Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss Graham Potter wants to make difference as manager beyond football results #BHAFC

November 18, 2021
GRAHAM Potter believes that shared experiences with his colleagues and players mean more to him than individual results. This Saturday's game at Villa Park marks the manager's 100th game as Albion boss since he was appointed in May 2019. Potter replaced Chris Hughton, who had been the manager to take Albion in the Premier League and keep them in the top flight for two seasons after promotion in 2017. Potter has admitted that results do bring him joy in the short term, he puts the pleasure of working day-to-day with players and staff above everything else. The 46-year-old said: "Football is about winning, it is a results business, we know that. "But I started doing this job because you can make a difference, you can help people. Ultimately that's what it's about for me. "I will look back on my life and I won't necessarily look back on wins or results, I will look back on the people that I have worked with. The challenge is then to combine that with what the club wants, which is to win enough football matches. "The result is a really important part of it, don't get me wrong – my life is a lot better when we've won! It's how you get that result though, that's why I refer to the people as the most important bit. "I look back at my times with Ostersunds, with Swansea and the people here, they will be more important to me than anything else." When he was asked about what was his favourite result as Albion's head coach, two matches at the Amex stick out for the Enghlishman. Potter said: "I still say the first game after lockdown against Arsenal was a massive result, if you looked at the fixtures we had – Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool at home, those are the games where you need your supporters and nobody was going to be there. "So to get that result [against Arsenal] was really important. If supporters had been there the roof would have come off. "For the players and the club, the 3-2 win over Manchester City was another big one. To beat a team of that quality, with the crowd there, was really good for the team." Brighton head coach Graham Potter on the lap of honour after the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the American Express Stadium , Brighton , UK - 18th May 2021 - Credit Simon Dack. The manager appreciates the way fans have supported him during his time at the club. He said: "I always think the support has been positive generally. I keep off social media and don't read newspapers – the dissenting voices are always the loudest. "I am not naive enough to think that I have universal support because I don't think that exists, especially in this game. "But generally, the people I have met have been supportive, they can see what we're trying to do. "They want the results to get a little bit better, which is understandable, but they're really positive, they are appreciative of what we're trying to do and how we're trying to move the club forward. "There will be some because we're not winning enough who will want change to something else. The last time we had a crowd in before the pandemic, there was a bloke shouting at me, 'it's time to go now Potter' that's how it is. "Generally though, the supporters have been brilliant." Potter has taken charge of Albion 99 times since his appointment and has won 29, drawn 33 and lost 37 with an average of 1.21 points per game. He and his Albion team will take on Aston Villa and their new manager Steven Gerrard in his century match as Albion manager and will be hoping to earn his 30th win at the club.
Dean Smith Manager
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- New Norwich boss Dean Smith’s verdict on stopping Southampton #NCFC

November 18, 2021
NEW Norwich City boss Dean Smith insisted he knew all about the threat posed by Saints, having managed Aston Villa against them earlier this month. Smith made a swift return to management just over a week after he was sacked by Villa, following five straight Premier League defeats. Saints were Smith’s last opponents while he was in charge of Villa, with a 1-0 loss followed by his exit two days later. Having now signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Carrow Road, the manager’s first challenge will be to try to thwart Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men at Carrow Road on Saturday. He said: “I think certainly coming into the training ground here at Colney and meeting up with the staff, I already have an idea of how Southampton play because we came up against them so recently in the last game I managed for Villa. “So it should help me in terms of not having to catch up so much compared to if it was a club that I’ve not played against, but they beat Aston Villa 1-0 so we have to turn the result around with the performance.” Norwich are currently bottom of the pile on goal difference, having won just one of their first 11 contests. “The top of the in-tray is not to concede goals, we’ve conceded too many already and defensively we want to make our structure and organisation a lot stronger and we’ve got talented players and we need to go and score more goals obviously,” Smith said. “We haven’t scored as many as we would have liked to, but there’s definitely players there who can do both sides of the job. “When I spoke to Stuart (Webber, Norwich’s sporting director), he believes in the squad of players, I’ve looked at the squad of players with Craig (Shakespeare, assistant head coach) and we both believe that it’s a squad that probably aren’t producing the results they need and our job is to improve their performance levels. “If we do that then we’ll get the results.”
Che Adams
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Che Adams speaks on scoring crucial Scotland goal vs Denmark #SAINTSFC

