Colum

I’m still buzzing.

One further observation from last night that got lost in all the euphoria, was what a magnificent job the job did. Yes they did what they had to do, but it was the way they did it. Intended or not, it was a ultimate lesson in limited obstruction.

The wonderful refusal to use the word “Dons” on the scoreboard. The official…[Read more]

How about these for headlines:

The Culture Club beat the Crazy Gang
The “pub team” calls last orders on football franchising

OK maybe I’d better leave the journalism to Rob, but tonight hyperbole is exactly what is required. Make no mistake, this was a massive result.

I was nervous before the game. Nervous like I’ve never been before. I…[Read more]

According to Erik, it looks like we’ll have to ensure we smoke any illicit substances before entering KM on Tuesday!

The Cobblers game was a tale of two stonewall penalties. Unfortunately one wasn’t given. The referee had a bad day really. All the more surprising when you consider he had bugger all to do for 90 minutes. Both teams tried to get the ball down and play football. There weren’t many chances, but it was a fun game to watch. Northampton defended in…[Read more]

i’m not sure if MacWomble’s comment was penned before or after the resigning on Messrs Robinson, Barcham, and Nightingale.

I noticed last season how Neil Ardley had signed up players around this time of year, and he’s done it again. It’s an astute move. Not only does it make for an easier summer for him, it gives those key players the impetus to…[Read more]

What a great result against Scunthorpe, and a tactical master stoke by Neil Ardley. Playing a back three, with the timely arrival back to Will Nightingale, we restricted them to very few chances. Up front we seem to have recovered our mojo, and can’t stop scoring. Long may it continue.

The scoreline didn’t really do us justice. We could, perhaps should, have won by more. Tom Elliott had two good chances, and both our central midfielders had good strikes well saved.

Reeves may have won man of the match, but it could easily have gone to any one of the front three. Barcham in particular had their right back in his pocket all…[Read more]

A point against Gillingham is the very least I’d have expected. Had we lost that game, the pressure REALLY would ramp up. We’ve got 40 points, so only 10 more and we’ll be at that magical figure. The positives to take from last night were our front men both scoring, the arrival in the squad of both Parrett and Nightingale, and the fact we didn’t…[Read more]

After two injury time equalisers, we can’t really complain too hard about losing at the death. At least we broke our away day goal duck. With Gillingham away on Tuesday, hopefully that will instill some confidence into the lads. We need three points on Tuesday like never before. If we succeed we could be comfortably mid table on 42 points. Lose…[Read more]

Just a couple of further observations. Having watched the highlights, my initial suspicions were confirmed.

There was a blatant handball in the run up to Coventry’s goal.
James Shea was slow to get down to the shot, or am I being harsh.
The Coventry fans were terrific all game, until we equalised.
The commentator may have though Soares was…[Read more]

What did we learn last night? Not a lot.

We struggle to break down teams that come to defend in numbers.
Our forwards aren’t scoring.
Neil Ardley has as much confidence in Tyrone Barnett, as I do.

Surely we’ve used up all of our “Get out of jail” cards now. The Coventry players were crestfallen at the end, and rightly so. They played well and…[Read more]

I missed yesterday’s game, so I’ve been catching up with events today. The first thing I saw was the banner unfurled in the home end. My first reaction was utter horror at the language used. It should not be allowed, and should be dealt with quickly by the club. That is the sort of language that can get you evicted from the ground, and rightly so.…[Read more]

4-0? We were lucky!

So Sutton march on. In hindsight it was a mistake of Leeds to field such a weakened side, especially on that excuse for a pitch. Surely the fact that they’ve now gone unbeaten against three league clubs on it can’t just be down to good management and players. Especially when compared to their home form.

Bitter? Moi?

Am I the only one who was just a bit surprised to see the Gills game called off more than 24 hours before KO. And to see the OS post accompanied by a picture of a Priestfield covered pitch. Sure we are suffering a real cold snap here, but during the day any frost is quickly melting.

Admittedly Kent can be fairly rural and frosts can be heavier in…[Read more]

I’ve just sent a piece to Rob for inclusion in the next WDSA on the Sutton games. Ironically for someone who doesn’t really get upset about defeats, this one REALLY hurt. The complete opposite of Singapore Don. Yes Sutton just about deserved the victory, but for me it was the manner of the victory that got under my skin.

Yesterday’s point at…[Read more]

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…[Read more]

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…[Read more]

Excellent reports by everyone on a great days for Dons fans everywhere. I just want to emphasis a few points.

1. What a save James Shea made in the second half at 2-0 up. It was made all the better that he’d had so little to do all game. If that had gone in, it could have been a very nervy game.

2. Tom Elliott may have got the MOTM award, but…[Read more]

So it is back to where it all began. Memories of that ten minute walk from home to the ground. Of a car stopping me at a crossroads to ask directions only for Alun Armstrong to stick his head out of the window. Of that crazy wait in the never ending queue to get in. Of the roar as the teams came out. To be honest I don’t remember much about the…[Read more]