Are we all in it together??

[amberdos]

The mantra that we all use,but the vitriolic and frankly ludicrous 7 page thread on the Dover game,has cast serious doubts in my mind.
To suggest our players didnt try,were pathetic,embarrasing,not bothered etc, etc are so far wide of the mark it hurts. If anyone knows there football, leading upto the game, Charlie Clough,Damian Scannell,Will Spetch all needed injections to play!!

Dale Binns having been out for 3 weeks with a knee problem,had an injection to play Wednesday night,and subsequently smashed his ankle after 10 minutes,but said nothing until after the game,as he watched me take Ben King off at half time,and felt he had to keep going.Louis John,an outstanding young player(signing next season) tore his hamstring. Will Spetch another fantastic young player,terrible ankle injury,strapped it up and played to protect Ben King,subsequently stretchered off and spent the night at a and e!Jamie Slabber out for 6 weeks with a double hernia,took painkillers all week in case we needed him in the final. Marvin Williams,8 months out with achilles tendonitis,went against doctors advise to help me out. Gavin Macallum badly bruised heel,could hardly get a boot on!!

Lee Sawyer,never played right back before in his career,willingly sacrificed himself for the team. Ben King feels like s**t, i thought he did brilliant under the circumstances,a game to far maybe,but a Sutton player never the less,and my phonecall to him today was one of encouragement,and positivity.


You cannot at this level of football,lose 3 Centre halfs, 2 Left backs,a right back,a winger and 2 forwards,and expect a great, good, or even at times an average performance.Yes we were poor second half,the first goal was as bad an error that your likely to see. I could easily blame an 18 year old for costing us a promotion,as the first goal was always likely to win this particular game as 2 buses had well and truly been parked!!However that would make me no different than what has been written on here today.

The final insult was to read the players get paid etc,etc. Well all the players didnt, or ask for any wages to take part in the play offs,they appreciated how difficult things had been this year with no income in the January/February monsoon,and saw this as a bonus to the club.

You have destroyed a team who lost once in 21 league games,amassed 50 points, lost the least amount of games,and had the best goal difference in a very good league. You now expect the same team to go and win the league,and no doubt will slaughter them again if we dont!!I know if we had got promoted,and lost games regulary,then this response we've just seen,would become a regular theme,and i thought we as a club were different to that

What have we become?? We were blessed with this great season,but it seems clear to me you have lost sight of this in a massive way.We are punching well above our weight,and whilst the best chairman and board in this league are in charge at Sutton,we always will be.Thats a massive compliment to Bruce,and all the board that work so tirelessly,and run the club so professionally,and it only costs them a small fortune to do it!!

We had four players in a squad of 16 on £100 per week,and a welsh international on£125!! We were not in a position to stregnthen the squad in March anymore than we did.Unless of course you want us to buy our way into oblivion.The what can we do better thread should read. Dont get injured in April,and make the manager play a team and shape that does not resemble the previous 21 games!! End Of.

Upset, bitterley disappointed, worst football day since ive been in the game.Yes,not the result more what we've become.

Dos 

[johnnie1]

I'll say what I can to make it better. The comments after the Dover game were indeed poor, but they were posted by a frustrated form of the poster. Ask many of the people posting how they felt about it now most will have changed their minds and will wonder what they were thinking, myself included. As somebody else said, questioning commitment of the players is ridiculous; it's not like they deliberately lost. It is clear we have a quality team and quality manager and I for one think we can win the league next year without changing the squad at all if we have a bit more luck with injuries. In Dos we trust

[oohaah]

Well said johnnie1...

[markn]

From reading some of the stuff on the Dover game, I can understand exactly where you are coming.

Whilst not excusing some of what was said, I think/hope that much was borne of frustration/disappointment after the game and maybe leaving it a while before posting would have been wise in some cases. Forums are for the good in general as they give fans a platform for discussion that was more difficult before the internet age but they are an easy way to go over the top sometimes.

There was a post from Dave1 which was posted 48 hours after the game and was certainly amongst the more reasoned posts with many well made points.

