AFC Wimbledon head coach gives verdict on Brentford runout and admits to loan move dilemma

Mark Robinson has spoken of the importance of being flexible and being able to change AFC Wimbledon’s formation to affect games.

Joel Valencia’s first-half strike meant the Dons were defeated 1-0 at Plough Lane against Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Robinson switched from a 4-2-2-2 formation to a 3-4-2-1 formation for the second-half.

Speaking to AFC Wimbledon’s club website, Robinson said: “I want us to have that formation flexibility because that unknown factor is going to be important.

“It’s not about tinkering for tinkering’s sake but teams will do their homework on you, and you want to be able to change things around. I looked at Peterborough last season and they did that really well. They could flip formations and be effective. One formation can give you a threat somewhere and another formation can give you a threat elsewhere. I think we flipped really well between those two formations and there will be some more to come.”

George Marsh and Luke McCormick made their AFC Wimbledon debuts against the Bees, and Robinson was pleased with all of his midfield options performances.

“All of the midfield combinations worked well,” said Robinson. “Anthony Hartigan and Alex Woodyard were really good in the first half and Luke McCormick and George Marsh carried that on in the second half. It’s exciting and that’s what I have said we need to have, goals coming from all over the pitch. I think we will have that.”

AFC Wimbledon youngster Huseyin Biler’s second-half display caught the eye of the Dons head coach.

“The young man has given me a real headache,” said Robinson. “This is the dilemma with young players, because I’ve seen good young players get in and around the first-team, sit on the bench and they don’t develop. You look at Huseyin today and he has left me with a huge dilemma.

“I was due to send him out on loan, but when you look at him today the boy is infectious with his energy. That’s the decision I have to make, but whether we go with loaning him out and getting 40 games elsewhere, or keeping him here, the boy has got a bright future.”