And so it was on Saturday, the delicately symphonic rhythm of Notts County trying to kill you with the deftness of a thousand paper cuts, up against a somewhat more prosaic Wimbledon. We were happy to hang in there, roll with the punches then kick our opponents in the Jacobs at every opportunity. We came out on top in a thrilling encounter, and rather than do a match report (it's a bit late in the day for that), I thought I might write about a couple of points which caught my eye.
Firstly, we've got to talk about Johnnie Jackson. Much maligned last season by all and sundry (obviously including me), this was his finest performance in an official merch' gillet by miles. Although we won it, we could just as easily have lost it but for a worldie save, and although we deserved to win, Notts County showed plenty enough to demonstrate just how dangerous they are. In the diminutive yet hugely talented Danny Crowley they had an arch orchestrator, both wing backs were very tasty while Langstaffe and Mcgoldrick were as good a front two as we'll play against. Our organization had to be spot on and it was. The management deserve huge credit. I actually thought the decision to go with a narrow diamond and to drop Josh into the half space when they had it was inspired. It asked a lot of our full-backs but it worked perfectly, Isaac and Jack were brilliant.
Can this once and for all dispel the notion that the manager is too rigid? I hope so. I didn't feel that before and I don't now. Yes some of his tweaks are a bit more subtle than switching wingers or bunging an extra striker on, but he DOES nudge things around both before and during matches. I said a few weeks ago that we were approaching the point where we ought to offer the manager a new contract, I think we've now reached it. He's clearly improving and learning as he goes, and in my opinion has the team in roughly where we can realistically expect it to be in the league. I'd say the squad is plenty good enough to challenge for the playoffs, and that's where we are. Quick note here, that doesn't mean that if we don't get in he's done a bad job, it'll be VERY tight. In and around though with this squad is in my eyes a par return. He's doing a solid job, we ought to give him job security.
Joe Lewis? My gut feeling is that the fella likes being at Wimbledon and would prefer to stay here rather than go back to Stockport (who'd have thunk it?). He won't be on a free, but I really think we should go down the back of the sofa and stump up the sheckles to try and buy him. He's a top defender and seems like a great lad.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans is another really good player. I got slagged a bit for criticizing his brain freeze which led to the first goal on Saturday, and probably rightly so. Yes he paused like he had just remembered he'd left the gas on at home, but apart from that he was excellent. We should try & sign him too.
We should also shake the magic money tree and extend Armani Little and Omar Bugiels deals. They have both been excellent and look like Wimbledon players to me.
Where's the money going to come from? Well we have a few biggish contracts running out in the Summer, that'll free up a bit of cash. I'm not an accountant, but these signings would be in my eyes more important than any incomings in January.
Lastly and obviously not leastly, we've got to mention Ali Al-Hamidi. Our star player is getting better and better, Saturday was yet another game in which if our opponents had had him rather than us, then we'd probably have lost. I think we're at the point with Ali where we ought to be letting teams know that we'll listen to offers in excess of 1.5 million pounds in the Summer. Let the bidding begin THEN. If it's to be January though (which would in my view finish our playoff hopes instantly) then the bidding must START at 2.5 million quid. I remain totally convinced that he's good enough to play at least in the Championship, but the deal has to suit us as well as the player and the buying club.
Oh and it WAS our best performance and win at the new Plough Lane. Utterly exhilarating stuff, absolutely loved it. COYD
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