Midfielders

Max Sanders

SW Average Rating: 6.38

There’s a running joke around me in the ground, that Max Sanders must have done something awful to Michael to not get a game. There have been times when our midfield has looked really poor, and yet Max still can’t get a game. He comes on and scores against Bowers, puts in a good performance, and since then has been marginalised again. You don’t get it, I don’t get it and by the looks of Max on a matchday, neither does he.

My Season So Far Rating: 6/10

Ted Bishop

SW Average Rating: 6.35

I once owned a Golf GTI, an aspirational motor for me that I adored. It had plenty under the hood and it looked a cut above the other cars on my street. The problem was, I could only take it out once every so often because it just cost too much to run. When Ted Bishop is on form, he’s that Golf GTI, tearing around the field and looking Championship quality. Sadly, the one game he does that is offset by five or six where, like my Golf, he’s on the driveway doing little. What I would say is I thought he looked much better than many gave him credit for against MK Dons, and his goals against Cheltenham showed he has skill in abundance. Get him fit and surrounded by the right players, and we’re in business.

My Season So Far Rating: 6/10

Conor McGrandles

SW Average Rating: 6.01

Conor McGrandles was your Player of the Season in May, but just a few short months later he looks as lost as some of the new signings. I guess when we’re judging new players, we have no benchmark, so they’re just instantly either ‘great’, or ‘rubbish’. With Conor, it’s harder, because we know what he can do, but are often left wondering why he isn’t doing it. He gives the ball away far more than he did last season and he’s definitely cost us games (Wimbledon is one that jumps to mind). Because he is a senior player, it makes it even more disappointing.

My Season So Far Rating: 4/10

Lewis Fiorini

SW Average Rating: 5.75

There was such excitement when Fiorini signed for us in the summer, not only from Football Manager types, but in-the-know Man City fans who had followed his progress. I confess, as September came to an end, I was thrilled with his progress; he looked neat and tidy on the ball, chipped in with goals and was improving at a rapid rate. October brought all of that crashing down, and since I think it’s fair to say he’s been virtually anonymous. People will remember his miss against MK Dons for years to come, but for me, it was the first half performance against Portsmouth, where he barely made a tackle, which sticks in my mind. There’s no doubt he’s a good player, but we’ll only see the best of him when we’re playing well; he won’t change a game on his own.

My Season So Far Rating: 5/10

Lasse Sorensen

SW Average Rating: 5.66

Purely because he is blond, and from our vantage point he looks like Elliott Whitehouse, the guys behind me have started calling him Gloves Mk 2. Oddly, I see the comparison, because like Elliott, I see a decent player in Lasse, but I’m not sure he ever brings it to games regularly enough. I think he’s been given a bit of stick by fans who have seen him give the ball away a bit, and whilst Mcgrandles has credit from last season, Lasse does not. Whilst I do think he’ll come good for us, I also acknowledge that this is an assessment of his first six months, and there’s not very much I can say that’s massively positive (like for most players).

My Season So Far Rating: 5/10

Liam Bridcutt

SW Average Rating: 6.78

Liam Bridcutt is the best player we have on our books, and when he’s fit, we see that. I know people get angry when he’s out, calling him sicknote, but he’s not in the same bracket as some. We’re a better team with him in, he adds gravity to our midfield and can help spring attacks with clever play. Of course, we’ve struggled and so you can’t say he’s been brilliant as nobody has, but I’ll put it this way; the current squad without Liam Bridcutt would be in a lot more trouble than we’re in right now.

My Season So Far Rating: 7/10