OptiNews - Friday 20 to Thursday 26 October 2017

Sourced from Daily Echo article

Pellegrino backing for Forster

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Mauricio Pellegrino insists that Fraser Forster retains his full confidence and will continue to be Saints’ number one keeper.

The 29-year-old stopper has come under fire for the two goals Saints conceded in their St Mary’s draw with Newcastle last weekend.

The criticism comes at a time when Forster seemed to be regaining his belief after an up and down start to the season that has also seen him dropped from the England squad and later recalled.

Pellegrino, though, has no doubts that Forster is his number one.

“For sure. The goalkeeper needs the confidence,” said the Saints boss.

“All my players when I choose them have my confidence.

“I have confidence in a lot of players but I have to choose 11.”

The only real challenge to Forster’s position comes from Alex McCarthy, but he is viewed as more of a back-up option at this stage rather than a potential first choice.

Pellegrino sympathised with the difficulty of the goalkeeper’s position, where mistakes are often remembered far more than stellar displays, and believes that Forster has not suddenly become a bad player having been backed for an England recall just weeks ago.

“I think in this week he was really good, but three games ago or four games ago everybody was talking about he has to come back to the national team and he is one of the best goalkeepers in England,” he said.

“I have got the same opinion. Fraser is a really good goalkeeper.

“The position of goalkeeper is always exposed in this type of situation, but nobody remembers the good situations, always when you make a couple of mistakes everybody will talk about this.

“This is part of our job, it is part of Fraser’s job.

“The important thing is how you react to this situation, how you achieve this moment.

“Fraser is a guy with personality, the position of the goalkeeper is really difficult because they are always alone. The teammates sometimes have another alongside.

“The mentality of the goalkeeper has to be always 100 per cent, and sometimes they are not and that is part of the profession.”

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Strike pair need support

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Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long still need the support of their teammates to fire Saints some much needed goal rather than doing it all alone, according to Mauricio Pellegrino.

Gabbiadini and Long started together against Newcastle and formed an excellent double act, with the Italian bagging a brace in the 2-2 draw at St Mary’s.

They give Pellegrino the option to play two up front, or with one in a more advanced role and the other, most likely Gabbiadini, in more a number ten position.

Their ability to break from deeper offers Saints another threat in a run of games where they are playing teams who defend deep, but they still need the correct service to thrive.

Pellegrino said: “For sure but for me it always depends how it will be on the pitch with the ball, how we move the ball, the tempo of the ball, and Manolo and Shane are the type of player who need the teammates to support them with the right passes, right penetration, good deliveries, good drive and passes, good crosses.

“All of us we have to help them and they have to help all the rest.

“I think our strikers, even Charlie (Austin), are players that like to play in the limit and all of them have the quality to run behind and attack in the box and they feel comfortable there.

“In the limit they are doing diagonal runs all the time, but also they can play together depending on the game.

“I think always Charlie helps the team, 15 minutes or 20 minutes, and in the box is also clever, and the other two players maybe can run more in all the front of the defence, Charlie is more positional. This is the difference between them.”

Pellegrino insists he has not made a firm decision to continue Long and Gabbiadini, and hinted at chopping and changing the style and personnel slightly depending on the opposition.

“Depends on the game,” he admitted. “The other day I felt that we could do it because I thought that Newcastle will be really well organised, something that we did and they did.

“It depends on the game. Sometimes we will play with two strikers again, sometimes we will go back to one, sometimes Shane can play a little bit on the right like some other games.

“The important thing for us is both are getting better every single week, for the confidence of the player to score goals completes their job, but I have got confidence in the way that they are training and preparing this week and we will decide who will play.”

Gabbiadini’s brace against the Magpies could prove a significant moment given the Italian’s history of hitting scoring streaks.

“Hopefully it will be a good moment, because the most important thing was Manolo, Shane were working really hard,” said Pellegrino.

“The spirit at the end was really good and we have to start from the beginning in this way to show we want to win from the first minute. This is the spirit we have to show at the weekend.

“The most important thing was Manolo helped the team with these two goals.”

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:chart_with_upwards_trend::chart_with_downwards_trend:

Read up on all the key facts and figures ahead of #SaintsFC’s clash with #WBA in our stat pack: http://sfcne.ws/SFCWBAStats

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PHOTOS: Take a sneak peak at Southampton Common’s £500,000 play park - and it’s opening this weekend

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A NEW £500,000 Southampton play area is to be unveiled this weekend.

