We’re a League One Team in a Championship World - Notes for Milton Keynes Friday, 11th Dec 2015 11:12 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime encounter at Stadium MK by delving into their forums. “I am seriously worried about us now. This isn’t just a bad run, it’s a weekly event”, “We’re not a shadow of last season’s side”, “If we stay as we are, if we’re lucky and other teams slip up we can just about stay up. Hard decisions will need to be made this summer if by some miracle we do.” Milton Keynes supporters were downcast after Saturday’s poor 2-0 defeat at Brentford took their current run of results to one win in eight games. Many felt that a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham and goalless draw at Wolves in their two previous games had given them a platform to build on. “While we haven’t been outplayed in any game I have seen, we have no confidence as a team. We have very little form and winning two in a row would be a start”, “We have given a good account of ourselves on several occasions but lacked the ruthlessness to take anything from these matches.” “We are going to have plenty of poor days this season but at least it’s going to be exciting. The club is what it is, growing slowly but organically and without incurring unsustainable debts. Personally I’m satisfied with that and if our future holds relegations as well as promotions, so be it.” Most fans remain positive and are urging any pessimists to keep some perspective. “Dudes, think about that celebratory party when we stay up, because that is what we’re going to do!”, “The players are good enough but have just hit a run of bad form. Karl Robinson will sort it out in the end.” Karl Robinson“You can’t oversee a performance like the one at Brentford and not take responsibility. I loved Karl’s face as he walked off. He was clearly seething and that was something I wanted to see after that shambles”, “His post-match interview was interesting. He seems at a loss over what to do next.”  “I don’t envy Robbo his job. It is far from simple.” Supporters are firmly behind their manager but they recognise that he has a difficult task this season with a promoted team shorn of some of last year’s star players. “I don’t think Robbo leaving is the answer. Who realistically can do a better job?” “Karl took a team who were going backwards, recreated our identity and brand of football and took us into the Championship while turning down bigger clubs. This season may be a struggle but if you look at the bigger picture, what has happened during his tenure has been huge for the club.” His references to budgets have irritated some fans. “I don’t think it’s helpful to undermine your team by highlighting budget divides before a game. It gives the players a ready-made excuse for failure”, “I back his philosophy but agree we would be better off talking about things other than budgets.” Poor Summer Acquisitions“The really bad signings by Robinson are now starting to bite deeply”, “The biggest failing is the players we have brought in.” Fans widely agree that the club’s summer transfer dealings have played a significant part in what has been a poor first half to the campaign. Defenders Joe Walsh and Matthew Upson have been sidelined with injuries, while poor form has seen winger Dale Jennings, striker Simon Church and Real Madrid B midfield signing Sergio Aguza and Peru international Cristian Benavente playing a peripheral role in the first team at best. “If we were in League One we would probably be mid-table with the squad we have. Dele Alli, Will Grigg, Benik Afobe and Lewis Baker have all gone and we have not replaced them with anyone near their quality. That and a combination of superior opponents are the reasons we are doing poorly.” Formation“The fact of the matter is that we are in a hole and unless we get a proper striker there isn’t going to be any way out”, “Our playing style has gone backwards, mainly because we don’t have a midfield dynamo making the striker’s job easier”, “We miss Dele Alli more than we could have imagined.” MartinSpenceKayMcFadzeanLewington (c)PotterPoyetBakerBowditchMurphyMaynard
The starting XI for last Saturday’s game at Brentford (above) has altered little from recent weeks with the keeper, back four and two holding players unchanged. Fans have been most concerned about the lack of creativity from midfield and the absence of an out-and-out goalscorer. “In terms of keeping possession and passing we’re among the best in this league. In terms of shots on target, goals and creating decent chances, we’re amongst the worst”, “One thing is for sure, we won’t be seeing a best bits DVD at the end of the season.” The team’s lack of bite is a recurring theme. “We have no threat up front”, “We still play the same good football as last year but with no end product. If we had goalscorers we would be fine. We played Derby off the park in September and lost 3-1 because we couldn’t score.” One other topic which has been regularly mentioned is how robust the division is. “I think Karl has been shocked at how physically strong you need to be to compete in the Championship. You can argue about the rights and wrong of that but the reality is that we are a pretty lightweight