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  • August 7, 2020 at 12:54 pm #14763
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Wimbledon have made a significant signing with confirmation of terms agreed with combative midfielder Alex Woodyard. He brings loads of experience to the undermanned Dons engine room – 49 L1 games with Peterborough; 90 with Lincoln City, 10 on loan with Tranmere at the end of last season and a few at Southend. Woodyard, who was not in Darren Ferguson’s plans at Peterboro last season after he was club captain there the previous season under Steve Evans, puts himself about, is a tigerish ball-winner and passer and will be a strong influence in the development of youngsters Anthony Hartigan and Jack Rudoni. He has the potential of being a Dannie Bulman type midfielder for Wimbledon and at 27 is still a good age. The only concern for me is his injury-risk considering how he throws himself into tackles, but from what we’ve seen of him at Peterboro and Tranmere the Dons fans should warm to his fierce commitment and he will wear the number four shirt for the Dons, made famous by a similar type of character Vinnie Jones. This is a good signing made by Glyn Hodges.

    Woodyard is nothing fancy and will add some starch to the Dons squad..

    Have a look at this show reel of his time at Tranmere Rovers, no wonder Tranmere fans were cranky at Woodyard preferring to play with Wimbledon and not them this season after his release at Peterborough.

    Another interesting sidelight is that Woodyard’s father is a Dons fan.

    And standby for another potential key signing in the coming days….

    August 8, 2020 at 11:40 am #14764
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Yet another positive recruitment with the confirmation of towering striker Ollie Palmer signing on a free transfer from League Two Crawley Town. At 6″5, Palmer is looked on as the “target man” option AFC Wimbledon have been lacking since James Hanson and Tom Elliott. He comes to Plough Lane with impressive stats: he reached double digits for goals in his last two league campaigns along with a few assists – Palmer netted 13 goals for Crawley last season; only Eoin Doyle (25) and Nicky Maynard (14) scored more during the campaign. Another important part of the signing will be his partnership up front with Joe Piggot. Palmer is strong in the air and his acquisition will be a big plus for Pigott, who scored 15 league goals in 2018/19 and was effective in a combo with target man James Hanson. Palmer is relatively young at 28 and while he has not played at a higher level than the fourth tier he has has made 361 league/non league appearances, 249 of those in League Two. It continues a good post-season for manager Glyn Hodges.

    Ollie has scored a lot of goals in League 2 and he’s a good size, a target man. If he can bring his goals for us this season we will be in a good place. Ollie is a player we targeted early and he’s living locally as well, which fits the bill. Now that he has agreed to come we can’t wait to get working with him. He adds a nice balance to the squad.

    For his part, Palmer is talking up a good game for his new club. His grandfather Tony Wright played for Wimbledon in the 1950s..

    I was talking to my Mum and my Uncle the other day about signing here and he got a bit choked up – he wished my Grandad was still around. I also have friends who support the club. It is really exciting. I think it brings a little bit more pressure to me because there is that close tie and it means a lot to the family. I’m really excited for them to watch me play back at Plough Lane, where it all started. I used to watch Wimbledon at Selhurst Park with my Dad. He was at the cup final and he was at the town hall in Wimbledon when the club paraded the cup. My Godfather is a season ticket holder too.

    It caps a positive week for AFC Wimbledon with the announcements of goalkeeper Connal Trueman on loan and the back-to-back permanent signings of midfielder Alex Woodyard and Palmer. Hodges says he is still after a few more loans and one or two further permanent signings to complete his squad. It’s all looking rather more encouraging for the Dons heading into the new season, crowned by the return to Plough Lane.
    Take a look at Palmer’s goals for Crawley last season, there’s some beauties among them…

    August 12, 2020 at 12:08 pm #14765
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Hearing the club has signed a young attacking midfielder.
    This fellow might be the one…

    August 13, 2020 at 11:16 am #14766
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Another positive signing with confirmation of young Aldershot Town attacking midfielder Ethan Chislett joining the Dons. Chislett is only 22 (his birthday was on the eve of his AFWC signing announcement) and he comes highly recommended after a tremendous season in the National League.

    The Dons beat off competition from L1 rivals Bristol Rovers and reported interest elsewhere for Chislett, who gives Glyn Hodges more options in midfield.

    He’s a creative mobile player with a sharp eye for goal as this shows ..

    And he’s one for the future, adding to the rising youngsters in the Dons midfield.. Jack Rudoni and Anthony Hartigan.

    But a reality check: he is jumping up two levels from National League to League One and up against some very experienced battle-hardened opponents. He looks to be a useful addition off the subs bench and while on the slight side he’ll need bulking up to compensate for the wear and tear of a 46-game league season.
    But full marks to Glyn Hodges and Nick Daws for their choice as signing number five and hearing there are more in the pipeline, more likely young loans, particularly a defender, a forward and/or winger and possibly another backup goalkeeper.

    August 14, 2020 at 11:35 am #14767
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Rarely have two trialists been signed so quickly by Wimbledon. Have a look through the team lineup for the recent PSF against Leatherhead and your eyes fall on trialist, (trialist)
    Within days of that 2-1 victory over Leatherhead both trialists (Ethan Chislett the other) were signed by the club.

    AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev (Matthew Cox), Luke O’Neill (Luke Jenkins), Alex Woodyard (Shane McLoughlin), Will Nightingale (Issac Ogundere), Cheye Alexander (Huseyin Biler), Anthony Hartigan (Callum Reilly), trialist, (trialist), Nesta Guinness-Walker (Paul Osew), David Fisher (Ayoub Assal), Paul Kalambayi (Terell Thomas), Joe Pigott (Adam Roscrow).

    The club announced 19-year-old Finnish youth international Jaakko Oksanen as the sixth signing of the off-season. He is on a season-long loan from Brentford, who reserve the right to recall him back in January if required. He is a holding midfielder and comes with high praise from his Brentford club.

    Brentford B Head Coach Neil MacFarlane said:

    “It’s brilliant for Jaakko, and I think it’s the right time, which is important when boys go on loan. I can only speak of Jaakko in the highest regard in terms of what he’s done for us within the B Team setup. His attitude has been exemplary from day one right through the season, and it feels the appropriate time for him to go out on loan. He’s got an opportunity to go and play in League One at a very young age and I have total belief in him. I can’t speak highly enough of him off the park, and on the park, he is a real talent and I think he’s got a really bright future. Hopefully he goes out to Wimbledon and does really well.”

    Oksanen follows Brentford teammates Marcus Forss and Mads Bech Sørensen, who spent loan spells at Wimbledon last season.

    MacFarlane:

    “We have a brilliant relationship, particularly with Marcus and Mads going there last season. There’s a link and it could be an opportunity for more players in the future to go and experience first team football.”

    Glyn Hodges is delighted to have secured Oksanen for the new campaign:

    “He will definitely add something to the team. He’s a holding midfielder, so he has a lot of discipline and he will screen in front of the defence, but he’s also a good footballer. Jaakko will get stuck in and he has got a great engine, he will get about and put his foot in, but on the ball he can also see a pass. We’ve seen glimpses of it and he’s a good fit.
    I like the Scandinavians because I think they are of a similar mentality to us, similar personalities and humour. They are strong and competitive, so it’s a good fit and another piece of the jigsaw.”

    Hodges says there is probably one more loan he is hoping to do to complete his summer recruitment along with a further one that may be a loan or a permanent signing.

    August 23, 2020 at 5:13 pm #14769
    onyadon
    Keymaster

    Hearing there might be a young defender signed on loan sometime this week…

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