Winger says Dons must do more offensively
Andy Barcham said that Wimbledon have been working hard to produce more in the final third during games and he believes that everyone in the squad shares that responsibility.
The Dons have scored 13 goals in 12 leagues games, a statistic that Barcham says belies the talent in Neal Ardley’s squad.
Speaking during an interview with Rob Cornell for Dons Player, Barcham said: “We have worked hard on having a solid shape and giving ourselves a platform to win games, but we have got to be doing the other side of it as well. I think we have to try and implement that, without going gung-ho and losing the game. Hopefully, we can get the balance right and show teams what we can do.
“We have had to pick ourselves up after the last game when we put a lot of effort into it, but got beat near the end. It’s difficult when you lose like that, but now we have to go again. We have been trying to work on things that we do when we have the ball. I think in recent games we have been brilliant at keeping the opposition quiet and keeping our shape strong. We have to mix that with what we do best in terms of going forward, creating chances and scoring goals.
“We are doing well as a team, but we believe that we can push on and achieve more. We are working hard on the training pitch every day. We analyse each game so that we can improve and get better. That mentality will hold us in good stead. Healthy competition is always good and everyone has to work hard to get a place. It is very much a team game though and what may be right one week is different for the next.”
Barcham said it’s been easy to settle in at Wimbledon since joining in the summer – and he had high praise for Paul Robinson, who was also a team-mate at previous club Portsmouth.
“I am enjoying playing football and we have a great bunch of lads here,” added the 28-year-old winger. “Since I arrived here, everyone has been great to me, including the coaching staff and fans. I am in a good car school and travel in every day with other players. I enjoy coming in every day for training.
“You know what you are going to get with ‘Robbo’ and he is a great leader of men. He is a die-hard defender and he loves defending in training. He trains the way he plays and sets a great example for the rest of the lads. It’s great to have him here with his experience of playing so many games and the clubs he has been at.”
The full interview with Andy Barcham featured on Dons Player yesterday, along with an update from Neal Ardley.