Alex McCarthy Southampton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #ArmandoBroja has impressed #AlexMcCarthy since his arrival at Saints #SAINTSFC

September 15, 2021
KEEPER Alex McCarthy described as “top-drawer” Armando Broja’s impact off the bench for Saints against West Ham and added: “He applies himself very well.” The Albanian international replaced Adam Armstrong for the final 16 minutes against the Irons on Saturday. Chelsea youngster Broja almost netted his first league goal for his loan club, but saw his shot cannon off the post in the 0-0 draw. He also saw a header cleared off the line by Declan Rice, after meeting James Ward Prowse’s corner. McCarthy said: “All the subs that came on were excellent. They definitely changed the complexion of the game. “Armando when he came on, I thought he was top-drawer. On another day I think that (the shot) goes in rather than coming straight back out. “It was unfortunate not to see that go in but there’s lots of positives we can take.” Broja came through the youth ranks at Chelsea and signed a fresh five-year contract at Stamford Bridge before joining Saints on a season-long deal this summer. He spent last season on loan Eredivisie outfit Vitesse Arnhem, where he made 34 appearances and scored 11 goals. Slough-born Broja also opened his goal account on the senior international stage for Albania earlier this month. Asked what it had been like working with the 20-year-old, McCarthy said: “He’s a great lad along with Tino (Livramento) and everyone else that’s come in. “I think we’ve got a really good bunch of lads this season, there’s a great team spirit there. “He applies himself very well in training and that’s why he’s got his chance in the game and produced.”
Oriol Romeu Danny Ings
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #OriolRomeu is helping #Lyanco settle into life at Saints #SAINSTFC

September 15, 2021
MIDFIELDER Oriol Romeu insisted he would do everything he could to help new arrival Lyanco settle in at Saints – including trying to find him a hairdresser! The Brazilian centre-back arrived at St Mary’s from Torino last month, in a deal worth a reported £6.4million. Ralph Hasenhuttl has described the centre-back as a “long-term project”, as he looks to integrate into a new squad and surroundings. And having helped translate messages from Spanish and Italian for the 24-year-old, Romeu insisted he would be a “good addition”. Quizzed on working with Lyanco last week, Romeu told the Daily Echo: “I’m trying to help him with everything because he speaks Spanish, he is good and fluent in Spanish and also speaks Italian. He speaks Portuguese. “He is not yet ready for English but he is doing lessons and trying to get there as soon as he can. “Overall he looks great. He’s a young lad also willing to do well in this country, willing to do well for this club. He’s big, strong, good on the ball and I think it’s a good addition. “We all hope that he can do well, he can feel comfortable. “Now we try to sort things out, we were trying to get a hairdresser this afternoon for him because he wants to cut his hair! “That’s the type of things you need to do from them sometimes. Whatever they need to make them feel comfortable is the main thing.” Romeu himself had to make his way in English football, having made the move from Barcelona to Chelsea under Andre Villas-Boas in July 2011. Since then, he has gone on to make 206 appearances in the top-flight, having joined Saints in the summer of 2015. “Nowadays you’ve got bigger department in the player liaison side,” said the Ulldecona-born ace, who has started every league game for Saints this campaign. “But as he (Lyanco) doesn’t speak any English, he needs some extra help. “It’s more the common things, the daily things he needs help. “We are here, we more or less know what he needs, more or less know how we can help him and that’s what we are trying to do.”
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley boss #SeanDyche insists #DwightMcNeil has even more to offer #BURNLEYFC

September 14, 2021
Burnley winger Dwight McNeil has even more to offer according to manager Sean Dyche. The 21-year-old could make his 100th Premier League appearance in the Clarets’ clash with Everton at Goodison Park. McNeil has earned increasingly rave reviews for his performances, topped by a superb goal in the equivalent fixture last season that sealed the three points. Dyche has seen the winger evolve into one of the top-flight’s hottest properties since his debut in 2019 and believes he can still add more to his game. “Dwight has been fantastic and I’ve been saying it for months and years,” said the Burnley chief. “He started young and he progressed to earn the right to be a regular in the side. “I still think there’s more there, but I think he’s a young player and to amass that amount of appearances so quickly is a great achievement.” McNeil has been a virtual ever-present in the side since his first start against West Ham in December 2018, missing only two games in the three subsequent years. And his displays have inevitably earned the attention of a number of rivals, with Everton themselves persistently linked with a potential bid in the new year. Dyche added: “Players become top players because they are consistent and because they still offer something even more even on their quiet days. “I think he could just raise that consistency for the full 90 minutes. He can raise the consistency and deliver key moments, which he’s certainly got in him. “He’s got the framework to work on, and it’s about working on the details of his game.”
Alex McCarthy Southampton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #AlexMcCarthy on Saints’ wait for first Premier League victory of the season #SAINTSFC

