Jake Vokins
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #MalkyMackay praises Saints’ #JakeVokins after debut delight #SAINTSFC

July 25, 2021
ROSS County manager Malky Mackay hailed the instant performance of Saints loanee Jake Vokins and insisted “He has been schooled very well at Southampton’s academy, obviously.” Vokins, 21, delivered immediate link up with striker and goalscorer Alex Iacovitti as the frontman finished the left-back’s dangerous cross to edge past their opponents 1-0 in the Scottish League Cup on Wednesday. It was the former England under-19 international’s competitive debut with his loan club, who he has joined until of their campaign this season. It is thought Vokins still considers himself a Saints player of the future after making a handful of first team Premier League and cup appearances, and with the Oxford-born defender having spent his entire career with the academy. He’s already boosted his own reputation in the eyes of the former Cardiff City and Wigan boss Mackay though, who told press after the game: “What happened for the goal is something we spoke about. Read more Saints midfielder Callum Slattery signs for Motherwell Lawrie: I’ll be watching the Olympics and hoping Team GB do well Saints and Nice reportedly agree transfer fee for Lemina “It was a fantastic delivery from young Jake Vokins. “He has a lovely left foot and we saw a couple of times with the ball fired to him from 50 yards, it just gets brought down beautifully. “He’s a young player. He has lots to learn, but he has shown a great willingness. He has been schooled very well at Southampton’s academy, obviously. “We talked in the first half about that little hole where, if we drew the second man out, which we did, that the front post space would be available if he managed to get the delivery in there. And by goodness, he did.” The club had already been due to play twice in the Scottish League Cup this month but had seen both games forfeited due to COVID, meaning Vokins’ debut was long awaited north of the border. They play against Montrose in the same competition today, before kicking off their 2021-22 Scottish Premiership campaign at home to St Johnstone on Saturday July 31. The side actually reached the quarter final of the Scottish League Cup last winter, knocking out giants and current-holders Celtic on the way, before avoiding league relegation with three consecutive victories to end the season.
Bernand
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #Bernard signs for Sharjah FC in UAE #EVERTONFC

July 23, 2021
Bernard says farewellSharjah FC have confirmed the signing of Everton winger Bernard. The UAE Pro League outfit have announced that the Brazilian has signed a 'two-season' contract. After his move to the UAE was confirmed, the 28-year-old was quick to thank Everton fans and current and former teammates.However, he also left a cryptic message about stuff that has 'happened behind the scenes'. On his latest Instragram post - a graphic of himself with the words 'Thanks Everton' in bold letters - he said: "First of all I would like to thank the fans, and all the players who were with me and always supported me at all times, since I arrived I was always well received and treated as if I was really a member of the family. "Unfortunately you who support me and not those who appear here to spread the words of hate DON'T KNOW HALF of what happens behind the scenes, I wanted to be more clear but unfortunately TODAY I can't, the message I leave today is of gratitude and you will always be special. "Everton is GIANT, has an incredible history and has the structure and capability to return to be and to conquer everything that it has been and conquered. "I'm satisfied about how much I dedicated myself and did my best to be the best of me in all training and games, and I ask God to continue blessing all the friends I left at the club and hoping that Everton returns to the glories that it deserves."Credit: Bernard / Instagram
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl wants defensive ‘change’ and praises #RomainPerraud #SAINTSFC

July 22, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl heaped praise on Saints’ summer signing Romain Perraud but insisted the club’s defensive record is “something we have to change.” The 23-year-old French full-back was the first new acquisition of the current campaign, signed from Stade Brest at the start of July for an undisclosed fee. Perraud, who made the France Ligue One Team of the Season in 2020-21, signed a four-year deal and acts as a direct replacement for departed Ryan Bertrand – now at Leicester City. The full-back has been heavily involved in the summer pre-season training with the Saints squad, including being pictured on the side’s cycle through New Forest. Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Hasenhuttl said: "(I’m) very pleased. Getting him here, he is a character that’s perfect to our club, to our team. “A hard worker, offensively with some good habits, quick player, left foot and right foot. “Defensively is a guy who likes to defend on the front foot. A little bit similar to Kyle (Walker-Peters) on the right side. “He had a fantastic season in France last year and decided to come to us and after Ryan Bertrand has left, we knew we needed a very good replacement.” Saints had a torrid time at the back last season, only keeping nine clean sheets in 38 Premier League matches – and conceding 68 goals, of which only relegated West Brom let in more. Eight of those shutouts had come by January 4, when Saints were sixth placed and had just beaten league leaders Liverpool without conceding to pick up three consecutive clean sheets. After earning just one more for the remainder of the campaign, it has made clear what Hasenhuttl wants to do. When asked about the defence, he added: “Absolutely no question. This is definitely something we have to change because it automatically leads us to a better position. “That is why we were up the table, so we need to change it and make sure it’s all year, change the behaviour.” Saints reportedly have a behind-closed-doors match against Championship Fulham on Saturday, before a trip to Wales sees them take on Swansea and Cardiff in pre-season friendlies. Athletic Bilbao then visit St Mary’s on Saturday, August 7.
Davy Propper
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #DavyPropper sends message to Brighton after joining PSV #BHAFC

July 21, 2021
Davy Propper has revealed the challenge Dutch players face coming to the Premier League. But the former Albion midfielder says he had a “great time” with the club during four seasons in England. Propper is now back at PSV and is eyeing a push for the title but has written a message to Seagulls staff and supporters. He has highlighted the leap players must make when they swap the Eredivisie for the Prem. Propper wrote: “I want to start off by saying thank you to all the people at the club who helped me and to the fans who showed their support for me throughout my four years at Brighton. “I had a great time with the club. I am very happy to have played over 100 games and look back at a lot of the performances we put in and believe we showed great progression as a Premier League team. GRAHAM POTTER STUDIES ALBION SQUAD AHEAD OF SIGNINGS “It was tough coming from Holland to England because it is such a big change; the physicality is at a much higher level. The way the game is played here is completely different in terms of intensity and there was a period of adaptation. But we did well from the off and have always I am very happy to have played 106 times in the Premier League. When you’re in the moment you don’t realise the landmarks that you pass, you always look forward knowing you’ll have time to reflect later on, but now I’ve had the summer to look back, I am very proud. I feel I have always had a good relationship with the Brighton fans; the last 18 months have been really tough with COVID-19, but I always felt the supporters' positivity and tried to do my best for them. It makes me smile to think of the emotions we went through together – the times when the games were ticking down and we needed the points, and we would always leave it late! But winning the games against Manchester United to secure our position for another season, as well as the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, they were really great times and to feel the atmosphere was amazing. They are the moments that I will remember. Last year wasn’t good for me personally with injuries, but I got a lot of help from the club to pull through those difficult moments. I could never say anything bad about the staff or players, I am proud to have known them and played alongside them. Football is difficult, people go in separate ways, but I have made a few friends for life here. I now have a new challenge and opportunity with PSV, where we will be aiming to win the title and fighting for a place in Europe, but my time with Brighton I will never forget.