team.” Brentford 2 - 0 Milton Keynes“I am just telling it how I saw it and to be honest I struggled to find any positives”, “We were pretty awful. Passing was poor, tackling was completely missing and there was no fluidity going forward. I’m pretty positive normally but that was a poor a performance as I have seen for a long time.” Brentford secured a comfortable win through a Lasse Vibe headed goal on 20 minutes, with Alan Judge doubling the Bees’ advantage with a low volley 19 minutes from time. One Milton Keynes fan nominated the woodwork as man-of-the-match after the hosts also managed to find it three times. “We didn’t deserve anything”, “After Brentford scored we went to pieces. To be honest we didn’t deserve anything today. It was very disappointing”, “I’m afraid the club need a wholesale clear-out and fresh faces to change the mood. I’m very disheartened tonight with the season so far.” “It was like an FA Cup game against a non-league team”, “The easiest win we will get all season. Milton Keynes were awful.” Brentford fans were scathing in their assessment of the visitors. “The worst team at Griffin Park since Blackpool last season”, “Five-nil wouldn’t have been flattering.” Wolves 0 - 0 Milton Keynes“That was an excellent point away from home”, “It felt like a win”, “A great point, but boy do we need the January window”, “An awful game, two awful teams, a good result”, “We never really looked like scoring”, “We score when we want. It just so happens that we don’t want to very often.” Poor finishing by Benik Afobe and good saves by keeper David Martin allowed the visitors to leave Molineux with a point from a game which the hosts dominated. Wolves’ keeper Carl Ikeme saved one late effort from Carl Baker but most of the play was directed towards the Milton Keynes goal. “I don’t think Milton Keynes could have made it easier for us. Toothless in attack and a catalogue of defensive errors and we still couldn’t beat them”, “They were there for the taking”, “They came for a draw and we just failed to stop that.” Wolves supporters felt that this was an opportunity missed. They had some astute things to say about their visitors. “Milton Keynes are a very good passing team and would be doing a lot better is they had someone who could bag chances”, “A bit of pace would have opened them up”, “The longer it went on, the more likely they looked to catch us out.” Milton Keynes 1 - 1 Fulham“Another point towards the survival target”, “We are getting better, another great football match”, “Some would say that was a decent point but I wouldn’t. It was not a bad game of football and we probably deserved more but that has been said far too many times this season.” The hosts opened the scoring when Dean Bowditch half-volleyed a Josh Murphy cross home from distance after half an hour. The visitors equalised a minute before the break when Moussa Dembele slotted home Ross McCormack’s cross. Supporters from both sides agreed that it was an open game. “For the first quarter we were excellent. We restricted Fulham to long balls and McCormack was anonymous”, “They started to gel and looked a lot better as the game went on after making a slow start”, “A draw was a fair result. We didn’t look bad today.” “Milton Keynes could have been out of sight by half-time and played some nice football.” Cottagers were complimentary about Karl Robinson’s team. “Milton Keynes played better football, pressing high up the pitch with a smarter system of play”, “We were second best in all areas of the pitch.” Goalkeepers and Defenders“It’s a credit to the aged and slow defenders we have that our defensive record is as good as it is.” Fans have concerns over the pace of their back four but are happy with its overall performance. “It’s worth pointing out that we have conceded fewer goals than anyone in the bottom six.” “Why didn’t David Martin dive for the second Brentford goal?”, “Martin may have been at fault for the second goal but overall I felt sorry for him having to play behind that team.” The 29-year-old keeper and club stalwart “had a good game and without his saves it could have been a lot worse”.  “Martin was easily man-of-the-match at Wolves and saved a point for us. Without him it could easily have been two or three-nil”, “He literally saved the day”, “Seven great saves single-handedly winning us a point”, “He can be slow to recycle the ball but his accuracy improves when he takes his time.” “The problem we have at the back is a noticeable lack of pace, Jordan Spence excluded”, “Robbo’s very much aware that Spence is now a key component in our attacking play”, “He fills the role of modern attacking full-back so well”, “He was great going forward against Fulham as usual.” “Jordan Spence struggled to do the basics at Brentford.” The 25-year-old ex-West Ham right-back “couldn’t compete with Wolves winger Jordan Graham who bossed him on our right side”, “He looked a bit dodgy when being attacked by their winger but we coped overall.” “I think people underestimate how many of our goalkicks do actually reach Dean Lewington and he gets his headers in. It works more often than not.” The 31-year-old left-back, who joined the club in 2002 before their relocation from Wimbledon, “is our only