MK Dons v Ipswich Town
Saturday 12th December 2015 – 12:30
Stadium mk
Live on Sky Sports 1
Opening Thought – Jamma
Middlesbrough was always going to be a fixture which would serve as a marker as to where we are as a team. It’s all well and good having beaten the current bottom three last month but these fixtures in December, including against Middlesbrough and then Derby and Brighton, provide a different proposition altogether. With this in mind, the 2-0 defeat could be looked upon as a routine victory for Boro, whose extra class saw them through as they rose to the top of the table. But, as so often in the Championship, the result only told half the story, as Town had at least as many gilt-edged chances to open the scoring. When Luke Chambers and Jonas Knudsen found themselves in perfect positions either side of half time, we were all thinking ‘If only it had been Daryl Murphy or Brett Pitman…’. And then, when the ball did fall to Pitman just a few yards out, he didn’t anticipate the flight of the ball and wasn’t able to work the ‘keeper. Of course, there was no chance of the same thing happening when Mr. Nugent got half a sniff of a goalscoring opportunity! Mick McCarthy summed it up perfectly when he said that we ‘blinked first’, handing Middlesbrough the initiative which they never looked like relinquishing. What made it even more frustrating was the way in which both goals were conceded, with the first again resulting from the wideman being allowed to get the cross in to a teammate who lost his marker at the back post. If at Charlton the Blues had found the right combination of being clinical in attack and defence, on Friday night we were back to being too generous at the back and too profligate in front of goal.
…All of which is a rather long-winded way of saying…well, just where are we as a team?
It is tempting to compare our position in the table against this time last season, when we were flying high towards the top of the league. But it is interesting to note that our points tally after the same number of games in 2014/15 was just 6 higher than it currently is. The fact that an identical total would put us in 5th place at best this time around would seem to back up the impression that the Championship is a tougher prospect in 2015/16. The sides at the top certainly seem to be stronger this year, with there being very little to choose between the likes of Derby, Middlesbrough and Hull. Along with surprise package Brighton, these clubs have taken it in turns to occupy top spot, and would appear to be a cut above the rest. Having yet to play Derby, Town have found it hard going against the top 4, conceding 8 and scoring just two, with no points to our name. However, after that – and with the possible exception of a rampant Reading – there hasn’t been anything to suggest that we can’t compete with the rest of the league. Perhaps a more accurate reflection of our position is glimpsed when looking at the middle section of the table, with just 8 points separating Cardiff, currently occupying 6th, from 18th place Preston. We have comfortably won against the majority of the sides below, and comfortably lost against most of the teams above. The outcome of our campaign is going to be decided against those other clubs in and around us. That just makes it even more crucial that we claim the 3 points against another team down towards the bottom on Saturday…The Opposition – MK Dons
You are bloody not! .............. he's one of ours!
Milton Keynes was established as a new town in 1967 and it was occasionally suggested that a Football League club might relocate there. Charlton Athletic briefly mooted re-basing in "a progressive Midlands borough" during a planning dispute with their local council in 1973, and the relocation of nearby Luton Town to Milton Keynes was repeatedly suggested from the 1980s onwards. Another team linked with the new town was Wimbledon Football Club.
Wimbledon, established in south London in 1889 and nicknamed "the Dons", were elected to the Football League in 1977. They thereafter went through a "fairytale" rise from obscurity and by the end of the 1980s were established in the top division of English football.
Despite Wimbledon's new prominence, the club's modest home stadium at Plough Lane remained largely unchanged from its non-league days. The club's then owner Ron Noades identified this as a problem as early as 1979, extending his dissatisfaction to the ground's very location. Interested in the stadium site designated by the Milton Keynes Development Corporation, Noades briefly planned to move Wimbledon there by merging with a non-league club in Milton Keynes, and to this end purchased debt-ridden Milton Keynes City. However, he then decided that the club would not get higher crowds in Milton Keynes and abandoned the idea.
In 1991, after the Taylor Report was published recommending the redevelopment of English football grounds, Wimbledon left Plough Lane to groundshare at Crystal Palace's ground, Selhurst Park. Sam Hammam, who now owned Wimbledon, said the club could not afford to redevelop Plough Lane and that the groundshare was a temporary arrangement while a new ground was sourced in South-West London. A new stadium for Wimbledon proved hard to arrange. Frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of support from Merton Council, Hammam began to look further afield and by 1996 was pursuing a move to Dublin, an idea that most Wimbledon fans strongly opposed. Hammam sold the club to two Norwegian businessmen, Kjell Inge Røkke and Bjørn Rune Gjelsten, in 1997, and a year later sold Plough Lane to Safeway supermarkets. Wimbledon were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 1999–2000 season.
