lets talk about the MK Dons Game

[Campsall rover]

Well I hope it is now his preferred formation ravenrover.
I have been saying we need to go to a back 4 for some time.
I don’t think it is any co incidence that 2 of our best performances have come by playing a proper defensive formation. One that our players look comfortable playing.

How we were not 5-0 up at H/T I don’t know.
Now it’s important we win our next 2 games.
We really need a consistent run of 3 pointer games.
Onwards and upwards
Rovers are back?
Well we will see in the next few games

It’s no good winning today and losing the next 2 games which on paper are winnable.

[ncRover]

Their back 3 are seasoned pros at league one level. But Molyneux could get some joy against the 39 year old Dean Lewington on that side.

Called it!

Couldn’t see from where I was but he looked to lash out at Sterry in frustration?

Time to retire fella

[RoversInSpain]

I hope people get off Oluwu's back now. He was terrific all game, won almost every header in our box. Having Bailey alongside him must help.

I’m a big critic of Olowu. I think he’s very poor.
Last 2 performances have been to standard for league 2. Despite a couple of horrible passes in last 20 mins or so, he was part of a clean sheet, Well done Joseph. He earns his place v Harrogate and we take it from there.He has a long way to go, please please prove me wrong big Joe, as I do actually like his spirit.

[adamtherover]

If we can win the next 2 games, Which is a possibility if we match today's performance, that top half finish might not seem a million miles away,?

[Filo]

Excellent first half where could and should have been 6-0 up, slightly disappointed we sat off them a bit in the second half, and we visibly tired towards the end, but 3 goals and a rare clean sheet, onwards and upwards

[drfchound]

It should be remembered that MKD were in the play off spots before the game started and that they were always likely to come back at us in the second half.
He took the best of what they could throw at us and they couldn’t score.

[dickos1]

Outstanding quality football by us first half and it could have been five or six at half time.
MKD were always going to up the ante after the break but our determination not to concede was immense.
We were battling for every ball and Jones only had three or four saves to make.
Every player gave 100%.
I think I read on here a few weeks back that GM might not have the dressing room but this performance on the back of the Mansfield draw shows how far off the mark that is.

I think that when a good few of the team don’t put in 100% the situation becomes very tense. I reckon GM’s talk of the lack of “bravery” in those 3 poor performances was a very diplomatic way (possibly a concession to the backsliders) of saying that he did not think a lot of them were trying at all. The other words “not taking risks” was certainly true. The fact was that they weren’t even trying hard, let alone being even slightly brave. So my view was that there were very severe words after that third game, possibly with threats about what would happen come the window and that plus the tweak to the system was enough to shame those not pulling their weight into mending their ways.

Even after a performance and result like that, you’ve done your best to look for a negative angle

[Arsenal Of The North]

So no game for Kyle again today, he’s either out of favour, or he’s off in this window and not being played to prevent risk of injury to scupper any possible move.

Shame, I think he would be brilliant on the left side of a front 3 of GMC’s.

Time will tell for sure! Just wish the media would put the question to GMC!

[DonnyOsmond]

So no game for Kyle again today, he’s either out of favour, or he’s off in this window and not being played to prevent risk of injury to scupper any possible move.

Shame, I think he would be brilliant on the left side of a front 3 of GMC’s.

Time will tell for sure! Just wish the media would put the question to GMC!

Hurst? He came on on the 77th minute.

[adamtherover]

Yes, but his minutes since coming back from injury have been practically non existant, which is a shame after the good season he had last yr..

[ravenrover]

Last year is exactly that, this season when he has played he seems like a shadow of himself

[Sammy Chung was King]

If we have ambitions of being higher up, we’ve pulled Mk dons three points closer to us.

[ForsolongaRover]

Outstanding quality football by us first half and it could have been five or six at half time.
MKD were always going to up the ante after the break but our determination not to concede was immense.
We were battling for every ball and Jones only had three or four saves to make.
Every player gave 100%.
I think I read on here a few weeks back that GM might not have the dressing room but this performance on the back of the Mansfield draw shows how far off the mark that is.

I think that when a good few of the team don’t put in 100% the situation becomes very tense. I reckon GM’s talk of the lack of “bravery” in those 3 poor performances was a very diplomatic way (possibly a concession to the backsliders) of saying that he did not think a lot of them were trying at all. The other words “not taking risks” was certainly true. The fact was that they weren’t even trying hard, let alone being even slightly brave. So my view was that there were very severe words after that third game, possibly with threats about what would happen come the window and that plus the tweak to the system was enough to shame those not pulling their weight into mending their ways.

Even after a performance and result like that, you’ve done your best to look for a negative angle

You obviously haven’t read or understood my comment.

[bedale rover]

Another good defensive display without Anderson

That's why it was a good defensive performance

[Nudga]

Outstanding quality football by us first half and it could have been five or six at half time.
MKD were always going to up the ante after the break but our determination not to concede was immense.
We were battling for every ball and Jones only had three or four saves to make.
Every player gave 100%.
I think I read on here a few weeks back that GM might not have the dressing room but this performance on the back of the Mansfield draw shows how far off the mark that is.

