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Red Bull Salzburg
Thank you coming today. I’d like to make a short opening statement. I’ve been just as disappointed as you with the results of the first seven rounds. We are not scoring enough, and while Koita’s injury is part of the problem, I need to own some of the blame as well. We have not been in the right position to get goals, and we’re going to move heaven and earth to get that fixed. I will now take questions.
Reporter 1: How is Koita’s condition? Will he play next week?
Thacker: Koita should be back for round 8 or 9. His conditioning has been top-level, and we don’t expect to see any after effects.
Reporter: What discussions have you had with the board.
Thacker: I’ve been assured that they are sticking with me for the long run. They would like me to get Salzburg up to P16 or better, and I think we have a chance to do that. We have the keeper and defenders to make that run. We have to get more shots and it would help to have a bit of football luck. Out shooting a club 2-1 and coming with a draw is not normal. That has to turn.
Reporter 1: This is your third season in charge. When do you think things will turn around?
It’s impossible to say exactly the wins will start happening, My first season in FFO I had to learn the league and the tactics. At the end of that season I was sure we’d be in the top three. We started to build the academy up. Last year was a reality check. Players were not improving as fast as I thought they would. We found that below backups need to be better for a consistent performance for a full 90 minutes. We built the academy some more.This season I have no illusions It will be a slog. The foundation is laid, we will have 6 players eligible to promote next season. We’re already to setting up the plans.
Reporter 3: Does this mean you have abandoned this season.
Thacker: Far from it. We’re working on new tactics, new lineups, and constantly tweaking. We had a very static 5-1-1-1-2 lineup for most of last season, we’re already changing that. The hardest teams to scout for last year were the clubs that showed something different each round. I want them to have to guess.
Reporter 2: What do you say to the clubs that feel the youth movement is wasting talent?
Thacker: Those are the clubs who can spend more that 100 millions in the transfer market. We haven’t had that luxury in the two seasons-plus that I have been.
Reporter 1: Are there any Academy players that are guaranteed promotion and the end of this season?
Thacker: Nobody that we want to discuss public. If you wanted to guess some names, and I know you reporters love to guess. I’d look for places where the academy players look better than our reserves. I think you’ll figure it out.
Reporter 1: When you will get your first win of the season.
Thacker: Next round, could I say anything else? Thank you everyone.
Words: 531
Thank you coming today. I’d like to make a short opening statement. I’ve been just as disappointed as you with the results of the first seven rounds. We are not scoring enough, and while Koita’s injury is part of the problem, I need to own some of the blame as well. We have not been in the right position to get goals, and we’re going to move heaven and earth to get that fixed. I will now take questions.
Reporter 1: How is Koita’s condition? Will he play next week?
Thacker: Koita should be back for round 8 or 9. His conditioning has been top-level, and we don’t expect to see any after effects.
Reporter: What discussions have you had with the board.
Thacker: I’ve been assured that they are sticking with me for the long run. They would like me to get Salzburg up to P16 or better, and I think we have a chance to do that. We have the keeper and defenders to make that run. We have to get more shots and it would help to have a bit of football luck. Out shooting a club 2-1 and coming with a draw is not normal. That has to turn.
Reporter 1: This is your third season in charge. When do you think things will turn around?
It’s impossible to say exactly the wins will start happening, My first season in FFO I had to learn the league and the tactics. At the end of that season I was sure we’d be in the top three. We started to build the academy up. Last year was a reality check. Players were not improving as fast as I thought they would. We found that below backups need to be better for a consistent performance for a full 90 minutes. We built the academy some more.This season I have no illusions It will be a slog. The foundation is laid, we will have 6 players eligible to promote next season. We’re already to setting up the plans.
Reporter 3: Does this mean you have abandoned this season.
Thacker: Far from it. We’re working on new tactics, new lineups, and constantly tweaking. We had a very static 5-1-1-1-2 lineup for most of last season, we’re already changing that. The hardest teams to scout for last year were the clubs that showed something different each round. I want them to have to guess.
Reporter 2: What do you say to the clubs that feel the youth movement is wasting talent?
Thacker: Those are the clubs who can spend more that 100 millions in the transfer market. We haven’t had that luxury in the two seasons-plus that I have been.
Reporter 1: Are there any Academy players that are guaranteed promotion and the end of this season?
Thacker: Nobody that we want to discuss public. If you wanted to guess some names, and I know you reporters love to guess. I’d look for places where the academy players look better than our reserves. I think you’ll figure it out.
Reporter 1: When you will get your first win of the season.
Thacker: Next round, could I say anything else? Thank you everyone.
Words: 531