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.”
Dan Burn
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ex Brighton defender Dan Burn reveals fulfilling his dream of playing at St James park #NUFC #BHAFC

March 19, 2022
THE GRUESOME way a former Albion star lost a finger in an accident have been revealed. Dan Burn made 74 appearances for Brighton and Hove Albion after signing for the club in 2018. In January, the 29-year-old joined his boyhood club Newcastle United for a reported £13 million fee. Despite an impressive start to his time at St. James' Park, Burn was left with his head in his hands after Kai Havertz scored a late winner for Chelsea. After photos of a disappointed Burn were published, many fans noticed that the former Seagulls star was missing a finger. Former Albion defender Dan Burn According to reports, Burn lost his ring finger on his right hand following an accident he was involved in as a teenager. At the age of 13, Burn was allegedly wearing a ring while climbing a fence when it caught on a spike, according to The Free Library. The incident led to his finger being ripped off. The centre-back was born in the Northumberland town of Blyth, and reportedly had a Newcastle United season ticket as a child. Following his move from Brighton, Burn said: “I’m buzzing to be here. I never thought I’d be in this position, so to be a Newcastle player and to be around St. James’ Park, it’s something I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid. “From sitting in the East Stand as a kid to now, it’s crazy.” Earlier this month, Albion boss Graham Potter said he has no regrets selling Burn to Newcastle. Potter said the transfer was a “hard one” to stop after Newcastle’s bid for the 6ft 7in defender, who had just 17 months left on his contract. He said: "Dan has carried on the form that he showed with us. He was a starting player for us and since then our results haven't been as positive, so it's an easy thing to say and I can understand why they're saying it.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss Graham Potter thinks club’s problems lie in the home form #BHAFC

March 18, 2022
GRAHAM Potter does not think that the side's record in front of goal at home is not a true reflection of the quality of the team. Albion have only scored ten goals at the Amex this season and have the fourth-worst home record this season. Out of their 15 home fixtures, this season Potter's side have only won three times and have lost seven, drawing the other five. Brighton's Jakub Model was tackled before being able to get a shot off at goal against Tottenham When asked if ten goals at home was a true reflection of how good the team is, Potter said: "No, I don't think it is. "I think we can do better than that, and we have to do better than that. "The boys have tried but we have lacked that little bit of quality that we need. "Premier League teams come with Premier League defenders that make it difficult for you and we have to find the answer to that solution." The manager is hopeful that his side will be able to improve their record when they return from the international break. He said: "We have to look at how we can create more. I think that is a fair position, especially at home. "At home we haven't done as well as we would have liked in front of the supporters. The supporters try with us completely but it is not easy for them, as we have not done well enough at home. "We are a little bit away from a final pass or a final finish or a final opportunity, we are not quite there and we have to help the players get there. "We have to put that right against Norwich."
Amex Stadium Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton give insight of adding new pre-match option for fans at the Amex Stadium #BHAFC

January 29, 2022
Albion supporters have been given a hint of how their new-look pre-game ritual could work in a year or two. The club have initial plans to develop a fans area between the North Stand and Falmer station. It would accommodate supporters looking to socialise before a game. The idea has been likened to the sort of set-up popular outside Bundesliga venues in Germany. Or something akin to the social areas you might find outside a sports venue in the USA – though for pedestrians rather than a tailgating scenario. But the new development will not be up and running for a while yet as the club wait for the right time to make the financial investment and ensure their planning is just right. Paul Barber, Albion’s chief executive and deputy chairman, revealed the plan at a fans forum this week. He likened it to the type of thing he often saw first-hand when working for MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps. Barber said: “What we want to to try and create there is a covered area where people can get together with family and friends from other parts of the stadium. “Have a better food and drink offer. “Have somewhere maybe for the kids to run around safely. “And generally try and create an extended matchday, particularly for those early-season and late-season games when we’ve got much better weather. “And then, even when we haven’t, to be able to get under some sort of canopy and enjoy a beer or burger or something before you go through the turnstiles. “It is something I think we very much want to do. “We’ve got the planning permission in principle, we are tweaking the design. “As soon as we have got a little more cash in the bank to invest again, then we will look to do that.” Albion already welcome supporters to enjoy a beer and chat on concourses around the stadium before and after a game. But this would be a step up from that and would almost certainly prove hugely popular among fans. There is a sizeable area outside the ticket office which has been used for catering vans and sometimes a bandstand down the years. But Barber sees potential to make better use of it. He said: “When I was in North America, in the MLS, we used to do a lot of it and it was great. “Fans loved it, sponsors loved it and food and drink suppliers loved it. What’s not to like about it? We have just got to find the money to do it because we want to do it properly. “We want to do something for families because it’s not easy if you are turning up early for a game to keep children amused. “Running off a bit of steam would be good as well. “We will be looking to do all those sorts of things over the course of the next season or two.” Barber, pictured, was also asked about the possibility of safe-standing at the stadium His reply was very much in line with how Albion have always viewed the issue at their now almost 11-year-old home. He said: “We have always said we would be open-minded but we would have to consider the cost versus the investment Tony (Bloom) has already made.” Albion would not make the change without significant proof of a strong appetite for safe-standing within their fanbase. They are keen to remind fans it would not be anything like the old days of terracing some of them still recall fondly. Barber added: “It would not add revenue or capacity.” The most likely area for safe-standing would appear to be the back rows of the North Stand. But the chances of it actually happening currently appear remote.
Amex Stadium Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton release statement on exit congestion when leaving Amex Stadium #BHAFC

