What’s better than a winning run? A winning run where the team is finally clicking, playing with confidence, and proving that patience pays off. Sutton United fans have been waiting for things to gel, and as Julian put it, “They all enjoy playing together anyway.” That’s a game-changer.
Mike Dowling
00:20 - 00:55
Hello and welcome to another episode of Sutton United Talk Time on podcast. It's the Sutton podcast. In association with Lucky Star Gin and I'm your host Mike. Joining me today, we have Dan and Julian. In this episode, we are gonna continue to discuss the post Christmas winning run. I don't care. I'm loving this. I said for ages that we're going to do well after Christmas and we did, so I'm milking this for everything I can. We're then going to look forward to the visit of Hartlepool. There is also Notland Forest on Tuesday, but my interest in that will depend entirely on the result.
Mike Dowling
00:56 - 01:22
We love hearing from you. Join the conversation, stay connected, share your thoughts on social medias. I'm sure Dan is going to talk to us about Blue Sky. And you can find us on all the major platforms and ex or at something podcasts your likes shares and comments really help us jr you've just said and I've worried that you were going to take it a little bit too far, but it's been just under a year since you were on.
Julian
01:22 - 01:31
Yeah, I thought it was about a year. I kept on ignoring your emails and I thought, well, no, I've got to reply.
Mike Dowling
01:31 - 01:33
At some stage.
Julian
01:35 - 01:35
How have
Dan
01:35 - 01:36
you been?
Julian
01:36 - 01:38
All good. Yeah, all good.
Mike Dowling
01:39 - 01:42
And you're looking forward to a winning chat.
Julian
01:42 - 01:49
Well, absolutely. It makes a change from last time I've had on, I think. So yeah, yeah,
Mike Dowling
01:52 - 01:57
It's good. It's all good, isn't it? Absolutely and Dan it's
Dan
01:59 - 02:01
significant significantly less
Mike Dowling
02:02 - 02:03
time for you.
Dan
02:03 - 02:04
It was
Mike Dowling
02:04 - 02:06
about 2 weeks ago. Anyone not
Julian
02:06 - 02:06
watching the video. I don't know what
Mike Dowling
02:06 - 02:14
Dan's managed to do but I mean he just looks it looks like he's something sent from heaven I don't I don't know now you all go and check out the video
Dan
02:14 - 02:30
I think it's a cross between the the blaring thing for the camera for the background the fact that my kitchen is quite brightly colored and we have it kind of those LED spotlights in here so that combined makes me look very very guru like
Mike Dowling
02:30 - 02:36
well either that we're about to drop a revamped 90s album, you know, a comeback tour or something.
Dan
02:37 - 02:49
Yeah, I look like probably some sort of Max Headroom type reject or something. For the younger listeners and viewers amongst you, Google it.
Mike Dowling
02:51 - 02:54
But did you say you've been well since?
Dan
02:54 - 02:58
Yeah, yeah, it's working too much, but they go back to life.
Mike Dowling
02:58 - 03:13
Yeah, I I've been intense this last week and it's just completely wiped me out. It's like I've got I've started a new job. It's like, yeah, it's fine. No problem. And then suddenly it's like, oh, I've got a whole crap load of stuff to learn in 4 weeks. Lovely, lovely, beautiful.
Dan
03:14 - 03:16
Responsibility sucks. Man,
Mike Dowling
03:17 - 03:28
I wreck everyone's council tax. Right. We're going to jump into the knowing me, knowing you segment. And there is a logo which I'm I know you both heard it But it's coming anyway
Dan
03:34 - 03:35
So
Mike Dowling
03:41 - 03:55
So this is just to get a little insight into you guys and what how your thought process I don't know why I pretend to do all that crap, just something to fill the time. JR, what is the most unusual place you've seen someone wearing a Southern United merchandise?
Julian
03:57 - 04:47
Well, yes, I've been thinking about this a lot and I really couldn't come up with anything so I'll probably say the moon or something like that. No, I actually couldn't think of anywhere that I've seen someone that's unusual. I see Every time I walk around London and stuff, I see people with, especially in this weather, yellow bubble hats. So I make a particular point of looking at them and seeing if they're Sutton United ones. But alas, they're not. But I really honestly, I can't think. I mean, I take my beach towel aboard, my Sutton United beach towels proudly on display but I can't really think of anywhere that I've seen anywhere unusual that I've seen.
Julian
04:48 - 04:49
I'm sorry Mike.
Mike Dowling
04:49 - 04:53
That's right when I say it you go yeah. Dan what about yourself?
Dan
04:54 - 05:39
Well I used to be seeing someone else on the high street with it about 10 years ago. There wasn't someone you knew or hung out with. I had to have a think about this as well because I couldn't think of anywhere where I'd seen it unusual and then a little thing popped into my head this morning I'll get stick off the other guys for this because it relates to a trip I did in 2009 with a couple of other idiots who go regularly and it was a certain Mr Gareth Miller who some people may be familiar with rising from his tent a very early 1 morning in the wilds of a country called Kazakhstan.
Dan
05:40 - 06:02
And he had on a Sutton United polo top, an old 1 that he obviously had and was just wearing because it was going to get messed up on the trip. So that's the strangest place I think. Somewhere in the region of the Aral Sea. Fair enough. So yeah, so someone beat that. Fair play.
Mike Dowling
06:03 - 06:19
I kind of predicted your answer. I thought your answer was going to be Oldham and seeing Sutton around Oldham with their Sutton shirts. Bit, well, hang on. And Wembley as well was really freaky for me to see everyone walking around Wembley with their stuff on. So
Dan
06:20 - 06:51
I've seen our colours elsewhere. I mean, I did Melbourne a few years ago on and I was there the week of the AFL Grand Final Hawthorn were in the final. So me walking from my hotel to the office where I was working 50% of the people walking around like everybody puts their colors on to declare who you know they're backing in the final so everyone was out in either blue or white for Geelong or they're in basically yellow and brown around and chocolate for Hawthorne and that was quite cool that The next time I saw anything like that, Volian was walking up Wembley Way 2 years ago.
