Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ambitious Thierry Small ‘frustrated’ with lack of opportunity but will assess summer before pursuing loan #SAUNTSFC

May 11, 2022
AMBITIOUS Thierry Small is frustrated with a lack of first-team opportunity in his debut season at Saints but will assess his role this summer before considering a loan move, the Daily Echo understands. The talented 17-year-old wants to cement a first-team role at St Mary’s and will only consider a loan elsewhere as an option if it transpires he will not be involved, even after a pre-season under his belt. Former Everton starlet Small is not expected to be short of potential takers for a temporary spell elsewhere but would be looking to stake a claim at a Championship or top-level League One side. Small did not have a pre-season coming into this campaign with Saints, due to his situation at Goodison Park, and thus started behind on his match-fitness. Read more The youngster has had a positive first season at Saints when viewed through a normal lense, training with the first-team every week, starring at under-23 level and impressing coaches in training. Saints defender Thierry Small has been named on Premier League benches for Saints (Pic: Stuart Martin) But as exhibited by legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti giving a 16-year-old Small his senior Toffees debut last season, he has big potential to fill and is well ahead of his age. Those close to Small understand there is no substitute for regular and meaningful senior minutes, and the defender is focussed on impressing the Saints hierarchy. Small was given his first-team debut by Ralph Hasenhuttl in the FA Cup fourth round victory over Coventry City but the culture-shock of the occasion got the better of him, and he was substituted at half-time. "This tested him, definitely. He was very nervous, he is very young and this was a big crowd,” the Austrian said at the time. The club are aware of Small's ambitions and wants. Thierry Small in FA Cup action (Pic: Stuart Martin) “This was maybe not the perfect moment to start but I wanted to see how brave he is and what he could make (of it). He had a few good actions up front but in the defence he was a little bit shy. "This is not possible in the FA Cup, you have to be there immediately. He will learn this. There is still a lot to improve but he will improve." Small finished his Premier League 2 season for Dave Horseman’s B team with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Sunderland, in front of supporters at St Mary’s. The ACL injury sustained by Tino Livramento, which will keep the 19-year-old sidelined for the rest of 2022, likely ends Kyle Walker-Peters’ stint as a left-back in Hasenhuttl’s side. While Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo they may pursue a new signing to replace Livramento in the summer transfer window, it currently leaves Saints with just two fit senior full-backs. Jake Vokins, 22, and Kayne Ramsay, 21, could also return from their loan spells at Ross County. Small wants to showcase himself to the country, and will look to find a solution which ensures he continues his progression and feeds his appetite. 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- Southampton FC boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admits Thierry Small debut was tough on the young player #SAINTSFC

February 6, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted he threw youngster Thierry Small in at the deep end during the FA Cup clash with Coventy – before reiterating his belief that the 17-year-old can only improve. It was a baptism of fire for the former Everton man on his Saints debut, with the left-back hooked at half-time as Hasenhuttl attempted to give Saints control of the second-half after a dismal team showing in the first 45 minutes. Small, who has been involved in multiple matchday squads since arriving from Merseyside in the summer, had a few nervy moments – including almost heading home into his own net when he overpowered a backpass to Willy Caballero. Whilst relatively few Saints players covered themselves in glory in the eventual 2-1 victory, Hasenhuttl admitted that perhaps the tie with Championship Coventry was not the “perfect game” for Small to receive his first minutes in senior football. Speaking to the press, Hasenhuttl stated: “I mean it tested him, definitely! “I think he was a little bit nervous, he’s very young and it was a big crowd. “It was maybe not the perfect game (for him) to start, but I wanted to see how brave he is, how much he makes – I think he had a few good actions up front, but in the defence you could see was not so (good), a little bit shy in some moments. “This is not possible on the FA Cup, you have to be immediately there and he wasn’t. “But okay, I think this is the behaviour what he should do, there are still a lot of things to improve, but he will.” With Saints into the next round, there maybe another chance for Small on the near horizon. The draw for the fifth-round will take place on ITV, shortly before their coverage of Liverpool’s clash with Cardiff City tomorrow (Sunday, February 6.) Saints will be ball six out of 16 potential match-ups, with the draw slated to begin at around 11:40am.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl hints at Simeu and Small Southampton chance soon #SAINTSFC

