August Round up and Capital One Cup News

Picture MK Dons Official Team Photograph www.mkdons.com

The pre season came to a close and the new season was nearly upon us and in a curtain raiser to the new season we had the League Cup match against Cheltenham.

But just before the Cheltenham game the Don's signed Anthony Kay on the Friday , nobody expected him to feature but when Williams limped off injured it was the former Barnsley,Tranmere Rover's and Huddersfield man's chance to make his debut with only half an hour played.

In the forty first minute Gleeson got sent off for an alleged dangerous follow through on his tackle, but he got the ball and even the Cheltenham manager thought it was a harsh decision along with all the Don's fans and a fuming manager.

That seemed to spur the team on and Bowditch then managed to convert after a Jay O'Shea cross right in first half injury time just minute's after the sending off.
It was always going to be tough second half with ten men and in the fifty eighth minute Mohamed made it 1-1 and it was then a case of holding on with a three man defence.

Robbo decided to move Kay further up the field in a brave move that left us vulnerable down the right.
But the Dons held on and it was penalty time.
Dean Bowditch, Charlie MacDonald, Gary MacKenzie, Antony Kay and Ryan Lowe all netted their penalties for Cheltenham Darryl Duffy saw his kick saved by David Martin which meant the Don's go through to next round of the competition.

The Dons lined up 4-2-3-1 with Martin; Chicksen, MacKenzie, Williams was subbed for Kay on 29, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch, Chadwick (Lowe 71), O’Shea (Smith 61); MacDonald.
Subs not used were: McLoughlin and Powell, and in this early stage we managed to get three booking's in Chadwick, Kay, Potter and the red of Gleeson Cheltenham just got the one yellow !

Our goal by Bowditch was listed as 45 the Referee Steven Rushton was from Staffordshire and let's hope he has a re-think over his red. Attendance was 1,660 with 352 Don's.

Tuesday after the match we heard the red would stand and Gleeson would miss the first three games of season in a decision Karl called a disgrace "they can go shove it, it's us against the world" he added.


So the season was almost here and the squad looked to be complete so we started shipping out those who would not likely be needed at least early on.
Tom Flanagan went out on loan to Gillingham under the watchful eye of former Don's manager Martin Allen poor lad.

George Baldock his loan spell with Icelandic side IBV until August 31st who are in third place only six points off top spot.
Charlie Collins and Jordan Ivey-Ward are at Tamworth in their Blue Square Premier so good luck to them as many are saying this is Charlie's last chance to prove himself before his contract is up in the new year.

Dean Lewington and Alan Smith arrive for Oldham game.

So the first game of the season was finally here and it was the hottest day of the year so far but apart from the end it was not really a hot headed affair.

Before the game I got to speak to one of the Oldham director's about how his season looked and what Oldham expected he said "we haven't got the budget the Don's have and it was a different world there" to which a couple of us laughed and said we are not a rich club and it may be in the top ten but no better, the director then said their budget was one and a half million and we conceded yes ours is bigger ! He was a really nice bloke and very friendly and I thought was Oldham's version of Pete the way he engaged with us ordinary folk. He then went off to meet the Oldham team coach and spoke to Dickov and the players as they arrived.

Oldham players arrive led by Paul Dickov who stopped to sign autographs.


Another surprise was meeting Darren Gough who most will know lives in Milton Keynes and has done for twelve years now. Darren told me he has a box at the Dons( but never invited me to watch the match there lol)he stood and had his picture taken with a few of us that hang around the hotel on match days then went off for his lunch with the other good folk in the posh bit.

Paul Dickov's Oldham were the team we would spend our opening day entertaining Oldham have had a bit more actively than us in the close season losing some of last season's squad amongst those leaving were Rueben Reid, Kieron Lee,Zander Diamond,Felipe Morias ,Chris Taylor and Josh Parker to name a few even our former loan player Marsh-Brown was gone.

In came Johnathan Grounds,Daniel Taylor,Lee Croft,Connor Brown and Cliff Byrne a mixture of loans and regular signings but they were still predicted to finish mid table and 14th seemed to be the most common prediction.
Jordan Slew on loan from Blackburn Rovers was the one we were told to watch but apart from some snazzy looking headphone's when he got of the bus I didn't see anything to catch my eye really.

As I have said previously I dont do match reports as Im crap at them and you can read them on the official site so a summary is what you get lol I thought it was a professional performance without being rude to Oldham the Dons never looked in danger of conceding let alone losing.

A pin point cross to Potter from Bowditch resulted in the first goal just before half time, a lovely well taken header that had a few behind the goal flinching as it hit the net thinking it was going through.
Daniel Powell had one of the best games I have seen him play if not the best ! and his goal was top drawer a real cracker( and all the other cliche's )and had his shot not hit the crossbar and gone in it would have been a nomination for goal of the season .

The game was marred by an altercation in injury time when the horrible Robbie Simpson who had been baiting MacKenzie amongst other's all game clashed with Anthony Kay resulting in Kay getting sent off, reaffirming the Robbo quote that it's us against the world, Simpson the instigator let off Scott free.

Really the Don's should have won four nil and been top of the table Saturday evening bit Cisak made some good saves and Lowe and other's could have done better.But it was a convincing win if not a spectacular one and you cant ask for anymore than three points on opening day but I couldn't shake that memory of losing on opening day to Bury but then going on to win the league and hoping that it was different this time ...sometimes I over think things !!

Team's lined up Dons 4-2-3-1: Martin; Chicksen, MacKenzie, Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Chadwick (Smith 81); Powell, O’Shea, Bowditch (MacDonald 65); Lowe (Ibehre 75).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Otsemobor, the two academy lads Alli, Galloway made up the bench.
Booked: MacKenzie, Chadwick, Smith
Sent-off: Kay 90
Goals: Potter 34, Powell 59

Oldham Athletic: Cisak; Byrne, M’Voto, Tarkowski, Grounds, Croft, M’Changma, Furman (c), Montano (Hughes 66); Simpson, Slew (Taylor 80).
Subs not used: Brown, Bouzanis, Smith, Millar, Winchester.
Booked: Simpson
Referee: Ian Williamson who's eyesight went several times during the game was from Berkshire which seemed apt.

The attendance was a disappointing but usaul summer holiday figure of 7,409 with 512 not very happy Oldham fans.

But the games come thick and fast and there was no time to saviour the win before it was off to the seaside at Bournemouth.

I thought as I always do with most away games a draw would have been a good result with the cherries seeming to have pots of money this season, the eight hundred thousand pounds Tubbs now settled in Bournemouth who also managed to add Barnard to the squad on loan during close season.

Bournemouth started the brighter and within seventeen minute's Grabban had put them one up and we looked second best but that was not the worst of it Smith then got sent off for a reckless studs up challenge on Arter and we were down to ten men with most of the game still to go. It seemed to be a case of hanging on till half time and hope the half time team talk was inspirational.

Chadwick came on after twenty two minute's and we seemed to find our way a bit.
Second half came and Bournemouth seemed to play into our hands with the intruduction of Fletcher and the high balls up to him, then on sixty two minute's the until then out of sort's Powell managed to rescue the game with a goal and the draw was on the cards .

Then followed a real dig the heels in battle and the Dons showed the fans that old never say die attitude so apparent in the promotion winning season , when Jabo came on with twenty minute's left I thought I reckon we can do this and so we did and a point on the road was ours.

Probably wrong to single out a player after that but the concensus of opinion was Gary Mac was M.O.T.M which was good after Robbo had praised him before the game for his maturity during Olldham match.

Worringly we now had three red's from three game's which was more akin to the season with Ince second time round so some very mixed reaction's from the fan's after the game.

