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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2009 20:35:04 GMT
I paid my first visit to Stadium MK last night and - strike me down with a thunderbolt - I confess to liking it. Not only is it stylish outside but it's rather fetching inside (the roof and the concourse giving it something extra). And, naturally, those padded seats (in the fashion of Arsenal) are most welcome for the older fan.
Easy to find if you can crack the fourteen roundabouts en route and successfully resist the temptations of the neaby IKEA (which I'm sure you can). As for parking - and an easy getaway afterwards - try the Dawson road industrial area (five minutes walk from the ground). It'll be especially nice and smooth after our inevitable Paints Trophy trip.
As for the game, it was one of those which actually did need a regular supply of goals. That's what we got - together with some wonderful passing and movement (albeit against feeble opposition) - and, for the second time in just over a week, it was a young Arsenal player - Kieran Gibbs this time - who caught the eye.
And Joe Lewis of course....
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merse
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Post by merse on Jun 10, 2009 3:35:48 GMT
............................... and, for the second time in just over a week, it was a young Arsenal player - Kieran Gibbs this time - who caught the eye.  I've been following Keiran Gibbs' progress with interest ever since I first saw him playing in the youth set up on his arrival from..........................MK Dons! South Londoner Gibbs was one of the few who moved North with the Dons when they re-located and had been a member of the rather good Wimbledon Youth Teams whilst at school. He moved to Arsenal to complete his Academy programme and is now a "Scholar Professional" with the Gunners and I am predicting he will be England's left back for years to come once he makes the inevitable breakthrough to that level. MKs progress, development of the stadium and average crowds rather more than justify the business decision to re-locate (I'm not saying the process was fair on the f4nny full of fans they left behind in London) and I can see them achieving Premiership status within the next five years with the stadium being given serious consideration as a world Cup venue should England manage to secure it's staging in the future. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 20:51:30 GMT
MKs progress, development of the stadium and average crowds rather more than justify the business decision to re-locate (I'm not saying the process was fair on the f4nny full of fans they left behind in London) and I can see them achieving Premiership status within the next five years with the stadium being given serious consideration as a world Cup venue should England manage to secure it's staging in the future. I once read an article which argued Scottish football missed a trick in the 1950s and 1960s by not encouraging the New Towns - East Kilbride, Glenrothes, Irvine, Cumbernauld, Livingston - to enter teams in the Scottish League. The argument was that these places quickly grew to be significantly bigger than many of the towns with league clubs. That argument never extended to England because the 1940s new towns never expanded to much more than the population of the smallest of Football League communities. The later exception, of course, was Milton Keynes which came on the scene in the 1970s and became several times the size of any other new town. Whatever the rights and wrongs, I always thought that one day - somehow - Milton Keynes would end up with a FL club. And, once it happened, it would be very successful. I think I'm right in saying the idea was first mooted in the 1980s when that Thatcherite nutter David Evans, chairman of Luton, floated the idea of moving his club up the M1. It would have been nice to think the town (or "the New City" as it likes to be known) could have organically grown its own club to move up the leagues. There were attempts - for instance, Bletchley became Milton Keynes City and played ingloriously in the Southern League - but none made progress. But that's not the MK way where the locals are aspirational and accustomed to new and successful things. If there was to be one place where a repackaged club was going to be welcome, it was probably Milton Keynes. History is not an issue there provided the product is successful and housed in suitable surroundings. That's not necessarily a criticism of the populace and I've wondered how I would have reacted if I'd been a 50-year-old Torquay United-supporting MK resident when Wimbledon arrived at the National Hockey Stadium. I'd have been sniffy - and virtuous (in theory at least) - but, in practice, I would have had the occasional look fixtures permitting. But if I'd been a 10-year-old - or even a 70-year-old grateful for a club on my doorstep? Another matter I guess.... Indeed, at the Under 21 game on Monday, we speculated how the composition of the crowd compared with that which normally watches MK Dons. Pretty similar we concluded when, more often than not, it's a very different type of fan at this type of representative match. As Merse initimates, I'm sure the whole project will be successful on and off the pitch. It was a good business plan and a juggernaut waiting to happen. |
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Post by lambethgull on Jun 11, 2009 19:44:36 GMT
MKs progress, development of the stadium and average crowds rather more than justify the business decision to re-locate. I don't know anyone who claims that the removal of the former Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes WASN'T a good idea from a purely business point of view. The objections to the parachuting in of a football club to that particular town have never been about whether it was likely to be a commercial success or not. MK Dons could build and fill the next Alianz Arena for the next ten years, but I won't ever step in the place. My loss? Maybe, but I won't lose any sleep over it! |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jun 11, 2009 20:15:50 GMT
I agree. Basically they were given a massive head start when it came to creating a new football Club. And it was that. Although it pretended to be something other than that.
It should never be allowed to happen again. They will never get a penny of my money either.
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Post by jimd on Jun 14, 2009 12:04:30 GMT
Who the hell cares wether it is or will be a commercial success. It is an abomination and I hope they never host an international game.
The club is a disgrace to fair play and should forever be boycotted.
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merse
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Post by merse on Jun 14, 2009 14:36:10 GMT
The club is a disgrace to fair play and should forever be boycotted. Boycotted by whom? By YOU, did you ever go and support the Wimbledon club? By ME? Why would I "boycott" them, in what way ; are you suggesting I don't travel to MK to support the Gulls? By the people of SW19 who were neither arsed in any significent numbers when they DID play there or could be bothered to support them when they made the short move to Selhurst Park because the local authority would do nothing to assist them in building a suitable home of their own on their home patch. Even the much vaunted AFC Wimbledon don't play there, they play in Kingston On Thames; so it's hardly worth getting all "PC" over is it? AFC Wimbledon are thriving and doing fine, as are MK Dons. Let's carry on supporting Torquay United and leave them to their fighting and squabbling ~ if indeed there is any stomach for it in MK as I personally don't think they even think nor care about previous "history".......................and you won't stop progress and MK has the potential for it in droves. It's not my personal taste but I wouldn't deny it to them. |
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jerry
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Post by jerry on Jun 14, 2009 14:54:18 GMT
The fact that they replaced Wimbledon is neither here nor there (except to those it directly affected - and they actually seem to have come out the other side quite happy with their "new" club).
The point is that Pete Winkleman bought a place in the football league. Goes against every possible idea of sport.
Where does it end if you accept that? What's to stop anyone wanting a league club in their town just buying their way in? What's to stop Kevin Heaney buying into a club (Mike Ashley seems pretty keen to get rid of Newcastle) and "relocating" to Cornwall? Wait a year or so, rename them Truro City and lo and behold he has the league side he wants!
As Jim says, "an abomination", which should never have been allowed.
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Post by jimd on Jun 14, 2009 14:55:10 GMT
Each to their own Merse, each to their own.
It makes no difference how many fans watched wimbledon.
It makes no difference how little local authoritys do.
It makes no difference what MK "fans" dont think or care about.
It is all about principles and not money men doing what they wish, no matter who gets in the way, to make a quick buck.
Just my view, but I would never give MK a single penny...even if it meant not travelling to MK to support the gulls.
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