Football Season Review

It has been another season of disappointment for Milton Keynes Dons' fans, who saw their beloved club failing to make the play-offs for the second time in a row. Karl Robinson described himself as a "man on a mission" following his side's failure to make the top six last term, but none of the improvements the Dons' boss promised were seen this season, as his men endured a campaign even worse than their previous one, as they failed to go on a single extended winning run over the entire course of the season and saw their play-off chances ending with four games to spare. However, it is debatable whether Robinson can really be blamed for the Dons' failure to make the top six, as the Dons' boss once again had to work on a tight budget and had to deal with losing several key players to injury and other clubs. Robinson got the Dons competing for a play-off place in the first half of the season despite dealing with a lengthy injury list which included last season's top scorer Dean Bowditch, but he suffered a crucial double blow in January, when top scorer Patrick Bamford refused to extend his loan with the club and joined Derby, and key central defender Shaun Williams left the club to join Millwall. Robinson made several signings on the loan market but failed to properly replace the departed players, and his men ended up falling short in their quest for a top six finish. A big positive for the Dons this season was the emergence of Dale Alli and Ben Reeves, but it is possible that the Dons' fans saw the last of these talented youngsters in a Dons shirt, with several clubs from the top two divisions reportedly being interested in the duo. Despite failing to deliver Championship football yet again, Robinson's job is not thought to be under threat. The Dons' board reportedly have a lot of trust in the young manager, and realize that it is optimistic to expect him to deliver promotion with the limited resources he has at his disposal. Robinson will therefore spend the summer rebuilding the squad and preparing them for another promotion push, and his main goal in the early stages of next season will be to get his men to play some good football at home, as the atmosphere in recent games at the MK Stadium has been dreadful due to the Dons' abysmal home form.

Player of the Season: Ben Reeves