Fisher
Darling | O'Hora | Jules
Watson | O'Riley | Robson | Harvie
Twine
Parrott | Eisa
I am going to do this preview a little different to my usual style. Due to the start of the season, not a lot happened across the league and writing two previews on MK last season, there's not a lot of different things to include...
Key arrivals:
Scott Twine - an attacking midfielder who came in to replace the anticipated departure of another Scott, this time Fraser, who went to big spenders Ipswich Town. Fraser was influential for MK last season, as we saw at The Valley in December 2020, so much pressure will be placed on the shoulders of Twine. Signed from Swindon early in the summer window, he has the ability to score from distance and create with equal measure.
Mo Eisa - the striker who Posh owner claims will score 20+ goals in this division with the right service and amount of games. Eisa was loosely linked to us over the last couple of years after growing up in SE London, starting his football career at Dartford and scoring for fun at Greenwich Borough. His rise through the leagues have been impressive, and his pace will cause our central defenders problems on Tuesday evening.
Troy Parrott - On loan from Tottenham, the Irish youngster has already opened his account for MK, scoring against Sunderland at the weekend. Parrott is highly regarded at Spurs, and has already had a taste of League One, with a loan at Ipswich last season, but failing to impress too much, scoring only twice in 18 appearances.
Key departures:
Cameron Jerome - the 34 year old scored an impressive 15 goals last season and has since moved on to a level he has played the vast majority of his career at, signing for Luton Town in the Championship. Jerome was the focal point for MK last season. Although they played through the thirds and passed the ball more than any other side last campaign, with Jerome they had the ability to go long if they wanted to as well.
Matthew Sorinola - A player I have had an eye on for a little while, the right footed wing back often plays on the left, causing all sorts of problems when he drifted into a midfield who dominated the game. He has since moved to newly promoted Union SG in the Belgian Pro League and is one to watch out for in future. At the tender age of 20, the Lambeth born wide-man has room for development and wouldn’t surprise me if he came back to the UK and played a good level in a few years.
Russell Martin - although not a player, MK losing their manager only 6 days before League One kicked off would have been a blow. His style of football and philosophy should be admired for attempting it at this level. That approach is fundamentally the reason why he was in demand for Championship Swansea who also aim to play attractive possession based football.
*I haven’t included Fraser in this section due to briefly mentioning him before
Comments
McG
matthews
Famewo
pearce
gunter
Dobson
clare
Washington
kirk
DJ
Stockley
It seems to me that the planning has gone very badly wrong and Adkins is going to have to make do with an inadequate squad unless something very dramatic happens over the next 2 weeks.
Charlton 1-0 95th min winner.
This game will show us how good (or bad) we are after games against what must be two of this season's most talented teams.
I'd go for Elewere in either of the full back positions, as both backs were very poor on Saturday with Kirk replacing Morgan and Washington up front alongside Stockley. It won't happen of course.
We can't keep nursing players along, Inniss should start and if he collapses, either bring on Pearce or move Elewere into the middle with Matthews or Gunter coming on .. so we have ..
MacG .. Matthews Famewo Inniss Elewere .. Jaiyesimi Dobson Clare Kirk .. Stockley Washington .. a team for the first win of the season
MK Dons 1 v CAFC 3
A question for you @SouthWest_Addicks
You said 95th winner 1-0 so do you mean MK Dons winner or CAFC ?
I'm sure we met once at an away game ?
I was the guy standing on a box discussing the merits of playing two strikers in a partnership up front !
3-1 MK
MK Dons 1-2 Sunderland | Video | Watch TV Show | Sky Sports
Hoofing long balls up to Stockley playing as a lone striker is simply not working.
Our midfield creates next to nothing.
I'm hoping Kirk can give us a much needed lift but in all honesty we are 3 or 4 players short of having a team that looks like if will be promoted.
At the risk of sounding facile, I would love to know what NA's thinking is.
What is the plan? How in his mind does he envisage us creating and scoring goals?.
There is little or no mileage in constantly hoofing it up to Stockers - the days of Toshack and Keegan are last century.
And for all his assets Stockley is no Ricky Lambert.
I assumed we would be looking to attack down the flanks and provide quality delivery into the box.
Yet we utterly failed to bring DJ into the game on Saturday and he did little to help himself.
On the other side Washington always put in a shift and he did fashion himself a chance, but I don't see him being prolific with goals or assists.
There is no effective link up with the woeful Gunter.
Creativity from midfield isn't happening, for all his promise Albie isn't delivering in the final third and his dead ball delivery is at best inconsistent.
Don't even go there with his shooting.
I am excited by Kirk and hopeful that things will fall into place with his presence on the pitch.
I am just trying not to expect too much.
But I would still like to know what is the plan?
We’ll see Kirk I’m sure, probably, but not definitely from the bench. That’ll be interesting, but hope we can keep our expectations under control.
Hope we can get something from the game. One point from three games would be a bit of a mare.
We we start as we have done & continue to send aimless balls up to Stockley (and Kirk is left on the bench until the 70+ minute) then we will lose.
Their front 3 look dangerous & will score goals against us.
3-1 and Kirk is onto the phone to his agent asking to be beamed back home.
I'd personally take another 0-0 until Kirk is ready and we have another CAM in the building.