Dominic Solanke Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke on defeat to Chelsea #AFCB

May 8, 2023
Frank Lampard picked up his first win as interim boss at the seventh attempt at the Vitality on Saturday, Conor Gallagher’s opener for the away side cancelled out by Matias Vina’s sublime effort in the first half before Chelsea snatched the points late on with goals from Benoit Badiashille and Joao Felix. Solanke started his career with the Blues, coming through their Cobham academy to make one first team appearance for the club, a cameo off the bench against Maribor in the Champions League. Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Solanke shared: “It was a good game. “A top club, a lot of great players and we knew that they would change their fortunes and get a win at some point. “Obviously we didn't want it to be (against us), but I think we gave them a good game and just conceded two late goals which killed us a bit, but we could have definitely got something from the game. “We're not going to score every chance. “We had some good chances today that we didn't take, and they managed to take a couple late on. “But that's just football. There's still a lot of positives we can take, but it's never nice to lose in a game. “So we'll look back and try to get a win next week.” With Cherries all but safe, there might be the suggestion that Cherries have nothing to play for with three games remaining. However, Solanke reiterated that the side were just as disappointed at losing a dead-rubber as they were earlier on in the campaign, with confidence remaining high. He continued: “I think how we've been playing recently and the results we've been picking up, we're full of confidence. “Even after the game, even though we've had such a great spell and pretty much safe, there's still disappointment in there. “But I think that shows the character of our team that we believe we can go out there and win against anyone at the moment. “So, it was an unfortunate defeat, but we'll dust down and go again next week.”  
Frank Lampard
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Chelsea’s Frank Lampard on AFC Bournemouth victory #CHELSEAFC

May 8, 2023
Former England international Lampard picked up the first win of his second stint in charge of the Blues at Vitality Stadium, with goals from Conor Gallagher, Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix ending a run of six defeats for Chelsea. After Matias Vina’s 20th minute equaliser the game proved to be quite even, with both sides having to wait later into the game for their chances. Dango Ouattara headed over from close range 11 minutes before the final whistle, whilst Chelsea were more clinical from their chances. Badiashille bundled home a free-kick on 82 minutes, before Felix made sure of the result minutes later. Reflecting on his side ending their losing streak, Lampard began: “I think the Arsenal first half wasn't good enough. I said that, no point in harping on about that. "The second half, reaction was better. "So in the days between games, we can't work much, but we can talk and have meetings and talk to players individually. "And (beating Bournemouth) was a nice small step forward. "I think we controlled a lot of the game. “Bournemouth will always give you some problems here, they’re a good team, top end of the pitch playing through quickly, got a lot of energy in their team. “Set pieces are dangerous, so you never feel safe at 1-1. “But I think we controlled it a lot and maybe a little bit of a sign of us controlling the first half without the killer instinct, like we're running inside their box a lot. “In the first half we had a lot of overloads on the side of the pitch. “And as this team develops or as we add to the squad, I think you have to be more killers at the top end of the pitch. “You do look at the top half of the table. “That's what you'll see all across it. At the moment, we haven't got that, but you saw nice individual performances today in a positive direction.”
Nathan Tella
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Nathan Tella reveals Thierry Henry and Walcott inspiration #SAINTSFC

