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  • November 20, 2020 at 12:23 pm #14830
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Glyn Hodges has moved to shore up his squad’s defensive options with the acquisition of experienced free agent central defender Ben Heneghan. The 27-year-old is a huge presence at 6ft 3in and spent the last two seasons on loan from Sheffield United with Blackpool, making 80 appearances and scoring four times. Heneghan joined Sheffield United in August 2017 from Scottish side Motherwell (41 apps) for a reported £400,000 fee, yet only made one competitive appearance and was released by the Blades during the summer.

    Glyn said of his latest signing:

    He’s no-nonsense, a good size, and he’s a good professional, so he ticks a lot of boxes, and we are delighted that he has signed. Before the deadline we had targeted a centre-back, but we did not quite get that done. As we are still uncertain about the timing of Luke’s return, we are basically two down. It’s unusual to sign a player of Ben’s calibre outside the window, so we jumped at the opportunity.

    Heneghan will be the most experienced and oldest of a youthful Dons back-line and adds some aggression and leadership.

    I’m a no-nonsense defender, I head everything, get stuck in, and I see myself as a bit of a leader. I have played in this league for a couple of years now, so I know what it’s about. I will pass on my knowledge to others and try to help as much as possible, but I just want to go out there and keep as many clean sheets as possible.

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    December 22, 2020 at 2:18 pm #14868
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    The Wombles Downunder interview with Terry Brown is now up on the WDSA web-site. I rate it one of the best we’ve done over the years and am heartened by the response it has received.

    Leave the final word to Terry himself…

    I wish all out there the very best for Christmas.. it has been a tough slog this year, still some more to go but we’ll get there (the vaccine will no doubt help..)

    Aiming for the next Wombles Downunder issue to be out in early February.

    December 25, 2020 at 2:53 pm #14869
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    On Christmas Eve the new Dons Trust Board unanimously voted in Jane Lonsdale and Xavier Wiggins as Co-Chairs with Charlie Talbot filling the Vice Chair position.

    “It’s an honour to accept the position of Co-Chair – I believe Xavier and I will be able to work to our mutual strengths to the benefit of the DTB over what should be a busy but exciting 12 months,” Jane said.

    Xavier added:
    “I look forward to working with Jane and Charlie and indeed the whole Dons Trust Board. I think it’s fair to say the hard work starts here and I can’t wait to get going.”

    Charlie commented:
    “I think Jane and Xavier’s relative skillsets will complement each other and by sharing the position it really does mean we can play to our strengths while not overburdening any individual. I’m glad we were able to get this agreed earlier than has often been the case, and look forward to getting started in earnest.”

    December 26, 2020 at 10:44 pm #14870
    Windlesham Don
    Participant

    In a season of defensive cock-ups I am desperately hoping that Crewe’s winning goal last Saturday was the nadir.

    Looking at it again it was a disaster movie, a ‘Towering Inferno’ of defensive ineptitude from our centre backs!

    Having switched from 3 centre backs to 2 and having withdrawn Terell Thomas (who appears to be carrying a persistent niggling injury), we left Nightingale and Csoka to cover the centre while we chased the game.

    Having just equalised, calm heads were called for, but what we witnessed was panicky poor decision-making at a critical time.

    With 2 centre backs, a discipline in positioning is required which is not necessarily mandatory with a 3. Thus, Will’s decision to chase a ball out to our right flank – a ball which was covered by other players and which he was never getting close to winning – was awful. Sadly, it was just another example of the deterioration in Will’s play since returning from his latest injury – he has lost a yard of pace and this seems to have brought on an air of panic in his defending.

    With Nightingale effectively out of the game, the Crewe player simply put a speculative cross ‘in the mixer’. It wasn’t whipped in, more of a lob with plenty of time to defend, given good decision-making.

    Csoka had two choices: Back off, cover the knock down and gamble that the striker couldn’t beat Trueman with a header from 10 yards out (with no pace on the ball to help him), or challenge for the header and ensure that the striker didn’t get a free header.

    Of course, in a second piece of disastrous decision-making by our CBs, Csoka did neither. He left his decision to challenge too late, failed to get close to the attacker whilst simultaneously vacating the giant hole in our defence where Nightingale should have been.

    The result of these two horrendous decisions was a simple knock down and side foot finish from an attacker advancing into 10 yards of free space in our area…

    At the time I was angry. Re-watching it I was apoplectic. Coaching can only go so far – fundamental cock-ups should have been eliminated before these players left school. I have seen the manager being blamed for some of our recent performances, but there is no point blaming him for train wrecks like this – it is squarely down to the players.

    So what do we do? Will is a shadow of the player of a couple of years ago. If he cannot get back to full fitness then sadly he needs to be released. Csoka is promising, but he is fresh out of an Academy and he should not be playing as much as he is. Terell is missing the composure of last season. This may be due to a niggle, but may be due to a lack of confidence in those around him. Kalambayi has also been poor, but he also seems confined to the naughty step after the publicity surrounding his court case.

    Poor old Ben Heneghan must be wondering what he has got himself into!

    For me, the solution is a new loanee CB in the January window, but someone with experience, not another kid. Possibly send Will and/or PK out on loan to recoup some funds.

    For the moment Heneghan, Thomas and PK/Csoka should be starting.

    We have to eliminate these individual errors or we will be sucked into another relegation scrap…

    December 27, 2020 at 3:44 pm #14871
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Further on from Windlesham’s critique, this from the Oxford defeat, two early conceded goals, 2-0 loss. Poor defensive awareness on display…

    January 3, 2021 at 12:30 pm #14890
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    It feels like it’s crunch time for the season.
    The Covid outbreak has been intensifying throughout England, particularly in London and the south.
    Wimbledon approached the EFL to have their home match with League One leaders Lincoln City postponed with at least seven squad members returning positive tests.
    The EFL turned down the request and the game went ahead with Lincoln winning 2-1 through a late goal.
    Postponement of matches because of the virus transmission is becoming a regular occurrence and there are calls – including from Glyn Hodges – for a circuit breaker, a pause in the season, in the hope that the vaccine rollout will begin to take effect over the months ahead.
    These are precarious times for people’s health and sport. It is obvious carrying on the season won’t make things any easier.
    But there must be equanimity and transparency in decision-making. The EFL has shown in the past and now that is not forthcoming.
    Hodges says EFL deemed AFC Wimbledon fine to play on despite Covid cases

    EFL finally introduce testing

    Watch out for any developments in the January transfer window which will be reported here….

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