Starting in 2000, a consortium led by music promoter Pete Winkelman proposed a large retail development in Milton Keynes including a Football League-standard stadium. The consortium proposed that an established League club move to use this site; it approached Luton, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Barnet and Queens Park Rangers. In 2001, Røkke and Gjelsten appointed a new chairman, Charles Koppel, who was in favour of this idea, saying it was necessary to stop the club going out of business. To the fury of most Wimbledon fans, Koppel announced on 2 August 2001 that the club intended to relocate to Milton Keynes. After the Football League refused permission, Wimbledon launched an appeal, leading to a Football Association arbitration hearing and subsequently the appointment of a three-man independent commission to make a final and binding verdict. The League and FA stated opposition but the commissioners ruled in favour, two to one, on 28 May 2002.
Having campaigned against the move, a group of disaffected Wimbledon fans reacted to this in June 2002 by forming their own non-League club, AFC Wimbledon, to which most of the original team's support defected. The original Wimbledon intended to move to Milton Keynes immediately but were unable to do so until a temporary home in the town meeting Football League criteria could be found. The club remained at Selhurst Park in the meantime and in June 2003 went into administration. With the move threatened and the club facing liquidation, Winkelman decided to buy it himself. He secured funding for the administrators to keep the team operating with the goal of getting it to Milton Keynes as soon as possible. The club arranged the temporary use of the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes and played its first match there in September 2003.
Nine months later, Winkelman's Inter MK Group bought the club out of administration and announced changes to its name, badge and colours—the team was renamed Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.
The first season for the club as MK Dons was the 2004–05 season and they managed to stay in League One on the final day of the season. The following season, MK Dons struggled all year, and were relegated to League Two.
The following season (2006–07) was more successful under new Manager Martin Allen. MK Dons looked more consistent than they had done in either of the previous two seasons. They eventually qualified for the play-offs, being knocked out at the semi-final stage.
For the 2007–08 season, former England captain Paul Ince took over as manager. MK Dons won the Football League Trophy, and capped the trophy win with the League Two championship, and the subsequent promotion to League One for the 2008–09 season.
In the 2008–09 season, MK Dons under Robert Di Matteo missed out on an automatic promotion spot by two points, finishing third. They were knocked out of the play-offs by Scunthorpe United.
On 10 May 2010, Karl Robinson was appointed as the club's new manager and, at 29 years of age, Robinson was then the youngest manager in the Football League. In his first season at the club, MK Dons finished 5th in 2010–11 Football League One but were beaten in the play-off semi-finals again.
The 2011–12 season brought similar results to the previous season, with the Dons finishing 5th in 2011–12 Football League One and again not progressing past the play-off semi-finals.
MK Dons experienced their best ever FA Cup campaign in the 2012–13 season, reaching the fifth round of the competition for the first time ever in their footballing history.
Following a disappointing end to the 2013-14 Football League One season (finishing 10th, after being in the top five for much of the season), Karl Robinson made some shrewd summer signings to take the football club forward in 2014–15.
The 2014–15 season began well. The highlight of the season's first month was being drawn against Manchester United in the League Cup second round (having dispatched A.F.C Wimbledon in the first). The Dons recorded a stunning 4–0 victory over United in front of a sell-out crowd at stadium:mk. On 3 May, the club secured promotion to the Football League Championship for the first time, beating Yeovil Town 5–1 and leapfrogging Preston North End on the final day of the season.
One To Watch – Diego Poyet
Amongst a host of relative unknowns at this level, one player in the Dons’ ranks who is bound to sound, as well as look, familiar is midfielder Diego Poyet.
The son of former Chelsea and Tottenham favourite Gus (I didn’t really need to tell you!), the Uruguayan arrived in Milton Keynes in the summer, signing on a season-long loan from West Ham. Poyet started out at Charlton but only featured for the First Team for one season, nevertheless picking up the Addicks’ Player of the Year award in 2013/14. He moved to Upton Park the following season, and spent a brief spell at Huddersfield, where he continued his Championship education. Back in East London, Poyet made 5 domestic appearances, and a further 5 in this season’s Europa League qualifying campaign. The cultured midfielder, very much in the mould of his father in playing style as well as looks, has also represented his country at U20 level. He has been a virtual ever present in the Championship this season, competing against the likes of Carl Baker and Samir Carruthers in the middle of the park.
And in his younger days (left)!
The Manager – Karl Robinson
Robinson joined the Dons on 11 May 2010, aged 29, and he is now the second youngest manager in The Football League behind Alex Neil of Norwich City. At the age of 29, he was also the youngest person to ever acquire a UEFA Pro Licence.
Born in Liverpool, England, Robinson played for Caernarfon Town, Bamber Bridge, Marine, Oswestry Town, Rhyl, Kidsgrove Athletic, Prescot Cables, St Helens Town, Alsager Town and Warrington Town.
Robinson coached at the Liverpool youth academy and later worked as a coach at Blackburn Rovers. Robinson then joined Paul Ince at Milton Keynes Dons as his assistant manager.
In the 2010–11 season, his first season in charge, Robinson guided MK Dons to fifth place in League One, losing in the play-off semi-finals, and achieved the same result again in the 2011–12 season.
