Tino Livramento
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl explains decision to select #TinoLivramento ahead of #KyleWalkerPeters #SAINTSFC

August 16, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted “it was not an easy decision” to select youngster Tino Livramento ahead of Kyle Walker-Peters at Everton but added: “He is a player who can play in the Premier League.” The 18-year-old, who only signed for Saints from Chelsea earlier this month, played 90 minutes as the St Mary’s side fell to a 3-1 defeat at Everton. Walker-Peters, a standout performer for Saints last campaign, was left on the bench as an unused substitute as the visitors were undone by second-half goals from Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Livramento had just played 45 minutes in a pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao at St Mary’s last Saturday, before being thrust into Premier League action for his new club. Asked about selecting Livramento over Walker-Peters, Hasenhuttl replied: “The players out on the pitch today, they showed most of the pre-season. “Okay he (Livramento) was not that long here like Kyle but it was not an easy decision. “But I was looking for his physical one against one qualities he has defensively against Richarlison. I think he did it fantastically to be honest. “We (know) he is immediately that he is a player who can play in the Premier League and this is very positive for us.” Adam Armstrong’s goal in the first half had put Saints ahead before the visitors hit back in the second half on Merseyside. It means Saints are still waiting for an opening-day win in the Premier League since 2013.
Richarlison
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #JackStephens annoyed by ‘sloppy’ Southampton goal which sparked Everton’s revival #EVERTONFC #SAINTSFC

August 16, 2021
FRUSTRATED Jack Stephens described as “really sloppy” the goal which sparked Everton’s revival against Saints on Saturday. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men were in a strong position having gone in at half-time with a 1-0 lead on Merseyside, thanks to Adam Armstrong’s 22nd-minute finish. But the tide turned within two minutes of the restart. After Che Adams headed away a Blues corner, Andros Townsend’s header allowed Richarlison the opportunity to drift away from his marker and finish from close range in simplistic fashion. With their tails up, Everton went on to seal a 3-1 victory thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s superb finish and a late header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Assessing the contest, Stephens told the Daily Echo: “We started really well, got the goal and I thought we played quite well first half and we were frustrating them. “But then we just made it too easy for them to get back into the game. We came out in the second half and just gave them an opportunity to give the crowd a boost. “That early goal in the second half – it just gave them a massive boost and it’s just really poor from our point of view and we are really disappointed.” Quizzed about Richarlison’s leveller, he added: “It was really sloppy from us. The way we came out in the second half was not good enough. We’ve got to defend better than that. “It’s the second phase corner – it’s just nothing. We have to deal with that and it’s not good enough, it’s far too easy for them to get back in the game. “Then their second goal, the lad’s taken it well and it’s a cracking finish but again, it’s disappointing. It’s a shot just on the edge of the box, it’s disappointing we couldn’t get a block on that.” Richarlison also scored when the sides met at Goodison Park back in March, the Toffees triumphing 1-0 on that occasion. Defeat means Saints are still yet to win an opening Premier League fixture since 2013.
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #SeanDyche keen on targeting more players for the Clarets #BURNLEYFC

August 14, 2021
Sean Dyche is keen for Burnley to add to the signings they have already made this summer. The Clarets boss has seen two new recruits join his squad since the end of last season in defender Nathan Collins from Stoke City and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey - a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace. Now he says the club are looking at attracting wide attacking players. Ahead of kicking off their Premier League campaign against Brighton at Turf Moor tomorrow, Dyche said: “The recruitment side has been a challenge, always is. That’s something I’m used to. “(There are) ongoing hopes that we can recruit in the areas that we need.” Asked if the club were closer to adding in attack, he said: “No, we’re not that much closer at the current time. “I’m speaking to the owners freely, and (chairman) Alan Pace particularly, about what we can do. There are situations we are involved in. The numbers still have to work. “We’re pleased with the business we have done. “Some of the young players have had another good pre-season with us and are in and around it. “We do need to recruit I feel. The wide areas are quite obvious, we are light in those areas. We are looking in those areas. “But the players still have to fit the model, the team, the ways of working.” Winger Aaron Lennon, who left Burnley when his contract expired last year, has been back at the club after a stint with Turkish side Kayserispor. The 34-year-old has been training with Dyche’s players and playing in some pre-season friendlies. Dyche said of Lennon: “He’s training with us – that’s the same news as it was previously, there’s nothing to report beyond that at the moment. He’s training with us, he is active with us. I’ve had just a very loose chat with him about what might be and the ifs and ands. “The main thing for him is being fit and well, which he is, and he is still hungry for it.” Also involved in recent friendly action has been goalkeeper Nick Pope, who missed Burnley’s final three games of last season due to a knee problem, then had surgery and was not a part of England’s squad for the Euros. Dyche said: “Towards the end of the season he knew it wasn’t right. I think it’s different if you think you’re about there, say you go, and then during the build-up to the tournament you have to pull out. I think that’s a different ball game, I think that would hurt more. “I think if you get to the tournament and something happens, that’s probably a much bigger bitter pill to swallow.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #GrahamPotter says his Brighton defenders will be ready #BHAFC