May 7, 2023
Tella began his career in the Arsenal academy before joining Saints in 2017 where he went on to make his Premier League debut three years later.  But he struggled to nail down a consistent starting role in the two seasons following his breakthrough and was allowed to depart on loan to Burnley last summer. Moving down to the Championship Tella has flourished, scoring 17 league goals and earning a place in the division’s Team of the Year as his side coasted to the title. READ MORE: ‘Lost our philosophy and consistency’ Bednarek on issues with Saints manager carousel Capable of playing up front or out on the wing, Tella has finally started to showcase the talent that caused Saints to give him a new three-and-a-half year contract last January and speaking to Football Daily he offered some insight into his journey. “I’ve always been an Arsenal fan and at that time I’d look at Thierry Henry and say he was my biggest inspiration in football,” the 23 year old explained.  “He’s someone I tried to model my game after. Of course, at seven years old you can’t really say you play like someone but the stuff he was doing in games I would try to do with my local team.  “Sometimes it worked, sometimes it wouldn’t but just having the confidence to try it, I feel like that’s what made me stand out a bit at an early age. “And then as I was growing up a bit and getting older I started to look at Theo Walcott who moved from Southampton to Arsenal.  🗣️ "Always been an Arsenal fan, Thierry Henry was my biggest inspiration. Growing up I started to look at Theo Walcott who moved from Southampton to Arsenal." 🔴Nathan Tella reveals the footballers he looked up to from an early age pic.twitter.com/9riEcDb8Ir — Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 6, 2023 "For me, being young and being at Arsenal at the time, I wanted to envision myself having that sort of exposure at such a young age. He was someone I looked at and I wanted to play my game like, especially because I moved to the right wing where he played.” It remains to be seen what the future has in store for Tella who no doubt has admirers at both St Mary’s and Turf Moor.  With Burnley going up to the Premier League and Saints almost certainly headed for the Championship it would be no surprise if Vincent Kompany’s side pursued a permanent move but Sport Republic hold the cards and will be able to demand a major fee for the attacking sensation.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss Ruben Selles has say on possible ‘distraction’ amid ‘gossip month’ and relegation confirmation #SAINTSFC

May 7, 2023
Uncertainty about the division they’ll be competing in next season, uncertainty about who the manager, uncertainty at the top of the club after a raft of staff departures, and uncertainty with the playing squad in terms of who will actually still be at St Mary’s in three months time. Six points adrift with time starting to run out, the first of those uncertainties is strongly learning towards the Championship but with a squad of 30 players, the last of those uncertainties - the future of the playing staff - remains suitably murky. READ MORE: ‘Lost our philosophy and consistency’ Bednarek on issues with Saints manager carousel But in such a time of limbo, Saints boss Ruben Selles insists that his squad isn’t distracted by thoughts of their futures although he admitted that the ‘gossip month’ of May presents its challenges. “I haven’t seen any distraction but it’s true that May is a gossip month,” Selles told the Daily Echo when asked if rumours of potential departures has effected his squad’s concentration. “For everybody. For the club, for the coaches, for the players. Rumours, situations, end of contracts, new transfers, where do I play, where could be better for my family, where could be better for my future…It’s something that is in football in the transfer window in general.  “So I haven’t seen any distraction from any players or the technical staff but I know it is there. Not only for Southampton players and coaches but for every single player, coach, or sports director in football, in the Premier League or in any competition. “If you ask in any other club there are players that are not playing that expect to make a move for next season. Teams that are going to be promoted, players that don’t know if they’re going to be there or not, same thing with coaches. Players who don’t want to play for one coach or who want to go play for another coach.  “So there are a lot of different situations and it doesn’t really matter which situation you’re in because it’s always going in one way or another.” Saints will be hoping to keep their comatose season alive when they visit Nottingham Forest on Monday night. While Selles’s side enter the weekend six points adrift of safety, all their relegation rivals are in action prior to the bank holiday kick-off. Selles and his team could cut the gap to safety to just three points should results go their way and they successfully beat Nottingham Forest and the Saints boss insisted on Friday afternoon that his players still believe they can stay up. “Players know they can do it and it's not a game where we feel we're completely out of it,” the Spaniard said.  “We compete against every team and it's our belief we have been competitive but for some reason or another we haven't got the points. If there is a time to do it then it is now."
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on lack of penalty given against Chelsea #AFCB

May 7, 2023
With the scores level at 1-1 following Mati Vina’s stunning equaliser that cancelled out Conor Gallagher’s opener, there was a hearty shout from Cherries for a penalty in the 67th minute. Striker Dominic Solanke appeared to have nipped in ahead of Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, knocking the ball past the Brazilian before being taken out. Late goals from Benoit Badiashile and substitute Joao Felix swung the game in the Blues’ favour for their first win in seven games. Whilst the incident was checked by Video Assistant Referee David Coote, there was not deemed to be a clear and obvious error made by on field ref John Brooks in not deciding to not point to the spot, the key criteria for overturning decisions. Cherries are the only side in the Premier League yet to be awarded a spot-kick, whilst Chelsea have managed to avoid giving a single penalty away this campaign. Asked for his thoughts on the incident, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I thought it was a tight one. “I thought Thiago Silva doesn't get the ball, so Dom manages to take a touch before he gets there. “But Dom does take his touch backwards. So it looks maybe different to some that we're used to seeing, where the forward takes his touch forwards. “Then there is a bit of contact between Silva and Dom. So technically maybe a foul. “Outside the penalty area, maybe a foul, but the fact that it wasn't given on field meant it was obviously never going to be overturned. “So, yeah, we'd have probably needed that one to being given and then it maybe would have been upheld. “But, yeah, no real complaints. I thought it was one that it could it or not (be a penalty).”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil rues missed chances in defeat to Chelsea #AFCB

