Now that the dust has settled on what has been a disappointing season for the Whites, Focus’ John Clarke takes a look back at the player performances over the season giving each player a grade for their endeavours. Who has come out top of the class and who has been completely failed?
Stats Overview
Players Used (PL): 32 (28)
Most Appearances: Mitrovic (39)
Top Scorer: Mitrovic (11)
Most Assists: R. Sessegnon (6)
Goals For: 40
Goals Against: 86
Cards: 71 yellow / 2 red
Avg. Possession: 49.2%
GOALKEEPERS
SERGIO RICO
Appearances (PL): 32 (29)
Clean Sheets: 6
Goals Conceded: 59
Although Jermaine Jenas didn’t realise, Rico held on to the spot once he’d got it for the rest of the season. He was very hit and miss, but with the way we defended it must have been hard for a keeper to keep his confidence. Some man of the match performances at the end of the season couldn’t disguise his inability to catch the ball or punch it effectively. Guess it’s adios and gracias from us.
Performance Grade: C-
MARCUS BETTINELLI
Appearances (PL): 8 (7)
Clean Sheets: 0
Goals Conceded: 22
Our Betts stepped up and to start with did okay. A penalty save at Brighton and a call up to the England squad augured well but then a succession of three games where we let 12 goals in led to Slav dropping him to the bench. A knee injury led to an early end to his season and any hope of recovering his spot. A fair chance he’ll be our number one in the Championship next year though.
Performance Grade: C
FABRI
Appearances (PL): 2 (2)
Clean Sheets: 0
Goals Conceded: 5
Arrived to fanfare in the summer but lasted all of two games before being dropped and not seen again. Hard to judge on that basis and strange the goalkeeping coach he’d worked with left pretty much straight away. Little doubt he’s in the money wasted category though
Performance Grade: D
DEFENDERS
JOE BRYAN
Appearances (PL): 29 (28)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Enthusiastic and decent going forward as well as seeming to be a grounded bloke. However, he was found wanting defensively on too many occasions where if he didn’t leave a man unmarked, he found one to play onside. If Tony Adams had been alongside him, he’d have been bollocked into shape by now.
Performance Grade: C
TIM REAM
Appearances (PL): 35 (32)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
From zero to hero and back again and now dwelling in the hinterland somewhere in between. Not having a settled partner didn’t help but he didn’t look a shadow of the man he was last season. With a solid centre back alongside, he should be back to his best in the more forgiving environment of the Championship.
Performance Grade: C
MAXIME LE MARCHAND
Appearances (PL): 29 (26)
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Quickly got his own song from the faithful but seldom seemed to be on the same hymn sheet as his defensive colleagues. He looks like a capable footballer but sometimes made avoidable errors and got outmuscled in a way he might not have to contend with in France. Could still be a decent asset next year if he irons out these wrinkles.
Performance Grade: C-
DENIS ODOI
Appearances (PL): 34 (31)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Denis gets a lot of unfair criticism in my book. Maybe the step up in class to the PL was a lot for him but he was far from our worst defender on most occasions. Always gives his all and is possibly our quirkiest character since Moritz Volz or John Pantsil. Glad he’s back for another tilt at the Championship.
Performance Grade: C
ALFIE MAWSON
Appearances (PL): 15 (14)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
At a rumoured £25 million we were hoping he’d be a Hangeland or a Coleman. As it was with his proneness to injury, we got a Geoff Banton instead. On limited evidence, you can see a pedigree centre half is in there, but he needs a sustained run of games to prove it. Owes us a big season next year.
Performance Grade: D
HAVARD NORDTVEIT
Appearances (PL): 5 (5)
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
With rumours of Gary Cahill coming to save us in the January transfer window the news of Nordtveit’s signing left me pretty underwhelmed. Some four months on that feeling has probably only magnified.
Performance Grade: D
CYRUS CHRISTIE
Appearances (PL): 31 (28)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Cyrus is an honest hard-working player but is probably a little short of the class required at PL level. Right back was a problem area all season and only served to remind us how good Ryan Fredericks was.
Performance Grade: C-
TIMOTHY FOSU-MENSAH
Appearances (PL): 13 (12)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Arrived with a reasonable reputation and anyone on Man Utd’s books has to be good, don’t they? However, the way their season unravelled shows this is no longer necessarily the case. Tim proved this by incorporating a number of unforced errors into most performances. Apparently, we tried to send him back in January. I’ll be astonished if Scott Parker wants him back from Manchester for a reprise next season.
Performance Grade: E
STEVEN SESSEGNON
Appearances (PL): 2 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
As mentioned, the right-back spot was an Achilles heel all season. Very disappointing that the other Sess was not ever given a chance to demonstrate his undoubted potential; particularly once all hope was lost. Hope he gets a crack of the whip next season.
Performance Grade: C
MIDFIELDERS
TOM CAIRNEY
Appearances (PL): 33 (31)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Our captain got injured early in the season and by the time he recovered full fitness the manager who had got the best out of him was gone. Ranieri then banished him to the right wing or out of the side completely as the season disintegrated. Scott Parker’s appointment saw him regain his confidence and form and with a new contract signed we can hope to see TC inspire another promotion push next year.
