The Lounge

[Windlesham Don]

Sadly, having slept on it, my feelings of annoyance and frustration at yesterday’s result remain. In our position we cannot afford to throw away vital points, but that is exactly what we did yesterday.

I arrived at the ground debating whether I preferred seeing Wordsworth, Sanders and Rudoni in the centre of midfield, or Reilly instead of Rudoni who could be released from the bench for the last half hour.

How on earth we managed to lose Wagstaff to a ‘niggle’ (hopefully not the same ‘niggle’ that is keeping Appiah with his feet up!), as well as having both Wordsworth (again!) and Sanders not fit enough to start, I will never know. A depression filled the KM bar as we took in the starting XI…

However, we started quickly and dominated the early stages. The first Fleetwood goal came against the run of play and whilst Sorenson was being treated for a head cut, from which he failed to recover. Nothing creative about it, just a scramble where we didn’t get the rub of the green.

We continued to dominate and deservedly equalised when the excellent Rudoni weaved across the area and crossed for McLoughlin to head home.

At this point a word about Jack Rudoni. I messaged a friend of mine at half time saying that I felt Rudoni’s performance had been the finest 45 minutes I’d seen from a Dons’ youngster. I stick to this view and IMO he was MotM, despite only playing 3/4 of the game.

His first touch is excellent, he is two footed, energetic and positive with no little skill. If he continues to develop at his current rate then we will not keep him past the summer…

Unfortunately, Rudoni’s performance simply highlighted the pale shadow of his former self that is Anthony Hartigan, who really should be given a rest as he seems to be feeling the pressure.

Back to the match and up to 60 minutes we continued to dominate. However, at this point Fleetwood began to come back into the match. IMO this was the stage to introduce Wordsworth or Sanders for the disappointing Hartigan, to refresh the midfield which we had dominated thanks largely to Rudoni and Reilly.

This change wasn’t forthcoming and Fleetwood started to get a foothold in the game. When our change finally came it was a perplexing one, with Rudoni withdrawn for new boy Ramy. Ramy was isolated on the wing and full control of the centre of the pitch handed to Fleetwood. When the goal came it was no real surprise, that we immediately brought on Roscrow after the goal was a classic case of shutting the door once the horse has bolted!

So, 18 shots and 17 corners managed to produce one shot on target. We are toothless up front, but all the more reason to protect those valuable draws, especially if all the sides below you in the table are losing! Annoying and frustrating…

One final point, McLaughlin picked up the sponsors MotM and although he did OK in general, one viewing of Fleetwood’s winner shows a horrible, weak attempt at a tackle which allowed the match-winning cross. Meanwhile the real MotM was warming down after a superb 75 minutes…

[liamwimbo]

Hi All, been quiet on here recently, so thanks to John and Colum for their recent contributions.
As I write, it is just before our away game at Rotherham. As important as that is, it is even more important to focus on something else, namely the success of the Plough Lane bond. I’m absolutely amazed we are so close to £5m. I chucked in £2K as I always thought it would need significant input from our fanbase to get NPL over the line.
On a more personal note, I have both my brother and the semi-legendary Dave K staying with me at the moment.
We are are having a Wombles-in-Adelaide get together on Monday 17th Feb. Meeting at the Griffen in Hindmarsh Square at 5.30 then dinner at Amalfi’s. All South Australian Wombles are welcome to join us.

[liamwimbo]

Wombles in Young and Jackson’s

[onyadon]

What an astonishing response from fans/aficionados/investors to take up OVER 5 million pounds in the Plough Lane Bond in little over a month. With more than 30,000 pounds to be added from the alternative We Are Wimbledon fund for smaller investors the take up more than exceeds the 5 million target to help pave the way for other investments to make up the 11 million pound shortfall for the completion of Plough Lane stadium. It now positions the club to seek a greatly financially reduced and improved environment for the extra funds to be sought through a commercial lender. There is also the possibility of other fund-raising initiatives apart from commercial loans to achieve the goal. Importantly, the prospect (some may say – threat) of seeking capital from outside investors and thereby jeopardising the fans-owned club model has greatly receded following the extraordinary success of the Plough Lane Bond. The completion date of the new stadium is still not entirely clear, although we can probably rule out the prospect of kicking off the start of next season at Plough Lane. Some day August-ish, some suggesting later than that. But the important, and positive, news is that the concerns pre-Christmas of actually completing the new ground have all been vanished given this fans-driven bond initiative. Even the organisers of the bond have been blown away by its overwhelming success. The next few weeks should tell us more. These are exciting and definitive times for AFC Wimbledon.

[MacWomble]

Wow – who would have thought that raising huge sums of dosh was that easy. Maybe Wimbledon fans are typical of southeners, being more cashed-up than the northern monkeys? Let’s hope the extra costs of the stadium is not being gobbled up by the corporate suites, boxes and viewing areas. As for the 5-0. Ouch! Still a long way to go Wimbledon. COYD.

[Windlesham Don]

Exciting times at the moment with the new stadium now looking secure and apparently due for completion late August/early September. The latest picture I saw actually showed earth being deposited on the pitch!

On field, the boys produced a superb display to deservedly beat Gillingham and in the process stop the whingeing of their hateful management team.

Today sees the visit of doomed Bolton, propping up the rest of the table and with the worst away record in the division. We now have most of our injured players back, with only Nightingale and Osew not available for selection. This has to be a comfortable three points, surely? If only. That is not the Wimbledon way as we all know – when the odds are stacked against us we come up trumps, but when presented with what should be a comfortable afternoon it never is…

Central midfield will be key today, with the three who started at the Priestfield (Reilly, Hartigan and Wagstaff) being pressed by Wordsworth, Rudoni and Sanders. I actually prefer the latter three in terms of talent, but Wordsworth is unlikely to be match fit and Hartigan seems to be the recipient of George Francomb’s incriminating pictures of the manager!

Appiah finally seems to be getting back into the rhythm of playing, which has taken some of the weight off of the Pigs’ shoulders. Defensively, we still look nervous and vulnerable to the odd stupid mistake at times.

Much as I’d love to witness a comfortable victory, my prediction is a dominant performance marred by a couple of defensive cock-ups.

AFCW 2 (Pigott, Appiah) Bolton 2, Att 4670.

COYD!!

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