For the larger point, I think that we are pretty much all in this together and as the events of the weekend have passed, I would guess that whilst still disappointed, many of us have move on and are already looking forward to next year(the threads on lessons learned and how the conference south is shaping up for next year show this).

I will be at the end of season party and should I speak with any player or member of the management staff, I will congratulate them on and thank them for a highly enjoyable season and one that everybody should be ultimately proud of.

I am sure that I will not be alone in doing so.

[keeps]

Just goes to show how much Dos is hurting to post on the forum and at 1am. Knowing Dos as I do nothing will drive him on more to achieve confrence national football for Sutton next season than this minor blip look at the whole picture not just 1 game yes massive disappointment to all involved. Everyone pull in the same direction and Sutton steeped with history and tradition will be a football league club that is where Dos wants to manage with this giant of a club. In Dossies time here I can think of 3 games that have been a real low points not bad for how long he's been in the job from Wendy right through to Bruce have all bought in to what WE are going to be onwards and upwards this is just the beginning. X

[dave1]

For my part, while my comments were overwhelmingly supportive of both Dos and the players, I apologise for querying to some degree why Gav was not in the starting X1. I don't think that many of us were aware that Gav was amongst the many walking wounded - but I should have known better.

[nigcapgue]

May 5, 2014 23:39:40 GMT amberdos said:

The mantra that we all use,but the vitriolic and frankly ludicrous 7 page thread on the Dover game,has cast serious doubts in my mind.
To suggest our players didnt try,were pathetic,embarrasing,not bothered etc, etc are so far wide of the mark it hurts. If anyone knows there football, leading upto the game, Charlie Clough,Damian Scannell,Will Spetch all needed injections to play!!

Dale Binns having been out for 3 weeks with a knee problem,had an injection to play Wednesday night,and subsequently smashed his ankle after 10 minutes,but said nothing until after the game,as he watched me take Ben King off at half time,and felt he had to keep going.Louis John,an outstanding young player(signing next season) tore his hamstring. Will Spetch another fantastic young player,terrible ankle injury,strapped it up and played to protect Ben King,subsequently stretchered off and spent the night at a and e!Jamie Slabber out for 6 weeks with a double hernia,took painkillers all week in case we needed him in the final. Marvin Williams,8 months out with achilles tendonitis,went against doctors advise to help me out. Gavin Macallum badly bruised heel,could hardly get a boot on!!

Lee Sawyer,never played right back before in his career,willingly sacrificed himself for the team. Ben King feels like s**t, i thought he did brilliant under the circumstances,a game to far maybe,but a Sutton player never the less,and my phonecall to him today was one of encouragement,and positivity.


You cannot at this level of football,lose 3 Centre halfs, 2 Left backs,a right back,a winger and 2 forwards,and expect a great, good, or even at times an average performance.Yes we were poor second half,the first goal was as bad an error that your likely to see. I could easily blame an 18 year old for costing us a promotion,as the first goal was always likely to win this particular game as 2 buses had well and truly been parked!!However that would make me no different than what has been written on here today.

The final insult was to read the players get paid etc,etc. Well all the players didnt, or ask for any wages to take part in the play offs,they appreciated how difficult things had been this year with no income in the January/February monsoon,and saw this as a bonus to the club.

You have destroyed a team who lost once in 21 league games,amassed 50 points, lost the least amount of games,and had the best goal difference in a very good league. You now expect the same team to go and win the league,and no doubt will slaughter them again if we dont!!I know if we had got promoted,and lost games regulary,then this response we've just seen,would become a regular theme,and i thought we as a club were different to that

What have we become?? We were blessed with this great season,but it seems clear to me you have lost sight of this in a massive way.We are punching well above our weight,and whilst the best chairman and board in this league are in charge at Sutton,we always will be.Thats a massive compliment to Bruce,and all the board that work so tirelessly,and run the club so professionally,and it only costs them a small fortune to do it!!

We had four players in a squad of 16 on £100 per week,and a welsh international on£125!! We were not in a position to stregnthen the squad in March anymore than we did.Unless of course you want us to buy our way into oblivion.The what can we do better thread should read. Dont get injured in April,and make the manager play a team and shape that does not resemble the previous 21 games!! End Of.