May 7, 2023
The two sides were level at half-time, after Matias Vina’s impressive strike cancelled out Conor Gallagher’s early opener. Chelsea had lots of possession after the restart, without working Neto, while down the other end Vina was denied a second goal by a fine Kepa Arrizabalaga stop. Dango Ouattara then missed a big chance to put the hosts in front, heading over from close range, before Chelsea got ahead when Benoit Badiashile scored from a Hakim Ziyech free-kick. Substitute Joao Felix then wrapped up victory with four minutes to play. Reflecting on the two sides’ contrasting fortunes in front of goal, O’Neil said: “I thought that was the only difference. I thought it was an even contest. “There were lots of bits in it that I liked. “When we were on top, sort of midway through the second half, we had a flurry of corners. Mati Vina has a one-on-one with Kepa, who makes a good save. “Kepa makes a great block from Dango as well, from four or five yards out and then obviously the massive chance with Dango's free header, four yards out from goal. “I think if we get our noses in front, the game will probably finish very differently. But disappointed that we weren't clinical enough and Chelsea make a couple of mistakes to give us a chance and we don't take it. “Then we get punished at the other end as soon as we make one. “I don't think Neto had a lot to do and then we make a mistake and they managed to punish us and it goes 2-1, and then obviously it's in their favour then. “But we were well in the game. Just really disappointed that we don't take anything.” O’Neil added: “We thought there was not much more performance-wise we could have done, apart from be better in front of their goal at key moments and then maybe not make quite so many errors. “Two errors at the end there for their two goals. “I thought the fans were excellent. I thought that the lads felt the energy in the place. “If there was any concern around the players not being at the same level as they have been because we're on 39 points, I thought there was no danger of that. “They were absolutely bang on again, gave absolutely everything. “But in football matches, especially against teams of world-class players, there is a chance that no matter how well you do, if you don't take your chances, they're going to take theirs. “We got stung with that.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss Ruben Selles says Tino Livramento may be out for the rest of the season #SAINTSFC

May 6, 2023
Livramento has been out for more than a year after suffering a severe ACL injury away at Brighton last April before requiring a second surgery on a hamstring issue at the turn of the new year. And his much-anticipated comeback seemed to be going smoothly when he played 45 minutes for the Saints B team in mid-April. READ MORE: Saints boss says the 'club, city, and fans all deserve to be in the Premier League' He managed to get through the contest unscathed but felt discomfort in the days following and while there was no indication of a new injury, Selles explained that the club will continue to be ‘very careful’ with the 20-year-old. “After the game that he played for the B team (against Stoke City on April 14) he felt discomfort in the knees,” Selles said on Friday afternoon.  “We had a scan and there's nothing that indicates there is any injury there. We just need to be very careful. He's a boy right now that is more than a year without being able to play football matches in the top level.  “And the last thing that we want is that he will come back and have a reinjury. So that's why we are trying to be very careful with those moments.  Tino Livramento in action for the Saints B team last month. (Image: Craig Hobbs - SFC) “We don't know if he will be able to compete at the end of the season or we will just wait for him to restart with the team in the pre-season and make a normal preseason with the rest of the team.” Selles and his side are back in action on Monday evening when they visit Nottingham Forest, in desperate need of three points in order to give themselves a chance in the fight to avoid the drop.  Saints enter the weekend six points adrift of safety and without a win in their last nine matches, the season seems a near-certainty to end with relegation to the Championship. 
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager shares thoughts on potential relegation disaster #SAINTSFC

