My match report. Bradford v AFC Wimbledon.

I don't know if you follow rugby (I don't), but from the little I know about it it's perfectly possible for the twinkle toed winger to have a great game even if the rest of the team is rubbish. Similarly in cricket, the tricky little off-break twirler can have a great game even when the rest of the bowling attack is having a horrendous off day. In that same rugby team though, the hooker can't play great if the props aren't at it. The bloke at number four in the Oxford boat can't excell if his hyphenated teammates aren't doing the business. Some areas of sport are like that, you work as a unit, a collective, not as an individual. 

So it is with football team defences. All well oiled machines need a carburetor (what IS that thing?), they all need pumps, spark plugs, that kind of jazz. Even a two hundred grand Ferrari needs those bits, take one of them out & you've got a pretty red car with funky cream leather seats that doesn't actually go anywhere.

And let's be clear here, we've got an absolute Ferrari of a defence. All the lads in it have been brilliant this season, those that were here were brilliant last season too. Our defence is the envy of the EFL, committed, skilled and organized in equal measure, we barely concede shots never mind goals.

So what went wrong yesterday then? Oh I don't know. Something somewhere though sent it out of whack, caused it to misfire. Whether a nervousness crept in as a result of Nathan Bishop not been given a foul for the first goal (I don't think it IS a foul, but in modern football it's given nine out of ten times) or whether big Joe Lewis wasn't totally 100% and got beat in a one on one for the first time since he was eleven threw us a bit I can only speculate. Something somewhere though caused the well oiled machine that is our back line to have a very uncharacteristic splutter. Much like in the Ferrari, you can't "run it off" when it comes to collective defensive splutters, I'm afraid a visit to "Terry the garage" is the only way to put it right. A tweak here & there and all will be dandy again.

It's such a shame because apart from that we were bloody brilliant.

 Matty Stevens led the line like a tooled up and armed to the teeth SAS scout, setting off explosions and laying booby traps behind enemy lines left right and centre. Marcus Browne had his best game in a Wimbledon shirt & could easily have had another goal AND an assist to go with the cracker he did get. All over the pitch we were great, it was just at the back where we didn't click.

I'm not going to criticize ANY of those lads back there though

 They've been brilliant, fantastic for us week in and week out. It won't be "Terry the garage" who'll sort us out, it'll be "Terry the training ground" and we'll be watertight again before you know it.

Last thing, it was a bloody great game of football, AND this time we had a proper go in the last ten minutes 👏.

Aron Sasu, the player, the enigma. what to do?

I was sitting next to a bloke at the Reading game last night. He was on his own, I had his accent down as somewhere around greater Manchester. He knew his football, nice fella, and at one point he turned to me and asked "What IS it with this Sasu guy? So much ability, so much raw natural talent, pace to burn and yet he struggles to get into the game?".

Whether he was a scout, a fan or a neutral I don't know. I've never seen him at any of our games before, but if it WAS the first time he's seen us play, he got straight to the nub of a really baffling connundrum. If he was a scout (and many have beaten a path to our door to watch this kid), he'll have left with the same conclusion as no doubt they all did before him. Why can't this kid crack it? So much natural ability and yet yada yada yada.

From my perspective last night I couldn't really give him an answer. I totally agree with him that this kid is absolutely chocker block full of natural ability, he's probably the most potentially exciting youngster I've ever seen play for us and I include the likes of Ayoub Assal & Jack Rudoni in that statement. He has searing pace, a physique which will become monster, a lovely touch, goes both ways, hits it cleanly off both feet and has enough tricks to make himself a pre match nightmare for opponents. It seems mad saying it, but I suspect he's a good finisher too. Sure he hasn't scored a goal yet, but he doesn't snatch at opportunities nor scuff them, with better luck he could easily have two or three goals to his name.

But but but. He at best shows up in the briefest of flashes, at worst like last night be becomes a footballing chameleon, turning himself green and disappearing from view. So how can it be? How can this young boy with SO much ability be SO ineffectual?

Obviously by now there are now quite a few of our fans who doubt that the much talked about ability it actually there at all. They are wrong, but there it is. They've heard people bang on about him and that ability so much that they've frankly got sick of hearing about it. Those people have gone from "When I see it I'll believe it" to "There's fuck all there, bin him off to the Isthmian league".

