Half season player review

[IloveShrimp]

Mildenhall - 8, better than last season

Francis - 8, great creative play this season would be a class act with the right people in the midfiled in front of him.

Morrison - 8 could also be a class act, a bit low on pace to make top flight imo though

Barrett - 7, a bit short height wise, better at left back imo

Malone - 6 inexperienced time will tell

Laurent - 7, needs to sort out how to change tactics when marked

Macca - 6, good one game, poor the next allegedly likes a beer!

Grant - 8, played out of position for most of the season. Can't fault his commitment.

Christophe - 6, another who has filled different positions. Will improve with constancy within the squad

Moussa - 4, has been poor lately, lack of comittment and too lightweight mentally and in the tackle.

Barnard - 9, would be formidable with decent support from midfield.

Freedman - 2, and that's being generous

Scannell - 5, nothing special, runs into blind alleys better than Moussa though (he tackles)

Walker - 4, chance upon chance, but never takes it

Sankofa -4 has got potential but never has a long enough spell to prove it

Herd - 4, hardly ever used which is a shame as i think he's decent

O'Keefe - 5, looks as though he needs to be given the opportunity.

Joyce - 5, Sorry but looks as though he is an outfield player shoved in goal

Tilson & Brush 7.5 - Excellent sometimes, poor team selection and tactically on others!

Player of the half season - Lee Barnard

Most improved player of the half season - Francious Laurent

 

[Kris]

Mildenhall - 8 Has been imperious this season so far. A great shot-stopper and an excellent command of the area.

Francis - 7 Still frustratingly below average defensively but his contributions going forward have been exceptional at times.

Morrison - 7.5 Looks like he has a very, very promising future. Shame there's no chance of him signing permanently.

Barrett - 6 Typical showing so far. Defensively average but never-say-die attitude gets him through.

Malone - 7 Like Morrison, has a promising future. His set-pieces have been generally poor but that's not his primary job. The other aspects of his game have been pretty decent.

Laurent - 6.5 Occasionally unplayable but needs consistency. His performances against Hartlepool and Orient epitomise him.

Macca - 6.5 Started the season really well but has been inconsistent recently. Very good workrate, average passing, woeful shooting.

Grant - 8 Would have been 9 but loses a point for his awful disciplinary record. His reading of the game in front of the back four is exceptional and his versatility has been vital.

Christophe - 5 Very disappointing. A good ball-winner but pointless if he keeps giving it away again. Bizarrely, his best performance of the season was at right-back.

Moussa - 6 Was on fire at the start of the season but is generally wasted on the left now as the opposition have worked him out, dragging him inside and closing down his passing options. Need a run of games in the centre.

Barnard - 9 Simply brilliant. The fox in the box we've been missing for years and his all-round game and general workrate have been fantastic too. A relief that the management didn't listen to various 'zoners this time last year...

Freedman - 5 His legs have gone although still an option from the bench, if only for his ability to sit in the hole and create space for others. Occasional touches of brilliance, such as his flick for Barnard against Bristol Rovers and the defence-splitting pass that Laurent fluffed against Oldham.

Scannell - 5 Occasional flashes of his potential from the bench, though largely mediocre as a starter and injured too often. The jury is swaying towards a release in May.

Walker - 5 Needs to be given a run of games to properly assess him.

Sankofa - 6 Used sparingly due to his injury. Hasn't done an awful lot wrong in the games I've seen.

Herd - 6 Unluckily injured just when he was getting a run of games. Still has a lot to learn, though remains a great propect.

O'Keefe and Joyce - Haven't seen enough to judge.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Barney 10
Morrison, Mildey and Grant 8
Franno 7
The rest 6s apart from Walker and Doogie, a generous 3/10.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Mildenhall - 8. Has been outstanding at times. One word with a big c which says it all - confidence. Most improved player of the season so far.

Francis - 6. Where do you go to, my Franno, when you're alone in your head ? An absolutely infuriating daydreamer at times, but the best crosser of a ball at the club.

Malone - 5. JRO.

