Crewe Alex 2024-25 Half Term Grades

This season, I've refrained from giving out match grades. It felt like some took offence to them at times last season, so I held back. But I've decided to not refrain from doing my annual half term grades. So, as ever, we're back to grade every player in the 24-25 Crewe Alex squad. Now, I know we've played 24 games, but given the tight Christmas & New Year fixture schedule, this point made the most sense to release them.

With my grades, I always say that to get a grade, a player has to have made at least 1 league start or appeared in 5 league games in whatever capacity this season. So, that excluded Tom Booth, Lucas Sant, Callum Agius, Fin Roberts and Nathan Robinson.

But, that left us with 22 players to grade. So, let's start with the lowest grades and work our way up.

D - Not Good Enough, Requires Dramatic Improvement

N/A

Yes, for the first time ever, I cannot rank any player in this category. Even those players who've not appeared much or not done that well deserve a higher grade than this. So, let's move on.

C - Acceptable, but Could Be Better

Charlie Finney

It feels harsh to even give him a grade, given he's played just 86 minutes of football across 5 sub appearances. He's been ok, nothing more, nothing less. With Max Conway locking down the LWB position, Finney's opportunities are going to remain limited unfortunately. Which will likely leave him looking at virtually no senior football played come the end of the season.

Jack Powell

The Alex have been slowly sprinkling in minutes for him after his recovery from injury, but you can't help but feel the shackles need to come off and he needs to be a starter every week. He's shown in the last 2 games that the Powell of old is still in there. He's close to a B even in the short amount of minutes he's played, but I'll keep him here for now.

Lewis Billington

This appraisal has gone through a total rewrite after the game against Bromley. To be honest, Billington had dropped so far down the pecking order, it was hard to see a route back into the first team for him. But an illness to Williams and injury to Connolly presented him with his opportunity and he took it with both hands, putting in a solid display and putting up 2 assists.

He still has a future at the club if they move him away from wing back, as to me he is the right sided version of Zac Williams. Allow him to compete for a CB and stop using him out wide, where he seems increasingly uncomfortable. He's not had a great season, but he has an opening to get back into the team on a regular basis and he has to take it.

Chris Long

I've never a proponent of giving a player a bad grade just because they're injured a lot. However, it's been mostly the same story with Long, with injuries, illness and suspension restricting him to just 10 games out of 24. However, in classic Long fashion, he's been a factor when he has played, with 2 goals from those 10 appearances. As ever, you are waiting for his next injury to hit, but if(and it's a big if) he can stay fit in the 2nd half of the season, he'll have a big part to play.

Conor Thomas

He, like a few players, started the season slowly, but was growing into thing before he picked up yet more muscle injury issues in September and then October. But just as he was coming back to fitness last week, he picked up a serious looking knee injury which might curtail his season. He'll be missed, as they lack the kind of tall, physical presence he provides. But for how little he was able to contribute before his injuries flared up, I can't give him higher than this.

James Connolly

Connolly has had a mixed bag so far. He's been generally solid in the games he's played, but not spectacular and his struggles on the ball make you wonder what they thought they were getting when he was signed. He's only just turned 23 and still has a lot of time to develop and improve, so I won't write him off, but we could do with seeing more from him. Hopefully the hamstring injury he picked up against Bromley isn't too serious.

Kian Breckin

Another who I don't know what the Alex thought they were getting. As his on pitch impact has been negligible. Again, he hasn't been poor. He just hasn't played. 309 minutes wasn't what he or Man City likely envisioned for him when he came in. The Alex have talked about keeping him beyond this window, but I'd question why. Yes, Thomas' injury does mean they'll need depth in midfield, but Sanders, Holicek, Tabiner, Powell and Lunt are likely ahead of him in the pecking order.

I'd prefer they sent him back and dipped into the transfer market for a goalscoring/creative option, something Tabiner and Holicek have struggled to do consistently. A Callum Cooke/Joe White level impact player could transform their season and boost their top 3 chances. Nothing against Breckin, but this loan hasn't worked out for me. That's why he's in this category.

Joel Tabiner

I won't use the word disappointing. But we're not far off it I'm afraid. He's a starter week in week out, yet he's a non factor too often. 2 goals and 2 assists in 21 starts isn't enough for a player in his 3rd season as a starter and who has been mostly injury free. It's his lack of involvement in games which bugs me the most.

He ranks 8th in the team for average passes per game at just 21.8 and he ranks poorly in plenty of other metrics. The Alex really need for him to find an extra gear or two and start to become a difference maker week in week out for this team. Not just once every 4 or 5.

Shilow Tracey

Another contentious decision possibly. But at the end of the day, he has goal contributions in just 3 of his 20 starts this season. Which for a player who starts week in, week out, isn't enough. His last assist was almost a year ago. His last away goal was in October of LAST YEAR.

We were teased by the possibility of him finding consistency in October, but he's faded back into the player we saw last season lately. Not good enough often enough. Running a lot is all well and good, but end product is important too. We need to see more, but I'm not sure he has it in him.