Upset, bitterley disappointed, worst football day since ive been in the game.Yes,not the result more what we've become.

Dos 

Thank you Dos someone needed to put the records straight.

[garethl]

I think the comments are just a reflection of the disappointment of the season ending in that fashion from a bunch who care about the club.

I personally am grateful for the efforts of the players this year and of course the management as usual. We are lucky to have you Dos and we all know that. Take a wee break (as much as you allow yourself) refresh the batteries and we go again.

Talk of aiming for the title is an ambition but no more than that. Dartford must be strong favourites providing no financial fall out from their relegation season and they seem well run. If Ebbsfleet remain with their budget you'd also expect them to be with Dartford as favourites. Getting in the play offs for this club is a fantastic achievement.

[Jared]

May 5, 2014 23:39:40 GMT amberdos said:

The mantra that we all use,but the vitriolic and frankly ludicrous 7 page thread on the Dover game,has cast serious doubts in my mind.
To suggest our players didnt try,were pathetic,embarrasing,not bothered etc, etc are so far wide of the mark it hurts. If anyone knows there football, leading upto the game, Charlie Clough,Damian Scannell,Will Spetch all needed injections to play!!

Dale Binns having been out for 3 weeks with a knee problem,had an injection to play Wednesday night,and subsequently smashed his ankle after 10 minutes,but said nothing until after the game,as he watched me take Ben King off at half time,and felt he had to keep going.Louis John,an outstanding young player(signing next season) tore his hamstring. Will Spetch another fantastic young player,terrible ankle injury,strapped it up and played to protect Ben King,subsequently stretchered off and spent the night at a and e!Jamie Slabber out for 6 weeks with a double hernia,took painkillers all week in case we needed him in the final. Marvin Williams,8 months out with achilles tendonitis,went against doctors advise to help me out. Gavin Macallum badly bruised heel,could hardly get a boot on!!

Lee Sawyer,never played right back before in his career,willingly sacrificed himself for the team. Ben King feels like s**t, i thought he did brilliant under the circumstances,a game to far maybe,but a Sutton player never the less,and my phonecall to him today was one of encouragement,and positivity.


You cannot at this level of football,lose 3 Centre halfs, 2 Left backs,a right back,a winger and 2 forwards,and expect a great, good, or even at times an average performance.Yes we were poor second half,the first goal was as bad an error that your likely to see. I could easily blame an 18 year old for costing us a promotion,as the first goal was always likely to win this particular game as 2 buses had well and truly been parked!!However that would make me no different than what has been written on here today.

The final insult was to read the players get paid etc,etc. Well all the players didnt, or ask for any wages to take part in the play offs,they appreciated how difficult things had been this year with no income in the January/February monsoon,and saw this as a bonus to the club.

You have destroyed a team who lost once in 21 league games,amassed 50 points, lost the least amount of games,and had the best goal difference in a very good league. You now expect the same team to go and win the league,and no doubt will slaughter them again if we dont!!I know if we had got promoted,and lost games regulary,then this response we've just seen,would become a regular theme,and i thought we as a club were different to that

What have we become?? We were blessed with this great season,but it seems clear to me you have lost sight of this in a massive way.We are punching well above our weight,and whilst the best chairman and board in this league are in charge at Sutton,we always will be.Thats a massive compliment to Bruce,and all the board that work so tirelessly,and run the club so professionally,and it only costs them a small fortune to do it!!

We had four players in a squad of 16 on £100 per week,and a welsh international on£125!! We were not in a position to stregnthen the squad in March anymore than we did.Unless of course you want us to buy our way into oblivion.The what can we do better thread should read. Dont get injured in April,and make the manager play a team and shape that does not resemble the previous 21 games!! End Of.

Upset, bitterley disappointed, worst football day since ive been in the game.Yes,not the result more what we've become.

Dos 

First of all Dos thanks for posting on here. Since coming to this club, you've transformed it giving us some of our best days, and putting that smile back on peoples faces.

