Dear Lyle Taylor,

You were not my favorite player in the side.

This was entirely not your fault. I’ve been impressed by you. I was glad when you signed for us in the summer.

Every time I’ve seen you on the teamsheet I’ve been pleased, because I knew that we’d have someone who would work hard and threaten in front of goal.

More Dons news

Robinson relishing Oxford United clash

Buzzing keeper Roos is up for a League Two scrap

Ardley's failure to lure a defender opens the door for Sweeney

PICTURE GALLERY: AFC Wimbledon boss praises defeated Carlisle United

So my overlooking you had nothing to do with your abilities. I just already had favorite players.

Your only crime was that you weren’t George Francomb, or Adebayo Akinfenwa, or Callum Kennedy, or Will Nightingale.

My heart and my attention span are finite.

(I also generally try not to get too attached to players in their first year with the club, no matter how much they contribute. I learned that lesson the hard way last season with Matt Tubbs.)

So I just sort of overlooked you and gave all my fannish attention to others in the squad.

And while I wasn’t looking, you scored 13 goals in the league and helped propel us into play-off contention.

Depending on how things go with Oxford this weekend, automatic promotion may be a possibility.

After a difficult first half of the season we have become legitimate promotion chasers.

You have been a major part of that, and if we do win promotion much of the plaudits will go to you.

And I haven’t given you enough credit for any of it.

I’m sorry.

I know you’ll keep working hard, and I hope you’ll consider sticking around next season.

With luck and a fair wind, we’ll be able to offer you League One football.

I remain, yr obdnt srvt,

DFATP

 

** James is now away for two weeks