John's Ratings Page 2001
As in all of John's pages, to make it easier for people who are returning, I will add new bits at the top and date them too.
A reminder of my 'rules' - must play 5 games before 'qualification'
Scale: 0-2 do not exist
3 unbelievably awful (never yet awarded)
4 a Bodley at Heybridge
5 not very influential,was he playing?
6 moderately successful, good in parts
7 solid performance
8 pleasingly good
9 undeniably excellent
10 a Charlton performance
Many faults in my ratings (e.g. subs get a raw deal if they only appear for 2 minutes and fail to get near the ball) and totally subjective but, hey, it's only a bit of fun (especially if you are a player reading this!). So after 5 games seen (all at home):
John's End of Season Table with a few interesting points on the season.
FINAL RATINGS - the top 12
(After seeing 33 games this season)
Number in brackets = games seen
1 Roberts (28) 736
2 West (7) 714
3 Smith (31) 706
4 Terry (30) 700
4 Charlery (17) 700
4 Hooper (8) 700
7 Heffer (25) 696
8 Mc Gavin (26) 692
9 Vickers (27) 689
10 Hill (15) 687
11 Shipp (29) 686
11 Janney (29) 686…….. ……very closely followed by the
remaining usual suspects
Well, Robbo was always going to be my Player of the Season from a long way out. Apart from being a larger than life character Mark Bright enjoyed interviewing, his displays this season were always solid and often spectacular. His season reminded me of Goth's when we got to Wembley - when the defence was breached our 'keeper was there. And who'll ever forget the goal at Basingstoke which eventually made the Ipswich game possible? Just one thing, Robbo - please kick straighter next season and you'll win my ratings war by an even bigger margin! Even though our defence was less strong than last season, Mark Smith was a revelation. It was only at the end of the season when the games caught up with him and he slightly lost form. Westy is clearly a good signing (2 inspired performances at the very death) even though his position in my table owes much to only having 'made' 7 appearances. There are several 'enigmas/ mercurial beings' for me this year. Paul Terry is one. He never looked to me to be totally fit, one minute a magic flick the next a pass to no one in particular. Still could be a real star I feel. And then Mr Charlery. I like(d) him even if his arrival did seem to disrupt our passing style as many others have said. He was still very influential in most of the games I saw him in and did score some crucial goals e.g. at Basingstoke. Work rate really isn't everything. We challenged this year because we had a proven goal scorer in Mark Stein, the Jimmy Greaves of Dag and Red 2001/2! Perhaps being rather anonymous for sections of some games resulted in him not even being in my top 10 (more likely a problem with my view of games after all these years!) but I still love the guy (although not as much as Steve Mc.!) and hope he stays. Otherwise where do we get another goal machine? Heffs was great for most of the season, I felt, despite some yellows and reds! And I well remember people querying his worth on the Forum in the not too distant past - shame on them! Ashley was certainly 'up for it' this year! Great attitude, would have finished higher if not for some headless chicken episodes and loss of health/form/fitness at the end. McGavin is a class act which we only occasionally saw - I am sure most of those 26 appearances were for less than 90 minutes. The 2 strikes against Morecambe are another of the seasons' highlights. Danny Hill is my next enigma! Once offered a new contract how he came into his own! A key to success or otherwise next year, I reckon. Wonder goal against Stalybridge - the most spectacular strike of the year? Shippy and Janners had solid seasons (and finished exactly level after the same number of games in my ratings!). Danny must wonder what his natural position on the pitch is now; some of his 'roving' games at the end were magnificent and showed a real leader in the making. Even if Janners wasn't totally consistent throughout there were some gems in there, particularly against Exeter. Of those outside my top ratings many still played well whenever called upon. Mark Rooney was always a dependable defender as was Lee Goodwin, even if this was not one of his best seasons, again affected by injury at inopportune times. I felt a little sorry for Goths playing so few games but he did well enough in the games I saw him