One-on-One: AFC Wimbledon Fan Interview
By John Lee
March 26 2015
Continuing our new pre-match feature, John Lee talks to AFC Wimbledon fan and season ticket holder Russell Earle ahead of Tranmere's home game against the play-off chasers on Saturday afternoon.....
JL: Tranmere Rovers, what do you know?
RE: They are not having a great season especially as got relegated last season. They have a good player in Max Power and need the points.
JL: Do any Tranmere players, past or present, stick in your memory?
RE: Present as I say would be Max Power, he is going to play at a higher. Dave Challinor from the past - long throw. Andy Thorn I'm sure played for Tranmere too.
JL: You are safely in mid table. Would this constitute a successful season for you, should you finish there?
RE: Most definitely. Been in a relegation scrap for the last three seasons now. Need to stay up with the New Plough Lane hopefully on the horizon.
JL: Do you have any worries about relegation this year? You seem pretty safe to me.
RE: No, we have got over 50 points so should be safe and still nine games left to gain more.
JL: Your manager, Neil Ardley, is having an operation and may miss the game. Any worries about that effecting your players?
RE: I think the reason Neal is having the op now is that he too believes we are safe. No worries though as we won when Simon Bassey was the interim manager and Neil Cox is an experienced ex Prem player too.
JL: Who has been your star man of recent weeks? Who should we be looking out for?
RE: James Shea, our keeper, has been outstanding for us. It's a shame he is injured at the moment. Barry Fuller has again been superb and George Francomb would have to get a mention as when he was out we struggled for form. Once he was back we started to gain form again.
JL: Adebayo Akinfenwa is probably your best known player. He has scored a few against us in recent seasons. How often is he in beast mode?
RE: Hard to say as he always gives his all. It's just when teams double up on him he gets frustrated. He also gets booked a lot, but on reputation I feel.
JL: We share a disliking of MK Dons. I am sure you dislike them somewhat more than we do! Do you think you'll be bigger than them one day?
RE: We already are! Hopefully once we are in a new stadium we will be able to make most of the fan base. At the moment we are limited to attendance which in turn means less financial clout. We run on one of the lowest budgets.
JL: How have you got on away from home against the struggling sides this season?
RE: Don't ask, not good! We lost to Hartlepool so that tells all really.
JL: Prediction for Saturday?
RE: 2-2 draw
JL: Prediction for where both clubs will finish and would you like to see Tranmere survive?
RE: Top 10 finish for us. I think you will survive as Cheltenham and York I feel will go. Thought Carlisle but they playing better under Curle. As for Hartlepool, the great escape is on!
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Thanks to Russell Earl (@slough_womble) for taking part. Russell's parting message was that he couldn't see his side winning this weekend. Let's hope he is right!
One-on-One: AFC Wimbledon Fan Interview
Posted by: Total Tranmere (IP Logged)
Date: 26/03/2015 18:17
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Re: One-on-One: AFC Wimbledon Fan Interview
Posted by: Hoots Mon (IP Logged)
Date: 26/03/2015 18:25
Good read John. Well done.
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