Tony Russell appreciation thread

[wm]

Apr 21, 2024 11:48:28 GMT spur said:

Let Tony's comments sink in and that's one damning sign-off note.

Careful, or you'll upset people with comments like that!

[hoopsboy1]

Danny Blood and Mr King mentioned yesterday

[robm99]

Apr 21, 2024 17:40:57 GMT hoopsboy1 said:

Danny Blood and Mr King mentioned yesterday

...by whom?

[stuartnoel]

Danny has been at a couple of games recently. Not really a surprise as he still lives locally.

Steve King was at our game on Tuesday night but again, no real surprise at that. As with many managers, in work or not, he is keeping his eye out for players for when he returns to a role.

[seafordrook]

I for one am sorry that Tony is leaving. I think he has been a very good manager under the circumstances and this season has had a very limited squad to work with. The size of the crowds, the flowing style of football and a top ten finish in a competitive league isn't half bad in my book. I hope some of the players will stay. Bradley has been exceptional in midfield when he has played. I hope he can be utilised in some way next season. Lets hope the next manager gets the level of funding they deserve playing at this level of football as I assume budgeting will now be proportionate to the needs. Thanks Tony for the journey for which some of the football has been exceptional. But I still have nightmares about Three Bridges😉 Best wishes for the future . COYR

[pj]

Apr 21, 2024 19:00:07 GMT stuartnoel said:

Steve King was at our game on Tuesday night but again, no real surprise at that. As with many managers, in work or not, he is keeping his eye out for players for when he returns to a role.

Some of us had a chat with him. He was doing a bit of scouting for his mate Andy Drury at Folkestone.

[pj]

Now, I'm not criticising any previous management here. I'm sure everyone did their best with what they had. But, in my opinion, these last 3 seasons have easily been some of the best football with the best players I've seen since those heady promotion days in Conference South. I know some people are very disappointed with the team and feel they've underachieved. That may be correct, but I think that's down to high expectations when Tony took over. It's been nice being top half again rather than hoping there were 3 teams worse than us!

Thank you Tony and Joe.

[piddinghoer]

It’s been an interesting three seasons and there has been some amazing football played and some very average football. During the first of TR’s seasons, at one stage I thought they were going to win the division. I honestly thought they would not lose another game that season. I guess seventh, sixth and maybe seventh again is a good record and better than anything we’ve had in recent years. I think we would have made the playoffs this season had we held onto Joe Taylor, he’s scored 50 plus goals at Ramsgate.

I like the idea of giving players another chance in the game and it’s great that the likes of Ollie Tanner and Deon Moore have gone on to play league football.

If I have a gripe, it’s that there has been very few local players and no one has come through from the U18s in the last three years.

On balance, Thank You TR and I’m sure you will be a success wherever you end up.

[seagullhhater]

A very balanced and fair assessment piddinghoer. I must agree with all that you have said but especially the 3rd paragraph about local players and under 18’s. I believe this is something that must be addressed immediately .

[tressell]

Yes are there any players from Sussex in squad. Can't expect Lewes players but didn't they train in Kent? Didn't know we still had an u18 side.

[stuartnoel]

Apr 22, 2024 8:55:30 GMT tressell said:

Yes are there any players from Sussex in squad. Can't expect Lewes players but didn't they train in Kent? Didn't know we still had an u18 side.

First team has been training at the ground or 3G every Thursday since last summer. Unfortunately, that’s the night most U18s games take place which makes it tough to get the two sides training together.

Chris Whelpdale lives in Brighton but it’s been rare in recent years that a majority of players come from the local area - in fact it’s rare for many teams at Step 3 and even 4 to have a significant number of local players outside of London.

[captain]

Apr 22, 2024 8:55:30 GMT tressell said:

Yes are there any players from Sussex in squad. Can't expect Lewes players but didn't they train in Kent? Didn't know we still had an u18 side.

There have been occasional reports on the under 18s in the match Progcast. Unfortunately not many.

[stevet]

Apr 21, 2024 20:30:58 GMT pj said:

Now, I'm not criticising any previous management here. I'm sure everyone did their best with what they had. But, in my opinion, these last 3 seasons have easily been some of the best football with the best players I've seen since those heady promotion days in Conference South. I know some people are very disappointed with the team and feel they've underachieved. That may be correct, but I think that's down to high expectations when Tony took over. It's been nice being top half again rather than hoping there were 3 teams worse than us!

Thank you Tony and Joe.

Completely agree. Some of the best football in my 15 years following the Rooks. Its actually been entertaining to come to matches rather than doing so out of a sense of duty which was the case from 2009 until whenever Freeman took over. Sorry to see them go