OptiNews - Friday 10 to Thursday 16 March 2017

Southampton Football Club
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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Liverpool and Tottenham have gained most points from losing positions

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Emre Can’s goal against Burnley gave Liverpool all three points on Sunday - and ensured they joined Tottenham as the Premier League’s comeback kings.

After battling back following Ashley Barnes’ early strike, Jurgen Klopp’s men have now gained a total of 14 points from losing positions this season.

That’s the same amount as Spurs, whose most recent fightback saw them come from 2-0 down to earn an impressive 2-2 draw with Manchester City on January 21.

Liverpool have shown plenty of heart this season, having come from behind to earn a point against runaway leaders Chelsea and victories at home to Stoke and away at Swansea after conceding first.

But perhaps their most spectacular comeback arrived during their first game of the season, when they stormed back to beat Arsenal 4-3 at the Emirates after falling behind to a Theo Walcott strike.

Spurs, meanwhile, began their season with a draw away at Everton after Ross Barkley had opened the scoring for the hosts.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side also showed their resilience by recovering from Virgil van Dijk’s second-minute goal to thrash Southampton 4-1 at St Mary’s in late December.

Everton are third when it comes to points gained from losing positions, having picked up 13 under the guidance of Ronald Koeman.

The Toffees’ most memorable fightback came against Arsenal in December, when goals from Seamus Coleman and Ashley Williams meant Alexis Sanchez’s deflected opener counted for nothing at Goodison Park.

West Brom (11 points) and Chelsea (10) have also showed their battling qualities this season, with Antonio Conte’s men earning a late win at Watford in August with two goals in the last 10 minutes.

At the other end of the table, Burnley and struggling Midlesbrough (both two) have picked up the fewest points from losing positions this term.

When it comes to the best comeback of the season, Bournemouth have a strong case after their thrilling 4-3 victory over Liverpool in early December.

Eddie Howe’s side were 2-0 and then 3-1 down at the Vitality Stadium before goals from Ryan Fraser, Steve Cook and Nathan Ake inside the last 20 minutes gave them a famous win on the south coast.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Slattery: A win could make a big difference

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Saints travel to Old Trafford on Monday night, and Slattery admits that there is a confident mood in the camp ahead of the crucial Premier League 2 tie.

“They are only a point ahead of us,” started the midfielder.

“So a win could make a big difference for us. We go into every game believing that we can get the win, and hopefully that’s what we can do on Monday.

“The points haven’t been coming our way recently but we know that we have it in us to get them. We know we can perform as a team, so it is just a matter of us coming together and showing that we are capable.”

Old Trafford is no new venue for Slattery, as the 18-year-old played a lead role in the 2-1 FA Youth Cup victory over United there back in December.

And although he is looking forward to return, he is completely focussed on the task in hand.

“I always look forward to going to grounds and playing games,” he continued.

“It’s always nice to play at some of the best grounds in the world, but at the end of the day it is just another game for us. We need to go there and play as normal.

“I have good memories of going there in the FA Youth Cup earlier this year, but every game is different and we just need to focus on the game in front of us.”

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Long in Ireland squad

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Southampton striker Shane Long is in the provisional Republic of Ireland squad for their upcoming games against Wales and Iceland.

Ireland host Wales in a World Cup qualifier, in Dublin, on Friday 24th March, as they look to maintain their position at the top of Group D.

Martin O’Neill’s side have taken ten points from their opening four matches, putting them in a strong position to reach the 2018 finals, in Russia.

They will host a Wales team that is third in the group, with six points from four games.

After that encounter, Ireland will then welcome Iceland, for a friendly match, on Tuesday 28th March.

O’Neill has named an initial 39-man group for the two matches.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

They were the last team to beat #THFC at White Hart Lane…

Can #SaintsFC do it again this weekend? https://grabyo.com/g/v/3rkvzRLP3ep

Retweets: 3

Favourites: 13

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/03/2017 15:36:50

| | A Rough Guide To Tottenham Hotspur - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Loan Watch: McCarthy picks up a point

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Walsall striker Simeon Jackson gave the visitors the lead on 44 minutes, as he raced clear and thumped a strike past Declan Rudd.

The hosts levelled early in the second half, however, as Tony Watt struck through a crowd of players to pull one back.

Erhun Oztumer and Jackson both had chances in the closing stages of the match, but neither were able to find a winner.

The draw sees Walsall drop to 9th in the League One table, just five points short of the play-off places.

Elsewhere Paulo Gazzaniga and Rayo Vallecano suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Cádiz in the Spanish Segunda División.

The visitors were unable to find an answer to Álvaro Garcia’s opener on 36 minutes, despite creating a number of chances.

The defeat means that Vallecano remain in the relegation zone and four points from safety.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Spurs star likely to miss Saints visit

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PREMIER League top-scorer Harry Kane looks set to miss Tottenham’s match against Saints at White Hart Lane this weekend through injury.

The England international, who has scored 19 goals in the top-flight this term (the joint-most with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku), will have a scan on the ankle he twisted in the FA Cup thrashing of Millwall today.

Mauricio Pochettino expressed fears that the injury could be similar to the one that crocked the 23-year-old for ten games earlier this term.

