The Lounge

[liamwimbo]

Another impressive performance by the Dons yesterday to secure a point at one of the better teams in the division. Was not a great game but the team worked very hard for each other and restricted Barnsley to just a few shots. For me, Will Nightingale was MotM, but one thing about the current line up is that it is very much a team performance. Hanson again was disappointing but hopefully will come good. Away days are always fun, especially when the result is good and I shared it with fellow Dons, including the legendary Dave Kenwery. COYDs

[Singapore Don]

Great to see you at another away day Liam – that’s three already we’ve shared this season! And good to meet Dave. My goodness the team had to be good at Barnsley, and they delivered. We were disciplined and resolute against a very impressive ex Championship side who were incredibly quick and powerful, giving us no time on the ball at all. Our back four were outstanding, with Oshilaja once again leading by example with amazing tackles and blocks. He is the rock of our team. Barcham worked tirelessly and his tracking back and defensive work was terrific. Wagstaff adds know-how, energy and an attacking instinct which helped break up play and drive us forward. Appiah had a great game too and was unlucky to have his goal ruled out; if he was off side it must have been by millimetres! It was a beautiful passing move which slotted him through. Hanson I agree Liam didn’t have a great first half, but I thought he was excellent in the second half: like Barcham tracking back, breaking up play, and adding some defensive might to the team effort. Very solid. I thought he showed himself to be a great team player. The two disappontments for me were Soares and Trotter in midfield. They were back to the displays of last season, off the pace (which was very quick), giving the ball away needlessly with inaccurate, hasty passes, and generally looking out of place against such a quick opposition. Hopefully a blip for them. But, hey ho, we got the valuable point, and deservedly so, and once again it was a joy to watch our Dons playing as a cohesive, united group, all fighting for each other in a real team effort. It makes you proud to be a Womble 😀💛💙

[Windlesham Don]

Finally getting along to my first competitive game of the season on Tuesday. Hope to see Pete, Liam and even Dave if you are around – keep an eye out for me.

Great to see the team really pulling together at the moment. Although it looked from the highlights that Barnsley were pretty wasteful in front of goal, it is also difficult to see how Kwesi could have been offside for what would have been a sublime goal. Also, looked like a decent shout for a penalty when the defender was grabbing handfuls of Kwesi and his shirt, instead of playing the ball!!

Walsall will be interesting opponents – tipped to go down (with us) by many, they have also got off to a flying start. It will be tight, but I would hope that we could pick up a win.

COYD!!

[Devon Womble]

At the risk of being labelled an armchair critic (I accept rebukes from present company), that was poor. Yet what it did reveal (for me watching on ifollow) was that:
1> McDonald had absolutely no control over the back four, who, irrespective of the two own goals, were almost completely dysfunctional as a unit. King knew that too and virtually bypassed them for most of the latter part of the second half; only the unfortunate Sibbick would I give credibility to and that for his turn of speed rather than his hesitant passing.
2> Meanwhile, Trotter largely reverted to last years form of simply dabbing the ball off and doing little else…. certainly not Captain material by any measure. In fact, it was embarrassing to watch Hartigan in his short cameo appearance, take over complete control of our midfield. It is, I believe, something of a mark of respect when the opposition backs off of a player, and that’s what they did with Hartigan… He had all the time in the world to pinpoint his telling passes. Trotter out, Hartigan in. Period.

Surprisingly, I don’t really blame NA for the result (I know right?)… even though he was too late in subbing again (almost reverting to last year’s type). Personally, I think he knew we didn’t have it in us to get the point back let alone win, and therefore didn’t see a reason to risk recovering players … which suggests he must also have figured out who failed and what he needs to do about that… Getting more of our youngsters out there is paramount, and locking in Oshi equally so, yes Mr. A?

[liamwimbo]

Today against Sunderland is undoubtedly the most anticipated home fixture of the season. Has somewhat of a Cup Tie feel about it as Wimbledon will be the underdogs, so getting even a point would be a good result. Thought the Dons were unlucky against Walsall. They played nearly as well as the previous three league games, but we’re undone by unfortunate mistakes. Like the other games, they got plenty balls into the box and had lots of shots. But of course most of these were off target. There are two concerns at the moment. Firstly we do not have a natural goalscoring predator in the opposition’s 6 yard box. Pigott has done well, Appiah not so well and Hanson has been disappointing. Secondly, the absence of Deji at the back. The transfer rumours are very strong and that can’t be a good thing.
So I will go along today more in hope than expectation, but will do my best to support the team.
COYDs

[Windlesham Don]

Agree with your thoughts, Liam. I’d write off Tuesday’s result due to the freak nature of the goals conceded. I am convinced that if we had equalised during the half hour period of intense pressure then we would have gone on to win the match – sometimes it is just football and you have to accept it.

As for today, Sunderland are starting to rumble into gear and should be too good for this division this season. They took the Gills apart on Tuesday (although aided by some poor defending) and demonstrating their financial clout, decided to stay down south for the rest of the week to prepare for today!

I’d like to see Deji start, and I’d also like to see Pinnock and Wagstaff on the wings to protect our full backs – bring Barch on for the last 20 minutes if we need to, but don’t allow him to leave Purrington exposed.

I’d take you hand off for a draw, but I’m not expecting to get one.

COYD!!

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