aerial threat and he does little wrong”. “Against Fulham we saw a classic Lewington performance with a stunning tackle at the end. He is great but always under-appreciated”, “He had a very good game in attack and defence including one great cross for Bowditch”, “He couldn’t make the same impact on the Brentford game as captain.” “Anthony Kay is strong defensively and brings the ball out from the back well”, “He put in some good challenges and clearances when we were in danger at Wolves”, “He has been the start performer at the back this season. I’m shocked at that but it is a fact. He’s the football equivalent of Rocky.” “On current form I would have Kay over McFadzean.” The 33-year-old ex-Huddersfield man “shades the footballing side of things while Kyle McFadzean is the stronger physically. You have two fairly similar players at centre-back in terms of ability on the ball but what they both really lack is pace.” Kyle McFadzean“Our centre-backs are two of our better players”, “I am pleasantly surprised at how well McFadzean and Kay have coped in the Championship. It can’t be easy when there isn’t much going on up front to take the pressure off”, “He made a series of very decent, well-timed challenges at Wolves.”  “I do rather like the cut of McFadzean’s jib”, “Kyle has far more of a physical presence than Kay.” The 28-year-old ex-Crawley man “has been an unbelievable signing. Despite my thinking he’s a bit average I can’t help but love his aggressive play. He is the sort of defender you hate to play against”. Central Midfielders“Regardless of who has played, our central midfield pairing hasn’t been good enough. That has led to a narrowing of play and strikers either dropping deep or being isolated. The back four has constantly been under too much pressure. When we don’t control the centre, our whole game falls apart.” “Darren Potter is one of our most consistent performers and rarely has a poor game.” The 30-year-old former Owl “was solid as always against Fulham, a really strong showing” but he struggled at Brentford last week, having “an absolute shocker”, “He needed to step up and lead the midfield.” Diego Poyet“Poyet cannot play in the same midfield as Potter”, “They should be competing for the same spot and not playing together”, “Much as I like them, they are both defensive. When they play the ball, it is sideways and they slow the game down”, “Poyet needs to push on with Potter holding.”  The 20-year-old is on a season-long loan from West Ham. “I know people like Poyet. He’s a quality player, but he concedes possession too often later on in games”. “While he does try, he is not the midfield spark that we need”, “He looked lost at times at Wolves.” “We played consistently better when Poyet and Jake Forster-Caskey played together.” They formed a successful and more balanced partnership when the 21-year-old joined on a five-week emergency loan from Brighton in October. “JFC offered more going forward and created quite a few chances.” Dean Bowditch“Very pleased to see Bowditch looking sharp again”, “Last season’s poor form was an anomaly for him as he has been a key player since he joined us. I am made up for him being in good form in the Championship”, “I feel more confident when he is in the starting XI.”  “I don’t know who else can play the number 10 role with Ben Reeves out.” The 29-year-old former Town and Yeovil man “combines good technique with such clever play”, “He scored against Fulham and created a few chances with clever runs”, “He has a way of drawing defenders towards him.” “One tackle near the end against Fulham was bloody epic. The guy next to me described it at ‘Bobby Moore-esque’. He wasn’t wrong”, “Nothing came off for him at Brentford but he did run around a bit”, “He showed willing and was involved in our limited ventures going forward at Wolves.”  “Bowditch’s link-up play and his passing are underrated”, “He has intelligence and a lot of football nous”, “He has been most effective cutting in from the left”, “In the battle to stay up this season he will bring experience which the younger players will lack.” Wide Midfielders“Samir Carruthers should be told that he is under no circumstances to go anywhere within 50 yards of defence. I have seldom seen a player give the ball away so often in the wrong area of the pitch”, “Consistently poor”, “All the Wolves chances were created with him giving the ball away cheaply." The 22-year-old left-sided ex-Villa man has struggled in the number 10 role. “He ran out of ideas and lost the ball numerous times at Wolves. He should have been taken off”, “He played well against Fulham but it was not the best position for him. He was a little unwilling to do the hard running.” “The one thing you are guaranteed with Carl Baker is work-rate. Fitness-wise, he’s one of our best.” The 32-year-old ex-Coventry player “will give his all in every game and doesn’t let his head drop”, “He has the potential to change a game and bring energy and creativity to a match, so he is a vital asset.” “People get worked up about Baker’s passing once he has done the hard work but he’s finally finding his feet in this league. Get the passing sorted and he will be the Carl Baker we knew last season”, “He looked sharp and positive when he came on at Wolves and managed to get a few shots away.” Josh Murphy“Murphy is turning into the new Marmite. He either gives a man-of-the-match performance looking dangerous every time he goes forward, or is just anonymous and fed up like he was at Wolves”, “He is an occasional threat when given the space but looks lazy at times”, “Powder-puff show pony.”  