OptiNews - Friday 09 to Thursday 15 February 2018

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Every Premier League club ranked by percentage of capacity filled at their home stadium

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The Premier League record attendance was smashed once again this season with 83,222 cramming in to see Tottenham beat their north London rivals Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley.

It was the second time in two months Spurs have smashed the record, as 81,978 visited the iconic stadium to see the Lilywhites beat Manchester United 2-0.

However, as you can see from the gallery above, Spurs have struggled to fill the full percentage of their stadium capacity throughout the season.

With a total capacity of 90,000, it comes as no surprise to see Mauricio Pochettino’s side struggling to completely pack out their temporary home.

But who else struggles to fill out their home ground and who packs out their stadium completely?

Thanks to SoccerStats.com, talkSPORT has ranked every Premier League club by the percentage of the capacity filled in the gallery above.

Click the right arrow, above, to see the rankings in full.

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Sourced from The Telegraph article

Oriol Romeu says the players are responsible for Southampton’s struggles - not Mauricio Pellegrino

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Oriol Romeu has said Southampton’s players must take responsibility for the poor run of form that has left them floundering in the relegation zone with 11 Premier League games remaining.

The pressure continues to mount on manager Mauricio Pellegrino, who was jeered by the Southampton fans in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool.

But Romeu, the midfielder, insisted that the players are still behind their manager. “It’s not the manager’s problem,” he said. “We are the ones playing, and the ones that have to change this.”

Southampton’s victory over West Bromwich Albion last weekend was their only win in 14 Premier League games, although their form has picked up in recent weeks as they fought to a series of draws.

But they were comfortably defeated on Sunday by Jurgen Klopp’s side, who took an early lead after a defensive error from Southampton centre-back Wesley Hoedt.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Valery pens new deal

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The France youth international joined the club from Stade Rennais FC’s academy at the start of the 2015/16 campaign, and has now agreed a contract extension until the summer of 2020.

Valery, who has made a seamless transition into Radhi Jaïdi’s Under-23s setup this season, turns 19 this month, and is marking the occasion by committing his future to the club for a further two seasons.

Delighted to confirm his extended stay at St Mary’s, the teenager commented: "I’m pleased to get a contract extension with Southampton Football Club, I enjoy playing my football here.

"It is a good club to be able to improve myself, so I’m really pleased.

“I keep working hard in training, to show what I can do to my coaches and show them they can trust me. I want to show this also to the first-team manager in the future.”

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Tickets for #SaintsFC’s fifth-round trip to #WBA in the #EmiratesFACup have now sold out!

Thank you for your suppo… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/963078995586596865

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Revealed: Top 25 clubs with the most expensive squads in Europe, including Crystal Palace and Everton

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Premier League clubs have set a new spending record in 2017/18, after the £430m outlay in the recent January window followed the staggering £1.4bn spent last summer.

It should come as little surprise then that so many English sides feature in the top 25 list of the the most expensively-assembled squads in European football.

So vast are the riches in the Premier League that the findings - released by the CIES Football Observatory – reveal that relegation-threatened Crystal Palace’s squad cost more than Serie A high-fliers Napoli.

Check out the top 25 most expensive squads in Europe, and find out who has spent the most, by clicking through the gallery above.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/02/2018 16:26:27

| | Firmino, Salah punish SouthamptonDECCANHERALD |
| | Tactical analysis of Liverpool’s win at Southampton and look ahead to PortoTHISISANFIELD |
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| ‘Sack that muppet’ - Southampton fans fume at Pellegrino after Liverpool defeat | | Where football transfer rumours …THETRANSFERTAVERN |
| | Roberto Firmino earned an insane amount of money for goal and assist v SouthamptonGIVEMESPORT |
| | Three standout Southampton performers against LiverpoolREADSOUTHAMPTON |
| | Virgil Van Dijk can’t hold back a smile when finding out about Man United’s loss | 101 Great Goals101GREATGOALS |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Loan Watch: Targett opens his scoring account

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It was a day to remember for Matt Targett on Saturday, as the Southampton youngster scored the first goal of his career for loan club Fulham.

The defender was making his third appearance for the Championship club, and opened the scoring inside four minutes as the Londoners drew 1-1 at Bolton.

Starting an attack down the left flank, Targett fed the ball down the line to Ryan Sessegnon and continued his run into the box.

When Sessegnon’s deep cross was headed back across goal, Targett found himself in the right place to nod home from close range.

