Jaidon Anthony
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony previews important Newcastle fixture for Cherries #AFCB

February 10, 2023
Eddie Howe returns to the Vitality Stadium having lead Newcastle to the top four and the League Cup final, whilst Cherries’ recent run of eight games without a win seeing them drop into the relegation zone. Anthony scored Cherries’ only Premier League goal since the World Cup break against Nottingham Forest, the only point they have mustered since November. Previewing the fixture with the Daily Echo, Anthony shared: “You have seen every game in this league is tough. “On the run we’re on, you can see that it’s never going to be easy. “They’re having an amazing season and we’ll have a good week to prepare and then we’ll come ready and hopefully get a result out of that one.” A late Kaoru Mitoma goal saw Cherries come away from their last game without any points, Brighton narrowly winning 1-0. Anthony maintained that the side remained confident in their approach, sharing: “We know what we came to do and as a team we want to stick to the gameplan and that will hopefully get us points on the board. “I think we did that (against Brighton) and it’s disappointing in the way we conceded and so late on, but we’ve got to dust ourselves down and go again really. Cherries drafted in three new attackers during the January window, with two of the arrivals, Antoine Semenyo and Hamed Traore, capable of playing in Anthony’s primary position on the left wing. Asked about the increased competition in the side, the winger restarted: “We also had some top players in my position always. “I think in every club you need a lot of options and obviously we’ve had some players leave in my sort of position as well. “I’m always going to fight for my position. I think that will never change. “It’s not really something I can control. The manager has got to pick his best 11 for the team and hopefully I’m in it. “If I’m not, I’ll try and help in any way I can really.” The 23-year-old then commented how he hoped the reinforcements could help Cherries turn their season around. “We hope so,” he added. “We need to get some results and we can see they’ve got some real quality and they add to our squad and our depth. “Obviously we’ve had a lot of injuries as well, so we’ll have some players coming back. Hopefully they can help us and we can get some points on the board.”
Gao Jisheng Southampton Owner
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton chief explains decision to keep manager Nathan Jones #SAINTSFC

February 8, 2023
Ankersen was also joined on a panel in the Aspire Lounge at the stadium by Sport Republic’s Henrik Kraft and Southampton’s Martin Semmens and Toby Steele. The board members faced supporters’ questions on a range of topics but, despite attempts to move the conversation on, much of it was dominated by Jones’s future. The manager has been called into question after six defeats in his first seven Premier League games was followed by a bizarre string of comments in his post-match press conference at Brentford. After Jones admitted ‘compromising’ in his methods during the first months of his tenure, Saints fans bombarded the club’s media with Jones out messages. Ankersen, speaking at the fans forum, responded: “It’s no secret that if you keep losing games, at some point you hit the point where it’s enough. “From the inside, we have a lot more reference points, we see the work that goes on every day. “As long as we see that the work that Nathan is doing at the training ground is high quality, then we have something to believe in, and believe that he can turn it around.” He added: “Nathan has been a part of selecting these new players and selling the project to them. I think it’s fair that he gets time with these new weapons he now has. “When we hire and fire managers it’s never a one man show. We discuss. We thought it was the right decision when we hired Nathan. I understand the frustration with the results. I promise you we are working really, really hard to get out of this. “I would lie to you if I said that I’m completely happy with the performances. I had hoped to see more improvement, but if we didn’t feel that Nathan could improve these players, he wouldn’t be here.” Ankersen, who was pictured present at first-team training on Tuesday and was leading on the club’s recruitment in January due to the absence of a head of recruitment – despite Sport Republic’s initial plan to avoid hands-on involvement, has himself faced criticism. “We have no problem admitting mistakes. The ego won’t get in the way of this decision. We will do what is right for the club,” the Dane said. “As I said, I’m starting to repeat myself a bit here, we try to do what we can to make the right decisions for the club. If we think the right thing is to change the manager, we will change the manager. “We have a belief that we can improve with what we have now, we will keep believing in that until we don’t believe it anymore. “I don’t think the players are being poorly managed. There are lots of variables that go into the performance of a football team. It’s a league where everyone gets better all the time, it’s a very competitive league.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.
Jordan Zemura
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jordan Zemura excited by new arrival Dango Ouattara #AFCB

