Tactical and formation tweaks for Dons – as boss happy to have a proper striker headache

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Johnnie Jackson is planning to use the upcoming pre-season schedule to tinker with his AFC Wimbledon formation and tactics.

The Dons have friendlies against Reading, Woking, QPR and Portsmouth ahead of their first League Two clash of the 2023-24 campaign at Grimsby on August 5.

Jackson started off with a 3-5-2 formation before switching to 4-2-3-1 after the 1-0 defeat to Sutton in October. The change saw Wimbledon go on a 10-game unbeaten run and climb towards the play-off spots.

But after Ayoub Assal was sold to Qatari side Al-Wakrah, and with several key players picking up injuries, Wimbledon only won two of their 23 games in 2023.

Wimbledon have already signed striker Omar Bugiel, midfielder Jake Reeves and versatile creative players in Josh Neufville, James Tilley and Ryan McLean.

Jackson told the South London Press: “What we want to do is recruit the best players we can within our means and restraints.

“I need to be flexible with the formation and work on things in pre-season.

“Having those strikers at my disposal means you have to look at maybe partnering them. All three can play up there alone. We have good wingers now as well, so there are lots of things to look at.

“I’ll play around with it in pre-season and see what works.

“We have recruited players who fit our style and the direction we want to take it – to reflect a Wimbledon team.”

Jackson has to pick from record signing Josh Davison, Ali Al-Hamadi, last season’s Player of the Year, and the experienced Bugiel, who has arrived from Sutton.

“This is what you want, isn’t it?” the former Charlton boss added. “You want competition for places, and I want to have headaches about who I want to select, not who I have got to select.

“I have got to make choices. Already we have three really strong players to choose from. There is no doubt that I will use them all.

“They have all got big roles to play. Naturally, someone will pick up a knock and someone else will get an opportunity.

“There might be times when all three play together.

“It’s a lovely headache to have. I saw Omar up close on two occasions and I thought he was a real handful – he was an old-school centre-forward who caused problems.

“I watched him in a few other games against different teams, and I thought the same. He gives us something which we lacked last season. In Josh and Ali, you have two lads who want to hang on the shoulder and run in behind.

“But in Omar, you have a guy who can be a target and drop in as a 10. It gives us a really good balance having that option there as well.”

Iraqi international Al-Hamadi scored 10 goals in 19 appearances after joining from Wycombe in the winter window.

“He can be a massive, massive player next year for us,” said Jackson.

“I’m really excited to have him from the start of the season this time. He’s only just getting started for us – what he showed last season was a glimpse.

“With a pre-season under his belt and him becoming an established Wimbledon player, he can be a huge player for us and a big player in this division.”

The first signing through the doors at Plough Lane this summer saw the Dons snap up midfielder Jake Reeves after he was released by Stevenage following their promotion to League One.

Reeves, 30, was part of the AFC Wimbledon side which won promotion to League One via the play-offs in 2016.

“I was buzzing to get it done so early,” admitted Jackson.

“He was a player who would have attracted a lot of interest. He’s just had a promotion and Stevenage were keen to keep him.

“I thought we would be up against it, trying to get something done, but he knows the club inside out and was impressed by what we presented to him and the vision we have got for the club.

“I knew the supporters would love him from his first stint here and how well he did. It just made sense.

“He has vast experience at this level and played 40-odd games last season. He’s exactly the type that we needed to bring in.”

The most experienced player Jackson was able to name on his bench at Barrow last season was 21-year-old loanee Sam Pearson with his squad decimated by injuries.

The Dons suffered a 2-1 defeat, with youngsters Alfie Bendle, Obed Yeboah, Quaine Bartley and Pearson all coming on.

“We were having to rely on young lads when he got those injuries,” said Jackson.

“They did their best, but it’s hard on them as well when you’re trying to get back in a game or find a way to win a game – you’re turning to inexperience.

“We want to bring young players through, but you have to have a blend. We didn’t have enough senior experience last year.

“It left us short and we’re keen for that not to happen again. You can see by the way that we’re recruiting, that we’re going a certain way with it.”