It was an epic game as somehow from the dregs AFC Wimbledon never gave up and managed in the dying moments with penalties looming to finally score the winning goal to send Ebbsfleet out of the FA Cup. In truth AFC dominated large parts of the match but you had to feel sorry for the home side who oh so nearly caused the upset, if they could have held on for an extra minute they would have won the match but then again, this is the FA Cup. 

As far as AFC Wimbledon goes most of the team played well. At times during the match Wimbledon dominated possession but at times they were frustrating as they rarely seemed to try and get behind the Ebbsfleet defence, preferring to shoot from distance. It was only when they finally did manage to play some deep balls that they scored the winning goals.

As far as players goes, I was very impressed with Rashid Yussuf. He played in midfield and then as a left back when Blackman went off and he looked a very composed player. Jackson, Hatton and Kedwell showed great industry whilst Sammy Moore managed to find his way into the game as it wore on with two goals being his reward.

It was also interesting to watch Blackman. I felt he was a little unlucky with the penalty decision but overall it’s clear why Terry Brown signed him. He has pace to burn, can attack from the full back position and at times he looks like a Championship player. He just needs to build his self confidence and work hard on being a better defensive player. In some ways having Chris Bush at the club may help him develop because the pressure to perform each week lessens and at this stage that is probably what he needs.

I was disappointed with Steven Gregory last night who didn’t have the best of games. Wimbledon looked infinitely better defensively when Brett Johnson came on for Franks. Seb Brown made a great save to keep the Dons in the game from Carew which would have given Ebbsfleet a two goal lead. On the whole Brown looks a very solid keeper.

The one player I felt slightly sorry for was Mark Nwokeji. He played in Jolley’s position on the left of a 4-3-3 but apart from the goal he was anonymous and running the line just isn’t his position at all. This was really clear when Luke Moore came on and immediately looked far more comfortable in the position and set up the first goal. Moore should have started the game as he looked comfortable in the position but it also goes to show that Terry Brown may need to find another left winger/striker in the transfer window.

What was really impressive last night was how Brown’s team played football. At times Ebbsfleet couldn’t get the ball and with Wimbledon’s average age being 22 the future certainly does look bright, especially if Terry can hang on to all the good young players he’s recruited.

Next up for Wimbledon is Kettering in the league which won’t be easy. Wimbledon will probably be tired and they’ll need to play well to retain their position at the top of the conference. Next up in the Cup is Stevenage live on ITV. It should be a great game but first it would be good to see a home win on Sunday.

AFC Wimbledon’s second game in the North West ended in failure as they lost 2-0 to Barrow. By all accounts it was a good performance but the Dons couldn’t score any goals and paid the price. In three of the last four Dons games they have not managed to score and it maybe becoming a problem. Wimbledon need to find a Robbie Earle figure to pop up with ten goals from midfield, Sammy Moore has been the nearest to that type of player but you wouldn’t be sure of him popping up and scoring too often. 

Terry Brown shuffled his pack a little at Barrow with Nwokeji, Bush and Yakubu coming back into the starting eleven. Lee Minshull came on as a substitute but it’s been confirmed today that he broke his toe and is now out for the next six weeks. At least with Brett Johnson coming back to full fitness Minshull is the only player with a longer term injury. The squad is still looking strong at this stage of the season.

The focus of the week has turned to Thursday’s Ebbsfleet game. Wimbledon will desperately want to win this match as the longer the Dons stay in the cup the more money the club can make; this in turn could fund the odd extra player in January to give the club an extra promotion push. As much as Wimbledon want to win this cup tie it wouldn’t be a surprise if Terry Brown left Danny Kedwell on the bench. It’s been reported Brown has wanted to give his captain a rest and it could be the perfect opportunity to release Nwokeji to see what he can do.

Jon Main didn’t make the trip to Barrow but he should have recovered from his illness and be fit to start so it will be interesting to see in Jolley’s continued absence whether Terry will play a 4-4-2 and go for the game. It maybe in Wimbledon’s favour that they are playing away from home; you would expect Ebbsfleet to have a good go at Wimbledon and they may leave some space at the back which AFC could exploit. At the same time the Fleet are a good team and they will be a tough to beat. If they won on Thursday it wouldn’t be such a surprise as they are a well managed outfit who have a great chance of getting promoted back to the Conference this season.