November 17, 2021
CHE Adams reflected on his cool finish at Hampden Park on Monday and admitted: “I’ve been in a couple situations before and I have snatched at it – I took my time this time.” The 25-year-old Leicester-born forward has been adopted with love by the Tartan Army and has repaid them with crucial goals in their World Cup qualifying. His most recent effort in the 2-0 win over Denmark helped secure them a home playoff tie to come in 2022, and it was his third in the qualifying campaign for them. Before signing for Saints, he hit an impressive 22 in 46 Championship matches for Birmingham – earning him the Premier League move – but that level of scoring is yet to materialise at the next step up. Read more Most of his Saints strikes have been superb hits and solo efforts, like his winner at Watford two weeks ago, while he has failed to put away the simpler opportunities. Che Adams scores the winner at Watford (Pic: PA) With 15 goals in 87 competitive matches for Saints, it looks like the pressure being lifted on him at the club level by the arrival of Armando Broja and Adam Armstrong but ramped on him on north of the border could be helping him develop his own finishing expertise. "I've been in a couple of situations like that before,” Adams reflected at full-time on Monday, “and I have snatched at things. I took my time this time and it hit the back of the net. "It's always nice to score, I said that after the last game. The most important thing was to win and we did that.” If Saints get a calmer, cooler Adams in front of goal then his regular industry will soon turn into notches at the Premier League level. Che Adams finishes Denmark at Hampden Park (Pic: PA) A trip to Scotland could prove to be the hidden key that helps take Saints forward. He continued: “You can’t put it into words with how many times I’ve been capped, the performances we’ve played in. “It’s a good bunch of lads here, tight-knit and that’s what the manager has made us do. He’s brought everyone together and you can see that on the pitch.”
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- James Ward-Prowse reveals Southampton B team players learned from a losing run #SAINTSFC

November 17, 2021
SAINTS academy graduate James Ward-Prowse insists the B team’s recent torrid spell of form will have been “a good learning experience for them.”  The young Saints, coached by Dave Horseman, have made a complete U-turn in their results with five consecutive victories and clean sheets.  Before that run, they hadn’t won a game in 18 dating all the way back to February, with a relegation to Premier League 2 Division Two in that time.  A bit more attention turned towards the run when the B team lost 3-0, 2-0 and 6-0 in consecutive ties before going 2-0 up against Birmingham inside 10 minutes – only to be 3-2 down by half-time and lose – back in September. Read more The turnaround in form then coincided with the introduction of some more senior players into the side, including the likes of Will Smallbone, Nathan Tella, Yan Valery and talented 17-year-old Thierry Small. Saints B's Kegs Chauke is reportedly attracting interest from Manchester City (Pic: PA) And there’s no better example for the youngsters than Ward-Prowse, Saints captain, academy golden boy and England international, to show the rise that you can have at the club. “Yeah of course it’s difficult (seeing them lose every week),” the 27-year-old admitted to the Daily Echo, “it’s difficult to see the academy and B team struggle. Got some great pictures of #SaintsFC stars in their academy days. First, James Ward-Prowse playing against Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/Qiiw3PejR2 — Pick Southampton (@PickSouthampton) May 8, 2013 “But I think this is all part of the players’ journeys, you know you’re not always going to have wins every week.” Ward-Prowse added. “It’s different when you get to the Premier League, if you do lose a lot of games it soon catches up with you. Saints skipper James Ward-Prowse (Pic: Stuart Martin) “But I think it was a good learning experience for them and I’m sure they have got the right people around them to get them through the spell and make sure they learn through this period of their careers.” A number of Saints’ youngsters have caught the eye with top performances in the last five, including the aforementioned wing-back Small, central defender Dynel Simeu, attacker Kazeem Olaigbe and right-back Lewis Payne. Two of the under-18s, who have been appearing in the under-23 competitions, in Dominic Ballard and Kamari Doyle, both 16, received call-ups to England under-17s. Congratulations, Dom and Kamari! 👏The #SaintsFC youngsters have been selected for #YoungLions duty with England's U17s this month! 🦁 — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) November 11, 2021 Since making his debut aged 16 during an EFL Cup clash with Crystal Palace in October 2011, Ward-Prowse has made 333 appearances for Saints. He had an England under-21 call-up in 2013. James Ward-Prowse made his Saints debut over a decade ago (Pic: PA) Gareth Southgate gave him his senior England bow in 2017, for whom he has played nine times since. Appointed as Saints’ club captain in 2020. He’s come a long way from the days as a Saints scholar, secretly training at Portsmouth-local non-league side Havant & Waterlooville to get tougher. James Ward-Prowse has scored twice for England (Pic: PA) Ward-Prowse knows what it takes to ascend from a talented kid in the academy to the man, although you’d be surprised to hear that knowledge is yet to really be picked at. “I haven’t had any of that this season yet no,” he remarked, “but obviously we have some of the lads train with us and be around us so that would be a good time to maybe have a chat with them and see how they’re doing. “That’s a different challenge for them, when they come up and train with us, to be at a certain level, so there’s a good demand on them but that’s part of parcel of being a Premier League footballer.”
Steven Gerrard
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Steven Gerrard warns Brighton about an aggressive Aston Villa squad #AVFC #BHAFC