February 8, 2023
The Burkina Faso international joined from French side Lorient last month and made an instant impact with an assist in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on his debut. Ouattara again played the full 90 minutes on Saturday, during the 1-0 loss at Brighton. Discussing his early impressions of the 20-year-old, Cherries full-back Zemura told the Daily Echo: “Him no English, me no French. I think Siriki (Dembele) was helping him out quite well and Noa (Boutin), the young lad. “But he’s a great lad. He’s only 20, he’s come over here and just been smashing it. “When he first came in, we could see the talent that he had and the qualities that he possessed. “There’s going to be a lot to be excited about for the fans, having him for the next couple of years. It was good to see him get an assist (against Forest).” Asked how much English Ouattara understands, Zemura added: “All he knows is ‘back post’ and then he says ‘back post’. “When we scored (against Forest), I don’t know what he said to me but he said something in French. ‘Bon’ something, I don’t know what he said to me, but he seemed happy!” Discussing the lift a new arrival such as Ouattara can bring to the squad, Zemura said: “Definitely. Even when he came in to training, you could just see, oh this is different. We’ve got David Brooks on his way back, Marcus Tavernier on his way back, Dom (Solanke) on his way back. “Those players, that gives you a big buzz because you know the qualities that they have and you just think to yourself, once we get everyone back in and we’re all competing in training, it’s going to be something to really look forward to. “It’s a good camp.” Former Cherries defender Mathieu Baudry has been back with the club in the past couple of weeks, the Frenchman helping Ouattara and fellow French speaker Hamed Traore settle in England. Baudry is contracted to Swindon Town, but is currently recovering from a serious knee injury. Asked if boss O’Neil has tried to communicate in French to Ouattara, Zemura said: “The gaffer speaks no French! It’s all English, but it’s all hand gestures.” Ouattara and Traore were among six January arrivals at Cherries with Matias Vina, Darren Randolph, Antoine Semenyo and Illia Zabarnyi also recruited. Cherries, still seeking a first win since O’Neil became permanent head coach in November, host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United on Saturday (5.30pm).
Antoine Semenyo
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Antoine Semenyo on journey to Premier League debut with Cherries #AFCB

February 7, 2023
The 23-year-old joined from Bristol City last month, for a reported initial £9million. He led the line for Cherries, playing the full 90 minutes of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. And while it was not the result he hoped for, for Semenyo it marked the latest milestone in a career which saw him snapped up by Bristol City as a 17-year-old. The Ghana international has now played in each of the top four leagues in England, with the Robins, Newport County, Sunderland and Cherries, as well as having a spell in non-league during a loan stay at Bath City. Reflecting on his Premier League debut, Semenyo told the Daily Echo: “On a personal note, obviously it’s a dream of mine to play in the Premier League. “So I’m grateful for that moment, but just need to keep building and keep improving. “I found out (the starting XI) in the meeting on the Friday. “I saw my name and obviously I was smiling, I couldn’t stop smiling! “But I’ve got a job to do, so I tried to control my nerves and excitement and make sure I did a job.” Semenyo, who had his parents and friends in the crowd in Brighton, added: “They’re all proud of me. “It’s been a long journey and I’m very, very grateful. Just need to keep going, keep pushing.” The forward had the chance to cap his debut with goal. A fine solo run saw him reach the edge of the box where he let fly, only for defender Pervis Estupinan to produce a brilliant block. “I was hoping I got an opportunity,” said Semenyo, reflecting on that opening. “To be fair, well defended from the full-back.” Discussing the game as a whole, Semenyo added: “It’s obviously a frustrating one. “I felt like we should’ve got more from the game. “I feel like we defended really well, pressed really well and we had our opportunities. “We weren’t clinical on our end. But then conceding late is obviously heartbreaking. “It is painful to take, but we just have to keep improving, keep pushing and go again next week.” Semenyo, who featured in the World Cup for Ghana last year, will hope for home debut this weekend. Eddie Howe’s in-form Newcastle head to Vitality Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm), with Cherries seeking the win they need to lift them out of the relegation zone.
Deniz Undav
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Deniz Undav admits surprise on Kaoru Mitoma performance for Brighton #BHAFC

