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AFC Wimbledon v Plymouth Argyle - the build up + Q&A
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Looks as though the M4 is closed in both directions between J5 and J6 tomorrow, so anyone driving up might want to factor that in.
highwaysengland.co.uk
M4 junctions 3-12 - National Highways
We’ve made improvements on the M4 between junctions 3 and 12 by adding an additional lane for traffic to help increase capacity and reduce congestion. We’ve also put in place new technology to smooth traffic flows and manage incidents along this stretch.
highwaysengland.co.uk
From Plymouth to SW London - you should use A303 and M3. Much better than M5 and M4.Looks as though the M4 is closed in both directions between J5 and J6 tomorrow, so anyone driving up might want to factor that in.
M4 junctions 3-12 - National Highways
We’ve made improvements on the M4 between junctions 3 and 12 by adding an additional lane for traffic to help increase capacity and reduce congestion. We’ve also put in place new technology to smooth traffic flows and manage incidents along this stretch.
I asked my Wimbledon-supporting mate who we need to look out for and what sort of formation they play.
He responded by saying, formation wise, that it's "a very fluid 442".
Apparently, they're the youngest team in the football league, which I guess has its potential advantages (eg non stop running, not 'scarred' by previous failures etc) but also pitfalls (a bit too gung ho; defensive naivety, as suggested by the goals against column and our experience last season; how will they react if we go two up in 10 minutes?etc).
Ayoub Assal is attracting the headlines and "can be quality, only slight but always looking to go forward".
Interestingly, to me at least, I was told "You’ll attack down our left, we’re weak defensively there. The players are given loads of freedom to play so we’re never far from disaster!".
So I may have a little flutter on a Joe Edwards winner....
Enjoy if you're lucky enough to be going. My dear wife has organised my daughter's birthday party for 3pm tomorrow. Bless.
He responded by saying, formation wise, that it's "a very fluid 442".
Apparently, they're the youngest team in the football league, which I guess has its potential advantages (eg non stop running, not 'scarred' by previous failures etc) but also pitfalls (a bit too gung ho; defensive naivety, as suggested by the goals against column and our experience last season; how will they react if we go two up in 10 minutes?etc).
Ayoub Assal is attracting the headlines and "can be quality, only slight but always looking to go forward".
Interestingly, to me at least, I was told "You’ll attack down our left, we’re weak defensively there. The players are given loads of freedom to play so we’re never far from disaster!".
So I may have a little flutter on a Joe Edwards winner....
Enjoy if you're lucky enough to be going. My dear wife has organised my daughter's birthday party for 3pm tomorrow. Bless.
London Branch is meeting at the Halfway House, 521 Garratt Lane, SW18 4SR, which is accepting away fans.
Other pubs in Wimbledon may be difficult to get into as "the police have become a bit twitchy and vetoed our proposed pub, The Leather Bottle, which will be for home fans only"
Other pubs in Wimbledon may be difficult to get into as "the police have become a bit twitchy and vetoed our proposed pub, The Leather Bottle, which will be for home fans only"
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AFC Wimbledon
Official website
Ground guide
Away days
Fans forum
Latest news
The countdown to AFC Wimbledon
Friday
Match preview ... club website.
Audio commentary passes for the game at £2.50 are available ... here.
AFC Wimbledon Head Coach Mark Robinson looks ahead to the game ... AFC Wimbledon club website.
Thursday
Wimbledon claim they have the best away support - by miles .... AFC Wimbledon club website.
Stadium guide for Argyle fans ... AFC Wimbledon club website.
Pre-match interview with Ryan Lowe ... Argyle TV.
There is no pay on the day at Wimbledon ... club website.
AFC Wimbledon are the comeback kings of League One picking up two draws and three wins from losing positions in seven league games .... London News.
Wednesday
AFC Wimbledon fan Ray Armfield has kindly agreed to a Q&A to give Pasoti users an insight into his club...
Q: Given that the Covid pandemic financially affected all football clubs what is the current financial status at AFC Wimbledon?
A: We've had to finish the build on Plough Lane during COVID which hasn't helped, largely by our fans putting their hands in their pockets once again with a £2.5m Seedrs crowdfunding campaign and then the remaining shortfall mostly covered by the hugely-successful Plough Lane Bond with raised £5.5m - the biggest scheme of its kind in English football, even beating the Norwich City scheme that raised £5m. We've never had a huge playing budget either and this is reflected in our reliance and both younger and home grown players.
Q: Are you happy with the business done during the summer transfer window?
A: Given we were never going to replace Joe Pigott's 20 goals with a like-for-like replacement, the incoming players have all fitted in well into Mark Robinson's culture and ethos, with his presentational skills being key to attracting Luke McCormick from Chelsea and George Marsh from Spurs on permanent deals, along with some quality Premier League loanees, the calibre of which we wouldn't have got near under previous regimes.
Q: It must be fantastic to finally have your own stadium, can you tell us a little bit about Plough Lane?
