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The press sat down the RB Salzburg manager Dave Thacker to talk about his first season leading RB Salzburg.
You finished near the bottom of the EFL2 table. How would you rate your performance?
I’m disappointed in the way I ran things. I came into the season feeling like I had a handle on tactics that would give us a respectable season. I found out very soon that I had made some serious errors.
What kind of errors?
The formations that I’d selected were too weak defensively. Noah Atubolu was getting overrun because of the lack of help. I absolutely own our goal differential and I’ve told him that. Having said that, we did correct that formations and cut down the goals against in the second half. We had 40 goals scored against us in the first half and 28 in the second half. Eventually we stopped the bleeding.
What did you do to change the tide?
I’ve been around enough to know what I don’t know. After 13 goals against in two games, I had to reach out to my network of fellow managers for help. That help was graciously given. There were some long discussion about the analysis tools I was using and what I need to do in the EFL2 league. Every league is different, and I needed to adapt.
What about the offense?
We had moments of were we looked like a top of the table club, but we were not consistent. Our roster was thin and a few suspensions an injuries caused problems. In American football you always here about the “Next Man Up!” philosophy. Sometime those backups were not ready. Again, my problem.
What went well for RB Salzburg?
They never quit. We were in a logjam just below the mid of the table, and these lads showed up for training and showed up for games with gave us everything they had. Noah Atubolu was in goal for every minute. The same Oumar Solet. Once we get the defense right, Oumar was a wall. He led the club in tackles, found a way to move the ball forward to the attackers. Sekou Koita led the team in goals, he always finds a way. Five Man of the Match awards for Sekou. Maina and Capaldo were thrown into the fray in Mid and gave us good minutes in relief. These are the things I am happiest about.
How is your relationship with the board?
It’s a helluva lot better than after round 10! I’d say it’s cordial and productive. We’ve had some difference about transfers and the player auction. It’s tempting to think you are going to buy a player that’s going to save the club. I thought that way myself earlier in the season. However, I have convinced the board that we need to build from the base up. The stadium, the academy, all of these things need to improve for us to get to the next level.
What’s goal for the next season?
Improve five places or more in the table. Fire up the academy. Increase revenues. Improve my analysis of my opponents. Beat Leipzig. Make Salzburg proud.
Words: 532
You finished near the bottom of the EFL2 table. How would you rate your performance?
I’m disappointed in the way I ran things. I came into the season feeling like I had a handle on tactics that would give us a respectable season. I found out very soon that I had made some serious errors.
What kind of errors?
The formations that I’d selected were too weak defensively. Noah Atubolu was getting overrun because of the lack of help. I absolutely own our goal differential and I’ve told him that. Having said that, we did correct that formations and cut down the goals against in the second half. We had 40 goals scored against us in the first half and 28 in the second half. Eventually we stopped the bleeding.
What did you do to change the tide?
I’ve been around enough to know what I don’t know. After 13 goals against in two games, I had to reach out to my network of fellow managers for help. That help was graciously given. There were some long discussion about the analysis tools I was using and what I need to do in the EFL2 league. Every league is different, and I needed to adapt.
What about the offense?
We had moments of were we looked like a top of the table club, but we were not consistent. Our roster was thin and a few suspensions an injuries caused problems. In American football you always here about the “Next Man Up!” philosophy. Sometime those backups were not ready. Again, my problem.
What went well for RB Salzburg?
They never quit. We were in a logjam just below the mid of the table, and these lads showed up for training and showed up for games with gave us everything they had. Noah Atubolu was in goal for every minute. The same Oumar Solet. Once we get the defense right, Oumar was a wall. He led the club in tackles, found a way to move the ball forward to the attackers. Sekou Koita led the team in goals, he always finds a way. Five Man of the Match awards for Sekou. Maina and Capaldo were thrown into the fray in Mid and gave us good minutes in relief. These are the things I am happiest about.
How is your relationship with the board?
It’s a helluva lot better than after round 10! I’d say it’s cordial and productive. We’ve had some difference about transfers and the player auction. It’s tempting to think you are going to buy a player that’s going to save the club. I thought that way myself earlier in the season. However, I have convinced the board that we need to build from the base up. The stadium, the academy, all of these things need to improve for us to get to the next level.
What’s goal for the next season?
Improve five places or more in the table. Fire up the academy. Increase revenues. Improve my analysis of my opponents. Beat Leipzig. Make Salzburg proud.
Words: 532