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Post by davef on Dec 2, 2023 22:01:10 GMT
He was, but I thought he was a full back at T and M then moved upfront with the college.
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Post by Amber Aleman on Dec 2, 2023 22:17:55 GMT
The headline news is that we're through to the 3rd round of the FA Cup for (counts fingers) only the sixth time in the club's history. That's another significant feather in Matt's cap.
The hard truth though is that we've been lucky, with two successive home ties against non-League opposition, the second only because of an error by Barnsley. Had we been playing them today we'd probably have lost.
Horsham valiantly held us for over an hour, their keeper keeping them in the game with some fine saves, and they squandered perhaps the best chance of the first half when Hester-Cook shot wide when he only had Dean Bouzanis to beat. Aiden O'Brien wasted a similar opportunity for us early in the second half. Enter Dion Pereira. He'd been on from the start, but took his chances in the second period, calmly finishing twice for his first Sutton goals. Omari Patrick, on as a late sub, scored an excellent third, reminding us of what we've been missing.
A major concern now is the state of the defence. We were missing five defenders at the start of play, and another two left the field before the 50-minute mark. We played most of the second half with a right-winger at right back, a forward at left back, and a central midfielder at centre back. That worked against an Isthmian League side, but may not be so resilient against Harrogate next Saturday. Pray for Ben, Omar, Louis and Ryan!
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Post by paz on Dec 2, 2023 22:26:06 GMT
Horsham looked like they came not to get beat and maybe create a Replay. Worked very hard and had one or two quick players up front but did not really commit many forward.
It can be difficult to break down a teams like this, who are working so hard to get the draw or nick it. But we kept our cool and in the second half played it on the floor more and in the end gave them a good hiding.
Dion showed us what he is made of and again we see Patrick show how good he is. It is strange how we have not seen more of him...
Injuries have reached a level of being ridiculous now. We could potentially have 1 fit defender, in Kizzi. If this is so then next Saturday could end up being an extremely long game...
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Post by garethl on Dec 2, 2023 22:33:49 GMT
The hard truth though is that we've been lucky, with two successive home ties against non-League opposition, the second only because of an error by Barnsley. Had we been playing them today we'd probably have lost. Not sure why that is a hard truth nor why anyone would choose to say we’d probably have lost a game that isn’t even happening. Being negative for the sake of it.
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Post by Andy K on Dec 2, 2023 22:57:32 GMT
The hard truth though is that we've been lucky, with two successive home ties against non-League opposition, the second only because of an error by Barnsley. Had we been playing them today we'd probably have lost. Not sure why that is a hard truth nor why anyone would choose to say we’d probably have lost a game that isn’t even happening. Being negative for the sake of it. Every FA Cup run relies on luck. Our fantastic run in 2016/7 was boosted by the fact that during that entire run we didn't play a game outside the M25. I agree with you, I don't think it's really the hard truth either. You play what gets put in front of you.
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Post by os on Dec 2, 2023 23:35:54 GMT
Not sure why that is a hard truth nor why anyone would choose to say we’d probably have lost a game that isn’t even happening. Being negative for the sake of it. Every FA Cup run relies on luck. Our fantastic run in 2016/7 was boosted by the fact that during that entire run we didn't play a game outside the M25. I agree with you, I don't think it's really the hard truth either. You play what gets put in front of you. You are rght abut luck, AFCW,s Robinson seeing red when there was clearly a covering defender, and Eastie's challenge which could easily have been deemed a red card by many ref's. Yep you need luck and in truth we have not had much this season, so maybe we have some in the bank?
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,310
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Post by markf on Dec 3, 2023 7:07:50 GMT
Eastie's was never a red that night. Watch closely. Their guy kicked the bottom of Eastie's boot, not the other way around.
While this has arguably been the club's least challenging route to the third round it has been achieved in an environment of constant injury woes.