Dan
06:52 - 06:57
But that wasn't certain stuff. I pretended it was
Mike Dowling
06:58 - 07:39
Dublin. Everyone was wandering around. This is too weird for me. But yeah, give us your answers if you see if you can beat Dan Kazakhstan somewhere and share your thoughts and socials. Club news. Tovaloff's home was extended, I hope I said his name right, I've never actually practiced. And it was a big shock for the player of the month for January, I believe Will scraped it slightly. The women's side dropped out of the League Cup today, lost 4-1, but they were pushing for an equalizer until like last I think 10 minutes or so and then they got hit to make it 3-1 and then I think possibly the heads must have dropped and it went to 4-1.
Mike Dowling
07:41 - 08:05
Mention again the fans match on the 18th of May, make sure you contact Claire if you're interested in playing and then Dundo's testimonial is the week after. A really exciting thing on the podcast is we had a comment from Rodrigo de Paula from Paraguay who said he enjoys listening because it helps him learn his English. Not entirely sure that's a good way of learning English.
Dan
08:06 - 08:12
Yeah, I'm not sure we'd be the, you'd be considered good source material for
Mike Dowling
08:13 - 08:38
that. Welcome to the Southern United, oh no, no, no. Yeah so anyway, hello Rodrigo. Onto the chat, the match, What were you thinking of the lineup? I mean, we'll start with you, Dan. They're in the division below us. They're flying high in the division blow us, but they're in division blow us Balance with that. I'm not sure. Have we won it kid a mister for a long long time ever
Dan
08:38 - 08:42
I don't think we've ever won there. Actually. We were talking about us on training.
Julian
08:42 - 08:43
We haven't won there.
Mike Dowling
08:43 - 08:49
No excellent And so what what did you think the lineup and what was your hope expectation because there had to be a result?
Dan
08:52 - 09:32
I mean these days I I don't get tend to get too sort of horrified by the team or surprised by it You know, we've got seem to have got a very largely set core now Steve seems to have I think probably 8 or 9 of his starting 11 broadly settled on and then it's just the odd little change here about who's available you know either an injury or a knock didn't expect Nadasan to feature so that wasn't really a surprise so yeah team wise it was pretty much as largely as expected. There wasn't anything there that was a bit, oh, or, oh, it was, you know, nothing really to write home about.
Dan
09:32 - 09:35
It was, OK, that's the team. Let's get on with it.
Mike Dowling
09:36 - 09:39
And what were your thoughts ahead of the match? How did you feel
Dan
09:39 - 09:40
it going?
Julian
09:40 - 09:42
Or were you
Dan
09:42 - 10:12
nervous? I wouldn't say nervous, but just I knew it was going to be a tough game because they're going well this year. They're clearly confident. They've got a bit of momentum behind them. Probably a touch more than we would have had going into the game. All right. We've had a couple of wins, but we've had a bit of a stop start season as we've seen. So it was, I knew it was going to be a tough 1. And it, it, I think it largely went how I thought it would, but I was confident if we could get in front that that should do us, I think.
Dan
10:12 - 10:15
And that's kind of how it panned out really. Fair enough.
Mike Dowling
10:16 - 10:20
And Jenny, yourself, how, how were you kind of feeling heading into it and what did you feel about the lineup?
Julian
10:21 - 11:20
Yeah, I was pretty confident, to be honest. After the last few performances, we know that Kidiminsa were beside, we'd never had 1 there. The best we'd got was a draw and I think an FA Cup going, we took them back again, a green line and 1 on penalties. But I was pretty certain that Kirk was going to come in for Taylor because Taylor was cut tied and Kirk was the obvious choice because before he got injured he was showing his quality. So and yeah, as Dan says, Steve's sorted, you know, he's got his 8 or 9 players that he's he's keen on picking every week now And the results are paying dividends really I mean does help that he's actually got a squad to choose from now that virtually everybody's back apart from Jaden and Steve Arnold.
Julian
11:20 - 11:48
Everybody else is more or less available. We don't know about well, we don't know. Nadas is probably not too far away as I understand it. But Obviously going into the game and that and we'll talk about it. I'm sure but Josh Coley limping off's not good But into going into the game. Yeah, we I Was pretty confident that we if we play like we have been playing then we would we would do just fine and get a result.
Mike Dowling
11:50 - 12:36
You mentioned that penalty shootout match, that was... She's only in the kitchen so something may get thrown in a second. That was the game that years and years ago Sally made me leave early, we were behind. We were never going to do anything and next thing we equalised, I heard the cheer as I was walking down the thing and I missed the penalty shootout, so... She's walked past now, hey! I've let it go, I'm fine, I'm fine with it. Us and he's saying yeah that's what we wanted we wanted to soak up the pressure. Were you feeling that JR?
Mike Dowling
12:37 - 12:38
That was intentional?
Julian
12:39 - 13:38
Oh I didn't know what it would be intentional. I wasn't quite sure how it worked out. I just felt that in the first half it wasn't working with Wadham coming back and playing. It just seemed to be a little bit off the pace and Harris was, or David sorry, was isolated. What we've done in the last few games is we've really held our shape well at the back and we've just restricted them merely to long range shots. And if you look back you'll see that Sims only had 1 shot to save in the whole game and that was in the Good safe at the end of the first half, but all their shots were generally outside the box Yeah, they they should have hit the target a couple of times and you know, who knows might have been a different story But but actually in the box we defended brilliantly and that part of the game has really, I think, really improved.
Mike Dowling
13:40 - 13:47
That's 1 of the things I was going to move on to. Dan, did you feel that the tactics were obvious?
Dan
13:51 - 14:32
I wouldn't call them obvious. It's more, Steve certainly when he started this season, I think he probably wanted to play a little bit more openly and be a bit more on the front foot attacking wise. But I think he's kind of understood that maybe with the players that we have, we can't go as open as maybe he wanted to. Yacht's still a young side, still, you know, aspects to work on. So he's decided to be a bit more for want of a bad way describing it cautious, I think. I don't think he's being negative. I think it's just he wants to just be more organized, more solid, keep and like J also keep shape.
