Well here we are the last game of the season, sadly there wont be an extension to our season, but based on where we were before Christmas I think we can be very happy how things have turned out, sadly our opponents on Sunday have seen the flip side of the coin and their relegation was confirmed last weekend. We know all too well what relegation feels like, its bloody horrible, so hopefully Dale will bounce straight back, and we can renew our friendship.
Thanks for taking part to Dale fan David Chaffey aged 36 (going on 75), probably brought on by the relegation, we wish you, your club and all the Dale fans all the best for next season, don’t be gone too long. Before we kick on we must thank Tom & Jon for managing to strike up a rapport with every club in the league and getting a Trash Talk article for all 46 games, plus a few cup games, that’s a great effort lads and it is much appreciated.
It’s the final game, how do you assess your season ?
Well, last week saw relegation confirmed having been beaten at home to Doncaster Rovers so it can’t have gone much worse. It was expected that we would go down but our squad, I believe was good enough to stay up but haven’t been utilised properly.
Where do you think your club will finally finish up in the table ?
Well, this is the last game of the season and we’ve been relegated so at this point, I don’t really care now. I predicted bottom of the league before a ball was kicked.
What has been your best result this season, and of course your worst?
We hammered Wigan 5-0 on their own deck back in December which was impressive and two weeks before that we beat Plymouth 4-0 away from home as well. This was a period when we couldn’t stop scoring goals, but it became an issue where we couldn’t stop conceding them either. Our worst result of the season is a tricky one because we’ve had a few hammerings and conceded a stupid amount of goals like being beaten by Peterborough, Gillingham, and MK Dons 4-1 but the worst result for me was the FA Cup 1st round defeat to National League side (and local rivals) Stockport County 2-1. That was embarrassing.
Has your club talked about season tickets for the 21/22 season? How are they navigating the possibility of no crowds or reduced capacity?
Our much talked about CEO said we couldn’t plan for season tickets until the government announced their intentions. This is of course rubbish because even at 25% capacity, that would easily include everyone who wanted to buy a season ticket. They will hopefully announce something soon now we know what division we are in next season. The club will lose an awful lot of season ticket sales while the CEO David Bottomley is still at the club anyway.
Which opposition team that you have played has impressed you the most this season?
Hull I thought were the best team we’ve played by some distance and I am not surprised in the slightest they have gone on to win the league.
Which player has stood out for your team this season, and which player has come through the ranks and looks a real prospect?
Jimmy Keohane has stood out as he’s only really ever supposed to have been a squad player, but injuries have meant he’s played the vast majority of the season at full back, right and left, and in central defence and occasionally midfield and has scored 9 goals this season. As for prospects, Kwadwo Baah has looked a real prospect at times and nearly joined Manchester City in January but failed a medical. His form since then has been awful though and is set to leave this summer. Conor Grant came in from Sheffield Wednesday in January and looks a real player as well.
Were you happy with the business you conducted in the January transfer window? Who did you recruit and what are your initial impressions? Or was keeping certain players more key?
Our January signings were overshadowed by one we didn’t get. We were screaming out for a left back and couldn’t quite get a deal done for Blackpool’s Demetri Mitchell. We did bring in Gabriel Osho on loan from Luton who has been outstanding, Conor Grant from Sheffield Wednesday who looks a real talent, Conor Shaughnessy from Leeds who has been very hit and miss so far in a defensive midfield role and Jack Vale on loan from Blackburn, but he’s barely played.
Which MK Dons player stands out to you as a game changer in our clash?
Cameron Jerome is obviously a standout player from your squad and his goal return has been superb, same with Scott Fraser. I’ve also always rated Regan Poole who came through at Manchester United, but I can see you sold him to Lincoln City.
What style of play can we expect to see from your team?
God knows, we’ve tended to play with three centre backs and wingbacks in recent months which has coincided with our better run of form so I’d expect us to try and get the ball wide to the wing backs and try and get the likes of Rathbone forward to support the forward line of Beesley and Done (or Humphrys) as opposed to a playing out from the back style that the fans didn’t like earlier in the season.
Have you ever been to Stadium MK, if so, what’s your opinion on it?
I have yeah, few years ago now but the comfy chairs are something I remember fondly. Good ground.
Where do you think the MK Dons will finish in the league table?
I think 9th because I can’t see you dropping points to us.
With relegation and automatic promotion all sewn up who do you think will claim the last one way ticket to the Championship?
I expect the four playoff teams to stay as they are, and I hope Portsmouth go up.
Can you give us your match prediction?
2-1 to MK Dons