It's such a shame, and as I watched the boy from behind the goal last night I really felt for him. Like a kid in a playground who hasn't got any friends, he kind of tried to make himself look busy as everyone ignored him. He tried his best to look like he was involved in the game when really he wasn't. He shouted for the ball even when there was somebody standing in between him and the passer, he was on his heels whenever it came near him. Either nobody has ever explained to him when and where to run (extremely unlikely) or he's just not taken the information in. He is completely lost, it's a sad sight. (At this point I should say he did OK at full back. He will never though be a full back while he has a hole in his arse in my opinion, he is in my eyes 100% a striker).

So what to do? Well firstly I think the boy has to realize what he's got, and to understand that his battle in football matches is to engineer situations where he can use it. The defenders job is to absolutely avoid those situations occurring. For example EVERY defender Aron comes up against won't want him running at them at speed with the ball. Stating the obvious I know, but the kid goes both ways, can hit it off both sides and has leapord like pace (Or is it a cheetah? My minds going). So the defenders (in this case full backs) principal concern will be ensuring that if he DOES receive the ball, there isn't a gap for him to fire up the turbo charger before engagement. It therefore follows, that I quite like it (if I'm the left full back) if Aron on the odd occasion he gets it, does so with his back to goal and quite central. As long as my left sided midfielder is doing his job picking up any full back runners, I'm cushtie. I've got loads of support around me, there's no space to run and I can even dig the kid from behind as he lays it off. So, I LIKE IT AS THE FULL BACK WHEN ARON PLAYS WITH HIS BACK TO GOAL AND SITS NARROW. He's not even on the half turn or he wasn't last night, and he's ALWAYS in my line of sight. That is to say I can see him and the football at the same time, I have the cigar out.

If on the other hand (and this never happened once last night), from that inside position Araon makes to dart inside but then when I cover it quickly backpedals ten paces, two things happen. One, I can't see him and the ball at the same time anymore and I have to quickly adjust to get closer to him. Two, if he receives the ball he can go at me quick or even worse, the ball inside me is now on. Aron has at this point done what I call "opened the door for the pass".

Now this is but one move out of a number that good strikers use to make defenders very uncomfortable. I know, I played against them while they were doing it and I was NEVER comfortable. They go into areas just when you don't want them to, they do things which are absolutely what you don't want them to.

Now I never played against anyone anywhere near the ability of Aron Sasu, if I had Id have been skinned alive. BUT, not if he didn't run in the awkward places, NOT if he sat square in front of me with his back to goal and was never available to receive the ball. He's miles quicker than I ever was, but if he doesn't run nor give himself the opportunity to run it doesn't matter.

At the moment this kid is a wasted talent. I love him as a footballer and think he can go right to the very top, he literally has everything. He needs a rethink right now though, a reset, maybe even a re-coach. I know he has it in him, it's time to give himself the chance to show it.

A word on the management.

Massively out of left-field decisions rarely work out. The boards decision after his first season to stick with Johnnie Jackson was right up there with Man Utd thinking 80 million quid was a fair price for Anthony, or Rachel Reeves thinking chopping the winter fuel allowance was a winner of an idea. When the world, his brother and his pet dog Brian tells you it's a ridiculous notion (not to mention a fat northener who runs the Alex), usually you'd be wise to take heed. Sometimes though when it comes to bonkers ideas, (as the Communards once reminded us) it ain't necessarily so. 

Whether it was a reluctance to admit I was wrong or something less sinister I'm not sure, but to tell the truth even the second seasons tenth place finish didn't impress me much (that's a Shania Twain reference, no more I promise). Sure it was an improvement I felt, but improving on a dog's arse of a season was always going to be very doable. Particularly once Craig Cope had wound down the window of his Range Rover on transfer deadline day and we'd moved on some of the deadwood (some of which Johnnie had brought to the club in truth), I thought we might have done a bit better than tenth. For much of the season it looked like we would, but anyways it WAS a huge step forward. At that point many of the "Jackson Outers" held their hands up and admitted the fella had proven them completely wrong, me amongst them.

