Best Of
Re: Today...
...in 2008 (17 years ago) Matt Bloomfield came on as a 78th minute substitute (replacing Sergio Torres) for Wycombe Wanderers in a 2-0 League Two win over Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground.
In 2019 (six years ago) Matt Bloomfield played 85 minutes for Wycombe Wanderers in a goal-less League One draw with Bradford City at Adams Park (replaced by Marcus Bean).
In 2021 (four years ago) Matt Bloomfield played 89 minutes for Wycombe Wanderers in a goal-less Championship draw with Birmingham City at Adams Park (replaced by David Wheeler).
In 2022 (three years ago) Matt Bloomfield officially announced his retirement as a professional footballer.
Official announcement: https://www.wwfc.com/news/2022/february/02/matt-bloomfield-retires-from-football/
Gareth Ainsworth: “We could not have achieved everything that we have done without him, and above that, I wouldn’t have wanted to have gone on this journey without him. He has been such an inspiration to everyone at Wycombe Wanderers, on and off the pitch…Wycombe Wanderers have been truly blessed with an extraordinary individual that has gone far, far beyond what he signed up to do. Matt Bloomfield is a guy you can rely on with anything; a guy who will be there for you through everything and someone who has the respect of every other footballer in the game.”
The official WWFC website also published this tribute - The Matt Bloomfield story: https://www.wwfc.com/news/2022/february/02/the-matt-bloomfield-story/
Tributes from supporters on the Gasroom V2.0: https://gasroom.org/discussion/7225/matt-bloomfield-announces-retirement-from-playing/p1
Interviews:
EFL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1GG5PiYMYg
Sky Sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts1VZr5TcCw&t=10s
Re: Mike Dodds
Welcome to the club Mike.
You are very lucky to have landed such great job with a great club who have in recent times treated players, management and staff with the utmost respect by our two previous managers and owners. What I read of your recent years you are from the same mold and well respected.
You take us on when we are having our greatest ever season and in second place in League One, if we finish second or third it will be our second highest League finish since 1887.
I hope the new owners give you time to implement your coaching ideas next season and you hit the ground running, we have the squad and first 11 to finish this season in 1st or 2nd place if things do not change to drastically.
Your first job will be to get Morley to sign or another significant player at his level who can play games immediately and in the same role as Morley.
Best of luck and I hope you get given time and support from fans and Dan Rice alike.
wwfcblue
Re: New Manager Rumour Mill
What gives you the sense that our owners are particularly interested in ‘the culture of the club’? I think it’s new broom time.
Re: Mike Dodds
I'm sure they'll have some communication, but the decision ultimately rests with the recruitment team.
Re: Mike Dodds
I am very excitied to see where MD can take us . The club have taken their time with this appointment and I believe Rice is far more informed and skilled in the matter of recruitment than people give him credit for . Recruitmrnt of head coaches probably included . Rice was a youth scout for Fulham , Everton and Aresenal and Chief youth scout for Southampton . He has been doing this since 2009 and been involved in the workings of some very large football clubs . With his history I would suggest it is doing him a diservice suggesting he just runs some software and it spits out a player for him to persue .
Understandably a few people probably feel a little uneasy because this is new territory for WWFC . The vision the owners have for the future of the academy,this football club . and the methods they use may well seem a little alien at times but football is changing , it is driven by huge finances and these guys understand this world .
I share the view that I have heard a few people express , which is that I would rather have someone like MD take the position than a journeyman manager . Football is evolving and someone like MD has come from a successful modern environment which will mean he understands how it works and where it is going .
The data model has been successful in a lot of clubs and allowed them to punch well above their weight . Bournmouth are a good example of this and who knows where we could be in 10 years . Before anyone says we don't have a big enough support , don't try and tell me we would not fill a 15000 seated stadium some where in south bucks , if we did end up copying Bournmouth and found ourselfves competing in the Premiership . Big ask for sure but if you told a Bournmouth fan 20 years ago where they would be they would have thought you were nuts .
James
Re: Other Football
Our mate Swanny might spontaneously combust if Ainsworth’s Shrewsbury stay up at the expense of Peterborough (and this forum would be rather happy I imagine)