Adam Le Fondre later equalised for the hosts, ending Fulham’s five-match winning run, but the Cottagers remain in the play-off places.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Sam Gallagher was on the losing side for Birmingham City in the Second City derby in front of a sell-out crowd at Villa Park.

Over 41,000 were in attendance to see Gallagher strike the post in the first half while the scores were level, before goals from Albert Adomah and Conor Hourihane secured the points for Villa.

The result means Steve Bruce’s side leapfrog Derby into second place after the Rams were held to a 1-1 draw by Norwich, for whom Harrison Reed completed 90 minutes.

Unlike Targett, the weekend would be one to forget for Jordy Clasie, as the Dutchman scored an unfortunate own goal in stoppage time.

Leading 1-0 in the dying moments, Belgian Pro League leaders Club Brugge were held to a draw by Waasland-Beveren after Clasie inadvertently turned a driven shot into his own net.

Meanwhile, Ryan Seager made his first start for Yeovil in a goalless draw at Crewe, and Harry Lewis’s Scottish Cup dream came to an end as Dundee United were beaten 4-2 by SPL high-fliers Aberdeen in the fifth round.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

"I keep working hard in training, to show what I can do to my coaches and show them they can trust me.”… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/963095361450598401

Retweets: 0

Favourites: 8

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/02/2018 17:26:40

| | How Roberto Firmino earned £116,000 against S’tonROUSINGTHEKOP |
| | Should West Brom eye Gabbiadini’s Southampton situation after agent’s comments?HEREISTHECITY |
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| Liverpool vs Southampton: A reviewTHEREDMENTV |
| | Phil Neville voices concerns over Southampton after they lose againHEREISTHECITY |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Club Southampton Golf Day

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Join us at Skylark Golf & Country Club for the inaugural Club Southampton Golf Day on Thursday 19th April.

Guests can join Ralph Krueger, Franny Benali, Kelvin Davis and Martin Hunter for £500 + VAT per team (four-ball), with tickets now on general sale.

The timings for the day are as follows:

To book your team, contract us by calling 02380 727 768 or email clubsouthampton@saintsfc.co.uk.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Video: Valery signs contract extension

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Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Southampton star leaps to the defence of under-fire manager Mauricio Pellegrino | Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu has jumped to the defence of under-fire manager Mauricio Pellegrino, amid calls … 12-02-2018 |

Older content…

| Three standout Southampton performers against Liverpool18 hours ago |
| Who was your Southampton Man of the Match against Liverpool?18 hours ago |
| Our man of the match: Liverpool (H)2 days ago |
| Southampton Player Ratings: Liverpool (H)2 days ago |
| Southampton vs Liverpool: Match Preview2 days ago |
| Combined XI - Liverpool (H)2 days ago |
| Saints forward’s agent claims that other top flight sides want to land him3 days ago |
| Southampton vs Liverpool: Predicted Opposition XI3 days ago |
| Jurgen Klopp reveals what he finds confusing about Southampton this season3 days ago |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/02/2018 18:26:54

| | Every Game Is Now A Cup Final - CedricVITALFOOTBALL |
| | Romeu: 'Players to blame for struggles’SPORTSMOLE |
| | Pellegrino: 'We dominated first half’SPORTSMOLE |

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Pellegrino is not to blame for terrible run, insists Oriol Romeu

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Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu insists the players are still behind manager Mauricio Pellegrino despite a dreadful run of one victory in 14 Premier League games.

The manager was booed off the pitch at the final whistle after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool left Southampton in 18th place in the Premier League.

Supporters also taunted Pellegrino with chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ after his substitutions.

Pellegrino questioned his players’ character after the game, saying they needed to be more ‘brave’ in a second-half in which the hosts appeared to give up on their chances in the game.

Asked if the players are supportive of their manager, Romeu said: ‘Yes. It’s not the manager’s problem: we’re the ones playing, and the ones that have to change this.’

The Spanish midfielder did, however, insist the team are not defending well enough or controlling games.

Romeu added: 'It’s conceding many things to the opponent, and when we’re playing away, maybe we’re not defending well enough - set-pieces - and teams are strong in that regard.

'This season we’ve conceded too many easy goals. Then closing the game down: we’ve had too many times when we’ve lost points in the last minutes, so we need to know how to close the games, how to play under pressure, and then we’ll know how to get points.

‘It’s going to be very, very tight until the end (of the season). Every point’s going to be important, and we came here today to get points.’