As far as the game goes, I’d like to see Wimbledon really attack Ebbsfleet. They should try to get a goal in the first twenty minutes and then exploit the space the home side will leave later in the match. I can’t see this game being anything other than tight but hopefully it won’t get to penalties as I’m not sure I can stand that torture.

Whatever happens at Ebbsfleet we’ll know by then if the MK Dons have made it through to the next round. I’d prefer Stevenage to beat them but curiously I feel that Wimbledon have more chance of beating MK if they beat Stevenage. I’m not going to get ahead of myself, Wimbledon are going to have to play well to win at Ebbsfleet, only then can we think of the Second Round of the Cup…

The last couple of days in the life of AFC Wimbledon has centred around the possibility of meeting the MK Dons in the FA Cup. Luckily last night that was put on the back burner as AFC Wimbledon took on Altrincham. After two games without scoring, Wimbledon’s nerves were calmed by an early Danny Kedwell goal. He pounced for the second time just before half time and that was enough to secure a 2-0 victory taking the Dons back to the top of the table and consigning Altrincham to the basement of the conference. 

This win means that AFC now have the second best away record in the division. The previous two games have been at home where teams are now parking the bus and not giving Wimbledon any space in which to play in the final third of the field. Going away from home suits Wimbledon’s playing style where they can suck up pressure and hit teams on the break. It maybe the case that before the end of the season Terry Brown has to be a little bit more direct at home to pierce the more stubborn of defences.

As to last night, Jon Main replaced the suspended Jolley whilst Ricky Wellard took the place of the injured Sammy Moore. It meant that Brown kept Andre Blackman in the team instead of recalling Chris Bush. Hopefully this will boost Blackman’s confidence somewhat and inspire greater performances from him. It’s clear he has to become a cleverer player than he has been so far this season, there’s definitely enough time for him to change his ways.

What last night also proved is what a dependable player Danny Kedwell is for the Dons. He is now joint second top scorer in the League with 12 goals. There must be some genuine concern at the club that a League side may make an offer Wimbledon can’t refuse in the January transfer window as Kedwell’s form and leadership has been admirable.

Overall I’m sure Terry Brown is very pleased with his recruitment for this season. Virtually no player has been a dud; even Blackman seems to be improving. What TB will now be very confident about is being able to recruit an even better calibre of player next summer. Players will see how AFC are playing and want to be involved, it means that even on a restricted budget Wimbledon should be able to push on from where they are now.

If you also think about it, this season being the club’s first as a full time professional outfit has also seen two clear things. Firstly, the players are improving as the season unravels because they are fitter and have the time to train. Secondly, this has led to less injuries, so far there hasn’t been any season ending injuries when it seemed last year that they happened regularly. With the players being fitter it surely must help to keep them in good condition and stave off the injuries. This should also lead to a much better team performance in the second half of the season.

One of the two players who have had medium term injuries made his comeback last night. Lee Minshull came off the bench for the last ten minutes, before his injury he’d had an interesting start to the season and it’s good to see him return. The other medium term injured player Brett Johnson isn’t far away from making his comeback. With quite a few games coming up over the next few weeks it’s good news on that the squad injury list is pretty low.

The next test of the Dons is another Northern away game as they take on Barrow on Saturday. This should be a sterner test than Altrincham, Barrow haven’t had a midweek league game and they beat Newport County at home last Saturday. If Wimbledon can win there they will have had an excellent week. Maybe we can forget about that cup game for just a little bit longer…

What was going to be an interesting game between Ebbsfleet and AFC Wimbledon was unfortunately spoiled by two awful refereeing decisions. The over-zealous official harshly sent a player off from both sides which changed the game and saw it ending up in a draw. Both sides will get another crack at each other in a week’s time to see who will go through to the next round of the Cup. 

