Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #GrahamPotter verdict as Brighton beat Luton in friendly #BHAFC

August 2, 2021
Graham Potter has given Albion's latest pre-season run out his seal of approval. Fine finishes from Aaron Connolly, Enock Mwepu and Percy Tau secured a 3-1 win at Luton. Harry Cornick brought the Hatters back in the contest at 2-1 just before the interval after a poor pass by Dan Burn. Albion boss Potter said: “I thought we played well in the first half especially, we controlled the game, created some good chances and scored some good goals. “I was really pleased for Enock to get off the mark. Disappointed in their goal, which was from an error, which makes the start of the second half a little bit more competitive. “It is something we just have to accept and learn from but, in the end, our response was good and it was nice for Percy to score. DANNY WELBECK COULD MISS START OF PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON “In the end there were lots of young players and players on the pitch getting minutes. It was a really good afternoon for us.” Albion used 22 players, including 80 minutes for centre-back Shane Duffy. Albion: Sanchez (Steele 46); Veltman (Karbownik 46), Duffy (Tsoungui 80), Burn (Ostigard 58), March (Zeqiri 64); Bissouma (Gross 64), Mwepu (Leonard 68), Moder (Tau 46), Lallana (Richards 64); Connolly (Alzate 46), Maupay (Andone 46).
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley boss #SeanDyche reaction on Tranmere workout and #ChrisWood return #BURNLEYFC

August 2, 2021
SEAN Dyche believes Burnley are in good shape with the countdown on to the new season as Chris Wood returns to the fold. Wood’s New Zealand exited the Tokyo Olympics with a penalty shoot-out defeat in the quarter-finals against the hosts. He is now on his way back to Barnfield, and with Matej Vydra playing the final half an hour of Saturday’s 2-1 win behind-closed-doors at Tranmere, Dyche’s options in the final third are increasing ahead of the season opener against Brighton on August 14. Work is also continuing in a bid to bring fresh faces in, RB Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman the latest player linked after spending last season on loan at Fulham. “There are a couple of games coming up so we will see how the squad looks after that,” said Dyche. “Woody is coming back – unfortunately for Woody. It’s shame for him and for them but good for us, in a way. “He comes back and will be able to re-acclimatise and get a bit of recovery before he joins in with us. “I am pretty pleased and the main thing is – so far – we are injury-free. “Everyone is fit and well at the moment and long may that continue, of course.Then if we can reinforce the squad as well, we’d like to think we are growing into pre-season so that when the real stuff starts we’re ready.” With a behind-closed-doors game and a Turf Moor friendly with La Liga side Cadiz to come, Dyche saw Ashley Barnes and Dwight McNeil get the goals at Prenton Park against Micky Mellon's League Two side. “They are a decent outfit and pushed us hard, which was good for us so we feel like we benefited from this," said the Clarets boss. "I thought the general performance was good. I liked the tempo about the play, the energy and I thought there was a nice edge to it, so I was pleased overall. "We are still in the market to support the group where we can but when we’re fit and well I’ve always said it, I think we’ve got a good outfit."
Kyle Walker Peters
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #KyleWalkerPeters wants Saints to keep hold of ‘top player’ #JamesWardProwse #SAINTSFC

August 2, 2021
FULL-BACK Kyle Walker-Peters admitted it was hard for him to comment on the rejected bid for Saints skipper James Ward-Prowse but added: “Of course, I hope he stays.” The Daily Echo understands Saints turned down a £25million offer for their captain from Aston Villa, with transfer speculation having linked Ward-Prowse to the Birmingham side all summer. And while Walker-Peters admitted “teams are always going to be looking” at the England midfielder, he is hopeful the 26-year-old remains at St Mary’s. Put to the defender that Saints would want to keep hold of their best players amid the interest in Ward-Prowse, Walker-Peters replied: “Yeah. It’s hard for me to speak on that, obviously. “Prowsey is a top player, teams are always going to be looking at him but that’s down to the club. “Of course, I hope he stays.” Ward-Prowse has been on the books at Saints since the age of eight and made 322 senior appearances for the south coast club in all competitions. He signed a fresh five-year contract with Saints 12 months ago. The Daily Mail this weekend reported Villa will make another effort to sign Ward-Prowse in the coming days. A knee injury had kept the midfielder out of Saints’ two friendly fixtures against Cardiff and Swansea, during the team’s pre-season trip to Wales. But Walker-Peters insisted both the club captain and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl had been working on gelling the squad together, ahead of the new campaign. He added: “I think we had that unity anyway but the gaffer and Prowsey have made sure we keep that unity and keep gelling as a squad, even off the pitch. “It (the trip) has been great. It’s been good to get minutes against some good teams but the main thing is working on how the gaffer wants us to play and we are slowly getting there, slowly getting better."
Jake Vokins
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Saints youngster #JakeVokins has injury setback at Ross County #SAINTSFC