Saints legend Francis Benali, inset, is set to cut the ribbon after the opening of the park had been delayed by bad weather in the summer.

The new facilities have been developed by Southampton City Council, with designers listening to residents, schools and community groups on how they wanted the space to be used.

Featuring a 7.5-metre high play tower with rope bridges, tunnels and a slide, it also has a variety of swings and a water area that will run all year round.

The park, which can hold 700 children, will open on Sunday.

City councillor for environment and transport, Jacqui Rayment, will also help to open the equipment to the public. She said: “An investment in our play areas and outdoor spaces is an investment in our children’s future.

“Providing great spaces for kids to get outdoors and for families to get active together is incredibly important and contributes to a child’s healthy development both physically and mentally.

“I’m sure that many special memories will be made here in the years to come.”

The space was supposed to open at the end of August in time for the close of the school summer holidays.

Cllr Rayment said that on one week, no work could be done due to the site becoming waterlogged.

Former Saints star Benali will cut the ribbon on Sunday at midday.

He said: “It gives me great pleasure to cut the ribbon at the ceremony.

“As a young boy growing up I spent endless hours playing on The Common and have so many special memories.

“I’m delighted that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy this area and create their own happy memories.”

The main attraction of the park will be the ‘tree nest’ play area, with around 360 tonnes of sand used at the park, which will be able to hold up to 700 children.

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

After a thumping win over #NUFC on Monday, #SaintsFCU23s are back in action tonight!

Coach @RadhijaidiOff previews… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/921300522996350977

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

PHOTOS: Here’s a sneak peak at Southampton Common’s £500,000 play park - and it’s opening this weekend

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A NEW £500,000 Southampton play area is to be unveiled this weekend.

Saints legend Francis Benali, inset, is set to cut the ribbon after the opening of the park had been delayed by bad weather in the summer.

The new facilities have been developed by Southampton City Council, with designers listening to residents, schools and community groups on how they wanted the space to be used.

Featuring a 7.5-metre high play tower with rope bridges, tunnels and a slide, it also has a variety of swings and a water area that will run all year round.

The park, which can hold 700 children, will open on Sunday.

City councillor for environment and transport, Jacqui Rayment, will also help to open the equipment to the public. She said: “An investment in our play areas and outdoor spaces is an investment in our children’s future.

“Providing great spaces for kids to get outdoors and for families to get active together is incredibly important and contributes to a child’s healthy development both physically and mentally.

“I’m sure that many special memories will be made here in the years to come.”

The space was supposed to open at the end of August in time for the close of the school summer holidays.

Cllr Rayment said that on one week, no work could be done due to the site becoming waterlogged.

Former Saints star Benali will cut the ribbon on Sunday at midday.

He said: “It gives me great pleasure to cut the ribbon at the ceremony.

“As a young boy growing up I spent endless hours playing on The Common and have so many special memories.

“I’m delighted that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy this area and create their own happy memories.”

The main attraction of the park will be the ‘tree nest’ play area, with around 360 tonnes of sand used at the park, which will be able to hold up to 700 children.

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:nine: players
:two: clubs
:one: tough #SaintsFC vs #WBA quiz…

How many can you get?:thinking:http://sfcne.ws/WBAQuizH

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 20/10/2017 10:11:38

| | City U23s looking to stretch unbeaten PL2 run in Carrow Road clash with SouthamptonEASTERNDAILY |
| | Saints’ are feeling the nerves - PellegrinoCLUBCALL |
| | Southampton v West Brom predictions: Preview, line-ups & betting tips101GREATGOALS |

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Read Southampton

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| Tadic aiming for European return with Saints | Southampton’s Serbian midfielder Dusan Tadic says he wants to help guide the club back into European football … 20-10-2017 |

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| Mauricio Pellegrino believes Southampton suffer with anxietya day ago |
| Southampton predicted XI: West Brom (H)a day ago |
| Agent confirms Southampton made Koulibaly offer2 days ago |
| Tadic wants to impress home fans2 days ago |
| Southampton have held talks over move for Barcelona forward2 days ago |
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| Southampton, Arsenal, Everton watch Aston Villa youngsters in action3 days ago |
| Southampton winger discusses international chances3 days ago |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Quiz: They played for both

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Ahead of this weekend’s match, can you name all nine players who have featured for Southampton and West Brom since 2000?