As for the game on Saturday I learnt a while ago never to post when angry and/or frustrated. It doesn't help anyone. I'm still hurting after that result - and I will be for a while - so I won't comment on the game, but the best thing about Football is that we get to dust ourselves down and go again in August. 2014/15 is a fantastic chance to go again and achieve our promotion dream.

We've come a long way since the dark days of 2008 where we would have bitten your arm off if we were offered 2nd place and a big defeat in the play-offs. Sometimes I feel we've been spoiled as a support base under Dos. Also as bad as Saturday was at least we're not Carshalton, playing Ryman 1 south Football next season under a (potential) madman. We have a team of very good players, a fantastic manager and a great group of people off the field who are building our club up in the community. Winning the leage next year will be all the more sweet after what happened on Saturday.

United we stand.

[garethl]

And great to hear Louis John will be with us next season.

[Andy K]

Hi Dos,

Thanks for posting on here. I can only speak for myself, but I know my comments from Saturday were one of sheer frustration and disappointment. But in the next couple of days something you said kept going through my head "If we don't go up, no one has died", and you are totally right. For me, and not knowing the extent of the injuries we had, I felt that we'd built up such a strong side and were beaten by a team who on paper were weaker. But then again I'm not a manager, and no others on here are. I would go far as to say that anyone (and that includes me at times) who comes on here saying about we should play this player here and that player there knows nothing at all compared to you and your management team. We don't have to technical knowledge, and just as importantly we don't know the players. Anyone who is a fan here and think they know the players by having a chat with them in the bar afterwards is frankly stupid. You're the one who works with them 3 times a week and one of many things I admire of you is how you manage them - it's not a skill that can be learnt from scratch, it's a natural talent, and it's something you have in bucketloads.

I think we are in it together, and weirdly enough it showed in the ground at the end of the match and to an extent on here straight afterwards - it was a collective disappointment - ok different people showed it in different ways but I would say that was the overall theme. Even at the end of the game for those players who came over to us, the hardcore behind the goal (including me) still applauded the side. The dust is settling already, and we all need a bit of time off and a regrouping. Don't let some kneejerk reactions after the game in the mire of disappointment get to you. I reckon almost every one of those people have calmed down and now have a bit more perspective on it.

I remember the final whistle after the Ks' play off game in 2010. I turned to the people next to me and said "We'll win this next season". Which we did. I'm not saying we will win in next season as this is, if you pardon the pun, a different ball game. You're bang right saying that we could be punching above our weight and I think this level is probably our natural level, and I get quite bitter when I see your ex-side Eastleigh "buying" the title (as so many have before, to which most have failed in the long term). I love your approach for long term sustainability and I have said time and time again what great governance we have at the club. Occasionally we forget how lucky we are. But having seen the club at Conference level before there's one reason I would like us to go up and that is to give you an opportunity to manage at a level you never have, because bloody hell you deserve it.

Looking back - 2nd place, yet another fantastic run in the Cup, some cracking performances and yet again players at the club I'd never dream we could have got a few years ago.

Thanks again Dos for another fantastic season.

[jr]

Andy K. I couldn't have put it better.

Some of the football this season was exceptional and although I haven't been able to go to too many games some of the goals have been as good as you'll see anywhere and worth the entrance money alone.

Thanks Dos, the players and all the staff for a fantastic season. I can't wait for next season. It's going to be a cracker.

[dof]

.......I can only agree with the comments made by Andy K.....it was all about the frustration and disappointment on the day, after a week of hype. I am sure many of the comments were made with those two factors in mind in the heat of the moment.. Are we with you DOS, YES. we all are, and your contributions you have made to club this club are without measure. I saw Keeps in the stand with his party had a quick word, it was nice to see him back at GGL.
Once again....thanks DOS for all that you do.

[os]

I tried to tell some you, but many wouldn't listen, but keep grovelling as we need 'Dos' a lot more then he needs us!

IN DOS WE TRUST!

[fluffy rascal]

It'll take more than a bad day at the office to lose my faith. In Dos we trust indeed!