Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss #GrahamPotter reveals family Covid tragedy #BHAFC

August 20, 2021
Graham Potter has urged ongoing vigilance against Covid-19 after his family were hit by tragedy. But he has no heightened concerns about the impending return of full crowds to the Amex. Albion’s road to post-lockdown normality takes a huge step forwards on Saturday when they host Watford (5.30pm). About 30,000 fans will converge on the Amex for the first time since the virus paralysed the nation 18 months ago. Potter, left, says he supports vaccination but understands those, including members of his playing staff, who have concerns. He is very confident in all protocols and controls in place around the stadium on matchday. But he has warned care must still be paramount to keep Covid at bay. Albion’s head coach said: “I’ve had some tragic experience of someone losing their life that wasn’t jabbed, within our family, so I know that it’s dangerous. “He was 48, not the same age as the players of course, but young with two young kids, so it’s tragic. “So of course I would advise that (vaccination), because I don’t want anybody else to go through that. “But at the same time I also understand people will have concerns, and we have to respect those concerns and try to work with them, educate and help and make sure people come to a decision that feels right for them.” Asked whether there was support for vaccination within his squad, Potter said: “It’s not unanimous, there are concerns. It’s important that those concerns are addressed, or answered or communicated. BRIGHTON'S TAYLOR RICHARDS SIGNS NEW CONTRACT “I don’t think it’s right that we’re in this polarising situation where it’s black or white, you need to have the jab or not. Everybody has to be able to make a choice, of course. “It hasn’t gone away, we’re still living with it, still trying to work out, and probably the reality is no one really knows for sure because we’ve never been through this before. It’s a new disease we’re all having to get our heads around. “It’s still going to be there and we have to be careful, and making sure adhere to all the safety protocols. “And do our best to try to get back to normal, play football, and move the country forwards as best we can.” Potter said his cousin’s husband died in the last week after a short illness. He added: “It was obviously devastating to go through and witness, and tragic for the family, and I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #GrahamPotter after midfielder #TaylorRichards signs new deal #BHAFC

August 20, 2021
Brighton midfielder Taylor Richards has signed a new three-year deal at the club. The 20-year-old joined the Seagulls in July 2019 from Manchester City. He was a regular for Albion's U23s in the 2019/20 season making 19 appearances in all competitions scoring six goals and picking up three assists. Richards made his first-team debut in September 2019 in their Carabao Cup third round defeat to Aston Villa at the Amex in September 2019. Last season he joined League One side Doncaster on loan where he made 48 appearances, scoring 11 goals and picked up five assists. That left him second on the list of Rovers top scorers in the 2020/21 season, with only forward Fejiri Okenabirhie (12) scoring more. Richards was an unused substitute for the Seagulls in their 2-1 win over Burnley in the Premier League last weekend. Head coach Graham Potter said: “Taylor has impressed during pre-season and he was deservedly part of the first-team squad at Burnley last weekend. “He had a very productive loan spell at Doncaster last season, and this new contract is a reward for his hard work and progress he’s made since he arrived.”    
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley boss #SeanDyche on transfer wait and #AaronLennon #BURNLEYFC