February 6, 2023
Mitoma headed the winner as the Seagulls grabbed a 1-0 success at home to Bournemouth. He has scored five goals in his last seven games and is taking the Prem by storm. Deniz Undav, who made his full Prem debut, saw Mitoma at close quarters last season when they were colleagues at Union St-Gilloise. But he admits the winger’s feats since coming to England have surpassed even his expectations. Undav said: “It has surprised me, to be fair. “He has made a big, big step. His one-versus-one is even better than it was in Belgium. “He knows when to pass, when to go one-versus-one, and I think we can all agree he is doing an unbelievable job for the team and he is a difference maker. “He scored again. He didn’t have his best game but he scored again. “He is in a rhythm right now and I hope he continues this.” Head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: “Mitoma didn’t play the best game of his life but he can always score. “I can never substitute him because I felt during the game he could score.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on debutants performance in defeat against Brighton #AFCB

February 6, 2023
CHERRIES boss Gary O’Neil was “pleased” with his new signings’ performances during the defeat to Brighton at the weekend. O’Neil handed starts to January addition Antoine Semenyo and Hamed Traore at the Amex as Cherries were downed 1-0 by Kaoru Mitoma’s late header. Semenyo played the full 90 minutes, the Ghanaian international coming close to opening his account around the 69th minute mark whilst one-on-one with Brighton keeper Roberto Sanchez. Traore caught the eye before being replaced by Ryan Christie on 60 minutes, the Ivorian clearly tiring. There was another debut handed out late on into the game, Matias Vina brought off the bench for his first taste of English football. Asked for his thoughts on his new charges’ performances, O’Neil responded: “Yeah, I was (impressed with the new signings.) “Thought Dango was excellent as well, and obviously there are other good performances in there from the boys that have been here longer. “But yeah, I was pleased with the new lads, pleased with how they settled. There were some positives.”O’Neil then went on to point how there were key players still sidelined with injury, believing that performances and results would improve when Cherries return to full strength. Players currently out injured include talisman Dom Solanke, star attacker Marcus Tavernier, and captain Lloyd Kelly. Despite six new signings in January, O’Neil was forced to name three members of Cherries’ development squad, with Ben Greenwood and Euan Pollock joined by Max Kinsey-Wellings,  young centre-back. He continued: “We have still got three young lads on the bench at the minute. “We have some injury issues, so I expect it to improve further from where it is. “The only centre-backs that we have, are on the pitch. The only two we have. “Dom (Solanke), Tav (Marcus Tavernier), Lloyd (Kelly) Jack Stephens, Lewis Cook. “Lots of people that can still come in and add to what we already managed to produce a good performance with today.”
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Nathan Jones admits ‘compromising’ methods due to players capabilities #SAINTSFC