The team's lined up AFC Bournemouth Jalal, Francis, Daniels, Barnard, Addison (c), Pugh, O’Kane, Partington, Arter (Fletcher 46), Cook, Grabban (Tubbs 79).
Subs not used were Flahavan, Thomas, Wakefield, Gregory, Zubar Goal was Grabban on 17
Dons lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin, Otsemobor (pronounced Semi-bore), MacKenzie, Lewington, Chicksen, Potter, Smith; Powell, MacDonald (Chadwick 22) Bowditch (O'Shea 90), Lowe (Ibehre 71).Subs not used were McLoughlin, Alli and Galloway. Smith was sent off with 21 minute's on the clock. The goal from Powell was on 62.
Attendance was 5,407 with 271 Don's fans.
The referee was Brendan Malone from Wiltshire.

And Wiltshire was next up as the games come thick and fast and it was away again to newly promoted Swindon who were unbeaten at home in a year and had only conceded one goal in 1710 mins of football last season.And Wiltshire was next up and it was off to newly promoted Swindon who were unbeaten at home in a year and had only conceded one goal in 1710 Min's of football last season.
With Smith Gleeson and Kay suspended along with the injured we looked thin on the ground and the team looked to pick itself

Swindon started the better and if truth were told it stayed that way for ninety minute's.
But the big talking point was the dismissal of Captain Dean Lewington in what on reflection and with benefit of replay's was a harsh decision but not a completely wrong one.
I have seen players get away with pushing others away with their arms up but also seen them sent off or yellow carded which I though would have been the right action in this instance.

Dean by his own admission should not have got involved but he did that when he picked the ball up when Ferry tried to get the ball back (as it was Swindon's free kick although O'Shea's tackle looked okay to me) Dean pushed him away with his arm or elbow it was not violent behaviour more petulant and the ref did not see it and consulted the 4th official, who saw it as an elbow to the head or face the replay showed Ferry not hurt or that I could see made contact with, so to my mind it was a yellow I would point out that Ferry had grabbed Lewington from behind although I wouldn't say he grabbed him by the throat as Winkelman said but his arms were also raised more a case of handbags.
.
But Dean struck out with his arm high and he should know better, after the recent reds and yellows refs will be looking that bit closer at MK Dons I don't think its because we are MK Dons but because for whatever reason we have those reds against our name.

The chairman stopped Karl speaking to the media after the game and I think that was to save Karl from another fine and make matters worse I also think by the chairman speaking about the incident's regarding red cards all referee's might look at some of the inconsistencies during their referee meetings but maybe that's wishful thinking but after Winkelman said Lewie was grabbed by the throat when he clearly wasnt perhaps they wont !

But it did lead to questions asked such as how many times have we wondered what the 4th official actualy does ? when in some games seemingly nothing then here at Swindon send a player off.
Yet in the same game ignore De Canio running on the pitch .
This to me has been the problem.. inconsistency with the officials .

Three of our reds have been offences that might have been a yellow or even ignored by other refs on another day, even the red on Kay one could argue both players should have been sent off as Kay had his nose broken by an elbow that went unpunished not one official 4th or otherwise saw it !! bizarre.

But back to the game and just before half time Swindon took the lead and the Dons had forty five minutes to either hold out and make the result look respectable of snatch a draw which to be fair would have been tough on Swindon.
Swindon continued to worry the defence and Martin deservedly our fans M.O.T.M making some classy saves including Jamie Collins deflected shot that De Vita hit low and a one handed tip over from the shot of Collins.

With fifteen minutes left Robbo decided to go three at the back and Chicksen came off and Jabo came on but it was not enough to grab a point and the game ended with our first loss of the season.

The teams lined up Swindon Town Foderingham, McEveley, Flint, Devera, Ferry, Collins (Storey 87), Ritchie, McCormack (c), Williams, Miller, De Vita (Navarro 73).
Subs not used: Bedwell, Rooney, Risser, Thompson, Smith
Goal: Ritchie 40

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Lewington, Chicksen (Ibehre 75); Potter, Chadwick; Powell, O’Shea (Williams 42), Bowditch; Lowe (MacDonald 64).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Alli, youth team captain Mason Spence even got a place on bench.
Just the one booking MacKenzie for kicking the ball out of play after a foul on him was not given.

Lewington got his marching orders on 40

Attendance was 8,299 and 497 Dons fans watched the game and some chanted sort it out and we want our money back which whilst I would not have joined in with you cant help but hope we do sort it out.

Blackburn arrive at Milton Keynes

Colin Hendry first team coach

Steve Kean signs an autograph for an MK Dons Rovers fans never asked lol

Next game up and the last of the month was the Capital One Cup game against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night and we all hoped for eleven men to finish rather than the right result such is the state of things at the moment.

Rovers were without Danny Murphy, Paul Robinson or Morten Gamst Pedersen and we were without Lewington, Kay or Doumbe so even in terms of players not featuring.

The Dons to a man played some nice passing football and there could have been a number of players up for M.O.T.M award Chadwick got two goals and I thought it he would get the award but the match sponsor gave it to MacKenzie which I could understand and did not have a problem with.

Rovers were in the Premiership last season but it was hard to see evidence of that with the Dons looking like the team a division above.

I watched Kean standing motionless on the touchline and Rovers disjointed play made me think what do they actually do at the training ground ? at times nobody seemed to know where his fellow player was and I could understand the Kean out chants that rang out from the away end from the minute we scored till the end of the game. In fact the scoreline did not give the Dons credit as it was more one sided than 2-1 suggested.

I could not help but remember the QPR game last season and wondered if Kean would be sacked in the morning, the Blackburn fan's were certainly very very unhappy as they left.
The teams lined up
MK Dons 4-2-3-1: Martin, Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Chicksen; Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Chadwick (O’Shea 76), Bowditch (Ibehre 90); MacDonald (Lowe 74).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Alli, Galloway. Goals by Chadwick were on 52, 67mins
Blackburn Rovers 4-4-1-1 Kean, Orr, Nunes, Marcus Olsson, Dann (c), Jorge, Etuhu (J Lowe 58), Junior (Goodwillie 58), Rochina (Formica 68), Hanley, Vukcevic.
Subs not used: Usai, Martin Olsson, Morris, Ribeiro.
Goal: Goodwillie 83
Referee was Mick Russell from Hertfordshire who let play flow and I thought had a good game with two assessors at the game I guess he wanted to make a good impression.
Only attendance figure I got was from BBC 5873 no away figure but looked to be 800 or so.
Before the game we were introduced to Jimmy Bullard and he was presented with the number 13 shirt till end of of December, and he provided my say hello to someone who has not got a clue who you are moment as I saw him arrive just after Blackburn had arrived . Karl came out of the players entrance to meet him as his car arrived (well bloody great four by four Japanese number)I turned around to see him and chirped up hello Jimmy he said hello mate and went in with Karl I told you its a quirk of mine lol..
I only managed to get a photo of the back of his head he went in pretty quickly.

August has not been great in terms of points on the table or discipline and the reds will make officials look that bit more closely at us ,but we are going to have another round at least in the League Cup and I think we have good squad that will be up there challenging the top two if not one of them.
COYD

Gary MacKenzie man of the match

On Thursday 30th August we learnt that MK Dons are to play Sunderland at Stadium MK on the week commencing 24th September, Sunderland have a lot of fans down south and a fair few in Milton Keynes there is also a London based supporters club so we are expecting a good away following for this game.
Another Prem team can we cause an upset ?
COYD

Picture Daily Mail

Chairman Pete Winkelman demands answers after another Dons red card - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Chairman Pete Winkelman demands answers after another Dons red card - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen
So many opinions on the 4th red this season but I think Pete Winkelman has a point and I have to agree with his comments call me happy clappy but only one of the reds was a red and even that was debatable as we should have had free kick which would have meant there would have been no red as the player that broke Kay's nose wouuld have been collecting his yellow or even red.

Pre Season Round Up and Blog News

Milton Keynes Dons can today confirm the signing of defender Antony Kay following his release from Huddersfield Town.

