Wimbledon v Swindon Town Matchday Thread

[DV]

https://x.com/shirleykennett1/status/1872331733192020146/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1872331733192020146&currentTweetUser=shirleykennett1

The disallowed goal at the end from the reverse angle is quite funny. I mean, there is contact but christ alive that's soft.

That angle clearly shows Barden behind obstructed by the player firstly backing into him and secondly raising his arms across Barden to try & stop him lifting his arms up.

[WestYorksRed]

In London seeing family over Christmas, took the opportunity to make this the first game I've been to this season. Feared the worst today, so a pleasant surprise. First half very scrappy but thought we played ok 2nd half. Based on one data point, grounds for optimism.Onwards and upwards in 2025.

[doomster]

What was most pleasing was that we are suddenly able to mix it.  It’s been years of tippy tappy sideways and backwards football.  Post match managers filling the airwaves after defeats with crap about possession stats, box entries and alike.  Yesterday they looked the better team for large parts of the game and with a little more composure in the final third should have won.  Holloway seems to be getting through to them and they are looking more hungry. 

Hopefully we can strengthen during the window as the loanees have been the most disappointing aspect this season.  Freckles is pretty certain to go back so at least one berth available.

[Bob's Orange]

Scrappy game yesterday with few moments of quality. Cotterill's ability shone and he delivered 2 delicious through balls, one which led to our goal and one which put Sobowale very nearly through on goal. We defended pretty well, Sobowale switching off at the back stick for their goal but apart from that thought we looked quite solid. Nice to see Kilkenny and Cotterill trying to knit things together in midfield along with the option to go longer to Smith, who was excellent yesterday.

I'd like to see Barden be braver at times, yes he was backed into for the disallowed goal but for a big guy he doesn't command his box at all. I guess when you have Hall, Delaney and Wright you have 3 big guys who should take care of it.

Good point overall, with a bit more composure we might have had all 3, but we've laid a bit of a platform to build on. Credit where it's due, Holloway really looks to have instigated some organisation and confidence amongst the side.

[Wobbly Bob]

A bit more confident now that we can finish above the bottom two.

An ill judged transfer window could yet scupper things & that will be the next hurdle.

[Bob's Orange]

The forward line remains an interesting conundrum. Harry Smith is first name on the team sheet but we have yet to find a partner for him in my opinion. Clearly Tshimanga is the current option after his 2 against Grimsby, but yesterday was another frustrating game for him. He's a willing worker, but struggles to stay on his feet and doesn't particularly look very strong. I think his only 'trick' is the backing into the defender and rolling him, but it's easy for defenders to counteract so he never gets a chance to do it.

What I did notice yesterday was when the ball was in the air and Smith was jumping to compete, either Clarke or Cotterill were gambling and sprinting forward. Clearly they've done work on that and it's a great weapon to have. Having a fit Clarke is like having a new signing, I really like him.

[DV]

The forward line remains an interesting conundrum. Harry Smith is first name on the team sheet but we have yet to find a partner for him in my opinion. Clearly Tshimanga is the current option after his 2 against Grimsby, but yesterday was another frustrating game for him. He's a willing worker, but struggles to stay on his feet and doesn't particularly look very strong. I think his only 'trick' is the backing into the defender and rolling him, but it's easy for defenders to counteract so he never gets a chance to do it.

What I did notice yesterday was when the ball was in the air and Smith was jumping to compete, either Clarke or Cotterill were gambling and sprinting forward. Clearly they've done work on that and it's a great weapon to have. Having a fit Clarke is like having a new signing, I really like him.

On paper you’d think Harry Smith & last seasons Paul Glatzel could be quite a potent strike force.

However, I’ve decided the best striker to play up front with Harry Smith would be Harry McKirdy.
Get it done Clem.

Absolutely scenes having a striker partnership of Harry & Harry in 2025!

[Peter Venkman]

Some decent comments on the Dons forum about us.

we have overachieved this season especially with all the injuries and if we get into the play offs it’s a bonus, SwinDon didn’t look remotely like a relegation candidate

Refereeing decisions are all part of the package of watching football. It's great. Enjoyed SwinDon making a game of it yesterday when I wasn't expecting one.

The ref was generally good and gave loads of free kicks to Swin for niggly fouls by our players - trouble is, they were all fouls, so we can’t be too shocked that a ref gave them as fouls

I realised we were up against it when my boy pointed out it was a female ref - truth be told I didn’t even notice her presence as an official, she had a very good game. Fair play to her, don’t listen to the haters, and this from me an old school misogynist!

It is a great pity our three central midfielders went on the piss last night and played with killer hangovers. If only one had remembered about passing and moving we might have won. SwinDon had just one actual shot on goal - from which they scored.

We were crap today. SwinDon worked us out. Pressed high, went direct to the big man up top. We were too sluggish from kick off, Smith and Hutchinson particularly struggled with so little time on the ball. Probably needed an extra mad in midfield today.

Awful ref. Not a great performance from us either, draw is probably a fair result.

Got away with that, proper turdey first half. SwinDon will be ok this season, played some good football and have a proper target man.

Fair play I don’t think SwinDon looked/played like relegation fodder. 1-1 a fair result shame about the disallowed goal but you could see the ref hesitating and hoping something would happen to not make her give it.

The issue isn’t the shape, it’s the fact we’re playing really sluggish balls around the park against SwinDon team pressing us like a springer spaniel

[adje]

Some decent comments on the Dons forum about us.

Don't get the Swin "Don" thing. I guess it's a wimbleDON reference but don't get the connection

[DV]

Don't get the Swin "Don" thing. I guess it's a wimbleDON reference but don't get the connection

I’ve assumed it’s an autocorrect features and always capitalises the D for Dons or Don!?

Would it capitalise the D in WimbleDon?!

It’s a very bizarre thing for multiple people to type…

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

What's with the 'SwinDon' thing? Just very overimpressed we share the last three letters of our names?

[Peter Venkman]

I’ve assumed it’s an autocorrect features and always capitalises the D for Dons or Don!?

Would it capitalise the D in WimbleDon?!

It’s a very bizarre thing for multiple people to type…

I think its one of the autocorrect things based upon one of the forum members who comes from Swindon AFAIK. I have checked their forum for about 6 years and its always been that way.

[Jimmy Quinn]

.

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

I think its one of the autocorrect things based upon one of the forum members who comes from Swindon AFAIK. I have checked their forum for about 6 years and its always been that way.

But do they have one that converts their rivals name to franchise?

They should do.