November 16, 2021
Steven Gerrard says Albion will face an “aggressive” Aston Villa in his first game in charge. But the new boss admits he is short of time in which to get his message across before they tackle the Seagulls. Gerrard has arrived in the West Midlands to succeed Dean Smith at the helm. But he will not have the full squad who will tackle Graham Potter’s side until late in the week. He told Villa TV: “That’s the priority. The main thing everybody should focus on now is the Brighton game. “We have very little time to prepare in terms of having the full group. “Thankfully we have some players on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that we can try and get a head start with and start getting some information over to them. “Brighton will be a tough game. “They are going well, they have got an exciting young manager and they are probably really satisfied with where they are right now. “But it’s a game we will go into and be aggressive and we will be looking to take maximum points for sure.” Albion picked up their first ever win at Villa Park with a 2-1 success behind closed doors last season. Saturday’s game is likely to be a very different proposition with a raucous atmosphere expected. The Seagulls led on their two visits before fans in recent seasons but came away with a draw and defeat. They will be looking for ways to exploit a Villa side who lost five in a row before sacking Dean Smith. Gerrard suggested there are defensive weaknesses. GRAHAM POTTER IS HAPPY WITH BRIGHTON, SAYS PAUL BARBER He said: “One thing I would like to improve on is the structure of the team from a defensive point of view. “Out of possession, our distances, our shape and what we do to regain the ball. "That is very important to me.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton boss Graham Potter reveals his charity experiences #BHAFC

November 15, 2021
This is Graham Potter and his staff as you have never seen them on a matchday. The Albion head coach, his assistant Billy Reid and first team coach Bruno joined The Big Sleep Out on Friday night to raise awareness and raise vital funds for the homeless in Brighton and Hove. Potter said: "We had an easy version of sleeping rough but it still gave us an insight into the challenges the homeless community face on a daily and nightly basis. "Having experienced just one night out on the street, I cannot imagine what it would be like suffering in this way with no idea of what the future holds, or where the next meal might be coming from. "There is a ridiculous stigma attached. These are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and they need our help and support. "Many are suffering from illness, poor health and it is heart breaking in 2021 that we still see people living on our streets. "There are some amazing charities across the UK, and here in Brighton and Hove, who do some amazing work. It's getting tougher for those organisations, and as we move into the depths of winter when the nights will get colder, with temperatures going sub-zero, I would urge those of you who can, to give them your support this winter." The event at St Peter's Church was organised by Off the Fence, who support the homeless community. Money raised from the event will go towards some of the charity’s work such as its Anti-Freeze Project, which offers a range of care including food, sleeping bags, clothes, showers and laundry services at its day centre and emotional support for the homeless. For more information visit offthefence.org.uk/thebigsleepout, use the hashtag #OTFsleepout2021, or visit their supporters’ JustGiving page.
Adam Armstrong
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Adam Armstrong assesses his three months at Southampton #SAINTSFC

