Sutton United are back, and that's a rather nice way to start.
Mike is joined by Sarah and Dan to look back at Sutton's 3-0 opening-day win away at Woking, with more than 500 travelling Sutton fans getting to enjoy three goals, a clean sheet and a performance that gave us plenty to be encouraged about.
But first, the important stuff. The away support, the heat, the struggle to get a drink at half-time and, of course, the unmistakable aroma of Woking's open-air toilets...
Then we get into the football and ask the obvious question: were Sutton good, or were Woking bad?
We look at what felt different from last season, particularly Sutton's shape, togetherness and defensive organisation. Will Nightingale's experience and leadership gets plenty of praise, while Dan Urpens' performance, positional flexibility and genuinely dangerous long throw give us another weapon to get excited about.
The late withdrawals of Alex Kirk and Charlie Carter meant an unexpected reshuffle before kick-off, but Sutton barely seemed affected. We discuss what that says about the depth of the squad, Noah Nzuzi getting the nod ahead of Kevin Donkor, and the increasingly difficult selection decisions facing Steve Agutter.
There's also Omar Mussa's stunning free kick, Temi Babalola's contribution without getting on the scoresheet, and something Sutton haven't always had enough of in recent years: pace. Sam Folarin and David Ogbonna give this side a genuine threat in transition, with Ogbonna's goal showing exactly what can happen when defenders are invited into a foot race.
We also discuss Spike Brits' remarkably uneventful senior competitive debut, the Jake Taylor effect and whether the experienced heads added this summer are already making Sutton look like a more mature side.
Finally, attention turns to Altrincham at home next Saturday. After such a good opening day, can Sutton finally improve a home record that simply hasn't been good enough?
And then the dangerous question...
Has one game changed our expectations for the season?
Chapters
0:00 Welcome back to Sutton United Talk Time
2:45 Atmosphere and away support at Woking
6:15 Were Sutton good, or were Woking bad?
11:30 Discipline, physicality and avoiding silly mistakes
15:45 Sutton's defensive shape and organisation
21:20 Late injuries and squad depth
26:10 Will Nightingale's leadership and goal
31:40 Dan Urpens and the long throw
37:15 Noah Nzuzi and competition for places
42:50 Omar Mussa's free kick and midfield role
48:20 Babalola, Folarin and Sutton's attacking options
53:10 Spike Brits and the Jake Taylor effect
57:30 Looking ahead to Altrincham and improving our home form
1:00:00 Have our expectations changed?
What did you make of Sutton's performance at Woking? Were we good, were they bad, or a bit of both? And has the opening day changed your expectations at all?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
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