New Year Player Audit

[Baboo]

OK Craddock has scored but when he shoots from distance he has no conviction and he can be quite greedy. IMHO he is a lightweight. Luton fans were not too unhappy seeing him leave..

Just my opinion but I think you are way way off the mark re Craddock. He's had a hand in plenty of the goals we've scored. This has been very noticeable when I watch them replayed on the telly and have done the old slo-mow bit. But a very high % of United fans have taken against Craddock for no logical reason whatsoever as far as I can see and blindly choose to ignore this.
Midson 8 - Automatic pick - I really would be interested to see what your starting line up would be.

[Boogie]

Clarke

Batt Worley Wright Kinniburgh

Mclaren

Heslop Clist

Potter Maclean Constable

Midson on the bench and not a shoe-in as I also gave Potter and Constable 8. I'd bring him on ahead of Green and Craddock though.

Payne to come on in midfield for Mclaren if chasing the game.

[Baboo]

Clarke

Batt Worley Wright Kinniburgh

Mclaren

Heslop Clist

Potter Maclean Constable

Midson on the bench and not a shoe-in as I also gave Potter and Constable 8. I'd bring him on ahead of Green and Craddock though.

Payne to come on in midfield for Mclaren if chasing the game.

Errr ... but 8 = automatic pick. I read that as being in the starting XI.
So you'd pick McLaren without having yet seen him play in an Oxford shirt.

Very interesting stuff this thread.

[GodalmingYellow]

It seems timely to look at our current squad in the context of Division 4, and ask how good our players are. Rather than assessing their place in our team, how would they be viewed by a notional mid-table Division 4 manager? Might I suggest the following scale: 9 - exceptional, too good for this league 8 - automatic pick, delighted to have this player 7 - would want in the side, generally performs well 6 - OK player, might be trying to replace 5 - OK sometimes, but a definite weakness 4 - embarrassment.

Focusing on those who seem to be in Wilder's plans (and we have seen play):

1 Clarke 8
2 Batt 7
3 Tonkin 7
18 Kinniburgh 7
23 Purkiss 6
22 Worley 7
6 Wright 8
30 Futcher 4
8 Heslop 7
14 Hall 6
11 Clist 6
28 Payne 7
17 Cole 4
15 Potter 8
9 Constable 8
32 Maclean 8
29 Craddock 6
24 Green 6
10 Midson 6

[JoeyBeauchamp]

Not timely at all, as we’re currenly in the mixer for a play-off place going into the New Year and I’m not going to score one player better than another one, because we are a team. Yeah, some are better than others in our limited and subjective eyes, but we’re still a team.

Up The Fooball League We Go...

God, it's a bit of fun

9 - Clarke, Maclean
8 - Constable, Heslop, Payne
7 - Batt, Purkiss, Worley, Clist, Potter, Craddock, Wright
6 - Tonkin, Kinniburgh, Green, Midson
5 - Futcher, Cole
1 - Hall

[Snake]

Not timely at all, as we’re currenly in the mixer for a play-off place going into the New Year and I’m not going to score one player better than another one, because we are a team. Yeah, some are better than others in our limited and subjective eyes, but we’re still a team.

Up The Fooball League We Go...

God, it's a bit of fun

9 - Clarke, Maclean
8 - Constable, Heslop, Payne
7 - Batt, Purkiss, Worley, Clist, Potter, Craddock, Wright
6 - Tonkin, Kinniburgh, Green, Midson
5 - Futcher, Cole
1 - Hall

Ok, I’ll join in and give them all a 10. Ditto for the other 6-8 players that we don’t yet know about that CW will no doubt bring in before the end of the season.

[Long John Silver]

1 Clarke 8
2 Batt 7
3 Tonkin 6
18 Kinniburgh 6
23 Purkiss 5
22 Worley 7
6 Wright 8
30 Futcher 4
8 Heslop 7
14 Hall 5
11 Clist 6
28 Payne 6
17 Cole 4
15 Potter 7
9 Constable 8
32 Maclean 8
29 Craddock 5
24 Green 5
10 Midson 5

[Old Abingdonian]

My thanks to 12 contributors. Adding my own marks, and changing marks outside the range to 4 or 9, means are as follows:

1 Clarke 8.2
2 Batt 6.6
3 Tonkin 5.9
18 Kinniburgh 6.4
23 Purkiss 5.9
22 Worley 6.8
6 Wright 8.0
30 Futcher 5.4
8 Heslop 7.0
14 Hall 5.2
11 Clist 7.5
28 Payne 7.2
17 Cole 4.8
15 Potter 7.3
9 Constable 7.8
32 Maclean 8.5
29 Craddock 6.1
24 Green 6.1
10 Midson 6.5

A remarkable degree of agreement on Clarke, Wright, Clist, Heslop, Cole, Constable and Maclean. Futcher (to the eye, no stats!) splits opinion most.

So, Mr Wilder, if you read this thread:

put Cole and Hall out on loan return Futcher
sign Maclean
play Batt and Kinniburgh rather than Purkiss and Tonkin

Anyone else want to have a go?

[Dartford Ox]

I find it odd that Clarke scores so consistently highly. Surely it must be because he has no significant competition and thus becomes an automatic pick.

I don't doubt his ability as a shot stopper/blocker but he is just a flapper when it comes to crosses and is far too error prone.

He needs some stiff competition.


Incidentally, why wasn't Eastwood in the squad? Is he that insignificant.

[Old Abingdonian]

Eastwood not in because only the hardy souls who clock up reserve games can have a valid opinion.

[Snake]

OK. I'll have a go.

1 Clarke 8
2 Batt 6
3 Tonkin 6
18 Kinniburgh 7
23 Purkiss 6
22 Worley 7
6 Wright 8
30 Futcher 6
8 Heslop 7
14 Hall 4
11 Clist 8
28 Payne 7
17 Cole 6
15 Potter 8
9 Constable 8 (Looked so much better yesterday with Maclean down the middle and him going down the channels at inside left or right)
32 Maclean 9
29 Craddock 5
24 Green 7
10 Midson 8

Midson 8, Craddock 5. You're joking, right ?

Cole a 6. What's the thinking there ?!

Crikey Boogie, there's me thinking you knew a bit about football.

Midson is NEVER an 8. I'd have Batt as a 7 and Cole as a 4, (a massive disappointment), Green and Tonkin as 5's ( both been poor).

Apart from that reasonable analysis.

For once I agree with you.

Midson is never an 8.

[Boogie]

Snakey boy you beat me to it.

One word........LOL

[Sackcloth Ox]

Midson 8, Craddock 5. You're joking, right ?

Cole a 6. What's the thinking there ?!

Crikey Boogie, there's me thinking you knew a bit about football.

Midson is NEVER an 8. I'd have Batt as a 7 and Cole as a 4, (a massive disappointment), Green and Tonkin as 5's ( both been poor).

Apart from that reasonable analysis.

For once I agree with you.

Midson is never an 8.

Smart arse.

[Sideshow Rob]

Futcher has returned to Bury according to Wilder in his post match interview today.

[Swissbloke]

Also heard a rumour that Beast and Deering are back tomorrow, not from one of the usual accurate sources though!