The Lounge

[Colum]

The transfer window opens soon, but I don’t expect too much excitement. This speaks volumes for where we are as a club. We all remember the revolving dressing room door jokes of days gone past. The fact that we may not see any transfers, shows us all that we have a great squad that capable to achieving our objectives.

Let’s hope they’re well rested, and ready for the challenge of Southend away. That is a difficult fixture, with the home team in good form. But with our belief and away form, maybe we could sneak something. Let’s hope so.

Have a great Christmas everyone.

[Windlesham Don]

Going to be a tough start to the festive fixtures for the Dons with a trip to Phil Brown’s on fire shrimpers. I’m pretty annoyed that the fixture computer has given us two horrible trips between Xmas and the New Year. No trains running today and an early kick off (why?), meaning an unpleasant drive with little parking for those hardy fans who will be making the trip to the east coast. Saturday brings a 250 mile round trip on New Year’s Eve to a hostile ground with the most unpleasant and exposed away terrace in the division (yes, even worse than ours!)

Today I feel it may be too much for us against a side playing as well as any in the division at the moment. A poor showing of Dons can be expected for all the reasons given above, but they will be met by an anticipated full house of raucous locals. Picking up anything today would be a great achievement, but I am expecting a 0-2 reverse.

Saturday will be almost as tough a proposition in another hostile atmosphere. However, there is reason to be optimistic, as the Gas have been running on empty recently and their crowd could turn on the team if we start well. If our recent Port Vale performance doesn’t turn out to be a blip then I feel we could nick a 2-1 victory.

In my opinion, 3 points would be an acceptable return from two tough games.

COYD!!

[liamwimbo]

Bit quiet on here. Understandable given the last two results and being New Year. And no doubt Rob is busy with the cricket.
Anyway Happy New Year to all Wombles everywhere. If 2017 can be even half as good as 2016 for the Dons, I will be satisfied.

[Colum]

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Well today saw the return of Darius Charles, and boy how we’ve missed him. In the first minutes he had muscled a winger off the ball, and headed clear at least three times. Millwall’s goals were defensive errors, but Darius’s overall display made him a favourite for my MOTM award. The fact that it went to LTB, says it all. Lyle was at his best. His control, movement, and cross for our second was absolute class. As was Mr Elliott’s bullet header.

Elsewhere it was another assured performance by Sean Kelly, who’s growing in confidence with each and every game he plays. His left back rival Meades, playing on the left of a midfield four, did OK in an unfamiliar role without looking entirely comfortable. As usual Reeves ran the midfield.

There were some crunching tackles by Millwall, none of which went punished by the ref. One on Barry Fuller in particular should have been a straight red, but we didn’t even get a free kick. In typical Barry style he got himself up and ran the challenge off. A lesser player would still be moaning at the officials.

So one point from the last three games. That’s less that we’d all hoped for, but I’ll take it. These were three difficult games. All we have to hope is that there are no injuries between now and Saturday when we return to where it all started.

[Windlesham Don]

Nerves starting to kick in for tomorrow’s big cup match! All the omens seem to be against us: Sutton’s cup pedigree, 4G pitch, Tubbs and Worner in the opposition and Tubbs’ personal cup pedigree.

The pitch could be a massive equaliser and it has to be asked whether ‘plastic’ pitches should be allowed once the league teams join the draw – if they are not good enough for the league then why should they be acceptable in the cup? One look at Sutton’s impressive home record illustrates the advantage it is to them.

I will happily take a place in the 4th round draw and I believe that a draw would not be a bad result for us.

COYD!!

[MacWomble]

I find I have little of value to add to the Forum, except to note that the Dons are at least drawing rather than losing. They seem as strong as at any time. I think we are close in points to where we were at this stage last season, so there is everything to play for. The players seem to be motivated and more professional than in previous years. The crowds seem good. And no one is calling for the Gaffer’s head, unlike previous years. So, the omens are good. Let’s hope for a good cup result. I had not known that Sutton had a plastic pitch. I feel sorry for their players having to play on that. Shouldn’t be allowed. Happy New Year fellow Wombles! There is much litter to be cleared from the Common.

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