August 2, 2021
SAINTS youngster Jake Vokins has suffered an injury setback while at loan club Ross County. The 21-year-old had started two Scottish League Cup ties for the Saggies and had been set to feature in their league opener at home against St Johnstone on Saturday. But boss Malky Mackay revealed the Saints academy graduate has a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal and was now set to go under the knife back on the south coast. Former Watford and Cardiff boss Mackay told the Press and Journal: “We had to contend with our starting left-back Jake Vokins, in the last minute of training on Friday, who innocuously made a pass and felt something in his foot. “It has turned out he has a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal and will be out for 10 weeks now.” He added: “Jake had settled in really well in the three games he played. “He was absolutely gutted, I spoke to Southampton on Friday and he will be operated on Monday down there. “Left-back might be the eighth one (player) we bring in now, because that’s an extra area we will have to look at again now.” Having come through the ranks at St Mary’s, Vokins has made five senior appearances for Saints. He also spent the second half of last season on loan at Sunderland.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl says Saints’ young duo ‘getting stronger every day’ #SAINTSFC

August 2, 2021
MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl praised Saints youngsters Ryan Finnigan and Oludare Olufunwa and added: “They are getting stronger every day.” The pair have been working with the St Mary’s side’s first team during their pre-season trip to Wales and came off the bench during Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Swansea. Central midfielder Finnigan replaced Stuart Armstrong after 73 minutes at Liberty Stadium, while defender Olufunwa came on for Jan Bednarek for the final nine minutes. Asked about the young duo’s integration into the first team, Hasenhuttl replied: “Very good, I must say they are getting stronger every day and when we are working together, it’s good for them to be with the first team. “It’s good for them to learn quick and always a fantastic opportunity for the young lads to be part of the game.” The pair could be involved when Saints host La Liga sides Levante and Athletic Bilbao at St Mary’s this week.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl identifies ‘biggest threat’ in Saints’ game #SAINTSFC

August 1, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl identified Saints’ pressing as the “biggest threat in our game” after they struck three times at Swansea. The St Mary’s side sealed a 3-1 victory over the Championship outfit as they looked to get themselves up to full speed ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Saints pressed with intensity against the Swans and found rewards through their endeavour – particularly when Nathan Redmond capped off a slick counter to make it 2-1 after the visitors had won back possession. Asked about his side’s pressing style, Hasenhuttl said: “We know that it’s our biggest threat in our game, definitely. “This is always the best moment to score because the opponent is a little bit disorganised and then you have more space, you can hurt them more and that is what we did in a good way.” Swansea had taken the lead at Liberty Stadium, when Mohammed Salisu’s miskick beat Alex McCarthy after Liam Cullen’s dangerous cross into the box. And while Saints limited Swansea’s opportunities after that moment, Hasenhuttl wanted to see more improvement in defensive areas. “I don’t want to give them any chance, to be honest,” he added. “When you play against a Championship team, I want to be so clinical that they don’t give them any chance but yeah, we gave a few and that we have to talk about.”
Stuart Armstrong Southampton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl keen to get #StuartArmstrong up to full sharpness #SAINTSFC

August 1, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted he had been keen to get creative midfielder Stuart Armstrong up to full speed and added: “He can definitely help the team.” The former Celtic man came back late to Saints’ pre-season training schedule, due to his commitments for Scotland at Euro 2020 this summer. He impressed in Saturday’s 3-1 friendly victory over Swansea, scoring just before the hour mark and then being replaced by youngster Ryan Finnigan after 73 minutes. Asked about Armstrong’s display, Hasenhuttl said: “You also see he is still missing a little bit – he has been in training one week and in one week you cannot train as much as when you come in the highest level fitness-wise. “We must work with him that he is then also able to go longer than 70 minutes.” Armstrong started alongside stand-in skipper Oriol Romeu during the contest in Wales, a deeper role he had been utilised for when Saints were stretched with injuries last season. “I mean we have flexible players,” said the manager. “Ori to have back is important for us but Stuey also showed last season, especially with the ball he is a very good six, who carries the ball very good in the opposition half. “This is his biggest strength – there he can definitely help the team.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl wanted Saints to find the ‘next gear’ at Swansea #SAINTSFC

