Crewe Alex 2025-26 Half Term Grades

We're back for another round of half term grades. This time I'm squeezing them between games only a few dates apart, as I want to release them bang on the halfway point in the season, which is after Newport but before Cheltenham.

As ever, I only give out grades to players who've made either 1 start or 5 sub appearances in the league. Cup competitions don't count. So that discounts Omar Bogle, Shilow Tracey, Joel Tabiner, Fin Roberts, Phil Croker, Jordan Hodkin, Stan Dancey, Luca Moore and Olly Armstrong. That left us with 22 players to grade. So, let's get started at the bottom and work our way up.

D - Not good enough, time to move on if possible

Jay Mingi

Maybe it's harsh to put him here given the lack of opportunities he's had. But when he has appeared in games, it hasn't gone very well. He's been very average in both of his league starts and is lack of fitness has been apparent since he joined. He was supposed to come in and challenge for the RB spot, but in the end Bell has had to put players like Calum Agius and Charlie Finney in there instead. His loan spell is likely going to come to an end in January and in a few years, you'll forget he ever played for the club.

James Connolly

A woeful defender. He can't pass the ball, he can't head it in the same direction consistently, he struggles against balls over the top, he struggles to win physical battles. And then we have the goal costing mistakes, which are becoming a weekly occurence right now.

Charlie Finney

Look, it's been apparent for a while that Finney isn't good enough. I get why they kept him around, as they hoped he would be cheap depth. But whilst he's been just about ok on a couple of occasions, he's been directly responsible for several goals against as well, not great when he's only made 12 appearances. He's another they need to look to move on from in January. Loan him out, cut up his deal, whatever. But he shouldn't still be in the squad come February 1st.

James Golding

Another possibly harsh rating, but on the whole I've not been impressed. He had a couple of solid games against Notts County and Harrogate earlier in the season, but the fact that James Connolly has kept him out of the squad says a lot. He wasn't the type of player they needed in the summer window and his all round contribution hasn't been what you'd hope for from a player coming from a Championship club. Send him back and look for better in January.

Jack Powell

What I liked about Powell was his durability and whilst the ACL injury he suffered wasn't his fault, I feel like he's never fully recovered from that. He's had a groin injury this season and he's become a bit part figure. The reality is, the club erred by extending his deal last January. He should have been sent on his way in the summer. If the club are being ruthless, they should ask him to move on next month and find a new home. Because he doesn't suit the current style of play at all.

Louis Moult

Chuck him into the Kane Hemmings bin for poorly timed signings. Yes, he was clearly decent a few years ago, but his abilities have declined and he's provided nothing meaningful since he arrived. I'm not sure what the Alex thought they were getting, but I don't think it was this. He's another they need to shift in January and either roll with what they've got or find a replacement for. He'll be turning out for tier 7 sides within the next 12-24 months, he's not an EFL player anymore.

Adrien Thibaut

Maybe harsh given he's only appeared 4 times and spent most of the first half of the season out on loan. But there is a reason he's only appeared 4 times and that's because he isn't good enough. He proved that on the whole last season and his contributions this season can be summed up by his stupid lash out and red card against Bristol Rovers. Send him back out on loan and keep him there until his deal expires. He should not be leading the line for an League 2 side, it's that simple.

Matúš Holíček

I agonised over where to put Holicek. His season has just not gotten started as he's had 2 surgeries to clear up either 2 separate injuries or the same one twice. Either way, he's not had the campaign he was hoping for so far. So when you see him with 0 goals and 0 assists from 12 appearances, that context has to be factored in. But then I can't exactly put him in the C category can I? So he ends up here. If he can shake off whatever has been bothering him he'll be like a new signing, to use the old cliche.

Sam Waller

His debut was impressive for sure, but since then he's struggled. He can't catch a ball, which is an issue as a goalkeeper I find. He was responsible, in part, for each of the last 4 goals the Alex have conceded and I can't think of many decent saves he's made in that stretch either. The fact that it took him 19 games to get into the side and he's looked so unimpressive since coming in says this was a poor signing.

Dion Rankine

Like a few in this squad, what on earth did the club think they were getting when they signed him? I think we've seen flashes on ability, but there is nothing to suggest end product is anywhere close from him. Which genius signed off on signing him to such a lengthy deal when he had no track record of success in the EFL exactly? He's turning into a disaster of a signing.

C - Acceptable, but could be better

Conor Thomas

I know I say the same things with Thomas, but I have not and will never rate him. I get he does some defensive stuff well and provides a steady presence in the middle. But in possession he's not existent and doesn't provide a goal threat, either scoring or creating. He's still injury prone and he still can't complete 90 minutes consistently.