I thought Horsham would give a tougher test after their superb effort at Barnsley. It didn't really happen for them and while Sutton has played better in recent weeks, 3 0 was probably a fair reflection.
The traffic back towards the south coast was a little heavier than usual last evening but their was at least one happy face driving through the mist.
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Post by brian54 on Dec 3, 2023 9:26:57 GMT
Well done to the players for showing great team spirit and team work to so professionally reach the 3rd round. Also well done to Mr Gray and his team of coaches for organising his meager resources so calmly. The task this week will be trying to get a few of the injured group fitter oddly on paper almost a stronger team than the one we fielded yesterday. The pitch does need the "rest" it is going to get over the next 3 days, before it is used 4 times in 6 days
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Post by amberfc on Dec 3, 2023 9:51:58 GMT
I thought Tope was outstanding at left back. Perhaps we’re on our way to the Sutton version of the marvellous Magyars, a team with no defenders. Couldn't agree more! Thought Tope was excellent.
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Post by boomboom on Dec 3, 2023 10:43:59 GMT
Completely agree with the comments about our makeshift defence but would also like to say well done to Kizzi, who has probably not had the best of seasons, for his very effective marshalling of it. Not an easy task, I'd imagine, with three part-time and new defensive colleagues.
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Post by Del on Dec 3, 2023 10:44:35 GMT
Very good team performance considering our injury situation. Tope was excellent at left back as were the rest of the back line. Codey was a little unsure of himself in the right back position but he coped well. Special mention to the two wingers who finished the game as they both knew where the back of the net was unlike the front two who both had great opportunities to score but fluffed their lines.
Let us hope the two players who went off went off as a precaution rather than a serious injury as we have a massive game at home to a stuttering Harrogate on Saturday.
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Post by FaultyyearsaU on Dec 3, 2023 10:45:32 GMT
I think, particularly considering the complete "make-shift" back four and all of the other injuries, that was an excellent effort by the "remaining squad!" and the management team.
In our current predicament, that could have been the ultimate banana skin. However, we went about the task very calmly and professionally. I particularly liked the very patient way we passed the ball for virtually the whole 90 minutes. Yes, we were given more time on the ball than a league Saturday but it might have been easy for us to play "launch ball" against a 10 man defending, lower league opposition. Not to take anything away from Horsham, they worked hard. Ajakaiye looked lively, certainly in the first half however I don't think they can have any complaints about the result. Nice to see our superior fitness levels actually paying off as well. (as they should ofc!) The biggest take away for me though was , Dion P has to get a few regular starts. Also, whatever is required to fix relations (ASLEF, United Nations??) between Omari P and whatever the issue is ?! (lots of stories circulating obviously but I do not know the actual facts so wont speculate) he is too good to be warming the bench, particularly with our injuries and league position. That was a sublime 20 minutes by him yesterday. Not saying he is able to do anything like that every week against League 2 opposition however at the very least he takes 2 people with him wherever he goes, simply making space. Having said all this, IF the issue is actually a team morale/discipline affecting factor, then we can't have the situation with certain players affecting these vital elements (especially in a relegation battle!) Possibly a factor in our end of last season decline and the subsequent summer "clear out". We will obviously have a clearer picture of this situation in January !?
Anyway, well done all again and fingers crossed for 12:45!
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Post by davethegrave on Dec 4, 2023 20:24:28 GMT
The main thing was that Dion actually had attempts at goal which we've missed since Ally Smith left us. Too many players seem too wary to take a chance.
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Post by os on Dec 4, 2023 23:48:25 GMT
The main thing was that Dion actually had attempts at goal which we've missed since Ally Smith left us. Too many players seem too wary to take a chance. I think Dion has been sent by God in our hour of need
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Post by brisfitboy on Dec 5, 2023 16:38:39 GMT
The main thing was that Dion actually had attempts at goal which we've missed since Ally Smith left us. Too many players seem too wary to take a chance. I think Dion has been sent by God in our hour of need Does Dion know Dos then?
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