Walsall vs AFC Wimbledon

[Jwfc]

After a shambolic play off effort and the mass migration away from WS1 this summer Jon Whitney gets his first real test with the team that he has built over the summer with a total of 10 signings so far, with Edwards and Oztumer being the pick of the signings we've made so far.

The opening fixture of the season could be very tricky if the team doesn't click into place as The Wombles are in their first League 1 season and could potentially carry their momentum from the promotion over to this season.

Worryingly, Walsall do not have a striker who has proven himself in recent years. A raw youngster in Bakayoko and a seriously out of form Simeon Jackson are our only options to lead the line at the moment as our struggle to get goals could return.

Walsall 2-0 AFC Wimbledon
Oztumer, Cuvelier.

 

[Kiwi Womble]

just hoping to find out feet this year, survival the aim so a draw to get a run on the board is all i'm asking for

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

firstly Where's our ref watch. Secondly, as my Kiwi comrade has said a point would be great, 3 would be fantastic. Not even going to try to guess the result this week, still pinching myself that we are league ONE. Enjoy the season Wombles, what ever it brings.

 

[womble76]

I recon we will likely be gallant losers on sat. I would love a 0 all draw. I expect we will lose 3. 1.

 

[Meadow]

Where's worried womble when you need him?

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

Where's worried womble when you need him?

my point exactly, I will stamp my feet like a 2 year old untill we get our ref watch !!!!!

 

[worried womble]

RefWatch; Ref for Saddlers game (played them 6 times at Fellows Park & Bescot Stadium since '81, and lost every one) is Charles Breakespear, 34, a curvy kitchen salesman from Surrey. FL ref since '13 & has the reputation of being extremely picky and fussy. Quite a delicate looking flower, all high cheekbones & big eyes, and gives quite a girly flourish when he issues a card too. I mean, being a ref he's obviously a butch, red blooded man's man, but the last time I saw wrist movement like that was when I stumbled across the Shepherds Bush Ladyboys AGM in the toilets of the Hammersmith Novotel last week. I learned the true meaning of love that night, let me tell you.

Reffed Wombles three times; 2-0 away win v Pompey in Dec '14 (4Y 1R), 2-2 draw with Southend in Sept '14 (3Y, red for Pell), and the 0-0 game with Stevenage in April (2Y). Reffed Walsall three times; 3-0 home win v Shrews in FA Cup in '13 (1Y); 1-0 away win v Yeovil in Mar '15 (6Y) and the 0-0 home draw with Spireites in FA Cup in Dec '15 (6Y). Hates the scum. Reffed them once & they lost. Hates them. In 37 games last season he gave 142 Y & 4 R - very high Y.
AnagramWatch. Charles Breakespear - Arab Spears Heckler.
KettleWatch; Great news, he's still on FL refs list, but sadly not down for any games this week. Soon, Trevor, soon.

 

[TomPNE94]

Seeing the name Trevor Kettle still makes me shake with anger

 

[BIGTED]

Didn't realise Walsall had such a clear out I would have made them short favs even allowing for the dismal play off form. So as I am still pinching myself that we are 1) in League One and 2) ever closer to a return to Plough Lane I fancy a 2-0 Womble win.

 

[Kiwi Womble]

Just played Walsall as Wimbledon on Fifa 14 and lost 1-0....so...not looking good

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

Just played Walsall as Wimbledon on Fifa 14 and lost 1-0....so...not looking good

Maybe that has something to do with your skill level

 

[Bobbin']

Just played Walsall as Wimbledon on Fifa 14 and lost 1-0....so...not looking good

Let's hope your team have improved a lot in those two years then.

 

[Wombletom]

A point a piece, honours even.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Literally clueless on this game. Don't know much about AFCW other than its great to see them in league 1. No idea on their side or recruitment really.

We have 10 odd new players and I've not been to a pre-season game. We aren't bad on the opening day normally, so I'll plump safe for a solid 1-1 draw.

