AFC Wimbledon v Torquay United - 18/9/12

[AustrianAndyGull]

United return to action on tuesday evening at Kingsmeadow ( or Cherry Red Records Stadium ) hoping to quickly banish the lingering disappointment of their 1-0 defeat at the New York Stadium, Rotherham last weekend. It was the manner of the performance rather than the defeat itself that has left a bitter taste in fan's mouths and the travelling Yellow Army ( and other fans who are just as much Torquay fans but who don't wish to get involved with the singing and merriment ) will be looking for a much more positive approach from the lads against AFC Wimbledon. AFC themselves are struggling with just an opening day home win against Chesterfield and a home draw against Daggers to their name giving them 4 points. At a minus 10 goal difference, second only to Barnet, the Gulls will be looking to add to that statistic by bagging a few and should we not then questions will need to be asked.

This is the Wombles second campaign as a football league club and manager Terry Brown has certainly got his work cut out to ensure there will be a third judging on results and performances at the start of the season. They have shipped goals left, right and centre including 6 away to Burton, 5 away to Bradford, 3 at Stevenage in the cup, and they have conceded twice in all four games played in September thus far. Perhaps their major attacking threat, striker Jack Midson was sent off in their last game after 24 minutes for violent conduct therefore shouldn't be available to face us i don't believe. Please put me right if i am incorrect in this assumption thanks.

They have some useful players in their ranks including Dutch ex-Ipswich defender Pim Balkestein and Ghanaian defender Will Antwi but many of their squad have been with the club from non-league. That's not to say i'm underestimating them but with the players WE have we should really be going there with the mindset to win. We know each game is tough though and perhaps we thought it might be easy last season when we went down 2-0 at Kingsmeadow in what was our first ever league game there.

I never went to the game last season and have rarely been anywhere within the M25 as i'm not keen on London or the greater area. I'm hoping to get to Barnet away for the first time this season but for Daggers and AFC forget it. Because i've never been i can't comment on the ground itself, the facilities, what is in the surrounding area and things but from all accounts there is nothing much to do apart from a few grotty pubs and strip joints. I am not going to this game either, especially with it being a night game and in the London area. If it had been North London like Barnet then i may have considered it but i can't be arsed with all the travel hassle attempting to navigate around that dump. Hats off to you who are going to the game. It is £15 to stand in the terrace for you guys.

Anyway, last time out AFC lost at home 2-1 to Rochdale where manager Terry Brown said about them,"They are a very good side and for them to be scrapping at the end of the game and holding on to what they had says a lot about the work rate that we showed second half". Er yes Terry. If Rochdale are such a good side then why were they being battered by 10 men and why did their only league win to date come at home against Barnet? No, Rochdale are crap and in a way i'm glad the Wimbledon boys put in a shift as hopefully it might take a physical edge off them on tuesday. Anyway, there were 3,529 in attendance for the visit of Rochdale and that is an excellent crowd for a club of their stature and limited history.

Line up v Rochdale:

1. Seb Brown (gk)
2. Pim Balkestein
3. Curtis Haynes - Brown ( on loan from Yeovil Town )
4. George Francomb ( on loan from Norwich City )
5. Will Antwi
6. Stacy Long
7. Sammy Moore
8. Christian Jolley
9. Steven Gregory ( on loan from AFC Bournemouth )
10. Jack Midson
11. Luke Moore

SUBS: Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz (GK) UNUSED, Warren Cummings UNUSED, Louis Harris (on for Haynes-Brown on 83 mins), Huw Johnson UNUSED, Frankie Merrifield UNUSED, Rashid Yussuff (on for Long on 46 mins), Byron Harrison (on for Jolley on 57 mins).

Manager Terry Brown has indicated on their official website that on loan Watford centre back DALE BENNETT is expected to be back in for our visit but i don't know who he might replace. I don't know who the officials are either, how the f*ck do i find that out anyway as most of you lot seem to be able to prior to a game?!

All in all this is a game we should be winning given the squads and the form yet i would take a draw if we went out there with the INTENTION of winning and offering more as an attacking force. If we drew and played like we did for our previous 3 away games then it will be a serious concern. These are there for the taking and although we should respect them we should be getting into them and showing them what we have. To defend for 85 minutes in this game would be completely unacceptable and the management would deserve the flak. Let's see what happens anyway. I'd take a draw and a good performance but i'm going for us to win it 2-0 with Howe and Bodin netting.

Apologies that the thread has no links or photos and is a bit short. I've asked you guys for some help on the popside forum in inserting these as i don't know how to do them. It would certainly make the threads more interesting for you all. Apologies for the lack of humour in this too and the fact that i haven't done an 'ANDY'S TOWN OF THE DAY' just haven't got time and besides, Wimbledon is in London and we all know London is a big scary mess anyway!

