Jack Thomson joins Swindon Town as the safety blanket they have been crying out for in midfield, unleashing their other midfield options.
For their ninth signing of the summer, Swindon have brought in Thomson from Kilmarnock as the kind of natural defensive midfielder that they have lacked over the last 12 months. Alongside the energetic midfielders who are already at the club, he will be a more disciplined player in the middle.
Sources at Town were delighted to be able to bring in the 26-year-old, who joins with a lot of experience, as well as the kind of skill set they were looking for. Whilst he was not a regular at Kilmarnock last season, this was largely due to being brought in by Derek McInnes, who left straight after he arrived, leaving him in limbo.
But their loss is Swindon’s gain, as he fills a valuable spot in the squad, and is being viewed as someone who can help bring the best out of everyone else.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire, Thomson said of himself: “I am a bit of an all-round midfielder; I can play deeper, or I can be more box-to-box. I am technically pretty sound, and I have got decent legs and a bit of an engine.”
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In the absence of Gavin Kilkenny, Swindon wanted someone who could be a bit more disciplined in midfield, and Thomson provides that. Anthony Munda, Ollie Clarke, Matty Virtue, and Ben Middlemas all want to run on and be front-footed, but Thomson is more used to playing deeper.
On the ball, the 26-year-old is more solid than spectacular, looking to play simple passes to get the ball to the more expansive players. He has actually been shown to have quality playing longer passes; in the Scottish Premiership last season, he ranked in the top 15 per cent of midfielders for long passes completed and percentage of long passes completed per 90 minutes.
But it is going to be without the ball where he really shines. The likes of Clarke and Munda will be using their legs to press from the front, but Thomson is perfect at sweeping up behind. He ranked in the top ten per cent for defensive actions, tackles, and recoveries.
Whilst Munda proved to be adept in a deeper role, Swindon wanted to allow him to follow his instincts and move forward with the ball, and Thomson achieves this. Others may be the shop window, but he will be the goods in the back of this midfield.
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