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Valery delighted with new deal

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Still at the tender age of 18, and one of the most consistent performers in Radhi Jaïdi’s side, the Frenchman has made an impact in both the Checkatrade Trophy and Premier League 2 this term, scoring his first Under-23s goal in the latter - during a 2-0 victory over Blackburn.

The teenager has explained that his future ambitions include trying to catch the eye of manager Mauricio Pellegrino, and progress into Southampton’s first team squad, where he would be competing for a place against regular right-back Cédric.

“I’m pleased to get a contract extension with Southampton Football Club, I enjoy playing my football here,” Valery said, smiling.

"It is a good club to be able to improve myself, so I’m really pleased.

"I keep working hard in training, to show what I can do to my coaches and show them they can trust me. I want to show this also to the first-team manager.

"When you see that the coaches are pleased with what you’re doing it is encouraging. I’m confident with myself. If I keep working hard I know I’ll improve, and then I can enjoy playing football with my teammates.

"At Under-23s level you have to concentrate a lot more, use your brain. Premier League 2 is harder in the physical battles and 50/50s. It’s a good challenge.

"Of course, I want to play first team football here at Southampton FC. It’s a great club, and when I’ve trained at that level they’ve helped me and given me advice. I’ve taken that on board and tried to produce on the pitch.

“Now I have to keep working hard and show the manager that he can trust me, and when he thinks I am ready, then hopefully I’ll play for the first team here.”

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

#SaintsFC’s @OficialCedric looks ahead to the #PL run-in:

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Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Saints defender rues his side’s second-half display against Liverpool | Southampton defender Cedric Soares has spoken of his disappointment at how his side failed to respond in the … 12-02-2018 |

Older content…

| Southampton star leaps to the defence of under-fire manager Mauricio Pellegrino19 hours ago |
| Three standout Southampton performers against Liverpool19 hours ago |
| Who was your Southampton Man of the Match against Liverpool?19 hours ago |
| Our man of the match: Liverpool (H)2 days ago |
| Southampton Player Ratings: Liverpool (H)2 days ago |
| Southampton vs Liverpool: Match Preview2 days ago |
| Combined XI - Liverpool (H)2 days ago |
| Saints forward’s agent claims that other top flight sides want to land him3 days ago |
| Southampton vs Liverpool: Predicted Opposition XI3 days ago |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/02/2018 19:27:07

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| Southampton 0-2 Liverpool: Mohamed Salah strikes again in comfortable winFANSIDEDSAINTSMARCHING |

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Watch Charlie Austin answer FIFA 18 trivia questions about Southampton

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In the latest ‘vs FIFA 18’ video from Soccer AM, Southampton striker Charlie Austin is quizzed on his FIFA knowledge, specifically when it comes to his club.

As most footballers are, he’s a little underwhelmed by his current stats in FIFA 18, but he does have a lot of praise for a certain few players.

Austin describes team mate James Ward-Prowse as an ‘ultimate pro’ and ‘a manager’s dream.’

But it’s Spurs striker Harry Kane that Austin holds in the highest regard.

‘He needs to be the top finisher in the game,’ he said, ‘because he’s the top finisher basically in the country, in the world.’

‘Messi has so many chances, and he is the best player for me ever. Harry Kane is deadly, deadly, and I just hope he can do it this summer [at the World Cup].’

Although Austin describes his FIFA 18 skills as ‘hit and miss,’ his knowledge of Southampton in the game is apparently pretty deep.

He correctly answers questions about who is the best at curving the ball (Ward-Prowse), the strongest (Oriol Romeu), the slowest (Gardos), and heading accuracy (Austin himself).

However he does slip up on a few, especially when it comes to pace. He disagrees with Ryan Bertrand’s relatively slow speed, and says the FIFA creators need to ‘start dealing with facts.’

Austin is appreciative of the In-Form upgrade he received earlier this year after a strong showing against Everton, although he does think that he also deserved an upgrade after the Arsenal game.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Saints youngster pens new deal

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Young Saints defender Yan Valery has signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal at the club.

The 19-year-old France youth international, who is currently part of the club’s under-23s squad, is a highly rated prospect and is now tied to St Mary’s until 2020.

Valery said: "I’m pleased to get a contract extension with Southampton Football Club, I enjoy playing my football here.

"It is a good club to be able to improve myself, so I’m really pleased.

“I keep working hard in training, to show what I can do to my coaches and show them they can trust me. I want to show this also to the first-team manager in the future.”

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