Dan
14:34 - 15:12
Better, which we have done a lot. We did it superbly at York. And yesterday was another 1 where everybody, you know, just kept the shape. We restricted them to, whilst they had a ton of the ball. They didn't do a huge amount with it. They had a couple of site as that they probably would have been disappointed that in at least hit the target with like put them put them over from these reasonable positions. But bar that as again, as Joe said, the, the only thing Jack had to do is to push 1 round the post, I think fairly late in the half.
Dan
15:12 - 15:43
And to be honest, from where I stood, it looked like it was probably going wide anyway, just was covering his post. He just was covering his post. So yeah, I mean, we kept our shape well, but it was obvious at halftime something had to change because when we got the ball, we got into that little rut that we do occasionally where we were losing the ball a little cheaply and not making the most of having the ball. Whereas you compare it to something like the Barnett game where, again, we didn't have the ball a lot, but when we got it, we hurt them with it.
Dan
15:43 - 15:51
You know, we made sure we created something from it. That didn't quite work first half on Saturday, yesterday, sorry.
Mike Dowling
15:54 - 16:30
I'll bring it up, but the defence, we've been critical, certainly on the pitch side, not many people can hear, But last few weeks, French has taken some stick from various different things. But he's definitely suddenly just a real purple patch, as far as I can see. But how was French and Kirk? Tony was very, very complimentary about them yesterday on commentary. But how was the defense view and the French Kirk partnership, Dan?
Dan
16:32 - 17:14
Yeah, I mean, they kept the shape brilliantly. They defended well. They communicated well. I mean, there was a couple of little moments first off where the ball was in our box and sort of was up for grabs and the guys didn't. No 1 panicked, no 1. We've done it a couple of times this season where we've snatched sort of a loose ball bouncing in our box rather than go at it with certainty. We've just thought, oh right, we've got to get rid of that. And it's pinged it straight to an opponent who's had a, you know, we did it at Rochdale, we did it at home to, I think it was all a shot where we've not cleared our lines when we should have done.
Dan
17:14 - 17:47
And we just looked a bit more settled, I think. We're not reacting to stuff, it's and just snatching it, trying to do it at the quickest opportunity. It's, you know, it's like, well, wait, that that ball bounces and then if it's coming onto them, they're able to get rid of it or just let it run out of play. And there was a couple yesterday where it was someone was chill out so that someone else could clear the clear the ball rather than someone else trying or 2 people go for it at the same time. So Yeah, we just look a bit more settled.
Dan
17:47 - 17:58
I think again, it's coming round. Like we all said it that they're gonna settle down around Christmas as everybody just Gets to know each other That little better.
Mike Dowling
17:58 - 18:00
Did we all say it? Oh, is it just me
Dan
18:00 - 18:06
most people do I know I know I said I wasn't expecting anything until after Christmas.
Mike Dowling
18:08 - 18:11
What about yourself jenny, how do you feel about defense?
Julian
18:12 - 18:48
I'm loving it at the moment the way they're playing. I I think yeah french and kirk were Super french has been fantastic. I think probably for the mark last month or so. You know Perhaps a little bit unsure before Christmas start the season, but we've got a whole new squad. And they're now gelling. And I think Steve mentioned this anyway, Rome wasn't built in a day expecting it to sort of take a bit of time to sort out and they seem to be playing gelling really, really well. I think they all enjoy playing together anyway.
Julian
18:48 - 19:20
They seem that way. They seem to get on and are forging great partnerships. And you know, when Kirk and Taylor no doubt will play very well, Kirk's a really good communicator, I think as well. And French is also being the captain. So, and Kurt, I think Kurt's gonna be absolute quality for us. I really do. I think you know, and he's just getting back in. He's not 100% match fit yet either. So, you know, same with, you know, Woodyard and Midfield, which you might go on to, but I think he's only going to get better and better.
Julian
19:21 - 19:38
He's already made his mark, I think, hence the change of results really and being unbeaten in January. I love the defence, I love the set up, the way it's going. Steve seems to be doing everything right at the moment, which is fantastic. So long may it continue.
Mike Dowling
19:38 - 19:47
Yeah, I'm liking the way we can kind of go, okay, we're gonna go 5, no, we're gonna go 3, no, we're gonna go 4. So the difference that we can just change it up.
Julian
19:49 - 19:54
It keeps your position guessing, doesn't it, when they're doing their homework? Exactly. How are we going to set up?
Mike Dowling
19:54 - 20:34
Yeah, going back to the team lineups, you and I used to be sort of 9 and tens without any additional information and now it's like, I haven't got a clue, I'm sorry to choose anyone, which is something someone did send in about the comments. But you mentioned midfield. I mean, things, we soaked up in the first half and then we changed up in the second half. So how do you feel like the midfield did change? Was it a surprise to you or was it like oh we're now it's obvious we're going for it with the substitutions at half time.
Mike Dowling
20:35 - 20:40
JR, with yourself first, how's the midfield going and did you think those substitutions were?
Julian
20:40 - 21:12
Yeah, as I said, I led you to earlier, I don't think it quite, it didn't quite work in the first half and we were giving Kilevitz a bit too much of the ball in our half and allowing him to create some chances so I felt that I thought there might be a change. I didn't realise that there was going to be 2 changes and you know, Moudjod got booked in the first half so it's not surprising really that I think it was 1 more tackle and he might be off. So, it wasn't surprising that he came off, but I do like him.
Julian
21:14 - 21:51
So, I don't think he's 100% match fit yet because he hadn't been playing previously. So I think we're going to get he's going to be even better. But bringing Dylan on, I think made a real, real difference. He, I think he was fantastic second half. He really was apart from not scoring which he should have scored and he knows he should have scored but And that would have put the game to bed and we wouldn't have had Palpitations for the last 10 minutes or so, but I thought he was brilliant He calls them it calls the no end of problems and balls are coming in the box.
Julian
21:51 - 22:05
You know, especially after we scored anyway, he was causing loads of problems. We should have had 2 or 3. We played with quite a bit of confidence and it was a much better second half because of the changes.
Dan
22:10 - 22:41
Yeah same as Joe, all right first half Steve said afterwards he wanted to kind of sit in and contain and kind of keep them in front of us a little bit. And I get that that's fine. They're at home. And as we said, they're going well this season. So you want to kind of try and blunt them a little bit before you then switch to what trying to do what you want to do. The midfield day wasn't quite working. Wadham didn't really get going. As Joe said, Woodard got picked up a bit of soft yellow, I thought it was.