The 29-year-old joins the Dons as a free agent and has put pen-to-paper on a 2 year deal.
This for me is the last of Karl's targets and we now look to have cover in all position's with most players able to adapt and cover any weak area's Karl has built a versatile squad and competition for a staring place will be tough.

Pre season

Alan Smith signing autograph's at Woughton pre season

So the pre season began with games in Ireland.
Karl took the team to Ireland for pre season training and I had asked him before why Ireland.
Karl loves the location of the training camp and the facilities and he also said its cheaper than Portugal or even other UK based places.
Karl told me he saves the club two hundred thousand by going there which is money he gets for the team budget, which is strangely enough about two hundred thousand more than last season.

The total budget for the team is still nowhere near De Matteo's who I recently found out was the highest of any manager we have had.
Id previously thought that it was Allen's honour to have had the biggest budget of an MK Dons manager but have no reason to believe the person ! who informed me was wrong.

Obviously the clubs budget is higher but now we have more staff both on match day's and through the normal working week so as Id said before the Chairman's take on the budget is not the same as say the manager or the fans.
The first game was on Monday 23rd July at 7:30pm versus St James Gate and the Dons came away with a 0-2 win the second game was on Wednesday 25th July at 7:15pm and this was an even easier test against Whitehall Rangers and the score was 0-6 to the MK Dons.

On Thursday 26th July at 11:00 we played a team Id actually heard of although the Bohemians didn't put up much opposition and the score was a resounding 0-11 win for MK Dons, some may argue that these games mean nothing even in pre season terms and playing teams some cruelly call pub teams just risks injury and is no competition ,which I can sort of understand as Id prefer to be playing League Two or Conference/Blue Square type clubs at the early stage of pre season but I think as we are in Ireland we have to take who is available !

But saying that the first pre season game in England was a complete disaster.
On Saturday 28th July at 3:00pm we turned up to play Kettering to find the pitch was not marked and that grass cutting's were left on the very hard un- watered disgrace of a pitch. Karl told me afterwards he wont be going back and Mick Harford said he felt embarrassed for the manager and if he had been manager of Kettering he would have put the markings down himself.

Karl said to me and the press earlier that he was not going to play the game but saw all our fans and relented telling the players to play at sixty percent although two players did not train the first day back due to pulls they took on the rock hard pitch (but I wont say who they were now).

The score on that wasted afternoon was Kettering Town 0-0 MK Dons and you have to wonder if Kettering will make it to the new season with no groundsman or back room staff to speak of.

Then it was the our turn to host the big boy's and first up on Friday 3rd August at 7:45pm was MK Dons v Norwich City and the canaries had the best of the first half with the Dons just shading the second and it didn't seem five minute's since we were playing them in the League so maybe in two season it could be us..no I know not realistic but stranger things have happened.

We kept out Simeon Jackson, Sean Morison and Robert Snodgrass and Martin kept a clean sheet yet again.
In the second half Jay O’Shea was denied a good effort and Luke Chadwick and Charlie MacDonald also had efforts fall off-target Ryan Lowe made his mark and won a few new fans and he is already one of my favourite players to talk to as he is quite a laugh to banter with.
The team's lined up Martin; Chicksen (O’Shea 46), MacKenzie, Kouo-Doumbe, Lewington (c); Gleeson, Potter (Lowe 79), Williams; Chadwick (Ibehre 73), Smith (MacDonald 56), Bowditch (Powell 62).Subs not used: McLoughlin, Burton which was odd as it was reported he was thinking about an offered six month contract although I had heard he was not in Karl's plans after Ireland.
Norwich City lined up Rudd, Francomb, Barnett, Turner (R Bennett 65), Lappin, Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Surman, Jackson (Murphy 80); Martin, Morison.Subs were: Matthews, Barker, Johnson, E Bennett.

On Tuesday 7th August at 7:45pm we had MK Dons v Fulham I had been told that Fulham would not bring any first teamers as they were away in France and had recently played Nice who Fulham incidentally beat 0-4 but I wasn't so sure as they had a behind closed door match with Charlton on Saturday 11th so I thought they probably came back to the UK Sunday night.

Funnily enough Fulham's game after us is Norwich so could we make any prediction's for both clubs and their Prem campaign based on what we saw here I wondered totally irrelevantly.

Fulham arrive

Anyway back to the game Fulham arrived with a mixture of regular players and fringe players and Dons rested Doumbe. I spoke to Matt before the game and he said he was not injured despite some reports of a knee injury.

Deon Burton as Id predicted left the club to join his old boss Allen at Gillingham on a one year deal (apparently we offered a six month deal which is pretty much like not offering a deal at all).
The game was not the most exciting but there was some nice passing and the ball was played on the ground.
I thought Lewie had a good game and wondered if he was upping his game because his Dad Ray was there or because he was after a job at Fulham to keep the name at Fulham now his Dad's left lol

I said hello to Ray in the club red bar area ,I always love saying hello to people who haven't a clue who I am just to see if they say hello back, some do some dont but its just a quirk of mine lol
Steve Sidwell

Martin Jol signing autographs

Sadly we conceded our first pre season goal a tap in from Rodallega with just ten minutes to go. Bowditch hit the bar after that but what cost us the draw was the missed penalty from Williams who surprisingly blasted the ball into the cowshed.
The team's lined up
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen (replaced by academy local boy Hickford 90), MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch, Chadwick, O’Shea (Smith 79); MacDonald (Rowe 61).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Lobjoit.
Fulham lined up: Stockdale, Briggs, Burn (Grygera 70), Baird (c), Kelly, Sidwell, Kasami, Frei (Mikwitz 46), Rodallega, Trotta (Kacaniklic 61), Tue Na Bangna.
Subs not used: Brister, Kavanagh, Somigyi.
Goal: Rodallega 81

And finally Blog news so you can either read on or just come back to site later.
At the end of last season or close season cant remember now ! I said I was going to stop the blog as its being going a long time now and it was started mainly for the benefit of the MK Dons forum and then I agreed to put it on other site's I have helped with, as I am no longer involved with running or helping to run any of the forum's it seemed time.

In fact I rarely even post on the one I am still a member of so I thought it was a good a time as any to stop.

For a long time I have been banging on about our younger fans and that they are the future so I was pleased to hear that at least two are starting blogs next season(or is it now this season)so I will step aside and let them get on with it and good luck to them.

I know that a lot of people have bookmarked this site and click on it along with their other Don's related site's which is REALLY NICE TO KNOW and thanks to all of you that do.
I have had nearly five hundred hit's every month of close season and the blog since January when it went out on its own has approaching five thousands hits.

I don't wish however to be seen as in competition with other's so apart from the twitter links I wont be advertising the blog site on any of the two Dons forum's( most of you know of it already and I don't mind if anyone else wants to link blog if they think it deserves a wider audience).

The aim of the blog was and has always been to give my own view of what I see on my travels and to keep other's informed and I will continue to put in things I have been told by Robbo and other contact's withing the club if I think it does not compromise the club,if I think it was told in confidence I wont put it in so keep checking back as there may well be a little nugget of something you didn't know hidden in the blog.

The Fulham game Kick Off

Dons Ryan Lowe First Day Training

BREAKING: Dons set to sign Sheffield Wednesday striker Ryan Lowe - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen
THIS SIGNING HAS NOW BEEN CONFIRMED BY MK DONS
Below comments written earlier on Wednesday.
I know from speaking to Karl this week he rates Ryan and he did mention him when we spoke about players he would like ,of all the rumours etc this is one Id put money on happening.
Medical this afternoon so Id guess terms have been agreed look forward to seeing him against Norwich maybe !

Photo givemefootball.com

Dean Lewington has kept the captain's armband for the coming season.

Dean has been here since the formation of MK Dons in 2004 and was a product of the Wimbledon academy and played for Wimbledon FC before the name change Lewie has always said this is my club.