Herd - not seen him this season, so can't comment. Potential for sure - will he get the chance to demonstrate it here?

Adam - 7. What you see is what you get. Like David Coleman said of Asa Hartford ... "a whole-hearted player" and though he has his limitations, his never-say-die spirit helps him to overcome them ("at this level").

Morrison - 6.5. Promise - but likely to fulfil this elsewhere. Has grown seemingly with each (full) game under his belt.

Granty - 7. Has done a great job for the team wherever he's been called upon, though he's had a few dithers lately. A great reader of the game generally but perhaps too Bambi-esque on occasions.

JFC - 6. Stolid, but uninspiring.

Macca - 7. I love his spirit and we will miss him if he goes. Still prone to unnecessary skirmishing.

Moose - 6.5. Drifts out of the game too much, but his touch can be sublime on the occasions he does drift back in.

Laurent - 7.5. Which Monsieur will turn up ? On his day, an arch-bamboozler of any full-back he's up against. Final ball leaves a lot to be desired generally though.

Scannell - 5.5. If he can get out of the cul-de-sacs he runs into and look up a bit more, we might be looking at a decent player some day soon.

Barney - 9. Player of the season so far. To have done so well with the lack of creativity behind him has been a great testament to his ability. We will be in big trouble if he goes.

Dougie - 5. Really sad to see him wane with each game.

Walker - 4. One word with a small c - confidence. I can see him drifting out of League football in two seasons.

Sankofa - not seen him this season.

Joyce - as above.

Tilly - 8. For making the best out of the limited resources we have, more often than not. ps - just looked at OBL rules/ heading of thread again, but still thought it important to acknowledge Wickford's finest here ...

 

[Rob Noxious]

Zoners' season so far ...

Beefy -9. The safest pair of hands when it comes to analysis on the zone. His 'matches of the decade' threads have reminded us of how he can turn it on when the occasion demands. Player of the season so far.

Rusty Shackleford - 7. The big man remains able to put any left-winger on his jacksie when he employs the full force of his armoury. Appears to have been distracted at times this season by world events.

Dave the Shrimper - 7. As rumbustious as ever, this no-nonsense zoner remains staunch for the cause and has never been known to shirk a challenge. Off-zone activities have not dimmed his desire to put in a decent shift. A zoner's zoner.

The Big Shrimp - 6.5. Not a lot of zoners like playing against him for obvious reasons. Remains combative but fair in his challenges. Needs to kick on in the second half of the season to really win over his critics.

Canvey Shrimper - 8. Remains a fans' favourite and always has a cheeky quip up his sleeve when the going gets tough. Could play at a higher level if he chose to.

Grays Blue Junior - 6. Steely adventurer who likes to get up his opponents' noses, he is very much the Lee Bowyer of the zone. Now seems to be comfortable with his team-mates and though he doesn't like to show it, we get the best out of him when he feels loved by fellow zoners. One to watch and definitely the most improved zoner of the season so far.

OBL - 7. I love her spirit and we will miss her if she goes. Still prone to unnecessary skirmishing.

Blueblood - 6.5. A midfield terrier if ever there was one! Need to see more of the cut and thrust we associate with his game.

Firestorm - 8. Quality. An under-rated gem IMHO. Drifts in and out of the zone, but when he drifts in provides incisive and thoughtful contributions.

Wiggy - 5. Disappointing season from the Wiggster thus far. Has the ability to entertain and infuriate in equal measure and seems to have been absent somewhat lately. Remains the best cross-dresser on the zone though.

East Stand Blue - 7.5. Can plough his own furrow on occasions, but you cannot fault his preparation and attention to detail. Definitely has the potential to have a long career on the zone. It's all up to him really.

Yogi Up The Cagire - 7. The veteran Pyreneean still weighs in with some telling contributions, particularly in the Match Thread. Very much a team player and younger zoners could learn a lot from his performances. Needs to pace himself over what could still be a long season.