For AFC Wimbledon losing Jolley changed the whole balance of the side. I’m sure Wimbledon will appeal against the Red card if they can, if they can’t and Jolley is suspended it could muster a change in formation for Terry Brown’s team as they face a tough two weeks with two away games up north before the Cup replay.

It’s fair to say that Wimbledon’s 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation has done really well this season. However it’s heavily reliant on Danny Kedwell and it’s getting to that stage in the season when other teams start to work out how to play other sides. It maybe getting harder for Wimbledon to pass through teams using the 4-3-3 because teams are now prepared for it. Terry Brown may need to vary his formation slightly to stay effective and counter opposition sides blocking tactics.

If Jolley is suspended then Brown could stick with the same formation playing either Luke Moore or Andre Blackman on the left wing. Blackman would be a risk but it maybe worth trying him in this position as he maybe able to keep the balance of the team and it seems clear that he needs to play having lost his left back place to Chris Bush.

The other alternative is to bring either Jon Main or Mark Nwokeji into the side and play with two strikers. Brown could easily play this way with a midfield diamond and it may provide the variation that Wimbledon needs to breakdown sides that fill the midfield and stop Wimbledon’s passing game. It maybe the first time in the season that Main or Nwokeji can get a run in the team to see what they can do. Wimbledon could really use a big run of goals from Jon Main who is capable of scoring in the conference, he just needs to get that run of games.

If Terry Brown isn’t going to use either Nwokeji or Main he may have to think about letting one of them go in January and bringing in another winger. It seems pointless that Wimbledon keep three players for one striking position. It’s just a case now or which way Brown decides to play if Jolley is indeed suspended. We’ll see up at Altrincham on Tuesday night.

-

Having just seen the draw all of a sudden there is a chance of us playing the MK Dons in the next round. Personally I’m not sure whether I want this game as it’s going to be filled with acrimony but at the same time it was always going to happen and if Wimbledon beat Ebbsfleet there is a chance of the biggest game in AFC’s history coming to pass. It really is going to be an interesting next ten days…

Last night will be remembered as one of the great European nights at White Hart Lane as Tottenham secured an epic 3-1 victory over the European Champions Inter Milan. The other major memory from this night will be the emergence of a player on the World Stage. The player in question is Gareth Bale. 

Bale’s performance was outstanding and his development from this time last year is staggering. Last night there was nothing Inter could do to stop him and he gave Maicon, one of the best right backs in the world a roasting. Bale could just skip past him at will and it seemed there was nothing that Inter could do to prevent him winning the game for Spurs.

The other impressive thing about Bale is that he always tends to deliver the right ball. He did it twice last night and both led to goals, it’s this skill that marks him out as a World Class player. He did it last night when it mattered and he got three goals last time out at the San Siro, if that ability to perform on the highest stage blossoms he could be unstoppable.

Bale is a key member of a Spurs side that have ripped open the Champions League. They go out and attack, trying to beat whichever team is put in front of them. By doing this they’ve now beaten the European Champions. It’s unlikely that Benitez’s team will retain the trophy this season. Benitez’s tactics are too predictable and Bale showed that some of older players just don’t have the legs anymore.

Spurs are also doing well in the Premiership as they vie with Man City to finish in the top four. At present it seems City have a few problems. Mancini’s tactics are far too defensive. Teams are starting to realise that if you can take the lead against them then it’s hard for them to fight back as they play with too many defensive players.

As well as this cracks are beginning to show in the City camp. There are too many players to be kept happy and the manager is finicky, he can’t seem to get the players to buy into his culture. At the moment they seemed a better side this time last year. They’ll want to be pushing on like Gareth Bale has done in the last year. Can’t see it happening under Mancini anytime soon…

As AFC Wimbledon prepare to play Darlington tomorrow it’s interesting to look at the make up of the squad this season. As the squad was being assembled in the summer there was a lot of anticipation over how the club’s first fully professional players would do. With the club having done so well over the first part of the season, Terry Brown must be pretty happy with the players he recruited.