May 6, 2023
Selles's team enter the weekend six points adrift of safety and with only four games left to play, it will take a minor miracle for Saints to avoid the drop. Relegation would mean a return to the Championship for the first time since the 2011/12 season, no doubt a disaster for the club and the entire city. READ MORE: Saints team news for Nottingham Forest trip - Onuachu set for return as four remain absent Asked about the possibility of relegation and the impact it would have on the wider community, Selles responded: "Well it's not going to be a nice picture for any of us, I think that's clear.  “The club, city, and fans all deserve to be in the Premier League. When you're a club that gets relegated, it is because of a number of situations and you need to learn from that. If it happens, it happens and we need to learn from that. But we'll be fighting for it not to happen." READ MORE: Selles - 'I always say I want to be here for the next ten years, that is my ambition' Popular statistics company Opta have now given Saints a 98.7% chance of suffering relegation but Selles is refusing to concede until his side’s fate is mathematically decided. “This is the Premier League. We are still there," he added. "We didn't have the best April as you know. But it's not only difficult for us, it is difficult for everybody.  “And the difference between us and the others has not been that they have been better than us in some moments. It has been like a moment when they got the three points when they should not get it. So I think we are still there and we are going to be there."
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Ruben Selles has his say on problems with huge squad #SAINTSFC

May 6, 2023
Only Nottingham Forest have used more players in the Premier League this season than Saints’ 32 - level with Chelsea - as all three clubs toil through challenging and underwhelming campaigns. And speaking ahead of Monday night’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Selles provided insight into the challenges of managing such a large squad while admitting that it has likely played a role in Saints’ disastrous season. READ MORE: Selles - 'I always say I want to be here for the next ten years, that is my ambition' “You don’t need to be a genius in football to know that when you have a bigger squad, it’s more difficult to manage internally and also in the rotation of the games,” the 39-year-old told the Daily Echo.  “Because the relations are difficult between the players, not only for the coach but for the players as well it is difficult. It doesn’t matter which kind of players you have because I think the Nottingham Forest squad is very different to our squad in terms of the pattern of the players.  “And even for Chelsea - who is number three on that list - it is difficult because there are a lot of personal situations that tend to be more individual than a team issue. And when you don’t have those kinds of relations, it’s more difficult to compete.  “So definitely when you have a big squad either it's a big big reason for that (the problems building relationships between players) or the preference would be to have smaller squads.”   The size of Saints’ squad has proven to be a problem for all three managers this season and it was only made more difficult by the January transfer window which saw five senior players signed - as well as the recall of Jan Bednarek - while there were no notable departures. Consistent opportunities have been tough to come by for a number of players since Selles took over from Nathan Jones with Mislav Orsic almost immediately frozen out following his winter transfer. Paul Onuachu, also signed in the January window, has seen his opportunities dry up as well, starting none of Saints’ last ten Premier League matches.  After missing last weekend’s trip to St James’ Park due to feeling discomfort in his knee, the striker should be fit to return to the squad on Monday, if selected by Selles, no guarantee considering he was left out entirely for the previous 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Monday’s opponents Nottingham Forest have faced similar challenges this season after heavy recruitment in the last two windows saw them sign a total of 30 new players. Steve Cooper’s side enter the weekend in the bottom three on goal difference, six points clear of Saints.  Defeat for Saints would leave them on the brink of officially being relegated to the Championship and while Selles has insisted the he and his players still believe that they can overturn the deficit to safety in the final four games, he admitted that another loss on Monday - which would be their seventh in the last nine matches - would make things significantly more difficult. “There are moments when you're up and you're down but that is normal for all of us,” Selles added.  “Players know they can do it and it's not a case where we feel we're completely out of it, we compete against every team and it's our belief we have been competitive but for some reason or another we haven't got the points. If there is a time to do it then it is now."
Moises Caicedo
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Moises Caicedo explains his right-back role for Brighton #BHAFC