August 1, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted he wanted Saints to find the “next gear” during the latter stages, despite their 3-1 victory over Swansea. Goals from Nathan Tella, Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong meant the Premier League side came from behind in Wales to seal a pre-season victory over the managerless Championship Swans. But despite making seven changes on the hour mark at Liberty Stadium, Saints failed to add to their tally. Hasenhuttl said: “We dropped a little bit the speed I must say in the last 30 minutes, yes. We had a few chances but I hope we give again the next gear and push them a little bit more. “It was not enough for me but after the week they worked hard and they also on Friday we had not really taking respect of the game – we tried to work hard. It’s okay.” Tella’s goal came just a minute after Mohammed Salisu shanked a cross from Liam Cullen into his own net on 15 minutes, while Redmond’s crisp finish put Saints ahead at the break. Armstrong fired in Shane Long’s cross on 57 minutes before the raft of changes from Hasenhuttl. “I think it was a particularly good game,” added the Austrian boss. “I think we scored three good goals. We conceded one and it was a horrible mistake from Sali but okay. “But we are in pre-season, I think we are physically in a good position I think. The last freshness was not there but overall, it was a good performance.” Saints continue their pre-season fixture schedule with a home clash against Levante on Wesnesday, before hosting Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. Their first competitive game comes at Everton in the Premier League on August 14.
Ben White Leeds
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #BenWhite did not need much convincing to join Arsenal #ARSENALFC #BHAFC

July 31, 2021
Ben White admits he did not need to much convincing to join Arsenal. The 23-year-old defender joined the Gunners this afternoon from Albion, who received a club record £50 million for him. Read more: Ben White leaves Albion for Arsenal for fee of £50 million After joining White was asked what did Mikel Arteta say to convince him to join the club. However, White admits he did not need much convincing: He said: “I don’t think I needed too much convincing to be fair, obviously Arsenal speaks for itself. “I spoke to the gaffer a number of times during the summer and I got good vibes and the way the gaffer wants to play I can hopefully produce quality in this team and get Arsenal back.” White also revealed when he found about Arsenal’s interest in him. He said: “It was when I was away with England that is when it got a bit more serious. “So, it was obviously nice to find out and to be here is unbelievable.”
Chris Hughton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Nottingham Forest cancel Burnley friendly amid Covid-19 cases #BURNLEYFC #NFFC

July 30, 2021
Burnley’s upcoming friendly against Nottingham Forest has been called off due to a 'small number' of positive Covid-19 tests in the Forest squad. The game - which was meant to take place at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon - has been cancelled as a precautionary measure to protect players and staff at both clubs. The Clarets are now looking for a different opponent for Saturday as they prepare for the new Premier League season. “The situation is unchanged since yesterday when we had to cancel the Villa friendly with some players having to self-isolate,” said Forest boss Chris Hughton. “Therefore, it is the right decision to cancel the fixture in the interests of players and staff from both clubs and our own supporters. “It is disappointing that we have not been able to get a run-out against Premier League opposition but Sean Dyche and Burnley Football Club have been very understanding for which I am grateful." Burnley will wrap up their pre-season preparations against La Liga side Cadiz at Turf Moor on Saturday, August 7. The Clarets kick-off their sixth successive top-flight campaign with a home fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, August 14.
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley midfielder #JoshBenson completes Barnsley move #BURNLEYFC #BARNSLEYFC