The majority of this season’s team has been successful. In fact it’s easier to look at this squad’s losers than the winners. Striker Jon Main just hasn’t fired this year although he’s played out of position and as with all goalscorers he needs a good run in the team to find his form. Mark Nwokeji just has never got going after being injured earlier in the season. It’s no surprise that he’s been made available to go out on loan as he isn’t in the frame right now and needs game time.

It’s also fair to say that Andre Blackman hasn’t been as successful as Terry Brown would have wanted. The left back was an unusual signing for Brown who has a track record of sticking with players with good character and discipline. Blackman came to the club as a young player with potential, at the same time he obviously has had his issues having been jettisoned from a number of pro clubs. So far with his poor disciplinary record he has lost his place to loanee Chris Bush and he needs to respond to show how good he can be. Time is still on his side as it’s early in the season.

The overall development of the squad has been great and the fact that there has only been one loan signing so far this season illustrates that success. Brown will be hoping for no major injuries like there were last season as that could seriously derail Wimbledon’s title bid. If the club lost one of their major players they may struggle to replace them, that’s where a club like Crawley has an advantage at present.

To try and keep up with the Crawley’s of this world Wimbledon will be looking towards the FA Cup. They have Ebbsfleet in the next round which is distinctly winnable and if they can get a good draw in the Second Round then the monster Third Round draw isn’t so far away. Unfortunately Wimbledon’s track record against lower ranked clubs isn’t the best, they need to put that right on Saturday week to progress in the World’s greatest cup competition.

The rise and rise of AFC Wimbledon continues. Currently top of the Conference they have risen immeasurably from the Ashes of the old club which died in 2002 and this season is the first time they have realistically got a chance of re-joining the Football League. 

The reason for the surge in form this season is down to the club going Full time in the summer. Last season showed what a disadvantage it was to being a part time club. This year they’ve been able to sign better players including promising young professionals released from League clubs and they’ve reaped the benefits.

Earlier in the season Wimbledon could even turn down a £60 000 bid from Crawley for their captain Danny Kedwell. At the time this surprised me, I thought the club would take the money as that’s a huge amount to a non-league club. In the end Wimbledon have made the right decision holding onto the player as he’s had a great season and is the epitome of the club’s unique drive and spirit.

As well as Wimbledon are doing there is still a long road ahead as far as the club is concerned. It needs to build it’s infrastructure as it currently finds it hard to make as much money off the pitch as it can. This is hardly surprising as before the club were in the conference, there probably weren’t as many money making opportunities as there will be if the club can sustain their promotion challenge.

Furthermore the massive issue is over the ground. Currently the club is stable at Kingsmeadow but if Wimbledon want to be a league club they aren’t going to be able to stay there forever. The majority of the fans want to move back to Wimbledon’s spiritual home in Merton. The problem with this is that in the twenty years since the club have left they haven’t found a way back. How are they going to do so now?

For all these concerns the club is still in a great position with a very good manager in Terry Brown and some cracking players in the likes of Kedwell, Christian Jolley, Sam Hatton and Seb Brown. If they club can hold onto all their good players then they could well be a League club this time next year. The Wimbledon fans dare to dream as the spirit of the club thrives down at Kingsmeadow…

Man Utd’s loss last night to Bayern was symptomatic of the fall they have had this season. They have fallen from last years levels and Bayern have risen and were able to exploit Utd’s weaknesses to win the tie.

First of all, unlike Arsenal against Barcelona, Utd were slightly unlucky. The ball really ran in Bayern’s favour, on another night another referee wouldn’t have sent Rafael off and Bayern had some luck with Rooney’s injury. I am sure as frustrated as Ferguson is at the result; things at Utd are definitely not in freefall.

What it does illustrate is that Man Utd’s overall level is a lot lower than last season. There are a number of reasons for this. The lost of Ronaldo and Tevez means Utd have little depth up front. Giggs and Neville look past it whilst Scholes can still play at a high level but he can’t play three games in a week. Then the defence is creaking. Ferdinand looks old and Rafael’s inexperience was brutally exposed last night. I can’t help thinking Rafael has all the tools to be a top class right back. He is just very green at the moment and needs to play an awful lot of games to see if with experience he can learn to make the right decisions at the right time.

