Who Are Ya? – MK Dons

1 – I take it Dons fans never expected this season to be that bad, why do you think you are bottom of league one?

To be honest, many Dons fans were expecting us to be battling for promotion or at least playoff place this season. After our dramatic last day of the season escape from relegation and the fact that Danny Wilson could now build a team around him and attack the league the way he would want to from the start, many of us thought we would never be in this situation again. As for why we are in this situation, well, I feel that we have played good football most of the season, but have just not been clinical enough to get the goals when the chances have been presented. I also feel that Wilson has made some very bad tactical mistakes and has on many occasions played players out of position and that has disrupted the team. Our biggest problem is when we play away!…we just can’t get the results!…Maybe we can turn the tide at Forest??

2- Any hope of avoiding the drop?

There is always hope. We have a couple of games in hand on our closest rivals and we are beginning to get better results. This league is so tight at the moment, a string of wins could see us mid table!…….If we were a very poor side then I would say no chance of staying up, but we are a good team, and you have to be optimistic, don’t you?

3 – The new ground is already being built, is it true the capacity is 35,000 in order to replace the Milton Keynes bowl as a music venue?

The new stadium is coming on very well. It will be very exciting to see our team play there when it is completed. There is currently a question on the capacity of the ground and whether there will be a reduction to 22,000 when we first move in with just the lower tiers having seating, until the crowds grow and then the upper tiers will have the seats installed. But this is all speculation, and nothing is clear cut at the moment. I am sure that the stadium will be used as a music venue, it would be crazy not to make the most of the stadium, but I do not think it would ever replace the bowl, which in fact is soon to be completely redeveloped too!

4 – Danny Wilson has been touted as a possible successor to Gary Megson at Forest, have you heard anything and do you think he would suit Forest

Not sure if there is any truth in the rumours. But if we go down this season then who knows what will happen. I personally do not feel that Wilson would suit Forest, he is far too defensive minded and not an attacking type of manager. This is his undoing at times and can be very frustrating as a fan.

5 – What is it with Cows and Guitars?!!

The Cow mascots are our association with our very own concrete cows. We adopted a herd at the Hockey Stadium and the mascots followed on from there. Most Mk’ers couldn’t really give a stuff about the Concrete Cows to be honest, we have nothing against them as such, but it’s just that everyone else outside of MK associates Milton Keynes with Concrete Cows and to be fair most people in MK probably don’t even know where the original ones are anyway! As for the guitars, that will be Pete Winkelman’s influence on the mascots, being as he is the music entrepreneur and all!

6 – Are you surprised to see Forest not challenging for Promotion?

Absolutely!….How a huge club like Forest can find themselves in this situation must send out alarm bells to nearly every club in the Premiership. I would have though that this season Forest would have been topping the league at this stage in the season. But just like us, you can play very good football, but get nothing in return when the luck is just going against you. I am sure things will turn round for you.

7 – If you could have three Forest players in your side, who would they be and why?

David Johnson ? We need a consistent goal threat with a wise head. Plus we could get him on a freebie?

Nathan Tyson ? We need more goals! And someone to replace Izale McLeod when he eventually leaves!

Grant Holt ? Have I mentioned that we need more goals?!


8 – How many Fans are expected to travel to Nottingham on Saturday and what’s the away attendance been like this season?

The clubs coach travel has been sold out so I would imagine there will be quite a few travelling fans. I would say around 800? Which is a lot for us, as we do not have a massive travelling contingent of fans at the moment. Our biggest away following this season was in the FA cup at Southampton. We took just over 2000!

9- Who should Forest fans look out for on Saturday, any players that will stand out?

Gary Smith is back from injury and is a fantastic play maker in midfield. He has a very useful shot on him too, as Southend found out last week. Obviously Izale McLeod can be a threat on goal, when he feels inclined to do so! Oh and Dean Lewington, but that’s just because of his ginger hair!

10 – Prediction time, what will the score be?

Ever the optimist, I am going for a thrilling 2-3 win to the Dons.


Thanks again to our colleague from Vital MK Dons, to see how Vital Forest Answered our set of questions please vist the MK Dons site