The Lounge

[rob]

Blackburn was the first game I have seen this season. Here are my thoughts. George Long seemed to fit the bill. Baz seems constantly in danger of conceding free kicks or penalties. You admire his commitment but I think he is getting towards the end. The centre backs both looked solid with Oshilaji catching the eye. Francomb and Barcham were a formidable defensive duo at the back and offered some quality going forward. After the first 2 minutes Hartigan was outstanding. Amazing energy. He can certainly fill the void left by Reeves. Trotter was largely anonymous and didn’t look very effective defensively or offensively. Taylor worked hard for the team and just needs a goal to spark his season. Appiah did what he is paid to do and scored. He also seemed willing to work hard so seems like a good signing. Macdonalds didn’t get much time but was not very impressive in the time he had. I thought Ardley managed the team and the match superbly. Overall it was a very encouraging performance. Also great to see so many young lads on the bench. The future might just be bright! Now all that is required is a win on Friday……

[Colum]

I hope that the intensity and volatile atmosphere we experienced last March is duplicated on Friday. We shouldn’t let time dilute the wrong that was done. Let’s make Kingsmeadow the place they will never want to come and play at.

[MacWomble]

From a huge distance, I’m predicting a relatively straightforward 3-1 win to the Wombles. Milton Keynes have lost their mojo of late – they had some good young talent, but sold them for journeymen from the globe. I think we will be much the hungrier, and the fans will be in a mood. But you know, easy as it is to target one’s anger against a club that you have to play, I still feel that the likes of Koppell and those two useless Norwegian owners and that useless Norwegian manager, should be more the target. Ah well, as I look around me, there are 23 million who have never even watches a football match. I live in a nation with no professional football league and I cannot recall seeing a soccer field. I hope you all have a good game!

[Colum]

One word sums up last night. Fuck!

Once again our defensive frailties down the right were exposed. Both goals came from Mr Fuller getting caught up field and unable to get back. At lease we scored their first. The cross was going nowhere, but poor old George seemed to be unsure which foot to use, and before he could decide it was in the back of the net. Their second was well taken. They had two chances in the first 45 and took them. By contrast we had several and took none. Admittedly their keeper made a good penalty save, and we hot the bar.

Elsewhere up front we were clueless. Barcham did his cameo and delivered a fair few crosses, but no one got near them. Likewise Lyle Taylor. Poor old Appiah hardly touched the ball before going off injured. McDonald tried hard but we’re not playing to his strength. He needs to run onto a ball in space. We lumped it up in the air and expected him to be Tom Elliott.

Once again Hartigan’s light shone brightly. One 30 yard cross field ball he brought down with on touch, shimmied past an opponent and made a simple and effective pass out wide was sublime. Forrester created half chances late on, but it wasn’t enough.

Going home the police blocked off Kingston Road for 20 minutes to allow the away fan coach away under escort. No doubt that endeared the boys in blue to Dons fans and those trying to get home from a night out.

To top it all the EFL may charge the club under regulations 3.4 and 3.5. It was shit evening from start to finish.

[liamwimbo]

Obviously disappointed about the result (especially after the high of seeing the mighty Crows reach the AFL Grand Final only hours previously) but these things happen.

But flabbergasted and angry that we have defend ourselves against not using the word Dons in relation to Franchise. Surely the much bigger crime is standing meekly by letting that Frankenstein club be created in the first place.

[Windlesham Don]

After a few days to reflect on my first experience of a home game against the Franchise (I was on hols last season), here are my personal thoughts on the evening.

Setting aside the 90 minutes, I found the entire evening quite depressing and if we are in the same division next season then I doubt that I will go along. I have always maintained that I would never go to their retail park, but I would not let them stop me going to my ground to support my team. However, the additional security for me completely changed the atmosphere at the ground.

Firstly, we had to present our ticket for inspection when entering Jack Goodchild Way – OK fair enough. But then every time we wanted to enter a bar the ticket needed to be produced again – overkill or what?

During the game stewards were stationed all around the ground, including being crouched down behind the hoardings in the main stand.

On leaving the ground a couple of minutes early (as I could bear to see the visiting ‘Customers’ celebrating), cars were not allowed to turn right out of the ground. This produced the almost comical sight of cars being directed left and almost immediately throwing U-turns in the middle of the road to proceed riht, causing more congestion than if we were allowed to turn right in the first place!

The final depressing sight of the evening was the set of five ‘Customer’ coaches parked near the ground. These were being ‘protected’ by eight (yes, eight!) police riot vans, accompanied by around 100 men in full riot gear, topped off with 3 mounted police!

I SO wanted to stop my car and ask the officers whether protecting coaches was what they had in mind when joining the force, but thought better of it…

The absence of this type of security for 99% of our games is for me one of the joys of supporting Wimbledon. In future I think I will leave this fixture to others with thicker skins than myself…

[Author]

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