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Post by northernmonkey on Jan 18, 2015 13:20:50 GMT
Very interesting interview and after originally seeing this last night, watching it a second time has just reinforced my feelings.
Most notably that everyone at Sutton United FC and all the supporters of the club are unbelievably lucky to have such a well-mannered and passionate individual at the helm. The fact that Dos is also willing to put massive amounts of cash towards achieving his and the club's goals is frankly incredible.
I moved to London in early 2013 from the frozen tundra North of Manchester. I was a huge fan of non-league football and have visited around 100 clubs from the Conference North to what is now the Evo-Stik Division One North, in my time supporting Kendal Town, my local team at the time.
Kendal has a wide renown for being a 'family club' and the supporters hold that very dearly.
When I first moved to London, having started a new job, I quickly realised that I had a burning hole where regular football had once been and I set out to find a club that would satiate that hunger.
I was renting in Balham at the time and happened upon Brentford, Fulham, Tooting & Mitcham, Dulwich Hamlet and even... The dreaded 'C' word. I thought that I was very happy to convert to 'ground hopping'. I experienced these interesting characters a few times during my time at Kendal and always fancied the adventurous spirit that it requires.
That was all before one day I decided to attend Sutton VS Billericay at the end of the 2012/13 season. Sutton were at the time lieing just outside the playoffs, hope of a playoff finish all but eradicated by a poor start to the season. Billericay were all but doomed and I turned up expecting a comfortable and routine home win, which was exactly what was served up.
What was remarkable for me about this day however was nothing to do with the football. What was remarkable was the variety of ages and home support and also the large number of families and 'Father and Sons' attending the game. Many clubs have passionate fans and passionate committee members, for that matter. But as Dos quite rightly points out in his interview, Sutton United FC has some remarkable volunteers who go far and beyond and that is something very heartening when you turn up to the games.
If you didn't already know it, take it from someone who has been to a lot of the lower less desirable areas of the non-league game, Sutton has something very special and speaking in the present tense, a large part of that is down to Mr Paul Doswell.
I remember seeing a non-league game in the London area in 2013 and after watching the Manager's inane ramblings about referee performance and negative assessment of what needed to be done, I closed the video and have never returned.
After witnessing Dos's reaction to a late defeat by Bishops Stortford last season, that was when I knew that right now Sutton was the team for me. Dos appears to me extremely humble, intelligent and full of conviction in his actions. That is the type of man I would want at the helm and coupled with all the fantastic other aspects of the club, I would urge 'us all' (if you Suttonites will allow a newcomer to refer to the club as 'we') to pull together and get behind the Manager and his team.
Up the U's!
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Post by sallycat on Jan 18, 2015 13:26:51 GMT
I went back and read some of the offending threads, trying to see them from Paul's perspective.
I'd have been pretty upset too.
But one thing I was glad of was that it was very clear that only a small minority of people was making unwarranted comments and the rest of us were very quick to point out that they were unfair.
I hope Dos saw that in the same way and realises that nearly all of us have been behind him the whole time.
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dof
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,099
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Post by dof on Jan 18, 2015 14:48:59 GMT
.....well now that the dust has settled its time to pause and reflect on the so called opinions? expressed by so called supporters after the Merstham game. DOS was clearly upset, which came across during the interview, after yesterdays great win yesterday. He was upset because the comments were very personal and caused distress to his family. How he manages to do what he does for SUFC escapes me, his watch must have 36 hours in every day..!!! he has a business to run and also find for his wife and family. Of course he is entitled to a holiday to recharge his batteries to do what he does. DOS came here some 7 years ago, when the club was at a very low ebb, Paul had just left Eastleigh, he could have gone anywhere but he chose Sutton how lucky we were. He mentioned his input (£'s) into the club and his plans for the future he paints a very rosy future and I am sure it will happen, he is that sort of man. I do hope some of the posters will review their comments and offer an apology. Lets hope we can show our support by turning up in larger numbers at the next few games.I now read that the Club has disassociated itself from amberplanet WELL DONE!!
