Saturday 5th February: League & FA Cup

[EricSabin]

A day out in Birmingham and a Cobblers win leads to a thick head

 

[Robshep]

Five players left at the end of last season, at the end of their contracts, Smith (GK), Stokes (Def), Wagstaff (Mid), McCoulsky (Fwd) and Collins (Fwd)

Five came in at the start of this season, Hendry (Mid), Edwards (Mid), Stevenson (Mid), Diallo (Mid) and Aitchison (Fwd) on loan from Barnsley.

So, as the above suggests, there was no overhaul of the squad...which probably wasn't needed for a team that just missed out in the play-offs...but a bit of tweaking and the addition of a midfield.

Edwards identified areas that all of the squad could improve on and set about bringing the best out of them, but at the same time seemingly freeing them from the constraints placed on them by Cooper, and oh boy is it paying dividends.

When you have a seasoned pro like Jamille Matt talking about Edward's approach and seeing it as a positive then I think it gives an idea of how well things are going...it could have course been quite different if the players hadn't bought into what he wanted to do...fortunately for everyone they did, the level of performance and results are all we need to judge.

Your supporters comments on here are positive. Very unusual for a football forum. Never looked at your twitter but the Tranmere twitter would make you think we are 15 points behind Scunthorpe sometimes. Is anybody apart from FGR actually happy with their team. Half the division are getting relegated and the other 11 are not good enough to go up if you take the comments as a poll. We have won 9 drawn 3 and lost 1 of our last 13 but according to the social media pundits we are shit.

 

[Robshep]

Five players left at the end of last season, at the end of their contracts, Smith (GK), Stokes (Def), Wagstaff (Mid), McCoulsky (Fwd) and Collins (Fwd)

Five came in at the start of this season, Hendry (Mid), Edwards (Mid), Stevenson (Mid), Diallo (Mid) and Aitchison (Fwd) on loan from Barnsley.

So, as the above suggests, there was no overhaul of the squad...which probably wasn't needed for a team that just missed out in the play-offs...but a bit of tweaking and the addition of a midfield.

Edwards identified areas that all of the squad could improve on and set about bringing the best out of them, but at the same time seemingly freeing them from the constraints placed on them by Cooper, and oh boy is it paying dividends.

When you have a seasoned pro like Jamille Matt talking about Edward's approach and seeing it as a positive then I think it gives an idea of how well things are going...it could have course been quite different if the players hadn't bought into what he wanted to do...fortunately for everyone they did, the level of performance and results are all we need to judge.

Young inexperienced managers can go either way. You picked a good one.

 

[Luke Imp]

Five players left at the end of last season, at the end of their contracts, Smith (GK), Stokes (Def), Wagstaff (Mid), McCoulsky (Fwd) and Collins (Fwd)

Five came in at the start of this season, Hendry (Mid), Edwards (Mid), Stevenson (Mid), Diallo (Mid) and Aitchison (Fwd) on loan from Barnsley.

So, as the above suggests, there was no overhaul of the squad...which probably wasn't needed for a team that just missed out in the play-offs...but a bit of tweaking and the addition of a midfield.

Edwards identified areas that all of the squad could improve on and set about bringing the best out of them, but at the same time seemingly freeing them from the constraints placed on them by Cooper, and oh boy is it paying dividends.

When you have a seasoned pro like Jamille Matt talking about Edward's approach and seeing it as a positive then I think it gives an idea of how well things are going...it could have course been quite different if the players hadn't bought into what he wanted to do...fortunately for everyone they did, the level of performance and results are all we need to judge.

We had a similar situation in 2006. Keith Alexander left, we appointed a rookie manager who gave a bit more freedom to everyone, led the L2 table for ages, dropped into the PO's and then in the summer realised he was pretty useless at player recruitment!

 

[JaredSUFC]

Your supporters comments on here are positive. Very unusual for a football forum. Never looked at your twitter but the Tranmere twitter would make you think we are 15 points behind Scunthorpe sometimes. Is anybody apart from FGR actually happy with their team. Half the division are getting relegated and the other 11 are not good enough to go up if you take the comments as a poll. We have won 9 drawn 3 and lost 1 of our last 13 but according to the social media pundits we are shit.

