Tom Elliott's testimonial - AFC Wimbledon v Cambridge

[ambernuts]

GOAL! 15 seconds into the second half. GAME ON.

 

[ambernuts]

2 CORNERS 2 GOALS 2-1

 

[womble76]

See I must be psychic

 

[Balls Of An Ox]

4-4 I reckon!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Laker]

I see Coulson's gone off after 30 mins. Don't know your players enough to have any idea what's so mad about the line-up?

Well we played 4 centre backs in the first half with one playing as a left wing back and a reserve left wing back playing right wing back when our first choice ones on each side are on the bench (Dunk and Omozusi).

Then we're playing Dunn ahead of Beasant in goal despite Dunn being badly injured in pre season and in no way 100%.

Finally our midfield was really soft with Hughes (utility), Donaldson and Simpson (both attacking players). The only good but was the forward line which didn't get a sniff as unsurprisingly we couldn't get the ball!

The changes were big necessities and consequently we've looked a lot more balanced this half. Granted a couple if quick goals do help bit still.... I'm just relieved we were only 1 down at half time as it sounded like it could have been 3 or 4.

 

[Wombletom]

I do wish Atdley wouldn't give half time team talks when we dominate the 1st half.

 

[Balls Of An Ox]

Poor defending has cost us...missed a few chances to get back into the game too.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Laker]

Fuck knows how we won that after our first half performance. I sort of feel like like I should apologise to the Wombles on here after that....

 

[Balls Of An Ox]

No need to apologise. Sucker punched at the start of the second half and then played the game out extremely well. We had chances to equalise but didn't take them...fair play to United...made some changes during the break and came out strong in the second half.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[womble76]

Sob that's what getting mugged feels like. How we list that game beggers belief.

 

[Arbury]

GET IN THERE U'S.

The radio was hard to listen to in that first half(must have been even worse to you feckers that went) but sounded all the better in the 2nd.

Think money deserves all the credit for changing it but seriously WTF was that line up all about we started with, I'm no football manager but even i(and many others) could see it was a bit of a fuck up.

Still we won which is all that matters I suppose, onto satdeeeeeee!!!


KTF.

 

[Balls Of An Ox]

Sob that's what getting mugged feels like. How we list that game beggers belief.

We've got to learn to put teams away. Should've been 3 up at half time. Defending at corners was criminal! Cambridge shut the game down well. On to Carlisle...4-4 anyone?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

no need for panic, we lost our first 2 at home last season as well, onwards and upwards.

 

[Habbinalan]

GET IN THERE U'S.

The radio was hard to listen to in that first half(must have been even worse to you feckers that went) but sounded all the better in the 2nd.

Think money deserves all the credit for changing it but seriously WTF was that line up all about we started with, I'm no football manager but even i(and many others) could see it was a bit of a fuck up.

Still we won which is all that matters I suppose, onto satdeeeeeee!!!


KTF.

I thought that I was missing something when I saw the bench, cheered up when I realised that Legge was starting, then groaned when I saw Greg Taylor at "right wing back." I had flashbacks to Lincoln away - the last time that Richard solved his selection quandaries by simply fielding our tallest 11.

Thankfully we were only 1 down when changes were made but that first half was a difficult watch. Tom's disallowed goal was a classic Elliot finish from a right wing cross. I thought that Greg Taylor was looking sheepish for the opener - with 3 of our back 4 and 500 U's fans berating the poor lino immediately and for the rest of the match. I think he was onside.

We knew that we'd get goals from corners and set pieces but that start to the second half made a hell of a statement.

I still worry how we'll fare if we have to play many important matches without Corr. Dunn is not the calmest of keepers - but that was a match winning save at the end.

Wildlife highlight was the calls then sight of a flock of ring necked parakeets over Cambridge Road. Culinary highlight was the Kingston Fish Kitchen - too far south for jellied eels but one of the best pre-match meals this year.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Strange strange game. The team selection highlighted my biggest fear for this season which is Money's capability to do something absolutely ridiculous, thankfully, unlike most of the second half of last season, he realised his mistake early and did what he had to do to correct it, so well done to him for that, but we should never have been in that mess to begin with. Again this talk of "combatting" the opposition threat concerns me as with a team like ours we should be mostly playing to our strengths first and foremost.

I think Wimbledon were a bit shell shocked second half, probably went in at half time thinking it was all fairly comfortable and that they'd probably have at least 20 minutes before we might have started getting our act together, they just never really got going again after the goals, one bad miss from Akinfenwa and one great save from Dunn but we didn't get tested too much, which hopefully is sign of a defensive improvement.