May 6, 2023
The Ecuador midfield star went head-to-head with Marcus Rashford last night. He helped Albion beat Manchester United 1-0 and keep a fifth clean sheet in their last six home games. Albion were without specialists Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey as well as Pascal Gross. Caicedo told The Argus: “I’ve never played right-back. “It was my first time at right-back and I tried to do my best. “It was good. It was difficult because Rashford is a really hard winger to mark but I think I did it the best I could. “Veltman, Tariq, Pascal are injured so he (Roberto De Zerbi) called me here, we had a meeting and he asked if I’d like to play in this position. “I said, ‘If you want me to play there, I’d be delighted. I’ll try and do it the best I can’. “It’s not my position that I usually play but I’ll try. “He told me only three hours before the game. “But you have to ready for anything on the pitch.” Caicedo said beating United was special after the disappointment suffered at Wembley. He said: “We’re very happy for the result and I think we deserved it. “I think at Wembley we also deserved to win as well but that’s football. “We really wanted to win this game. “Of course we want to win. “Brighton is a very big club. “We have lots of talented players, lots of youngsters so we want to be in lots of competitions.” Caicedo returned to the XI having been rested from kick-off against Wolves, when Billy Gilmour started. He was happy to see the former Chelsea make an impression. Caicedo said: “My colleague Billy came in I was really happy because he hasn’t had many minutes. I’m also happy for my colleagues who play and I hope they do as well as they can, “That means we have good players and we have a second team, if we can call it like that.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on Jefferson Lerma #AFCB

May 6, 2023
The Colombian’s current deal expires this summer, with Lerma open to a return to Spain. He first joined Cherries in 2018 from then La Liga outfit Levante for a club record £25 million, signing a five-year contract at the time. Despite being regarded as one of Cherries’ best players, he remained loyal to the club following their relegation from the Premier League in 2020, helping the side to a top-flight return after two years in the Championship. Now 28, Cherries will not be entitled to any compensation if he decides to depart for pastures new. Whilst a final decision has yet to been made by Lerma, O’Neil pointed out that at no point could it be doubted the midfielder had not given his all to Cherries this campaign. Lerma has missed just one Premier League game this season, playing a total of 2,895 minutes out of a possible 3,060. In his five seasons at Dean Court, the Colombian international has made 180 appearances for Cherries, and if he plays in the remaining four league fixtures, he will reach a century of Premier League games. Asked about Lerma’s future, O’Neil replied: “No decision made at the moment, as far as I'm aware, so hopefully he'll be here. “Jeff's a great guy, so incredible around the place, incredible around the group, especially if you're in a relegation battle when you need to get in the trenches. “And me, Jeff, the club, have been fully focused on that up until this moment. “I think you've seen in Jeff's performances that there was just no doubt that he was fully committed to the cause. “So, yeah, now that the relegation stuff is all but beyond us, then hopefully we can start to put something in place where he stays, but no confirmation either way.” With contract talks paused during Cherries’ survival bid, there is optimism the 28-year-old could sign a new deal to remain at Vitality Stadium.” “I'm hopeful,” responded Cherries’ head coach when he was asked if he was confident a deal could be agreed. “I think there's a lot of things that go on in individual decisions. “If Jeff was to leave, he'd have huge respect from absolutely everybody. “Fans absolutely love him and rightly so. “He's been an incredible, and still is an incredible player for the football team, for a very long time. “I'm hopeful that we will have him next season.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believed Chelsea as favorites to beat Bournemouth #AFCB

May 6, 2023
Cherries currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, level with Frank Lampard’s Blues on 39 points. That gap has been closed after a stellar month from O’Neil’s men in April, where they recorded five wins from seven matches. Meanwhile, Chelsea have collected just one point from their past six league matches over the past month, losing each of the last four. Put to him that some could be expecting Cherries to win the contest, despite the London club splashing out more than £500million across the past two transfer windows, O’Neil said: “We’re definitely not favourites for tomorrow, absolutely no chance. “Chelsea are a very good side with fantastic players. It hasn’t clicked yet. “If it clicks tomorrow, it’s a tough afternoon for the lads and we need to be at 100 per cent, as we have been for the last few to give Chelsea a real good game. “I think it would be silly of us or anyone to think that we’re a better side than Chelsea going into this football match. “They’re still very, very dangerous and have fantastic players all over the pitch, World Cup winners, Thiago Silva, an absolute superstar, fantastic centre-back. “They have a good side and when it starts to click for them, I’m sure they will be very, very dangerous.” Asked what he would have thought if he was told when he took over Cherries back in August that they would have the chance to leapfrog Chelsea this weekend, O’Neil said: “Of course, I wouldn’t have believed them. “Not because of where we are, really, but because of where Chelsea are. I think everybody in the country is surprised that is hasn’t really happened for Chelsea with the high levels that they set themselves. “It’s been a disappointing season so far for them. I still think, especially the players, will be coming here with an eye on next season and making sure they finish this season strongly. “They’re a dangerous team with fantastic players. “I’ve watched a lot of their recent games and they’ve not managed to win one recently, but, obviously, they still have some world-class players that could cause you problems.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Everything Southampton’s Ruben Selles said on his future, Forest and more #SAINTSFC

