Although still a good number of games to go and a lot to play for, a majority of the season has passed. What are your thoughts on our own contracted players for this season and their capabilities for next season in L1 or L2? My thoughts (and marks out of 10 for the season) are below: GK: Bull - No brainer. Dependable keeper, exactly what we needed after numerous long term loanees. 9 out of 10 for me and would be fine in L1 or L2. Arnold - No score as he hasn't played in the league! Defenders: McCoy - Fantastic prospect. Raw talent, with great pace. Positionally not great at this stage but something he learn with more experience. 8 out of 10 and I believe would cope with L1. Foster - Disappointing, appears to lack concentration and regularly distribution lets him down. Would definitely not be good enough for L1 and barely for L2. 4 out of 10. Sandell - My thoughts on him may provoke a response, but slow, cannot defend and relies on what was a decent touch and distribution at the start of the season that faded as the season continued. His goals masked what a bad defender he is. 6 out of 10 because of the goals at a time when few others were scoring. Certainly not good enough for L1. Johnson - Personally I believe our best centre back. Stop start season, often takes a while to get going but difficult to get your match fitness when you have been used sporadically. 6 out of 10 for this season. Still believe he is good enough for L1 if played consistently. Bennett - Massively disappointing, looked solid and dependable when on loan this season but this season looked slow and clumsy. 5 out of 10. Not good enough for a top team in L2 let alone any higher. Winfield - Not too sure, a bit slow and his disciplinary record means he will always miss 4-5 games a season at lease suspended. Still quite young so there is time yet. I think he would benefit from having a ball playing centre back next to him. 6.5 out of 10. Jury's out on when he would be good enough for L1. Westwood - Probably been our most consistent centre back this season. However, with time catching up on him and his legs I cannot see him being good enough for L1 should we go up. 7 out of 10 for this season. Midfield: Ainsworth - Fantastic influence but his legs are definitely catching up with him as only occasional flashes of good play coupled with a lot of head down and running into players. Still chips in with important goals and definitely one to have in the squad. If we had strength in depth I would say shouldn't be in the started XI week in week out but with the loss of Phillips we do not have that benefit. 6.5 out of 10 for this season. Would still be a good squad player should we get promoted. Bloomfield - Work rate and energy immense. End product more often than not disappoints. Similar to Ainsworth, great to have in the squad. 6.5 out of 10. His lack of end product I think will mean he would not be good enough for L1. Lewis - A terrier, you always know what you will get with him. He doesn't hide from a game. Been a good signing. L1 capability, maybe, hopefully we will see! 7.5 out of 10. Montrose - I think this guy has great potential and that L1 would possibly suit him better than L2, as very calm on the ball. A good start to the season but then tailed off. Tendency to pick up a lot of bookings. 6 out of 10. Betsy - On his day fantastic but at times been very frustrating this year. Still has a big role though with his ability to beat a player. 6.5 out of 10. Murtagh, Green, Harris - No comment on this season as few/no games. Murtagh possibly a waste of time but hopefully this loan spell will have helped. Green just needs to find a new club! Harris, promising youngster who I wish would have been given a chance on the wing in preference to Strevens when he has been used there. Forwards: Rendell - Great character shown for such a young player considering what he has been through this year. This has understandably affected him the whole season. He has chipped with goals, being a cool head from the spot. Think we may start to see the real Rendell next season. 7 out of 10 for the way he has coped in spite of his tragedy. Strevens - Awful. Previously a 15-20 goal a season man at this level. I simply cannot see how! 3 out of 10. Not good enough for a mid table L2 side. Pittman - Season blighted by injury when pre-season looked so good. Will always frustrate but great option to have as a 15 minute spell can terrorize a side. 5.5 out of 10, though not his own fault due to injuries. Good squad player for L1. Beavon - Great work rate and touch but not a centre forward. Not enough goals. Best position is either as a right forward in a 4-3-3 or possibly just behind a striker. Unfortunately the latter is a bit of a luxury in L2. 7 out of 10 for the touch and hold up play when often very isolated. McClure - Not really given a chance, very difficult to show much in 15 minute spells. Frustrating to see such few chances considering the inept Strevens has been given so much game time. Not going to score as difficult to do with only sub appearances! It will interesting to see what the end of season holds! I personally believe if we go up I do not think it is because we have a particularly strong squad, I personally think very few will cut it in L1 should we go up. L2 is a very week league aside from Chesterfield, which I think is demonstrated by the poor standard of football week in week out and the inconsistency of many teams. As a season report for Waddock, I would say 7 out of 10. Not easy to get a team who has just been relegated back in the frame for promotion, especially with a lot of new faces. However, what on the whole disappoints me is the quality of players he signs permanently. Only really Bull and Ainsworth have really added a good strength to the squad and possibly Rendell in the future. Only offering Revell a one year deal was a big mistake, as shown by his decent season at Orient. His ability to change things round as well during a match is also not so good with subs often coming on with little time to make any impact. However, we are in a good position to challenge for promotion so lets hope we succeed and lessons are learnt (by the Board) in terms of L1 preparation (should we go up) this time round.
Great views, would agree with most. I personnaly believe you totally under rated Ainsworth and Pittman.
You have quiet a good team mate, You have been quiet consistant and have matched your targets not like gills who sometimes do let us down mate.
I'd agree on most of those, but a few I disagree. I think Sandell is a decent attacker, but when defending I agree he is poor. He generally works hard, scores goals and has good supply, but I think he deserves the left mid role and waddock is playing him out of position. Fix for this? Buy a new left back next season and give the ageing betsy and ainsworth some back up. I'd also give Montrose a 7. He played very well at the beginning of the season, was unfairly dropped and has been able to once again find his performance when he has been back in the team the last few weeks. In my eyes our best midfielder, he is tall, strong, has great distribution and he is still young.
as the song goes ..........oh gareth ainsworth you are the love of my life oh gareth ainsworth i,d let you sh+g my wife oh gareth ainsworth i want curly hair too...........................
Great post Finchy. It will be very interesting for me to see the consensus view of who should be kept for L1 (should we make it), the favoured positions for those and maybe suggestions for who could fill the gaps. It seems like there could be several gaps which, I suppose, could be very expensive to fill, unless we can get some out of contract rejects from the Premier/Championship (that are good enough).
Hi - New to this fourm - Great analysis and not much to add - Totally agree about Johnson - the best centre half we have by a mile and that Sandells exploits up front mask his poor positional play. Also good to know that there is somebody else who is pleased when Strevens is not on the team sheet - I can't see what GW sees in him at all.
