Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
In his pre-match press conference held on Friday morning, Darren Sarll spoke about the need for strikers Adi Yussuf and Reuben Reid to get more goals, but was full of praise for both players.
Yussuf has seven goals this season (sorry, we can’t give him the equaliser against W*ymouth on Tuesday) whilst Reid only has his injury time consolation goal in the defeat at Southend.
Sarll said the different style of his forwards meant he was “trying to use them to best effect.”
On Yussuf: he said: “He works harder for this club than I have seen him work for any club, the only problem I have is finding the balance with Adi and the other forwards. Adi has played more goals for me this season than he did for both his clubs last season combined, so he’s done brilliantly.
“I thought he was right to be used on Tuesday because we needed an awkward, bustling centre forward – but he missed two absolute, glorious chances, and that’s his job.”
On Reid: The manager also spoke about how he saw signs in midweek of Reid being ready for a starting place against Solihull.
He said he felt the development and subsequent success of his forward line during the 33-year-old’s absence through injury had worked against him.
Sarll said: “Reuben’s been a victim of our form in that moment and I don’t think he suits the way the team has learnt to play because that dynamic changed. He’s a very frustrated individual, he does not want to see out his career, we have had some open and honest conversations and I thought he was the best I have seen him in terms of threat when he came on in Tuesday night.
“We can’t pigeon hole him as this link up man because a link up man without a goal threat is a defensive midfield player. He still has to bring elements of forward play whilst doing that link up. He needs to retain a goal threat, but he’s getting closer.“