September 14, 2021
GOALKEEPER Alex McCarthy insisted nobody at Saints would be pushing the panic button, as the wait goes on to seal a first Premier League victory of the season. The St Mary’s side picked up a valuable home point against in-form West Ham, following a goalless draw on Saturday. That result means Saints have registered three draws in their past three league outings, with level contests against Manchester United and Newcastle coming after an opening-day defeat to Everton. Saints did seal a comprehensive 8-0 victory over Newport in the Carabao Cup last month. And although victory in the league has eluded them thus far, McCarthy said there were still plenty of plus-points from the club’s recent form. He told the Daily Echo: “It’s obviously massive to get that first win but I wouldn’t say anyone is panicking at the moment. “We knew Saturday was going to be a tough game. There’s lots of positives we can take from that game and it’s going to be a tough game (against Man City) next weekend. “But I think if we apply ourselves like we did on Saturday, we give ourselves a good chance.” McCarthy pulled off a couple of key saves against the Irons, denying the likes of Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen. Saturday’s stalemate was Saints’ first clean sheet since March in the top flight, when they overcame relegated Sheffield United 2-0 at Bramall Lane. “It’s always nice to get the first clean sheet of the season,” added the keeper. “As a group we defended superbly, so great credit all round really. “It’s massive. Obviously clean sheets keep you in games, obviously we want to be conceding as little as possible and scoring as many as possible. “At times, clean sheets are massive for us and we want to build on what we’ve got. “Looking back on it now, it’s a little frustrating. I thought as a team we played really well, we stuck to our game plan. “There were spells in the game where they controlled it and we controlled it. Second half we had a few good chances but on another day, they go in. “It’s a little bit frustrating. Obviously we would have like to come away with three points but West Ham is always a difficult team to play, so a point is better than none. “There’s a lot of positives we can take from that and take into next week.” Saints make the trip to take on Manchester City on Saturday before a Carabao Cup third round tie at Sheffield United on Tuesday, September 21.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl explains argument between himself and referee during West Ham clash #SAINTSFC

September 13, 2021
MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed how he saw both sides to an argument between him and referee David Coote during Saints’ 0-0 draw with West Ham. The game’s big talking point at St Mary’s came in second-half stoppage time when Irons’ frontman Michail Antonio was sent off for a second booking, following a foul on Moussa Djenepo. Hasenhuttl was left frustrated that referee Coote did not play advantage following the incident, in which the hosts had the chance to counter for the winner. The Austrian boss picked up a booking from man-in-the-middle Coote for his reaction to the decision. Asked post-match whether he felt play should have been allowed to carry on, Hasenhuttl replied: “At first I said yes. “Now I must say, if we lose the ball and he (Antonio) stays on the pitch and he scores a goal – then I sit here and say ‘well why don’t you send him off and stop the game eh?’. “There are always two sides you can see. “I spoke with the referee. He gave me a yellow card because I was very emotional. Absolutely, okay. “In this moment, you think ‘ah this is the chance now to kill them’ and he stopped the game. I can understand his argument, he understands my argument – this is how football should be.” The stalemate means Saints are still looking for their first league win of the campaign, with three points coming from their opening four games. The south coast side make the trip to Manchester City in the top flight on Saturday.
David Moyes
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #DavidMoyes brands #MichailAntonio ‘stupid’ after late red card against Saints #WHUFC

