Manager Mark Cooper highlighted Yeovil Town’s failure to strengthen their forward line in the transfer market as he was dealt another both with the loss of striker Alex Fisher through injury.
The frontman, who is the club’s joint top scorer with five goals, suffered a suspected broken ankle in an innocuous looking collision with goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi in the 2-0 home defeat to Southend United at Huish Park in Saturday’s late kick-off.
That leaves only Malachi Linton, who also has five goals to his name this season, and on loan Doncaster Rovers man Reo Griffiths, who was not in the squad, as the only recognised strikers in the squad.
Asked about Fisher’s injury by BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Cooper said: “I am being told it is a break, but until that is confirmed I am not going to speculate. He is on the gas and air and it is more about Fish again than anything else.”
He then added: “You look at all the other clubs down (at the bottom of the National League), they have all strengthened in that area and we haven’t.”
Cooper has not hidden his displeasure at the involvement of the club’s owners-in-waiting SU Glovers who have been public in talking about how they are getting involved in bringing players in. Recent arrivals Callum Harriott, who had a thigh injury, Zanda Siziba and Griffiths were not involved in the squad against Southend.
Asked directly about whether he was unhappy with the off-the-field interference in recruitment, Cooper said: “We have spoken about it before, we have to be better in all aspects, recruitment-wise, whatever it is, we have to be better. That was clearly shown today.”
The manager explained his decision to put defender Max Hunt on up front following the departure of Fisher on a stretcher, saying: “I didn’t think we were going to score by playing and cutting them open, I thought it was just going to come from a knock down in the box, try and create a bit of pressure in the box.”
If you were looking for anything to lift your spirits, you will not find it in this post-match interview but the manager did say he would not question the desire of his players.
He said: “The fight is the one thing I can’t question (about the players) and it’s one thing I can’t question. If you see the effort, the distance and sprints they have put in, we can’t question their fight. Can we question their quality? Possibly.”
The next game takes Yeovil on the long trip to Gateshead on Tuesday night. The Tyneside club booked their place in the FA Trophy final with a penalty shoot-out win over Barnet today and have now won their last three matches.
Asked about that, Cooper added: “They got to Wembley today so they will be cock-a-hoop and looking forward to playing for us knowing we are depleted but there is no feeling sorry for yourselves, you have to roll your sleeves up and get on with it.“
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Mr Coopers headline confirms that he has not got a clue. It’s the lack of service from midfield that is the problem. He continues with 3 at the back with wingbacks not up to the job, no fault of their own. It’s not rocket science, when, if, we get to the byline get the ball in the box. Playing nicely out from the back, in this league (although not for long) does not work
[…] about Fisher’s injury by BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Cooper said, as per Glovercast: “I am being told it is a break, but until that is confirmed I am not going to speculate. He is […]
[…] about Fisher’s injury by BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Cooper said, as per Glovercast: “I am being told it is a break, but until that is confirmed I am not going to speculate. He is […]
[…] about Fisher’s injury by BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Cooper said, as per Glovercast: “I am being told it is a break, but until that is confirmed I am not going to speculate. He is […]