August 20, 2021
Burnley boss Sean Dyche continues to play the waiting game in the transfer market as he looks to add to his squad. Clarets chairman Alan Pace said last week that the club had made “multiple bids” for players, with Lyon winger Maxwel Cornet reported to be one of the targets. Dyche signed Nathan Collins and Wayne Hennessey before the start of the season but it seems unlikely there will be any more new arrivals in time for tomorrow’s trip to Anfield to play Liverpool. “Not at the moment, I’m waiting on news of possible situations, but there’s nothing imminent, so I shall wait,” said Dyche, whose side began the campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Brighton. “There’s a few things we’re attempting to work on, but there’s a few things that have got away from us, so it’s the usual kind of situation. “There’s always been an urgency to try and get players in, every manager wants their players in before the first day of pre-season, but it’s just very rarely happened here. “In my time here, it’s usually been late in the window, usually situations have occurred, chess pieces have moved with other clubs, and the dominoes tumble to move forwards. “Sometimes one deal knocks on, not always when it’s £100million! But that middle and lower market, so you have to keep your ear to the ground, ready for any situations that come our way. “The club are trying to activate things, keep irons in the fire and all the rest of the jargon, but usually somewhere along the way, you have to pay the money people want, and if you don’t, you don’t get the player.” Dyche is continuing to monitor the situation regarding winger Aaron Lennon. The 34-year-old left Burnley in the summer of 2020 and spent last season with Turkish Super Lig side Kayserispor, who he left recently. He has been training with the Clarets and played for Dyche’s team in some behind-closed-doors games during pre-season. “He’s just training at the moment, we’re keeping an eye on the situation, on his behalf, and our behalf,” said Dyche. “He wanted to come in and train, obviously he was welcome, he’s played a couple of games too, so it’s done him good and us to remind ourselves of the fact he’s a good player. “He knows the environment and most of the players and he’s more than welcome. He’s trained very well, very hard.”
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #JamesWard-Prowse signs new five-year deal at Southampton FC #SAINTSFC

August 20, 2021
SAINTS captain James Ward-Prowse has signed a fresh five-year deal at St Mary’s and insisted: “I still have a lot left to give to this football club.” Speculation had been rife about the England midfielder’s future this summer. The Daily Echo understands Aston Villa submitted a £25million bid which was rejected by the south coast side last month. But the 26-year-old midfielder today put pen-to-paper on the fresh deal, which strengthens an allegiance to Saints that stretches all the way back to when he was in the academy at eight. Ward-Prowse said: “I’m over the moon. I think I’m probably the happiest man in the world right now. To come to this decision, I think has been massive and is a big step forward. “To commit my future again to this football club is something I’m incredibly proud of and a new chapter begins now for me. “It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve had that link away and that talk, but I think I was very keen to sit down and talk to the club and it’s worked both ways; they’ve sat down and told me their admiration for me and the way they want me to lead the team – and this club has done so much for me, I can’t put into the words the opportunities and chances that they’ve given me and I’m incredibly grateful for the club for doing that. “I’m not finished yet here, I still have a lot left to give to this football club and I want to be there leading this team and ensuring I can give everything back and repay that faith the club have shown in me since I was eight-years-old.” Ward-Prowse has already made 323 first-team appearances for Saints, becoming only the 28th player in club history, and the 19th of the post-war era, to surpass 300 games. Earlier this year he became the first midfielder in Premier League history to complete successive seasons without missing a minute of action. Ward-Prowse played 90 minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park and is set to start in the St Mary’s season opener against Manchester United on Sunday.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl says Saints ‘can count on’ #MohamedElyounoussi #SAINTSFC

August 20, 2021
MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted Saints could “count on” returning Mohamed Elyounoussi and added: “I’m sure that this season he will make a lot of games.” The Norway international has spent the past two campaigns away from Saints on loan at Scottish giants Celtic, where he chalked up 67 appearances in all competitions, as well as 24 goals. The winger also claimed a Scottish Premiership title and League Cup trophy during his first year north of the border, before returning to Saints this pre-season. Elyounoussi featured in games against the likes of Swansea and Levante during the St Mary’s side’s warm-up fixtures. He was also named among the substitutes for the club’s Premier League opener at Everton on Saturday. Elyounoussi signed for Saints from Swiss outfit Basel under Mark Hughes in June 2018. He has played eight times for the south coast side under current boss Hasenhuttl. Asked by the Daily Echo what it was like to work with the 27-year-old once again, Hasenhuttl replied: “He’s a very good player with some important skills for our game. “Strong in the red zone, in the pockets, good solutions there. “He showed in the pre-season that we can count on him and I’m sure that this season he will make a lot of games.” Elyounoussi also played under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his time at Molde – and could come up against him on Sunday when Saints host Manchester United in the top flight. And fellow forward Nathan Tella insisted it was a “bonus” to have the former Basel man back among the ranks. “I’ve been really impressed with him actually,” said Tella, when asked about Elyounoussi’s return. “He works really hard for the team, is very good on the ball and is just a nice guy to have around the training ground. “He’s someone who, when he first came to the club, I was still in the under-23s so I didn’t really see much of him. “But obviously now I’m with the first team, just speaking to him about how he found Celtic and how he enjoyed it there and how he’s looking to work hard to get into the team here. “He’s doing all the right things. He’s trained really well, full of confidence and ability. It’s going to be a bonus to have him in the team.”
Adam Armstrong
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s #AdamArmstrong on being compared to #AlanShearer #SOUTHAMPTONFC