“He twisted his ankle in the same way as before, it was the same ankle he injured in the game against Sunderland,” the former Saints boss said. “Now we have to wait, we will assess it tomorrow.”

Kane hobbled out after just ten minutes of the 6-0 quarter-final victory after rolling his right ankle while challenging for the ball with Jake Cooper.

The striker was able to walk off the pitch and down the tunnel without help, but was seen later on using crutches with his foot in a protective boot.

Saints travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday where they are aiming to make it three successive Premier League wins.

Claude Puel’s men have triumphed in back-to-back league away games, having beaten Watford and Sunderland in their last two - scoring eight along the way.

They will travel to Spurs aiming to make it consecutive victories there after winning 2-1 in the penultimate game of last season.

If Kane is missing it will likely significantly blunt the Spurs attack, which is so often reliant on the forward’s abilities.

He has scored five in his last two Premier League games, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Stoke City.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/03/2017 16:37:03

| | Southampton linked with England stopperCLUBCALL |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

#OnThisDay in 2010, #SaintsFC secured a 1-0 victory over #LUFC courtesy of Dan Harding’s first-half strike: https://grabyo.com/g/v/aqKd10lGrto

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 3

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Here’s how #SaintsFCU23s line up for tonight’s #PL2 match against #MUFC at Old Trafford:

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Retweets: 5

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

The scene is set at Old Trafford, where #SaintsFCU23s take on #MUFC in #PL2!

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Retweets: 1

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

1: We are under way here at Old Trafford, where #SaintsFCU23s are taking on their #MUFC counterparts in the #PL2.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

GOAL: #MUFC U23s 0-1 #SaintsFCU23s (@simsjosh12 16)

Sims slots in low past Kieran O’Hara to put #SaintsFC ahead. https://grabyo.com/g/v/GNebvXXfFiD

Retweets: 12

Favourites: 43

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Tadic aims to keep the heat on Long

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SAINTS duo Shane Long and Dusan Tadic will be aiming to edge each other out as the race to the World Cup finals looks set to hot up in the coming international break.

Long has been included in the Republic of Ireland’s provisional squad for their latest games against Wales and Iceland.

Martin O’Neill’s side lead Group D as things stand, but have Tadic’s Serbia in hot pursuit in the race to the finals in Russia next year.

Ireland take on Wales in Dublin on March 24 in a World Cup qualifier as they look to hold onto top spot, before hosting Iceland in a friendly four days later.

In form Tadic has been selected for Serbia ahead of their World Cup qualifier away to Georgia, as they look to close the gap on Ireland.

Serbia are currently second in Group D of qualifying just two points behind the Irish, having collected eight points from their opening four matches.

They will travel to Tblisi, to face Georgia, on 24 March, with their opponents having gained just two points from their first four games.

Slavoljub Muslin’s side will be aiming to keep the heat on Ireland above them.

Meanwhile, Steven Davis has been selected for the Northern Ireland team to face Norway on 26 March at Windsor Park in a World Cup qualifier.

The Northern Irish, who are captained by Saints midfielder Davis, are currently second in Group C, five points behind reigning World Cup winners Germany.

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

PFA Fans’ Player of the Month - your chance to present Manolo Gabbiadini with his award

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PFA Fans’ Player of the Month - your chance to present Manolo Gabbiadini with his award

Manolo Gabbiadini won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month for February and YOU could be presenting the award to the man himself!

One lucky fan - who is a resident in the UK or Ireland - can win the chance (subject to terms and conditions) to meet the Southampton striker and present him with his gong.

The Italian moved to St Mary’s for £14.5m in January and hit the ground running, scoring four goals in his first three Premier League matches, before bagging an eye-catching EFL Cup final double at Wembley.

More than 40,000 votes were cast in the poll, which was held on the Sky Sports website and apps, and Gabbiadini claimed victory with 16,226 votes to see off the likes of Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Everton forward Romelu Lukaku.

Now, you can win the opportunity to meet the Saints star at Southampton’s training ground on Friday, March 17, 2017.

All you have to do for the chance to win is select the correct answer to the question below, and you will be entered into the prize draw.

The competition closes at 23:59 on Monday, March 13, 2017.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/03/2017 19:37:38

| | Massive transfer rumour involving England star and Southampton, fans reactFOOTBALLFANCAST |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

HALF TIME: #MUFC U23s 0-1 #SaintsFCU23s

@simsjosh12’s strike gives #SaintsFC the advantage at the break.

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Retweets: 7

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

GOAL: #MUFC U23s 0-2 #SaintsFCU23s (Alfie Jones 50)

Jones heads in @HarrisonReed’s corner to double the lead. https://grabyo.com/g/v/usrjO0mpEz7

Retweets: 15

Favourites: 44

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

GOAL: #MUFC U23s 1-2 #SaintsFCU23s (Devonte Redmond 62)

Redmond pulls one back for the hosts with a fine strike. https://grabyo.com/g/v/t3XwHs3Qdje

Retweets: 1

Favourites: 10

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

GOAL: #MUFC U23s 2-2 #SaintsFCU23s (Demetri Mitchell 70)

Mitchell rifles in from the penalty spot to equalise. https://grabyo.com/g/v/xbu0K3uuscg

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 6

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