James Jones
Apps 24 (4) Goals 3
Best Outing – Rochdale (A)
James Jones is something of an understated attacking midfielder, a workmanlike player at times, but also prone to moments of the utter spectacular. His goals have all been crackers, one each in three different competitions, but I do feel that his one against Rochdale was the pick of the bunch, no matter how spectacular the others were. He came on against Forest Green in the FA Cup and owned the game, but has been reliable and dependable in midfield during matches we have been forced to graft hard to win. Recently, with a little spell out, he’s had a bit of a breather and as with any successful side, if you slip out of contention then you have to work hard to get back in. I don’t doubt he’ll be working hard, but I do wonder if it might be a week or two before he gets his chance once again.
Ben Daniels says – Jonah has had some fantastic moments. I wonder though if he will play less in the second half of the season as McGrandles’ star rises.
Rob Beezley says – He is the unsung hero and offers the team so much, ball winner and not sure why Crewe let him go
Mark: B+
Conor McGrandles
Apps 19 (6) Goals 1
Best Outing – Portsmouth (A)
Conor McGrandles has been excellent for his last two appearances, one of which was as a sub, and when you write a half-season review it is easy to be clouded by that. His workrate has always been excellent and yet somehow, I think it has gone unnoticed to a degree. When I look back over the ratings you have given him, they tend to be lower than one or two other players, but I don’t think that is anything to do with ability. I’m not sure I ever expected him to be a headline grabber, instead, I felt we had a functional player, the sort a team can’t do without, even if fans don’t see it. Luckily, that manifested itself in a superb outing at Pompey this week, where he had our best chances, cleared off the line and laid on the goal for Morgan Rogers. Now he is back in the side I expect him to get a run, but I think perhaps him and James Jones will regularly swap between now and May. They are slightly different players in their approaches, but very similar in terms of their overall impact on the squad.
Dan Norton says – McGrandles is the busiest midfielder I’ve ever seen at Sincil Bank, I have no idea what style of footballer he is but whatever he is he’s effective.