May 5, 2023
Saints are bottom of the Premier League and facing relegation after recording zero wins in their last nine games under manager Selles. The Spaniard – who was hired over the summer to be assistant to Ralph Hasenhuttl – replaced sacked Nathan Jones in February, after his own run of one win in eight league matches. Saints were already well bottom when Selles was appointed but despite two wins in his first three he has so far failed to improve their immediate prospects. Selles was asked if he would like to remain at Saints for the future when chatting with talkSPORT, admitting: “Yeah, absolutely, I said that I want to be here for the next 10 years. “At the level it is Southampton and the people have given me too much love and confidence in my job that I want to give all of these things back, I want to be here long term and if it’s in the Premier League next year that is better than if it is not. “What I am not doing right now is winning enough football matches, but sometimes the result is a consequence of a few things – a crossbar and out or an offside by two inches that takes one point.” He added: “I am showing what I am and what I can do, managing a team in the best league in the world. We are showing for moments the football we practice and in some games how competitive can be. “The mindset is it doesn’t matter who is in front of us, we can beat them. If it is enough or not it is not for me to decide, that is for the owners to evaluate.” With relegation to the Championship likely, Selles accepts that dropping to the second division would likely spark a club rebuild undertaken by owners Sport Republic. “When a club gets relegated the rebuild is always going to be there, I think the club should do it in the best way possible,” he said. “They need to start a project where everything needs to show fresh, direct and very honest so the rebuild will be there. That is for the club to decide how big it is but of course, it is not like keeping the project as it is now.” Selles also accepted that his team have lost in must-win games over the last week, after a 1-0 defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth and a 3-1 loss despite taking the lead at Newcastle United. “We have been in the win-at-all-costs situation right now with Bournemouth and Newcastle but of course now there is less games to play in front of us,” Selles said. “The situation is starting to be critical in those terms, so of course we are going to go there and try to win the game. We have shown how competitive we can be but need to be more robust for 95 minutes. It is a game that we must win. “We had some momentum at the beginning and there were a couple of times that we were competing to get the momentum back but we didn’t get it and it went straight to the other side.” However, Selles insists his focus is on nothing but the game ahead of them – a Bank Holiday Monday trip to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. The Spaniard said: “I’m very forward-oriented so we have 12 points to play for and we have the chance against Nottingham Forest to be straight back into the race to be in the Premier League. “That is all my focus is on, I’m not focused on more than one thing at a time. I know the situation, it has been the situation from the very beginning. “I need to have a team that works well every day and prepare for Nottingham Forest, I can’t say more than that because we still have possibilities to do it and we are going to fight for it with everything.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals Lewis Cook will be back in the team at some point #AFCB

May 5, 2023
Cook started every league game under O’Neil, prior to picking up a knee injury which forced him off at Brentford in January. Since, Joe Rothwell has been given more chances in that central midfield role, with he, Jefferson Lerma and Philip Billing all in fine form in recent weeks. That has seen Cook’s chances restricted to cameo appearances off the bench, featuring for just 97 minutes across the past two months, since he returned to fitness. Asked how the 26-year-old has responded to the challenge of being out of the team, boss O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “He’s been fine. He’s fully on board with understanding what’s needed. “It’s not about any one individual these next few weeks. It’s about all of us pulling together and Lew understands that. “Of course, if you get an unfortunate injury, you are open to the fact people can come in and do well and then you have to fight hard to get your place back. “I’m sure Lew will be back in the team at some point. There’s always things that happen. “He’s working hard in training every day to prove he’s ready and I can see he’s ready for when the opportunity comes up. He’ll be ready to grasp it, I’m sure.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil ‘gutted’ for Marcus Tavernier after latest injury setback #AFCB