On the plus side, if Utd has eleven men then they would have won yesterday. There was also a lot more energy in the side and the rise of Nani and Valencia has given Utd a good attacking dimension. Can you imagine how dangerous they would be if they could add a striker with good movement like Torres to their team.

So most of the parts at Utd are working ok and if Rafael improves and Chris Smalling is as good as Ferguson thinks he is then they aren’t too far away from another good young side. They just need to buy another striker to support Rooney. I bet right now Ferguson wishes he’d kept Tevez,

The other marked thing that seems to be happening to Utd is how teams play against them. Every time they come up against a big team they tend to play with three midfielders and the big team they play against always try and hem them in their own half as they try and pass their way out of defence. Barcelona did this to them in the Champions League final last year and in recent weeks Chelsea and Bayern have done this to them to good effect. Fergie’s slight tactical weakness has been exposed. I wonder how he will counter this?

The Champions League exit of Arsenal was very predictable. This morning the media is in rhapsody over how good Lionel Messi is. What they forget to mention is that if you give one of the world’s best player’s time and space then he will destroy you.

It’s interesting to note that in the previous two seasons both Man Utd and Chelsea have gone to the Nou Camp and kept clean sheets. This is a result of playing a highly defensive formation to nullify the massive pitch and Barcelona’s incredible players. Arsenal simply didn’t do this. They tried to play like Barcelona, trying to close them down high up in the pitch. This left nice juicy holes in the Arsenal rearguard which Barcelona exploited. Tactically it was men against boys.

Wenger has many problems to think about.

He complains about injuries but then many of his players are either developing because they are young or some like Van Persie are physically vulnerable.

He goes on about youth and yet if you look at how young the Barcelona team was last night maybe you get the sense that his youth isn’t good enough.

He doesn’t spend much money on big players and yet these are the players that at the elite level win you things. As much as his youth policy is to be lauded, he doesn’t try and buy those players that win things.

Arsenal and Wenger are at a crossroads. If he continues to rely on youth and naive tactics then season after season Arsenal will stagnate. They will stay at the same level, which isn’t a bad level to be at, but if Arsenal want more maybe Wenger has to be brave.

It’s not very brave to spend two millions pounds on a seventeen year old who may not make it, yet it’s brave to have the courage of your convictions and pay twenty millions on a twenty four year old star. It’s a case of Wenger backing himself to go to the next level and showing some vision. Unfortunately for him and Arsenal most of his vision is economic, and that doesn’t win elite football matches.

Will Arsenal be able to overcome Barcelona in the Nou Camp? I won’t put my money on it. They have had a great end of season run and are much improved from last year.

As Man Utd and Chelsea become older teams, it’s Arsenal who finally look like they could be the team of the future. They have the right blend of experience and youth and they have some great individual players. When they are on their game they are a match for any team.

I am not sure whether they can win the title this season. I don’t think they will be able to beat Man City and that will be crucial. If players like Fabregas, Bendtner, Song, Nasri and Walcott all continue to improve then they have the backbone of a possible title winning team if Wenger can hold onto his players for next seasons title challenge.

Man Utd are looking a tired team without the energy of Rooney. It’s this time of the season where the loss of Tevez is really starting to bite. The depth of squad they had last season with Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez is no more and they looked old against Chelsea. Father time has definitely caught up with Gary Neville and Giggs is starting to look frail. If they want to beat Munich on Wednesday then they may have to trust some of the younger players to come to the party and inject some fresh energy and vitality into their team.

Chelsea are looking old as well but everyone knows they are old and everyone knows they are going to go through some major squad re-construction in the future. They could pull off the title but they are going to have to play well. It’s just a question of whether they want it enough as they do flatter to deceive at times.

Man City are the up and coming team. They look strong and they should take fourth spot. I am sure Tevez would have liked to have been playing for United this week in the Champions League but it looks like he will have that next season as City are in Pole position to make their European assault later on in the year.

It’s great to be in early April and not know who will be the Champions. It’s going to be a great last month in this very open Premier League season.