in. Junior suffered from not being fit early on but was clearly getting stronger and stronger towards the end of the campaign with performances to match - still one of my favourite players. I have never been totally convinced about Danny Hayzleden but have a sneaking suspicion he could really make significant progress next season (especially as all the left-footers have gone!) especially if he learns to tackle like his dad! Difficult to comment on those who made only a handful of appearances in my presence (e.g. I saw Steve Vaughan once) but…Tim Cole I felt for with his injuries. It was only after his return from loan at Billericay that he began to look his true self. I am always sad to see players depart especially when they have been as loyal and inspirational as Jason Broom. How he has managed to keep going at this level after suffering so many injuries is amazing. Can't say how much pleasure his performances over the past 11 years have given me. Thanks, Jason! Last season Mark Brennan looked a class above until he got injured. He never seemed to regain full fitness after that as far as I could see. Some magic performances will stick in the memory, though. Matty Jones must be one of the most unfairly maligned players I have seen. I am sure he would say this wasn't his best year but the criticism he received, much bordering on the racist, appalled me. He was always a trier and gave his all. 'We' seem to have fallen out with Mr Hooper, which is a shame. He added some thrusting stuff to our displays late in the season. So the season's HIGHLIGHTS for me: · The goals mentioned above especially Robbo's at Basingstoke · Taking the lead through Junior against Ipswich · The climax of the LDV matches against Orient and Luton · Signing Stein and Charlery · Garry Hill plus Terry Harris, what a team! · Taxi from Bristol to Stoke Newington on way home from Exeter! · Team spirit and involvement with the supporters · On the pitch, building on what we achieved last term · Contributing to the Forum and meeting some 'new' supporters · Financially, the club living in the real world LOWLIGHTS include: · No Lee Matthews and little (!) Tim Cole · Idiots on the Forum (usually from over 150 miles away) · Some idiots (not dealt with) on the terraces/in the stands (see above) · The proposed hike in ticket prices for Division 3 had we made it · SKY messing around with us - money or no money it's not on · Learning from the depths of South America our 1-5 vs. Telford · The spectre of play-offs next season · Getting so close but so far ….a blessing though??? · The Lincolnshire comedian · Arriving at Hereford to find a stand blowing in the wind Equality of highs and lows disguises the fact that this has been a magnificent season - we really have been spoiled these past 3/4 years. Here's to a consolidation of these successes, both on and off the pitch but let's not get too greedy or complacent - just remember where we were just 2 years ago and the enormous leaps forward that have been achieved in that time. Take nothing for granted.
These are John's penultimate ratings, obviously he sent them to me months ago!
RATINGS AFTER 30 GAMES
1(1) Roberts 732
2(2) Smith 718
3(-) Hooper 714
4 (3) Charlery 700
5(5) Terry 696
6(4) Vickers 692
7(-) McGavin 691
7(6) Heffer 691
9(-) Rooney 678
10(10) Janney 677
Figure in brackets = position after 25 games seen
Not too many changes over the last 5 games (which included 4 wins but also the thrashing at Barnet). If Robbo stays injured then he'll definitely win this year. Smudger's continual dependable presence is mirrored by his second place and into the frame comes Hooper, albeit with only 7 games under his belt/in my eyesight. McGavin enters the top 10 after a super-sub appearance against Morecambe (how many 90 minute games have he and the likes of Matt Jones, Jason Broom and Danny H actually played this season?). The other notable entrant is Rooney who always does well whenever brought in to the side. I am still a bit at odds with my own marks, as the mercurial Terry seems not to me to be our 5th best player this year. Likewise the equally mercurial Danny Hill is just coming in to his own over the past few games. Mostly forwards drop out of my top 10 (well, Stein and Mc Dougald - Shippy's utility now isn't he?) - amazing that our leading scorer, without whose goals I am sure we would be mid table or lower, is not even in my top 10 at the moment!! Nurse the medication, please!
