The Lounge

[onyadon]

No doubt a disappointing result at Morecambe.. the win was the Shrimps 1st in 11 games, we gave them a big helping hand with our defending and didn’t put away our chances at crucial times. So three points out of the play-off positions but these kind of results do not engender confidence going forward. I would not be particularly optimistic of getting three points against York City next weekend. The Minstermen are nestling in the bottom two, logic suggests it is three points, but the Dons have these things about playing ‘lower placed’ teams at home and York City have won just ONCE away all season and are desperate for all three points to stay up. I am not sure to expect the same mindset from our boys next weekend. Still there is a new striker in place, Rhys Murphy, who has a fine scoring record at L2 level with Daggers and Creepy Crawley, and I am told to expect an experienced defender to come in this week (and it’s not Deji Oshilaja). This new fellow needs plenty of 1st team games and I suspect that Neal Ardley has sold the player’s manager that he will get them at Wimbledon, so Ryan Sweeney’s red card could not have come at a worst time for the youngster, who has done really well, but maybe the gruelling schedule is starting to hit home. NA says his team are ‘more than’ capable of winning six of the last 10 games. The trick will be convincing the players they actually can…

[liamwimbo]

Overcast, miserable day up here, with a pitch to match. First half, Shrimpers had more possession and Roos made a good save, but around the half hour mark, Dons had a good spell and Murphy really should have scored after being put through. 0-0 at half time was probably fair enough, with not a lot to get excited about.

Second half, the Dons played the prettier stuff, but seemed to lack commitment. A series of corners, in which Roos looked very shaky, led to an attack where one of their players turned our defenders inside and laid it off for a low drive into the onion bag. Bulman and Taylor then combined well before Taylor powered into the box and thudded the ball against a post. Almost straightaway, Sweeney pulled back one of theirs in the box. Red card and penalty. 2-0 down. To their credit the players responded and Francomb finished off a good move from outside the box. Azeez had a difficult chance to snatch a point but blazed over, like he did whenever I saw him last season.

All in all, a bit depressing. Barry and Taylor did well, but midfield was poor and we lost to a bad team. Entertainment factor was 2/10 so better than Accy! Can’t see the Dons making the play-offs from here after that.

[MacWomble]

Just how much does Bayo cost us? I wouldn’t have a clue what the going rate is. Perhaps, Devon Womble, there is a decent team in North Carolina that Bayo could play for? FC Asheville Akinfenya? I’m not sure he has marketed himself that well this season. Was there an American Womble? But, who knows, a purple patch from the Big Womble would be a tonic for the troops this season. But, as has been mentioned before, if The Gaffer can keep a cool head and produce enough to keep us 8th, 9th, then we would all call that an acceptable season and he could live to manage another day. Promotion would be an absolute disaster for him in the long run, though is Steve McLaren looking for a new job? COYD.

[onyadon]

Deji Oshilaja has gone back to Gillingham on loan, so we can move on from there. Hearing Ardley is close to a decision on a loan defender. It is likely to be summer target Darius Charles, who decided against signing for the Dons after being swung by the sales pitch of (then) Burton manager Jimmy Hasselbaink to sign with the L1 club instead. Charles has subsequently not played for the Brewers this season. He has been injured, but is playing in a number of non-1st team games to build up his fitness. Hence the opportunity for Ardley and the Dons. There is an element of risk involved in all this; Charles has yet to get the final okay from current Burton manager Nigel Clough. But he needs games and Wimbledon can offer him that, now that youngster Ryan Sweeney is out for his inopportune (for him) red card at Morecambe. Darius Charles is a very experienced CB (and can also play striker!!). There is some upside in this for the Dons, if he can get a run of games together. But of course, there is a risk. Obviously, that is why Ardley may have the opportunity to get him on loan at all. We’ll see what’s decided probably Tuesday in UK. Interested in your thoughts, peeps…

[Windlesham Don]

It’s probably too soon to call tomorrow a ‘must win’ fixture, but in truth failure to take 3 points from a York team who have the worst away record in the league and who look doomed to relegation, will destroy the confidence of players and supporters alike.

The acquisition of Darius Charles is a boost, but for what it is like to come into League football after a year out injured we only need to cast our minds back to the travails of Karleigh Osborne at the start of the season. Darius needs to start much quicker than Karleigh did if we are to make the top 7.

With everyone fit in the squad, Charles must start and NA’s big decision is whether to bring back fit again Tom Elliott or stick with loanee Rhys Murphy. I suspect he will go with the loanee, although that would be harsh on Elliott, who has been excellent since Christmas. However, if we are not ahead on the hour the prospect of the pace and power of Elliott and Azeez coming off the bench will strike fear into the opposition centre backs.

I feel that we will scrape a victory tomorrow and keep the playoff hopes flickering for another week. I just wish we had Deji at the back for the rest of the season…

COYD!!

[Colum]

Until Tom Elliott came on we struggled to keep the ball up front. His addition was the game changer. He won headers and brought others into play, something we really struggled with.

I must add that the Kingsmeadow pitch is pretty dreadful. It doesn’t help our playing style.

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