Dan
22:42 - 23:20
The guy made a lot of the challenge. But yeah, it got halftime. It was obvious that something, that's where, if we were gonna make a change, that's where it was gonna be. See you coming on big physical lad and he's got legs. You know, he's young so he can cover the ground and just Dylan to give us a little bit more, just a bit more, a bit more point to the attack and a bit more pace out there as well to sort of unsettle them a little bit more. So yeah, once the goal came up, I didn't feel particularly threatened, to be honest, and we should have put it to bed before the final whistle.
Mike Dowling
23:21 - 23:54
That should have put it to bed. I mean we obviously, Will scored obviously. I mean he's making this whole prediction league quite boring with everyone putting Will Davies as the first goal score. But I mean his form is great obviously but again, it sounded like a game of, oh, we just need to put that ball in there. I've seen Dylan's back. And yeah, he did everything right, and kind of stroked it in. It's like, oh, god. So is that something you think, Dan, we're just going to suddenly give someone a pasting? Is Dylan going to?
Mike Dowling
23:54 - 24:05
Steve reckons Dylan's going to score, and then go on a great run which is quite possible because he just needs it off his back but are you are you feeling this something missing or is it just 1 of those
Dan
24:07 - 24:46
I think yeah I think with Dylan it is 1 probably going to be 1 of those ones where when he gets 1 he'll like Steve says he'll probably go on a bit of a run and score in a few games. He's still getting back into the side after he got injured on the opening day. All right, he's been back a couple of months now, but still largely from the bench more often than not. So maybe maybe it's just a little bit of when he gets an opportunity to look, you know, it's in his head a little bit that I've got got to try and take this if I want to keep my place.
Dan
24:46 - 25:19
I mean, the 2 chances he missed in the forget the replay now the recent game where he had 1 on ones Yeah, hit him both straight at the keeper. The chance he created yesterday, he created enough space for him for the shot. It was just a little bit. He dragged it just a fraction was plenty of room there to slot it in but he's just dragged it out fraction so it came back off the post. So yeah, he's he's he's got I think he's grabbing into it. He was out for what 3 months so he's just a little bit behind everybody on that curve.
Dan
25:19 - 25:51
But yeah, I think overall, finishing is just taking chances is something we do need to just do a little bit more of. Certainly in games like yesterday where having worked hard, done the done the basics, got yourself in and got yourself in front to a position where they've got to open up and they have to come at you. That gives you more opportunities on the break. And when you do get them, you've got to take them because then they just that last 10 minutes would have been dead. That would have been them. They'd have been out on their ass.
Dan
25:51 - 25:58
2-0. They're not coming back. So you just... That's probably 1 of the things we need to do, is just... When it's dagger time...
Mike Dowling
25:59 - 26:00
Roofless, yeah.
Dan
26:00 - 26:04
Turn the knife and just Put the game to bed
Mike Dowling
26:05 - 26:08
Jay are you you agree
Julian
26:08 - 26:45
I Do I do I do? Dan's actually spot-on. I mean if you wingers The pacey men are always it's always difficult for them when they come back from injury, I find. I always remember watching watching Theo Walcott when he was at Arsenal and he'd get injured and then it'll take him 8 to 10 games to get back into the rhythm and really and then and then fly and be absolutely brilliant. And, you know, and as Dylan's been coming off, mainly on the bench, it's going to take time for him to to really get back and get into and also get his confidence.
Julian
26:46 - 27:21
1 goal, If he gets 1 goal, I think it was either Will Stone or Lorda Shot, wasn't it? I can't remember which 1 it was now where he missed the 2 one-on-ones. But once he gets 1, I suspect he'll get more in his confidence. We're just seeing what's happened with Will Davis. He can't stop scoring now. He's just he's got he's got so much confidence now. You know, occasionally, he's still on his heels a little bit. We do see it from behind behind the goal. But he's he's anticipating more he's, you know, I mean, he does work his socks off, doesn't he?
Julian
27:21 - 27:45
But but but I just feel that. Yeah, it's just confidence. You get 1 and then you're just growing. Obviously the guys are confident as a whole anyway because we're winning games. So I think it just breeds more confidence and I'm sure Dylan, I think he's going to be a fine footballer for us. So hopefully he'll get on the score sheet soon.
Mike Dowling
27:45 - 28:25
It's always nice bringing these things up when we're winning. But yeah, it is something we'll talk about with Josh in a minute, but you do forget these injuries are not just minutes. As I put lol Bants 6 minutes. Dan, you said you were confident. JR, were
Julian
28:25 - 28:33
you confident in that last few minutes or were you yeah, generally, generally, I wasn't too worried. I thought we
Dan
28:33 - 28:33
were still keeping our shape and
Julian
28:33 - 29:03
they didn't really hurt us very much. Yeah, they had a couple of crosses and that, but we actually had quite a lot of the ball. And we had a couple more chances. And then at the end, the last minute and a half, 2 minutes, it was great because we were just going in a corner we had the ball we're going in a corner we're keeping possession and they really they had no answer to it so it was really a problem it was just waiting for the the the strange ref that we had to blow up and eventually he did thankfully so
Mike Dowling
29:07 - 29:25
yeah I mean the last few games we've been hanging, not hanging on, but we've been in 1 goal lead and it's been 6 minutes. Are you satisfied Dan that that's gone to bed? I mean I did say it last week. I do kind of make these are you are you happy now that's it we're not going to ever worry about these last 6 minutes
Dan
29:25 - 30:01
I mean to be honest with you I don't think it's it's something that's completely gone and that's a curse busted or anything. I mean, when you've got 6 added minutes, that many added minutes at the end of a game, it as we said, it's sort of the older shot game, we could see what was what happened was coming because and they just seemed that sometimes a team will just go all out because all right, we've got 6 minutes here. We got nothing else to lose. Go for it. So you can never you can never quite say that you know you've got you'll never concede late on again.