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#AskSaints with Utilita

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Our intrepid ‘junior journos’ will get the opportunity to grill four Saints stars – Steven Davis, Maya Yoshida, Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk – during this exclusive event, but Utilita want fans of all ages to get involved.

Got a question you’re dying to ask one of the Southampton players? Just head to Utilita Football’s Twitter or Facebook pages and submit your question under the #AskSaints imagery, using the #AskSaints hashtag.

We’ll aim to ask as many fan questions as possible on the day, and we’ll post the players’ answers after the event. Not only that, we will also be filming the event – and sharing the best bits!

Utilita is Britain’s fastest-growing independent energy supplier, more than doubling its customer base – which now stands at 575,000 – in two years and more than quadrupling its staff numbers since April 2016 to 1,700, with nearly half based at its new headquarters in Eastleigh.

Earlier this year, Utilita reached one million supply points across the UK and was also the winner of the Best Growth Award at the South Coast Business Awards.

Saints fans who switch to Utilita will receive exclusive offers throughout the 2017/18 season – as well as a smart meter at no extra cost, a free limited edition Saints-branded In Home Display cover, no standing charge and exclusive access to festival and music tickets through its partnership with the world’s leading entertainment promoter, Live Nation.

For more information, visit www.utilita.co.uk.

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Today’s #OneMarch focus is on disability, as we look at the numerous improvements #SaintsFC have made to make St Ma… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/921330883499581443

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Saints star Nathan Redmond to donate money to children’s charity for every goal he scores

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Nathan Redmond is desperate to add to goal-shy Saints’ strike rate to raise money for charity.

The forward will donate cash for every goal and assist he gets this season to children’s charity Right To Play.

Saints have netted just seven times in eight Premier League games so far - and three of them were penalties - with Redmond yet to score.

But he has grabbed two assists - including one to set up Manolo Gabbiadini in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle. That is actually one more assist than he managed in the whole of last season, when he also finished as Saints’ leading league marksman with seven strikes.

Redmond became a Right To Play ambassador over the summer and the England international is keen to do everything he can to help.

“It’s something I felt was right to do and I was very happy to do. With every goal and every assist I make a donation which goes straight to them,” he told Press Association Sport.

"One donation will help 33 children so that’s a massive difference from one goal or an assist.

"The more I do on the pitch I know subconsciously it’s helping out the kids. I’ve had two assists this season and no goals yet but I’m sure they’ll be coming.

"Afterwards when the game’s finished, instantly you think about that. I’ve had two assists this season and that’s over 60 kids helped. I’m delighted with that so far.

“I’m with the message Right To Play are putting forward which is to give disadvantaged kids over the world the chance to get involved in sport and to get an education. I want to push that message out there.”

Redmond, 23, follows Manchester United’s Juan Mata, who is donating a minimum of one per cent of his salary this season to charity Common Goal.

Right To Play uses sport to educate and help children in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

Redmond would have liked to have donated more but Southampton’s goal struggles, they failed to score in six of their first seven games in all competitions this season, have not helped.

The Saints are still just four points behind the top five and sit 11th ahead of tomorrow’s visit of West Brom.

“Every player and team will always go through a sticky period, that’s not something to shy away from,” said Redmond.

"I’m not worried about anything, it would only be if I’m not in those areas to score goals.

“It’s not crisis but when you’re looking at the start we’ve had and the teams we’ve played we feel we should have picked up more points.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 20/10/2017 11:11:52

| | Would you prefer €24m or a loan? A bit like death or cake for SouthamptonSPORTWITNESS |
| | 3 reasons why Newcastle will beat Crystal Palace on Saturday | | Where football transfer rumours fly or die!THETRANSFERTAVERN |
|

| Pellegrino Approval Rating: Gameweek 8SBNATIONSTMARYSMUSINGS |
| | The Saints Walking Wounded Injury News 20/10/2017VITALFOOTBALL |
| | ‘Costing them valuable points’ - Southampton can’t afford to keep playing first-team starFOOTBALLFANCAST |

