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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

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  • #14798
    liamwimbo
    Participant

    Only a few hours til KO, but late evening here so heading to bed.
    Thanks to Colum, Pete and John for keeping us down under up to date.
    There seems to be a feeling of cautious optimism about coming season. A point, or even better, a win tonight would be very welcome.
    Keep safe and keep well, all you Dons fans out there.

    #14799
    Windlesham Don
    Participant

    A display of promise yesterday. The opposition were typical League 2 and at times it looked like ‘old Wimbledon’ v ‘new Wimbledon’ with their hoof ball ‘charge of the light brigade’ attacking ‘style’!

    With a little more quality finishing we could have been clear by half time, with both Longman and McLoughlin wasting golden chances.

    Tzanev must have had a brain freeze when setting up the wall for their equalising free kick – possibly like some of you I was screaming at the screen to set his wall up properly, but no. Apart from that incident he was competent and his distribution was good.

    Joint MotM for me were Chislett and Longman, both added a quality in attack that we haven’t seen for a couple of seasons. Sadly, they were replaced by Hartigan and Roscrow after 75 mins and our chances of 3 points ended there…

    Reilly and Woodyard both looked decent in midfield, but against a side normally bypassing this area it was difficult to form a firm opinion.

    Possibly 2 points dropped rather than a point gained, but there were many positives and the group with go into next week’s game against Plymouth in good heart.

    Hopefully by then Palmer will be fit enough for a place on the bench, as he will give us another dimension in attack. With Trueman, Nightingale, Oksanen and hopefully Rudoni also competing for starting places this squad looks the most exciting we have had in League 1.

    Roll on next week…

    #14800
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Signing #8 .. Young Hungarian left-sided centre-back Daniel Csoka (Pron: Chooo-kah) in a permanent signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

    The 20-year-old was signed after a trial against QPR.
    Glyn Hodges said: “Daniel can play as a left-sided centre half, but he can also play as a left wing-back, and he has played in midfield. I keep making the point about having players who can play in different positions and there are a few positions that we can play Daniel in. League One will definitely be different for him to the Premier League 2, but we will work with him. He’s a good personality, talkative, he’s not shy, and he has a bit about him, so it’s nice when a player comes in and feels at home.”
    Csoka said: “I know that I’m coming to a League One team now and there are many challenges here, so I’m just ready to play for Wimbledon. I came here for three days and everyone was friendly and helped me a lot. I trained here and played against QPR. When I was offered the chance to sign, there was no question about me coming here. It was my aim to play first-team football from the summer, so I’m happy to sign for Wimbledon.”

    Csoka’s signing continues the squad balance that Hodges has sought with two players earmarked for every position.
    There is a possibility of one more player – likely a forward – to come in to finish the team rebuilding.

    #14801
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Melvyn Lorenzen was an interesting trialist for Wimbledon in their recent friendly against a Chelsea XI at Cobham. Lorenzen has played 14 games for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and 42 games for ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie. He played the opening half for the Dons and scored their goal in a 1-1 draw.

    I started training with Wimbledon on Monday and it was suggested that I play in the friendly match against Chelsea, Lorenzen told Goal.

    It was my first game in a long time and I had to be efficient with my energy but I played well, had a good match, was active and I scored the opening goal from a free-kick cross, flicking it into the far corner. I had a good half and I am really satisfied with what I was able to show.

    There were some good players in Chelsea’s teams and I played against both Rahman in Germany and Salter-Clarke in Holland. It was nice to compare myself with these guys after not playing for months, it showed I can play at a high level.

    I played my last match in January. I was close to signing for a new club in February until coronavirus hit so it has been eight months. It wasn’t Chelsea’s first team but they are really good players. After my experience in the Bundesliga, I wasn’t shy, I know I can compete.

    I am really certain that English football would suit me well after growing up in Germany’s academy system, with four years at Werder Bremen in a physical league, then two years in a technical league of Holland. It is a good time to come to England and show my capabilities.