February 5, 2023
A REFLECTIVE Nathan Jones revealed he believes he has “compromised in certain principles” during his tenure at Saints, following a 3-0 defeat to Brentford. The manager has overseen six defeats in seven Premier League matches since his appointment with his side rooted to the bottom of the table. Jones was subjected to chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing,’ and ‘get out of our club,’ from the visiting supporters at Brentford Community Stadium. The Welshman came out firing and named supporters, players and the height of the Premier League as potential reasons why he has deviated from what he knows. “I’ve compromised in certain principles because of personnel and the way people want to play and so on, and I’ve compromised because of fans and so on – it’s a few little things,” he said. “But no more, I’ve been very successful playing a really fluent style and tried to implement that at Stoke but couldn’t because of certain things. I came back to Luton and was successful playing an aggressive, front-footed side. "Statistically, there weren’t many better in Europe in terms of clean sheets, defending your box, balls in the box, XG and all those things. Pound for pound we were the best because we were spending next to nothing and getting results,” Jones added. “I’ve gone away from that, maybe because it’s the Premier League, maybe because of certain players and internationals, I’ve had to compromise on certain things but no more.” Asked if he has listened to outside noise, Jones responded: “No, not at all. We’ve thought what have we got, because at the end of the day there are certain players in the building we have to work with. “Now we’ve got a little bit more aggression and firepower and so on. We will be able to step that up. There are a few little things but I haven’t listened to outside noise, now I will live and die by my own philosophy. “I was recruited to transfer certain things into this football club and I haven’t at the minute, but I will.” Asked by the Daily Echo what he meant when listing supporters as a reason for compromising, Jones answered: “Not just because of fans, I’ve compromised because of certain things. The chants have come after my decisions so it’s nothing to do with fans. “Certain things like fans and outside noise have come in afterwards. I’ve gone away from what brought me to this football club and that’s the disappointing thing. “One reason has been players and secondly it has probably been you’re in the Premier League and you want to be fluent. “You want to make sure that players are in a system which suits them to get the best out of them, now we have a little bit more of what we need to do to be us.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Nathan Jones responds after four different Southampton fan chant at Brentford #SAINTSFC

February 5, 2023
SAINTS manager Nathan Jones responded to chants of ‘sacked in the morning,’ from his own supporters by saying: “The fans saw a performance that justified those sayings.” The Welshman felt the force of both barrels during a 3-0 defeat at Brentford Community Stadium with both sets of supporters plotting his downfall. Saints supporters cycled through four different chants, including ‘sacked in the morning’, ‘get out of our club’, ‘your football is s***’ and ‘don’t know what you’re doing’. Jones was asked for his verdict on the chants after the match, in a press conference in which he had already admitted ‘compromising’ on his methods due to multiple factors. “The fans saw a performance today that justified those sayings and that's fine. All I can say to them as I understand, I totally understand,” the boss responded. “To be fair, they’ve sung that at any point I've made a substitution. Now, if we keep Romeo Lavia on the pitch with a booking, they were a counter-attacking side so we were at risk. Was Romeo Latvia running the football game? “Was he was out-battling and dominating everything, so was it justified? If it was, they were watching a different game to me.” Jones added: “They’re entitled to their opinion. As I said, I’ve got broad shoulders so I take everything on myself because, at the end of the day, I only look at myself and I look myself in the mirror and I think ‘have I done the best I can be’ and, to be honest with you, I can be better.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.
Roberto De Zerbi
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi reacts to Mitoma winner for Brighton #BHAFC

February 5, 2023
Roberto De Zerbi admits he can never substitute his Japan star – even on a quiet day. Kaoru Mitoma headed the late winner as Albion beat Bournemouth 1-0. The Cherries did a decent job of keeping Mitoma quiet for much of the afternoon. But he finished the game very strongly and soared to meet Jeremy Sarmiento’s cross for the breakthrough. Head coach De Zerbi said: “Mitoma didn’t play the best game of his life but he can always score. “I can never substitute him because I felt during the game he could score.” De Zerbi sent on South American youngsters Sarmiento, Facundo Buonanotte and Julio Enciso in pursuit of the win. He said: “I am really happy. I think it was a very difficult game but we knew this week the difficulty of the game. “I think it was one of the best games of my time in terms of quality of play, number of shots, attitude to find the win. “We played a lot of young players and for us it was very important – Enciso, Buonanotte, Sarmiento, Lamptey, Bill Gilmour, Undav. “There wasn’t Mac Allister, Lallana, Colwill, Ferguson – Moises Caicedo in the first half. “So it was a very difficult game and to win is very important. “We deserved to win – absolutely.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil says Bournemouth should have got something against Brighton #AFCB