Dan
30:01 - 30:35
But yeah, yesterday I thought I thought we saw out pretty well. I it was it was definitely a game that was going to be very, very tight. It was either going to finish nil nil and go to penalties from because they didn't seem to be able to get a decent shot on target. But I did feel that if we could nick it, nick a goal, that that would be enough. And then late on, I think the goal kind of set them back a little bit, gave us a lift. We had 2 or 3 good chances after that and again as I said, we should have put it to bed But didn't see rules.
Dan
30:35 - 31:04
There's always a little bit of a time You know, if it's well, it was well, it's 1 game is always a chance. So yeah, but yeah, I mean they didn't really offer anything in the added times a couple of crosses put in that we defended well couple of headers in got rid of them. So yeah, but yeah, I don't think I think as we all know that anytime we see that 6 go up on the board or just going to roll our eyes and go here we go just because
Mike Dowling
31:04 - 31:18
yeah believe there's a book named after it yeah different reason right jr alluded to it you may have alluded to it in some of your I can't even say tweets the blues guys
Dan
31:18 - 31:21
they're posts apparently I was told this yesterday morning
Mike Dowling
31:23 - 31:37
the referee Now obviously I didn't get to watch the match. I did hear it and you're not gonna hear these things from Tony, the referee's awful. But talk to us about the ref then. And we won, so we can complain about the ref. We're allowed to. We won the match. This isn't sale grapes,
Dan
31:37 - 32:26
this is just moaning. I just thought it was shit. Thank you very much. Let's be brutally honest about it. He was probably the worst we've had this year, really inconsistent. Typical. Basically, like 1 of those refs who was favoring the the home side in all the 5050 stuff like he'd blow us for something innocuous and then literally seconds later a kiddie player is making exactly the same challenge and he's just you know waving play on and stuff like that and a couple of our yellows were ridiculous. I mean, the challenge on Josh that he limped off from was late, the guy did him, and all we got out, it was a throw-in, didn't even talk to the bloke.
Dan
32:27 - 32:58
And I mean, the challenge on Simper as well, late on, not long after we'd gone ahead, That was just a scumbag challenge where he wasn't going to get, he, the guy knew he was out of position and got caught. And he had no, literally no intent. 1 of them ones, you can see the guy coming from 6, 8 yards away and he's going to do the man. And those sort of challenges are the sort ones they need to, refs need to get a handle on because that's it. You've got no intent of playing for the ball so you're endangering your opponent.
Dan
32:58 - 33:37
So to me that's, that should be a red card. And then you could see even from our lads reaction to it. And we're not, as we well know, we're not 1 of these sides who surround the ref and get into his face and all the rest of it. And then, yeah, C.J. Gets booked for saying the ref, what's that? So how's that fair? You know, their guy's chopped Simper, could have hurt him. And we both end up with the yellow card out of it, but yeah, he was I Mean he's I thought he's the him at the final whistle his body language the final whistle was so half-hearted I think it broke his heart to actually have to blow it
Mike Dowling
33:39 - 33:39
Yeah
Dan
33:41 - 33:45
Yeah, I thought he was a tosser I
Mike Dowling
33:45 - 33:47
thought he was brilliant. No. He
Julian
33:47 - 34:29
was. Dan's actually again spot on. Yeah, he was he was really inconsistent with that there was some some some even the first half there was some bad fouls that he was he was letting go And then we'll do something very innocuous and he'll blow up for a foul. All right. The fouls on our players were up our end so I could see them a bit better. But it just seemed very inconsistent. As you said, the yellow cards, some of the yellow cards were just ridiculously soft. They just weren't you know, and it wasn't as if it was, you know Their second third fourth tackle or foul, you know, sometimes it was the first foul or even if it was a foul It was just it was very innocuous.
Julian
34:29 - 35:01
Yeah, he was poor And I've come in more standing next to this. And I said, Oh, yeah, the referees crap and the lives on that side crap, but the other one's okay. And the other side then just me sonnet completely and got it completely wrong. And we got a corner which was nowhere near not a corner. So there are things that were going our way a little bit, but everything seemed to be going their way. And I was looking over the touch line at times, and you could see you could see Steve and the others getting a little bit frustrated, shall we say.
Julian
35:02 - 35:38
It was ridiculous. And he was in very great danger of losing control of the game because it was boiling over. Because the players were getting fed up with some of the cynical challenges. As Dan said, the 1 on Simpa. I mean, I could see why he gave it yellow because Lewis Skelly's 1 got overturned, didn't it? His red card got overturned, the Arsenal guy. So I can see why, well, that's got overturned and it's a similar challenge, so it's yellow. But when you're not playing the ball and you're endangering the player I mean he he could have done his knee ligaments all sorts of things could be career-ending
Dan
35:39 - 35:39
You
Julian
35:39 - 35:58
know things like that. I know it's just it was just a trip sticking a leg out But we if you fall awkwardly and it It's yeah, it's poor and I just think he I think he lost control of the game and he was really poor as opposed to the referee. We had the last league game who actually was anonymous So it was actually excellent
Dan
35:59 - 36:04
you know, that's what you want. You don't want to be talking about him.
Julian
36:04 - 36:20
You don't want to remember him, do you? No, there are there are some good ones but they're very few and far between and this 1, I suspect he I don't know. Dan might know but I suspect he refs at a slightly lower level and maybe it was too much for him. He just couldn't handle it. But he was really poor.
Mike Dowling
36:21 - 36:22
I think they have to be able to.
Dan
36:23 - 36:35
I think they have to set the ref from the level of the highest ranked side. He must have done some National League games. I don't know if that is still the case. That certainly used to be it.
Mike Dowling
36:35 - 36:37
Used to be a couple years ago. I know that.
Dan
36:37 - 36:53
I know that used to be the case. But so you would assume though, if he's reffing at that level, he would have at least done some National League north and south games bare minimum and maybe in a couple but yeah he was he wasn't he wasn't very good at all.
Mike Dowling
36:56 - 37:26
Right you mentioned, I don't know if I used the word funny but I don't mean funny but you mentioned about Josh's injury and he didn't get hit the guy didn't give him a free kick and we only got a throw on. I believe that literally the message I sent to Josh after the first injury was oh well at least we got a throw on from it And it's the same ankle. I think he said his foot got stuck and he rolled it. He was in quite a bit of pain yesterday, he said, but this morning it's subsidised a little bit.
