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Good Morning. We missed our press conference last week so I have a few items that need to be updated. First of all, we have a few signings to update. Wolf, Terzic, and Johnson have been offered new contracts for next year and all of them have accepted. Right now the defense if the heart to Red Bull Salzburg and we will be attempting all the the defenders to new contracts. We’ll announce the signings at they happened. Second we’re welcoming F_Balbuena on a loan from PSG, He has been starting and will be continue to start throughout his stay at Salzburg. We’re looking for an edge that will turn all of the draws we’ve had into a few wins. It’s possible a midfielder may be joining the club in the next few weeks. I’ll now take questions.
Reporter 1: What about your contract? It’s been said that you are sitting in the hot seat and may not be here next season.
Thacker: After some negotiation with the board, and a discussion about the future of the academy players I have been signed to a three season contract. I’m grateful to the board for their forward vision and not evaluated strictly on current results.
Reporter 2: The mid-season player auction is coming up, does Salzburg plan on bidding on anyone?
Thacker: I can say that neither Salzburg nor Sheffield United are going to bidding on the mid-season auction. Both clubs expect that the minimum bids will exceed their current balance, and cash is being conserved to end-of-season work.
Reporter 3: Sheffield United is having an abysmal season, how do your defend your current position as interim manager?
Thacker: The Blades supporters have been very vocal about their assessment of my performance for far. I know how it looks and I have to say that I’m not surprised where we are the at the bottom of the table. We lost many players to retirements that were key in our promotion push last season. They were not replaced the players with the same skill level. It’s harsh but true. The board has asked to start looking into transfers that would help us bring in some players that could ease the pain.
Reporter3: Would that mean that some of the current Blades players for be on the transfer list?
Thacker: It’s possible. The board agrees with me that it’s now a rebuild situation. That means that get new talent, possibly new facilities and new staff. The situation has be right to attract a new manager, and right now it’s not.
Reporter 1: Salzburg is tied for the most players and Academy, when will someone be promoted?
Thacker: We’ll need to promote at least one player next season because we two new students entering and we will be over capacity. I have no comment beyond that.
Reporter 1: You’ve recently had a few discussions with the Academy training staff about, as the press release said “Skill Aquisition”. Can you share anything about the discussion?
Thacker: We’ve put a lot of money into the traning grounds, the buildings and three highly staff members. If I don’t think that I’m getting my money’s worth then I’m going to find out why and I’m going work with staff to make sure they players are getting better. And not only that, getting better at the proper pace. We have limited weeks of training and each week had better advanced the skills
Givens, our keeper, is a key asset for Red Bull Salzburg and the training staff should treat him like that. That was the basis of the discussion.
Reporter: Speaking of the Academy, is there any thought that Ospina will not be brought up for the Blades?
Thacker: Our keeper is going to retire. We need a new keeper and Ospina is almost certainly going to get promoted. There may be financial reasons for retaining him in the academy, but we are trying to get out of that scenario.
Reporter1: Does Salzburg have any plans for stadium expansion?
Thacker: Not at this time. When you are P19 and you are already out of the cups, there isn’t much money to work with. We’ll see what is left at the end of the season. Our top priority would probably be a second academy coach.
Reporter2: Why has Salzburg’s had problems scoring?
Thacker: We’re trying to find out. Last season we had a standard formation that we played most of the time and changed tactics based on scouting. This season we’ve had three basic sets that we’ve played. We’ll probably try another three or four more. Everything is on the table. Anything could be tried to get more wins.
Thanks for your time.
Words: 775
Reporter 1: What about your contract? It’s been said that you are sitting in the hot seat and may not be here next season.
Thacker: After some negotiation with the board, and a discussion about the future of the academy players I have been signed to a three season contract. I’m grateful to the board for their forward vision and not evaluated strictly on current results.
Reporter 2: The mid-season player auction is coming up, does Salzburg plan on bidding on anyone?
Thacker: I can say that neither Salzburg nor Sheffield United are going to bidding on the mid-season auction. Both clubs expect that the minimum bids will exceed their current balance, and cash is being conserved to end-of-season work.
Reporter 3: Sheffield United is having an abysmal season, how do your defend your current position as interim manager?
Thacker: The Blades supporters have been very vocal about their assessment of my performance for far. I know how it looks and I have to say that I’m not surprised where we are the at the bottom of the table. We lost many players to retirements that were key in our promotion push last season. They were not replaced the players with the same skill level. It’s harsh but true. The board has asked to start looking into transfers that would help us bring in some players that could ease the pain.
Reporter3: Would that mean that some of the current Blades players for be on the transfer list?
Thacker: It’s possible. The board agrees with me that it’s now a rebuild situation. That means that get new talent, possibly new facilities and new staff. The situation has be right to attract a new manager, and right now it’s not.
Reporter 1: Salzburg is tied for the most players and Academy, when will someone be promoted?
Thacker: We’ll need to promote at least one player next season because we two new students entering and we will be over capacity. I have no comment beyond that.
Reporter 1: You’ve recently had a few discussions with the Academy training staff about, as the press release said “Skill Aquisition”. Can you share anything about the discussion?
Thacker: We’ve put a lot of money into the traning grounds, the buildings and three highly staff members. If I don’t think that I’m getting my money’s worth then I’m going to find out why and I’m going work with staff to make sure they players are getting better. And not only that, getting better at the proper pace. We have limited weeks of training and each week had better advanced the skills
Givens, our keeper, is a key asset for Red Bull Salzburg and the training staff should treat him like that. That was the basis of the discussion.
Reporter: Speaking of the Academy, is there any thought that Ospina will not be brought up for the Blades?
Thacker: Our keeper is going to retire. We need a new keeper and Ospina is almost certainly going to get promoted. There may be financial reasons for retaining him in the academy, but we are trying to get out of that scenario.
Reporter1: Does Salzburg have any plans for stadium expansion?
Thacker: Not at this time. When you are P19 and you are already out of the cups, there isn’t much money to work with. We’ll see what is left at the end of the season. Our top priority would probably be a second academy coach.
Reporter2: Why has Salzburg’s had problems scoring?
Thacker: We’re trying to find out. Last season we had a standard formation that we played most of the time and changed tactics based on scouting. This season we’ve had three basic sets that we’ve played. We’ll probably try another three or four more. Everything is on the table. Anything could be tried to get more wins.
Thanks for your time.
Words: 775