The Lounge

[Singapore Don]

Rob, as John says, such drinking and ill discipline would explain the sidelining of the four players. The drinking might also explain Pinnock’s inability to last 90 minutes on the pitch, and could well explain why Pigott was reportedly throwing up at half time against Portsmouth! Perhaps he wan’t sick, just badly hung over 🙁

Whatever the truth, such reports only reinforce the general malaise enveloping our floundering club.

[Colum]

What’s sad to me is that I’ve stopped caring about the results of games I can’t attend. I’ve an air of acceptance of an early goal caused by a defensive mistake, followed by countless wasted chances, and a breakaway goal to complete the defeat. That way should we gain a point, it seems so much better.

We’ve said in the past that the AFCW Board have been slow to react when the big decisions need to be made. It’s now time to at the very least give an ultimatum to the management of expectations and the implications of not meeting them. If I was them, I’d be looking for points against Luton (one), Shrewsbury (three) and Southend (one) plus a resounding FA Cup win. We can’t expect anything against the likes of Doncaster and Peterborough. Perhaps even getting a draw against Luton and Southend is beyond us.

It’s a sad state of affairs, but we have to improve quickly or else. Having December to recruit new management, and allow them the whole of the January transfer window to put things right, must be the way to go. I really wanted Ardley to lead us out when we return to Plough Lane, but I want to do that as a League One club. In a choice between club and manager, the club always wins. Neal Ardley will go down as a Wimbledon legend both as a player and manager, but I don’t want him to have relegated from League One on his CV.

[MacWomble]

We are only 4 points behind where we were last season. Even if we lose the next game that gap remains. Hardly panic stations, i.e. we’ve always been a bit shit. Ditching the gaffer Ardley would be a big mistake. “Down with the Palace, you’r going down with the Palace” and all that. The malaise would seem to emanate from some of the immature players. High time they were given the boot and some young turks or old goat given a chance to build or resurrect a career. A bit of tough love from the gaffer and things will pick up. Oh yeah, and someone that can score goals.

[Windlesham Don]

So a question for you all: How do you think the club/management team should handle the 4 rogue squad members who have presumably broken club drinking rules?

The hard line would be to terminate their contracts (and send King back to Millwall with a black mark against his name). However, the new loan window rules would mean that none of those sacked could be replaced until January – big risk.

Would it be possible to ‘divide and conquer’? Break up the group and try to get those with a promising future back onside?

The lack of leaders in the squad has been apparent for a while, and if these 4 are regularly drinking close to match days then it would explain some of the issues we have been having.

There is a disease in the squad at the moment and it needs to be cut out for us to survive. The question is, how best to achieve it…

[Devon Womble]

A very good question Windlesham.
My gut feel is that the youngsters in the group (ie Piggott) are being led by someone else within the group. I want to point the finger at either King or Wordsworth. People like Piggott have pretty much hit the big time in their career… he must know he’s the only one scoring, is popular with the fans etc etc.
So, if I were NA, (and I don’t think he has the balls to do it), I would hold court and get to the bottom of it. The penalty being ‘career over’ if you don’t tell the truth. Piggott I think would realise the price and come clean. Then, whoever is responsible is terminated. Period.
Those remaining should then given one last chance to perform …and in no uncertain terms.
What saddens me most about this is that it has taken a supporter to publicly demonstrate to the management how out of control things are. If ever there was a case for the wholesale dismissal of that management, this is it.

[Colum]

Today’s game had a strange atmosphere. Before the game, and until we went 1-0 down, Neal Ardley’s name was repeatedly chanted in a positive way. It seemed like the majority of fans were willing to let him get us out of this almighty mess.

That all changed with the goal. It was a sloppy goal really. Our midfield went missing – where did we hear that before – and all of a sudden Luton had two men alone at the edge of the box. Their scorer scuffed his shot, but it did enough to go in.

All of a sudden the mood changed. Not even the sight of Diver Hylton missing a penalty cheered me up, although it is definitely worth watching again and again. The inevitable second game as we chased the game, but in truth we were well beaten. We had one shot all game and Luton had several good chances to score by half time.

So the navel gazing starts afresh. If rumours are true, Ardley had his resignation refused by the club board on Tuesday, but they gave him the next two games to improve things. On today’s performance, he’s as good as gone already.

It’s interesting that it has been Simon Bassey who’s done a lot of the video interviews of late. Is he being lined up for a caretaker role until we recruit someone new?

[Author]

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