August 20, 2021
NEW Saints striker Adam Armstrong chuckled at his coincidental Alan Shearer comparisons but swiftly moved to confirm: “Shearer was a massive legend at Newcastle, Southampton and Blackburn as well. That’s something that I’m trying to do the same.” Of course, no one has compared the 24-year-old to legendary shooter Shearer on footballing terms just yet – he’s just the few hundred goals shy – but Armstrong has followed the icon’s career path in reverse. Shearer started at Saints before moving to Blackburn in 1992, and then eventually on to the Toon in 1996, where he spent a decade and finished his career. Armstrong, on the other hand, graduated from the Newcastle academy before moving to his next permanent club Blackburn, and now on to Saints in a £15m move. He got off the mark for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Everton. When the comparisons were mentioned to the forward, he joked to the club website: “It’s not too bad eh! “I just looked at that before I think actually I’ve done his career backwards, it’s a funny comparison, but Shearer was a massive legend at Newcastle, Southampton and Blackburn as well. “That’s something that I’m trying to do the same. “I think the way Southampton play is what attracted me to the club, playing on the front foot, pressing, counter-attacking, that’s something that’s my kind of game as well. “I score most of my goals where I’m countering or chances being created high up the pitch, taking the ball off defenders high up the pitch. I spoke to the gaffer and it just seems perfect. “I’ve had a chat with him (Ralph Hasenhuttl) and he explains how he wants us to play and how his teams play, and yeah it will be good to get to know the boys more.” For Armstrong there’s no doubt in his pride and joy of being back in the Premier League after six seasons had passed since his Newcastle top-flight days. Asked about whether he’d had a look at Saints’ fixture list for the campaign, he insisted some had indeed caught his eye. He said: “I have looked at the fixtures I must admit, and a few stand out. “Newcastle away pretty soon will be a good one. Every game is going to be brilliant, going from, no disrespect to the Championship, but teams playing there to your Man City’s and United’s. “As a kid that’s what I’ve always wanted, ever since I was little. Hopefully I can entertain the fans and put on a show.” Armstrong is set to be involved when Saints host Manchester United in the top flight on Sunday.
Aston Villa
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton, Bournemouth, Aston Villa man #TommyElphick retires #AVFC #BHAFC #BOURNEMOUTHFC

August 19, 2021
The centre-back has confirmed to The Argus he has retired after a 16-year career. He is set to move into a coaching role within the EFL. Elphick, from Woodingdean, made his name with the Seagulls after coming through the youth set-up under the guidance of Dean Wilkins. He went on to captain Bournemouth and Aston Villa but suffered a serious knee injury while with his last club Huddersfield. He was the first Albion player to sign a contract taking him into the club’s arrival at the Amex. But a ruptured Achilles on the final day of the 2010-11 season meant that dream was never fulfilled. He told The Argus: “My mind is still fresh but my body is very tired. “I’m nine operations in now and I’m fed up of sitting on a physio's bench, to be honest. “I still have a huge desire for football and a love for football and a hunger for football. “I shall be staying in the game. I need to be out on the grass coaching and having some sort of influence day to day. “I’m looking forward to that new chapter. “I’ve always thought my life in football would be 30 or 40 years rather than a 15 or 20-year playing career. “I’ve got to the stage now where I’d rather be a young coach than an old, declining player.” In an extensive interview with The Argus, Elphick - who turns 34 next month - has spoken about his career and the influence of coaches and senior players at Albion. He reveals the moment he thought his career was over while with the Seagulls. He gives his specialist insight into the challenge facing Shane Duffy and looks at the evolving challenges of the centre-back role. BRIGHTON PREPARE TO FACE WATFORD And, as Albion prepare for a League Cup trip to Cardiff, he recalls how the same fixture 14 years ago kick-started his career. The interview will appear in The Argus and online tomorrow.
Romain Perraud
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RomainPerraud says he like’s the culture and passion in England #SAINTSFC

