Jon Meeney spoke on the importance of making things about Sutton this weekend, as his side look to clinch their first win under his leadership as Interim Head Coach.
The U’s play host to Boston United on Saturday, and will be a big test for Meeney’s team against an opposition who came out victorious twice last season.
Fresh off a hard-fought draw with Woking on Tuesday night, the Interim boss oversaw two positive training sessions as preparation continues to come to the fore ahead of the clash with the Pilgrims.
“I’m really proud of the group” he said. “They’ve given me everything, the togetherness is there, they’re working, they’re running, the attitude’s been brilliant, and in that type of game, the fight and desire of the group was there and I can’t ask much more than the effort that they’re giving.”
“We need to use it as a springboard. When I was placed in charge, it was all about making us more defensively solid. I believe that the foundations are there, the work that we’ve been doing on the training pitch and even though we lost against Brackley, I’m told the numbers was our best defensive data returns, which is a positive, even though we still did lose from a full phase of a set piece, but it happened.”
“We then needed to use that heading into the Woking game, and again, it was another good defensive display. Now I’ve got to add the next layer where we maintain that, but I want us to be better on the ball, and we will be.”
Prep for the visit of Boston saw plenty of work being put in, with the U’s building towards a key game in their season, and Meeney spoke at length about where his team can improve.
“We’ve had two good training sessions again. Two long analysis sessions with different focuses. I like to do that, I like to set the scene. I like to show the lads things that they’re doing well. Also where we can improve, and like I say, we then recreate that on the training pitch, on relentless on the training pitch want to make players better want to make the team better.”
“Now the next layer is being better on the ball and showing that we can not only attack on the ball, not only can we retain possession of the ball, but we can move through the pitch and defend on the ball to allow us to be higher up.”
Sutton are no strangers to Boston, having lost twice to them last season, but Meeney stressed the importance of focusing on his own team and their strengths, ensuring the U’s principles come to the fore and ensuring it is Sutton who take control on Saturday afternoon.
“We know what sort of threat Boston can pose. Energy, well-organised, forward thinking, forward playing, set-piece threats, and, yeah, I don’t know what shape they’re going to play. I do my due diligence. I think they’re also trying to find that formula for their group regarding their positional requirements.”
“So my challenge to the boys is to make this game about us. Our principles, things we’ve been working on, let’s make it about us and let’s see where the game can take us.”
“We’ve got to make the game about us. This is our home turf, anyone that knows me knows I’m a brave individual. I want us to step forward. I want to get our brilliant fans on side.”
I want to start fast because I want to get our juices flowing. I want our lads to play with confidence. Just because we haven’t had the desired outcomes recently doesn’t mean we’re not doing good work and we’re not doing good things that can aid us in this game. So yeah, well done to Boston. Let’s hope it’s a well done for Sutton United come five o’clock.
This is the kind of period where everyone in the squad needs to be ready to play. Everyone needs to be ready from day one when they turned up in pre-season. It’s a long season, games are coming thick and fast, and ultimately, you only go far by being together.
Meeney’s post-match reaction at the Laithwaite Community Stadium also saw him touch on the importance of the part the supporters will play, displaying excitement at the chance to give the fans something to sing at Gander Green Lane.
“They’re brilliant, they really are brilliant, and we need the noise. We need that connection, as I said on Tuesday night, on the pitch, off the pitch, vice versa. They can keep driving the lads on.”
“I’ve challenged the lads to get them going, to get their juices flowing by our performance. I want us to start fast. I want us to get on the front foot. I want us to show personality in the opening 15 minutes, but ultimately, there’s going to be spells within the game where, do you know what? Boston, they may come here and they try and nullify us.”
“They might have a spell, which happens because that’s what teams do at any level of football. That’s when we’re going to need them even more because I want us to constantly be in the game. If we’re constantly in the game, we are going to take the game.”
