NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 21/07/2010 12:53 -
Updated: 21/07/2010 12:55
Karl Robinson believes Stephen Gleeson could be the best right-back in League One next season, despite it not being his favoured position.
And with a World Cup finalist midfielder in the form of Dietmar Hamann now in the Dons' ranks, Gleeson was moved to right-back for the Dons' 4-1 friendly win over Kettering Town last night and he also played a spell there in their win over Oxford City last week.
The 21-year-old impressed against the Poppies with an assured, comfortable performance and Robinson says it is not just a one-off start at fullback for Gleeson, in fact he could become the regular right back with the Dons boss believing his ability could have a positive impact on the team's display.
He said: "We moved him to right-back because I think Stephen Gleeson could be the best right-back in the league, I think he's a good height at 5ft10ins, he's quick, fit, he's got great delivery and when you've got two fullbacks who can manipulate the ball and play football it gives us two options.
"We can go either side, last year teams used to want Dean Lewington to have it and then press high up so we had no other option, no other outlet.
"With two full-backs that can play it doesn't half make it easier to get on the ball. And when the two get on it you've got people coming in between the line, fullbacks over lapping, strikers coming off them.
"Dan Woodards was injured quite a lot last season, he's a very, very talented right-back. Mathias fills in a right-back very well but Stephen Gleeson gives me other options now.
"I've worked with some top fullbacks who have played at the highest level like Stephen Warnock, even people at Liverpool like Jamie Carragher, and Stephen Gleeson's got all the components they have.
"He's a real good footballer, I said to Stephen there were a few things last year and I wasn't sure what frame of mind he'd come back in, and I'd like to say publicly Stephen Gleeson has come back absolutely unbelievable. He's a completely different animal, to be fair they all are."
The attacking full-backs will allow Robinson's men to play the high tempo slick style he wants - just like the World Champions Spain.
He boldly said: "The Barcelona and Spain football that we're trying to play, people might say we're being total unrealistic there but I'm not, why can't we be the Spain or Barcelona of our league?
"What people don't realise is Spain only scored eight goals in the World Cup and they also had one of the best defensive records so they do both sides really well and our job is to make sure when we're in possession we play football and when we're out of possession we're resolute and we're hard to beat."
Gleeson spent almost two seasons, since initially joining the Dons on loan in 2009, playing in the centre of midfield alongside Peter Leven.
It was a position that he revelled in during his first year with the Dons, but last campaign the Republic of Ireland international failed to have the same impact.
And with a World Cup finalist midfielder in the form of Dietmar Hamann now in the Dons' ranks, Gleeson was moved to right-back for the Dons' 4-1 friendly win over Kettering Town last night and he also played a spell there in their win over Oxford City last week.
The 21-year-old impressed against the Poppies with an assured, comfortable performance and Robinson says it is not just a one-off start at fullback for Gleeson, in fact he could become the regular right back with the Dons boss believing his ability could have a positive impact on the team's display.
He said: "We moved him to right-back because I think Stephen Gleeson could be the best right-back in the league, I think he's a good height at 5ft10ins, he's quick, fit, he's got great delivery and when you've got two fullbacks who can manipulate the ball and play football it gives us two options.
"We can go either side, last year teams used to want Dean Lewington to have it and then press high up so we had no other option, no other outlet.
"With two full-backs that can play it doesn't half make it easier to get on the ball. And when the two get on it you've got people coming in between the line, fullbacks over lapping, strikers coming off them.
"Dan Woodards was injured quite a lot last season, he's a very, very talented right-back. Mathias fills in a right-back very well but Stephen Gleeson gives me other options now.
"I've worked with some top fullbacks who have played at the highest level like Stephen Warnock, even people at Liverpool like Jamie Carragher, and Stephen Gleeson's got all the components they have.
"He's a real good footballer, I said to Stephen there were a few things last year and I wasn't sure what frame of mind he'd come back in, and I'd like to say publicly Stephen Gleeson has come back absolutely unbelievable. He's a completely different animal, to be fair they all are."
The attacking full-backs will allow Robinson's men to play the high tempo slick style he wants - just like the World Champions Spain.
He boldly said: "The Barcelona and Spain football that we're trying to play, people might say we're being total unrealistic there but I'm not, why can't we be the Spain or Barcelona of our league?
"What people don't realise is Spain only scored eight goals in the World Cup and they also had one of the best defensive records so they do both sides really well and our job is to make sure when we're in possession we play football and when we're out of possession we're resolute and we're hard to beat."
