not just to have that experience on the pitch but to learn off the pitch how to move on from difficult games. That stood me well this season. Of course, there’s a bigger level of scrutiny playing in the Premier League but the processes are the same. "Once the game is gone, there’s nothing you can do. You can look back and try to learn from your mistakes but there’s nothing you can do to try and change the results - so you’ve just got to look forward to the next game.” Of course, Bazunu’s season has been far from perfect as he’s been part of a defence that has conceded in all but two Premier League games, letting in the third-most goals in the division. Mistakes from the youngster have cost his side. Equally, mistakes from his defence have cost him. Speaking on how he's dealt with the tough moments this season has provided, Bazunu said: “When times are tough and we were in a run of difficult results, I think the most important thing is to keep your circle small, listen to the people you care about and who want the best for you. They’re going to give you the advice you need to go forward. “To be honest, there’s no real magic words that people could say to stop you from feeling how you feel after difficult games or after making mistakes. There’s nothing anyone could say to make you feel better. "But there’s definitely people you can have around who will continue to point you in the right direction and continue to provide support. And to lean on those people when times are tough and trust their judgement, is the most important thing. “I’m not superhuman so your confidence will go up and down every now and again but I think the most important thing is to have people around you who will continue to allow you to stay as level as possible. Gavin Bazunu pictured in action against Brentford earlier this season (Image: PA) "This game is crazy, there’s going to be ups, there’s going to be downs. And to find that consistent level in between, I think the ones who can stay at those levels for the longest times are the ones who are the best.” When Bazunu arrived at St Mary’s as the club’s first signing of a busy and youthful summer rebuild, Ralph Hasenhuttl said it was no guarantee that he would start immediately ahead of the vastly more experienced Alex McCarthy. But an impressive pre-season saw Bazunu get the nod for the opening day’s fixture at Tottenham Hotspur and he’s started every Premier League game since, even as rumours swirled in the national media that Saints might be considering a change. “I don’t really look at those types of things and I wouldn’t be one to read into that too much,” Bazunu said of reports suggesting he could be dropped. “They’re from outside sources. In here, we have private conversations and we know where we stand. Every day I just go out onto the pitch to train as hard as I can and prove that I should be the one playing.” That faith in Bazunu - shown now by Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones, and Ruben Selles - was rewarded with the fine performance he put in at Stamford Bridge. But Saints need consistency and that’s the new challenge. Not as if any of that is news to Bazunu. “There’s been a really good feeling and atmosphere around the training ground after a really good result. "But I think the most important thing is that we don’t get caught up in that one result and we make sure we work really hard this week to bring that consistency of performance and the level of performance that we showed and bring it into Saturday’s game.”
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC captain James Ward-Prowse on week of ‘chaos’ and ‘noise’ #SAINTSFC

February 21, 2023
Saints haven’t had enough of those special moments this season. Approaching Saturday’s trip to West London, Saints had racked up just four Premier League wins all season while it had been 35 days since their most recent success away at Everton. But with a trademark swing of James Ward-Prowse’s right boot, Saints claimed a gigantic victory and the celebrations in front of the Stamford Bridge away end were merely a window into the scale of this win. READ MORE: Victory over Chelsea restores something long lost at Saints - we can see belief “That’s what it's all about,” Ward-Prowse told the Daily Echo of the scenes that greeted the full-time whistle.  “They work hard following us up and down the country. It’s not been a great season, we know that, and to give them those sort of moments… you see the joy and passion on their faces at the end.  “That’s what football’s all about, giving people that feeling and hopefully, we can give them that more consistently now.” Saints celebrate their win at Chelsea on Saturday in front of the travelling fans. (Image: PA) It’s a considerably different mood around the club now compared to last weekend when Wolves came from a goal down - with a man less - to beat Saints 2-1 and inspire a cacophony of boos at St Mary’s. The defeat marked the end of the disastrously brief Nathan Jones era at Southampton Football Club and after a week of rumours - most notably that Jesse Marsch was set to take over the vacant managerial role - it was Ruben Selles who led Saints to Chelsea. And it was Selles who was pushed to the front of the celebratory melee of Saints players and staff as Chelsea trudged off the pitch following the shock result.  “Huge win for us. It’s been a tough week, there’s been a lot of noise, a lot of chaos,” Ward-Prowse reflected.  “And for us to get through that in the way that we did, I think speaks a lot about the group that we’ve got and the way that we’ve been managed this week, and we’ve come away with a huge three points. “I think Ruben took over at a time of a bit of stress and he’s calmed everybody down and given us a familiar way of playing. So I’m incredibly pleased for him.  James Ward-Prowse was the hero yet again as Saints beat Chelsea on Saturday. (Image: PA) “He’s come in and shown a real passion for what he wants to do. I think there’s a lot of speculation around who’s going to take the job but he could only do what he did today and everybody wanted to play for him and give him a good chance.” Despite the win, Saints remain bottom of the Premier League table and Ward-Prowse is under no illusion about the challenge in store for him and his team to beat the drop.  “It doesn’t matter who the manager is, we have to perform and give 100% no matter what,” the Saints captain continued.  “But today is a springboard, now it’s just a question of being consistent with it to give ourselves a good chance for the next few games. READ NEXT: The state of Saints Premier League survival hopes after dramatic week at the bottom “I think there are a lot of things out of our control and we can’t control everything. But Ruben has steadied that this week, given us a bit of calm, given us a bit of belief in how we go about things.  “And now it’s about doing it on a consistent basis and not getting too carried away with the win today. Yeah, it’s fantastic, but we forget about it by tomorrow and look forward to next week.” Saints are back in action on Saturday when they head to Elland Road for another massive game in their season, facing Leeds United who sit just one place and one point ahead.
Marcus Tavernier
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Marcus Tavernier credits Cherries’ defence for Wolves win #AFCB

