patrick vieira manager
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl assesses Crystal Palace under Premier League legend Vieira #SAINTSFC #CPFC

December 14, 2021
SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has given a positive assessment of Crystal Palace under new head coach Patrick Vieira but insists their style of play “can also be an advantage”. Premier League legend Vieira has taken his first managerial job in the spotlight after spells with New York City and Nice, replacing the experienced Roy Hodgson. The former Arsenal invincible has had a decent start to life in London, too, converting the club’s style of play from a rigid, robust and defensive one, to an open, expansive and attacking one. He was allowed to invest heavily during the transfer window and his signings have begun to pay off already, tenfold when you consider the performances of promising English midfielder Conor Gallagher who is on loan from Chelsea. Despite failing to win any of their first four this campaign, they have since picked up convincing clean-sheet wins over Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and welcome Saints to Selhurst Park off the back of a 3-1 victory there at the weekend, over Everton. Assessing his counterpart’s outfit before the visit on Wednesday, Hasenhuttl said: “After a tough start where they had a few issues, they were finding each other very quickly. “It’s always tough for a new manager with pre-season to bring your way of playing football in the Premier League. “But it looks more and more that the quality in every position is very flexible with every gameplan, this gives a very competitive team and is the reason why they have had some good results. “They have also dropped a few points from winning positions which is sometimes our problem, but in total it’s an opponent who is strong.” And on their attacking style of play, Hasenhuttl thinks he can spot a way for Saints to exploit it: “This can be also an advantage as sometimes you get more space for the counterattack, but you have to say also that their reverse gear is becoming also better. “It was definitely a very good performance that they shown yesterday, we have to go there and not be surprised if it is a tough game to play.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl pleased with COVID status of Southampton players #SAINTSFC

December 14, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl has praised Saints keeping their COVID-19 rules “as tough as possible so that we minimise the risk,” after the club completed another round of testing with no blots. News came on Monday that Manchester United have shut their training ground for 24 hours and are in doubt over whether their clash with Brentford will go ahead this week following positive tests among staff and players. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur had their matches with Rennes in Europe and Brighton in the Premier League postponed last weekend following an extreme circumstance of cases. Fans that attend games will now have to produce evidence of a COVID-19 passport, attained via a negative test or complete vaccination courses, after the Government introduced new legislation. Read more And speaking ahead of Saints’ visit to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, the Austrian boss was asked if he had any concerns for his own club as a new Omicron variant continues to spread prompting Government action. Manchester United's trip to Brentford could be in doubt this week (Pic: PA) He responded: “Not really, as I have told them last week the situation in our club is not different to the beginning of the pandemic. “We try to keep our rules as high or as tough as possible so that we minimise the risk. We have still only a certain amount of people coming into the this building, we try to avoid every risk that we can because of the situation we are in at the moment. “We can only control what is in this building, we cannot control what is happening at home with the players,” Hasenhuttl admitted. “But the feeling I have, and this is maybe the reason we are so far coming through this, is that the players are trying to minimise their social contact and everything. Spurs were not in action at the weekend following an outbreak (Pic: PA) “I think this is the reason why we didn’t have this issue, the biggest issue I see is kids bringing it home from school because this is something we can hardly avoid but we are a young team, not so many players with children so maybe this also helps. “Like in the last weeks we have no cases and hopefully this continues.” Nathan Redmond recently missed out on the victory over Aston Villa - Saints' last victory this season - after he tested positive for the virus in the build-up to kick-off.  Hasenhuttl was also asked about the vaccination status of his players, and he added: “Yeah we are not so bad I think. “I don’t know the exact numbers of percentage of people at the club but I think meanwhile nearly everyone is vaccinated.”
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley boss Sean Dyche gives verdict on West Ham stalemate #WHUFC #BURNLEYFC