A: I can talk for hours about Plough Lane - and frequently do, given I'm training to be a volunteer stadium tour guide! Its been a 30-year wait to say "Welcome to Plough Lane" and it felt like home the moment I walked in through the door for the first time. Its the perfect fit right now at just over 9,200, with room to expand as and when we need/can afford to. Its almost addictive. When you've seen a game there, you can't wait for the next one. And to know we own it and it can't be taken away from (again) is a constant source of pride.
Q: What are your thoughts on Head Coach Mark Robinson?
A: It was a bold appointment in many ways, given how untried he was at senior level. But his approach has been revolutionary. He has a added a number of specialist coaches to assist him and Rob Tuvey - restarts, substitutions, mindsets and also borrowed a coach from Chelsea for another pair of matchday eyes. So far its working incredibly well. Everyone is buying in to what he's doing from fans to players and the board.
Q: What are your expectations and predicted finishing position in League One for the season?
A: After the promise shown in ending the season avoiding relegation with a run of almost playoff form, there was optimism going into the new season - but if you'd told me after seven games we'd be nine points clear of Ipswich, I'd have laughed. Loudly. I'm cautiously revising my pre-season prediction of 18th, but in truth a season where we are looking up rather than constantly down will be fine with me. Let's go for 12th then.
Q: Without giving too much away what style of football and formation are AFC Wimbledon likely to use against Argyle?
A: It's fair to say we've gone from being the easiest team in the division to one of the most difficult, due to having a young, adaptable squad. We are slowly ridding ourselves of the Wimbledon FC longball legacy. Take a look at our third goal against Oxford United a fortnight ago, where the ball never left the floor from almost our own goalline to being stroked home five or six passes later - and all done by home-grown academy products. Immensely satisfying. Id say maybe 4-2-2-2 but equally it might be 3-5-2.
Q: Looking from afar what are your views on Plymouth Argyle?
A: A good club, with a loyal, passionate but fair-minded fanbase that always travel in good numbers. Met many Argyle fans after the 2016 Playoff Final who were very complimentary about us and wished us well. Geographically, something of a sleeping giant given the potential catchment area and one that could hold its own in the Championship.
Q: Finally, do you have a prediction for the game?
A: I noted your excellent victory over Sheffield Wednesday and no doubt you'll come to us wanting to build on that. I hope as the top scorers in the country with 22, with the goals shared among 11 different players, that we might have the edge with home advantage, so I'll go for a closely-fought 2-1 win for the Dons.
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AFC Wimbledon current league form
7 August: Doncaster 1 - 2 AFC Wimbledon.
14 August: AFC Wimbledon 3 - 3 Bolton.
17 August: AFC Wimbledon 1 - 1 Gillingham.
21 August: Sunderland 1 - 0 AFC Wimbledon.
28 August: Ipswich 2 - 2 AFC Wimbledon.
4 September: AFC Wimbledon 3 - 1 Oxford.
11 September: Morecambe 3 - 4 AFC Wimbledon
According to Sky Bet the Dons are at 21/20 to win, an Argyle win has odds of 9/4 and the draw is on offer at 5/2.
This is Argyle's first visit to the new Plough Lane but in previous away games the Greens have won four games, drawn four and lost three. The previous away game finished in a 4-4 draw played at Loftus Road.
Tuesday
Referee
Tom Nield is the man in the middle, so far this season he has issued 25 yellow cards and no reds in five games. He was last in charge of an Argyle game in November last season when the Greens lost 1-0 away to Peterborough United.
He will be assisted on Saturday by Nicholas Cooper and Andrew Laver while the fourth official is Louis Marks.
They Played For Both
Jimmy Abdou, Dean Parrett, Andre Blackman, Craig Tanner, Jake Jervis, Ben Purrington, Kelle Roos, Connor Smith, Karleigh Osborne. Any more?
AFC Wimbledon stats analysis
Strengths
Shooting from direct free kicks.
Finishing scoring chances.
Attacking set pieces.
Creating chances through individual skill.
Coming back from losing positions.
Stealing the ball from the opposition.
Creating chances using through balls.
Defending set pieces.
Weaknesses
Defending against long shots.
Defending against skillful players.
Defending against attacks down the wings.
Avoiding individual errors.
Style of play
Attack through the middle.
Possession football.
Control the game in the opposition's half.
Play with width.
Aggressive.
Play the offside trap.
Rotate their first eleven.
Essential guide to the new Plough Lane stadium ..... here.
Car parking and travel
Car parking at the stadium is extremely limited and there is no street parking due to Controlled Parking Zones. Fans are recommended to travel to the Stadium by train, tube or bus - bus routes that will pass through the ground are 156, 77, and 493. For the tube the Tooting Broadway Station is the best option on the Northern line, the District line is set to be closed on Saturday with replacement buses operating ... link.
If Wednesday had gone 1-0 up we might have seen this strength in action.
Protecting leads was a definite Argyle weakness last season.
We’ve also failed to do that in 2 of our home games this season but I feel confident that will improve.