Dean is often thought of as the only link to our Wimbledon past but we also have David Martin, Paul Heald and two directors in Peter Cork and Reg Davis.

Often moaned about for arguing with the ref by some like the manager says in the interview its because he is passionate (and he probably like a good moan as well lol)

more on link

http://www.mkdons.com//news/article/lewie-to-remain-as-skipper-254106.aspx

Derek Riordan training with Dons as Robbo continues to look at forward options - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Derek Riordan training with Dons as Robbo continues to look at forward options - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Riordan joins the Dons in Ireland along with Dean Burton and Spanish striker Juanfri he was last spotted at Malaga where he was the next big thing at sixteen in the  La Liga side of 2009. But made only the B squad, he scored 40 goals in 96 appearances, but only played a handful of times for the first team what we can read into that who knows ! all three it has to be said are only on trial.

I would think that Riordan is an Alex Rae find and Rae has been credited with getting in some good players in the past so we shall wait and see.

Alan Smith former Leeds Unt, Man Unt and Newcastle Unt joins the Dons in what was a much predicted and hoped for signing Alan had told fans including myself at the end of last season he wanted to stay but it depended whether Karl stayed.
Smudger has reportedly had interest fron other clubs although none have been named.

http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2837493,00.html

official club report here on link.

Two more Players Extend Contracts

Our very own own home grown talent Tom Flanagan and the tricky Jay O'Shea are now tied up for two years. I think Tom will become a more regular first teamer this season and why not ! barely put a foot wrong when he was used last season.

Jay was always a live wire when he played and I know from talking to him he was always keen to play, competition for places particularly in the midfield this season will be tough and I think a few players will be moaning about not playing..nice problem to have though.
http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2836554,00.html

more on link

New Right Back at the Dons

http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2833515,00.html

The first signing of the coming season see's us get a new right back, former Sheffield Wednesday defender Jon Otsemobor is in as a free agent.
Quite where this leaves Chicksen I dont know. Adam a natural left back did a great job at right back last season but Robbo needs a recognised right back and this is it.

Welcome to MK Dons Jon.

Winkelman: I will not be happy with play-offs again – it has got to be automatic promotion next season - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Winkelman: I will not be happy with play-offs again – it has got to be automatic promotion next season - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

After weeks or wrangling and most of last season being moaned at Winkelman has increased the budget that Robbo has to work with said to be one of the biggest in the clubs history doesn't really say a lot as first two seasons we were either in admin or just plain skint Allen was giving the biggest budget in then L2  and Ince was given much the same Roberto's and Ince part two was in top ten of League Id imagine this seasons will be less than Ince and Allen had but on par with Roberto's !

Robbo is older and wiser
http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2817500,00.html

Despite being away on holiday Karl has managed to keep in touch with the club on what his wife Anne-Marie calls a working holiday. Karl has been in contact with players and agents as he seeks to strengthen the squad for the new season Alan Smith hasn't been answering his phone as he turns it off when he goes to the States but I understand Karl is keen for him to be here next season but I guess that depends on Alan getting any better offers.

Robbo managed to get an interview on the Official site this week which is on the above link.

Radio: MK Dons boss Karl Robinson on the new EPPP youth plans | Radio talkSPORT

Radio: MK Dons boss Karl Robinson on the new EPPP youth plans | Radio talkSPORT
An old interview but quite relevant with the closure of Wycombe's academy and the recent departure of George Williams is there any future in lower league clubs running an academy ? A lot of players have come through these academies and in a lot of cases kept their clubs afloat or able to compete on a budget I can not help but think if the Prem clubs are allowed to poach all the young talent at silly money lower league clubs academies will close and the Prem clubs will eventually have to work a lot harder to find talent of look abroad !
More short sighted reasoning from the FA/FL/Prem I think.

http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2814845,00.html

Fixtures out Oldham up first then Bournemouth away

Top tier, car park, MK1 centre: Dons are right on schedule - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Top tier, car park, MK1 centre: Dons are right on schedule - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Hope we get the Saints back to fill it up next season ! 

New season, new pitch for Dons - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

New season, new pitch for Dons - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen
After two years of L1 footie and few Saints Rugby games not to mention JLS concert and other assorted football fixtures the Dons get a new pitch.
The photo on link shows the sand and fertiliser down ,the car park is being finished and the MK1 retail developments are really taking shape now.

Robbo Confirms he's Staying

http://www.mk-news.co.uk/Sport/MK-Dons/Robinson-confirms-Dons-future-30052012.htm

Should he stay or should he go now? Robbo still unclear where his future lies next season - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Should he stay or should he go now? Robbo still unclear where his future lies next season - MK DONS - Milton Keynes Citizen

Winkelman give him the budget allowed under League rule.

Whole season summed up in play-off defeat – Robbo - News - Milton Keynes Citizen

Whole season summed up in play-off defeat – Robbo - News - Milton Keynes Citizen

DONS’ play-off second leg against Huddersfield Town summed up Dons’ whole season, according to manager Karl Robinson.

Going out 3-2 on aggregate, despite a 2-1 win at the Galpharm Stadium last Tuesday, put paid to Dons’ promotion dreams for another season, with fans, players and staff facing the prospect of League 1 football again next season.

But Robinson is keen not to dwell on what might have been, having already announced his new-look backroom team of Mick Harford and Ian Wright to replace the retiring John Gorman.

Looking back on the season though, he felt that the play-off affair reflected the season well.

“That last game sums up our whole season,” he said. “We were the best team, classy, gritty, determined, full of heart, we had great support and had the right tactics. We just didn’t get the luck we deserved to get over the line. That best reflects our season.

“There were more highs this season than in any other and we were more unified than ever before. I’m gutted, I’m a bit lost and I’m bored!

“We’re better than them (Huddersfield) and that’s what frustrates me. We fought to the end and I was very proud of them at the end. I’m so glad we went out on that performance.”

In the aftermath of the game, Robinson was seen consoling his devastated players in front of the 900 Dons fans who made the trip to West Yorkshire, before giving his own teary wave – something some quarters believed to be a wave goodbye.

But the man himself said there was nothing more to it than an emotional thank you.

“I was waving to my mum and dad in the crowd,” he said. “I lost my auntie a few weeks ago and a few things got on top of me. I was just waving to my family and it got taken out of context – like I was waving goodbye! I’ve learned that lesson, I’ll never wave at the end of the season again!

“Emotionally, it all got on top of me on Tuesday. I just believed that we could do it, knew they could do it, and I couldn’t believe that it had been taken away from us.

“I don’t show emotion like that. I get angry, but I don’t cry. I was alright, and then I saw Stephen Gleeson and Lewie in absolute bits and I realised how much it meant to them. When they showed that emotion, that’s when it got to me. They put their heart and soul into this club and they’ve let nobody down. It showed how close we are as a group of people.”

One of the teary-eyed players who had to be consoled by Robinson was midfielder Gleeson. Earlier in the season, the 23-year-old admitted that he may be forced to look elsewhere for football if Dons weren’t promoted to the Championship, with his current deal expiring at the end of June.

Last week, five players agreed deals to extend their stays at stadium:mk – Adam Chicksen, Tom Flanagan, Ian McLoughlin, George Baldock and Jay O’Shea – with a fresh offer extended to Gleeson in a bid to keep him at the club.

A similar situation transpired last season when Peter Leven’s contract was due to expire, and the midfielder chose to see out his deal, favouring a move to League 2 side Oxford United.

But Robinson is adamant that with a little convincing, Gleeson could yet be pulling on the Dons kit once again next season.

Robinson said: “I’ve had a really good chat with him. I’m very confident. He wants a few things stated in order to sign. He broke down in tears after the game, he was in bits because he really cares about this club.

“People are misguided by him. He looks like he’s moody, doesn’t care and only does it for himself. He’s one of the most caring and considerate men I’ve met.