August 14, 2021
That is despite a curtailed build-up to the first day of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign. Head coach Graham Potter has also told The Argus in our video (below) he was not banking on Leo Ostigard staying for the season when he said recently Albion did not necessarily need to sign any centre-backs. Potter made the comment after they beat Luton two weeks ago in the wake of Ben White's move to Arsenal when Ostigard was still on board.   Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster go into action at Burnley with less than one game of public pre-season action behind them. Albion had one of the best defensive records in the Prem last term. But the challenge is different now with Ben White having left and both Dunk and Webster coming off summers interrupted by minor injuries. Albion head coach Graham Potter said: “They have had time outside the public eye, if you like. “Knowing them they are ready for it, they are looking forward to it. They know the challenge, they know it’s a big challenge. “It was important to get the time on the pitch against Getafe and they have had a good week’s training so they will be looking forward to the game.” Albion have only played three friendlies before fans or live-stream cameras. The disjointed summer has impacted on others, such as Leandro Trossard. But most eyes will be on the two centre-backs as the foundation of Albion’s new season. BRIGHTON FAN SO GLAD TO RECONNECT ON RETURN TO AWAY TRIPS Potter said: “We have had 11 v 11 matches, games in-house behind closed doors. “We have done our best to get them up to where they are and they will get better and better as the season goes on, I’m pretty sure. They are ready for the start.”
Jannik Vestergaard
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #JannikVestergaard shares farewell message to Saints fans #SAINTSFC

August 14, 2021
JANNIK Vestergaard took to Instagram to say farewell to Saints, ahead of his switch to Leicester City. The Daily Echo understands a fee of around £15million was agreed between the two clubs earlier this week, with the Dane heading to the Midlands to complete a medical. And Vestergaard has now posted a goodbye messages with his move to King Power Stadium officially confirmed on Friday evening. The 29-year-old wrote: "Hello Saints. "After three years it's time for me to go. It's been a pleasure and an honour to share the pitch and the dressing room with a bunch of people I now consider my friends. "Thank you to the fans, the players, every single staff member at Staplewood and St Mary's. "It's been a ride of ups and downs, but I have grown as both a player and a man since joining three years ago. "I wish everyone and the club all the best for the season and the future. "Best wishes, Jannik." Centre-back Vestergaard played 79 games for Saints following his £18million move from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2018.
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #GrahamPotter admits it will be a big ask for #FlorinAndone to play in the Premier League #BHAFC

August 13, 2021
Graham Potter admits it is going to be a big ask for Florin Andone to get minutes in the Premier League following his serious knee injury. The 28-year-old only returned from a ruptured cruciate ligament injury in April, before then suffering a hamstring injury 14 minutes into his return to action for the U23s against Southampton. During pre-season the striker featured in all three of their friendlies coming on a substitute against Rangers, Luton and on Saturday at the Amex when they faced La Liga side Getafe. But Potter has admitted it is going to be a tough for the striker to make the step up from his rehab to playing in the Prem. Albion’s head coach said: “It has been good, nice for him to be healthy is the main thing for him, for us and for everybody because he has had a lot of time out. “He has battled back from a serious knee injury, so we have had to be careful with him and build him up in a good way. “He has got time on the pitch which has been important for him, but he is the stage now where we have to think about how we get more minutes for him, more game time for him because it is a big ask to go from what he has been through in terms of his rehab to getting minutes in the Premier League. “But he is available, he is training, he is in a good place, so I am pleased for him that he is back healthy.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl is happy with Southampton’s squad size but issues a warning #SAINTSFC

August 13, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl has praised the makeup of his 2021-22 squad but warned “we will need every player this season”, admitting that last campaign they were left “a little bit short of numbers.” Saints have made six transfers into the squad, while only three key first-teamers have gone the other way, and with another centre-back likely to replace the outgoing Jannik Vestergaard Hasenhuttl’s options will definitely have more depth – even if the quality is as of yet unproven. The manager claims the mood around the camp is good following a largely successful pre-season, despite a rotated Saints side being comfortably beaten by Athletic Bilbao at St Mary’s. Saints had a torrid second-half of last year’s Premier League season, after an injury crisis and drop in performances combined to see only one clean sheet kept after January – ensuring Saints’ fall down the table. Read more Southampton's Nathan Tella on Everton Premier League opener Hasenhuttl confirms Vestergaard set to make Leicester switch Alex McCarthy targeting top-half Premier League finish At the moment, centre-back, left-back and possibly defensive-midfield look a little bit light, but incomings and versatility of some squad players should see to a healthier looking squad come the end of August and hopefully help avoid a repeat of last term. Speaking at the press conference ahead of the Everton opener, Hasenhuttl insisted: "We need every player this season for sure. It's a long season and last season we were a little bit short of numbers, to be honest. “Now we have a wider squad, a bigger squad and in the end a lot of games are coming up so everyone must bring themselves in the best physical and mental condition to help us.” On the atmosphere inside the Saints camp, the Austrian gaffer added: “I must say we always have a very good atmosphere in pre-season. “Everyone wants to work hard, even the players coming back from on loan like Yan Valery and Longy. They like to work hard and fight for being in the squad.”