OptiNews - Friday 09 to Thursday 15 February 2018

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Sourced from Reuters.co.uk article

Blame players, not Pellegrino, for Southampton’s slump - Romeu

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(Reuters) - Southampton players, and not manager Mauricio Pellegrino, must take the blame for the Premier League club’s dismal form, midfielder Oriol Romeu has said.

Pellegrino has come under increasing pressure as Southampton have won only one of their last 14 league games, and five overall, to drop into the relegation zone with 11 matches remaining in the campaign.

“It’s not the manager’s problem,” Romeu told British media. “We are the ones playing, and the ones that have to change this.”

With teams in the bottom-half being separated by close margins, Southampton lie four points behind 11th-placed Watford and Romeu has urged his team mates to solve their problems and climb up the table as the relegation battle heats up.

“This season we have conceded too many easy goals. Then closing the game down, we have had too many times when we have lost points in the last minutes, so we need to know how to close the games, how to play under pressure, and then we will know how to get points,” Romeu added.

“It is going to be very, very tight until the end (of the season). Every point is going to be important.”

Southampton take on West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday before returning to league action against seventh-placed Burnley on Feb. 24.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/02/2018 15:31:38

| | £3.5m-rated battler, Southampton man: The Lee Cattermole upgrades that Sunderland must look to sign in the summerFOOTBALLLEAGUEWORLD |
| | Liverpool March On In The Battle For Top 4ANFIELDINDEX |
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| Jurgen Klopp admits he’s delighted by new Liverpool FC signingSPORTREVIEWCOM |

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Premier League clubs paid out £134m to injured players

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Premier League clubs paid out a staggering £134.2million to injured players during the first half of the season - with Manchester United the hardest hit.

Jose Mourinho’s squad has one of the highest wage bills in world football and they paid injured stars a total of £15.8m up until the start of this month, according to research by insurance broker JLT Specialty.

Injuries to the likes of Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have proved costly at certain points of the campaign as United trail rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

The numbers show that West Ham have suffered the most injuries this season with 41 and Brighton the least with 14, while the average cost incurred to top-flight clubs as a result of injuries stands at £6.7m.

JLT’s research also showed that teams took a financial blow during the hectic December fixture schedule, with the average number of new injuries peaking at 19 per week during the Christmas and New Year period.

It’s little wonder many managers, including United boss Jose Mourinho and City manager Pep Guardiola, complained about the festive fixture pile-up.

City have remained relatively injury-free during the course of the season, despite Guardiola’s concerns about opponents taking an aggressive approach when facing them.

They have suffered just 16 injuries equating to 442 days out of the team, the second lowest in the league behind Southampton.

Across Manchester, United’s high wage bill sees them top of the average cost per injury table with an average of £869,881 in wages paid out to inactive players.

By contrast, Bournemouth have paid out just £144,531 in wages to injured players, the lowest of the 20 clubs.

The JLT research found that hamstring injuries have been the most common, with 91 in the Premier League so far this season, but knee injuries are the costliest at £36.7m overall.

Duncan Fraser, head of sport at JLT, said: 'With the average cost of injuries rising for another year, and the number of injuries also rising at this point last season, the overall total lost by clubs looks set to eclipse the 2016-17 season total.

'With many of the soft tissue injuries being down to fatigue, these figures will raise questions about fixture pile ups, especially with the rising costs involved.

‘Many will welcome the fact that the Premier League is considering the implementation of a winter break, which may mitigate injuries and associated costs that result from a strenuous winter schedule.’

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Henry names the one Liverpool star he would have loved to have played alongside

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Thierry Henry has revealed he would have liked to have played alongside Roberto Firmino during the height of his career.

The Liverpool forward produced another scintillating performance at the weekend as Liverpool brushed past Southampton 2-0 at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Firmino scored Liverpool’s first, taking his tally to 20 for the season - his best return in front of goal since signing for the Reds in 2015.

The Brazilian also bagged his ninth assist of the campaign, cleverly setting up Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s second.

Firmino’s fine form has earned him plenty of praise this term and Henry is just the latest to add his compliments.

“The way he plays, the way he works, the assist that he had - everything that he does. That’s why he always plays,” the Arsenal legend told Sky Sports .