July 30, 2021
BURNLEY midfielder Josh Benson has completed a move to Championship side Barnsley. The former Arsenal youngster departs having made 12 senior appearances for the Clarets including two Premier League starts. The 21-year-old has moved to Oakwell for an undisclosed fee, which it is reported could reach £1million, and signed a four-year deal. Benson told his new club’s website: "I'm buzzing to be here and I can't wait to play in front of the fans. “I was impressed last season by how close they got to promotion and getting in the play-offs, so I'm excited to join the team. "I've had a taste of the Premier League and that's definitely my main goal, to play in the Premier League." Barnsley FC Co-chairman, Paul Conway, added: “We are very excited to have acquired Josh, who immediately strengthens our midfield. “As we continue to progress, we aim to bring in unique talent to assist us in our next step and Josh’s experience at Premier League level is an important evolution of the squad. “Also, the length of this deal is significant, as it demonstrates both the club’s long-term commitment to Josh and his commitment to the club.” Benson had spent three seasons with the Clarets after signing in the summer of 2018 following a successful spell on trial in the Under-23s. He then progressed through the Academy ranks to make it into the Clarets’ senior squad. And following a loan spell with Grimsby Town in the 2019/20 season he made his senior Burnley debut in September 2020. The Clarets said in a statement: “The midfielder now gets the chance to further his career with Barnsley and everyone at Turf Moor wishes him well in the future.” The Tykes are looking to build on an impressive run to the play-offs after a fifth-placed finish in the Championship under Valerien Ismael. He has now moved on to West Bromwich Albion and been replaced by Austrian Markus Schopp. The 47-year-old was capped 56 times and played at the 1998 World Cup and has moved to Oakwell following a successful spell at TSV Hartberg.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl on new signing #MoussaDjenepo versatility #SAINTSFC

July 30, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl described the versatility of Moussa Djenepo as a "bonus", adding how he plans to utilise him from left-back more this season. The 23-year-old has featured in both of Saints' pre-season friendlies so far as part of the back four. The Mali international came off the bench to replace new signing Romain Perraud at Cardiff City on Tuesday evening and took just four minutes to find the net. Djenepo cut in from the left and smashed a brilliant effort into the top corner in the 4-0 win. Hasenhuttl is keen to add more full-back depth to his squad following the departure of Ryan Bertrand and loan exit of Jake Vokins. But he believes Djenepo, who usually operates from a more advanced attacking position, has what it takes to become an option in that position alongside Perraud. Discussing Djenepo's recent performances at left-back, Hasenhuttl told the club website: "I think it’s like a bonus that compared to the other number 10s, he can also play in this position. "He is defensively super strong, when he goes and attacks. And with the ball he has shown when he is up the pitch he can dribble inside. "As a full-back, this is a super nasty situation. "I see him there in this season to be honest. "He still has to learn. Especially his mindset must be right, that he accepts this position and that he wants to play there. Then I think he can do a good job there."
Jannik Vestergaard
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl gives update on #JannikVestergaard #SAINTSFC

July 30, 2021
JANNIK Vestergaard is yet to return to the Saints squad following extended holiday after Denmark reached the European Championship semi-final, with Ralph Hasenhuttl admitting “it wouldn’t be surprising if there were offers.” The 28-year-old defender put in solid performances when the spotlight was on and impressed throughout the tournament, with only a year left on his deal sparking murmurs of transfer interest from elsewhere. The centre-back played 30 times in the Premier League for Saints last season and would be an integral part of manager Hasenhuttl’s plans. Unless the Dane signs a new deal, Saints would lose the man they paid a fee of £18million for back in July 2018 for nothing, next summer. Read more Saints' new signing Dynel Simeu's career in numbers Saints taking 'no risk' over Armstrong or Ward-Prowse knocks Ralph Hasenhuttl: We are very clear we need more players He’s not the only one in that scenario, with the likes of Danny Ings’ long-term future also up in the air ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. However, Hasenhuttl has made the same defiant claim he did on striker Ings in regards to Vestergaard’s future, telling BBC Radio Solent: “The situation is that he is back on Monday. “He has one year left on his contract, I plan with him next season, definitely. We need everybody here. He played a very good Euros. “It wouldn’t be surprising if there were offers coming. But I plan with him next season.” The Dane won’t be back in time for the Swansea fixture in Wales this weekend but Saints have two more pre-season matches against La Liga sides Levante (Wednesday August 4) and Athletic Bilbao (Saturday August 7). With Saints kicking off their season on Saturday August 14 with a trip to Everton, if Vestergaard is to stay the Austrian boss will want him match fit and he could see his first minutes since returning from international duty.