Oriol Romeu Danny Ings
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Oriol Romeu expects big summer overhaul in dressing room after multiple bad results #SAINTSFC

May 29, 2022
ORIOL Romeu conceded “if we carry on like this we could really struggle” and is expecting changes made to the Saints squad this summer. The transfer window opens in just two weeks with the St Mary’s faithful anticipating a busy first summer under new owners Sport Republic. The club looked to be making quick progress in 2022 and was targeting a first top-half finish under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, but that is not how it transpired. Saints finished in 15th in the Premier League for a second consecutive season, but even amassed three points fewer (40) than last season’s total. Read more - Southampton part ways with three of Hasenhuttl's coaching staff A number of positions have emerged as problem areas with the expiry of contracts and loan deals, and the lack of fight shown in Saints’ final 12 league games leaves Romeu anticipating player overhaul. “When you are not getting results there is always going to be changes,” the Spaniard admitted. “Especially at the end of the season when there is the window and you can look around and reinforce some areas if you want to. Saints midfielder Oriol Romeu is under contract only until summer 2023 (Pic: PA) “The way we are playing has not been good enough, and we want to head into a better direction and right now it looks like if we carry on this we could really struggle, which is not a feeling you want to have. “There could be changes, we don’t know, we don’t make these decisions but I’m pretty sure that will happen.” The Daily Echo understands sources close to the club expect a 'very busy' summer, with players targeted in 'pretty much every position'. The 30-year-old midfielder, whose own contract is set to expire in June 2023, made his 36th Premier League appearance of the season in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Leicester City. “It was heartbreaking to see our fans chanting and singing, being loud and going home with a 4-1 defeat,” he added. Some set of supporters this. 👏 #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/S4O5xZLk67 — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 22, 2022 “It hurts everyone at the club and hurts them as well. It is annoying to go into the summer now with this defeat.” Saints were on the receiving end of a refereeing error and player confusion with the two sides deadlocked at 0-0, at King Power Stadium. James Maddison scored the opener minutes into the second-half after Jon Moss had mistakenly awarded a drop-ball in Leicester’s favour, with Saints in possession when play was halted. It was sent forward by Leicester goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, pressed by Jamie Vardy and finished by his compatriot. Hasenhuttl confirmed after the match he asked Brendan Rodgers to give his team the goal back in the interest of respect, but this did not happen. Ralph Hasenhuttl in discussion with referee Jon Moss at full-time (Pic: PA) “There were a few things that didn’t go our way, we don’t need to talk too much about decisions and what happened but what we need to do better is once we get that first goal,” Romeu insisted, “But coming back into the game at 2-1 and conceding one or two minutes after, what are you going to do in these moments, you need to keep yourself alive in the game and give yourself some options to come back into the game.” “Very weird,” he added on the Foxes’ opener, though. “We are still talking about it and don’t really understand it. “I tried to block Jamie Vardy and he said I kicked him, I was blocking him. He (Moss) gave them the ball and I don’t know why, because we had it. “It is still our mistake, we gave it away too easily and it was an easy chance for them to score. Then probably from that goal everything changed.” #SaintsFC's Oriol Romeu played 45 minutes during his second cap for Catalonia last night.They beat Jamaica 6-0, playing their first fixture since 2019, and the 30-year-old made his first start. 👏 pic.twitter.com/vyJVpScIy1 — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 26, 2022 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 take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl admits games postponement is part of premier league season #SAINTSFC

March 10, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl has not changed his opinion on the eligibility of newly-signed players in rearranged matches, but added: “I don’t care, to be honest. This is not the question I use energy for.” The Saints boss had revealed that Premier League clubs were discussing whether players signed in the January transfer window should be able to play in games initially scheduled in 2021, at the start of 2022. His comments came as discussions were being held over a spate of controversially postponed matches, including the upcoming clash with Newcastle United at St Mary’s. The Premier League went on to change their rulings so successful postponements now require a minimum of four positive COVID cases, but no ruling was adjusted to alter squad and player eligibility in any circumstance. 🚨 Confirmation that #PremierLeague teams must now have FOUR minimum COVID positive cases to postpone a match.This is a minimum marker and not necessarily an automatic trigger. #SaintsFC boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has long called for greater clarity. https://t.co/e01tzMNdkd — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) January 26, 2022 Asked if his opinions changed since the emotionally-charged comments Hasenhuttl made two months ago, the Austrian responded: “No. But it is how it is, what should I say? “It’s not on me to discuss if it’s okay or not. It’s on somebody else for the future if this can be possible. I’m not affecting that massively in this way. “Teams in a relegation battle have more to look at in the moment. We’re not in this zone. We have to play a team that is completely different now, but it’s okay. This is not the issue. “There will always be transfer windows and every time when you play afterwards, a team can look different. I don’t care, to be honest. This is not the question I use energy for.” Ralph Hasenhuttl is targeting a first top-half league finish with Saints (Pic: Stuart Martin) At the time, Hasenhuttl’s comments and suggestions in the interest of fairness had support in the shape of other Premier League managers. West Ham’s David Moyes agreed with the Saints manager that players signed after the initial date of a rearranged meeting should not be eligible to play. However, Hasenhuttl accepts that this kind of legislation would have too many hurdles and variables to get through in the Premier League – including the fact teams have weakened their squads by selling players. He points out “you cannot say everybody should play this game for his old club”. Hasenhuttl continued: “It’s not easy because also some clubs have lost players in that moment. Saints did not have a first-team arrival or exit in the January window (Pic: Stuart Martin) “Every time a game is cancelled or postponed, it’s not perfect for the league. We have still a situation where teams have played three games less than the others, so the table you’re looking at, forget it, because it doesn’t tell the truth.” The boss added: “It’s never good. We have in England always the problem with the FA Cup. Automatically games are postponed when teams are still involved in the FA Cup. “This is something unique in Europe I must say. So there you very often end up in the last two or three weeks playing suddenly a massive amount of games. Until that moment the table doesn’t tell you the truth. “That’s why it doesn’t make much sense to look at it.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl admits Saints have to make changes ‘either with current players or with others’ #SAINTSFC

May 25, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted “the table doesn’t lie” after Saints’ disappointing second half to the season and added changes were needed “either with these players or with others”. The Austrian manager saw his side suffer a 3-0 thumping at West Ham on the final day of the campaign at London Stadium. After a promising start, a quickfire double from Spain international Pablo Fornals set Saints on the back foot. Declan Rice added another for the hosts late on. Victory would have ensured a 12th-placed finish for the St Mary’s side. In contrast, they ended the season in 15th – conceding 68 goals in the process. Only relegated West Brom shipped more than Saints across the league campaign. Asked how much of a mental and financial blow it was for the club to miss out on 12th spot, Hasenhuttl replied: “When you see how far away we have been from winning on Sunday – even if they score the first goal - we had a way of defending them that was far away from deserving something. “This is the reason why we don't have to speak about position 12. "Last season, after the break, we had the quality to go up levels, this season, especially the second half, we haven't been good enough. "This is the reason why we end up where we end up. The table doesn’t lie.” Saints’ have picked up just 17 points from a possible 66 available during 2021, losing 15 of their 22 league contests. The St Mary’s side had remarkably been top of the pile back in November, after beating Newcastle 2-0 at home. "I think it is not so difficult to analyse this season, to be honest,” said Hasenhuttl. “When you concede the second-most goals in the Premier League then we know very clear what is missing at the moment. “When you see from what chances that they (West Ham) make goals against us, I mean, I have never seen us conceding so easily. "But, okay, this is what we know, this is what we have to change. Either with these players or with others."