“He gets wrapped up the fact that he cares so much – sometimes he shows it in the wrong way. I’m sure if I’ll be here at the end of the summer, so will Stephen Gleeson.

“It’s exactly the same with Alan Smith – if I’m here, he’ll be here. Me and Smithy get on really well. I foresee a lot of good people still being here next season.”

One player who will definitely be with Dons next season is fellow midfielder Luke Chadwick, though his summer may be a little disrupted thanks to a recent knee operation.

He has struggled with injury since February which has limited his participation in the latter part of the season. And after several scans and trips to see specialists, the 31-year-old underwent successful surgery this week.

Head of Sports Medicine Simon Crampton said: “On Wednesday he had surgery with our specialist in London which was very successful.

“The surgery was a straight forward procedure which lasted less than 10 minutes and we’re very happy with the outcome.”

April Blog

Sir Tom Finney

After the disappointment of March we all hoped for a better April but before a ball was even kicked we got bad news.
James Tavernier had been recalled by his parent club Newcastle United with immediate effect and Robert Hall was sent back to West Ham leaving us with an even smaller than normal squad and with injuries to Dean Bowditch and Mathias Doumbe both with groin injuries they were reportedly sidelined for the Preston game while Luke Chadwick remained a doubt with his knee, Gary MacKenzie was rated 50/50 for the clash.

Tavernier had made seven appearances with the team but with the Magpies short of defensive cover he was recalled ,this is always the danger of loan signings but looking at other clubs in our league its a problem we all have ,at least he was on the bench for the Magpies and not just recalled to be sent somewhere else like Adam Smith who was then unwanted by Warnock when he took over at Leeds.


The only option is to have our own players but that adds to the wage bill as we would need a bigger squad or in our case means we'd have to play the young up and coming players like George Williams and George Baldock and with Chicksen Flanagan and Powell already featuring I think that would be a risk and playing too many games at such a young age is not ideal. In fact the youngsters with squad numbers are Stefan Powell, Joel Gyasi, Leon Lobjoit ,Bamidele Alli, Brendon Galloway and Keeper Louis Bragg Some of whom are either not old enough to play legally or ready.


But back to Preston and it was Preston in the news with the BBC broadcasting Preston's got Passion and Fern Britton leading the live broadcast which included a choir, scenes on the concourse and three films inspired by real tales of Prestonians’ lives, every time I turned on the TV it was Preston ! but the footballing world was more interested in Sir Tom Finney's 90th birthday .Preston manager Graham Westley wanted the focus to be on Sir Tom Finney's 90th birthday celebrations ahead of their home game against MK Dons but worryingly for Graham chairman Peter Ridsdale gave Westley his "100% support" earlier in the week despite the former Stevenage boss overseeing just two wins in his first 15 matches since joining the club in January which is always the kiss of death.


At the start of the season I would have bitten your hand off for a draw at Preston but as the season has gone on and Preston have not performed as well as most expected I suppose I thought we could get the three points and it was looking that way till the last kick of the ball it seemed when we again throw away two points. In a fitting way the goal time for Preston was ninety minute's so Sir Tom was probably looking down smiling but it was a kick in the teeth for us and the worry about play offs was still there.
A crowd of 13,941 watched the game and we lined up Martin, Chicksen, Williams, MacKenzie, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; O'Shea (Slane 82), Chadwick (Ibehre 54), Powell; Smith (MacDonald 76). Subs not used: McLoughlin, Flanagan. and Chicksen, Chadwick got themselves booked our goal was a cracker by Potter on 26mins.

Ronnie Moore arrive's

Tranmere players arrive

On the fifth of April we heard that local legend Jim Marshall died I remember his shop down in Bletchley town and worked for his son Terry in his shop in Duncombe Street and at his Amp factory over at Bleak Hall but never knew Jim although I knew his first wife as she lived with Terry and his family. Marshall's was and is used by some of the biggest bands in the world and Jim has given millions of pounds over the years to good causes and was instrumental (pun intended) in helping the Dons establish themselves in Milton Keynes and it was fitting that the club paid tribute to Jim and us fans wore our Marshall tops in tribute to the legend that was Jim Marshall for the Tranmere game.

The Tranmere game was a special one for me as well as I was invited to the directors boardroom and balcony for the game as guest of the Mayor Alan Richards ! those of you who know me will know I am not a politician or local businessman but merely an ordinary fan and it was through the Dons I met the Mayor a Dons fan I used to sit next to Alan before he was Mayor and Alan kindly invited a few of us he sat with to accompany him to selected game's and Tranmere was my game.

There were a few surprised looks on the faces of the Directors when I strolled in to the Directors box as most know me and knew I wasn't a visiting dignitary or local businessman lol,but I was made to feel welcome and it wasn't at all snobby and I got to chat with Pete about the casino bid and talked to Peter Cork who some will remember I have mentioned in a previous blog.
As I was guest of the Mayor I sat with the Mayor of Wirral - Councillor Moira McLaughlin and her Daughter The Mayor’s Consort Anna McLaughlin who is Mayoress of Wirral.


Moira was not a huge football fan and Anna though she grew up a few streets from Tranmere's ground had only seen them play a few times this season so I did my best to give them a short history of our club and the team. Moia said she had been looking forward to coming here but when she mentioned it to Friends back home she was told the subject was controversial ! as she confessed to me like most fans she didn't know much about the move so I attempted to give an unbiased opinion. Moira didn't know Wimbledon played at Crystal Palace for over twelve years before the move here and I told her she wasn't alone! while I hoped I was making my point well I was well aware Peter Cork was sitting behind me and I'm sure as a former director of Wimbledon he would have told me if I got anything too wrong.


As the politico's chatted at half time I was joined by Peter Cork and we talked about past owners of Wimbledon and who was good and who was bad and I gave my opinions first and Peter mainly nodded as he gave me more background and told me some things I didn't know.
As I said before if any of you get the chance to chat with Peter do so he is a lovely bloke, Reg Davis also said hello and he is another of the old Wimbledon directors who has some good stories to tell probably not all of you are interested but I have always found the subject quite intriguing but realise some like to just think of the Dons in MK and are not interested in the way it came to be.


Anyway I have been boring you long enough with my glimpse into the world of the directors balcony back to the game I thought Tranmere would give us a scare and before the game I thought we could lose this as Ronnie Moore seems to have had a positive effect and they have had some good results but as Ronnie said after the game they seemed to have started their holidays early !


I thought we did play some nice football but also thought the penalty Martin saved was a turning point a thought echoed by Gleeson in his M.O.T.M acceptance speech. Williams and Gleeson had good games and Potter was many fans choice but I thought Jabo played his socks off and much as he frustrated me through the game(as the Mayor or Wirrall informed me "you've been calling him all sorts" )I thought Jabo deserved it and we do seem better when he starts.
I apologised for the result to Moira and Anna (of course I didn't mean it) and wished them a safe journey home they were good company and took defeat well and the ref and lino did let them off a goal else it would have been four lol
We lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin, Chicksen, MacKenzie (Flanagan 79), Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch (O'Shea 70), Ibehre (Chadwick 81), Powell; MacDonald
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, MacKenzie (Flanagan 79), Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch (O'Shea 70), Ibehre (Chadwick 81), Powell; MacDonald.
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Smith.
MacKenzie got booked but at least he didnt headbutt anyone Goals were by Williams two penalties on 10 and 74, Gleeson twisted and turned and scared us all but got the goal on 42 the attendance was 7,355 with 280 away fans.


In club news gaming operator Aspers will run the casino in the Xscape complex the application beat rival bids from the Leisure Plaza near the railway station and Stadium MK when I spoke to Pete about the failed bid he did not seem too bothered and said it kept us in the news and let other business know the land was now available and has therefore raised the price of the land I was told by someone else it wasn't really the image Pete was after but if the money had been right he would have gone for it.