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Post by sallycat on Jan 18, 2015 15:18:28 GMT
He has managed to get himself a fantastic tan
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Post by Andy K on Jan 18, 2015 15:50:30 GMT
For those who have yet to see the club statement on "Amber Planet" - suttonunited.net/news.php#2797Kudos to the club for voicing publicly what is pretty well their disgust at what some people are saying. But what a shame that it's have to come to that. In any sensible world the club should never have to publicly announce such measures. Yes, of course you are entitled to your opinion, But as I've said before, it's the assumption that other people are entitled it that stinks. Posting any sort of thing on a forum which has the main factor to upset, distress of vilify any others knowing that there is going to be no comeback is a cowardly thing to do. Would you do it face to face in a pub? No. Partly because you don't want to get a clip round the ear, but also because you have no interest in what that person/people have to say in response or defence. I'll go even as far to say if you slag the team off on here, from the terraces, on twitter, wherever, you are slagging off the players, plus all the management team, Bruce, DaveF, volunteers, staff and other supporters. And there is a big difference between slagging off and constructive criticism. If you don't know the difference then maybe "the internet" isn't for you. Battles are not won by hiding behind a profile on a forum, or shouting negative rubbish at someone who isn't in a position to respond back. Battles are won by heroes. And in this case there can be heroes on and off the pitch to bring this season to a respectable end. By my reckoning we've still to play 9 or 10 of the 14 teams above us, we're 10 points shy of a play off spot at the moment, with games in hand over the teams quite a few of the teams above us. We've lost 8 games, the same as Whitehawk who are in 3rd and lost 1 more game than the current leaders. With the way this league has been this seaon with shock results all over the shop, getting to a play off place isn't impossible. Hard, but not impossible. But then that's what heroes are made of.
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Post by Suttontilidie on Jan 18, 2015 16:40:28 GMT
Whilst I think the reaction from the club sends across the right sort of message, if you were unaware of the situation on here over the course of this week then the statement made on the website paints a very damaging picture and unfortunately makes us all look likely to 'criticise, abuse or insult' (the latter two words particularly being beyond acceptable). So, as usual, we must thank the minority for their efforts in what can now be considered a public image of Sutton United supporters.
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Post by pajomo2015 on Jan 18, 2015 16:47:35 GMT
Great interview by Dos. True supporters should get behind their team whatever! Dos's commitment and passion for our club has always been evident since he arrived, his interview has merely reinforced just how much he cares about this wonderful club of ours. Those who have upset Dos (and particularly his family!) have done the club no favours whatsoever. I sincerely hope that Paul chooses is able to put the negative comments aside and realise that all true fans want him to stay at the helm and continue to push on from the excellent work he has done since he arrived. Lets get behind the team who were, to a man, absolutely excellent yesterday against Ebbsfleet. In Dos we trust!
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,188
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Post by markf on Jan 18, 2015 17:26:20 GMT
Gosh. That was a heartfelt piece from Dos. Can't say I am surprised though bearing in mind the over reaction by some to a County Cup defeat (as disappointed as we all were - and are whenever we lose).
I note even now some are expressing surprise which I find rather odd considering that Dos explained why during the interview. The money he has spent is phenomenal and for an organisation that in terms of how long it has been going and hopefully continued to do so, he will have a comparatively fleeting association with, it is an outstanding commitment. He will though, have hopefully left a legacy that will allow this club to continue to thrive in these difficult times for the non-league game.
As he said, we are a non-league club yet some of the stuff on here during the last week was akin to a disgruntled Premier League forum. I do hope those dissenters will have a damn good think before they post their vitriol in the future and maybe have the where-with-all to hold their hands up and say, sorry, I got that so wrong. I won't hold my breath though.
As for the club disassociating itself from the forum, that is sad but again, hardly a surprise. Sad, because SUFC has always prided itself on the way fans and club officials, directors, etc have mingled over many years and why I don't expect that will end, a little bit of that has been lost and there is only one group who can shoulder the blame.
I note the reference to Billy too. Had to chuckle at that. Cos, he really wasn't looking for such responses was he? It would seem he has got bored with it all now anyway. Rarely on here and I suspect rarely at GGL either these days.
On a positive note is the future announcements to look forward to. I think I can have a damn good guess at what the main part will be (I am sure others can too) but that is not for here.
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Post by Amber Aleman on Jan 18, 2015 18:16:27 GMT
Big credit to Dos for his honesty and continuing commitment to this club. However, I do think the club's decision to dissociate itself from this forum is an over-reaction. It seems to have been a response to certain comments posted on here in the wake of the Merstham game. Having looked back over these comments, I could only find three posters who were critical of the manager (and in one case that criticism was carefully explained), and they were clearly outnumbered by posters who defended him, sometimes very robustly. The vast majority of Sutton fans appreciate what Dos has done for the club (even if they don't know all the details) and are more than willing to cut him some slack when the team hits a rough patch.
The internet is all about free speech. Like it or not, that includes the freedom to post nonsense or ill-considered comments. There will almost always be people who put the counterbalancing view. As a backstop, forums have moderators to weed out comments that cross the line of acceptability. But we should surely all aspire to the Voltairean principle "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
"Passionate" is a horribly over-used word these days, but football fans are genuinely passionate about their club. That means that after an unexpectedly bad result, or run of poor form, we feel frustrated. When channelling that frustration it's easy to look for a scapegoat. (It's much harder to assess rationally the often complex reasons for the failure.) That scapegoat might be the referee or a particular player. At many clubs it will be the manager - but in the last six and a half years that's never been the case at Sutton Utd.
