AFC Wimbledon’s recent dip into the free agent market to try and help alleviate some injury issues is a story that most fans of most clubs may not really bat an eyelid at.
However, for Dons supporters, it isn’t a regular occurrence. There have been the likes of Shayon Harrison and Derick Osei Yaw, both of whom had very forgettable spells in yellow and blue, but the one that set the precedent was former Charlton Athletic and Leeds United attacker Lloyd Sam.
The forward arrived to help Neal Ardley’s 2017/18 squad out with injuries and fitness worries in the forward line, but instead of delivering on his EFL and MLS pedigree, he barely sparked into life.
Lloyd Sam: The precedent for AFC Wimbledon’s free agent mistakes
Free agent signings are often hit-and-miss, with clubs limited to where they can turn to patch up the holes in their squad or add further depth outside of transfer windows.
But for Wimbledon, especially Wimbledon in 17/18, they were a side that were competing above their means, with a squad that was still of League Two quality.
So when a winger who had just come off the back of being lead assist supplier for DC United in the MLS came through the doors at Kingsmeadow, the Dons’ former home, many would have been mistaken for thinking that this could have been the solution to the problems up top, with all main men, minus Lyle Taylor, out with injuries.
| Lloyd Sam career stats, according to Transfermarkt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Charlton Athletic | 134 | 7 | 25 |
| Leyton Orient* | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Sheffield Wednesday* | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Southend United* | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Leeds United | 39 | 3 | 8 |
| Notts County* | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| New York Red Bulls | 126 | 24 | 22 |
| D.C United | 45 | 6 | 10 |
| AFC Wimbledon | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Miami FC | 17 | ||
Sam did not live up to his full potential, though, despite having solid EFL experience from time spent at both his local club, Leeds, and another London team, Charlton.
Neal Ardley may have contributed to the excitement surrounding the Leeds native and former Ghanaian international by saying, “Lloyd is a wide player who can make things happen,” in an interview with South London Press regarding the offer of a short-term contract to Sam.
“He came here in decent shape, he doesn’t look too far away, even if you always need a game or two to get that edge back.”
However, a measly two appearances from the bench, neither of which showed much promise and provided zero goals or assists, soon put a nail into the coffin of Sam’s short-lived tenure in yellow and blue and showed Wimbledon fans that where free agents are concerned, past experience does not guarantee success – far from it.
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