5,706 with 953 from London.

 

[womble76]

We were beaten imo by a great free kick and two errors at the back. We huffed and puffed up front but our finishing was wayward. Overall we need to do better but we're not disgraced. Walsall were decent on the break but iffy at the back.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Yep very much a first game of the season kind of performance. Plenty of energy and guile from our lads but once again we look shaky whenever we play against big strikers, we have never really replaced Andy Butler in that respect. We also never really were in total control of the game like we were at times last season.

I'd say 3-1 flattered us, I think maybe 1-0 or 1-1 would have been a fairer scoreline. Wimbledon looked very much like a league 2 side though in the way they played, 2 up top with a big man but could never really trouble us with a shot until the penalty - bar the excellent double save from Etheridge.

Overall though a very positive performance with plenty to build on, Jackson, Oztumer, Bakayoko and Chambers all had very good performances, with some more time to gel this could be a very good team.

Full credit to the Wimbledon fans too. They came and made lots and lots of noise whilst also bringing more fans to us in 1 game than MK have done in the past 5 seasons, didn't stop making noise even when they were 3 nil down and also joined in with the minutes applause. Think they moaned a bit too much about our players going down but we'd do the same thing, I wish you Wombles the very best for the season.

 

[WFC]

Decent performance from us just a bit dodgy at the back. We are very threatening going forward for sure though, that's without the new striker too. Wimbledon struggled and still seemed very league two, only first game though so can't judge too much.

Thought Wimbledon fans were shocking to be honest good numbers but fairly quiet all game. We ain't up to much at home granted but thought they'd be up for it a bit more.

 

[Jamie_Posh]

How was oztumer walsall fans? Still gutted we let him go !

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

 

[SaddlerJonny]

How was oztumer walsall fans? Still gutted we let him go !

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

Magic, I bloody love him.

 

[Saddlerrad]

We were beaten imo by a great free kick and two errors at the back. We huffed and puffed up front but our finishing was wayward. Overall we need to do better but we're not disgraced. Walsall were decent on the break but iffy at the back.

Pretty much this.

Positives
- Half the team is unfit.
- Jackson scored twice and Bakayoko did well when coming on, bodes well when you leave your record signing and Moussa on the bench.
- We looked a threat going forward.
- Cuvelier, Osbourne, Jackson all got a good run and came away with no injuries.
- We scored 3 goals.


Negatives
- We didn't control the game in possession like we have got used to doing.
- McCarthy and Edwards look extremely ropey, we were a bit at 6's and 7's in the penalty area quite often.
- I felt very much like the old days were back when Wimbledon attacked, like we could concede at any given time.


Thought we played very well on the counter, looked lively and played some nice football. We didn't really create a lot and as I say, looked poor at the back. We will concede goals if we defend against the teams right at the top end of the division. Jackson looked lively, took his second goal very well and with his small stature, his first goal is the kind we will need him to poach if we are to do well. Not a fan of playing Flo wide left, he's not in the game enough. Oztumer was excellent, Osbourne commanding, Adam Chambers excellent.

Lots to work on as the team gel, but if they do gel, I can see us doing quite well.

Wimbledon were as I expected, 100mph in midfield. no space or time on the ball and direct. I fear they will need a little more in this league going forward, despite missing 2 horrendous chances in the 1st half, they created very little in the second and it was more the size of the lad Elliott/Barnett that caused problems by being a nuisance, rather than a carving us open and CREATING chances as such. Hope they do well though, good family club.

All in all, considering the new signings and lack of fitness in some of our players - it was as good as can be expected until they really gel.

It's been a long time since we left a record signing and a player of the calibre of Franck Moussa on our bench, pretty impressive on our budget.

 

[Saddlerrad]

How was oztumer walsall fans? Still gutted we let him go !

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Smashing little free-kick for the opener, in general he was very good. Slightly in and out at times I thought, but never stopped running.