August 18, 2021
AS WELCOMES into English football go, a packed Goodison Park is a good sign of what to expect. Ramped up that extra notch by the fact last weekend represented the first time stadia had been full in the Premier League for around 18 months, playing in front of more than 30,000 raucous Evertonians was what greeted Saints new-boy Romain Perraud. The 23-year-old, who has visited England to watch Premier League matches from the stands before, got his first taste of the action on the pitch, named in Ralph Hasenhuttl's starting line-up for the season opener. Inside the old-school English venue, left-back Perraud, who had spent his whole playing career in France prior to this move to Saints, was quickly engaged in a battle with wily campaigners Seamus Coleman and Andros Townsend down the flank. It was not to be a dream debut for Perraud, as he and Saints fell to a 3-1 defeat. But the trip to Merseyside was still one to remember for the former Nice and Brest man. Perraud told the Daily Echo: "For me, it was my first game here. I feel good. I think it was a very emotional moment for me, for everybody because the fans returned in the stadium. "It was very amazing. The game, we lost, but for a first game I think it was good. "I’ve been here for six or seven weeks. I feel good. "Here is the best championship in the world. I need to improve, I need to progress, but I feel good because the club is good. Everybody helped me to integrate collectively." As for settling into English life, Toulouse-born Perraud added: "When I arrived I was with my father, so I did my quarantine with my father. "After, my girlfriend came. But she is working in France, so sometimes she comes, sometimes she goes back to France. "But it’s okay. For example for one or two weeks I am alone, then after my girlfriend comes, also my father and my mother. It’s good. "I was in England three years ago and four years ago. Every time during Christmas. "I like the culture. I like the country. I like the football here. "When I came I was in London and I watched many games, like Crystal Palace v Arsenal I remember, Tottenham v Chelsea. So it was very good. I like the passion here." Having come up through the youth ranks at Nice, whilst former Saints boss Claude Puel was in charge of the first team, Perraud was handed his senior debut by the man who replaced Puel at the helm, renowned coach Lucien Favre. He played in a Europa League dead rubber against Krasnodar in December 2016. Perraud played twice more in that competition the following season, alongside some familiar faces to English football fans in Mario Balotelli and Allan Saint-Maximin. A loan move to Paris FC in the second tier followed, before he left Nice altogether in 2019 after discussions with new boss Patrick Vieira. After two strong seasons at Brest, the first of which he played alongside Saints midfielder Ibrahima Diallo, Perraud made the big switch across the Channel. "I was in the academy in Nice so I know Allan Saint-Maximin and I know Mario Balotelli," said Perraud. "For me it was good, because I was young and Nice was a great team with great players. "But after you can’t compare the French league and the Premier League, for me. Because it is not the same players, it is not the same intensity. "Ligue 1 was a good championship, but here I think the difference is every team is competitive. It’s not the same level." Signing early in the transfer window allowed Perraud a full pre-season with his new team-mates. That included a week in Wales, where the Frenchman showed off his other sporting skills, specifically table tennis. "Here I know that people love golf or cricket," said Perraud. "But I have never played golf. "I like rugby, because my father was a coach in a rugby league, in France’s first division. I like tennis, I like NBA. "(In Wales) I think the manager was not there when I played (table tennis). "I played against Oriol (Romeu), against Che Adams, Mikey (Obafemi) and Moi Elyounoussi. "It was a good tournament and good moment for us."
Adam Armstrong
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #JackStephens reflects on playing alongside #AdamArmstrong at Coventry City #SAINTSFC