"What a finish [against Southampton], that’s not an easy finish at all, the goalkeeper doesn’t even move.

"I’ve been in the situation when sometimes you flick the ball and it’s a flick where you’re like, ‘I hope he gets it!’. No, everything that he did had a meaning.

"He sees Stephens coming to him and Salah going into the gap. He could have come and played short, but that might have been blocked by Stephens. If you’re a good player and clever player like he is, you want that sure ball.

"He could have played it in the air, but if the flight of the ball is not good enough Mo Salah would have to stop and Stephens might have cleared the ball.

"He waits for the ball to go on his furthest leg so the defender is already done, now he can concentrate on what Mo Salah has to do and where he’s going to go.

“You’re always going to be behind in terms of thinking. It’s perfect. I would have liked to play with this guy.”

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Shrove Tuesday: Cenk Toss-um, Emre Pan, Juan Batter and our flipping brilliant Pancake Day XI

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You may not give a toss, but to mark Shrove Tuesday we had a go at producing a pancake-related football team.

Check out our best Pancake XI, made up of current players, by clicking through the gallery above.

If you think it’s pretty crepe and we missed any obvious ones out, let us know below…

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/02/2018 16:31:50

| | John Aldridge Thinks Van Dijk Has A Nice Arrogance - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Ticket information for #SaintsFC’s trip to face #Swans in the #PL has now been confirmed: http://sfcne.ws/SwansTickets

Retweets: 0

Favourites: 8

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Sourced from A tweet by LFC tweet

@LFC - Liverpool FC

“It was good for Hendo so he could do a few really important things at Melwood."

Klopp on why @JHenderson will ben… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/963457858967953408

Retweets: 20

Favourites: 128

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

It’s a return to #EmiratesFACup action this weekend…

Here’s our stat pack ahead of #SaintsFC’s trip to #WBA: http://sfcne.ws/StatsWBFAC

Retweets: 1

Favourites: 8

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

New supporters’ panel created

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The group of up to 12 supporters will meet with key staff at the club three-to-four times each year, to discuss a wide range of off-pitch subjects.

It is hoped this will allow the club to deepen its understanding of issues affecting fans, as well as being able to explain the thinking and processes behind important decisions that have been, or are being, made.

Additionally, it is intended that the panel will provide a forum for supporters to share and discuss new ideas of their own for how to improve any aspect of their experience.

The club would like to assemble as diverse a panel as possible, to ensure the broadest representation of its fanbase, and is encouraging applications from anyone who would like to be involved.

All those who are chosen will be encouraged to liaise regularly with their fellow fans, to ensure their best interests are served at the meetings.

With this in mind, each person on the panel will have their photograph and contact details displayed on a dedicated page on the club’s website, to encourage supporters to engage with them.

Managing Director Toby Steele said: “Our supporters are the lifeblood of the club, and we hope Saints Voice will provide them with a valuable route through which to raise issues and discuss ideas, while also allowing us to keep them informed on key matters.”

To apply, please fill in the form below. The closing date for applications will be Friday 16th March.

Please note, the panel meetings will likely be arranged outside of normal office hours wherever possible, in order not to impinge on supporters’ work commitments.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/02/2018 20:32:43

| | Premier League: Southampton’s Oriol Romeu comes in defence of manager, says blame players, not Mauricio PellegrinoFIRSTPOST |
| | PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Mario Lemina - ‘The Gabon star wasted at Southampton’ - 2019 Africa Cup of Nations QualifiersAFRICANFOOTBALLCOM |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/02/2018 21:33:10

| | Don’t Panic Just Take Responsibility - RomeuVITALFOOTBALL |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers’ RSS Feed rss feed

Blogs – Fresh Saints

New content from (- Blogs – Fresh Saints)

| Ward-Prowse and Stephens: two bright lights in a dark time for Southampton F.C. | In spite of the horrific situation that Southampton currently find themselves in, there are are a number of … 13-02-2018 |