November 15, 2021
ADAM Armstrong has admitted that stepping up from the Championship to leading a Premier League line was always "going to be tough,” but insists: “I will put the ball in the back of the net.” The 24-year-old Saints striker was given the difficult task of filling the boots of former hitman Danny Ings, following his move to Aston Villa, in a £15million summer transfer from Blackburn Rovers. After netting 28 goals in 40 second division games during the 2020-21 campaign, he arrived at St Mary’s with big expectation – expectation that was only fuelled when he bagged superbly in his first half at Goodison Park on his debut against Everton. But he then went 680 minutes without scoring after that despite a flurry of golden opportunities, before eventual relief with the 1-0 thunder-strike of a winner over Villa. Read more But his overall contribution had seen him win a penalty for a late equaliser at Newcastle as well as laying on two assists for his teammates, while being unlucky not to earn another spot-kick at Manchester City following a VAR intervention. VAR saw Kyle Walker escape a red card for a last-man foul on Adam Armstrong in September “I’m really happy,” Armstrong told the Daily Echo, assessing his contribution during his first three months as a Saints player. “I was speaking to my family (before the Villa game) and to make the jump from the Championship to the Premier League is obviously going to be tough. I feel like I’ve dealt with it quite well and played some good games so hopefully that can continue.” And asked if he’s enjoying life in Hampshire, he responded: “My family is all settled now which is great and I just take every day as it comes.” Adam Armstrong joined Ralph Hasenhuttl's squad from Blackburn in August Both of Armstrong’s goals for Saints so far have come in spectacular fashion. A wicked finish into the roof of the net at Everton, followed up and trumped by the first-time, weak-foot, rocket from the edge of Emiliano Martinez’s area that spelled the end of Villa boss Dean Smith’s tenure. But having squandered a handful of big chances, notably in the second fixture of the season when Saints drew 1-1 with Manchester United and in the recent 1-0 victory over Watford, it has given Armstrong something to think about. Adam Armstrong has two goals for Saints this season He admitted: “It’s nice to score nice goals, although I’d rather take the sloppy ones as well, you know. “If we keep getting the right chances in the right areas then I will put the ball in the back of the net. “But I'm really happy with the three points against Aston Villa.”
Jake Vokins
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Saints youngster loanee Jake Vokins vows he’s 100% ready to make Ross County return #SAINTSFC

November 15, 2021
SAINTS youngster Jake Vokins has told Ross County manager Malky Mackay that he is “100 per cent” ready to return after his broken metatarsal injury. The 21-year-old on-loan full-back only featured twice in the League Cup group stages before being forced on to the sidelines for an extended period on the eve of the league campaign. Vokins returned to Staplewood to aid his recovery and make use of the advanced facilities available, before heading back north of the border in October. He finally made a return to the matchday squad for the recent trip to Rangers, but now the international break has come to afford him another week or two recovery. Read more “I played against Brora, and I played against Montrose at home, so that was good,” Vokins explained, in the Ross-shire Journal. Jake Vokins in FA Cup third round action this January (Pic: PA) “Obviously the fans were back a little bit there too, so playing games was nice. “I was really looking forward to the start of the league campaign. “Rangers was my first time back in the squad, so I’ve been working hard in training and trying to catch the gaffer’s eye. “Being part of the squad and being around him was good, I enjoyed it.” Vokins continued: “It definitely feels good to be back in and around the team and back into training now.” “I definitely missed being around the boys, but in terms of my recovery and rehab there were a little bit better facilities down in Southampton. Breakthrough season ✅New contract ✅#SaintsFC is pleased to announce that young defender Jake Vokins has signed a fresh deal: — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 4, 2020 “We thought that would aid my recovery to come back here fitter and stronger, but it was definitely tough. “It’s always bad getting injured, but especially right before the start of the league season – I was raring to go and looking forward to playing. “Everything happens for a reason, and it was disappointing, but I’m back now and I’m raring to go. “I’ve been watching every game, seeing how the boys are doing and adapting to how Ross County play. “Now I have a couple more weeks of training, so I can work on fitness before going again. Even when I was back at Southampton I was doing fitness work, so I would say I’m at 100 per cent.” Ross County return to Scottish Premiership action on Wednesday, November 24, with a visit Hibernian. They then host Dundee United, before visits to St Mirren and St Johnstone all coming within 10 days – so he will likely be needed by Mackay.
Jeremy Sarmiento
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ecuador boss tells Brighton attacking midfielder Jeremy Sarmiento to play with freedom #BHAFC