December 13, 2021
BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche felt there were positives to take from his side’s goalless draw with West Ham. The Hammers have recorded wins over Chelsea and Liverpool in recent memory but were unable to find a way past Nick Pope. Jay Rodriguez went closest for the Clarets, who have now failed to score in their last three matches. “We weren’t at the races in the first half,” Dyche told the club’s website. “We were off our mark and there was a bit of nervousness and a bit of tension in the performance, so I was pleased to get to half time with a clean sheet. “In the second half, we got back into the game and I felt we tried to go on and win the game. We played way better in the second half, looked more effective. “We had a chance just after half time with Jay Rodriguez, but it was a good block from their point of view. “They’re the moments we’re looking to turn into goals, but he’s in the right place and I’ll never knock players for being in the right place. “I think it’s important to reference that the crowd were brilliant. They were fantastic, they got right behind the team and that’s going to be important for us.” Dyche also gave an update on summer signing Connor Roberts, who was absent from the squad due to illness. He added: “Unfortunately Connor has got a really bad bug that eventually turned into an infection, so he’s had to go into hospital to make sure that’s clear. “He’s feeling a bit better now but he’s got to stay in over the weekend to make sure this bug clears.”
Nathan Tella
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Nathan Tella says Saints have to go ‘back to the drawing board’ #SAINTSFC

December 13, 2021
DETERMINED Nathan Tella admitted Saints had to go “back to the drawing board” following their 3-0 humbling at Arsenal. Despite early chances for the visitors at Emirates Stadium, Saints were left to ponder a fifth game without a win in the Premier League after Mikel Arteta’s Gunners seized control of the contest. Reacting to the game as a whole, Tella told the Daily Echo: “It was a tough day. “The first 20 minutes or so we matched them. They couldn’t really get out and they struggled. They struggled to deal with our pressing. “Once they scored the first goal, that just made it difficult for ourselves to get back into the game. “We obviously created a few chances in the second half, but we’ve just got to put them away or I’ve got to put them away. “We’ve just got to go back to the drawing board, start again and take what we’ve learned. “These games are always fine margins. If we score one of the chances we created, then it’s a different game. “Then the same with them, if they don’t score one of their chances they go in with a different team talk at half-time. “That’s all on us, we’ve got to hold our hands up. We’ve got to show what we’re about and we weren’t able to stamp our authority on the game, which was quite disappointing.” Defeat left Saints 16th in the Premier League table, with just three wins from their opening 16 league contests. “We know they (Arsenal) are a team that have got quality on the ball and they showed that,” said Tella. "Especially that period in the second half where we couldn’t get the ball and we couldn’t get out. “Nothing was going our way in that period. But that’s what happens when you play against quality teams. “They do that. They make us run, they make us work hard and there’s no reason why we can’t do that to teams, we’ve just got to look at that, take that on to the next game.” Saints make the trip to Crystal Palace in the top flight on Wednesday.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl’s gives verdict on Saints’ poor defensive form #SAINTSFC

December 13, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted it had been “all about details” when asked about Saints’ defence leaking goals in recent weeks. Following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, the St Mary’s side have shipped 12 goals in their past five games and picked up only two points in the process. Asked about his team’s recent defensive record, the Austrian boss replied: “I think you could see we were organised (at Arsenal), but in a moment we get punished immediately for the first mistake we make. This is the Premier League. “On Saturday we had a few missed players with suspensions, two for such a game, plus the goalkeeper is not so easy for us to find the rhythm, find the automatism, especially against the ball. “It is all about details. Finally you could see that this was not perfect what we did against the ball.” Goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel meant Mikel Arteta’s Gunners cruised to victory over Saints in north London. Quizzed on how preventable Odegaard’s goal was, Hasenhuttl said: “Both were preventable, definitely. “In the first goal we had a scene where Jan Bednarek was not defending out five minutes before. He had the same situation where he was defending out, had the ball win on this side. “In this moment he didn’t and when you don’t do it immediately and think it is easier then to defend, no it isn’t, it is definitely getting worse and harder, because they find the players in the box we never do, but they do it. “This is really frustrating because I feel until that moment we played a really good game.” Saints have to pick themselves up quickly for Wednesday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl provides update on Armando Broja and Adam Armstrong injuries #SAINTSFC