Mike Dowling
37:27 - 37:56
Although I'm concerned about how much painkillers because he'd mentioned about we've got on an unbeaten run since he's been back and I did say well I'm pretty sure it's the yellow coat that did it and he said oh yeah all things count so I'm like right stop taking painkillers buddy because this is too much now but yeah I don't obviously I don't think he's had anything checked yet on how long, but it's the same ankle that he had a few weeks, months ago. So it could be 1 of those that is really, really painful, but it heals up very quickly.
Mike Dowling
37:56 - 37:56
But
Dan
37:56 - 38:05
hopefully- Yeah, that's probably a soft tissue injury or something like that. It's just gonna be a couple of weeks out just for rest and a bit of physio I would imagine hopefully anyway
Mike Dowling
38:05 - 38:13
absolutely hopefully but as always I know everyone always says oh come back quick I'm always like don't be quick just yeah just just make sure
Julian
38:13 - 38:31
it's good well Mike 1 thing that Steve does do is he doesn't rush players back. He's very careful looking after the players welfare. So I'm sure I'm sure Josh will be back when he when he's fully fit and ready.
Mike Dowling
38:31 - 38:34
Yeah, at the right time. I mean, same with Ryan Jackson, he had that eye injury.
Julian
38:35 - 38:35
Yeah.
Mike Dowling
38:35 - 39:22
Oh, yeah. Hopefully, I went, Jacko, this is your eyes, mate. It's not it's not. There's not much around worrying about kicking the ball about for a bit. Next thing I wanted to talk to you 2 is the away fan attendances. I mean you guys have both been there on the days you could have all literally come up on little minibus and there was like 220 odd yesterday which is more than 10% of the crowd. I mean, how do you feel about that evolving over the years? All right, we're not bringing Knott's County numbers and the huge amounts, but for us, that's a big change in the attendance so jr what do you what do you how do you feel about that
Julian
39:22 - 39:27
are you listening into our conversations yesterday on the train on the train home
Mike Dowling
39:27 - 39:28
no definitely I'm not allowed
Julian
39:28 - 40:20
to we're sort of alluding to it well we're talking about really the home attendances and stuff and how they've grown. But but but yeah, I mean, look, it's fantastic 244, I think, at York, which is outstanding and 224 yesterday was equally fantastic. And yeah, I think it's great. But people people want to go and We're playing, you know, we are playing decent football. Some of the football we have played recently has been outstanding. I mean, obviously the York game goes without saying it was a complete performance, but we have been playing. We can see what the team are trying to do what they've been coached and They're trying to knock it about Quickly And play fast-flowing football doesn't always work of course the passes go awry and stuff, but But that's all I'm sure the fans are enjoying it, you know, for that.
Julian
40:20 - 40:50
And, you know, and we are starting to win now as well. So I suspect that more people will go to the away games. I mean, some of them are quite, I mean, I'm not maybe not Gateshead, but Gateshead on a Tuesday night. But no, it's great. And it's good to have, I'm sure the players appreciate it and the management that we have got reasonable support. Next goal is really to get over 300 away for some of these long trips and then maybe a bit higher after that. But you know,
Dan
41:23 - 41:58
it's good. It's good. It's good to see, you know, it just shows that the club is growing. The more support you have, obviously, the better it speaks for your future. But yeah, I mean, I know we obviously used to travel everywhere and you could usually say it'd be between 50 and 100 depending where it is, how close it is. Is it a relative, if it's a new ground, there'll be a couple more out, you know, it might go as high as 120. Certainly in some of the longer trips. But yeah, there was it I mean, even even last season, sort of the home attendances held up.
Dan
41:58 - 42:32
And the away attendances were, again, held up, you know, you were still getting 100 away, but midweek long distance games, you're still taking 200 a lot, a lot of weeks as well. So it's good. It's good to see, you know, it's not, especially the young and to start to come as well, just that new generation of supporters just yeah just you know that you know there's a future there it's not all about us old kids all about us old kids. For years,
Mike Dowling
42:32 - 42:34
they'll be allowed to drink as well.
Dan
42:35 - 42:37
That's that's the worry. Allow.
Mike Dowling
42:39 - 42:58
I'm not saying they don't say nearly allowed. Right. So we are through to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2000. I'm reliably informed. Who do we want spending more at home? Who are you fancy Dan? Does it matter? Do you care? I'm gonna be there anyway, so I don't really matter to you, does it?
Dan
42:58 - 43:44
Yeah, it's, I mean, I suppose from my point of view, I was trying to look at stuff places I've not been to, because I've been doing so well. So you look at the places that maybe a new ground or somewhere you've not been to, so maybe sitting born. But then again, that could that's a but then again, the rule equally as winnable as they are loseable so spending more at home would be fun because you know we went up there a couple years ago obviously with the rearrange game after Brumley got slung out and they looked after us the nice people So maybe if we got them at home, be nice to see some old faces, some faces again and sort of show them a bit of hospitality in return and then thumb them 3 now like they did with us.
Dan
43:47 - 43:58
Yeah, true. But yeah, I'm not overly fast because yeah, they're all 1 off ties. You've just got to just get through
Mike Dowling
43:58 - 44:08
them. Jared did make the point that it would be quite amusing to have Rochelle away because that's where we were supposed to be anyway. JR, any particular care who you would get?
Julian
44:08 - 44:35
Well, normally you would go for, you'd say, right, you want to go for the lowest ranked side really. It gives you the best chance of winning. But we know we've done giant killing before and Sittingborn this season have done plenty of giant killing. If anybody gets a chance, I mean Dan and I were having and others were having a chuckle on the on the way home but you've got to see Sittingborn's 96 minute minute winner against Southend yesterday that was absolutely gold and great way following by the way.
Mike Dowling
44:36 - 44:38
Was that the 1 between his legs on the floor?
Julian
44:40 - 45:34
No, no, no. Defender went to clear it, kicked it against the sitting board player and it rocketed into the corner of the net. Last kick of the game. So fantastic. But I mean, they've got the thing is for sitting born, I mean, they've caused a whole load of shocks already, and they've got a plus 69 goal difference apparently in their league. So they're a decent side. So but ideally, you do want the lowest ranked side. I'd rather avoid Woking, Altrincham and Rochdale if I can, if we can. And then, you know, whoever, but I suppose you want a home tie but I actually don't mind an away tie because I think actually I think I think we're better away from home so I think we can play a different style of football And I just I feel at the moment that we do play better away from home.