Older content…

| Podcast: Talking Pellegrino, Van Dijk and the January window with Anfield Index5 days ago |
| Virgil Van Dijk prepared for return to St Mary’s6 days ago |
| Review: Southampton’s January transfer window11 days ago |
| Out with our old ways, in with the new14 days ago |
| Manolo Gabbiadini: a victim of Pellegrino’s centre forward demands?15 days ago |
| Transfer updates: Guido Carrillo, Quincy Promes and Matt Targett20 days ago |
| A statistical analysis of Southampton’s season so far24 days ago |
| Pellegrino v Pochettinoa month ago |
| The same old storya month ago |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Enter our latest competition to win a signed #SaintsFC shirt, ahead of the trip to #WBA in the #EmiratesFACup: http://sfcne.ws/PTSWBAFac

Retweets: 0

Favourites: 1

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Stat Pack: West Brom vs Saints

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• If Saints progress past West Brom, it will mark their first appearance in the FA Cup quarter-finals since the 2004/05 season.

• The last three times Southampton have faced West Brom in the FA Cup, the ties have been decided on a replay.

• However, the sides have not met in the competition since a fifth-round clash in March 1979, when Saints won 2-1 at The Dell after a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.

• The time they met before that? The fifth round in 1976, as Saints again drew 1-1 away before winning 4-0 at home, on their way to lifting the trophy that season.

• In fact, all three of the post-war FA Cup meetings between the teams have ended in a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns, before being settled in a replay – West Brom winning 3-2 at The Dell in 1968 in the first of those.

• West Brom have lost their last three games, conceding three goals in each – one of those being the 3-2 home defeat to Saints less than two weeks ago.

• Saints are yet to concede in this season’s competition, recording a 1-0 win at Fulham in the third round before beating Watford by the same scoreline, at St Mary’s, to reach this stage.

• The visitors will need to watch out for their former striker Jay Rodriguez, though, who has a strong record in FA Cup action, scoring seven goals in his last ten appearances in the competition.

• If Saints win, it will be the first time since September 2016 that a Premier League side has won away against another top-flight opponent twice in the same calendar month – Manchester City were the last club to do that, against Swansea.

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/02/2018 22:34:01

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| Predict where Palace will finish this seasonCROYDONADVERTISER |
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| ‘Just empty words’, ‘Flogging a dead horse springs to mind’ - £13.5m-rated star’s comments brings backlash from …FOOTBALLFANCAST |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 14/02/2018 00:07:40

| | Liverpool heap more misery on SouthamptonTHENEWSCOMPK |
| | Pellegrino backs Southampton to regain formTHENEWSCOMPK |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 14/02/2018 06:08:40

| | FOOTBALLWHISPERS |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 14/02/2018 07:08:45

| | Albion v Soton: Team news, kick off time, TV details and moreBIRMINGHAMMAIL |

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Sky extends Premier League rights through to 2022

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Sky has extended its Premier League rights through to 2022 and will show more matches than ever before.

With four packs of rights totalling 128 games a season - up from 126 matches currently - the deal to run from 2019 will offer Sky Sports viewers every first-pick weekend match, plus Saturday evening fixtures for the first time, all screened on Sky’s dedicated Premier League channel.

Following the outcome of the recent Premier League auction, Sky has acquired the following rights between 2019/20 and 2021/22:

The agreement strengthens Sky’s position as the best provider of the broadest range of content, which includes 10 channels of sport covering live Premier League, English Football League, Scottish Football, exclusive coverage of Formula 1 from 2019 to 2024, plus England cricket through to 2024.

This great sport sits alongside the best drama, comedy and entertainment, which will include over 50 Sky Original productions over the course of 2018. These content investments across the whole portfolio reflect Sky’s continuing journey towards a more broadly-based business which seeks to provide something for every household and everyone in the household

Stephen van Rooyen, Sky’s UK Chief Executive, said: “We continue to invest in content that our customers value and which complements our strategy to broaden our offer. Not only do we remain the home of Premier League football but also the home of top quality drama, entertainment, comedy and other sports. Our disciplined approach means we continue to have the flexibility to invest in each of these areas as we choose, underlining our position as Europe’s largest investor in content.”

Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports added: "Sky Sports customers will continue to enjoy unrivalled Premier League coverage through to 2022 with 128 live matches a season from next year - more than ever before - including the key head to heads in the best slots and, of course, analysis from the biggest names in football.

“This comes on the back of recent renewals for EFL, ECB and exclusivity for F1, all of which will be available to our customers until 2024.”

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