December 12, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl is unsure how serious injuries picked up by striker duo Armando Broja and Adam Armstrong at Arsenal will prove to be. Both men were forced off during Saints' 3-0 defeat at Emirates Stadium. Armstrong, who was brought into the side to replace the injured Che Adams, required treatment during the first half on what appeared to be a calf problem. The former Blackburn Rovers man played on, before having to be withdrawn two minutes before half-time and replaced by Mohamed Elyounoussi. Then, with 20 minutes to play, Broja hobbled off with Lyanco coming on as Saints changed their system, with Nathan Tella and Nathan Redmond ending the game as the front two. Asked for an update on the severity of Armstrong and Broja's injuries, Hasenhuttl said: "We don’t know yet. Hopefully not too serious. "But it was not possible for them to continue. "The signs before the game haven’t been the best today, and hopefully we have not more injuries now because a tough time of the season is coming." Asked if it could alter his plans in January with striker trio Broja, Armstrong and Adams all struggling with injuries, Hasenhuttl added: "We will look how serious it is, how long they are out and then we will look." Saints were also without suspended duo Oriol Romeu and Mohammed Salisu, as well as the injured Alex McCarthy, Fraser Forster and Stuart Armstrong for the trip to Arsenal. Hasenhuttl's men head to Crystal Palace on Wednesday (7.30pm).
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl admits game against Arsenal was gone after first two goals #SAINTSFC

December 12, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl was left to rue Saints not capitalising on a strong start at Arsenal, admitting: "The game was gone after the first two goals." Saints had Arsenal pinned back during the early stages with both Nathan Tella and Adam Armstrong working goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. But the Gunners soaked up the pressure before hitting Saints on a scintillating counter-attack, rounded off by Alexandre Lacazette on 21 minutes. Six minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a Martin Odegaard header. And the win was put to bed just past the hour mark when Gabriel headed home from a corner. Asked if he found it hard to believe his side were 2-0 down after 28 minutes given the way the game had begun, Hasenhuttl said: "Yeah. That changed the momentum from the game completely. "It was also something you have to accept then, because we tried to calm the game down immediately. "We were aggressive, had a few good moments in the beginning, but like always in such a moment, then the opponent makes a goal from their first chance, then that changes the momentum in the game. "They get more self-confident, they know they haven’t played well when we have started well and then suddenly you are one or two up. Then it’s easy to play. "It’s hard for us, mentally hard, and for them even easier. We tried after the half-time to come back in the game with one goal, but again we had good moments where we could score and then after the third goal, I think the game is gone. "Then you could feel the quality they have when they are in the flow. "We tried then to stop it with the change, a system change. It worked better in the end so that we didn’t concede a fourth goal. "But overall you must say that the game was gone after the first two goals we conceded." Asked how frustrating it was not to score when on top, Hasenhuttl added: "It is always frustrating when you know how good you can play and you do it and the output is nothing. "This is always frustrating. Especially then when you concede the first goal, you think it is far away from being deserved. "But this is football. This is always the quality. When they go one time in front of their goal, find the right moment and score immediately with their first touch. "This is what we have to learn and what makes it different between the top teams and us."
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley boss Sean Dyche keen to avoid Covid-disruptions as the club fights relegation #BURNLEYFC