Julian
45:34 - 46:07
So perhaps in a way tie that's not very far away. I don't mind you. I wouldn't mind going to Spenny Morgan. I really enjoyed it up there. They got some very nice bars up there and stuff. So and as Dan said, the people are very nice. But but yeah, there's a bit of a slope on their ground and they still got Glenn Taylor playing for them so he I think he got 2 against us in the in the last game a few years ago so yeah I don't mind really, whoever we get, we've got a chance.
Julian
46:08 - 46:13
So it doesn't matter. It's sort of cut ties, unpredictable, aren't they? So
Mike Dowling
46:13 - 46:56
exactly. And right, the points of views. I'm probably going to jingle for this. I don't like the BBC points of views. I'll do it anyway, and that's another time. So Andrew Jackson said, I mean, we discussed this really, but great shift by the lads. Weatherville could have been a storm, and then 2 inspired changes by the gaffers. Tip the scales in our favour, which is kind of where we were. I think 1 of you hinted at this 1, Louis Massingham-Roll said, Louis sorry, is this the strongest squad we've ever had? We remember having a big squad under doze well after the arsenal game but lots of players on the bench not in squad could have started yesterday without deciding weakened dan you shook your head is it too early to call that
Dan
46:56 - 47:26
yes I mean they're doing well at the moment and there's still a lot that don't get me wrong There's still a fair few little things that just need to little rough edges that still need to be taken off And you can see though we are progressing which is good But yeah, I think it's way too early to start making claims like that. I mean I'd be brutally honest that that does side from 2017 that got through to the cup run. And then had the really good season, Nick probably could have won the National League the year afterwards.
Dan
47:26 - 47:27
Baby is a lot alive. Quite
Mike Dowling
47:28 - 47:29
frankly, I think what
Julian
47:29 - 47:30
he's meaning is too Too
Dan
47:30 - 47:37
many too many canny heads way too much experience. They were a set of bastards. They were never beaten You know, they wouldn't give up.
Mike Dowling
47:37 - 47:55
Yeah, I think the question really is this the squad strength of squad not the strength of the team so It's the with the replace the players on the bench are you kind of looking at going oh actually he could start he could start wouldn't be too fast I think that's what I'm not 100 sure but I think that's what the question meant is
Dan
47:55 - 47:55
are
Mike Dowling
47:55 - 48:00
we in the strongest position where we could mix it up squad wise not necessarily a team
Dan
48:01 - 48:21
certainly I think the quality is very even I think it's probably a fair way to describe the squad. They're all, you don't have any superstars and then there's no real passengers as such at the moment so I mean yeah it's certainly a very even balanced setup. So Steve can make changes when he needs to.
Julian
48:24 - 49:06
Yeah, no, absolutely. I mean, you've seen it with Fazz who's been on the sidelines for ages and he hasn't been able to get in. He gets in and he's been playing pretty well. So Steve has faith in whoever he brings on I think and you can see that, it is very even, all the players. Yes he's got his 8 or 9 favourites obviously, but the other guys, they can all do a job. Whether it's the strongest we've ever had, no. We finished eighth in League 2 with a squad. This is non-league, so no, not the strongest by a country mile in 2017.
Julian
49:07 - 49:41
So I beat this lot, the whole squad. You know, because we don't forget, we get a lot of injuries every season. So these players do come in and support and when we have our injuries we've been found wanting a little bit before Christmas. It seems to have changed, the tide has changed I think and the players are stepping up a little bit now so and with a couple of additions it's made a massive difference and so we yeah we do have a strong squad but it's not nowhere near the strongest we've ever had
Mike Dowling
49:41 - 49:55
and we don't have a bar to step in anywhere everywhere that we know I'm shifting goals on right we're gonna do another jingle because we're gonna finish off with yesterday and it's the good, the bad and the funny when I come back.
Dan
50:00 - 50:00
The match.
Mike Dowling
50:11 - 50:18
Okay, JR. What was good about the match day experience? Doesn't have to be on the pitch. It can be anything you like. What was good yesterday?
Julian
50:19 - 50:55
Well, it's just the, again, we were talking about this yesterday, the last few weeks, well, last season and at the start of this season, the football was getting in the way of our away trips but it's not now so you know we're rather enjoying the football as well as as well as the the rest of it and yeah the camera artery in the banter with the guys I travel with is actually fantastic it's always it's the right laugh it makes makes my weekend when I go away so that that's always always good even though a bunch of oddballs aren't they Dan?
Julian
50:56 - 50:57
Yeah but no
Mike Dowling
50:57 - 51:00
sorry they are or they've got sorry I didn't catch that
Julian
51:01 - 51:06
they might mind me saying they know they know we
Dan
51:06 - 51:07
we've said this to each other
Mike Dowling
51:09 - 51:12
many a time Yeah. And a lot worse. And a lot
Dan
51:14 - 51:16
worse. Yeah. Dan,
Julian
51:16 - 51:16
what was good for you?
Dan
51:17 - 51:46
Just trying to think actually. It was just again another really good day out. I suppose if you've got to go with the football, it was a disciplined first half performance. We just solid kept our shape. That's good to see. And yeah, some good pubs, good few beers. And again, it's always nice to, again, we were talking about the raising away support. It's always good going into some of these booths and seeing other certain fans that you know, or around. So Yeah, that's good to see.
Mike Dowling
51:47 - 51:49
Excellent. What was bad for you?
Dan
51:55 - 52:13
Ref. I think he was probably the negative. Didn't affect the result, thankfully. But yeah, I'd say that was probably the worst part of the day. Everything else kind of went went to plan you know trains were good, pubs were good, no 1 got no 1 died, no 1 got left behind so.
Mike Dowling
52:14 - 52:23
We're not going to explore that no 1 died of it for a little bit. I don't remember reading that blog. JR, what was bad for you?
