8. Saxon Earley
Brought in from Plymouth with some promise—but it never really surfaced. After a handful of EFL Trophy outings, he vanished. Two yellow cards saw him suspended from a cup game he might’ve finally played in, which didn’t help. Injuries, ambiguity and tactical tweaks all played a part, but the simple fact is we expected more.
A recruitment miss? Probably not, on paper, he seemed a solid signing. At the time, Reeco was injured, Dylan Duffy had his gambling issue over his head, and Saxon should have staked a claim for a first team spot. However, it’s the combination of confusion and unfulfilled potential that earns him this spot.