I went along to the under 15's match with my lad and his mate to watch the future Dons and although we lost 4-1 there were some bright spots but we got caught on the break a bit and the defence let us down .Dons old schoolboy Seyi Ojo scored and set up another of the goals but apart from that did not trouble us too much. Jay Taylor made a great run down the wing and squared the ball for central midfielder Kyran Wiltshire who slotted home our only goal.
Dan Micciche's young Dons had their best chance to get one back when captain Giorgio Rasulo's left-footed shot went just wide of the left hand post. Liverpool had some big lads and the substitutes disrupted the second half with us bringing on younger smaller lads and Liverpool seeming to have an endless supply of big older lads and really that was the difference ,second half Liverpools finishing improved as the game went on whereas we never got many chance's the team lined up King, Taylor (Logan 61), Tingey, Walsh (Lloyd 58), Tilney: Daffern, Wiltshire (Foster 65), Weston, Rasulo (c) (Danso 78): Tshimanga (Vaughan 73), Palmeiro.Subs not used: Van Der Schoot, Adorno, Okito. Attendance was listed as 2,162 on the OS but announced as 2,186 I thought ,either way it was more than turned out for Spurs and slightly less than for Chelsea so a very successful night and an attendance a lot of clubs would love to have for a reserve game let alone an under 15's and all the money will go to the academy.


Ahead of the Scunthorpe game we got some great news and that was that Darren Potter had signed a new contract till June 2014 Potts as he is known was my player of the year in the recent Official site poll although I gave Williams a close second. I went to Woughton with my daughter on the Friday before the game but never got a chance to speak with him but we were joined by Jabo who is now my daughter's favourite player as he sat next to her and was well just Jabo really, smiley happy and chatty he was telling us about where he comes from in Islington and how he loves London but now lives in Milton Keynes which he is very happy with but that he still keeps a place in London. Arsenal is his team from childhood and the first ground he ever went to my daughter's mum comes from Kentish Town and was born in Islington so she was fascinated Jabo came from same place as her mum John Gorman also came and chatted to us and my daughter thought he was lovely and wanted his autograph John always speaks to any fans at Woughton and has so much knowledge of the game he also spends a lot of time with the younger players and Im always pleased he gets recognition by the fans during matches after they sing Robbo's name.


The team left Friday afternoon for the trip to Scunthorpe and most of us were thinking a draw up there would be a good result and not many thought we would win let only by three goals. Alan Smith has at last started showing some Premiership quality and had a good game instrumental in most of the play the Dons were having a very good day and though passes went astray and it was not perfect it was good enough to end the Iron 10 game unbeaten run and after repeatedly trying to bully his way through the match Robertson decided to have a go at MacKenzie in what I would guess was an attempt to get the king of the headbutt to react but Gary didn't and Robertson himself walked..justice.
Martin again made a good one on one save to add to his clean sheet tally and although he is criticised by some his record is what managers look at, Williams Potter MaDonald and Smith could all have been M.O.T.M but it was a team performance and MacKenzie deserves a mention for not reacting to an elbow in the face the team lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin who limped off at the end to be replaced for a minute by McLoughlin, Chicksen, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Gleeson, Powell, Smith (Ibehre 74), Bowditch (O'Shea 66); MacDonald. Subs not used: Flanagan, Chadwick the only booking was Williams which was surprising baring in mind the referee was Carl Berry goals were by Bowditch on 11, Powell 54, Williams 85 attendance was 4,111 with 238 Dons fans.


As if our sqaud was not small enough the week of the United game we were told Paul Slane had gone back to Celtic with an ankle injury quite how he picked that up or whether it was the injury he had when he came here is unclear.
Spoke to Robbo ahead of the Sheffield United game and all players were fit accept Doumbe who is still a couple of weeks away from selection and has been swimming at the gym to keep fit MacKenzie was still suffering with his neck and was not sure whether he would be playing but mainly we spoke about the budget for next season and players who would be staying and indeed staff ! none of which I can mention but as some of it will be subject to change depending on what division we are in or other forces at work Id probably report something that never happened anyway ! suffice to say some news was good but one bit made me sad and another bit surprised me.

So the much anticipated game was upon us and the United team arrived in a very ordinary looking coach nowhere near as plush as Tranmere's the home game before when I commented on it a female blade's fan told me it belonged to Man Unt last season I think someone was pulling her leg as I saw the United coach last season and that wasn't it lol
In true big time charlie style the players and even Danny Wilson charged out of the coach and into the ground with barely a word for the supporters no autograph signing(well odd one or two) and they were early arriving the 6135 Blades that came were so loud during the warm up and early part of the game I couldn't hear our lot but after a cautious fifteen minutes we got a break. Bowditch took a corner that Lewington got his head to, I thought he tried to score but the ball found its way to Alan Smith who headed home and we were one up on sixteen minutes and the blades fans went silent and pretty much stayed that way considering the numbers for the rest of the game.


With the blades top scorer Evans found guilty the day before and in the custody of the prison service United didn't really look that threatening going forward the other in form striker Cresswell was also not playing and Porter and later an aging Beatie couldn't find a way through the Dons defence Martin seemed to position himself in the right place at the right time for any shots that came his way and the blades seemed to fluff any other chances they got.
Smith was unlucky later with a header that Doyle cleared off the line and Jabo hit the post after a nice little run down the left after earlier having a shot tipped over by Simonsen.


When Powell got a second yellow and an early bath we still looked comfortable and dare I say the better team although twenty five minutes with ten men is tense watching and it was not the pretty free flowing football we have seen but it was a good team performance and despite the size of some of the United players we won any individual battles on the pitch, a good solid performance and an unexpected three points for me . The team lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin,Chicksen, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Bowditch (O'Shea 75), Smith (Ibehre 69), Powell; MacDonald (Chadwick 69).Subs not used: McLoughlin, Flanagan.Booked: Lewington, Gleeson, Powell Goal by Smith on 16 Daniel was sent off on 66 as we might see them in play off's Sheffield United lined up Simonsen, Lowton, Hoskins (O'Halloran 61), Doyle (c), Williamson, Collins, Maguire, Porter (Beattie 77), McDonald, Quinn (Flynn 61), Hill. Subs not used: Howard, Taylor.Booked: Quinn, Williamson. referee was again quite poor and card happy Dean Whitestone from Northamptonshire Attendance: 15,938 with 6,135 away fans.


Ahead of the Rochdale game I spoke Robbo who said he would rest some players but still put out a strong team but would give Brendan Galloway from the academy a game I asked about George Williams but he has not signed a new contract yet so Robbo was not going to feature him I think he has probably had his head turned by the amount of scouts that have been looking at him but thats just my opinion.
The last away game saw a trip to Rochdale who were already relegated the Dons wanted to cement 4th spot although the chairman would probably prefer to finish 5th and get the Saturday play off game at home as Huddersfield will bring a lot more to MK on a Saturday than they will on a Tuesday night.
As Robbo told me Thursday Brendan Galloway started but there were no real surprises team wise we never seemed to get out of second gear and the result did not seem in any doubt after Jay scored after three minutes and when Bowditch got the second in the fifty eighth minute I was hoping we would get another clean sheet but it was not to be as Akpa Akpro spoilt the party with a goal on eighty five minutes, it was another professional performance and we always seemed to have a spare gear .


But its momentum we need and we have that going into the last game against Walsall and April has been a good month with four wins and one draw the team lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin; Chicksen, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter (MacDonald 68), Galloway (Bowditch 57); Chadwick, Gleeson (Flanagan 72), O'Shea; Ibehre subs not used were McLoughlin, Smith and the goals came from O'Shea 3, Bowditch 58 attendance was just 2,212 but Dale were already relegated so to be expected I guess.
So play off's it is and we know we will play Huddersfield I think we can beat them then it comes down to Wembley and one of the Sheffield clubs to our advantage both Huddersfield and United are having a touch of the wobbles whereas we seem to have high confidence and momentum but as we know it is a lottery.

