Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl insists on 35 year old Shane long continuing for another season #SAINTSFC

May 30, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl has insisted 35-year-old Shane Long can “keep on going in the summer”, despite his Saints contract coming to an end. He could yet sign renewed terms, but the Irishman looks set to exit St Mary’s after eight years with the club following the conclusion of his deal next month. The veteran forward has played 344 Premier League matches across his career, scoring 56 goals – although only one of those has come in the last two seasons. Long netted twice in 19 appearances across all competitions this campaign – in the FA Cup at Swansea City and versus Everton in the league. And Hasenhuttl thinks the forward can continue playing into next season, where he will turn 36. “From the physical side it is definitely possible for him to keep on going in the summer, definitely,” the Austrian told the Daily Echo. “He is very robust and when you are so quick, yeah you lose a little bit when you get older, but still quick enough for playing as a striker. It is no coincidence that he has played so many games in the Premier League.” Hasenhuttl, who retired from his role as a striker when he was almost 37, continued: “We speak about a different level when I stopped my game – not on this level, I never played on this level, so I do not want to compare him to me. “But I know how it feels when you come to 35, 36 or 37 as a player. I must say that I absolutely love this game to play, and that is the reason why I tried to play for as long as possible. “I think he does the same, he loves this game, he loves to compete, he loves to come here and train every day. It is something extraordinarily beautiful. “He still wants to learn, wants to get better and still wants to improve his game. This is the most beautiful job - better than being a manager!” 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
Shane Long
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Yan Valery explains Shane Long’s hidden Southampton importance #SAINTSFC

January 3, 2022
YAN Valery plays up the importance of Shane Long to Saints’ squad and exclaims: “Seriously, he is like the best. He’s always there encouraging and giving us ways to get better.” The 22-year-old Frenchman stole the spotlight on his first Premier League start of the season with a solid defensive performance against in-form Tottenham Hotspur, during the 1-1 draw at St Mary’s. But veteran forward Long, 34, was also making a surprising first start for Ralph Hasenhuttl in the league this campaign, following less successful substitute cameos versus Wolves and Crystal Palace. The Irishman is an experienced professional with 334 Premier League appearances and 55 goals to his name, as well having nearly received 100 caps from his country across a senor career that started with Cork City in 2005. Shane Long made his first start of the Premier League season versus Tottenham Hotspur (Pic: Stuart Martin) It’s experience that Valery insists he’s using to pass down to a relatively young and still developing Saints squad. “Seriously, he is actually like the best,” the defender revealed. “Even without the gametime, he is always there encouraging, giving us some help, giving us some ways to get better. The fastest goal in #PL history 💨Take a bow, Shane Long 👏#GoalOfTheDay | @SouthamptonFC pic.twitter.com/iOg4ytWu8c — Premier League (@premierleague) December 30, 2021 “And then even today on the pitch, after not having any gametime this season, you can tell that he was fighting until the end, winning all the heading, he was just superb for us and he’s the best.” Based on what has been exhibited in recent appearances, with no Premier League notch since February 2020 and just two Championship strikes since then in a stint with Bournemouth, it is no surprise that a few supporters grimaced when seeing Hasenhuttl’s makeshift lineup. Shane Long had a loan stint with Championship side Bournemouth (Pic: PA)   His inclusion was likely not even part of the plan, with Che Adams expected to make a start after his brief return at West Ham - but the Scot was ruled out with a positive COVID test at 10PM the night before. Long instead delivered a valuable service that fell just short of finding the net himself, winning eight/10 of his aerial duels and producing some tidy play in the opposition half to give 10-man Saints an occasional breather. As president of the Shane Long fan club I'm fully behind him today. — Saints Pins (@saintspins) December 28, 2021 “He did superbly,” Valery added, assessing the frontman’s performance. “Like I said he was winning the balls in front, we needed him there. “He was so strong against the centre-backs, I’m sure if you ask the Tottenham centre-backs they can tell you it was a really hard game against him, so yeah he did it superbly against them.” Shane Long also featured in the EFL Cup at Chelsea this season (Pic: PA) Long’s Saints contract is due to expire at the end of this campaign and it is unlikely a new deal will be on the horizon. However, Hasenhuttl recently confirmed that he believes no player wants to leave Saints during the January window so it looks like Long may remain as a back-up until the conclusion of his deal.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl believes Shane Long plays an important role at Saints #SAINTSFC

