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Post by boomboom on Dec 19, 2023 13:11:31 GMT
I'd like to add my thanks to Matt and wish him all the best for the future. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he decides to take a well-earned long break before his next appointment. Matt always came across as a deep thinker about the game and thoroughly decent, honest and quite simply a "nice" person.
Sutton weren't my first footballing love, only really starting to become a supporter a few seasons ago (it's a long story!), enjoying almost interrupted success first under Dos and then Matt, becoming a ST holder, shareholder and sponsor. Highlights include the Hartlepool game (what a pity Covid prevented a full-house!) and the trip to Wembley whilst fondly recalling a late comeback against Port Vale.
Nevertheless, it's fair to say I'm far less attached to the club than others, rarely attending away games for example, and for those who supported the club back in the Isthmian/Athenian days the last few seasons must have been truly unimaginable and wonderful for you.
Like others I have mixed feelings but TBH it's partly relief that a decision has been made because the managerial situation has been bubbling away for some time now. Time to draw a line and move forward. With the benefit of hindsight, maybe Matt's an excellent manager when things are going well - as they did during most of his tenure - but not quite as proficient when faced with sticky situations. With that in mind I wonder whether the Board will be looking to appoint a successor who has succeeded against the odds in previous relegation battles?
Whatever, thanks for the memories.
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TonyD
Spectator
Posts: 27
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Post by TonyD on Dec 19, 2023 13:54:46 GMT
Let’s just review the last few season. In his first full season Matt took us to NL champions and into the EFL. In his second season we were a point off L2 play offs and a few minutes away from a Wembley victory. In his third season we started well then tailed away badly. It was obvious something had to be done and Matt did it, clearing out and rebuilding the squad. Clearly it hasn’t worked out, but is that really Matt’s fault? Just look at our squad. Players who joined us when we were non league, players signed from non league, player who were released and players who are on loan. In a nutshell, a team of players who mostly weren’t wanted by other EFL clubs. If the Board had given Matt £5m to buy players, I agree the blame would be Matt’s. I understand why that didn’t happen, with a new pitch, new stands and training ground required. But you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, which is what Matt has had to work with. One final point; according to Football Web Pages as we got hammered 8-0, we only got one booking - Harry Beautyman (old school!). To me that says something worrying about our squad. Not sure a new manager can change that.
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Post by Andy K on Dec 19, 2023 14:11:41 GMT
Let’s just review the last few season. In his first full season Matt took us to NL champions and into the EFL. In his second season we were a point off L2 play offs and a few minutes away from a Wembley victory. In his third season we started well then tailed away badly. It was obvious something had to be done and Matt did it, clearing out and rebuilding the squad. Clearly it hasn’t worked out, but is that really Matt’s fault? Just look at our squad. Players who joined us when we were non league, players signed from non league, player who were released and players who are on loan. In a nutshell, a team of players who mostly weren’t wanted by other EFL clubs. If the Board had given Matt £5m to buy players, I agree the blame would be Matt’s. I understand why that didn’t happen, with a new pitch, new stands and training ground required. But you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, which is what Matt has had to work with. One final point; according to Football Web Pages as we got hammered 8-0, we only got one booking - Harry Beautyman (old school!). To me that says something worrying about our squad. Not sure a new manager can change that. It's worth pointing out regarding the squad that the summer recruitment this season had the same ethos to other seasons, including our promotion season and our first season in the EFL. I don't think it's especially fair to say "players that were not wanted by other EFL clubs". 3 of our signings came from sides promoted from L2 to L1. Other players moved to us for personal reasons too. I don't think there is any significant difference between season with the parameters you've set, aside from this season, on paper, the recruitment seemed stronger than last season. I'm sure we could do a deep dive into those individuals, but I don't think this is the time for that.
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Post by paz on Dec 19, 2023 14:32:26 GMT
Ted Lasso?
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Post by terrier on Dec 19, 2023 14:41:53 GMT
“An update…… will be given later” said the statement on the official site. That suggests to me that a further announcement would likely be very soon, if not today. If I am correct then that suggests they’ve got someone new already, or it’s an internal appointment.
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Post by Andy K on Dec 19, 2023 14:43:30 GMT
“An update…… will be given later” said the statement on the official site. That suggests to me that a further announcement would likely be very soon, if not today. If I am correct then that suggests they’ve got someone new already, or it’s an internal appointment. Or an interim. At the moment there is no team manager at Sutton United. I expect the update will tell us (and the wider audience) that someone will be in charge of the game on Saturday. That someone doesn't have to be in that role on a permanent basis at this point.
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Post by sufc1898 on Dec 19, 2023 14:54:53 GMT
Sad news but not unexpected. Thanks for everything Matt.
I may have missed something and apologies if I have.
Has Jason and Micky been sacked too? If not, would Jason not take over until a new manager is announced?
I’ve read a few times that Jimmy Dack will do it…
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Post by Andy K on Dec 19, 2023 15:10:57 GMT
Sad news but not unexpected. Thanks for everything Matt. I may have missed something and apologies if I have. Has Jason and Micky been sacked too? If not, would Jason not take over until a new manager is announced? I’ve read a few times that Jimmy Dack will do it… As far as the information from the club tells us, it's only Matt that has parted ways. I think we have to wait until we get further info. We have no idea if the club have already made contact with a new manager and agreed terms (sometimes these things can move very fast), so I'm not sure if we can presume anything at this stage
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Post by scorpioeyes on Dec 19, 2023 15:12:02 GMT
Danny Crowley would be a good appointment-if he was interested
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Post by davethegrave on Dec 19, 2023 15:17:01 GMT
Yes. Sad news. Especially as apart from Saturday's (massive) blip it looked like we were getting things together.
I'm not sure who'd be willing to come here. The salary wouldn't be great I'm sure. I can only really think maybe someone who is an ex-player here.
From a financial point of view though I wonder how justifiable the size of our management is.
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Post by Andy K on Dec 19, 2023 15:17:38 GMT
Danny Crowley would be a good appointment-if he was interested Why is it that no one can spell Danny Cowley? And I think there are better options than him. But again, not yet the time or place.
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Post by terrier on Dec 19, 2023 15:31:12 GMT
Danny Crowley would be a good appointment-if he was interested Why is it that no one can spell Danny Cowley? And I think there are better options than him. But again, not yet the time or place. Danny was manager at my team Huddersfield Town a few years ago, along with his brother Nicky. They “succeeded” insofar as they escaped relegation which was the immediate short term objective. However, they weren’t very popular with the fans who did not take to either their touchline antics or their Essex estuary accents! In my opinion they are not suited to Sutton United’s ethos. They could very well succeed in the short term but I suspect it wouldn’t be a long term association.
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Post by toothman on Dec 19, 2023 15:38:17 GMT
How about a punt on Steve McKimm and Mark Watson from Cray Valley Paper Mills. Ex players - know everything about Sutton.
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Post by Andy K on Dec 19, 2023 15:43:56 GMT
How about a punt on Steve McKimm and Mark Watson from Cray Valley Paper Mills. Ex players - know everything about Sutton. Do they have the appropriate badges? And whilst they may know everything about Sutton, that applies to a number of years ago, rather than now. However much I love them, would they be the right choice to salvage a season, with a group of players they hardly know? Again I can think of better candidates, but not the time or the place
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Post by brisfitboy on Dec 19, 2023 15:47:06 GMT
Notts Forest just sacked Steve Cooper
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