I think that when a good few of the team don’t put in 100% the situation becomes very tense. I reckon GM’s talk of the lack of “bravery” in those 3 poor performances was a very diplomatic way (possibly a concession to the backsliders) of saying that he did not think a lot of them were trying at all. The other words “not taking risks” was certainly true. The fact was that they weren’t even trying hard, let alone being even slightly brave. So my view was that there were very severe words after that third game, possibly with threats about what would happen come the window and that plus the tweak to the system was enough to shame those not pulling their weight into mending their ways.

Even after a performance and result like that, you’ve done your best to look for a negative angle

You obviously haven’t read or understood my comment.

Quite possibly GM used the fans reaction at Notts County to hammer home what he and the fans expect.

[Metalmicky]

Just seen the highlights..... and although I admire his longevity, I thought Dean Lewington looked to have enjoyed a great Christmas....

[drfchound]

Just seen the highlights..... and although I admire his longevity, I thought Dean Lewington looked to have enjoyed a great Christmas....

Indeed.
He looked as though he was pulling a parachute as Moly raced away from him.

[Arsenal Of The North]

So no game for Kyle again today, he’s either out of favour, or he’s off in this window and not being played to prevent risk of injury to scupper any possible move.

Shame, I think he would be brilliant on the left side of a front 3 of GMC’s.

Time will tell for sure! Just wish the media would put the question to GMC!

Hurst? He came on on the 77th minute.

My apologies, I’ve missed todays game through work, when i checked & seen kulaya was brought on, I assumed hirst didn’t make the pitch.

How foolish of me to do so! I’ll be in the town square for my lynching!

[Pancho Regan]

A view from MK Dons forum:

“If you had wandered in the Eco-Power Stadium as a neutral and not known anything about the two sides you would have said Donny were the team were on a run of nine unbeaten, not us, we were never really in it at all.”

[Pancho Regan]

And a couple of their posters agreed we should have been 5 or 6 up by half time.

[Ryaldinhio]

Let's not forget we are still threadbare with injuries!!!

Finishing with 3 young uns on pitch, Bobby Faulkner trained 2days and on the bench. We are still thin on the ground.

[Silkscarf]

Another small thing while we’re here - why do they still call themselves ‘Dons’? Please drop it now.

Not only is that a ludicrous insult to Wimbledon, it just seems daft keeping it. Do their fans chant ‘Come on you Dons’? Or is it meaningless for them too? I’d respect the club very slightly more if they jettisoned it. While you’re at it face up to using the actual words ‘Milton Keynes’ rather than hiding behind ‘MK’ as if it’s LA or JFK.

[selby]

  An all round good day at the office, liked the use of the tactical foul, something I alluded to a couple of weeks ago, the lack of us contemplating it and how easy we were to play against, well we were not in this game.
  First half tremendous football, and every player involved,second half we went for game management dipped a couple of youngsters in after a hard physical period in a few days, unfortunately Kuleya just proved how far he is off the standard required, not surprised there, and I thought we missed the chance of giving Goodman a decent run out instead of wasting it.

[ncRover]

Brilliant distribution from Louis for our first goal yesterday (the sky highlights cut it out). That long ball to Ironside he can hit looks a good plan B when the option to play out isn’t there.

https://youtu.be/5MMLYsVd7fo?si=3JmZxaPQtqHmUC1b

MK’s performance reminded me of last year’s Schofield team, so it served as a timely contrast.

They had 70% possession but it was tippy-tappy, without purpose and very… process-driven. The poor goalkeeper MacGillivery reminded me of Mitchell. He was not cut out for playing out from the back whatsoever, but the manager had obviously forced him to pray at the altar of The Process. Ellis Harrison was their best player when he came on too. Not sure why he was on the bench.

Louis Jones is superb with the ball at his feet. And can pass short or long. Much better goalie than Lawlor IMO, but thankfully he wasn’t tested with balls in to the box. If he can develop bravery and command of his area at 24 then we have a very good goalie. That’s the only problem, but it can be a big one at this level.

[roversdude]

Although Ellis Harrison looked useful when he came on I thought he was trying to play basketball must have handled the ball 4 or 5 times

[roversdude]

There'll be a few absentees on this thread later.

Still not appeared lol

[Sammy Chung was King]

Even though possession wise we were not the victors, when we got the ball we were ruthless.
Quick, decisive football that caught them out.
Instead of rolling it around back and forth, there was a purpose to the moves.

The goalkeeper did well with what he had to deal with. When your strikers are putting the ball away, there isn’t as much pressure on everybody.
Ideally we need to keep this back four in, so they can work on each others strengths and weaknesses-build the understanding they need.

The players coming back, just ease them in. Sterry still needs looking after, taking into account the time on the sidelines he’s had.
Faulkner carry on easing him in from the bench.
We haven’t cracked it, it’s two good games after many bad ones. The confidence will have climbed though.

We still need additions at centre half, central midfield and with strikers out injured, we could with one of those. With Roberts seeming to be on his way back to Wolves- it hasn’t really worked out. Then another wide attacking winger/striker is also needed.
Attack games like we have the last two and we will win far more than we lose.

[roversdude]

SCWK it’s 2 good games following 3 poor game, we were playing well until Westbrooke was injured

[Sammy Chung was King]

I would like to see us use this year as a new start and put an unbeaten run together. Even with injuries the squad has massively underachieved.