The Lounge

I’ve decided to spruce up the web-site a wee bit (even with our new logo – any comments?). Another new feature is the single thread forum, so you can jump on and have your say, ask a question or just read what is being said. As I always say the forum is only as strong as what you make of it, so I would urge you to contribute and regularly to keep it all worthwhile. BTW, if you want to check something in the old forum it is now archived and the link is below… Okay let’s hear from you …

Looking for the old forum? You can view the read-only archived version here.

• This topic was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by  Adam Dodds.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by  Adam Dodds.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by  Adam Dodds.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by  Adam Dodds.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by  Adam Dodds.

Topic

[onyadonKeymaster]

Wimbledon are still in the FA Cup after a 1-1 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers. It was a creditable performance given the Dons were without Marcus Forss (cup-tied) and a lengthy injured brigade including Anthony Wordsworth, Ryan Delaney, Max Sanders, Michael Folivi and Will Nightingale forcing Glyn Hodges to call up teenagers Jack Madelin, Zach Robinson and Finlay Macnab on to the substitutes’ bench. So the Dons have a replay at Doncaster to stay in the cup and it will be a tough ask. Given the numbers of home-grown players in the Cup squad I loved this photo posted on Twitter by gear steward Robin ‘Rocket’ Bedford, sums up where the club is heading towards the new stadium at Plough Lane…

The image that shows where #afcwimbledon is heading… great photo Rocket… @AFCWAcademy https://t.co/ROZGMDSQp9

— wombles downunder (@WDownunder) November 9, 2019

[Windlesham DonParticipant]

I travel to Kingsmeadow today in hope more than expectation. We have a crippling injury list and the removal of Forss up front leaves us toothless. It will be interesting to see the formation (not sure we have enough centre backs available to play 3-5-2 unless Jack Madelin is thrown in at the deep end…)
Doncaster are one of the better teams in our division and try to play attractive passing football. Hopefully the lousy predicted conditions and the fact that their preparation will have been disrupted by Doncaster being flooded for most of the week, will allow us to disrupt their style and turn it into a scrappy affair.
Still, there is always the Womble cup spirit and we will need all of it today to progress to the next round…

COYD!!!

[ColumParticipant]

Please don’t “beg” to differ Singapore 🙂

Having looked at the highlights I’m willing to accept I was being harsh on Kwesi. From where I stood it certainly looked like he hadn’t headed it cleanly, but I accept he did. It is just a shame his ability to gel with the fans is lacking.

His celebration was a rather OTT though, and just the sort of thing that gets opposition fans angry. There’s no need for that sort of thing. Thank God for Pigott stopping him from going further towards them.

[Singapore DonParticipant]

Sorry Colum, but I beg to differ. Appiah was perfectly positioned to execute an excellent header and score a top drawer goal. He’d been a niggly nuisance to the tiring Lincoln defence, and we should put aside preconceived views on him and give credit where it’s due. It was a great header, and certainly not mistimed.

Perhaps our new manager deserves the most credit. Two substitutes combined to deliver the goal, and putting on Appiah knowing he’s not exactly the most popular player with fans was “brave”. It was refreshing to see a sensible substitution, unlike some of Wally’s wallyish ones; and going for three up front at the end paid dividends. We really do have an attack minded gaffer.

Similarly, it was refreshing to see McLoughlin given a chance with his second half appearance; he looked up for the fight and much more of a midfield terrier than than the unfortunately not unexpected pedestrian role played by young Hartigan. (Also, that was young Osew’s worst performance to date. All their attacks came down our left side where he was woefully exposed far too often).

Yesterday showed how much we need the creativity of someone like Sanders in midfield. In the first half we managed just one shot – a long range effort by Pinnock – and this was in no small measure due to the poor service from midfield.

All in all, a really poor first half followed by a much better second half in which Forss and Pigott both came so, so close, denied by two excellent saves by Lincoln’s maddeningly time-wasting keeper. In the end, we owe Appiah, whatever people may think of him, for doing what he’s paid to do. It was a terrific header scored from an excellent position, and all credit to him for blanking the critics to do his job and get us a vital goal and a vital point.

[ColumParticipant]

When Appiah came on the pitch, there was a heavy sigh from all around me. It was an admission of defeat. Within two minutes he’d given away a petulant foul in the opposition’s penalty area, largely because he was too slow to catch the opponent. 15 minutes later with him having even touched the ball, he pops up and scores the equaliser. I don’t know who was more surprised, him or us. It wasn’t a classic bullet header. He looked like he was out of position (again), but somehow leapt to get enough on it.

As for the rest of the game, Lincoln weren’t up to much. We didn’t play very well after the first five minutes, and Lincoln’s movement out wide caused us problems. Trott made some really smart saves, but perhaps he could have done better for their goal. He started to come towards his near post, but hesitated. That left the gap which they found. 1-0 down at HT was a fair result.

The second half was a different affair. They were pegged back in their own half, and some sustained pressure resulted in a succession of corners. Their keeper made some smart saves, one particularly good one to keep out a Pigott header, but the pressure told in the end with Appiah’s mistimed header.

A draw was a fair result, but Lincoln will feel like it was two points dropped. That said, we really should be beating teams like them, especially at home. As for Appiah, perhaps he’ll unblock us on Twitter now.

[Windlesham DonParticipant]

A big Saturday for all us English fans – the Wombles v the Imps preceded by a mouthwatering appetiser as the boys take on the Springboks in the RWC final!

First the rugby and after world class displays against the Wallabies and the All Blacks England come up against the physical might of the Springboks. Unless England get on top early I don’t expect a flowing game like the QF or SF, the Springboks are likely to try and strangle England up front and win the physical battle. It would be standard practice for England to stumble at the last hurdle, but I feel that this England squad has enough mental and physical strength to nullify the physical threat of the Springboks. If we win enough ball via the set piece (and the line out is a concern) then I hope that our creativity in midfield will create enough chances to see us home…

On to the main course, and IMO Lincoln are one of the teams who we need to take points off if we are to survive. Currently just below mid-table, their form has dropped off after the departure of the inspirational Cowley brothers management team to Huddersfield. 17 points from 15 games is OK, but they began the season winning their first three games. Away from home they won on their first trip of the season, but since then they have only gained a single point from 7 matches.

Thus, they are not in great form and we should be aiming to take full points from this fixture.

However, there are a couple of flies in the ointment (aren’t there always?). Firstly, Lincoln are a big, physical side – Cian Bolger has caused us many problems in the past and will be a big danger from set pieces. Jon Akinde has been a target for us in the past and is another man mountain. We will need to defend set pieces well.

Second problem is the weather. Forecast winds of up to 50mph tomorrow could turn the match into a lottery.

All things being equal I will be looking for three points tomorrow and to be out of the relegation zone, but I believe that we may need a helping hand from the Footballing Gods to achieve it.

COYD!!

[Author]

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