During the 2014/15 season, he signed a 3-year contract extension with the Dons. Robinson masterminded arguably MK Dons greatest victory, a 4-0 win over Manchester United on 26 August 2014, as well as leading the Dons to promotion to the Championship for the first time, finishing as runners-up in League One.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Couldn't find any Town v MK dons but here is Wimbledon instead
Trev's Trivia
Players to play for both teams
Jimmy Bullard ITFC 2011-2012 MK Dons 2012
Dean Bowditch ITFC 2002-2009 MK dons 2011- present
Media Watch - K L Blue
Joe Robinson's rise:
http://www.sudburymercury.co.uk/sport/j ... _1_4340257
MM on Jonathan Douglas:
http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town ... _1_4341089
5 strikers Town should sign from the Premier League in Jan according to the Football League World website:
http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/5-prem ... 7DqSaLL.97
Dean Gerken interview:
http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/dean ... 41586.aspx
Stat Time
Head To Head
MK Dons Wins......................1 (9.09%)
Ipswich Town Wins................6 (54.55%)
Draws................................4 (36.36%)
MK Dons Goals.....................14 (ave. 1.27 per match)
Ipswich Town Goals...............19 (ave. 1.73 per match)
Head To Head At MK Dons
MK Dons Wins......................0 (0.00%)
Ipswich Town Wins...............4 (66.67%)
Draws...............................2 (33.33%)
MK Dons Goals......................5 (ave. 0.83 per match)
Ipswich Town Goals...............10 (ave. 1.67 per match)
The Predicted Teams
MK Dons
Having won just one of their last eight matches, MK could make changes as they go looking for their first victory in five. Dean Bowditch is set to make his first appearance against his hometown club since leaving Portman Road. Former Town youth ‘keeper Cody Cropper is also on the Dons’ books, although has been playing second fiddle to David Martin.
1 David Martin
12 Jordan Spence
5 Kyle McFadzean
6 Anthony Kay
3 Dean Lewington
8 Darren Potter
39 Diego Poyet
7 Carl Baker
14 Samir Carruthers
9 Dean Bowditch
28 Nicky Maynard
Ipswich Town
Going by the reaction to last weekend’s defeat, there could well be calls for Mick to change things around at the back. Not that that makes him any more likely to do so, as we know only too well…!
1 Dean Gerken
4 Luke Chambers
5 Tommy Smith
6 Christophe Berra
3 Jonas Knudsen
7 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
8 Cole Skuse
22 Jonathan Douglas
20 Freddie Sears
9 Daryl Murphy
11 Brett Pitman
Marko’s Caption Competition
9 entries? Come on, people......, stop being so serious about the "back 4"......, I know Tommy & Knuoddy both suck big hairy balls, but don't let that affect yer GSOH! Let's hear them......,
Scores this week.
Shed on Tour 5pts
Number 9 4pts
Frosty 3pts
Derick 2pts
Quasar receives 1 point from the last weeks caption contest.
LEAGUE TABLE
DerickIpsw 35
Frosty 34
Barmy Billy 32
Blueblood 26
Nicscreamer 25
Number 9 25
Ando 22
Quasar 19
Shed on Tour 17
Ashfordblue 16
Floors 16
James Scharmann 16
Bluemike 12
IpswichtownNO1 12
Hallamblue 10
Charnwood 10
Watership Down 9
Longjohn 9
Foxy Lady 8
Herforder 6
Kerry Blue 5
Ohiotractorboy 3
Karlywoo 1
LoudNProud 1
Have a go at this.....
Match Referee – Andrew Madley
Final Thought - Frosty
As James eluded to above, there has to be some questions as whether we are Top 6 material at this point of the season. We are no doubt competitive and can put some good performances together on the day, however, I don’t think we are going to gain a lot of points from the sides above on the table at the moment without some additional ‘quality’ being added to this squad.
Of course the way to stay in touch with the leading pack is to keep taking 3 points from the lower half of the table sides, and this weeks 20th placed opposition is a case in point.
However, in fairness to ‘the Dons’, Karl Robinsons side has made a reasonable fist of the Championship so far having gained 16 points and not really receiving any real heavy defeats so far this season, their real issue is scoring goals.
Their recent form has seen losses away against Brentford and the League leaders and draws against Wolves and Fulham away and at home respectively.
Although the Derby versus Brighton fixture is probably the fixture of this weeks round, the matches between Cardiff and Wednesdays, Fulham at home to Brentford and Boro welcoming the Brum to the Riverside will probably have a greater bearing on where we sit on the table after the weekend.
For those of you travelling to Milton Keynes, enjoy your day as I am sure it’s a ground that most fans wouldn’t have journeyed to previously.
Hopefully SKY NZ will allow me to see the game as well as it’s the earlier KO.
MK DONS 0 IPSWICH TOWN 1
I think MOTM hoodoo will kick in, sorry MKD 3 Town 0
Pitman