This will be the last blog of the season as I will not be able to get one out in June for various reasons I hope everyone has enjoyed my ramblings and since the blog went on its own I have had over two and half thousand views plus the views on football speak which was two thousand I think but I havent posted on there since month after the QPR game so not sure on exact figure.
COYD

March Blog

Steve Perryman MBE Director at Exeter arrives at S:MK.

With eight games this month I'll start with news from around the club then do the match summaries together.

During the first week of March I spoke to Karl about the sacking of Megson at Sheffield Wednesday and how I was surprised that he was sacked while the team were still in with a shout at Auto, Robbo said he was not surprised as Megson had been given a lot of money and had a big squad and he had heard Jones had the job this was days before the appointment of Jones.
Robbo said he was surprised at the Allen sacking as he had not had the money and had done well with what he had, I said knowing Allen it was more likely something he'd done around the club rather than what he had done on the field, Notts county then appointed Keith Curle and Notts put a run together and as I write sit in a play off spot so maybe the county chairman got it right !
I found out that the two trialists who played in the Wycombe game were from Argentina. Paul Slane told me he was knackered after that Wycombe "development " game as he hadnt played a full game for a while so I figured he would only have a small part at Hartlepool.

Towards the third week of March we had four keepers training with us, some of you might remember Laurie Walker a former keeper here from 07 to 09 who was shipped out to Cambridge Unt where he stayed a year before going to Morecambe for a year he only made one appearance for each club before going to Kettering in June 11 where he has made thirty four appearances and as far as I know he is stil with them and at twenty two he is still relatively young for a keeper. The other keeper was Staurt Searle who has been here before training and is still with Chelmsford.

Before the Orient game I spoke to Karl about the striker rumour and he said he was looking and that the striker he was after was better than Jordan Rhodes who Id said would be great but we'd never afford him, Karl had a different view point to me and the striker he named was not in my opinion better than Rhodes but I guess everyone has a viewpoint and mine was based purely on the fact Rhodes scores tons of goals and Karl's was probably based on the complete package !
We did have a striker though Robert Hall was also here training the West Ham loanee had spoken to Sam Baldock before coming here and Sam gave him the heads up on the club.

Robert said "It was an easy decision to come here because I hadn't been at home for a while because I have been at Oxford. It is nice to be living at home and having a big club just up the road". Robert is from Aylesbury.
Ahead of the Wycombe game I said to Karl that the Orient game had me nervous at 2-1 and as he said in the local paper I also could see the O's getting a equaliser and thought they were a pretty good team certainly better than other teams we have failed to beat. Karl said he was treating the game as a real local derby and was playing a strong team the expression he used was simular to no feline type players but a bit ruder if you get my meaning ! I took from that he was prepared for a battle and I worried about the discipline and could see us replicating the famous nine men performance of a few seasons back but hoped we would get more than a draw this time.


We also heard George Baldock and Charlie Collins had joined Tamworth FC on loan until the end of the season this happened just before the emergency loan window closed the young Dons duo will spend the rest of the season with the Blue Square Premier League team and hopefully gain some first team action. Both Baldock and Collins have already enjoyed loan spells away from Milton Keynes this season. Baldock spent a month in League 2 with Northampton Town and featured in five games with the Cobblers Collins loan spells have been less successful but he has gained experiance.

On the Monday before the rescheduled Carlisle game I was surprised to see the team Robbo would play training at Woughton with O'Shea Slane Alan Smith on the bench team with Hall and it looked like we were going to pack the midfield and have no pace on the wings with Potter Gleeson Chadwick Bowditch looking to be behind Jabo and Powell I asked Karl if everyone was fit and he said he was putting Smith on the bench I was cheeky enough to suggest it looked like we were lined up to stifle Carlisle in midfield as that was how it looked to me. Karl was still moaning at the officials but he was not in a good mood as he was off to the dentist later.

On the Thursday before the Brentford game we had four players injured and not training Bowditch MacKenzie Doumbe and Chadwick were all missing but Baldock and Collins were here just to train and I thought how we could do with Baldock at least on the bench but he was going back to Tamworth.George said he was still feeling the effect of playing two games in a week and had been voted M.O.T.M in the Saturday game for Tamworth which he was happy about.

There was a TV crew at Woughton filming and Luke Ashmead from three counties was also there doing an interview with Tom Flanagan, in fact it was like a Friday press day with Simone and her trainee present even Lee Scriven turned up with his camera for a club interview. Sean Williams made me laugh when he said to Luke shouldn't you have a hat on(in reference to his shaven head )at the end of training on what was a lovely day. The mood amongst the players was good and no sign of any gloom setting in following the defeat to Carlisle.
On the Friday we heard Tav was on his way from Newcastle by train and rumour was he would go straight into the team which I thought was harsh on Chicksen but Robbo knows best!

So the long haul to Hartlepool was upon us and the team left Friday well all except George Williams who had to go to school and travelled up Saturday with Paul Heald our Keeper coach the team had five players missing with suspensions and injuries and Potter's illness. The game to and froed with no side really dominating, so the one one draw was probably the right result Chadders hit the post twice and Martin made a match winning save and a draw away is never a bad thing for me I thought before the game it was winnable but then I expected a draw at Bournemouth so I guess it evened itself out with four points from two away games!

The results that weekend meant our draw was not as bad as first thought with United losing Wednesday and Huddersfield both drawing( and we still have a game in hand on Wednesday),Stevenage sliped out of the play off's to be replaced by Notts who seem to be doing well without Allen but with our game in hand and providing we win it we would be ten points clear of them. The team for the day was Dons (4-3-2-1) Martin, Tavernier, Doumbe, Flanagan, Lewington (c); Smith, S Williams; Powell (Slane 85), Chadwick (G Williams 70), O'Shea; Ibehre. Subs not used: McLoughlin, Chicksen.Booked: Smith the goal came by O'Shea on 51. Attendance was 4,955 with 145 Dons fans.

The next game was against Yeovil on the following Tuesday and I think most of us thought we would win although I thought it wouldn't be a walk over I was pretty sure we would get a home win by one goal. Yeovil arrived early and I watched them come in Gary Johnson spoke to some of the Yeovil supporters and almost seemed to be resigned to defeat as he said " there a good team (Dons)but we'll give it a go " a fan shouted got to win this and Gary said "we'll try" to which I replied " but not too hard though" ! which got a smile from the Yeovil manager and a laugh from couple of our fans.

But that was the last of the laughs for me as the game started it was clear Yeovil had come for a draw and parked the proverbial bus in front of goal and despite the Dons clearly being the better team we lacked any cutting edge and could not hit the net something Yeovil managed against the run of play . Andy Williams picked up a stray pass and ran down the wing to get in a cross or shot not really sure if he meant to shoot but somehow it managed to go in I thought off Chicksen but the goal was credited as Gavin Williams.

Just on half time Parrett got sent off for a second yellow and like most fans I thought Robbo would give the players a rollicking half time and we would eventually break down the stubborn defence but the ten men held on as we got more and more frustrated on and off the pitch and just to make the night even worse Gleeson again showed his immaturity by getting sent off for kicking out Martin had saved us from further humiliation earlier but the rest of the team could not . The team lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin; Chicksen (G Williams 75), Kouo-Doumbe, S Williams, Lewington (c), Smith, Gleeson, Powell (Slane 86), Chadwick (Ibehre 54), O'Shea; Bowditch. Subs not used were McLoughlin, Flanagan. O'Shea got booked with Lewington and Gleeson will serve a ban for his red to add to Karls selection problems in a month that will define the season.

