22 replies to this topic

[Infield Infidel]

After dropping the home/league 2 opener, AFC Wimbledon got two road wins at Dag&Red and Plymouth (both League One cast-offs) to move up to a tie for fifth on the table. It's far too early to get excited, but I am anyhow. LEAGUE FOOTBALL!

[Infield Infidel]

Hey Yammer, how about those Shots??

West Ham fell victim to a Carling Cup shock as a last minute winner from Daniel Hylton handed League Two Aldershot a famous 2-1 win at Upton Park.

[LTF]

I know it's early, but Plymouth Argyle is bottom of the table in League Two. Has any club ever suffered three successive relegations?

[Dummy Hoy]

I know it's early, but Plymouth Argyle is bottom of the table in League Two. Has any club ever suffered three successive relegations?

Wolverhampton 1984-1986, ending up in the fourth division...one more relegation and they would have been out of the FA.

[Dummy Hoy]

Happy Birthday to the Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. The Owls turn 144 today.

[SoxFanInCali]

Crazy game in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round, as Dagenham & Redbridge beat Leyton Orient in a penalty shootout that ended 14-13. All 11 players from both sides scored the first time through, before Dag & Red's keeper finally made a save on the 14th attempt to secure the win.

[Infield Infidel]

Ah, the Wombles. It's a common fate for newly promoted squads; out of the gate quickly but tough to maintain.
After starting the season 7-2-3 and sitting in the playoff zone, things have been all downhill for AFC Wimbledon.

Last 9 matches: 0-3-6. Bottom half of the table but still a healthy nine points above relegation.

[Dummy Hoy]

http://wordofsport.b...-jones.html?m=1

Kind of an interesting article on Gary Megson getting fired at Wednesday. The article is Wednesday specific, but it touches on a lot of things pertinent to all football clubs- coaches expectations, ownership perspective, fan reaction, the intertwining of all these relationships, etc. It's a touch long, but I think the author gets things right.


As a quick background, Milan Mandaric bought Wednesday last year and paid off their debts, essentially saving the club from administration or worse. Near the end of last seasonr he hired Gary Megson, a former Wednesday player (and son of a Wednesday legend) who had a fairly respectable managing career (Bolton issues aside). Megson was given a squad that wasn't that good, but scouted some quality players for this season (many of them loans) and had Wednesday in the automatic promotion zone for much of the season. During the January transfer window Megson lost a couple of key members of the squad, Wednesday's form went to shit, and the manager and owner (apparently) had some arguments about support and players. Megson and the players knew he was going to be fired after the Derby last weekend, but the players and Megson had a stirring performance at Hillsborough to knock off United 1-0. Megson was fired a few days later.

Edited by Dummy Hoy, 03 March 2012 - 01:22 PM.

[cjdmadcow]

Good old-fashioned brawl at the Bradford v Crawley league game last night. Only the 5 sent off. Unsurprisingly the FA have begun an inquiry.

I can't seem to work out how to post a video here anymore so let me just say there's plenty of good footage out there. Look it up and remember the good old days.

[Dummy Hoy]

Wednesday has pulled a minor miracle in catching up to United and taking over the auto promotion spot. Charlton ran away with the League One title this season, but a late charge by Wednesday (5-1 +12 in their last 6) has the Owls in second by a point with one week to go. United on the road against relegated Exeter City should get 3 points, but Wednesday will be at home against just relegated Wycombe, with a good possibility of 39,000+ on hand to witness Wednesday go up. It's hard not be confident despite years of training as a Wednesday fan.

I've shat on League One for the last few years, but the United/Stevenage game today was awesome. League One isn't a good league, it's a hard league though, and Wednesday needs to get the fuck out of there, I saw some admirable (if not highly skilled) footy this season.

Edited by Dummy Hoy, 29 April 2012 - 08:02 AM.

[DLew On Roids]

I heard on a podcast this week that Charlton has been on top since the eighth game of the season. That's amazing.

[Dummy Hoy]

I heard on a podcast this week that Charlton has been on top since the eighth game of the season. That's amazing.

They really went for it this year- they brought in something like 15 new players. They were kind of a funny team...I'm not sure they were the best team at their peak, but they were the one team that was consistent from start to finish. They really didn't lose form all season, even when they had a rough patch in March, their lead was huge, and they snapped out to win 5 straight. Chris Powell did a magnificent job with that team by all accounts, and that's a club that belongs in the Championship. I'm sure Millwall and CP fans will be delighted to see them.

