Even though AFC Wimbledon had a successful summer transfer window, as the season enters its winter phase, several areas are beginning to show signs of weakness.
One such area is offensive midfield, where the Dons appear to lack enough talent aside from young players like Morgan Williams and Kai Jennings. Players like Joe Pigott and Omar Bugiel appear to fill the position and play as shadow strikers.
With the January transfer window little over a month away, Jackson should be aiming to acquire an attacking midfield gem at a low cost. He should draw inspiration for this move from Ethan Chislett’s arrival to the team and his time there.
In the summer of 2020, Chislett, or Chissy as he was more lovingly called, came from Aldershot Town to Wimbledon. The South African had made it to the top division of the National League, played 38 games, and scored nine goals in all competitions in the previous season, which was cut short early due to COVID-19. He finished the season as the Shots’ top scorer.
Wimbledon manager Glyn Hodges would employ Chislett as his creative spark in his team after apparently defeating competition from Italy for the attacking midfielder. The Durban-born midfielder would alternate between starting and bench appearances.
But after the Welshman was fired and Mark Robinson took his place, the summer acquisition started to lose his spot in the squad, and he wouldn’t have another opportunity to show off his skills until the former Burton Albion player was fired by the team as well.
That period came under Jackson, and during his one season with the former Charlton midfielder, he excelled in central midfield with Harry Pell, becoming the team’s main set piece taker and the player who could carry the ball forward and into attack. Among his incredible collection of set pieces was a spectacular free-kick against Newport County.
Before leaving for Port Vale, he would finish his final season with Wimbledon as the team’s leading scorer with 11 goals overall—nine in the league and two in the FA Cup.
The South African should serve as Jackson’s transfer muse not just because of his talents but for the fact that the club can get great value for money by simply putting some trust in the non-league sphere.
This is not to say that Jackson and his transfer team, in particular Craig Cope, do not pay attention to the lower reaches of English football, but for the most part, barring a few signings, they have stuck to picking up good talent from in and around the EFL.
Such an approach is understandable, as signings from the fifth tier and below can be very hit-and-miss. The Dons have shared in this experience but Chislett was a real showing that giving a player who is rebuilding their career in non-league a chance can pay dividends.
There will frequently be talented people down there who, like Chislett after being released from Southampton at the age of 14, are eager to demonstrate that they have the aptitude and drive to realize their full potential. Most significantly, they will be offered for a fraction of what an EFL player may charge.
From a tactical perspective, a player like the 26-year-old might join the club right away and provide an alternative to enable Jackson move to a backup plan, something he hasn’t always been able to do this season because of selection problems.
Bringing in a player in the mold of Chislett will give the Dons an agile midfielder that will like staying with the attack, instead of dropping back, and allow the ball to get to the attack quicker, with more players in support too.
The advantages of looking to the transfer market to strengthen their attacking midfield are obvious, but Wimbledon may save money by just placing some faith in the young players who are already occupying the position rather than spending it on a loan or permanent deal.
Williams and Jennings are both highly regarded in Dons circles and are possibly the next major attacking stars to emerge from an academy that has previously turned out players like Ayoub Assal and Jack Rudoni, to mention a couple.
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