Corr is still absolutely quality.

Legge could well be our second top scorer this season if we win enough corners.

Simpson is not, never has, and never will be a central midfielder.

Berry HAS to start every game if he's at least 70% fit.

Donaldson is still an enigma.

Taylor still can't pass to his own team.

Would definitely like to see Morrissey get some game time sooner rather than later.

An honourable mention for our old friend Tom Elliott as well, I feel rather vindicated as last night just demonstrated how effective he can be if you play the right, but very simple, way to him, which we didn't do for the last two seasons. He will play plenty of teams far worse than us and if he can stay fit he will get 15 goals, the only if as ever is the fitness, not the ability, or the desire.

Onto Saturday, really should be 3 points at home, hopefully Richard has learnt from his mistakes very early this time around and maybe, just maybe we'll be able to avoid the second half of the season conservatism!

 

[Habbinalan]

Strange strange game. The team selection highlighted my biggest fear for this season which is Money's capability to do something absolutely ridiculous, thankfully, unlike most of the second half of last season, he realised his mistake early and did what he had to do to correct it, so well done to him for that, but we should never have been in that mess to begin with. Again this talk of "combatting" the opposition threat concerns me as with a team like ours we should be mostly playing to our strengths first and foremost.

I think Wimbledon were a bit shell shocked second half, probably went in at half time thinking it was all fairly comfortable and that they'd probably have at least 20 minutes before we might have started getting our act together, they just never really got going again after the goals, one bad miss from Akinfenwa and one great save from Dunn but we didn't get tested too much, which hopefully is sign of a defensive improvement.

Corr is still absolutely quality.

Legge could well be our second top scorer this season if we win enough corners.

Simpson is not, never has, and never will be a central midfielder.

Berry HAS to start every game if he's at least 70% fit.

Donaldson is still an enigma.

Taylor still can't pass to his own team.

Would definitely like to see Morrissey get some game time sooner rather than later.

An honourable mention for our old friend Tom Elliott as well, I feel rather vindicated as last night just demonstrated how effective he can be if you play the right, but very simple, way to him, which we didn't do for the last two seasons. He will play plenty of teams far worse than us and if he can stay fit he will get 15 goals, the only if as ever is the fitness, not the ability, or the desire.

Onto Saturday, really should be 3 points at home, hopefully Richard has learnt from his mistakes very early this time around and maybe, just maybe we'll be able to avoid the second half of the season conservatism!

All comments spot on, apart from one. I still remember Robbie in CM being central to one of our best away performances last season (at Burton) - so he can and has done it but he's not a patch on the alternatives that were on the bench, especially Morrissey.

Unfortunately, at the moment I think Robbie is our best alternative to BBB Corr (the Corrminator?). I just hope that Gaffney and/or loans can address that weakness because, for all his ability, Slew cannot successfully lead our attack or play as one up front without an attitude transplant.

Leopards don't change their spots, especially after 60. I think we're stuck with Richard's quirks and foibles. We'll just have to enjoy the ride - it won't be boring.

 

[womble76]

Im still in a complete depressed daze as to how we actually lost to you last night. Gobsmacked. 2 moments of shit defending from corners cost us a game that should have been out of sight by half time.

 

[Habbinalan]

Im still in a complete depressed daze as to how we actually lost to you last night. Gobsmacked. 2 moments of shit defending from corners cost us a game that should have been out of sight by half time.

Half time was the key for both sides.

The tackle on Liam Hughes, just after the whistle, was nasty. Although his reaction was perhaps understandable, we could easily started the second half without Hughesy or the Beast - luckily there were enough sensible heads (and strong bodies) on both sides to get the ref out of a corner when it kicked off.

Our reaction to the incident but in particular to the frustration with officials, tactical failings and half-time opportunity to re-group was exemplary and focussed - yours seemed lethargic and confused.

True you could and probably should have had more goals in the first half....but are you perhaps beginning to look like team that starts like an express train and fades? I'll be particularly interested to see how you get on at comeback kings Carlisle.

 

[Clapham Womble]

So far this season we've been a team that can't play for more than one half. If we can change that, and it's a big if, then I think we could be a decent team.

Fair play to Cambridge for coming out of the traps blazing in the second half, albeit that our marking for the two corners was shocking. Once they had the lead, bar Osbourne's horrible miss from a header, and a great save from their keeper, we didn't put enough pressure on their defence.

There were a hell of a lot of long throws from Cambridge as well, was a very direct and effective weapon.