Season 2010/11 Player Ratings - Part 2

Player ratings, part 2.

MIDFIELDERS 

Carl Baker 5

Honest enough player, but hasn’t got the ability he seems to think he has. His ‘dancing feet’ are actually quite slow and he gets tackled or dispossessed with alarming frequency. On the odd occasion it works it does look good though. Doesn’t cover the defenders well-enough and gets pushed off the ball far too easily. Hoped to see more of what he seemed capable of at Stockport playing behind the front two when Thorn brought in the diamond, but didn’t particularly impress. 

David Bell 5.5

Seems to go missing for huge chunks of games, but capable of the occasional moment of absolute brilliance. Looks better in the middle than out wide, where he isn’t pacy enough and his crossing not good enough, but needs to make more of an impact on a regular basis. 

Lee Carsley 6

Was brought in to add some experience and leadership to the centre of midfield, and generally did that before getting injured, but didn’t do much with the actual football when he had it. 

Sammy Clingan 5.5

Another frustrating, injury ravaged, season for the Northern Irish international. Couldn’t make much of an impact under Boothroyd as most of the time the ball sailed over his head, but was more influential with Thorn at the helm. 

Carl Deegan 6

Only featured as a sub in the final game after a season long injury. 

Michael Doyle 5

Typical Doyle, running around but not actually doing a lot other than annoying the opposition and fouling them. Was signed by his old mate Mickey Adams at Sheffield United, where the two of them managed to help get the club relegated. 

Aron Gunnarson 6.5

An improvement on last season but still not managing to reach the heights of his debut season. Covered a lot of turf but still gets involved with petty squabbles and needs to control his temper a bit better. Looks more of an attacking threat now with runs into the area, but rarely seems to manage to put the chances away. 

Michael McIndoe 5.5

Unfavoured by Boothroyd, but was given small cameos under Thorn - didn’t show enough to warrant a new contract. 

Gary McSheffrey 6.5

Not the same player that left for Brum, having lost a yard of pace, but had a purple patch early on and can still cause problems. Looked good at the tip of the diamond under Thorn. 

Conor Thomas 6.5

Made his debut as a sub in the cup win over Palace, before starting the game against Birmingham. Didn’t make a huge impact in that game but didn’t make any real errors either. Went on loan to Liverpool to ease a cash crisis, but the permanent transfer is rumoured to be off. 

Danny Ward 6

On-loan from Bolton, didn’t really provide the extra forward impetus we were looking for but was solid enough. Got injured and a row over his loan fee was allegedly part of the reason for the transfer embargo. 

FORWARDS 

Jonson Clarke-Harris 6

Became the youngest City player ever when he came on as a sub against Morecambe. 

Freddy Eastwood 5.5

Started brightly then faded away, with the others strikers favoured to him. Infuriating at times, as he appears to have the ability but spends far too much time outside the box for a striker and doesn’t show the urgency to get onto crosses. 

Lukas Jutkiewicz 6.5

Didn’t look that great initially – strong and willing but lacking nous and composure. Settled in as the season went on and started to cause problems for opposition defences, but needs to improve his finishing a bit. 

Marlon King 7.5

Extremely controversial signing after his release from prison, but undoubtedly a classy player at this level. His control wasn’t as good as I’d expected but once he got fit the goals started to flow. Picked up a couple of red cards due to his undisciplined temper. 

Roy O’Donovan 5

Free signing by Boothroyd after watching him at Hartlepool last year, but looked way out of his depth even against Morecambe, and was barely used after.  

Clive Platt 6

Surprise signing from Colchester caused huge problems initially as defences didn’t know what to do with him, but once they’d figured him out he wasn’t anywhere near as effective. Old fashioned lump of a forward suited to holding the ball up in Boothroyd’s long ball game, but has no movement and very little skill. 

Calum Wilson 6

Came on as a sub out wide against QPR, but didn’t make much of an impact. Sent out on loan to Kettering where he didn’t exactly score a hatful.