Updated 23rd February but ratings sent to me 14 February
RATINGS AFTER 25 GAMES
1 (1) Roberts 741
2 (3) Smith 717
3 (7) Charlery 714
4 (4) Vickers 713
5 (5) Terry 709
6 (2) Heffer 705
7 (9) McDougald 687
8 (-) Shipp 686
9 (9) Stein 685
10 (8) Janney 683
In truth we haven't been very good over the last 5 games so the marks are lower reflecting that. Robbo stays top with some solid performances which we, perhaps, should be grateful for given what's happening in front of him!! Forwards still come towards the bottom of my current leading 10 -Steino at 9! I'm not sure I agree with my own marks!! But it's clear that I see Charlery having a prime influence, a positive one, up front. Again the juxtaposition of Heffer and Terry slightly mystifies me as Heffs has played well whilst Terry isn't up to his form of last season, I feel. The 2 recent additions haven't played enough games to feature (my 'rules' dictate 5) but Hooper would be a mile clear of everyone based on his 2 games so far. None of our left sided midfielders appear in the top 10 perhaps highlighting our weak area? Finally I've scrubbed Lock's record out as he has now officially departed -his 'final' score was 689 so he would be 7th on my ratings currently!!
Updated 23rd February but ratings sent to me 14th January, Sorry.
AFTER 20 GAMES
1 (3) Roberts 759
2 (1) Heffer 743
3 (1) Smith 730
4 (7) Vickers 726
5 (4) Terry 722
6 (4) Jones 714
7 (-) Charlery 710
8 (10) Janney 706
9 (-) McDougald 700
9 (6) Stein 700
Positions in brackets = after 15 games
Continuing his 'surge' last time from 9th to 3rd, Robbo now hits top spot after some more excellent performances. Ashley's moving up strongly, too: it's a shame those bookings result in breaking his run of appearances. Forwards fill the 'bottom' 4 places in the top 10 (and Shippy is next) with Junior and Kenny, in particular, making a mark. Steino suffers because of that injury - looking forward to seeing both him and Matt Jones back soon.
25th November
Ratings after 15 games
Figure in brackets = position after 10 games seen
1 (2) Smith 7.40
1 (1) Heffer 7.40
3 (9) Roberts 7.17
4 (5) Jones 7.14
4 (6) Terry 7.14
6 (3) Stein 7.08
7 (-) Vickers 7.07
8 (-) Shipp 7.00
9 (9) Lock 6.89
10 (7) Janney 6.85
So Smudger and Heff my men of the season so far - Smith is the only player to have played in every game I've seen so has a slight edge over Heffer who I have seen in 10.
Roberts surges up the rankings after some inspirational performances in goal and upfront! Midfielders Terry and Jones feature highly as does new midfielder Shipp, who I think looks excellent in that position so far. Notice Lock still keeps a top 10 position - I did feel sad to see him go…or has he? Bubbling under are all the usual suspects led by Charlery and McGavin.
25 October 2001
Here's my ratings after 10 games seen: (Positions after 5 games in brackets)
1 (-) Heffer 7.33
2 (1) Smith 7.3
3 (-) Stein 7.22
4 (-) Broom 7.2
5 (-)Jones 7.14
6 (-)Terry 7.11
7 (2)Janney 7
8 (-) Rooney 6.8
9 (5)Lock 6.75
9 (-)Roberts 6.75
9 (-)Hayzleden 6.75
Comments:Despite 2 sendings off I have Heffer as my top player so far closely followed by the excellent Smith. Not surprisingly with all his goals Stein is third. Perhaps slightly more noteworthy is Broom and Jones from the midfield in the top 5.16 players qualify (having played 5 matches) so only Brennan,Shipp, McGavin,Vickers and Goodwin are outside the top 11 above.Charlery and Hill yet to feature in enough games.
Must add the usual rider that its a totally subjective view of 10 games, 9 of which were at home and I am not influenced at all by Carpetsense MOTM's -I am sane!!
25 September 2001
1 Smith 7.4
2 Janney 7.0
3 Shipp 6.4
4 Brennan 6.2
5 McGavin 6.0
5 Lock 6.0
Can't read too much in to this but clearly Smith is proving a magnificent signing and Janners has started the season very well.Heffer and Roberts also performing strongly but only 4 games so not in the table yet. Next listing after 10 games.