December 9, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl insists he has no plans to let "important" Shane Long leave the club in January, despite the striker's lack of game-time this season. The Republic of Ireland international, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bournemouth, has played just 65 minutes of football for Saints this season, across three appearances. Only one of those games has come in the Premier League, when the 34-year-old came off the bench in the defeat to Wolves back in September. Since, Long has been an unused substitute for eight of the subsequent nine top-flight matches, left out of the squad on the other occasion. The striker was set to make his 230th appearance for the club on Saturday, stripped and ready to come on during the closing stages against Brighton. However, after the Seagulls equalised, Hasenhuttl opted against introducing Long. Saints have struggled for goals this season, following the summer departure of Danny Ings. Only Wolves and Norwich have netted fewer in the Premier League than Saints' 14 so far. Asked how much Long can help the club's other strikers, boss Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: "Yes, sure he can help them and I am very happy to have him in my squad. “It was close for him to start against Liverpool. I had him in my mind because it was a good game for him. “Then finally I decided to give the young players a chance because I thought it was a game where they can learn a lot. “But, definitely, he is important for them. “What he can do best is definitely work with his effort, his professionalism with the young lads. He is a good role model I think, one of the good role models we have in our team." Asked if he may have to have a conversation with Long ahead of the January transfer window regarding his playing time, Hasenhuttl added: "No, because I think the clear message, especially for an experienced player is that they have to accept the different role they have when they are getting older. “I was playing until I was 37 years old and, especially in my last years, I was very often only a joker and helped the team when they needed me for 10 or 15 minutes. “This is the job you have to do then. This time will come for everybody who plays long because it is normal situation in every club that the older players are stepping back and that the job is done from the young ones. “They still have an important role to play in a club, in a team, in a dressing room – to be positive with us, to support everybody and this is a job he does perfectly."
Shane Long
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl insists Saints will ‘find a solution’ for frontman #ShaneLong #SAINTSFC

May 21, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl insists Saints will “find a solution” for frontman Shane Long when he returns from his loan spell at AFC Bournemouth. The Republic of Ireland international is currently helping Cherries in their bid to return to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. Long was an unused substitute for Jonathan Woodgate’s men in their 1-0 first-leg victory over Brentford at Vitality Stadium on Monday. He was loaned to the Dorset outfit in February at the 11th hour of the transfer window, almost simultaneously with the addition of Takumi Minamino from Liverpool to Saints. Striker Long signed a two-year contract extension at St Mary’s last summer. Asked whether he felt Long could come back and make an impact at the club next season, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: “We will discuss every player when they are coming back and then we know what we need to do next season – what is the goal, how we want to play and what players are fitting then to our shape, what we want to do. “This all has influence on the decision we take. “Longy had done a good job for this club for a long time and we will find a solution, definitely. “Either he stays here or when he has another option, we will have a look for this. This is how we will handle every player.” Long has played 11 times in the Championship for Cherries, scoring in games against Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City. The Tipperary-born frontman has started four times for Woodgate’s side – and recently had a spell out with a groin problem. Asked what he had made of the striker’s loan spell and game time so far, Hasenhuttl said: “I think it could have been more. “He was also injured I think one time and, overall, you have to say all our loan players didn’t get the game time they expected to get. “You can always speculate why this happens. We don’t know it 100 per cent but we only see the fact that they are not playing enough. “Mario Lemina played a little bit more at Fulham but also relegating with the team. “Finally, we have a few others in other leagues not so much playing – not a lot of players get the chance to play there.” Long could be involved when Cherries make the trip to Brentford for the second leg on Saturday.