November 14, 2021
Jeremy Sarmiento has been told to play with freedom for his country. The Albion attacking midfielder was largely praised by observers – with one headline-making exception - as he made his first start for Ecuador. He played 76 minutes and was a bright spot of a somewhat laboured 1-0 win over bottom side Venezuela in the South American qualifying group for the World Cup. The three points keep Ecuador on course to reach Qatar. Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, currently on loan at Beerschot, was also in the starting XI.   La ovación más grande hoy fue para Jeremy Sarmiento, harta pelota y tiene apenas 19 años.Que ganas de verlo junto a Estrada y Mena el próximo martes contra Chile.TALENTO PURO. pic.twitter.com/PJHZ2mPL6q — Alfredo Pinoargote Quiroz (@alfredjoe80) November 12, 2021   Ecuador boss Gustavo Alfaro said: “Jeremy made a good impression on me. “We had a chat (the day before the game) and he told me he was very happy and enjoying his time with Ecuador. “I asked him to feel a sense of freedom and I asked him, at the age of 19, to never lose his generosity, his capacity to run, his humility.” Alfaro said he had no doubts over giving Sarmiento his full debut. Despite widespread praise, Sarmiento’s selection was questioned by well known TV journalist Arturo Magallanes. But Renato Paiva, head coach of leading club Independiente del Valle, made headlines as he launched a stinging counter-attack on Magallanes and supported Sarmiento.   Buena victoria ayer, estoy feliz de ser parte de este gran equipo!! Cada vez mas cerca a nuestro objetivo 🇪🇨💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/Mc9J7Atcew — Jeremy Sarmiento (@jeremysarm7ento) November 12, 2021   The Albion prospect himself simply tweeted: “Good win yesterday, happy to be part of this great team! Getting closer to our objective.”
Mohamed Elyounoussi
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories-Southampton’s Mohamed Elyounoussi reveals how Celtic loan helped him ‘grow as a human’ #SAINTSFC

November 13, 2021
MOHAMED Elyounoussi explained how he has had to "adapt to the physical part of the game" to make a success of himself in British football. The 27-year-old, who joined Saints in 2018 from Basel, is looking to help Norway qualify for next year's World Cup by winning two crunch qualifiers over the next few days. Stale Solbakken's men currently sit second in their qualification group, two points behind Holland, who they face on Tuesday evening. Before that, Norway host Latvia tomorrow (5pm). And, after his stellar form for Saints this season, Elyounoussi will be expected to feature, especially having already scored three goals during this qualification campaign. It has not been all smooth sailing for the Morocco-born talent since joining Saints. After finding game-time hard to come by, Elyounoussi was shipped out on loan to Celtic for two years. During his time north of the border, Elyounoussi won the domestic treble in the curtailed 2019-20 campaign, eventually leaving having scored 25 goals in 68 appearances. He impressed suitably enough to be welcomed back into Ralph Hasenhuttl's Saints side this summer and has proven a key figure in the club's attack, currently sitting joint top of their goalscoring charts with four, level with striker Armando Broja. Comparing his time in Scotland to the Premier League, Elyounoussi told the Daily Echo: "The Premier League is the best league in the world, but I would say from a physical point of view, it’s a lot similar. "I came from the Swiss league which was much more playing on the ground, playing football, that technical aspect was much more important than physically – there was not a lot of challenges. “I had to adapt to that in the Premier League and I think the best way was, when I didn’t play much here, to go to the Scottish league and to Celtic. “I had to adapt to the physical part of the game. I think I did that quite well at Celtic, I played a lot of games as a striker against big, tall defenders, so I had to hold the ball. “That was something I wasn’t used to but I learned how to do it. At some point in my time there I was a target man, playing up to me! Even on the corners, I was the main man, the main target. “It shows I have developed that part of the game from my side, especially all the European games have been really good for me – playing against all the bigger clubs in Europe especially for the confidence. It’s all about confidence." Asked if he feels a better all-round player now after his two years away in Scotland, Elyounoussi added: "Even though when I was in Basel, we played in the Champions League and we played against good teams, there wasn’t a lot of challenges where you have to go into 50-50 duels. “Now I feel like I’m more comfortable going in, much more comfortable to shield the ball. It was new to me, I had to adapt to that. “In general, it was a really good experience to go to Celtic. A huge club, amazing fans and I tried to find myself back to where I was before I came to Southampton. “I have grown as a player and as a human being, being there over the two years. “I have learned a lot about myself, had family and friends around me being very supportive and helpful. It has been a good experience for me."
Kyle Walker Peters
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl gives insight to role of Kyle Walker-Peters’ in Southampton squad #SAINTSFC

