TEAM PREVIEW: AFC Wimbledon – Marcus Gayle excited to see his old side push on

 

Born from the ashes just over a decade ago, AFC Wimbledon’s rise into the football league has been fantastic, even getting to come up against their rivals MK Dons at one point. Under Neal Ardley, the team are stable and have a good solid grounding in the football league pyramid.

Last Season: League Two (15th)

Manager: Neal Ardley

 

Squad

GKs: James Shea, Joe McDonnell
DFs: Barry Fuller, Callum Kennedy, Will Nightingale, Ben Harrison, Ryan Sweeney, Jon Meades, Karleigh Osborne
MFs: Dannie Bulman, George Francomb, Sean Rigg, Jake Reeves, Tom Beere, David Fitzpatrick, Dan Gallagher, Andy Barcham
FWs: Adebayo Akinfenwa, Adebayo Azeez, George Oakley, Tom Elliott, Lyle Taylor

 

Transfers

In: Christian Toonga (Arsenal), Jon Meades (Oxford United), Tom Elliott (Cambridge United), Karleigh Osborne (Bristol City – Loan), Andy Barcham (Portsmouth), Lyle Taylor (Scunthorpe United)

Out: Ashley Bayes (Released), Chace Jacquart (Released), Sammy Moore (Leyton Orient), Mark Phillips (Released), Alfie Potter (Northampton Town), Jack Smith (Released), Ross Worner (Released)

 

First Six: Plymouth Argyle (H), Crawley Town (A), Cambridge United (H), Carlisle United (A), Exeter City (H), Mansfield Town (A)

Likely Lineup: (4-4-2) Shea – Fuller, Kennedy, Osborne, Harrison – Barcham, Bulman, Francomb, Rigg – Akinfenwa, Taylor

 

 

A word from…Marcus Gayle

On the original Wimbledon It was difficult the summer the club went down, I was about to turn 30 and what hurt me most was losing that Premier League status. To have that as a club and a person is difficult, it took me a few weeks to get over that and you wonder if you’ll be good enough as a team to come back from the Championship.

But once it happened I was focused on doing the best for my career. Players were aware of rumours about Milton Keynes but years before there had been rumours about moving to Ireland to play! It wasn’t uncommon for us to hear about it, we were sharing Selhurst Park so we got pretty used to hearing speculation about moving.

On how it’s worked out and been great for both teams to have worked their way up AFC Wimbledon have put a lot of effort into getting into the football league, starting all the way at the bottom, there’s been a gradual improvement but there’s a huge drive behind the club, it means a lot to the fans and it means a lot to the players too.

On their inductions to the club they get told about the history, what it means to people, there’s a great history there and it’s nice for me to know I played a small part in that. I was there at the Etihad when they beat Luton in the play-offs and that was a fantastic day. They’ve got some great fans, it’s a good club and they understand what it means to everyone.

On going back to play Jermaine Darlington was the first one to play but it was on the cards for a few years that I’d go back there. They kept bugging me about coming on loan when I was at Watford as injuries had prevented me playing much.

I said I’d come down eventually but I went on loan to Brentford and then to Aldershot with Terry Brown before I finally went back there and I had some great times back there. Things are more structured, the facilities are improving, the medical side of things is improving and the coaching staff take credit for getting them to that level.

The club are in good hands, Wimbledon boys through and through at the top there and I think the club is the right fit for someone like Neal (Ardley) and maybe this season they can make a push for the play-offs. Create an atmosphere, there’s no better ground than Kingsmeadow for an atmosphere, the fans are great.

On the players and pushing on They need that sort of experience in their team, players who know what it takes but they’ve got that youth drive too. Wimbledon have always been known for that, there’s always been a stream of players coming through, even at my time there.

They tapped into local areas and brought through players like Jason Euell, Carl Cort, Jobi McAnuff, Nigel Reo-Coker, the list was endless and I’m sure that’s what they’re trying to re-create in the modern game.

 

The Offside Rule Podcast Prediction: AFC Wimbledon can make the top 10 this season. They’ve got a gaffer who knows the club inside out and he’s brought in some good quality signings at League Two level. Maybe promotion is still out of their reach but there’s no reason they should be near the bottom.

Key Player: Sean Rigg – The winger had a fantastic debut season for AFC Wimbledon, getting goals in a season where he was consistent and dangerous for the club. More of the same and he’ll be a challenge for any League Two defence.

One to Watch: Tom Beere – The 20-year-old made his way nicely into the first team last season, picking up a steady 16 league appearances throughout the year. If he can improve on that this season, he’ll be pushing for a regular spot in the starting eleven.