With our next away jaunt being my current home town i'm sure i can make amends with that thread and post some inside knowledge so it's swings and roundabouts.

[Scott Brehaut]

Officials:

AFC Wimbledon v Torquay United
DAVID COOTE
Nicholas Kinseley and Dean Treleaven
Fourth Official Ian Fissenden

Taken from http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/Referees

[AustrianAndyGull]

Thanks for that Scott. I'll try that for the next thread mate cheers.

[BeachHutGull]

Assuming there will be a few going is there a sensible pub to head for? I think I may look at the Fountain in New Malden based on a few reviews but wondered if there was a preferred/better venue?? I am also bringing an American colleague with me................oh dear

[HeavenAndHele]

Apologies for the lack of humour in this too and the fact that i haven't done an 'ANDY'S TOWN OF THE DAY' just haven't got time and besides, Wimbledon is in London and we all know London is a big scary mess anyway!

Probably just as well you didn't, as the ground isn't even in Wimbledon, but in Kingston! I grew up not far away, used to go past the ground on the bus to school and went to see Kingstonians play a few times about 17 years ago but haven't been back in ages so can't help with what it's like these days. Fun fact, nearby New Malden has the UK's largest Korean population so if you fancy a bit of Korean cuisine before the game you might be in luck...

[Jeff]

Any tips on parking? I went last season and parked at the ground, but as I'll be going straight from work tomorrow I can see me getting there quite early so not sure if the ground will be open. Any good spots anyone found last season they care to share?

[Plymouth Gull]

Possibly on the road towards the station? I've only ever got the train to AFCW so haven't paid much attention to it before.

[tktufc91]

Parking is very sparse around the ground. Like others, I've only ever taken the train to Wimbledon as its perhaps the easiest journey for me to get too.

Would have liked to have gone to this but due to other commitments, it is impossible so will be listening on gullsplayer.

As for the game, it is a must win for me. We need to seriously bounce back and put Wimbledon to the sword. They are very vulnerable at the back and with Midson out, I am slightly positive.

Still. Being TUFC I fully expect it to be a tight game but we'll nick it 1-2.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Probably just as well you didn't, as the ground isn't even in Wimbledon, but in Kingston! I grew up not far away, used to go past the ground on the bus to school and went to see Kingstonians play a few times about 17 years ago but haven't been back in ages so can't help with what it's like these days. Fun fact, nearby New Malden has the UK's largest Korean population so if you fancy a bit of Korean cuisine before the game you might be in luck...

Cheers for that Jase! I did know that the ground was in Kingston but it slipped my mind . Sorry for slagging the place off though man, although you'll find there aren't many places that escape that particular curse as far as i'm concerned! I do have some brain cells though as we both like the same music.

[lucy6lucy]

Not quite panic buttons just yet, only because I do believe our 1st 6 games have been tough, but a defeat tomorrow and a bad performance will start to raise some serious questions. Positive mental attitude needed and I am confident the players will be up for this one. We will no doubt win by a single goal, I go for 2-1.

[HeavenAndHele]

Sorry for slagging the place off though man

No need to apologise, there's a reason I live in Devon now! The area in general (Kingston, Norbiton, New Malden) is quite pleasant if dull suburbia, but the bit around Kingsmeadow makes Hele look attractive...

[Gullscorer]

Probably just as well you didn't, as the ground isn't even in Wimbledon, but in Kingston! I grew up not far away, used to go past the ground on the bus to school and went to see Kingstonians play a few times about 17 years ago but haven't been back in ages so can't help with what it's like these days. Fun fact, nearby New Malden has the UK's largest Korean population so if you fancy a bit of Korean cuisine before the game you might be in luck...

Does that explain the paucity of dogs in the area..?

[bengull]

I was as publicly negative and scathing about TUFC as I can ever remember being after Saturday's surrender, however after a couple of night's sleep I am recharged and ready to do it all again. The 6 matches so far have all been tough fixtures on paper, and tonight's clash offers us a chance to see how we fare against one of the poorer sides in the league. It was against this lot at Plainmoor that we all blew a sigh of relief and realised we weren't as crap as we all thought we might be, and afterwards our results improved markedly, hopefully tonight will be the same.

Not going to get bogged down in formations or tactics because every single member of our squad have a point to prove now, and hopefully we be keen to avenge not only Saturday's performance, but our whimper of an effort at this very ground at the back end of last season. A poor performance will set alarm bells ringing, hopefully I have something positive to write about when I get back to sleepy brixham at stupid o'clock. Come on you Yellows!

[Richinns]

For me I would bring Easton in for Morris and play Craig in the Eunan role from last year. Nothing against Morris and not one of the boo boys but would like to see how this midfield would fare.

[gullno4]

definitely want to see macklin get some game time tonight, if Stevens isn't at his best and things arn't looking great going forward, then Macklin on at half time could be a real game changer!!