January 17, 2022
ALBION have released a statement as fans complain of a “scary” situation when leaving the stadium after Brighton’s match against Crystal Palace on Friday. The club said it is aware of “congestion and delays encountered by a number of supporters” leaving the north east corner of the stadium after the match. They apologised for “any inconvenience caused” and said the club monitored congestion from their control room and directed police and staff to the area as quickly as possible to help ease it. Fans described being “hemmed in the north stand in an uncomfortable crowd for far too long” and said there were also problems with crowding outside. The club’s statement read: “The club is aware of the congestion and delays encountered by a number of supporters leaving the north east corner of the stadium after Friday’s match against Crystal Palace. “We wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused, and to thank fans for their patience. “Working with the police, the club’s operations staff were monitoring the congestion on CCTV monitors from the stadium control room at all times, and were able to direct staff and police on the ground to ease the congestion as quickly and as safely as possible. “When special stadium egress measures such as those for Friday's game are implemented, staff must manage an ever-changing and dynamic situation. As usual, all plans will be reviewed and, where necessary, refined for future matches.” Firstly thank you for those who attended the game tonight. I am aware of some issues that occurred in the north stand area on egress. We will sit down with the club review CCTV and look to see what the cause was. — PC Darren Balkham (@SuspolBHAFC) January 15, 2022   A fan, who walked around from the west stand, said: "It was a total farce. We left the WSU headed for the coach park, but went around the north stand instead of going around the south as instructed, only to meet a huge crowd around the east side that wasn’t moving and getting busier and busier. No instruction, just confusion." Another fan who was stuck outside the east stand said it was a “very scary and dangerous situation for children and the elderly”. On the night, PC Darren Balkham, Brighton’s liaison officer said: “Firstly thank you for those who attended the game tonight. I am aware of some issues that occurred in the north stand area on egress. We will sit down with the club review CCTV and look to see what the cause was.” Have you got a story for us? Email [email protected] or contact us here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news. Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox. You can also call us on 01273 021 400.
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- James Ward-Prowse reveals difficulty in playing before empty stands #SAINTSFC

January 8, 2022
JAMES Ward-Prowse admitted he found behind-closed-doors games “difficult to get used to with the lack of atmosphere” as Saints prepare for a first return to empty stadia this campaign. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side travel to Swansea City in the FA Cup third round tomorrow (5.30pm) and, under Welsh Government guidelines, no tickets are being sold for the Premier League versus Championship clash. Football fans and players alike rejoiced a mass return to the terraces when Brentford packed out their stadium and hosted Arsenal on a Friday night back in August. However, swift and more extreme action taken on the spread of coronavirus by Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has meant Welsh sides will again play their games behind closed doors. James Ward-Prowse has scored in each of his last two away matches (Pic: PA) And asked if it will be disappointing to again step out onto the pitch to relative silence, the Saints captain told the Daily Echo: “Yeah, maybe. “I think that was the one thing that was difficult to get used to at the start was the lack of atmosphere.” He continued: “But once you’re in the game and in the moment you soon forget about it and have to concentrate on your job so we will see, it’s an ever changing time and at the minute we don’t know.” Russell Martin’s second division outfit have not played a competitive fixture for almost a month due to COVID postponements. Swansea manager Russell Martin (Pic: PA) The last time they ran out was a 4-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on December 11 – a result that made it three successive defeats for the south Wales side. Martin has admitted since that he will have to manage his squad accordingly for the FA Cup match, with most having been decimated by positive tests or isolations that will have struck their fitness levels. Meanwhile, Saints also saw disruption with winnable St Mary’s fixtures against Brentford and Newcastle both postponed due to cases in the opposition camp. “The situation with COVID is very difficult,” Ward-Prowse added. “It’s changing all the time, day-to-day. Saints will be without defender Kyle Walker-Peters following a positive COVID test (Pic: Stuart Martin) “We don’t know what restrictions are going to be in place or what’s coming next. “All we can do is control what we know we can control and that’s adhering to the protocols and making sure that everybody is safe within our bubble, and to ensure that we have as many fit players ready and available to play. “Fans or no fans, we are used to it both ways.”