INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil heaped praise on in-form Chris Mepham, admitting: “I’ve liked him since the moment I got here.” O’Neil joined Cherries as a first-team coach, working under Jonathan Woodgate, in February 2021. Since August 30, O’Neil has been working as interim head coach, after Scott Parker was sacked. Asked if he has seen a change or boost in confidence around the place from Mepham in recent weeks during his fine run of form,
Gary O’Neil said: “I’ve always liked him. I’ve liked him since the moment I got here. Of course he suffered tough moments a while back, that you do as footballers. I spoke to Meps again (last Saturday) before the (Brentford) game around how important he was for me, how good he’s been, having to play next to a new signing now who hasn’t played in England in Marcos Senesi and Meps’s role in helping him. To be fair to Marcos he’s stepped up as well. So I’m a big fan of Meps. I loved him again (against Brentford). I thought he was really, really good defensively against a tough centre-forward (Ivan Toney).”
Asked if he feels Mepham is developing into a leader at the back,
Gary O’Neil added: “I think I’m just really keen for Meps to show what he is. When I speak with him, it’s like ‘yeah mate, I have full trust in you. I love how you defend, I love how you are with the ball, let’s go again mate’. We’re going to have bad moments, of course. When I played I had probably more bad games than I did good. But they come, you brush them off, you go again. So really pleased with Meps, pleased with Marcos. Pleased with them all really.”
Discussing Senesi and Mepham’s blossoming partnership,
Gary O’Neil added: “To go into a Premier League season and to lose someone as good as Lloyd Kelly and then to play Newcastle and Brentford, two real sides that look to test you defensively for Meps and Marcos, and all the boys to be honest, not just them, to produce two real solid defensive displays. We were unlucky to concede at Newcastle, we didn’t concede against Brentford. So from that standpoint I’m pleased.”
Cherries host Leicester City on Saturday (3pm).