Exeter players arrive

The next game couldnt come quickly enough for me and I suspect most of the fans and controversy struck before the players had even got changed as Exeter informed us they had travelled to the game with only their red and white home strip which would have clashed with the all white strip of the Dons. This meant we were as the home side forced to play in our all black third kit, something which angered Robbo and till I found out why puzzled me.
Karl commented “They forgot their kit. They came with their home kit. John Gorman said ‘they can’t see us, we’re blending in with the empty seats!’ he went on to add“I don’t know if it was deliberate, or whether it was a mistake, but we had to deal with it. I wasn’t happy about it at the beginning. It’s not good. I don’t agree that we’ve had to change our kit on our home pitch.” After looking at the Exeter OS and the shop online page they dont seem to have a third kit and the second kit is white so I don't know what they could have done other than play in their underwear !
We got back to winning ways and Doumbe got a nice deflection on his shot to grab the first while Charlie Mac got lucky when he missed the first touch and the ball hit his trailing leg, Jabo's goal was well taken and needed a cool head as he rounded the keeper and slotted home we looked comfortable and never in danger of and it was an all round convincing performance,the team lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin,Doumbe, Flanagan, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Smith; Powell (Ibehre 70), O'Shea, Bowditch (Chadwick 70); MacDonald (Slane 82) Subs not used: McLoughlin and Chicksen.Goals by Doumbe 17, MacDonald 27, Ibehre 78. Attendance was 9,016 with 377 away fans.

Next up was Chesterfield the team travelled up on the day so no overnighter for the players. The game started in the worse possible way when the team were caught cold by the relegation struggles and conceded inside five minutes, this gave Chesterfield the confidence they needed and after a run of three wins and the addition the day before of Mousa the Dons struggled to get into the game with Chesterfield looking dangerous on the break and although we were not out of the game we couldn't find an equaliser first half and Chesterfield went into second half a goal to the good. Despite peppering the goal a few times we still couldn't find a way through and had to settle for the draw the keeper Tommy Lee having the game of his life. Dons lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin,Doumbe, Flanagan, Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Smith, Chadwick (Hall 70), Ibehre (Powell 46), O'Shea, MacDonald.Subs not used: McLoughlin, Chicksen, Slane. to mark his debut Hall was booked and O'Shea got our goal on 55.Attendance: 6,444 (433 away)

Orient arrive Russell Slade first off coach.

Orient Keeper

Tuesday night saw the game with Orient and a return to MK for an old player Ben Chorley who I managed to say hello to as he arrived. The game started in the best way with an early goal from Charlie Mac but we were pegged back ten minutes later when Lisbie scored after a corner seemed to confuse our once again shuffled about defence. The changes in defence saw Lewie moving inside to partner Tom Flanagan and Chicksen took up the left back spot and I wondered if that was a sign of things to come ! Sean Williams got a goal on with a brilliantly taken header and we were back on top and went in to half time 2-1 up.
Second half saw us step up a gear and with the introduction of Jabo and Bowditch we looked more threatening and Jabo was in the right place to put us three one up with ten minutes to go. Orient battled on and caused a couple of scary moments but there was only going to be one winner on the night and with Powell's late strike we had beaten the O's again by three clear goals same as at Brisbane Rd we again lined up 4-2-3-1 although at times it looked like three at the back as Chicksen got so far forward the team was Martin, Doumbe, Flanagan, Lewington (c), Chicksen; Williams, Potter; Chadwick (Bowditch 69), O'Shea (Ibehre 67), Powell (Slane 87); MacDonald.Subs not used: McLoughlin, Hall.Booked: Williams Goals were MacDonald 3, Williams 22, Ibehre 80, Powell 84 Attendance was 6,842 with 436 away fans.

Next up was Wycombe and they had been on a good run and scoring plenty of goals but still sat at the wrong end of the table. I think most fans here thought we should win but a lot also thought a draw would be acceptable I was in the draw away is okay camp but as the game went on thought we should have won and but for Jay's penalty miss and couple of other half chances we would have Powell got a cracker of a goal and build up play for it was good and stats should we had most of the pocession but again we didn't kill the game off when we had the chance and were left to rue those wasted chances in the ninety first minute when Wanderers equalised. Karl said after the game Auto was a distant dream and to be fair it has been all season for me I never really thought we would get Auto which is why I predicted fifth ! a spot we seem to have occupied most of the season the game was not a thriller but we are still in with a mathematical chance of top two but not likely. Dons lined up 4-2-3-1) Martin,Doumbe, Flanagan, Williams, Lewington (c); Gleeson, Potter; Powell, Smith (Ibehre 78), O'Shea (Bowditch 64); MacDonald (Chadwick 90).Subs not used: McLoughlin, Hall.Booked as per Smith Attendance: 5,572 with 1243 Dons so just 4300 Wycombe fans watched the game which I thought was pretty poor.

The last Tuesday game of the month saw the return of Carlisle and the rescheduled game when the covers were not put on the whole pitch. As the Carlisle players arrived I said to Greg Abbott the manager the pitch is not frozen put it might be cracked from the sun he laughed and said something about the covers being on last night John Paul McGovern came of over for a chat with a couple of us waiting.

Greg Abbott moving so fast he's blurred !

The first half both sides had their spells but it was all square and I thought then it was going to be very close the second half had plenty of drama when MacDonald and Powell found a way through the defence to find Chadwick who hit the ball and it appeared to cross the line but Peter Murphy got the ball out somehow and fooled the slow west side lino who had not kept up with play, assistant referee Alexandra Ihringova ruled it out and as a result the score remained goalless again robbed by unfit officials (I know I sound like Robbo).

The game was for the neutral probably quite exciting to watch and overall it was a pretty even affair with both sides having there moments and I thought a draw would have been the right result but again we conceded through a penalty in 90th minute and again proved we lack the concentration to hold onto a result draw or Win. I thought when Abbott took off Zoko great he's taken the best player off but Cook seemed to be the right choice and scored both the goals for the Cumbrians so Abbott's tactics won the day with a little help from some iffy decisions. . Team lined up Dons (4-2-3-1) Martin; Kouo-Doumbe (O'Shea 68), Williams, Flanagan, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Chadwick (Smith 75), Bowditch; MacDonald (Ibehre 69).Subs not used: McLoughlin, Hall.Goal: Williams (pen) 79 Carlise's goals came on 83 and 90 both by Cook Attendance considering free tickets was disappointing at 8,608 and 594 away were away fans.

The final game of the month saw the family day against Brentford a team with a twenty seven man squad the same amount of players as us and with about five being loan players. Our squad is really twenty one but some of the kids have squad numbers and with our injuries and loans we have fourteen players to pick from for this game and I have to say I was not all that confident with the quality Brentford have available. Morrison is a player we all know and I could see him causing us problems. As it turned out the problems were our own making and apart from a bright ten minutes or so at the start and a more urgent ten minutes at the end we showed no quality or usual flowing football for the majority of the game, in fact if we had managed to get a draw it would have been harsh on the Bee's who were the better team with Donaldson and Douglas causing all sorts of problems on the wing and in midfield respectively.

Brentford deserved the win no doubt about it but the referee Gary Sutton was abysmal and booked seven players stopped play for petty things got loads of decisions wrong for both sides and I thought was the worst referee I had seen this season and there have been some bad one's.
We lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin, Tavernier (Ibehre 73), Flanagan, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Smith, O'Shea (Hall 62); MacDonald.Subs: McLoughlin, Chicksen, Slane
Booked: Smith, Flanagan, Potter, Lewington Goal: Williams 88 (pen)Attendance was 11,570 with 1,170 noisy Bee's.

March was a crucial month and from going from looking at the Auto spot we are now looking at holding on to a play off spot and have picked up nine points from twenty one in what was a relatively easy March fixture list. We had our biggest home league attendance and played perhaps our worst football of the season which wont help attendances for next few home games and the day trippers wont be rushing back all in all a very disappointing March lets hope April we can recapture some of the earlier form we showed or I fear like the Auto spot a play off spot might be beyond us.
COYD