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Post by os on Jan 18, 2015 19:46:21 GMT
The club has exercised its freedom in deciding to dissociate itself with the forum, what is being said is that this channel will not be used by the club (officially) to communicate information to supporters in the future. Its a shame but it does make sense for the club not to want its official view mixed up with some posters ranting's (including my own).
I don't have to say what I think of Dos on here, as everyone else on here can do, I tell him to his face. He is more than a manager, Dos is laying the foundations for the next 100yrs of our great club, and I think if he needs a holiday we should club together and pay for it!!!!!!!
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Post by garethl on Jan 18, 2015 20:57:04 GMT
I don't know exactly what the official disconnect with the forum means. Would it for instance end the responses from Dave F that we can get from time to time? I really appreciate the fact that we could get answer or 2 on here and would be disappointed if we lose that. I know there are other channels but it would shame if the odd question of general interest did not receive a quick note on here, particularly given the forum is unquestionably supportive of the manager and indeed the club as a whole.
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Post by yellowdan on Jan 18, 2015 22:32:31 GMT
A fascinating & ultimately dissapoitimg interview from our amazing manager. Anyone who criticises or says negative comments about Dos or his family is spineless & obviously is no Sutton fan; I find it unthinkable for any Sutton fan to criticise Dos & when u hear of the MILLION quid plus he's injected into us it just reaffirms what a one off manager we are privileged to have. I just hope Dos doesn't leave us (& the frightening thing is on a number of interviews I've heard he's said he's been very close to doing it) as it would elevate the weak/measly people who dare to say hurtful things to him. We can't let these idiots even post messages like this, they should be banned & removed, tell them to go Carshalton if they wanna caused destruction. Like my mates on here gave said I couldn't be more commited to Paul & back him the whole way; we are the luckiest club to still have him - Dos for Good!
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oohaah
Top Performer
Posts: 3,073
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Post by oohaah on Jan 18, 2015 23:50:39 GMT
Dos is clearly a very sensitive soul - probably too sensitive to be reading a fans forum! A very honest and upfront interview from a man who is hurting - I can't think of any other manager at any level baring his thoughts quite like that. I well remember Paul's first 'meet the manager' session shortly after joined us. He stated that a Fans Forum is exactly what it is, and his message to players who complained to him about things they'd read on here was "If you don't like it, don't read it", so I think he needs to remember that. It would be a shame if fans writing on this forum felt the need to pussyfoot around in case they upset anyone by letting off steam. HOWEVER what happened last Tuesday night at Merstham where individual players were verbally abused after the final whistle was, in my opinion, disgusting and completely unacceptable - no one deserved any of that. Whilst I don't include myself in that, I do feel I owe the club an apology for my less that charitable thoughts driving home regarding the lack of substitutes which I now know to be unavoidable by both the club and the players concerned.
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Post by amberchoc on Jan 19, 2015 11:03:01 GMT
I didn't know some players were verbally abused at the end. Mind you, I was out the gate fairly sharpish after the final whistle! But if that's true then I'm appalled. Abusing the officials is bad enough, but this? Can anybody else throw some light on it?
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Post by sallycat on Jan 19, 2015 11:05:09 GMT
A fascinating & ultimately dissapoitimg interview from our amazing manager. Anyone who criticises or says negative comments about Dos or his family is spineless & obviously is no Sutton fan; I find it unthinkable for any Sutton fan to criticise Dos & when u hear of the MILLION quid plus he's injected into us it just reaffirms what a one off manager we are privileged to have. I just hope Dos doesn't leave us (& the frightening thing is on a number of interviews I've heard he's said he's been very close to doing it) as it would elevate the weak/measly people who dare to say hurtful things to him. We can't let these idiots even post messages like this, they should be banned & removed, tell them to go Carshalton if they wanna caused destruction. Like my mates on here gave said I couldn't be more commited to Paul & back him the whole way; we are the luckiest club to still have him - Dos for Good! I will play devil's advocate here and point out that actually, just because someone has done a lot for the club and spent a lot of money on us doesn't mean they are beyond criticism. Nobody is perfect and we all get to have an opinion. Just because he's done an amazing amount for this club does not mean that we are only ever allowed to say good things about him. The problem in this case was the nature of those criticisms (i.e. totally uninformed and based on unfair and incorrect assumptions) and the way in which they were made (rather rudely and without apparent consideration of their impact). I don't think constructive criticism is a bad thing, but attacks on people are not constructive.
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