February 21, 2023
Tavernier returned to the starting XI for the first time since November, having recovered from a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old had a mixed afternoon, but did grab the game’s only goal before being substituted just before the hour mark. Wolves dominated possession and shots at Molineux, but Cherries’ defence held firm, with centre-back duo Jack Stephens and Marcos Senesi in particular singled out for praise by boss Gary O’Neil after the contest. “It's just good to contribute to the team and help us get a win,” Tavernier said. “It was massive. We've been saying in every other interview that we needed to build on last week (against Newcastle) and I feel like we did that, both in going forward and a big, massive thanks for the defence, for the performance they put in. “I feel us forward players (in the first half) could have could have been better in going forward and be more clinical on counter attacks, with the final pass and myself included, we could have been a lot better. “But the manager told us at half time to just compose ourselves and take that into the second half, and we did that. “And then the defence played the same way they did in the first half, keeping the ball out of net. And that's got us the three points. “It’s massive, always, to get the first goal, so you're not chasing the game and we've done that. As attackers, our job is to put the ball in the back of the net and we've done that. “The defence is there to keep the ball out and they were great throughout this game.” He added: “We've got a lot of belief in that changing room. And we know we can't get too high or too low in this league. “We have to just keep taking it a game at a time. And I think with the last couple of performances, we can be happy with that, but we can't get settled. “We have to just keep building on it and getting better each week.” The win lifted Cherries outside the relegation zone, sitting one point ahead of West Ham United with 13 games remaining. Cherries remain odds-on favourites with the bookmakers to go down, with their next three fixtures against the league’s current top two Manchester City and Arsenal, before hosting Liverpool. “I take no notice and we haven't got here by luck,” Tavernier said, when asked about people writing off Cherries’ chances. “It's not luck to get in this division so we have every right to stay in it and it’s just up to us to do that and make sure that happens.” Asked how confident he is of Cherries’ survival chances, the former Middlesbrough man added: “That's why we're here. We're in this league, like I said before, we're not in here by luck. “We've earned it. The boys did a great job last season to get promoted, and now it's our job to stay in here and it's not going to be easy. “It’s the toughest league in the world, but we’re here to fight and do that.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil speaks after beating Wolves #AFCB

February 20, 2023
Marcus Tavernier marked his first start since November with the game’s only goal to give Cherries a precious 1-0 win at Molineux. Victory was Cherries’ first in 10 games, adding a vital three points to their tally by finally converting improved performances into a result. O’Neil credited the win to Cherries’ ability to edge the game in their favour. Reflecting on the game, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I think (Wolves) was a big game for us -  as they always are. “I think since Nottingham Forest probably where we were really short players and we put in a good performance, unlucky not to win. “Good performance at Brighton, unlucky not to beat Newcastle. To go four on the trot where their performances have given us a real chance of taking something from the games. “Spoke a lot this week, I think I mentioned it in the pre-match (press conference) as well, that some things that we need to do to try and swing the fine margins our way, because it's not always luck. “I think you saw that (against Wolves). “I think the boys had a real focus around managing the game, certain situations that the boys did well, that doesn't look like a lot, but if you can just try and grab a centimetre here and there, it can make a big difference at the end. “And (against Wolves) felt like that. “I felt we weren’t too different to some of the other games we’ve just played in, but we managed to make sure that the fine margins fell in our favour.” Wins for Everton and Southampton, as well as an impressive draw for Nottingham Forest against Manchester City poured cold water on Cherries’ result. Asked for his thoughts on other side’s results, O’Neil replied: “I haven't seen any other results. “I'm not really too interested in those.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil issues injury update on playing squad after Wolves win #AFCB

February 19, 2023
Summer signing Tavernier was the match-winner at Molineux, the winger converting from Dominic Solanke’s cross. It was the 23-year-old’s first start since November, with Tavernier missing eight fixtures following a hamstring injury. Lerma came off at the break, with O’Neil revealing that the Colombian had fallen ill prior to the game. Unable to continue for the remaining 45 minutes, Lerma was replaced with Joe Rothwell. O’Neil explained to the Daily Echo: “Jeff was ill very close to kick off, so it was a bit late to change him from the starting XI. “But he wasn't feeling very well so we knew we might have to change him. At half time he was struggling, so we have to change.” There were fears that when Tavernier went down injured that he had suffered a reoccurrence of his aforementioned hamstring injury. However, O’Neil said that the winger’s issue is not with the same hamstring, also sharing his belief that it was not a serious problem. Cherries had been preparing to take Tavernier off before he went down requiring treatment, with Jaidon Anthony brought on in his stead. Asked about Tavernier, O’Neil insisted: “No, it's not a reoccurrence. “We were about to take Tavs (Marcus Tavernier) off anyway. I think we were doing Dango (Ouattara) and Tavs together, I think, for Antoine (Semenyo) and Jaidon (Anthony). Then Tavs went down. We're not sure. “It's the other hamstring, for starters, he thinks there was a contact on it as well from the tackle. So the best news would be that it was just a contact. “And even if it wasn't, he seems to think it just tightened up a little bit. “So we're hopeful that it won't be anything too serious, but there'll obviously be checks that need to go in place.”