I think being Tooting manager is probably the hardest job in Non-League football. A completely thankless job you have to do voluntary in order to get the maximum out of your playing budget. We have the biggest fan base in the league, but it isn't big enough to make any impact on increasing the playing budget.  We would need crowds of over a thousand to do that. The reason I say it is the hardest job is because of our expectations as fans. We have such great facilities, such a wealth of Youth teams. This will all take time to build as one unit. With young players coming through on merit. I know Jamie will not miss a trick and watches most under 23 games. So if he feels a player is good enough.  He won't miss the chance to play them.
When you are trying to attract senior first team players.  It's very very hard to convince them to not got to the likes of Merstham who not only pay more but are in a better division of football.  These players will want to be paid more than they are currently on to drop a division. So it's tough.
I think Jamie has built a quality squad. But any team who is trying to maximise every last penny on the best available players will struggle with 4 or 5 players injured. Dorking have suffered early this season with injury. I listen to Marc White every week. We are no different just in a lower league.
Jamie's job was to get us a squad that should compete to gain us promotion. I feel he has done that.
As I say any team would suffer with such injuries we now face.
You have to credit Simmo for trying to play with a injury. I hear the RWB has broken his foot so he will be out for ages.
Another problem I feel is the formation.  It is a very difficult ask to ask a RWB and LWB to run up and down for 90 minutes. You really need the quality to replace them after 60 minutes.  That is why they was playing so deep in the second half. They was knackered. Trying to take the ball of the CB one foot away with half the field infront and 2 players to beat before you think of crossing the ball was impossible. Their started position needs to be in front or on their rb shoulder. Our midfield was getting over run and every time the ball went backwards.
I was hoping that we would see this and when Simmo went off at 0-2 down we would of put a CB a long side Shey and played long ball. Win ugly second balls. Old school.
I have full confidence that we will be up there. It is only September. We have only lost 2 games so far.
In Jamie we trust!

Last edited by Gary Walker (14/9/2025 3:50 pm)

Ev, 20 years of the clown and his sidekicks running the Football Team into  self destruction. Jamie has inherited the Poison Chalice, poor man..