Ahead of the new season I talk to a person from a place that is so franchised, McDonalds don’t even go there. Yep it’s an MK Dons fan.
Name
BletchleyDons
How long have you supported your team?
Must be just over 4 years now after relocating to Milton Keynes myself in 2003.
Five words to describe last season?
It doesn’t get any better!
Best point of last season?
Finally seeing the club capitalise on some of the obvious potential that’s here. Seeing 17250 turn up for the last home game against Morecambe and taking 35000 to Wembley finally made the football world sit up and take notice of us for reasons other than the relocation of Wimbledon. The appointment of Paul Ince turned out to be a superb move and gave us some much-needed positive profile and with the team playing some breathtaking football, particularly in front of the TV cameras, I think 2007/2008 was probably the season when MK Dons finally arrived.
Strength of last season?
The combination of Ince and Ray Mathias at the helm of the club. Many in MK were cautious in the early days, particularly when Ince never seemed to speak to the press at all, leaving the admittedly more articulate Mathias to talk to the papers and, in turn, the fans.
We needn’t have worried. The sight of Ince turning up in the dugout shortly before full-time after Mathias had spent the entire game bellowing from the technical area soon became commonplace and we began to realise that these two were a little bit special. A superb management team that operated on an ‘Aces in their Places’ policy. We’re going to really miss them!
Weakness of last season?
The presence of an out-and-out striker. Kevin Gallen is a great link-up man but is never going to score you 25 goals a season. Aaron Wilbraham struggled with injury until the last few months of the season but did well in the last month or so. Drewe Broughton was a bizarre signing and it was never going to work while Leon Knight looked like he constantly had the hump (no change there then!) and it was something of a relief when Wycombe finally took him off our hands. Jemal Johnson always looked better playing out wide.
Thankfully, a free-scoring midfield saw us get the goals that took us to the title but whoever takes the hotseat at Stadium:MK will need to bolster the front line as a priority.
Current terrace favourite in your side?
Dean Lewington. Fiery, red-headed left back who was a trainee with Wimbledon and remains the only player on our staff to still be at the club since the relocation. One of those players that you’d hate if he was playing for somebody else, but idolise if he’s in the colours of your own side. The fact that Lewington can actually play a bit seems to help as well, and the increase in the number of ginger wigs at away games only underlines what a popular player he’s become.
One player you`d happily drive to his next club?
Carl Regan. If Ince had a weakness, it was his inability to transfer in players that had never been at Macclesfield. Danny Swailes, Alan Navarro, Jordan Hadfield and John Miles all came to Milton Keynes from Moss Rose but the eleventh hour acquisition of Regan during the transfer window in January sent shivers down my spine.
I used to watch Regan play a few years back when living in Barnsley and all I can remember about him is seeing him shrink with fear after yet another mistake had earned him yet another roasting from Chris Morgan. Regan is a disaster zone, and his old ways have slowly crept into play since he arrived at Stadium:MK.
One thing you would tell your team`s manager?
‘Where are you? Pre-season starts on July 7th!’
Young player to look out for this season?
Sam Baldock – Pacey teenage youth system product who didn’t get the starts his substitute appearances deserved under Paul Ince. Easily the hottest product we’ve had down here and highly rated amongst the fans.
Hope for this season?
Being involved in a promotion challenge would be fantastic, even if it’s only for a play-off place. Realistically, we’d be better off with a season of consolidation and finding some stability with a new manager that’s likely to be around for more than one season after losing Wilson, Allen and Ince in the past 25 months.
Expectation for this season?
Mid-table. If, as expected, we lose Andrews and Dyer it’s going to take a while to settle back down again. I’m expecting a difficult start, but think we’re already suitably equipped to hold our own at this level. The addition of another good centre back and a right back will help, and the aforementioned striker with a decent return of goals should guarantee a season of much-needed obscurity!
Who is going to win League One?
Is anybody really going to stop Leeds from walking it this time around? Leicester and Peterborough will be there or thereabouts but with the luxury of 15 extra points this season, Leeds should turn it into a romp!
Who is going down?
Hereford might struggle at this level if they can’t secure another big batch of loan players. Crewe may have a hard time of things and having watched Cheltenham once last season I’m surprised they’re playing league football at all!
Where will you finish?
Around 12th to 15th. Maybe top ten if we can hit the ground running.