I’m very happy with my team to be fair.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Your supporters comments on here are positive. Very unusual for a football forum. Never looked at your twitter but the Tranmere twitter would make you think we are 15 points behind Scunthorpe sometimes. Is anybody apart from FGR actually happy with their team. Half the division are getting relegated and the other 11 are not good enough to go up if you take the comments as a poll. We have won 9 drawn 3 and lost 1 of our last 13 but according to the social media pundits we are shit.

Young and new managers also need time. When Matt Gray was first appointed Sutton manager many Sutton supporters were underwhelmed with his appointment and those feelings were amplified when we went on a run of 1 win in 14, leaving us 2nd bottom of the National League table going into November 2019. Honestly, I was one of a significant number of Sutton supporters who wanted to see a managerial change. Thank goodness I was wrong!

From November of 2019 Gray found a style that worked, had a settled core of players and our results on the field have been impressive. We’re now at the highest position in our 124 year history and I don’t think that would have happened if our board was trigger happy or if they listened to social media moaners like myself.

 

[Robshep]

I’m very happy with my team to be fair.

Your new. Give it time.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

You lads were at the dark arts from the second you scored.
Time wasting as much as possible at 1-0 up and it coming back to bite you is fucking beautiful to see.

Play football, don't go to games to watch amateur dramatics.

Not sure what game you were watching mate but we certainly were not time wasting. That was the problem as we should have been. Instead we persisted on taking quick free kicks which we wouldnt have got unless Exeter were fouling?

 

[Robshep]

We had a similar situation in 2006. Keith Alexander left, we appointed a rookie manager who gave a bit more freedom to everyone, led the L2 table for ages, dropped into the PO's and then in the summer realised he was pretty useless at player recruitment!

Micky Mellon isnt brilliant at picking players to sign. James Vaughan is now doing that role and has been good. Micky is good at organising.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Your new. Give it time.

I’ve been following Sutton for over a quarter of a century. I’ve learnt to recognise a great thing. And I know an awful time when I see it.

 

[Agombar stool]

Not sure what game you were watching mate but we certainly were not time wasting. That was the problem as we should have been. Instead we persisted on taking quick free kicks which we wouldnt have got unless Exeter were fouling?

And this appears to be the problem with us. At times we were taking and wasting quick free kicks and other times players (Jonny Williams in particular) were attempting to take the sting out of the game by sitting on the ground. Williams is pissing me off at the moment, he's not playing particularly well and spends more time on the ground than a fucking yoga mat. At the moment we don't appear to know how to see out games when ahead. The Colchester equaliser with 9 men is a classic example!

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Good game of proper football played given the windy conditions (I always thought Oldham was the coldest in the footy league - how wrong was I?! - see folks, I know its not often but I am wrong on occasions) back to the serious stuff, better team won, wind our way in the second half helped. Swindon will make play offs, but we're going to easily be top 3 with a fully fit squad back. FGR too far gone now, but we'll be close that's for sure. Second place all but confirmed in my eyes.

Yes, Exeter deffo the better side and deserved their win. FGR & Tranmere look home and hosed and the 3rd place is up for grabs. Unless we put a run together and, at this late stage, sort out the home form then we are not going to get to the auto's however despite this sticky run I still expect us to make the PO's

 

[Dirk Diggler]

DESERVED LEAD HAHAHAHAHA, don't tell that to anyone at the game and certainly don't look at the shots & dangerous attacks comparison on bet365 at that point. Christ. That wind has got to your head. Brain freeze when you wrote that post? I'll forgive you if so

We didn't deserve the lead as we were second best throughout

 

[Robshep]

I’ve been following Sutton for over a quarter of a century. I’ve learnt to recognise a great thing. And I know an awful time when I see it.

New to League 2.

 

[Essex2Wessex]

Cooper was very good at talent-spotting, especially identifying skilful young players in non-league clubs. For example, Ebou Adams came to us from Ebbsfleet, and Godwin-Malife from Oxford City.

Now we've switched to a DoF/Head Coach structure, hopefully there is a better balance between finding new recruits and really getting them to make the most of their talents with us.

One thing that changed in Cooper's final year was we did recruit some slightly older players with more L2 (and above) experience. Matt, obviously, but Jordan Moore-Taylor, as well as Kane Wilson, have been absolutely at the core of this year's success, so far.