February 5, 2023
GARY O’Neil insists he is “fully comfortable” with his position, adding: “I’m not interested in answering questions on my future.” Cherries fell to a late Kaoru Mitoma goal at the Amex Stadium, losing 1-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion. It marked an eighth game in succession without victory for Cherries since O’Neil became permanent head coach, losing seven. Asked how he assesses the situation, with Cherries now slipping to 19th in the Premier League table, O’Neil told BBC Radio Solent: “There’s a long way to go. Same again next week, let’s try and win a football match.” Asked if he is confident he will get the time to turn the club’s form around, O’Neil added: “I’m not interested in answering questions on my future, I'm fully comfortable with the situation as it is.” Speaking later in his press conference, assessing the contest against the Seagulls, O’Neil said: “We should have got something out of the game. “I thought the performance was good and I’m disappointed for the lads that they don't take any points. “I think we kept Brighton at bay. Of course, they dominate the ball, that’s the way they play. “They create some chances, of course. They're a good side, but I thought we were a real threat. “I thought we arrived in attacking areas a lot of times during the match. “My only criticism from there would be we have to score at least one goal from the situations that we create. “And today was one of those days where we didn't quite manage it.” He continued: “Then we get caught with a late goal, which there was a foul in the build up to as well. “Lewis Dunk throws (Matias) Vina to the floor by his arm. So I was surprised it was given, but disappointed for the lads because they gave a lot and they deserve some points.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on penalty shouts against Brighton #AFCB

February 5, 2023
CHERRIES boss Gary O’Neil believed his side should have had two penalties during their defeat to Brighton at the Amex. The Seagulls edged past their south coast neighbours 1-0, courtesy of Kaoru Mitoma’s 86th minute header. O’Neil and Cherries were left frustrated by the match officials for two incidents that they perceived as spot-kicks. In the first-half January recruit Dango Ouattara appeared to be shoved from behind inside the box, the Burkinabe winger nipping ahead of Brighton defender Pervis Estupinan. Estupinan was at the centre of the controversy for the second incident, Ryan Christie’s cross clearly striking the Ecuadorian’s hand, which was tucked into his side. Asked for his thoughts on the penalty shouts, O’Neil responded: “I think they're both penalties. “Let's go second one first. “I'll point you in the direction of Jefferson Lerma at Newcastle. “I've seen both images back, they're exactly the same. “Ryan Christie's cross, it's going directly to Dango in the middle of the goal and hits (Estupinan) on the arm, which is in the exact same place, maybe slightly further away from his body than Jefferson Lerma’s was at Newcastle. “I don't want to complain, I'm just going to give you my thoughts on it. “The one in the first half I think is a foul. “I think I've heard coming together as a term to describe it, but Dango gets in front of the defender and then there is contact. “I thought it was a foul. It is what it is.” O’Neil also believed there to be a foul in the build up to Brighton’s winner, with debutant Matias Vina seemingly hauled down inside the box off the ball. He explained: “On Vina, Lewis Dunk throws Vina to the floor by his arm.”Cherries’ head coach then went onto insist that it was down to his side to improve, despite his thoughts on the decisions made by match official Craig Pawson. “We need to make sure we improve, make sure we score goals ourselves. But that's what I thought of the three incidents.”
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Nathan Jones reveals telling conversation with Duje Caleta-Car ahead of B team day #SAINTSFC

