Reds Head Coach Carl Veart addressed the media ahead of Sunday’s tough away trip to Western United. Veart discussed his thoughts on the upcoming test, tactical adjustments, and squad management as the season enters its critical phase.
Veart on the upcoming challenge…
“It’s going to be a good test. We didn’t have a good result last week, so it’s always good to get back out there. Western United have really improved as the season has gone on. They have a very young side, and it’s going to be a very good challenge for us.”
Veart on defensive strategy…
“It’s a whole team thing. Western United play a positive brand of football, so it’s about ensuring our pressure is right in the front half of the pitch to limit their dangerous passes. They also have other avenues; their body checking is doing really well this year, and they have good speed in the wide areas. It’s important that we are well organised defensively and work together as a team. It’s important that we remain compact and pick our moments to press. Last week, we often operated on an individual basis with our pressure, which made it too easy for the opposition to play through us. We’ve worked hard this week to be more compact and organized when pressing as a team.”
Veart on refining our finishing…
“I think our finishing has let us down at times this year. Last week, we got into their area frequently and had several shots from inside the box that missed the target. We need to show more composure in and around the box and ensure our final delivery is more clinical.”
Veart on home versus away form…
“There’s no real change in what we do away from home compared to at home. Our away form is excellent, but we need to turn our home form around. With two away trips now, it’s important that we try to get maximum points from these next two games.”
Veart on squad rotation and freshening the team…
“As we get to the back end of the season, players are starting to tire. We have only 15 senior players available along with many younger players, so it’s crucial to rotate the squad and freshen up the playing group at the right time.”
Veart on planning for the finals…
“We’re not talking finals yet; we’re focused on getting maximum points. We’ve done extremely well so far, but now we have to work even harder. It’s important to manage our playing group carefully so we don’t burn out too many players, especially with so many away games.”
Veart on Archie Goodwin…
“We knew his talent was there, and it was a matter of getting his body right so he could show his full potential. He has shown glimpses of his ability this year, but he’s still about 12 months away from reaching his true strength. Although he hasn’t played 90 minutes yet, we’re giving him that time because we know how important he is, not just for this season, but for next season as well.”
Veart on the NPL as a platform for young players…
“The NPL provides a big platform for our young players, and it’s important that we get them as many games as possible. It’s a great level for South Australian players and helps us decide which players to give minutes in our A-League squad. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead with many new young players in our NPL side, and I’m excited to see the next batch come through.”