 

[Robshep]

We didn't deserve the lead as we were second best throughout

Don't encourage him. He will lend you the money for next years season ticket and expect you to still pay on the day while you pay him back.

 

[Robshep]

Cooper was very good at talent-spotting, especially identifying skilful young players in non-league clubs. For example, Ebou Adams came to us from Ebbsfleet, and Godwin-Malife from Oxford City.

Now we've switched to a DoF/Head Coach structure, hopefully there is a better balance between finding new recruits and really getting them to make the most of their talents with us.

One thing that changed in Cooper's final year was we did recruit some slightly older players with more L2 (and above) experience. Matt, obviously, but Jordan Moore-Taylor, as well as Kane Wilson, have been absolutely at the core of this year's success, so far.

Wilson isnt old. He was only 19 when he was on loan at us in 2019-20.

 

[GTFCfish]

[Goes to check Yems' post match interview]

Edit: it didn't disappoint

Haha that poor interviewer must dread speaking to him every fucking week.

 

[GTFCfish]

Shut the fuck up

Never had anything against Carlisle but I am desperate to drag you down with us now solely because of you

Christ this is rich, you’re just as negative and miserable as him every week you fucking plank.

 

[Agombar stool]

Yes, Exeter deffo the better side and deserved their win. FGR & Tranmere look home and hosed and the 3rd place is up for grabs. Unless we put a run together and, at this late stage, sort out the home form then we are not going to get to the auto's however despite this sticky run I still expect us to make the PO's

Can you imagine if we lose to Anthony Grant and Scunny and Prehistoric Pete at Oldham in the next few weeks? Lots of work for Garner and Co to do to save the season which is slowly petering out

 

[Agombar stool]

We didn't deserve the lead as we were second best throughout

I thought it was fairly even until we scored. Exeter definitely bossed the last 25 minutes or so, we stank the place out during that period. Jevani Brown was class and showed Jonny Williams how to play that role.

 

[Essex2Wessex]

Wilson isnt old. He was only 19 when he was on loan at us in 2019-20.

True, he's so good it's easy to forget how young he is.

But still, in his time with you and Exeter, he'd still played in more games at this level than had a lot of our signings over the past few years.

 

[Robshep]

Christ this is rich, you’re just as negative and miserable as him every week you fucking plank.

Justified.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

We had a similar situation in 2006. Keith Alexander left, we appointed a rookie manager who gave a bit more freedom to everyone, led the L2 table for ages, dropped into the PO's and then in the summer realised he was pretty useless at player recruitment!

I think Cooper definitely had an eye for talent to fall out with but we're lucky in our DoF etc that they're not just window dressing, think two or three of our current best performers were their picks from relative obscurity.

 

[Robshep]

Christ this is rich, you’re just as negative and miserable as him every week you fucking plank.

Justified in being negative. Hello Gregory seems to want things to go badly. Scunthorpe are just being dragg3d down.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Not sure what game you were watching mate but we certainly were not time wasting. That was the problem as we should have been. Instead we persisted on taking quick free kicks which we wouldnt have got unless Exeter were fouling?

Some of the foul awards were a bit petty though. Especially the one where your chap went to head the ball at knee height and we were penalised for putting our foot there.
It was strange how there were no injuries until you went ahead.

 

[Trapdoor]

It was strange how there were no injuries until you went ahead.

This. It was so obvious that the players were trying to stop the game from flowing. We see it every week in this league and I'm bloody tired of it.

 

[Koumas’Right-Boot]

Looking forward to Swindon next up. We’ve got a pretty poor record against them and had to work hard at their ground for a point.

Our home record is bizarre. 11 wins against teams outside the playoffs but 4 losses from 4 against teams in it. A win Tuesday to change that will settle any seeds of doubt still lingering from the FGR game.

With the return of Tom Davies Tuesday our defence should be a lot tighter too.

 

[Agombar stool]

Some of the foul awards were a bit petty though. Especially the one where your chap went to head the ball at knee height and we were penalised for putting our foot there.
It was strange how there were no injuries until you went ahead.

Ha, yeah I thought that was a bit odd. Brave of Lyden to head it but don't think it was dangerous play personally.

 

[Agombar stool]

This. It was so obvious that the players were trying to stop the game from flowing. We see it every week in this league and I'm bloody tired of it.

You'd think you had lost the game chuckles, cheer up flower!