September 13, 2021
WEST Ham boss David Moyes branded Michail Antonio “stupid” over his late red card in Saturday’s goalless draw at Saints. In-form Antonio arrived on the south coast as the Premier League’s leading scorer and having been crowned the top-flight’s August player of the month on Friday. But his first club appearance in September ended in ignominy after he picked up a second yellow card in the fifth minute of added time, as the unbeaten Hammers missed the chance to go top of the table. Antonio – who had scored four goals and provided three assists in West Ham’s opening three games – collected his first booking for throwing Jack Stephens to the ground in frustration following a 71st-minute tangle. The one-time Saints loanee was shown a second yellow card by referee David Coote for a late tackle on Moussa Djenepo, prompting cheers from the home crowd. “Look, it can happen in football,” said Moyes. “Having been booked the first time, he was stupid to lunge in but these things in football happen, so we’re not going to make too big a deal of it. “He’s got himself sent off and at the time it looked like the referee probably got it right. “We always knew these sort of things could happen and they have done.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl explains on-loan #ArmandoBroja introduction #SAINSTFC

September 13, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl says Armando Broja was “a slow starter” at Saints in the wake of his impressive show against West Ham, admitting: “In the beginning he was a little, I don’t want to say lazy, but didn’t show his qualities.” Slough-born Albanian international Broja was introduced in place of Adam Armstrong with just more than 15 minutes to play, and gave Saints’ supporters a taste of what could be to come on his first St Mary’s appearance. Saints quickly began to get a grip on the game that was slipping away, partly courtesy to a superb solo run and a mincing of Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna for pace, before Broja's pull-back couldn’t be bundled home by Moi Elyounoussi. The 20-year-old striker then stood the same man up again, travelling half the pitch before unleashing a daisy cutter that cannoned off the post – moments before his header from a James Ward-Prowse corner required clearing off the goalline. Showing he can do it all, it was about as big an impact as a forward could hope to make in a game that ended 0-0. But Hasenhuttl has revealed exactly why we didn’t see the on-loan Chelsea man earlier, suggesting that perhaps he’d be forced to work a little bit harder than what he was used to under the Austrian boss. Speaking after the match, Hasenhuttl revealed: “He was a slow starter when he was coming in but in the last three weeks it’s impressive how quick he learns and how quick he wants to do it better. “On Saturday I have seen why we signed him and why the scouts wanted him to sign and this is good. The first two weeks, I was looking what he has to give for me and I can see now, to be honest. “I had some very serious conversations with him to tell him what I want to see and he’s been a bit of a slow starter, you need to push him a little bit I think, and now he’s moving in the direction I want to see and definitely shown his qualities he has so far in this moment. This is very positive for me.” Not wanting to get Hasenhuttl misunderstood, the Daily Echo quizzed the boss on exactly what he meant by ‘slow starter’, to which the Saints manager revealed an honest answer. He said: “The way we play football is a little different to how he has played so far, a little bit more energetic. “He was in the beginning, he was a little bit, I don’t want to say lazy, but he didn’t show the qualities he has. “You come into a new club, you must show that players have respect for you and show the qualities you have, he did this in the last two games coming on against Newcastle and on Saturday also. “For me this is a very good sign, I think this is what we wanted to see from him and he showed us.”
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley boss #SeanDyche pleased with transfer business #BURNLEYFC

September 12, 2021
Burnley boss Sean Dyche has hailed the “open minded” approach of the club’s new owners after a successful transfer window saw the arrival of five new players including Maxwel Cornet from Lyon. Cornet will be pushed through his new side’s standard fitness tests and could feature for his new club for the first time in Monday night’s trip to Everton after arriving from international duty with the Ivory Coast. Dyche admitted the club have struggled to match their big-spending counterparts in recent windows and welcomed the new approach, but stressed they would not stray from their established model of developing new talent. “We have invested better this season,” said the Burnley boss. “There is still a balance with players going out, but it’s pleasing to see that there is more open-mindedness over what could come next and I think everyone has bought into that. “Alan (Pace) and the people involved in the recruiting side have bought into themes that we’ve been speaking about for the last couple of years. There just hasn’t been the investment there for the last couple of years. “Now there’s more investment we’ll see where it goes. But it will still come down to the development side. “We’re not cherry-picking players from across the globe like some can afford do to, but we’re bringing players in to continue their development.” Swansea’s Connor Roberts was another player landed by Dyche during the transfer window, but the Welshman will not feature against Rafael Benitez’s men as he continues to work his way back to full fitness following an injury. Burnley grabbed their first point of the season against Leeds prior to the international break, and Dyche believes they are not far away from beginning to climb the table. “I don’t think the performance levels are a mile away,” he added. “I think the general performances have been pretty decent but a couple of sloppy mistakes have cost us. “We have to keep our concentration for the whole game. We looked better against Leeds but it is just generally about the two boxes and getting those small details right.”
Leandro Trossard
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton’s #LeandroTrossard admits his goal was a ‘special way’ to win the game #BHAFC

