AFC Wimbledon (H) Tue 12th Feb, 7.45pm

Talk utter nonsense, claim a bite.

You are clueless

Anybody that has to point out their own views are controversial is trolling.

And when we fall through the trap door into non-league, we can all gather together and sing merrily with joy in our hearts, thankful of the time that Jeff Bonser saw a business opportunity to line his own pockets 30 years ago and mould us into one of the few clubs who have actually managed to regress in terms of support.

Because we’re lucky we have a club at all, you know?

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This. We have a set-up on and off the pitch that’s so behind the time’s its comical and will look poor even in League Two. I can say with no feeling of exaggeration that I think we’re heading for a period that makes the dark days of the early 90’s in the 4th tier look like a breeze.

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Oh this is the 1990s all over again, we’re heading for a good 5-10 years in D4 the rate things are going.

There is an interesting independent analysis of our efforts last night on The Football Lab
https://www.thefootballab.co.uk/2019/walsall-0-1-afc-wimbledon-six-things-wallys-wombles-win/

The home side’s problem was that they overused Andy Cook, with frequent long balls to the target man, and underused midfielders Liam Kinsella and Joe Edwards, who can be vibrant users of the ball but spent little time on it. It was only when Cook held the ball up that any sort of combination play ensued.

There is also a player by player analysis and grading.

https://www.thefootballab.co.uk/2019/walsall-0-1-afc-wimbledon-player-ratings-seddon-stars/

Liam Roberts – the Walsall academy graduate was under some pressure coming into this game, having conceded from eight of his previous 11 shots on target with question marks over his command of area, but he produced an assured display, stopping from Folivi midway through the first half. 7

Cameron Norman – Dean Keates felt Walsall needed a right-back and, since joining from Oxford, Norman has produced some steady performances but he was short of a bit of pace and aggression at times on Tuesday night. Perhaps partially responsible for Wimbledon’s goal but not always helped by a lack of support on the right flank. 5

Dan Scarr – after signing from Birmingham in January, Scarr had to make up for an error-strewn display at Blackpool last time out but he partially atoned for that here. Early in the game he was forced back by Piggott and Folivi but he generally held his ground well and made one brave defensive header in the first half. 6

Jon Guthrie – the Pewsey Vale academy graduate might have spent five years at Crewe, but looks relatively old-school in style, in terms of his bravery when heading balls away and showing no frills in possession. Grew into the game after a tricky start and forced Ramsdale into a save late in the first half. 6

Luke Leahy – the left-back can produce some high-quality deliveries but, because Walsall so rarely used the full-backs in build-up play, he rarely had the opportunity to show it. Steady enough defensively. 5

Isaiah Osbourne – it is difficult to ascertain exactly how much the veteran midfielder brings this Saddlers side, aside from physicality and determination. He appeared to be struggling with a minor injury towards the end of the first half and it is therefore surprising that he stayed on the pitch early in the second half, when Edwards was instead taken off. 4

Joe Edwards – having returned from injury, the utility man can bring energy and enthusiasm, but here he was not quite at his best. Then again, he still offered more in possession than Osbourne and it would have been preferable to have him on the pitch late on when pressure was applied. 5

Liam Kinsella – the young midfielder’s contract is running out with talks over a new deal having stalled, but it is important Walsall act fast to not only tie him down but also find a system that plays to his strengths. The team played long a lot of the time yet Kinsella showed some nice touches and could have been given the ball more often. 7

Aramide Oteh – the QPR loanee is very highly-rated at his parent club having scored a lot of goals at Under-23s level; the pace, power and willingness to take defenders on was evident in flashes and it has to be said that he offered more than Josh Gordon and would have been a more useful weapon to have in the last half-hour, yet was instead taken off. 7

Josh Gordon – the speedy forward is facing the consequences of a poor decision earlier in his career to move to Leicester, despite negligible opportunity for game-time; he is struggling to establish himself at League One level. As well as questionable technical ability, he also showed a reluctance to battle for contentious balls, in comparison with other forwards on the pitch. 4

Andy Cook – the target man was so frequently the man Walsall players aimed for in possession and it was only when he held the ball up that any combination play ensued. Cook tried his best and battled for every ball that came his way, but ultimately he looked tired in the second half, burdened by such a big responsibility. The Saddlers cannot keep relying on the former Tranmere front-man so heavily. 6

Zeli Ismail (on 56) – the enigmatic wide talent produced one or two decent crosses, despite looking reluctant to engage in any physical duels. 6
Matt Jarvis (on 56) – the experienced winger made several driving runs down the left flank and produced some good deliveries, as well as a powerful tight-angled effort that forced a stop from Ramsdale. 7

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Way too many 5-6s there. Roberts and Kinsella with 7s, Cook a 6 and the remaining shower of ■■■■ 4s at best.

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Interesting to read, thanks.

That independent analysis is spot on in most aspects. It is frighteningly true. My only change would be to upgrade slightly on Roberts and downgrade Leahy and Guthrie and Scarr.
Perhaps whoever penned it should be picking the team instead of our current method of pin the tail on the donkey blindfolded.

Gordon in a nutshell.cannot see what he offers or why he is anywhere near the first 11.

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This was not a reasonably talented group of footballers having a bad day at the office but a large number of players who have Conference levels at best.This is why there is little hope of any improvement.DK has put this group together and for all the budget restrictions the failure to add some quality has to lie at his door.He and his coaching staff have failed to improve these players and there are several examples of players who have gone backwards.
DK and his staff should be sacked but that is unlikely to happen because of the substantial compo.We are after all still paying for our previous managerial mistake.
So I expect Dean to still be in charge when we begin our Div2 campaign next season still with players who are below that level.
It gives me no pleasure to post these comments but I believe they are accurate and those who say the club has been run into the ground and the lifeblood drained are absolutely right.

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Thanks for that. A really good assessment of last night.The most telling comments are those concerning the substitutions and the missing out of the midfield with long punts up to Cook.

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Leahy/Ferrier argument?

If players are actually squaring up on the pitch after a goal is conceded that usually hints at some tension behind the scenes.

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Just get him to count all the blue empty seats at kick off and hope he’s still doing it on the 90th minute!

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Just over 24 hours on from this debacle, and similar to Saturday, I’m not even angry any more. I expected we’d lose, and we did. The football was crap, the atmosphere was turning more and more toxic, and even the fans couldn’t be arsed to boo much at the end. Kind of sums up where we are heading and what we’ve become.

I genuinely think we could end up with a double relegation on our hands come this time + 3 months, next season.

Yep bang on. Something wasn’t right from then and it’s only got worse.