EP405: REACH OUT OUR HANDS

Thankfully, the introduction of our new lords and masters has allowed Nick and Stu to talk about something other than events on the pitch. What are our thoughts on our proposed new investors? Do their plans look okay, or are there some issues that need to be addressed? And more importantly - which fictional villains do they most resemble?! Sadly, we do have to get onto the subject of consecutive heavy defeats, and why performances have been so bad this week. The 50.1% Club and a look ahead to the visit of Wycombe Wanderers complete an interesting week.

It's been a busy week in the world of AFC Wimbledon. Nick and Stu take the time to review the defeat at Plymouth; discuss new investment; explore the 'State of the Game' report, and the precarious situation football finds itself in; preview the trip to Sheffield Wednesday; throw something into Room 101; and play The 50.1% Club.

It’s the big ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION of the 9yrspodcast, as we hit the incredible milestone of a 404th episode! As part of this episode spectacular, Nick and Stu discuss a not particularly memorable but none-the-less newsworthy 1-1 draw at Cambridge. How well did we adapt to the litany of enforced changes to the squad, and how much better did we cope thanks to the talents of Joe Bursik and Jayden Stockley? With a break in action due to international call-ups, we also take a chance to reflect on the start to the season, with divergent views from the fans adding to the discussion. Thoughts on Manchester City and the little third tier action taking place this fortnight complete a fun show alongside the usual features of Room 101 and The 50.1% Club – and there’s also a lot of rambling, and Nick gets very camp as well.

Kevin Borras joins Nick and Stu to discuss news of a new investor, and its implications for the future of "the football club". Is Kevin wedded to fan ownership, or is it time to drop to 50.1 - and below? Alongside the thought-provoking discussion on the state of the Wimbledon financial nation, we review the draw with Milton Keynes, and the 1-0 win over Doncaster from the previous week. Despite our success early season, are we set up *too* defensively? And did the move to a Thursday night affect the less raucous atmosphere? There's talk of Dujuan Richards, Joe Bursik, and the women's team as well, and then Kevin gets the opportunity to put a range of things he dislikes about modern football into Room 101. The 50.1% Club and a look ahead to the trip to Cambridge complete another fun show!

A WIN! We haven't had many of late, but now it's two out of three in the league, and wasn't it satisfying to take three points, along with a clean sheet, from Hayes Lane? Nick and Stu discuss the tactical tweaks Johnnie Jackson made to secure a much-needed, morale-boosting victory at a ground that holds many mixed memories for Dons fans. However, the club's finances never stay out of mind for too long, and another Bond update has got us thinking about what the future holds, and whether taking loans secured against Plough Lane is a sensible option. The 50.1% Club, Room 101, and the usual glance around the third tier completes a fun show, with some positive thinking ahead of the visit of Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, at 3.00pm, as it should be.

Reaction to a mixed week: a first league goal and win against Wigan; some promising recruitment at the end of the transfer window; but then a most disappointing humbling at Burton Albion. Nick and Stu pick the bones out of both games, and question if our recruitment has left us with more problems than solutions. There's also all the usual alongside that, including The 50.1% Club, Room 101, a look around results and fixtures in the third tier, and a quick preview of next Monday's most anticipated return to Hayes Lane. 

Playing on a Thursday messes up podcast schedules! But Nick and Stu have managed to arrange their lives around the League Cup defeat at Fulham to give their reaction to the events of the evening, which included the return of Junior Nkeng to the first-team squad - and the implications of that - and thoughts (and some irritation) about fans' reactions to the defeat on and off the pitch. Alongside that is talk of the arrival of Harry Cornick, the midweek absences of Marcus Browne and Ryan Johnson, and the ongoing plight of Aron Sasu, as well as thoughts on how we approached the game with Reading. Transfer window thoughts, upcoming games with Wigan and Burton, reactions to changes in the fanzine at Plough Lane, and The 50.1% Club round-off another fun show.

Things feel a little unsettled at the mo, don't they? Defeat at Huddersfield isn't anything to obsess over - it was expected given respective resources - but with the squad still being tinkered with ahead of the end of the summer transfer window, it feels the playing staff is a little unbalanced and we seem unsure of exactly how the system works with the personnel available. Nick and Stu discuss comings and goings alongside the opening day defeat, whilst there's also talk of the new ticket priority system, stadium admittance policy, and transfer fees. There's also a new 50.1% Club, and a look ahead to Saturday's game with Reading. Plus, which song is going with Nick to a Desert Island?

A season preview edition OF SORTS, as there has just been so much news this week that Nick and Stu have way too many other things to discuss - including competitive football as the season got underway with a League Cup tie, something we're not sure about either, and not just because we endured a turgid, albeit eventually winning, performance against Newport. Alongside a review of that game, we talk Fulham; fixture scheduling and TV nightmares; financial pressures with Bond payments desperately needed; social media views of Aron Sasu; the possible departure of Junior Nkeng; and the PFA seeking higher (!!) wages for lower league footballers. There's some brief predictions about who will finish at the top and bottom of the third tier this campaign, and The 50.1% Club returns as well. A fun show as always!

Welcome to the new season of the 9yrspodcast! Yes, Nick and Stu are still here after 11 SEASONS of the show, and kick-off Season 12 with a round-up of all the news around the club over the pre-season period. We look at a couple of the new signings, lament a couple of departures, and pick who we think might also be on their way out before the summer transfer window closes. There’s talk of kits and bonds, sponsors and coaches, as well as the introduction of a new feature, and, of course, a new game! All completed with a look ahead to the League Cup tie with Newport this weekend. A fun start to the new campaign!