December 11, 2021
SEAN Dyche is keeping his fingers crossed that Covid-19 cases do not disrupt his efforts to guide Burnley to Premier League safety. After seeing Tottenham counterpart Antonio Conte become the latest manager left counting the cost of a coronavirus outbreak at his club, Dyche insisted the health of his players and staff remained the ultimate priority, but admitted the disruption caused by the illness could cause real problems. The Clarets chief, who will send his side into battle with West Ham on Sunday, said: “We’re all trying to live our lives in some kind of normal [way]. I don’t think we can constantly worry about it. “It’s not ideal, I’m sure of that, quite obviously, but I think we’ve just got to adhere to the rules that are advised from the medical situation and hope that it doesn’t happen, hope that it doesn’t have an outbreak or a pod or whatever you wish to use in your group and your team and if so, just it doesn’t affect anyone. “We’ve had one with Dale Stephens recently. It was a one-off, nobody else involved and that’s what you’re hoping for to bring a protective element to what we’re trying to do. “And the bigger picture, of course, is the game schedule as well. It’s no-one’s fault, quite obviously, but it knocks on to the game schedule and games keep getting replaced and stuff like that, so there’s a lot more to it, “Health is the main thing, but then behind that, there’s a lot of planning, there’s a lot of organisation, there’s a lot of things it knocks on to.” Dyche has spent recent weeks reading speculation that soon-to-be-out-of-contract defensive duo James Tarkowski and Ben Mee could be targets for Newcastle as they prepare to wield their new-found riches for the first time. However, he remains relaxed about the situation and even suggested he could be active too with new owners also in place at Turf Moor. Dyche said: “If there are options available, then we’ll certainly be looking at them, which we are doing now. “That’s an ongoing thing from the club and it has been, but it’s probably slightly more open-minded, I would suggest, now in this ownership about what we can do, so we’re certainly looking at options of what we can possibly do.”
David Moyes
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- West Ham United boss David Moyes beleives Sean Dyche has done brilliant job at Burnley #WHUFC #BurnleyFC

December 11, 2021
WEST Ham boss David Moyes says Sean Dyche has done “a brilliant job” at Burnley ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash. The Hammers sit fourth in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to East Lancashire, having won eight of their opening 15 fixtures. But Moyes is expecting a tough test against the Clarets and praised Dyche for what he has achieved at Turf Moor. “I think the Premier League this year has got stronger, but Sean is a real fighter and his team do brilliant things in how they stay in games and make it difficult for you,” he told the club’s website. “It’s a difficult place to get a result but we played well there last year and I hope we do the same on Sunday. “I think Sean has done a brilliant job. He has not had great resources and picked up players from lower leagues and moulded them into how he wants to play. “If football was only played one way by every team it would be a boring sport. It is exciting because of the unpredictability and the different styles. “So having different styles is what we want. If it was all the same, people would turn off.” The Hammers are without Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Ben Johnson and Ryan Fredricks due to injury. Moyes admits it is far from ideal but challenged his fringe players to prove why they belong in the team. He added: “This is what happens in football. Everybody has had to wait for that opportunity to get in the team, and once you get that opportunity you have to grab it.”
Nathan Tella
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Nathan Tella on former Arsenal teammate Emile Smith Rowe #SAINTSFC #ARSENALFC

December 11, 2021
NATHAN Tella is relishing the possibility of facing former club Arsenal, a side which could include some of his old teammates. The Gunners have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League, with many players having come through the youth ranks. That includes Tella's close friend Eddie Nketiah, as well as the likes of England international duo Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe. Tella himself came through the youth system at Arsenal, before being let go and linking up with Saints in 2017. And he could face his former club for the first time tomorrow, when Saints head to Emirates Stadium in the Premier League (3pm). "I can’t get too caught up in the emotions of playing against Arsenal," Tella told the Daily Echo. "At the end of the day it’s another team who are in the league and another team who are battling to pick up results. So I feel like it should just be a good game." Asked about the possibility of having some Arsenal supporting friends in the crowd on Saturday, Tella added: "It will be nice to obviously see them, but I want to see them after we’ve won so I can sort of rub it in their faces a bit! "But it will be nice to see some old faces and people who I’ve known and seen me grow up as well, so it will be good." Discussing Arsenal's young stars, Tella added: "Saka was a little bit younger than me, but Emile Smith Rowe was another one who I played with. "He was playing up quite a bit, because he’s a year younger than me. "He’s always been a very good player, now the fact he’s able to do it at Arsenal just shows what everyone would know, he’s a very good player." After a spell out the side, Tella has started the past two league games for Saints. And he is determined not to let the occasion of facing Arsenal derail his comeback into the team. "From speaking to my dad about it, we were just laughing at the possibility of the first time I'm playing at the Emirates could be for Southampton," said Tella. "It would mean a lot. "But it doesn't matter, because I can't be too focused on the event, I have to focus on the performance and what the team needs to do to get the result. "I can't get too caught up with my own emotions and my own feelings towards the game, because that will distract me. "Especially now that I have come back into the team, I don't want to do anything that would jeopardise my spot here."