November 12, 2021
KYLE Walker-Peters probably had every reason to feel a little disgruntled after losing his place to an 18-year-old, but the way he’s kicked on instead prompted Ralph Hasenhuttl to remark: “This is the future.” The 24-year-old right-back started 30 times and was a top performer last season, only missing action during an injury-stricken January and February spell, so could assume he’d be a key man again. But he was displaced on the opening day at Goodison Park by summer signing Tino Livramento, who had played just 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly defeat to Athletic Bilbao – an inspiring 45, albeit. The former Chelsea youngster then started each of the first 11 while right-footed Walker-Peters was pushed out onto the left of Hasenhuttl’s defence – simply because he’s too good not to play. Read more That ploy faced early criticism with Walker-Peters’ relative inability to deliver into the area with his left-peg a source of frustration for supporters, frustration at the sign of slowed offensives. Saints' Kyle Walker-Peters is unlucky to have been usurped in his natural position by Tino Livramento (Pic: PA) However, in the back-to-back 1-0 wins over Watford and Aston Villa, Walker-Peters reminded those a bit sceptical with confident and assured performances in defence and attack, despite the natural inhibition. Manager Hasenhuttl shared those thoughts, telling the Daily Echo: “I must say that in this left-back position he gets more and more in the positions I want him to be. “What I still miss is the final action, the final assist, the final pass in the perfect moment. He can do it definitely better, but he is very good on the ball and his stats are very high all the time, sprinting up front. Pathetic. Walker -peters ripping us a new one. — Steve James (@stevejames72) November 5, 2021 “Against Aston Villa, he was a very important player for this team and this is good to see.” Kyle Walker-Peters had more touches in the opposition box (4) than any Aston Villa player in the first half.Just look how advanced he's been playing. 😳 pic.twitter.com/wvHzZJ7j4o — Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 5, 2021 This kind of positioning isn’t necessarily new for Walker-Peters, but there was a few murmurs and laughs in the press area when Sky Sports showed an ‘average position’ map for the full-back of the first-half against Villa – closer to the opposition corner flag than anything else. Watching the former Tottenham man maraud birthed reminders of a genius plot by European Championship-winning Italy manager Roberto Mancini in the summer – one that we didn’t get to see in the final. Ex-Manchester City manager Mancini deployed right-footed Roma left-back Leonardo Spinazzola in his five-man defence but told him to do basically whatever he wanted. Dynamic Italy left-back Leonardo Spinazzola (Pic: PA) The 28-year-old scrapped the idea of traditional positioning and spent the tournament dribbling, covering 10.8km per match with runs beyond opposition defenders, working in tandem with the forwards to overload their systems – and making just one solitary tackle in four games. Giorgio Chiellini would step across from centre-back and fill in as the left-sided defender while he embarked on those expeditions. 5 - Over Italy's first five matches at EURO 2020, Leonardo Spinazzola ranked first for dribbles completed (7), first for progressive carries (58), and second for chances created in open play (8) amongst the Azzurri squad. Flash. #ITA #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/KJs4DAWGpo — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 13, 2021 Despite suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the quarter final against Belgium, Spinazzola was named in the UEFA team of the tournament and touted by many to win the individual award that Gianluigi Donnarumma eventually claimed. Hasenhuttl explained Walker-Peters’ advanced role: “When we organise the rest of the defenders properly this is still possible, he can still cause the box some issues. Kyle Walker-Peters helped Saints keep a clean sheet at champions Manchester City (Pic: PA) “He is the joker, it is hard to defend and causes them issues as the ten also has to go there with him.” He insisted: “I think this is the future when you want to stress them in their box, you need this player. “This is why I am so happy that he goes there, but just missing the final action, the final goal, the final assist, then I will be very happy.” And Walker-Peters has testimony from those who know him best, too. Saints’ goalscorer versus Villa, Adam Armstrong, played with the full-back as a teenager in the England youth systems. England U21 coach Lee Carsley with Kyle Walker-Peters (Pic: PA) Both won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup together in South Korea, back in 2017, when they were on the books of Spurs and Newcastle respectively. Armstrong told the Daily Echo: “Kyle’s brilliant. I’ve known Kyle since I was 16/17 with the England groups and I think he’s been brilliant wherever he plays, he puts a shift in. “I thought he was quality again against Aston Villa. When you can play in every position it’s good, it’s only going to benefit Kyle.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton manager reveals his goals as a coach #BHAFC

