Is a new manager's arrival a genuine "clean slate" for every player, or does confidence take more than one 0-0 draw to restore?
Introduction
Welcome back to the Sutton United Talk Time on Podcast, in association with LuckySideGin, where we dive into the latest at Gander Green Lane! This week, host Mike Dowling is joined by long-standing fan and seasoned traveller Andy K. Andy offers his candid perspective on the significant changes at the club, reflecting on the departure of Steve Morison and the arrival of new Head Coach Chris Agutter. The main focus is the immediate aftermath of the Braintree Town 0-0 draw, where the Sutton squad faced terrible conditions and the pressure of a new manager's debut.
<iframe src="https://embed.acast.com/667a880d80efbb2b3711ca3f/68e2bae31300c48ae1dfe0cf?accentColor=161616&bgColor=cc8c04&secondaryColor=161616" frameBorder="0" width="100%" height="190px"></iframe>Episode Highlights
Andy was "a little sad" to see Steve Morison leave, praising his summer signings and pre-season efforts, but ultimately agreed with the "mutual consent" that it wasn't working. The Braintree match, with only "60 minutes preparation" for Agutter, resulted in a low-expectation, gritty 0-0 draw.
Clean Sheet Relief: The strongest positive takeaway from Braintree was keeping a clean sheet, something the team has "really struggled to do this season".
The Aggressive Philosophy: Agutter’s "attack, attack, attack" intention fills Andy with "confidence and horror by equal measure," noting it can only work if the defence is truly solid.
Standout Performance: Despite the team's general lack of confidence, Andy singled out David Ogbonna as "superb" and "brimming with confidence," willing to take on players when others were hesitant.
Goalkeeper Depth: Denzil Aziaya was lauded for two "absolutely superb, shot-stopping saves" against Braintree. Andy believes Aziaya is strong in shot-stopping and that Sims should be "looking over his shoulder".
Guest Insights and Interactions
The discussion kept circling back to the issue of player confidence. Andy challenged the idea that a manager can simply tell players to be brave. Instead, he suggests that a fresh start under Agutter might simplify the game, contrasting with a previous feeling that Morison’s ideas were too "complicated" for the squad to "fully take on board". The road to recovery, Andy concludes, "is going to be a slow road", with the upcoming FA Cup match against Farnham Town being vital for a confidence boost.
Key Quotes
The theme of the 'Blank Sheet of Paper' is perfectly captured in Andy's assessment of the new era: “It's a clean slate. No players have been prejudged. They're going to be viewed on with a blank sheet of paper in the same way that us fans are going to be looking at the manager in the same way.”
Other notable quotes:
"The perfect way to start is to win 6-0. I think it's a solid start." (Andy Kay, on the 0-0 draw)
"His joining interview was, yeah, kind of as you expected... The interesting one for me was his post-match yesterday where he said, on a couple of occasions, this is the worst you're going to see us play. And that's either extremely confident or extremely cocky. And I don't know which one yet." (Andy Kay, on Chris Agutter)
Takeaways
Defence First: The clean sheet at Braintree is the most important foundation for the new era, demonstrating that defensive solidity is achievable even in challenging conditions.
Trust the Process: Rebuilding confidence and implementing a new "attack, attack, attack" style will take time, requiring patience from the fans.
FA Cup Importance: Winning the upcoming FA Cup tie is seen as essential for delivering the necessary confidence boost and providing a welcome distraction from the league pressures.
Optional Call to Action
Did Agutter's debut give you confidence? Do you agree with Andy’s take on David Ogbonna? Listen to the full episode of the Sutton United Talk Time on Podcast and let us know your thoughts! Like, share, and subscribe to stick with us through the new era!
Share this post