Owen Lunt

I would like to put him higher, as I think what he's shown in his few appearances has been really positive. His impact off the bench at Fleetwood helped win them the game. Why he isn't getting more game time, I don't know, as I like what I see from him in terms of getting involved and trying to make things happen. Hopefully he's going to get more minutes in the 2nd half of the season.

B - Good Season, But Can He Find Another Level?

Max Sanders

Sanders has recently nudged himself into this bracket. He had a slow start to the season, as did a few others. But for the last 2 months or so, he's been excellent. His ability to get on the ball and pick a pass has been excellent to see. You'd like to see a few more goal involvements from him, but he's trending up at a quick pace and becoming one of their more important players.

Omar Bogle

Whilst injuries have restricted his availability, you can't deny his impact since he's gotten back fit. 5 goals and 1 assist in just 6 starts and 9 sub appearances is a decent total. He's seemingly much better as a starter, as 4 of his 5 goals have come from the start of games. As with a few players, keeping him fit will be vital. But he's been good in the games he's played.

Matus Holicek

I had him as a C for the longest time, but I honestly think he's nudged himself into the B category now. The last 2 months has been really encouraging from him. I've had him as their best player in 3 of the games over that time period and he's been good in several others, putting up 4 assists. He's really starting to find his feet in L2 and that's a great sign for the Alex as we move into the business end of the season.

Kane Hemmings

Like a couple of other players, he was growing into the season before an injury curtailed his involvement, which was and is a real shame. But still, 3 goals in 8 starts is a decent total and his imminent return from said injury is a welcome one. His return would give the Alex 2 big physical options to rotate between and help their attacking game, which remains inconsistent.

Max Conway

What else is there to say other than he's been fantastic since he arrived. Rock solid defensively and one of the best dribblers we've ever seen from full back. The only slight frustration is his insistence on holding onto the ball a bit too long at times, but it's a minor quibble in what has to be an overwhelmingly positive season for the young loanee. The only thing that stops his grade being an A is the lack of goal contributions. He has 2, which compared to Cooney's 5(taking away his 2 penalties) could and should be more.

Adrien Thibaut

Whilst his impact in his most recent games has diminished, you can't question how well he's done since being given an opportunity in the absence of the senior strikers. Scoring on his league debut against Newport and then providing an assist in his next game is a good return for a player that is only 20 and stepping into full time football for the first time.

Ryan Cooney

I can imagine some fans will be saying he should be in the A category. And honestly it's close. After all, he burst back into the team in September with some incredible performances and then the goal contributions started to flow. However, in the last 2 months I feel his attacking effectiveness has dipped.

Still, that's not to take away from what has been a largely excellent season so far for him. 3 goals and 4 assists and a regular name on the team sheet, he's the heart and soul of the team. A firm fan favourite, he's seen his fortunes at the club completely turn around after a tough first season. But I'd like to see him become more effective going forward once again. Maybe not to his October levels, but a touch or two more than he's managing now.

A – Fantastic, No Notes

Jamie Knight-Lebel

The impact he's had since he's come in has been huge. His dropping to the bench felt a bit strange. Was it to quell potential higher league interest in him? Was it to give a contracted player his chance in Connolly? Either way, he's back in the team and back with a bang, with 2 goals in his last 3 appearances. He's now back as an integral part of the defence and hopefully set to see out the season with the Alex.

Zac Williams

Williams has seen a huge jump in his development this season. And it's no coincidence that it's come after the switch to a 3 at the back with him slotting in at LCB. He's been excellent defensively and is part of one of the best defences in the league. The only slight nitpick would be the lack of driving runs to support attacks down the left, but on the whole he can feel very proud of the season he's having so far.

Filip Marschall

We've seen a few players have surprising seasons in a good way. But you can argue Marschall has been the biggest revelation. After a poor loan spell at MK Dons last season, his signing was met with a lot of derision from portions of the Alex fan base. But he's been excellent in almost every game he's played. You can count his mistakes on one hand and his steady for has led to 9 clean sheets. He's been excellent.

Jack Lankester

The only non defensive player to get this mark, his form has been outstanding. With 13 goal contributions in 16 appearances, he's been the Alex's best and most creative attacking outlet by a long stretch. Where they'd be without his input, I don't know, but not 2nd that's for sure. In a crowded field, he's amongst the top performers at the club. He leads the whole EFL in the combined goals & assists category per 90 minutes. And he's the Alex's for another 2 1/2 years? Incredible recruitment.

Mickey Demetriou

One horror show against Chesterfield aside, he's been the Demetriou of last season for the most part. We can discuss his lack of impact at set pieces, but that to me is the lack of other threats around him and the woeful deliveries. The stats say he's been one of the most consistent and dominant CBs in the league and at this stage, a 2nd straight player of the season and L2 team of the season award looks likely. Could we even see a CB win the L2 Player of the Season award? I don't see why not if he continues his form into the 2nd half of the season.