Last season was a mile better. Not just the fact that we climbed to fifth, but I felt that if we'd kept key players fit (Miles Hippolite and Joe Lewis being the obvious examples), we could actually have won it. To tell the truth though I'd rather finish fifth & win at Wembley than I would win the league, maybe that's just me. Johnnie and this team though have me one of the best days of my life at Wembley, I'll never forget it.

I then had this rather funky theory that Johnnie actually might be a better manager in League One than he was in League Two. His ultra conservative no risk football would suit us well I told everyone, particularly as we'd be backs to the wall in every game, under the cosh from minute one. Obviously as I told everyone, some of the squad wouldn't be able to make the step up. I had doubts (sorry Les) about Matty Stevens, I felt big Ryan Johnson might be a cover option rather than a starter, wondered whether Jake Reeves could cope with the increased physical demands.

What has been the most absolutely remarkable thing to me so far isn't that I've been wrong about pretty much everything (I'm used to that) it's the fact that the one thing I was right about (Johnnie being a better League One manager) has actually been achieved in totally the opposite way to which I predicted. Given that, I can't even take credit for getting that one right. It's like taking credit for fluking the black into the opposite pocket you were aiming at, that's not my style.

The opposite of what I predicted has of course been our playing style. Gone are the perpetual "long diags" and for reasons beyond my comprehension given we're playing against better opposition, we've now decided that we're playing through the thirds. We are doing it superbly well too, with broadly the same players that we had before. Where it's come from God only knows, but it is an absolute joy to watch.

Our performance on Saturday was the best I've seen us play since Oxford at home under Robbo. It might in truth have been even better than that, I thought we were absolutely incredible. The fact that performance came after a brutal work out against what looks to me like the best team in the league four days earlier speaks volumes for the players and the management. The players are doing great, but Johnnie, Skivvers, DR & Bayzo are doing an incredible job, literally off the scale.

Which brings me to the downside of this blog post. QPR shipped SEVEN goals against Coventry on Saturday. Now Coventry are flying under Frank Lampard and maybe currently the best team in the Championship, but seven goals conceded? I am 1000% certain that if Queens Park Rangers football club was managed by Johnnie Jackson and his team, NOBODY would score seven against them. I don't care if they draw Arsenal away in the FA Cup, they ain't shipping seven goals in a month of Sundays.

West Ham shipped five against a very good Chelsea team. Once again though it's the MANNER of the defeat. No Johnnie Jackson team downs tools and rolls over like they did. It just doesn't happen, it'll never happen.

And therein lies our problem going forward. Bigger clubs than us in bigger leagues than us need proper football managers. Johnnie Jackson has become a proper football manager. I've a hunch that before too long we are going to be hoping that Craig Cope is as good at recruiting managers as he is footballers.

For now though we should just enjoy the ride. The results are great, the football is fantastic and the games are an absolute thrill fest. Man Utd were totally wrong about Anthony, Rachel Reeves was mad to mess about with the Winter fuel allowance, our board though made an inspired decision as it turned out. God only knows how they arrived at it, but arrive at it they did and they deserve a huge amount of credit too.

Sometimes out of left-field decisions DO work out. That's what happened here, and fair play to Johnnie and his management team for making it so 👏

Some early season scores on the Dores thoughts........

I should think if you'd have if you'd have offered anyone who has anything to Wimbledon football club six points out of the first nine, such would have been the eagerness of the recipient by now you'd have stumps for arms at best. Here we are though, and it's not been a fluke either. Infact if anything you could argue that given how unfortunate the late concession was at Luton, we could be doing even better.

For those of us (and there were many) who predicted doom and gloom, it's so far been a healthy helping of very sweet tasting humble pie. Contrary to what us negative nannies were saying, we haven't been overrun nor outclassed, and most importantly we HAVE been able to score a goal. So far so good, so let's have a little look at how we've done it, how we might be able to do even better, and (sorry) what some of the pitfalls might be going forward.

Nathan Asiimwe- I said on Twitter that if Charlton's right back is better than this kid then he must be Kafu reincarnated. Lots of Charlton fans answered that their fella (Kayne Ramsay) practically IS that, so for the near future at least we have Nathan. He's been absolutely superb in every game that he's played for us. There is absolutely no comparison whatsoever between him and Neufville or Tilley, this lad is absolutely different Bisto to either. What a pick up, whoever is responsible take a bow. Our only problem here is when Charlton either take him back or sell him. If it's the latter, I know our limitations but we should do everything we can to afford him. In a couple of years time this lad could play in the top league.