    I am enjoying it at Wimbledon and I think I am also good enough to play for any team in the Championship. Ultimately I want to reach the Premier League, having already played in the German top division. Some clubs may have doubts but I think I showed yesterday that I can do it. I just need the chance.

    It’s problematical whether Wimbledon will have the money to sign Lorenzen – maybe he just needs a start somewhere to show what he can do – but at least they will have first crack at him if they were interested with some money rolling in from the club’s ticket debenture scheme. He has put himself in the shop window and maybe the Dons might have some competition for him .. we’ll see.

    Trial star Lorenzen wants to crack English football

    #14802
    Colum
    Participant

    The negativity directed towards the iFollow platform proved unfounded as I sat down to watch a Dons game on it for the first time. Registering was effortless (if a little user unfriendly) and the coverage was really fairly good. The on screen adverts for both clubs sponsors were a bit annoying, but you really couldn’t complain.

    As for the game, well it was a great one for the unbiased. For Plymouth and Dons fans it was a roller coaster of emotions. Both teams will be wondering why they didn’t win the game, and both defensive coaches would be having nightmares.

    The positives so far this season are six goals in two games, when last season we only scored 39 in 34 games. We look good up front, even if we’ve only played two of the promoted teams so far. Far sterner tests will come, but I like the high pressing game, the strong central midfield partnership that’s developing between Woodyard, Reilly, and Chislett, and the work rate of Pigott who at last seems to have found someone he can play with up front in Longman.

    The negatives (apart from drawing two games from a two goal lead) include the defence. I thought Thomas had a pretty good game, but Kalambayi less so. I think he was at fault for at least one goal, but he’ll learn from this. I also feel that Nesta’s defensive work needs some work. He’s a talented player, but I think perhaps he’s better suited to a wider midfield role. As for Trueman, he couldn’t really be blamed for any of their goals and made a couple of good saves when required. It can take awhile for defenders and keeper to really understand each other, and as this was the first time they’ve played a league game together you can cut them some slack.

    I’d have taken a point before the game, but like last week it feels like two points dropped. Six points after two games would sound so much better, and we’d be top of the table on goals scored. Oh well!

    #14805
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Who would have expected this …

    Wimbledon’s season has been given a massive fillip with the season loan signing of marauding left-back Steve Seddon from Birmingham City.
    Seddon had a galvanising effect on the Dons in their Great Escape two seasons ago and those who were at Luton the night will never forget when he buried an injury-time header to prise Wimbledon a precious (as it turned out) point to delirium in the away end. [I know because I was fortunately there!]
    Seddon has been restricted to substitute appearances for Birmingham and the writing was on the wall that he would continue to be warming the bench behind preferred left-back Kristian Pedersen this season. He sought first-team football. Seddon was on loan to Portsmouth last season and was expected to join them on a full-time basis this season but Pompey were unable to stump up the fee as Covid change their financial situation drastically. Glyn Hodges has been trying to get Seddon back to Wimbledon and his perseverance paid off this week.

    When we spoke to him earlier this summer we thought we might have half a chance and it gathered momentum last week. When we had the chance to get it done it was something we were really pleased about. Steve was probably hoping to stay at Birmingham and get in the team there, but once he was told he wouldn’t be in the squad he needed to get out and play. We are delighted that he has chosen to come here again. He will provide energy up and down the flank.

    Seddon said he was sold on the prospect of Wimbledon returning to Plough Lane this season and added:”I don’t want it to be a repeat of when I was here last, I want us to be higher up the table and I’ve no doubt we will be.”

    A couple of things arising from Seddon’s loan deal. The club now have three left-backs on their books along with Nesta Guinness-Walker and Paul Osew. There have been rumours that Nesta could be a target for Championship clubs, Brentford, Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough. It is likely he will move on and hopefully for a sizeable fee which makes financial sense for the Dons and the scale of their player budget.

    There is also word that Wimbledon are still chasing a striker/winger to complete their recruitment before the close of the transfer window on October 5. A couple of possible targets have fallen through but hearing that the search goes on.

Viewing 6 posts - 1,435 through 1,440 (of 1,494 total)
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