We are determined to have fun this season, so a 5-2 reverse at Mansfield on Tuesday was less than ideal. We address it head on and discuss the tactics behind the defeat, as well as the issue of a red card (which the FA has since determined was incorrectly given … !!!), but then we’re back to the fun with talk of Crawley, Sutton, other times we’ve conceded five, man-bags, and transfers. In the face of a disappointing week, we’ve tried to lift spirits (until Nick ruins it at the end).
Your common or garden podcast this week, as Nick and Stu review our draw at Hartlepool and League Cup exit to Gillingham. Are people reading too much into these two results? Should we not be happy with a team that is coming together nicely, if just a little lacking in front of goal? But more importantly – just how weird an evening was Tuesday night?! We also have our new features and Stu looks to improve his performance on Jackson Five.
Johnnie Jackson joins us this week to discuss the win over Gillingham. We also talk about the transfer window, away travel, family, switching off from football, and penguins. We also learn who he thinks is the best player he ever played with, his toughest opponent, and the dressing room that he thought was “a bit of a stinker”. Stu and Nick go on to preview the trip to Hartlepool, play our new game Jackson Five, and introduce our new feature, “On That Side Of It”.
Robin Bedford and Marc Jones join Nick and Stu at The Phoenix at Plough Lane to look ahead to the new campaign. We talk new players, departed players, culture, managers, and, of course, the new array of Hummel apparel that Marc and Robin were instrumental in planning. We also have an abridged version of our new game …
A brief Sunday morning muse that could have been a Twitter thread, but as a general rule, I’m not one for Twitter threads. News that the government is planning further restrictions on gambling adverts in football has got me thinking, see …
I have no issue with curbing the ubiquitous presence of gambling companies within the sport – although I will save thorough dissection of personal responsibility in an increasingly-authoritarian world when I have more time to do the subject justice.
But with the tobacco, alcohol, and gambling industries’ relationships with football all targeted by state intervention, I do wonder how arguably the biggest vice has escaped censure – that of the football clubs themselves.
As we enter the final three weeks of the season, Nick and Stu make some educated predictions / wild guesses as to how ourselves and our relegation rivals will get on. It’s safe to say, our remaining fixtures don’t look as daunting as those facing the others fighting for their League One lives …
What have Nick and Stu made of our first two games under Mark Bowen? We’re talking team selection, formations, tactics (is ‘low-block’ a Brentism?), and individual responsibility. We also look ahead to Saturday’s game, and Nick makes quite the prognostication.
Robbo out, Bowen in. What have Nick and Stu made of it all? There are questions to be asked of how our governance structure works following another managerial sacking – but there are also the positives that one Mark can bring, and the other Mark has already bought, to be discussed.
Nick and Stu are joined by Mark Engelbretson to discuss where the club is at the moment. Mark stood for election to the Dons Trust Board in 2021, and shared his views on how the club has gone about the season – on and off the pitch.
Nick is joined by Spike Godding and Rob Boyce to discuss the latest issues around Plough Lane, including the departure of Joe Palmer as Chief Executive, and the daft surrender of a two-goal lead at home to Doncaster. Why did Palmer leave, and why could we not see out a first win in 14 games? A fun show as always so check it out 😉