December 30, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl hinted that youngsters Dynel Simeu and Thierry Small could “sooner or later, get a chance,” after they made Saints’ matchday squad versus Tottenham. Simeu, 19, who signed from Chelsea’s academy in the summer is yet to make his senior debut in football but has been on the bench for each of the last two Premier League matches. The strong centre-back has been impressive in David Horseman’s B team in Premier League 2 this campaign.  Meanwhile, 17-year-old left-back Small – who was born in August 2004 – had already made his senior bow for Everton, after he was given an FA Cup debut by Carlo Ancelotti last season. Read more And with Swansea City away coming up soon in the FA Cup, Hasenhuttl kept his cards close to his chest but has hinted that he may afford the two teenagers a first-team chance soon. Saints' Dynel Simeu has featured in each of the last two matchday squads (Pic: Stuart Martin) Asked if he was impressed with the pair as an addition to their matchday squad, Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: “Absolutely. “We need every player at the moment so they are training with us all the time now.” “It can happen that we, sooner or later, get a chance for them. This is what we need.” He continued: “For some players, it (the FA Cup) is a good opportunity I think to make first steps in the team and we will have a look.” Thierry Small (left) made his senior debut aged 16 in the FA Cup (Pic: PA) Both Small and Simeu have scored their first goals in Saints colours in Premier League 2, displaying their usefulness at both ends of the pitch. Small netted two similar finishes in the demolitions of Aston Villa and Newcastle, while Simeu scored his first in the latter and showed proficiency with his head to finish Caleb Watts’ cross in the defeat at Sunderland. Ex-Blues man Simeu is also actually a Southampton local, having been raised in SO14.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl on youngster Thierry Small’s senior chances #SAINTSFC

November 11, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl has heaped praise on Saints youngster Thierry Small and refused to put a timescale on potential first team involvement, adding: “You never know, sometimes it goes quick.”  The 17-year-old left-back refused a professional contract at Everton in the summer in order to sign a deal with Saints, despite making an FA Cup debut for Carlo Ancelotti, in search of a clearer pathway to senior football. It looked as though it would be a long road after Hasenhuttl revealed the Solihull-born talent had arrived with some knee-strength issues, but he has lit up Premier League 2 for Saints’ B team. He made his bow with 60 minutes back in September during a free-to-watch contest with Burnley’s under-23s at St Mary’s, when David Horseman’s side continued a torrid losing run. Read more  But he’s played five since then without defeat, including scoring his first goals in red and white during demolitions of Aston Villa, Newcastle and League Two Crawley town as the team recorded five successive victories. Operating in a more advanced left-wing-back role, Small has terrorised the full-backs that have been tasked with trying to mark him up to six years his senior, making marauding runs and peppering shots at the goal. And the performances have caught Hasenhuttl’s eye. Speaking to the Daily Echo, the boss said: “I was very pleased with the whole performance of the under-23s, they seemed also to have found a turnaround now with Nathan Tella, Will Smallbone, Thierry Small playing for them. “Thierry I must say, very enjoyable to watch this lad, feels absolutely good here at this club. He has some really good potential, physically, mentally he is a fantastic guy I think. “Very positive, enjoys everything he does. Very shiny person I must say, still a lot of things to learn but I like to work with this player.” Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has showered praise on teenager Thierry Small (Pic: Stuart Martin) He added: “It’s the way I was always working in my managerial career that we have young, good players with positive energy that can improve, we can make them better. “He feels good in the team and the team loves him also.” Upon opening his account with a well timed run into his side of the opposition penalty area to sweep home, Small burst into an impassioned celebration – he kissed the badge of the club he joined three months ago before indulging in a knee slide. Off the mark! 😍Safe to say Thierry Small enjoyed his first #SaintsFC goal! pic.twitter.com/MRcYvWL7sX — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 31, 2021 Albeit a bit overboard for a Premier League 2 opener, we’ve seen how much passion can do for one’s popularity and performance in Brazilian defender Lyanco. Lyanco, 24, had to wait for an EFL Cup tie to get his first Saints chance – could it be that Small has to wait for a potential FA Cup third round clash against lower league opposition for his, just like how he made his debut for Toffees in January this year? “Maybe, yeah,” Hasenhuttl responded, before insisting with a smile, “you never know, in some moments it goes quick. Thierry Small made his first team debut for Everton aged 16 in the FA Cup (Pic: PA) “Especially this season we have, in this position, many more options and this makes it harder for him. “But he is a long-term project like all of the young players we have, and I see good potential, I’m very happy to have him.” Saints' B team were victorious 4-0 over also-eliminated Crawley Town in their last EFL Trophy game of the season on Tuesday evening, with Small scoring expertly from a narrowing angle as well as assisting.