News from behind the scenes at the Dons

Sunday, 25 July 2010 10:01

Gunnerdons Pre-Season Blog
Part 3   


Well, I said I'd try and make this week's blog more newsey but there hasn't really been a great deal of it.

After the steady and encouraging performance of our centre back trialist, Kevin Long, he then went off to Carlisle for a week's trial there. I did speak to Karl about that and he said it was something that was sprung on him after the St Neots game. I suggested that it was probably arranged before that to get the best deal from either club towards his wage. Karl replied, "no comment". As we know, the parent club look to loan players out to get experience or fit after injury etc. but the cost of the players' wages is often a sticking point, especially when it's a Prem player.

So we may not get to see Long again if Carlisle pay more or Kevin prefers Carlisle. I said to Karl, "hows your CB problem". He said that it was still a problem but he's working on it. Long Is 19 and an Irish under 21 International so he will be a sought after player.

On Tuesday, Karl Robinson said Jabo Ibehre will make up an important part of his versatile strike-force in the new League 1 season which by and large met with most fans' approval.

The Dons produced another accomplished performance of this pre-season as we overpowered Kettering Town at Rockingham Road. According to the Official Site report we played our slickest football of the summer's three friendlies. Angelo Balanta's opener was cancelled out by a fine James Dance effort. But second-half goals from Sam Baldock, Stephen Gleeson and Jermaine Easter gave the Dons their third consecutive win in the build-up to the 2010/11 campaign.

So far all our players have featured pre-season, except Gary MacKenzie and it's starting to show how Robinson's side will look. Hamann still has a way to go to full fitness, but with Peter Leven in midfield beside him we are looking good and the Dons moved the ball quickly and precisely in the first half at Kettering.

There was also a former Don on show. Sol Davis kept the score down with a fine on the line clearance to deny Balanta who is looking like a class act and I think will be a fans favourite as well as a fans frustration at times; the comparision with Puncheon being the best I can think of.

Another change has been the moving of Gleeson to right back and whilst not really tested yet he seems to me to be fitting the role.
The team lined up 4-4-2 with following line up: Martin (Searle 79); Gleeson, O'Hanlon (Trialist 56), Trialist (Doumbe 56), Lewington (c); Chadwick (Chicksen 79), Hamann (Carrington 62), Leven (Guy 69), Balanta (Ibehre 69); Easter (Powell 79), Baldock (Howell 69).

On Wednesday the new squad numbers were announced and here they are

1. David Martin
2. Jude Stirling
3. Dean Lewington
4. Mathias Doumbe
5. Gary MacKenzie
6. Sean O'Hanlon
7. Stephen Gleeson
8. Jermaine Easter
9. Aaron Wilbraham
10. Sam Baldock
11. Angelo Balanta
12. Willy Gueret
13. Mark Carrington
14. Lewis Guy
15. Danny Woodards
16. Dietmar Hamann
17. Stuart Searle
19. Jabo Ibehre
21. Luke Howell
22. Peter Leven
23. Adam Chicksen
24. Tom Flanagan
25. Charlie Collins
26. Luke Chadwick
27. Daniel Powell

With 25 players there I am sure there will be some more additions nearer the season start date.

On Thursday it was over to Woughton with Tom to see if any more new faces would appear. Apart from an agent I hadn't seen before, all the faces were familiar. We were joined by Johnathan Parks from BBC Look East, who showed his footballing skills when during shooting practice he was kicking the ball back to the players but we will have to wait till weekend before season starts to see his report.

John Gorman and Alex Rae were on fine form and their banter is so funny they both came over for a chat at the end of training and chatted to us fans that were around. I also spoke with Sam and he is very happy with his No. 10 shirt; had a big smile when I mentioned it.

And so onto Friday and the match with Aylesbury, where the fans there were saying it was like a Cup Final for them and the first time they had played a league club. We again took a squad mixed with 1st teamers, trialists and academy lads and but for some good keeping would have scored two or three more.

Sam Baldock and Jabo Ibehre were both on the score sheet as an MK Dons XI beat Aylesbury FC quite comfortably, with Sam getting a goal in both halves. Striker Charlie Mpi replied for the hosts to keep the scoreline respectable in what was another big gap in terms of the football pyramid. It was also a chance to see striker, Aaron Wilbraham, in his first action of pre-season as a second-half substitute .

Youth team regulars Coronado and Jordan Browne were both started while Luke Howell, Mark Carrington and Daniel Powell were given the chance to get some match minutes under thier belts.

The Dons lined up 4-4-2 Gueret (Searle 78); Browne (Milton 75), O'Hanlon (Trialist 46), Pelé (Flanagan 71), Chicksen (McGovern 75); Powell (Collins 59), Carrington, Howell (Ahmed 69), Coronado (Wilbraham 52); Ibehre, Baldock.

On Sunday it was over to Newport Pagnell and the first defeat of the campaign in what I thought was a pretty disappointing performance considering the players we had on the field. Although not what you would call regular first teamers we played five players who have featured in first team action and I thought we could have made a better go of it.

With no first team management on the day the team looked to be lacking guidance, although young Milton was trying to get the players organised, first half. He seemed to go quiet, second half, and he was one of a few that impressed and looks like, in a more organised team, he could be a decent prospect. Again Coranado showed that with a bit of filling out and a couple of years he also could be a decent player.

Hopefully the Ladies will fare better today (Sunday) where they play at 1pm in a reserves match and 3pm in a first team game at the same venue.

Wednesday night sees the first of the home games with West Ham and that will be a good test for what I imagine will be Karl's first teamers at least first half anyway, so that should be a good test and our first glimpse perhaps of what we can expect playing style wise.

I'm looking forward to the game and it will be good to get back in the Stadium.

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