September 12, 2021
Brighton's Leandro Trossard admitted his late goal was a 'special way' to win their game against Brentford. The Belgian international received a pass from Alexis Mac Allister on the edge of the box before taking a touch and curling his effort into the box corner in the 90th minute. No better feeling! 💙🤍 @OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/LnvkVUKlNy — Leandro Trossard (@LTrossard) September 11, 2021 That saw the Belgian international open his account for the season and he admits the goal was a special way to win the game. He said: "It was a special way to win the game, especially to score in the last minute, the emotions take over. "It’s a brilliant win for us, it was really tough as Brentford are a really good side, but we dug in and kept fighting for it. It’s nice to get the reward at the end. "They haven’t lost a game in the Premier League until today, the pitch was a bit dry so we couldn’t get into our game. But we kept believing, it’s nice to score a goal at the end and get the three points." It has been a busy couple of weeks for Trossard who was away with Belgium during the international break where he started in their wins over Estonia and Belarus and come off the bench in their victory against the Czech Republic. But Trossard feels he is getting better as he gets more minutes. He said: "I felt good today, it’s been a tough week with the travelling, but I really wanted to enjoy this game and I feel good at the moment with the minutes I am getting. "The more games I can play the better I can play, the more enjoyable it is." The Seagulls currently sit third in the Premier League after winning three out of their opening four games, but Trossard has urged them to push on from their great start to the campaign. He said: "We need to keep pushing each other like this every week and then the results will come."
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl says sent-off #MichailAntonio was frustrated by Saints duo #SAINTSFC

September 12, 2021
SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl believed West Ham’s Michail Antonio’s red card came out of frustration – after being denied opportunities by Jack Stephens and Mohammed Salisu. The Hammers frontman had enjoyed a superb start to the season before returning to former club Saints, having seen red in stoppage time during the 0-0 draw. Antonio, who was booked earlier in the second half for wrestling with Stephens, was shown a second yellow by referee David Coote for a late challenge on Moussa Djenepo. And with the striker having got the better of his Saints’ centre-backs in the past, Hasenhuttl insisted the improvement in his side defensively may have led to Antonio being given his marching orders. Speaking about Stephens and Salisu, who helped to keep Saints’ first Premier League clean sheet since March, Hasenhuttl said: “It’s easier for them when everybody is working like they have done. “But yes, they have by far played their best game against Antonio. “We were always struggling against him in the past and today he was sent off and the red card frustrated, because there was no chance for him. “This was exactly their job and it’s good to see they have this quality because this is what I want to see.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl explains how tactical tweak helped stop West Ham #SAINTSFC

September 12, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed how he felt a change of shape paid dividends for Saints, as they played out a goalless draw with West Ham. Despite having less possession than their visitors on the south coast, the St Mary’s side registered as many shots on target and came closest when Armando Broja’s strike cannoned off the post. Hasenhuttl’s charges are yet to pick up a victory in the Premier League this season but the Austrian was pleased to see his side’s work earn them a point against the unbeaten Irons. He said: “It was a little bit of a different way how we played today. We gave them a little bit more possession – something that is a little bit new to us. “The way we defended deep was very good and I think in the end we had the bigger chances. Normally we should win the game in the end. “The decision to take to play with the players who have been here – and work with them and leave the internationals out, was the right decision I think. “It’s a pity we didn’t take the three points to be honest.” Normally relatively fixed on playing his 4-2-2-2 formation, Hasenhuttl changed to a 4-1-4-1 system with Nathan Redmond coming into the side on the right wing. “The goal was very clear,” the Austrian added. “They have their biggest threat with deliveries from the half-channel or from the side in the box. “We forced them to play a little bit more to the centre and try to play there. “Yes, we had less possession but no we didn’t have less chances to win the game. I think we have never been so close to win against them. “This was always a team we were really struggling against, today I must say, especially the defence work from all of the team was amazing. “This is the key of staying in the game and having a chance to win it.”