May 4, 2023
Cherries look set for a second season in the top flight, moving nine points clear of the bottom three with a 4-1 win over Leeds United on Sunday. That followed a 1-0 triumph at Southampton three days earlier, Tavernier netting the winner. The only negative from that night at St Mary’s was seeing Tavernier forced off injured towards the end of the contest, with another hamstring issue. The 24-year-old has had an impressive first season at this level, since joining Cherries from Championship Middlesbrough for a reported £12million in the summer, contributing five goals and four assists from 23 appearances. However, his campaign has been hampered now by three separate hamstring injuries, which has seen him miss 11 Premier League matches. The severity of his current setback is yet to be confirmed, but head coach O’Neil says Cherries will now take their time to get him fully fit again, with the threat of relegation no longer looming. Discussing Tavernier after Sunday’s win over Leeds, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I think it’s important to mention Tavs. “He’s played a big part this season. Even though he’s had a real tough run, I’m gutted for him that he’s hurt his hamstring again. “To bounce back every time and to come straight back in and have the impact that he does. “He’s played a huge part on the points tally that we have, even though he has suffered a frustrating season from his part.” Cherries are awaiting further medical opinions to assess the current damage to Tavernier. Asked if he feels Tavernier’s hamstring issues could be a concern going forwards, O’Neil added: “It will fall on me eventually, but I won’t be the one planning how we make sure that he stays fit. “There will be some work that goes in, definitely. “Obviously in the midst of a relegation battle, which it has been, there’s always a pressure, because you know what he can do, a pressure to get him back and to use him. “So now we’ll see how he is, he might not even be that serious yet. “But if it is similar to the others, we have a nice, good block now where we can try and help him get in some real good shape and see if we can get him back stronger.” Cherries host Chelsea on Saturday (3pm), knowing a win would see them leapfrog Frank Lampard’s Blues in the table.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reveals not caring about the criticism early in the season #AFCB

May 4, 2023
O’Neil looks to have guided Cherries to Premier League safety with four games to spare, following back-to-back wins last week against relegation-threatened duo Southampton and Leeds United. The 4-1 win over the Whites on Sunday has moved Cherries up to 13th in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone and level on points with this weekend’s opponents Chelsea. Following O’Neil going from interim to permanent head coach during the World Cup break, Cherries embarked on a six-game losing run, failing to score in five of those fixtures. Last-gasp defeat at Arsenal in early March saw Cherries slip to the foot of the table, having won just one of 12 games, which had also seen them knocked out of both cup competitions. That led to plenty of dissent from Cherries fans on social media, questioning the decision to hire O'Neil. Since, Cherries have stormed up the table, winning six of the following nine games, including wins over the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Asked if he felt criticism during the losing run in January was unfair, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I’m not too bothered. People can criticise me as much as they want. “I’m happy to be judged every week on what we produce. “My job to make sure the players are fit. My job to make sure we have enough of them. My job to make sure we get enough points. At this moment in time, we’ve got all three. “I’m just pleased with where we’ve got to. I think it’s the nature of the job, isn’t it? “I just try to make sure it doesn’t ever affect the players, so making sure the players are always ready to go. “They’ve suffered some tough moments this season. You think away to Arsenal, I think we were bottom of the league as well at that moment when we suffered that late goal. “Not many people probably saw us going on the run we did from then. A big effort from everybody and very proud of the group.” Asked if he always believed Cherries would achieve Premier League safety, O’Neil added: “It was always achievable. “We needed a few things to start to go our way. “You think back to that winless run after the World Cup break where we had so many injuries. Obviously we couldn’t strengthen too much in the summer, it was a group that wasn’t overly big at that point. “We were suffering injuries, but we didn’t ever waver. “The messages have been consistent constantly. We kept trying to do the right things. We kept trying to play in the way that we believed and then when you start to get players back from injury and you have a good January transfer window and the messages are the same - a perfect storm that came together and we managed to put an incredible run of results together.”