February 4, 2023
NATHAN Jones revealed he held a conversation with Duje Caleta-Car ahead of his involvement with the B team on Friday, admitting he could have “come and sat on the bench at Brentford”. The 26-year-old has not featured for Saints since his red card in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United, sitting on the bench for the return to St James’ Park. Caleta-Car, who has experience in two other major leagues in Europe, has made 15 appearances for Saints since a deadline day move in August – only emerging as a key player in 2023. However, the Croatian international played 45 minutes for the under-21s side in a Premier League Cup victory over Sheffield United, just over 24 hours prior to a vital Premier League clash at Brentford. Asked if he sees Caleta-Car as important to his team, Jones told the Daily Echo: “I see them all, we wanted to get five so we can have the options. “I spoke to Duje this morning and said these are the reasons why. You can come and sit on the bench at Brentford and maybe not get any minutes and arrive Monday morning having missed two weeks of gametime,” he added. “Or we can go and do an hour in the B team, and that was the talk. It’s vital and the reason he played is because he is important. “It’s not that we don’t want him in the first team, it’s because he could play and be in a better place than he would be sitting on a bus, sitting in a hotel and watching Netflix. It’s a means to an end.” Saints travel to the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, February 4, with the match versus the eight-game unbeaten side kicking off at 3PM. Jones did not rule out Caleta-Car from featuring.  Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.
Nathan Jones
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Nathan Jones reveals role of deadline day signing Paul Onuachu #SAINTSFC

February 4, 2023
NATHAN Jones insisted deadline day signing Paul Onuachu could offer Saints a real target man like “(Armando) Broja and (Graziano) Pelle”. The six-foot-seven-inch Nigerian striker was one of two additions made by Saints as the minutes ticked down on the final day of winter trading. Winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, 20, will also add to the attacking reinforcements – but it could be Onuachu who targets an immediate impact at the club. The 28-year-old has scored 64 goals over the last two-and-a-half seasons at Belgian outfit Genk, before completing a Premier League move worth up to £18.5million on Tuesday. Jones also revealed that he has not had any further conversations with Rasmus Ankersen and the Sport Republic directors, who have spent over £100million this season since acquiring the club. “We haven’t made knee-jerk decisions and reactions and suddenly gone berserk to keep us up,” Jones insisted, though, asked about his excitement over the deals. “Paul is a player who scores goals and is one of the top goalscorers in Europe. He gives us something we haven’t got, real size and aggression and something totally different to what this football club has had, along with maybe Broja and Pelle as the last real target men at the football club. “We’ve brought them in to supplement what we’ve got with Che, Arma and Sekou, and Kamaldeen was very sought after. He’s 20 years of age, really exciting with pace and power, can score goals and create and will only get better. “We’ve had a good window because it’s people that will help us now but will also safeguard the future of the football club.” Jones added: “We are excited because in every single window you’ll see this squad shape up so at no point will we go into games where we are fearful of set-pieces, or fearful of aggression or pace or anything. “We will get a rounded squad over time, I’ve built squads that are well-rounded, consistent, potent and are full of character and athleticism. In terms of my previous clubs, they had assets to sell. One of the best squads in the Championship, the most balanced with youth and experience but pace and power – the quickest team in the Championship. “Then, there are people that other teams want to buy – they’ve sold three in the window. Players like James Justin, Jack Stacey, Isaac Vassel all went for money. We want to build squads that one, win games. Two, are really valuable and three, they have real continuity. “It’s important we have players who are not here for one season and have to move on, players that have real continuity. At my previous club, there are players who got promoted from League Two who are now looking to get promoted from the Premier League. That shows good recruitment and that’s what we have to do here.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email. A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article on the Daily Echo. Your support means we can bring you the latest breaking news, exclusive Saints features and coverage - and much more. Digital subscribers get unrestricted access to all of our stories, our dedicated app including e-version of the newspaper, and an advertising-light website. If you want all the latest articles delivered straight to your inbox you can join the thousands of subscribers who are signed up to our newsletters. They include our popular daily morning news briefing, breaking news, crime and court, and Southampton FC bulletins - plus business, heritage and our what's on newsletters.