The Lounge

[onyadon]

Interesting how much Karleigh Osborne’s loss for the season (knee injury) will affect Wimbledon’s momentum heading into a crunch batch of matches which will play a large role in the team’s play-off chances. Pressure on 18-year-old Ryan Sweeney (virus permitting) to step up with Paul Robinson in the heart of the defence, while Neal Ardley scours the market for a central defender on loan and you would hope he would have more FL experience than Sweeney, otherwise what’s the point? Would dare say whoever Ardley brings in on loan will be crucial. If the Dons are to kick on from here then you would want to keep a settled and confident side. Barnet away on Saturday won’t be a gimme, so the attitude and commitment will have to up the mark ahead of very tough schedule of games.

[Windlesham Don]

Agree that the new loanee will need to be a starter, Rob. As much as I want to give Ryan a run in the team, jumping straight in with 7 games in 3 weeks is IMO too much for a youngster, especially as there are some tough and important fixtures in the list.

Poor timing as well for both the management team and the DT board, as they would have spunked most of the remaining budget on Roos.

The question is whether the board will provide enough cash to pick up an experienced CB to see us into the playoffs, or whether the budget has run dry.

I’d like to see an experienced Championship or League 1 defender come in, as a couple of playoff ties would generate decent income. However, I’d understand if they decided not to take the risk.

It should be interesting to see who arrives…

[MacWomble]

I think we are currently four points better off than we were this time last season. And that is without Azeez and Akinfenwa truly firing. It was a 15th place finish last year, and last time I looked we were 10th and talking up the play-off chances. All somewhat unrealistic. If we did make the play-offs, then it is great experience for the players. But I’d hate to think of the shake-ups in management and team and finances that would be required if for some bizarre reason we ever got promoted. Are we ready for that? Anyway, that is silly talk – we are in a fantastic position, which is about as much as the pundits wished for at season’s start. Perhaps this is our most solid performing season since returning to the League? And all the Ardley-out talk has ebbed away for the mo. I think this is As Good as it Gets for the season. Perhaps we can offload Bayo to the Bayou: sell him to Beckham for his Miami franchise, to South Carolina Wednesday, AFC West Virginia or wherever, and get a wad of cash? Happy days folks!

[Devon Womble]

Careful with that “South Carolina” talk MacWomble… I shall be emigrating to live there in a few weeks time, besides which, that state is the original ‘dixie’ state and settles most arguments with a gun lol! (Not that I personally ever intend to own one of them damn things.)
However, if my family over the border in North Carolina can get to see clubs like Liverpool and AC Milan pansy around at Charlotte City’s ‘Bank of America Stadium’, I think if we make the play-offs, at least one of those matches should be played in Charlotte. (Ground Capacity 70,000), think what we could do with that money…
My last note for now is on NA. Being in the ‘anti’ club, I still remain uncertain about his abilities. Luton, our best performance all season, was still lacking in areas according to NA, and while perfection should always be the dream, it is just that, especially on our budget. His response to a commanding performance should have been ecstatic, it wasn’t. Still, it was an inspired gesture to get our first team to watch the youngsters play Chelsea… seems they learned a lot from that game…

[Windlesham Don]

Ouch! A couple of negative posts, boys! I am firmly in the ‘pro’ camp and also feel that we have a realistic chance of a top 7 finish.

I have to disagree on Devon’s assessment of the Luton game – the scoreline may have been impressive, but having been at the 2-0 demolition of Notts County a few weeks before, this was a far better all round performance than the Luton one which still had a few KM nerves issues.

For those in far flung parts, there does appear to be a momentum building this season amongst the fans. Almost 700 travelled to Notts County creating a fantastic atmosphere, and the home end was full for the visit of Yeovil. Today it again looks like the team will be supported by a 1000+ following, so it just needs the boys to perform on the pitch.

4 points from today and Tuesday and I’ll be satisfied.

COYD!!

[Colum]

Three points down. Just one to go after Barnet. All the talk of getting to the playoffs intrigues me. Yes we have a real chance. We’ve at least one game in hand over the teams above, and we are a team in form. If we get there, there is a good chance we could get promoted. Maybe it isn’t as good a chance as some others, but in these one off games anything could happen. If we get promoted, there is little doubt we would be a financial minnow in League One. To me it comes down to whether we’d like to get promoted, struggle, and get relegated, or just tread water for a couple of seasons. I know which one I’d go for.

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