Lord Football - 7. Still has capacity to upset the right side of the zone with one of his well-aimed thunderbolts from the left. He has tended to concentrate on match reports this season but this cultured leftie shows that you can still combine football and politics with aplomb.

Irate Ian - haven't seen him this season, so can't comment.

MK Shrimper - 7. Enduring and indie. A zoner for life, not just a half-season.

Cricko - 8. How he keeps this band of zoners all playing well together is beyond me! And he's still only 28 ...

 

[Streaky]

Mildenhall 8 - Much improved , had doubts about command of his area but so much better this time round.
Joyce 5 - Not seen much of him , but what I have seen not convincing.


Francis 6 - Very accomplished player , unfortunately concentration lapses have cost us too many times.
Morrison 8 - Very impressive since joining us , lack of pace may prevent him playing at a higher level.
Barrett 6 - So committed to the cause , defensively hasn't been at his best though.
Malone 6 - After a shaky start now beginning to find his feet.
Herd 5 - Obviously Tilly not convinced , think he'll come good in the end.
Sankofa 5 - Been injured too long , dependable when called on.


Laurent 7 - Has bags of ability , needs to show more consistency and have an end product.
McCormack 6.5 - Not had a great season , maybe the 4-5-1 system will help to get him back to his marauding best
Grant 8 - More positions than the Kama Sutra , now in his rightful position as holding CM. Terrific reader of the game and does a lot of the unseen stuff. Too many yellow cards a worry.
Moussa 6 - Left mid not ideal for him , as with Macca the 4-5-1 system will help him push on.
Christophe 6 - Similar player to Grant , IMO not a patch on him though.
Scannell 6 - Seems to have got over his fitness problems , does have something about him.

Barnard 8.5 - Not sure he could play at a higher level but has been superb for us this season , without his goals we'd be in deep trouble.
Freedman 5 - Brain may be there but legs have gone , very disappointing when used.
Walker 5 - Needs a run of games to get his confidence back up , however on the evidence not sure he's going to get one!

Mate - you are spot on.

Barnard, Mildy & Grant have been our best players (Grant for his versatility)

 

[Ulysses]

Mildenhall 8
Joyce 7
Francis 6.5
Barrett 7
Morrison 6.5
Malone 6
Herd 6.5
Laurent 7.5
Christophe 7
Macca 6
Grant 7
Scannell 6.5
Moussa 6.5
Barnard 9
Freedman 5
Walker 5.5

 

[Pubey]

Mildy - 8 - been top quality
Joyce - 5 - would get rid and trust a youth keeper on the bench. if Mildy was out for a long time Tilly would get a loanee in, which says it all

Francis - 7 - Never the most assured defensively, but makes up for it with plenty of assists and superb crosses.
Malone - 6.5 - looks like he could be quite decent in the future
Morrison 8 - really rate him
Barrett 6 - not great from AB, looking slower than ever and still likes a cuddle just outside the box. looked assured at left back and perhaps with M'Voto returning he might go back there
Herd 5.5 - exposed earlier in the year and has never come back from it
Sankofa 6 - improved with a run of games, decent cover

Grant 8 - superb from Snoop, does everything that Christophe can do and can push forward too when needed.
McCormack 6 - not the player he once was, for whatever reason/excuse. A couple of decent performances, but generally looks off the pace
Moussa 6.5 - started very well but has faded.
Christophe 5.5 - don't rate him really, is worse at passing than McCormack. Looking forward to him making it in the Blue Square Premiership
Laurent 7 - has successfully passed Tutorial 1 - "Beating the man". Now needs to move onto Tutorial 2 - "Knowing what to do next". If he learns to 1. cross, 2. pass and 3. shoot he'll be amazing, just one or two of those options would do for me
Scannell 5.5 - Useful sub but think Betsy is a more consistent option. Will never be a 1st time regular
O'Keefe 4 - the fact that we went to bare bones and he didn't feature at all says it all. Doesn't even look any good when warming up at half time.

Barnard 8.5 - superb
Freedman 5 - rubbish
Walker 5 - rubbish
Calver 4 - see ya
__________________