When he's played he's been generally ok I will say that, but I just think they can do better in January and I hope they find someone to come in and take his spot.

Jack Lankester

Also generous, especially given he's had a similar season to Holicek and Matus is in the lower category. The only thing putting Lankester higher is that he had a great game away at Harrogate and got an assist on Sanders' winner. They need him back fit in the worst way, because whilst their attack has coped ok without him, the boost he could give them if he could get back fit and playing alongside Tezgel, March, Sanders and O'Reilly would be huge.

Calum Agius

Maybe harsh, maybe generous. In the end, I think this is fair. He's a 2nd year pro and he only turned 20 in September, which is easy to forget. 1 assist and 3 goals isn't a bad return when you factor that in. He also wouldn't have started as much as he has done has had Holicek, Lankester, Tracey or Tabiner been fit. But that being said, his all round impact has been negligible, he's been non-existent creatively and has 1 goal since August. Not ideal given he's been in the starting line up every week.

Tom Booth

I think Booth is what he is, which is an average L2 keeper. I don't see much potential for him to play higher, but then I think he's being held against the standard of loanees we've had in the past 3 seasons, Harvey Davies aside. He's been solid in most games, but poor in a couple, with some big gaffes. Did he deserve to lose his spot after the Newport game? Not for me, but then I wasn't outraged by it either, which says a lot.

B - Good season, but can he find another level?

Reece Hutchinson

Hutchinson has been exactly what the Alex hoped he would be I expect. A consistent starter at LB and he's added goal contributions as well, something even Max Conway struggled with last season. The only downside is his 6 yellow cards and the fact that he probably won't be able to start as many games in 2026 given how many he played for Sligo before he signed. But other than that, he's been decent for the Alex and I don't have many complaints.

Mickey Demetriou

He's been generally good this season, with only a few mistakes. But what is becoming clear is that his powers are on the wane. He's no longer the goal threat he was and his durability has started to dip as well. Which is fine at 35 going on 36. Still, he's been badly missed in the defence following his injury at Oldham. They do need a succession plan though.

Lewis Billington

Mr Dependable, for the most part. My issue is he doesn't give them enough going forward to be a RB. Why they persevere with him in that spot when him moving across to RCB would be perfect alongside Demetriou, I don't know. He's had a few wobbles covering at LCB, but on the whole he's been very underrated in his play this season and I'd be looking to extend his deal and keep around for the next couple of seasons.

Owen Lunt

It's easy to forget he came in to the season with a few doubters and question marks over whether he would even be a regular starter, but now nobody questions it. There are still some questions over where his best position is, as he sometimes lacks the output to be a natural number 10 and doesn't seem to understand his role in a deeper position. But on the whole he's had a really good season. 3 assists and 1 goal is a fine return, especially given he only turned 21 in September. He's developing nicely and if he can find a new level in 2026, the Alex will have a real asset on their hands.

A – Fantastic, No Notes

Tommi O'Reilly

Given little was known about O'Reilly when he joined and how little a track record he had, he's been excellent for them thus far. He can have those moments where he drifts in and out of games, but he's been their most creative player by a long stretch, ranking 3rd in L2 in chances created and 2nd in the assists table with 7. Durable(touch wood), he's been an ever present on the team sheet and if Villa allow him to stay the full season, he should reach double figures for assists fairly comfortably.

Emre Tezgel

It was a slow start for Tezgel, in the league at least. We had to wait until game 14 for him to show what he could do, but boy when he did get going, he is/was unstoppable. 8 goals in 8 games in an incredible return and he could have had double for all the chances he's missed. He's too good for L2 and the 2 big hopes now are that Stoke let him stay for the full season and that his ankle injury isn't a serious one. Keep him and keep him fit and the Alex have a real shot at promotion.

Josh March

I think expectations were low when March signed. One good season for Harrogate wasn't wowing anyone, but he started off his Alex career with a bang, with 3 goals and 4 assists through his first 10 games. A hamstring injury saw him miss 5 games, but he's bounced well and has another goal to add to his tally. 8 contributions by the halfway stage is fine with me. Do something similar in the next 23 games and I'll be very happy.

Player of the Half Season

Max Sanders

Only him being sold(please no!), an injury(god forbid) or a dramatic loss of form could stop Max from being crowned the player of the season at this point. He's been fantastic from the opening day. Whilst his set pieces remain his biggest weakness, every other element of his game has been outstanding. His passing, movement in midfield and even goal contributions have been noticeably better since last season. He dominates games and has 7 goal contributions to his name already. He's had an excellent half season and if he continues in the same manner in the 2nd half of the season, he'll be heading to L1 next season even if the Alex don't.