Joe Lewis- I think he's actually improved even from last seasons heroics. He looks to my naked eye like he's lost a KG or two, and like a racehorse thrown into a handicap on a featherweight he's burning up the turf. It's normal for centre halves to read it better, make better decisions as they get older, but only the best do it at the rate that Big Joe is ratcheting up his performances. Like a student who's doing a PHD in Greek philosophy in a fortnight, he is literally growing before our eyes. Joe was in my opinion comfortably the best centre half in L2, I haven't seen a better one in L1 yet and considering we've played against Mads Anderson that's saying something.

The only worry with Joe is the obvious one. Sooner or later a club with deep pockets will come knocking. We should ensure that before we say yes to any offer, we empty those pockets out.

The rest of the defence- Whether you're talking big Ryan Johnson, Steady Eddie Steve Seddon, Isaac Ogundere or our great new keeper Nathan Bishop, these lads have done us proud. We are'nt conceding chances never mind goals, none of this stuff happens by accident any more than it's the result of just playing well on a Saturday. It's because they are working their nuts off on the training ground, doing endless drills, the hard yards that make a difference come kick off. Hats off to them and the coaching staff, they've all been brilliant.

Jake Reeves- I should think just about every Wimbledon fan had doubts about Jake making the step up to L1. So far any worries have been totally misplaced, and once again to the naked eye and without using heatmaps I'd say he's added a slightly "swashbuckling" element to his other talents. He's been great so far and has helped us keep possession on countless occasions. He'll be disappointed he didn't stop Lewis Wing getting the shot off against Reading, but you can't odds worldies. He's been great has Jake, what a cracking little footballer he is.

The rest of the midfield- Ali Smith I personally had no doubts about. He's such a good footballer and his pickpocketing skills were always going to work further up. He's nicking Seikos now as opposed to snide Knock offs, if he believes in himself more he might yet pocket himself a Rolex or two at the top of the ladder. Miles Hippolite too is such a clever player, if he stays fit for us it's massive.

Lets talk Mattie Stevens-Probsbly THE most widely held view amongst punters in the Alex was that Mattie wouldn't "cut it" in L1. Too slow, too small or both was the reasoning, I've got to say I agreed with the doubts. So far he's been excellent though, not just the goals but the way he's led the line. He's been through a bit behind the scenes but it appears to have made him stronger if anything. He's obviously a lad whose character dwarfs his physical stature, you can't help but take to him.

The rest of the attackers- Marcus Browne got a well deserved goal on Saturday. Yes it was deflected, but strikers get plenty that deflect wide, when it actually goes into the goal it counts as one just like the rest. Young Hackford obviously has pace & enthusiasm to burn and took his goal well, while Danillo Orsi is obviously a good player. He's got that "thinking mans striker" thing going on, reminds me a bit of Teddy Sheringham. Josh Kelly it appears is going out on loan, probably a good thing as he's far too good a player to sit on his arse every week. Omar I'm a bit worried about, doesn't look like he's loving life right now. Hopefully he bounces back, he's a great player.

The management team- Obviously none of the good stuff happens on its own. Johnnie, Skivvers, DR & Bayzo are doing a superb job. There have obvious tweaks to last seasons approach, and whether we're talking us playing much more football (as in, "on the ground" stuff) or the much more proactive substitutions, they deserve a discussion on their own.

Suffice to say though that if we continue as we are, teams are going to come knocking for our manager and staff if they aren't already. If it happens, they 100% deserve the interest.

The fans- 1700 at Reading was astonishing, and so far the fans have been like a 12th man. That said, it's easy performing that role and bringing the drinks out when you're 500-3. When you're 67-8 and the fast bowler is trying to knock people's heads off it's not such a cushy number.

We as fans would do well to remember that there WILL be sticky times ahead. We WILL lose football matches, and when we do THAT'S when the team needs your support the most.

All that said though, WHAT A START!. Beware though, we play Cardiff tomorrow & they are a GOOD side.

COYD.