Perhaps one of our most eye watering transfer fees over recent years was when Paul Hurst had his massive game of Football Manager at our expense and signed Kayden Jackson. It didn't take long for many to question his value. The more the championship season went on, the more he used his speed to run in to dead ends and look more and more desperate to succeed.
Kayden had spells at league 1 level where things were decent, but under a man manager flop, Jackson, and the rest of the team rarely looked like the big boys in a small pond. Jackson still never lacked effort, but so begun the years of doubting he would return - a concept that didn't really concern too many.
Enter Kieran McKenna... and enter Jackson 2.0. Jackson was never prolific Infront of goal for us, but what he started doing under KM was using his speed to drag players around and break up the shape of countless back lines. His movement off the ball was instrumental in a lot of town's goals, and while his tally was slow to go up as an individual, he was indicative of how town now plays as a total team.
Back to the Championship we go, and Kayden remained. Some were surprised he remained with us though some were also very pleased. Somehow the Jackson Cameos were just as good as his league 1 movement and support up front. He even rustled the onion bag for some big goals.
The final flavour is today. The one where I am sad to see him move on as he was such a loved and engaged member of the best team we've had in a generation. Did we get good value for money out of Jackson? Yes, I think over the seasons he justified his place with town and was money well spent. It is so sad to see him not getting to lace up his boots in the Prem next season, but I do hope he goes somewhere and really finds a good team and lots of time on the turf.
KJ was exactly what we needed him to be on many occasions and along with Janoi - he is the very embodiment of the 'never say die' mindset that KM injected into ITFC. Maybe not a legend, but without a doubt a gamechanger. |  |
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