November 11, 2021
GRAHAM Potter believes he is not a flag bearer for young British coaches. As many as 70 per cent of the Premier League’s managers are not from the UK as clubs have hired coaches with from abroad rather than to younger unproven British coaches. When asked if he felt pressure of being on of the most prominent young British coaches, Potter admitted he had not given it much thought. He told UCFB: “I think the most important thing is that you realise if you want to be a coach it is about helping people, trying to improve them and trying to help the team. “I know you have to get enough results and enough wins that keep you in a job, but in terms of whether I provide any inspiration or am a flag bearer for anybody else, I’m not sure.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl on youngster Thierry Small’s senior chances #SAINTSFC

November 11, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl has heaped praise on Saints youngster Thierry Small and refused to put a timescale on potential first team involvement, adding: “You never know, sometimes it goes quick.”  The 17-year-old left-back refused a professional contract at Everton in the summer in order to sign a deal with Saints, despite making an FA Cup debut for Carlo Ancelotti, in search of a clearer pathway to senior football. It looked as though it would be a long road after Hasenhuttl revealed the Solihull-born talent had arrived with some knee-strength issues, but he has lit up Premier League 2 for Saints’ B team. He made his bow with 60 minutes back in September during a free-to-watch contest with Burnley’s under-23s at St Mary’s, when David Horseman’s side continued a torrid losing run. Read more  But he’s played five since then without defeat, including scoring his first goals in red and white during demolitions of Aston Villa, Newcastle and League Two Crawley town as the team recorded five successive victories. Operating in a more advanced left-wing-back role, Small has terrorised the full-backs that have been tasked with trying to mark him up to six years his senior, making marauding runs and peppering shots at the goal. And the performances have caught Hasenhuttl’s eye. Speaking to the Daily Echo, the boss said: “I was very pleased with the whole performance of the under-23s, they seemed also to have found a turnaround now with Nathan Tella, Will Smallbone, Thierry Small playing for them. “Thierry I must say, very enjoyable to watch this lad, feels absolutely good here at this club. He has some really good potential, physically, mentally he is a fantastic guy I think. “Very positive, enjoys everything he does. Very shiny person I must say, still a lot of things to learn but I like to work with this player.” Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has showered praise on teenager Thierry Small (Pic: Stuart Martin) He added: “It’s the way I was always working in my managerial career that we have young, good players with positive energy that can improve, we can make them better. “He feels good in the team and the team loves him also.” Upon opening his account with a well timed run into his side of the opposition penalty area to sweep home, Small burst into an impassioned celebration – he kissed the badge of the club he joined three months ago before indulging in a knee slide. Off the mark! 😍Safe to say Thierry Small enjoyed his first #SaintsFC goal! pic.twitter.com/MRcYvWL7sX — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 31, 2021 Albeit a bit overboard for a Premier League 2 opener, we’ve seen how much passion can do for one’s popularity and performance in Brazilian defender Lyanco. Lyanco, 24, had to wait for an EFL Cup tie to get his first Saints chance – could it be that Small has to wait for a potential FA Cup third round clash against lower league opposition for his, just like how he made his debut for Toffees in January this year? “Maybe, yeah,” Hasenhuttl responded, before insisting with a smile, “you never know, in some moments it goes quick. Thierry Small made his first team debut for Everton aged 16 in the FA Cup (Pic: PA) “Especially this season we have, in this position, many more options and this makes it harder for him. “But he is a long-term project like all of the young players we have, and I see good potential, I’m very happy to have him.” Saints' B team were victorious 4-0 over also-eliminated Crawley Town in their last EFL Trophy game of the season on Tuesday evening, with Small scoring expertly from a narrowing angle as well as assisting.