THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

Last Season since March to end 23/24 season:

AFC Wimbledon 1-0 MK Dons
Mansfield 1-2 MK Dons
MK Dons 3-1 Salford City
Grimsby Town 1-0 MK Dons
MK Dons 3-1 Crewe Alexandra
Stockport County 5-0 MK Dons
MK Dons 5-0 Walsall
Notts County 3-3 MK Dons
Forest Green Rovers 0-2 MK Dons
MK Dons 1-4 Mansfield
Harrogate 3-5 MK Dons
MK Dons 4-4 Sutton Utd
Crawley Town 3-0 MK Dons
MK Dons 1-5 Crawley Town

GOALS CONCEDED - 32
GOALS SCORED - 27

On the face of it - score and concede. Will be touted as "Entertaining to watch" and not "Frustrating".
On the face of it, when we lose we lose badly. The away games to Grimsby, AFC Wimbledon, and Notts County were all frustrating for many different reasons - not that losing/not winning isn't frustrating in any sense, but still.
Conceded goals galore, defenders who were once trusted and reliable became weak points and couldn't organise a shag in a whore house.
Max Dean returned from injury to score 7 goals in 8 games before leaving in the Summer for a move in Europe.
Mike Williamson's genius had lead him to randomly chopping goalkeepers and defenders, one of which (the goalkeeper) is the worst in the clubs albeit short history, but the worst nonetheless in Fillip Marschall. Scared kitten. The other, Michael Kelly, not much better ability wise but at least looked less of a worried novice.
Dan Kemp who'd been out on loan half the season and scored 14 and assisted 8 scored 3 goals and sometimes didn't even make the bench for us, not that his performances helped. A cross between a poor fit and a manager not knowing what to do with the talent. Back to the goalkeeper situation briefly,
in January Carlisle were linked with Craig McGillivray, after a slow first month or two, he came into good individual form in the final month or so before being completely ousted in January, after a MOTM performance at home to Crawly (Who lost the League game but definitely outplayed us and deserved a draw) was replaced by a teenager from Aston Villa because of his 'ball playing ability'.. Marschall was hopeless. Looked terrified every time the ball came to him under any context. Pressure or no pressure. After 4/5 games he was replaced (Albeit by supposed injury though many here felt he was being given time outside of the spotlight to settle in) by what was our third choice at the start of the season. Kelly did "ok", though I and a few others didn't rate him as highly as others did, simply for not being Marschall. Randomly, Magic Mike decided to change goalkeepers from Kelly to Marschall away to Notts County rather needlessly. He looked shaky and poor again and conceded at least 2 poor goals. Was brought in for the playoff semi final second leg when 3-0 down to Crawley, we lost 5-1 in the home leg, conceded poor goals again and had the defence shaky and not trusting of him.
Mike also played attackers as holding mids and holding mids as centre halves. could never figure out where to put people so put square pegs in round holes.
8-1 AGG capitulation in the playoffs - outcoached, underprepared, embarrassed. Scoreline says it all.

This season since start of the 24/25 Season:

MK Dons 1-2 Bradford City
Watford 5-0 MK Dons
Colchester United 2-0 MK Dons
MK Dons 3-0 Carlisle United
Salford City 1-0 MK Dons
MK Dons 1-0 Walsall
AFC Wimbledon 3-0 MK Dons

Goals Conceded - 13
Goals scored - 5

On the face of oit - slow start. Nothing really else to say to simplify it.
Constantly hearing we "aren't far away", are "doing the right things", and seeing little to back it up barring a few 5/10 minute spells here and there.
Influx of signings - 3 got promoted last season (2 from the side we got humiliated by) and 2 played in the League above who were well thought of by their clubs' fans in Sherring (Northampton) and Carroll (Exeter).
Any excuse of "Last year wasn't his team" has gone, it is his team and the signs are still the same. We look frighteningly lacking up front, defensively again we're suspect to put it kindly, and again experienced and reliable defenders look abject.
We haven't scored a goal this season away from home in 4 games. Our former manager who we all pretty unanimously agreed around a year ago that he should be sacked after 16 games did a number on us on our own patch, and Salford who'd had I believe 1 win in 25 home games beat us without conceding (Though this stat might be slightly wrong, overheard it on SKY Comms).
Post match we keep hearing about our XG stats, how we're not far away from achieving our objectives in games, and how proud he is of the lads and can't fault them for their endeavour and commitment...
In almost every big, high pressure game we've not just lost, we've lost handsomely. Outplayed, outsmarted and outwitted. This isn't down to ability, it's down to coaching.
We've played in front of the SKY cameras 7 times and lost every one of them. He is gormless, monotone and has little understanding it seems on the emotions of football from a fans and tribal POV. It's expressionless football lead from a rather expressionless person.
Liam Kelly supposedly the best player in the League last year by many has looked abject. Others the same, but you can see talent in there being utilised in the wrong way... AGAIN!!!

I'm sorry, but this write up is for Carlisle United fans who may be coming here for a simply put explanation on how he's done. I'm not a fan of him, I've turned definitely since the playoffs - though I was willing and happy to see him given a go this season as it "wasn't his team" last year. That ship has sailed. Most of the signings were done early in pre-season so the "time to gel" thing is bollocks. It's time for a change for us, and if Carlisle United get him then good luck to him and to them. We warned Bradford of Graham Alexander and they like him so maybe it's not a good fit.

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Why on earth did you tell them?

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I like clean air and low traffic

At least wait until the money is in the bank ffs

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Those that we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch. Paint... and memory... and love.

“Carlisle United have halted their interest in Mike Williamson, following a post on the MK Dons forum from Alby, that shone light on his failings at the club”

Source: Nlan Aixon

Didn't someone once accuse Mozart of writing a piece of music that had too many notes in it?

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Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment

I disagree, he is by far the best manager we have ever had, his playing it out from the back style is akin to a lower league Man City. OK some of our results have not been great but that is all down to the players not executing their instructions properly. We will be sorry to lose him. You will do well to snaphim up now, as in a couple of years' time he will be managing in the Championship for sure.

Black armbands on Saturday everyone?

I was thinking more like a party in Lewingtons

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Johnstone Paint Trophy Winners, you’ll never sing that