August 17, 2021
JACK Stephens believes Saints have acquired a “fantastic finisher” in frontman Adam Armstrong – having previously seen him get among the goals first hand more than five years ago. The pair previously played together at Coventry City during the 2015-16 campaign, while both on loan from Saints and Newcastle respectively. Also featuring in the same squad as the likes of Joe Cole, John Fleck and James Maddison – Armstrong scored 20 goals in League One to become the club’s top scorer for the season under Tony Mowbray. He was also named in the PFA League One Team of the Year. Stephens signed for the Sky Blues for the second half of that campaign and made 16 league appearances in total for Coventry. But speaking after Saints’ 3-1 defeat to Everton - in which Armstrong opened his account for the south coast side after signing from Blackburn last week - Stephens was looking forward to having the striker on board. Asked about linking back up with Armstrong by the Daily Echo, the Saints defender said: “The season at Coventry, I think he scored 20-plus league goals that season and I think he’s scored nearly that every year since. “He’s a fantastic finisher and he makes chances for himself as well, so I think we have got a cracking player there. “I have known him for four or five years, so I have tried to help him settle in. He’s an easy lad to get on with, so he’s settled in really well. “It obviously helps when you come in firing and you score on your debut, so no problems from that point of view.” Armstrong’s first goal in Saints colours came when Che Adams pressurised Everton’s Michael Keane into a mistake at Goodison Park. That allowed Saints’ new signing the chance to run in on goal and apply a classy top-corner finish past England keeper Jordan Pickford. And despite being bitterly disappointed with the result overall, Stephens was pleased to see Armstrong make an instant impact. “Last week since he’s come in he’s been really good, looked really sharp and I thought he was excellent on Saturday. Him and Che together, I thought they worked really well,” the centre-back added. “It was a fantastic finish and great work from Che to get him in that position. He took his goal really well. “He’s been a great addition for us and hopefully he will score many more for us.”
Nathan Tella
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #NathanTella reveals all on Southampton FC’s new signings #SAINTSFC

August 17, 2021
NATHAN Tella insists Saints’ new signings have already settled in well and put it down to the squad, revealing: “I feel like in some teams maybe the boys aren’t as welcoming, but here they are.” Ralph Hasenhuttl has welcomed six summer additions, but with loanee Theo Walcott returning and Dynel Simeu entering the B team it’s four brand new first-teamers. Tella, 22, has made 19 Premier League appearances before appearing off the bench in Saints’ 2021-22 opening day defeat at Everton’s Goodison Park, where debutant Adam Armstrong scored but the team were powerless to resist a second-half salvo. Three of the four signings featured and all were in from the start, with Romain Perraud occupying left-back and the selection of Tino Livramento over stalwart Kyle Walker-Peters raising some eyebrows. All three did quite well, with the aforementioned Armstrong and Livramento particularly standing out in view of some supporters – on-loan Chelsea striker Armando Broja didn’t make the squad. Speaking to the Daily Echo, Tella revealed: “Armando and Adam are both really good lads, I’m looking forward to playing with them and seeing what they’re capable of, helping the team progress. “I feel like in some teams, maybe the boys aren’t as welcoming but here the boys are welcoming them really well, it’s like they’ve been here for a long time, joining in with the banter and communicating. “It’s all good, they understand the team and what they’re here to do, they’re here to help the team. “And also understanding them on a human level as well, getting along well, so I’m looking forward to playing with them.” On whether a transfer is as exciting for a player as it is for fans, he added: “Yeah it always excites me, I’m still a fan myself. “I like transfers, I like seeing new people come to the club. Now that I’m in the first team environment, I just think it’s going to help the team really well so it’s a positive.” For Tella, the two additions of strikers Armstrong and Broja could be seen as direct competition, with the young forward advancing further up the pitch as he gets more and more gametime. Both are out-and-out strikers, while Tella is a bit more versatile in operating anywhere across the front four. Against Everton, the former Arsenal academy man was introduced in one of the winger roles, but admits he relishes in the challenge of battling for minutes: “That’s what I want, I like competition. “I think it will bring the best out of me, make me want to do more, work harder and show that I can do more. “As well as myself, it will be good for the defenders as if the attackers are training well every day they will have to train even better to stop us from scoring. “That will be good for the team because when it comes to the game they will have had that confidence that they can stop us training well or creating chances, so they can do that against opposition in the Premier League. “I think it will benefit the team. It’s looking good, yeah.”