Julian
52:24 - 52:56
I would say Josh Cody's injury. Just because, well obviously because he's going to, it looks as though he's going to be out for a few weeks and you know He's a pretty key player, he's an experienced player, he's played for us in League 2, he's played a lot of games in League 2 and he's been pretty decent this year. He creates problems for the opposition so I think he's going to be a bit of a miss for the next couple of weeks, or however long he's out, it probably might be longer than that. We just don't know.
Julian
52:56 - 53:02
But I suspect he's not gonna be playing next Saturday, I don't think. So yeah, that's the bad for me.
Mike Dowling
53:03 - 53:06
If he's playing next Saturday, I'm gonna keep the will out of the way of the cat.
Julian
53:06 - 53:08
Well, if he does play, it'll be brilliant.
Mike Dowling
53:09 - 53:15
I'm going to go near the physio staff because they'll be quite cross, I should imagine. What was funny for you, JR?
Julian
53:16 - 53:16
Ah,
Mike Dowling
53:17 - 53:21
well, what was funny? JR says the ref dancing. And of course,
Julian
53:21 - 53:52
yeah, well, yeah, the rest really the rest performance. Yeah, I think actually there was there was a picture of maybe Chuckle anyway, that I think Paul took of when will davis scored and ian bell's run down to the front with his dodgy hips and he's he's right full of dr bell as we call it he's right full in front of the the photo he's right in the center of the photo so that looked that made me chuckle a little bit. I thought, oh, I thought you got dodgy hips, but he was down the front celebrating.
Julian
53:52 - 53:55
So that made me chuckle quite a bit.
Mike Dowling
53:57 - 53:58
Dan, what was funny for you?
Dan
54:00 - 54:54
I'm Just trying to think of a standout moment. I mean, it's just the usual away day. Goalkeeper shirt, goalkeeper shirt. I wouldn't say that was funny. Although, there can't be many football clubs that get a, where their fans get a preview of a new kind of rare shirt like that in the pub because the kit man's got up, 1 of the kit guys has got up so early that he popped in for a pint before he drops it at the ground. So that was quite funny. I think actually we had to change at rugby on the way off on the way home just because we're on a slightly slower train so we got off at rugby to get a faster 1 back through to London and then once we're off on the platform at about 10 minute wait and everyone just was there having been really polite on the train and just was evacuating certain smells.
Dan
54:58 - 55:21
It was like the scene out of Blazing Saddles. Again kids, Google it. Just but without the baked beans. Yeah, It's like you did not want to be standing downwind on that platform last night. It's quite funny. Maybe that's just my sense of humor and I'm an exceptionally juvenile individual.
Mike Dowling
55:26 - 56:12
Right so very quickly our next match is obviously Tuesday night where it is if they either team winning 90 minutes we are sorry Rodrigo if you're going to listen to that it's 90 not 90 so it's whichever team wins in 90 minutes goes through theoretically I believe a win on penalties could go through, but it would have to be something like a six-all-plus draw for that to happen. So basically, whoever wins in 90 minutes can get through anything else. Both teams are out. But Hartlepool, they upset us a couple of months ago. We can see some goals.
Mike Dowling
56:12 - 56:28
We were talking about defensive performances. Dan, how do you feel that's going? I mean, they had a chance to go above us yesterday, I think if they'd won by 2 or 3, they didn't, they drew. So they're quite close to us. How do you see the game going?
Dan
56:29 - 57:03
It's gonna be another tough 1. I mean, it looks like Lenny Lawrence has certainly got them a lot more settled than when we went up there. I didn't get to go to the game up there from but from what I was told and what I saw of the highlights. I mean, first half we we should have been out of sight on them. And just again, those sort of early seasons, frailties I suppose are the best way to put it. We didn't quite deal with some situations and let them back into the game. But they've not exactly set the world alight either since.
Dan
57:04 - 57:18
So we do need to start winning at home more consistently. So hopefully it'll be an opportunity to get another win on the board and just get that. It just improved the home record a bit, a little bit more which we've got to do if you want to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
Mike Dowling
57:19 - 57:24
Okay. Give us a prediction. The prediction league that you're not involved in.
Dan
57:27 - 57:29
Let's go with a 2 nil home win.
Mike Dowling
57:29 - 57:39
So you know, lovely Jr standard things apply. I will want a prediction from you after you tell us how you feel going, but you can obviously change your mind at any point when you enter.
Julian
57:40 - 58:41
Yeah, well I will, don't worry. Yeah, well I was there at Hartleaf Hall and it was very disappointing because we thought we'd done another south end and we didn't. It fell apart but we're a different side now. I really believe that we've turned a corner and we could really go on a run. I really like the confidence of the side. So, yeah, Hartley-Paul have changed a little bit. They're not conceding as many goals, but I think we might be too strong for them. It's going to be a tough game obviously, they're all very difficult but I just fancy us to maybe sneak a little win although that's not what's, I think 2-1, but I won't put that on the prediction, I'll do something different on that, but just because I always get the predictions wrong, so I'm quite happy.
Julian
58:43 - 58:55
So yes, I'll go 2-1. And obviously Will Davis is going to score the first goal. Everybody's going to put Will Davis because, you know, he is. I'm Just going with him every time and that's the only points I'm getting
Mike Dowling
58:58 - 59:35
Season and it was will yeah Could it be Dylan who knows? I'm gonna go free now. I just don't go big because I reckon it'll be tight You're quite right, but then I reckon we'll take the lead. They'll start pushing or hit them twice on the right. So prediction 3-0. So we're gonna wrap up this episode. As always, thanks to everyone for your attention and your feedback. Get involved in knowing me, knowing you segment. What's the most unusual place you've seen someone wearing a Sutton United shirt? Well, I've said it all Sutton United merchandise doesn't have to be a shirt and follow like share this episode At some podcast on social media.
Mike Dowling
59:35 - 1:00:02
Don't forget to subscribe blah blah blah. Give us the thumbs up, especially on YouTube and We will be back after the Harley pool match with Rory and Claire. I have double checked Rory is aware it's a home match so you see so he will be on it and as always thank you to the sponsors LuckystarGin big thank you to you guys of Dan and JR and thanks to listeners hope you've enjoyed this episode of Sutton Podcast take care and goodbye Take care and goodbye. See you soon. Bye
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