LAFC Wimbledon

Perhaps the world’s only family of part Wimbledon, part LAFC fans 💙💛🖤

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@henrywinter I understand and share the skepticism but… all the games have been played at a good intensity so far despite the heat. The hydration breaks have played a big part in that. Maybe not as bad as feared?

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Jude Bellingham, some thoughts. Crazy that this has to be emphasised again but here we go again. Bellingham will be a vital player for England at the World Cup. Mad that this has to be spelled out again. Bellingham is England’s reigning Player of the Year, voted Player of the Match in their last game, in their five-man leadership group, rescued England at Euro 2024, closes on a half-century of caps at 22 and will soon pass Colin ‘Nijinsky’ Bell, Sir Geoff Hurst and Glenn Hoddle on the England appearance list.

While a teenager, Bellingham was named Bundesliga Player of the Season at Borussia Dortmund. He now starts for Real Madrid with Kylian Mbappe, has won La Liga and the Champions League and been named La Liga Player of the Year. We should be proud that English football has produced a special talent (hat tip to Birmingham City) who’s gone abroad and now stars for the biggest club in the world. Bellingham shines in a Real spotlight that can feel like a real searchlight to some.

For clubs and country, Bellingham embraces pressure in challenging games. He’s going to be a hugely important player for England at the World Cup because he’s gifted, possesses a big-game mentality, and, also like Harry Kane, will have enjoyed a winter break so should be fresher.

I’ve been fortunate to cover England at 15 tournaments. I’ve seen pile-ons on Barnes, Gascoigne, Beckham, Rooney, Sterling and Rashford, when objective criticism crosses the line into hounding. It’s happening with Bellingham. It’s a myth that Bellingham is simply about himself. Any fair-minded observer can see the work he does out of possession, tracking back, tackling, covering for others. He contributes to the collective.

I’ve never spoken to Bellingham. He avoids the England writers but broadcast colleagues speak highly of his helpfulness. I don’t know his family or advisers but I do know that he’s 22, still maturing, that everything he does gets scrutinised and he will inevitably learn it’s pointless arguing with officials but that’s also part of his desperation to win. Bellingham demands high standards of himself and others. That has to be good if England are to progress far at the World Cup. He has a competitive edge that England need. It’s one of his great strengths, that mindset.

So, some perspective and balance is required here. Bellingham wants to play. He expressed momentary frustration when realising he was being subbed against Albania. He showed respect to the assist-makers and goalscorers (as Kane emphasised by posting a post-goal pic of the pair), to the man replacing him (his friend Morgan Rogers) and to Thomas Tuchel, who calls him “a special talent”. Rogers has done well for Tuchel but doesn’t have the track record of dominating big games like Bellingham. Respected media colleagues from other countries think it’s madness there’s even a debate about possibly leaving Bellingham behind.

Tuchel has a key role to play here, as I’m sure experienced heads at the FA will be quietly mentioning. He’s surely aware that Bellingham must be feeling hounded by some headlines, and that is not a healthy situation for him, for England or Tuchel himself.

What Tuchel, England and the FA don’t need is tension festering for four months, seeping into the March camp, and Bellingham reporting feeling like there’s a target on his back. Anyone with any experience of following England knows that such situations harm the team’s prospects.

Tuchel needs to go to Madrid and speak with Bellingham. Speak with, not to. Be supportive. And then publicly remind the doubters how important Bellingham is to England, perhaps through a few words via the FA website, reflecting on 2025, and looking forward to what could be a momentous 2026. Because for England to have a momentous 2026, they need Jude Bellingham. It’s foolish to think otherwise. #ENG

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@JacquiOatley Well said Jacqui. We can forget that those involved in football are just humans like us with similar personal challenges etc. And it’s a brutal business so tough decisions need to be made — he could turn down Wolves, lose next four Boro games, and get fired!

[Not The Top 20 Pod @NTT20Pod]

2-1 v Rotherham ✅
2-1 v Doncaster ✅
2-1 v Wycombe ✅
2-0 v Blackpool ✅
1-1 v Port Vale 🤝
2-1 v Plymouth ✅

AFC Wimbledon have taken 16 points from the last 18 available. 👀

Johnnie Jackson’s Dons are 4th in League One. 📈

#AFCW #EFL

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@JacquiOatley @AFCWimbledon @CraigCope_ Management team and every player deserve so much credit. It’s like the Wimbledon teams I remember as a teenager — hardworking group, with some real quality too, maximizing their potential and punching above their weight.

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@AFCWimbledon Yes fellas!

[FotMob @FotMob]

🤯 In a bizarre scheduling quirk, LAFC have played AND beaten Real Salt Lake by the same scoreline twice in four days.

Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga scored all eight goals between them, taking it in turns to claim the matchball!

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

I hope the World Cup will be more fun than this picture suggests…

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@AFCWimbledon Love to see it. A well-deserved turnaround. Huge congrats to all 👏

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@WHADmedia Huge win! Great turnaround after poor first half. Credit to Jackson and all. Bugiel justified selection and Hackford looks lively whenever given a chance.

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@Dons_Sayer_WDON Pete and Frank Samson are watching in Topanga, California (as always!) It’s the first match of a big double-header today, with the Topanga Hawks under-11s looking forward to their season opener this afternoon.

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@TouchlineX I can’t believe no-one has said Eddie Howe. Don’t know if he’d take it but he would be best man for it easy.

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@AFCWimbledon Superb, and it was coming after the solid performances v Luton and Cardiff. Just a bit more clinical going forward today. A proper Dons team punching above their financial weight. Love to see it 😍

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@LAFC_X Attacking mid, I hope. I’m pretty happy with Bouanga, Son, Martinez/Ordaz.

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

My concerned search to establish the length of Joe Lewis’ @AFCWimbledon contract highlights current limitations of AI. Although I do believe Lewis could play cornerback too. The man is superhuman #afcw

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

Immediate impact from Sonny! Best thing is he looks perfect at CF in this team. Bouanga wants to combine with him. Ordaz got a lift. Exciting times. #LAFC

[LAFC @LAFC]

Hugo ➡️ Post ➡️ Son

The sequence that earned us a PK following a VAR review.

[Will - ScoutingHive @ScoutingHive]

Never fall in love with a loan player. 💙💛

Nathan Asiimwe (20) today:

1st for touches (71)
1st for successful dribbles (4/7)
1st (joint) for shots (4)
1st for ground duels won (8)
1st for tackles (4)

And a goal to top it off. He’s got it all!! #COYD

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@_NickChastain_ He’ll play about 25 minutes and B

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

@WHADmedia Some fortune on our side but we deserved that after last week. Great displays all over pitch in opening two games. We just need to clone Asiimwe to also play LWB, and bring in an Al-Hamadi-style explosive striker. Easy!

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

I refer you to last week’s tweet #afcw

[LAFC Wimbledon @LAFCWimbledon]

12 minutes in and I’m calling it — Asiimwe is better than Neufville! #afcw