[Dummy Hoy]

39,000 in Hillsborough today. If Wednesday beats already relegated Wycombe they complete a stunning comeback to the last auto promotion spot after passing United last weekend. It should be in the bag, but I'm nervous- I haven't seen anything particularly good as a Wednesday fan since they won the L1 playoff in '06. I want to see this all game long:

[Zomp]

Congrats, DH.

[Dummy Hoy]

Thanks Zomp. Slowly but surely turning things around.

I don't ever expect to see Wednesday become a Premier League power (any Sheiks looking for a team? Russian Oligarchs?), but It'd be real nice to see them back in the top flight again someday soon. Even if they end up stalling out as a Championship side, there's no shame in that, I just want to see them playing comparable clubs (and getting the occasional Sky Sports game).

E I E I E I O...It's up the Football League we go!

Edited by Dummy Hoy, 06 May 2012 - 12:56 AM.

[Dummy Hoy]

The League One playoffs should actually be quality. United gets the revenge shot at Stevenage, who knocked the PIgs back into 3rd last weekend. MK Dons plays Huddersfield in the other semi's.

United has the best team remaining, but lost forward Ched Evans to a rape conviction (!) and forward James Beattie got a red today at Exeter, which should put him out for both legs against Stevenage. Both Dons and Huddersfield have good form right now (although Dons lost at home to shit today), and they split a pair of 1-1 draws this season.

I'm going to say United overcomes their losses up front, but falls to MK Dons in a tight one at Wembley.

[Infield Infidel]

Huddersfield went into Milton Keynes and won 2-0. Thank god.

[Dummy Hoy]

Wimbledon fan?

I'm really rooting against Huddersfield because if they don't go up, they'll probably have to sell Jordan Rhodes...whose dad is the Wednesday goalkeeper coach. After watching him torch Wednesday for 4 goals at Hillsborough, I'd like to see him in the good part of Sheffield.

[Dummy Hoy]

2nd Legs start tonight. Stevenage goes for a 3rd straight promotion (out of the league 2 years ago!), but will have to win at Bramall Lane. Tough task, but I'd like to see it.

Huddersfield has to not blow that 2 goal advantage at home tomorrow night, which they should be more than capable of doing.

[Dummy Hoy]

United with a late goal to knock off Stevenage...fans storm the pitch forgetting there is still a game to go before promotion.

[Dummy Hoy]

MK Dons (McDons to the rest of us) gets a late goal to win 2-1 at Huddersfield, but it's not enough to overcome the 2-0 loss at home. Jordan Rhodes scored early for Huddersfield, and they held on to make it to Wembley.

Two Yorkshire clubs going up the League this season regardless. As much as United is the bigger club and rightfully belongs at the Championship level, I'd be fairly content to see them simmer at the L1 level for a bit. The last 10+ years has caused quite a bit of delusion in their fan base- they could use a good comeuppance.

Unfortunately I see United in a 1-0 win. At least that would open the opportunity for Wednesday to offer for Rhodes.

I'll be hitting a bar for that game for sure if anyone is around. Likely PJ Ryans or The Field.

[Dummy Hoy]

Certainly an interesting game to end the League One season. Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United battled through extreme temperatures to finish in 0-0 draw. Huddersfield missed their first three penalties, but United wasn't much better. The kicks came down to keepers, and Steve Simonsen couldn't keep his kick under the crossbar, forcing United to gut out another year in League One. The play was fairly even throughout, although the general quality of play was not great. I thought United's central defenders did a great job limiting Jordan Rhodes, and that Stephen Quinn was the best player on the pitch. All of this meant squat for United who, despite 90 points and a 3rd place finish, has to remain in League One and do so with a lesser squad. They have a high wage bill and are 10s of millions in debt, which will force them to cut or sell off several quality players. It's not easy to get out of League One once you've been down for a few seasons.

Crewe Alexandra FC is going up from the 7th position in League Two, after knocking off Cheltenham Town 2-0. I didn't watch the game.

[cjdmadcow]

Crewe Alexandra FC is going up from the 7th position in League Two, after knocking off Cheltenham Town 2-0. I didn't watch the game.

Much more entertaining game than the Huddersfield / Sheff Utd one, also played in very hot conditions.

Crewe won 2-0 despite Cheltenham having numerous chances. 9 of their starting 11 came through their academy and the first goal was scored by their latest wonderkid, Nick Powell, who is supposedly off to ManU. When you see the goal bear in mind he's naturally right-footed.