The 20-year-old left-winger is on loan from the Canaries until the end of the season. “On his day the lad is a fantastic player but games like Hull show you why Norwich think he’s not ready”, “Hull’s full-back got booked early on for a foul but I can’t remember Murphy running at him once after that.” “Murphy is the only player that looks a threat going forward, especially one-on-one. I always expect him to beat a man of put in a decent cross. He has good and bad days but is almost unplayable on his good days”, “He’s always a threat and can go on the outside or cut back in but he lacks consistency.” Strikers“The striker situation beggars belief, as has the fact that it has carried on for so long”, “Only Bolton have scored fewer than us.” Milton Keynes have so far managed to find the net just 15 times in 19 games this season. “It doesn’t suit any party for Sam Gallagher to stay. Southampton have a player who isn’t developing. We have a player who isn’t good enough and Gallagher is sat frustrated on the bench”, “He is poor and that’s the truth of it. Maybe the Championship is a step too far”, “A useless waste of space.” “The less said about Gallagher the better.” The 20-year-old is on a season-long loan from the Saints. “He should have been a fairly capable player at this level but hasn’t stepped up”, “He looked good when he came on at Wolves. He was physically strong and a decent match for their tall defenders.” Wales international Simon Church has played a peripheral role in recent games. The 26-year-old ex-Charlton man “does not score enough or convert enough chances”, “He came on against Fulham and it was as if we were down to 10 men”, “Not good enough and not right for Championship football.” Nicky Maynard“Maynard’s hold-up play, pressing, work-rate and pace are hallmarks of a quality striker in the Championship. We just need him to start converting chances frequently to keep us out of the drop zone”, “He looks better than our other options but that isn’t much use without scoring goals.”  “Maynard is an intelligent footballer.” The 28-year-old ex-Cardiff and Bristol City frontman “feeds on scraps but is dogged in chasing, hassling and harrying the defence. He runs his socks off. If he wasn’t playing against Fulham we would have lost. Opponents can’t go all out because they have to keep a focus on him.” “I like Maynard but he needs more support up front”, “Why did we resort to hoofing the ball to Maynard at Wolves and hoping he would get something? He looked lost against Wolves’ massive defenders”, “He tried but had hardly any time on the ball and couldn’t match them.” “We lack a real goalscoring threat but Maynard is looking better every game, which is encouraging”, “He tried hard at Brentford with few chances”, “He can be outmuscled but his movement is very intelligent which creates time and opportunities for the attacking three when they are on the ball.” Milton Keynes’ Fans Views on ITFC and the Game“I hope Karl gets a reaction after the Brentford defeat. Mind you, we play Ipswich next weekend.” There has been little discussion of Mick or any of our players in the build-up to the game, although it has not been difficult to pick up on their apprehension after their showing at Brentford. With 38 per cent predicting a Town win against 24 per cent forecasting a home victory, the mood is pessimistic. More than one in five have forecast us to score three goals, with a 3-1 Blues win the most popular forecast score followed by a 1-1 draw. Maynard and Bowditch are the most popular first home goalscorers. “I was looking on Ipswich Town’s forum. They are very fond of Dean Bowditch. There were lots of good comments on there and a quote from Bowditch saying he has a soft spot for the Tractor Boys.” “I genuinely think that our only decent signing this summer has been [former Town keeper] Cody Cropper who looks like he could give David Martin a run for his money given a chance in goal. I think Cody is a real talent.” While Milton Keynes fans had kind words to pass on about two former Blues, another passed on some interesting feedback from an Addick who had witnessed our recent game at the Valley. “A Charlton fan who was at the Ipswich game said to me that Ipswich are quite a dirty team, fouling, wasting time, rolling around etc. They obviously have a few players who know how the Championship works. The question is will we be physical enough against them?” One final point worth adding is that in addition to our inflatables, home fans will also be holding their ‘Christmas Jumper Day’. One discussion has said that supporters in their jumpers will be rattling buckets before the game to collect money for the Willen Hospice which is based in Milton Keynes. WebsitesThe busiest Milton Keynes message board is the polite and appropriately named Concrete Roundabout.
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