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The Ugly Inside News for Southampton

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| Saints V West Bromwich Albion The Preview | This is an important game for Saints, not just in terms of needing the points but in putting the faith back into the … 20-10-2017 |

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

#SaintsFC boss Mauricio Pellegrino looks ahead to the home #PL clash with #WBA at St Mary’s:

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 20/10/2017 12:12:06

| | Gabbiadini: ‘Tottenham the most surprising club, Benitez my favourite manager’CALCIOMERCATOCOM |
| | GIANLUCADIMARZIO |
| | WBA live: Tony Pulis takes his weekly press conferenceBIRMINGHAMMAIL |
| | Quinny: NUFC must put Palace to the sword & rack up pointsCHRONICLELIVENEWS |
| | Pellegrino & Tadic Ahead of West BromVITALFOOTBALL |
| | Four Games Moved In DecemberVITALFOOTBALL |
| | Stoke and Saints in for Real Betis midfielderCLUBCALL |
| | Southampton vs West Brom: Evolutionary process in need of a joltEVESTAR |

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Read Southampton

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| Redmond to donate money for every goal and assist this season | Southampton winger Nathan Redmond will donate money to charity for every goal and assist he is credited with this … 20-10-2017 |

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| Tadic aiming for European return with Saints12 hours ago |
| Former Southampton man lauds £18m summer signing2 days ago |
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Jaïdi: We’ve set the bar high

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Carrow Road will host the Premier League 2 tie - Saints’ second stadium fixture in the space of five days - where a win has the potential to propel Jaïdi’s side in to second spot in the league standings.

Talking about refocussing the players after a quick turnaround of fixtures, the Under-23s boss said: "It shouldn’t be difficult, if you are succeeding and doing the right things, meeting the requirements, then you try to keep yourself at that level.

"With the younger boys, the concentration needs more work, that is my role. I raise the point and try to keep their concentration levels right.

"We set the bar really high [against Newcastle], we scored six goals and we dealt with the game’s different situations. We had down periods, but we picked up straight away so hopefully we keep the momentum going, scoring goals and playing well.

“The preparation [for Norwich] started the minute we finished the Monday game. Yesterday we trained in preparation for the game, we’re focussed on the opponent and applying our prep.”

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Saints star Nathan Redmond to donate money to children’s charity for every goal he scores

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Nathan Redmond is desperate to add to goal-shy Saints’ strike rate to raise money for charity.

The forward will donate cash for every goal and assist he gets this season to children’s charity Right To Play.

Saints have netted just seven times in eight Premier League games so far - and three of them were penalties - with Redmond yet to score.

But he has grabbed two assists - including one to set up Manolo Gabbiadini in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle. That is actually one more assist than he managed in the whole of last season, when he also finished as Saints’ leading league marksman with seven strikes.

Redmond became a Right To Play ambassador over the summer and the England international is keen to do everything he can to help.

“It’s something I felt was right to do and I was very happy to do. With every goal and every assist I make a donation which goes straight to them,” he told Press Association Sport.

"One donation will help 33 children so that’s a massive difference from one goal or an assist.

"The more I do on the pitch I know subconsciously it’s helping out the kids. I’ve had two assists this season and no goals yet but I’m sure they’ll be coming.

"Afterwards when the game’s finished, instantly you think about that. I’ve had two assists this season and that’s over 60 kids helped. I’m delighted with that so far.

“I’m with the message Right To Play are putting forward which is to give disadvantaged kids over the world the chance to get involved in sport and to get an education. I want to push that message out there.”

Redmond, 23, follows Manchester United’s Juan Mata, who is donating a minimum of one per cent of his salary this season to charity Common Goal.

Right To Play uses sport to educate and help children in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

Redmond would have liked to have donated more but Southampton’s goal struggles, they failed to score in six of their first seven games in all competitions this season, have not helped.

The Saints are still just four points behind the top five and sit 11th ahead of tomorrow’s visit of West Brom.

“Every player and team will always go through a sticky period, that’s not something to shy away from,” said Redmond.

"I’m not worried about anything, it would only be if I’m not in those areas to score goals.

“It’s not crisis but when you’re looking at the start we’ve had and the teams we’ve played we feel we should have picked up more points.”

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