Performance Grade: B-
CALUM CHAMBERS
Appearances (PL): 32 (31)
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Signed on loan from Arsenal ostensibly as a defender but came into his own when played as the holding midfielder. He quickly adapted to the role and by the season’s end looked as if he’d been playing there his whole life. His commitment as a loan player was exemplary and his consistent performances have many touting him as our player of the season.
Performance Grade: B+
JEAN MICHAEL SERI
Appearances (PL): 34 (32)
Goals: 1
Assists: 3
Probably the summer signing that excited me most in view of the clubs allegedly interested in him. I was hoping we’d turned up a gem in the shape of Ngolo Kante. However, although we saw sparks, he never fulfilled his potential and seems like he’ll be off to pastures new, where knowing our luck he’ll look like a superstar.
Performance Grade: C-/D
ANDRÉ-FRANK ZAMBO ANGUISSA
Appearances (PL): 25 (22)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Red Cards: 1
Looked hopelessly out of his depth in his early season performances. I suppose all the chopping and changing in personnel and manager didn’t help but he didn’t seem to offer any value to the side; certainly not anywhere near the rumoured price tag. However, once Scott Parker put a little faith in him he looked a man transformed. Has the physique and game to own the Championship next season if he sticks around.
Performance Grade: C
KEVIN MCDONALD
Appearances (PL): 16 (15)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Red Cards: 1
The big money arrivals pushed K Mac to the periphery under Slav and Ranieri’s appointment cast him further into the wilderness. Parker’s appointment looked like sparking a renaissance but Big Frank’s sudden discovery of form soon put him back in the shadows. Even money on a summer departure or the restoration of the Cairney/ Stef Jo/K Mac midfield axis in next year’s Championship.
Performance Grade: D
STEFAN JOHANSEN
Appearances (PL): 13 (12)
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Like K Mac he was consigned to the margins and rarely had a chance before being shipped to West Brom on loan. Hard to imagine if we’d stuck with our fun boy three from our promotion season midfield we’d have fared any worse. With Stef Jo’s contract being extended they might have a chance to do it all again next term.
Performance Grade: D
IBRAHIMA CISSE
Appearances (PL): 5 (3)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Has rarely had a chance since arriving at the club and no matter how badly we fared last term he still remained at the back of the queue. Hard to see a future for him at the club.
Performance Grade: E
HARVEY ELLIOTT
Appearances (PL): 3 (2)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
A cameo appearance at Millwall at 15 alerted us to the prodigal talent and once Parker was appointed he wasted no time in putting him in the matchday squad on a regular basis. His little spell off the bench against Newcastle showcased his attributes. With the right nurturing we could have a real star on our hands.
Performance Grade: B-
MATT O’RILEY
Appearances (PL): 1 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Getting rave reviews from various scouts with rumours of a move to the Bundesliga in the offing. Hasn’t had a real chance to break through to the first team set-up and now appears to have been overtaken in the pecking order by yet younger blood. A loan out to gain experience looks the likely option unless he can force his way into Parker’s thinking.
Performance Grade: C-
ATTACKERS
ALEKSANDER MITROVIC
Appearances (PL): 39 (37)
Goals: 11
Assists: 3
The Serbian spent most of the season as our only real striker and as the campaign unfolded the responsibility seemed to wear him down. His lack of electric pace is more of a drawback at PL level but it would be very nice if he hung about and banged in 20 odd goals next season. Seems to like us as much as we like him so hopefully the fire will blaze again next year.
Performance Grade: B
RYAN SESSEGNON
Appearances (PL): 36 (33)
Goals: 2
Assists: 6
We all hoped that Sess would take the step up to PL level in his stride, but he seemed to lose his way and his confidence as the season went on. Ranieri shamefully mismanaged him which only made matters worse. A real shame if we’ve seen the last of him at Fulham but if he does move on, we’ll all wish ‘one of our own’ well.
Performance Grade: C-
RYAN BABEL
Appearances (PL): 16 (16)
Goals: 5
Assists: 4
Our best signing of the season. Pity that it was in the January window rather than the summer. A whole year of him might have made a marked difference to our chances of survival. Oozed class and athleticism and will no doubt earn a decent contract somewhere following his spell with us.
Performance Grade: A-
FLOYD AYITE
Appearances (PL): 19 (16)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
A bit part player this season but likely to feature much more in the Championship next year where he’s shone for us before.
Performance Grade: C
ANDRE SCHURRLE
Appearances (PL): 25 (24)
Goals: 6
Assists: 0
A few wonder goals couldn’t make up for the fact he didn’t fit the bill for us. We were in no position to allow for a luxury player whose words and deeds suggested he had no heart for a relegation battle.
Performance Grade: D
LUCIANO VIETTO
Appearances (PL): 22 (20)
Goals: 1
Assists: 4
Flitted around to little or no effect in most of his infrequent outings which as the season wore on almost dried up completely.
Performance Grade: D-
ABOUBAKAR KAMARA
Appearances (PL): 15 (13)
Goals: 5
Assists: 0
Penaltygate and his subsequent misdemeanours saw him shipped out to the naughty step. Debatable whether Parker will be ready to welcome him back to the fold next year.
Performance Grade: D-
NEESKENS KEBANO
Appearances (PL): 9 (7)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Had the odd few outings as a substitute but never had the same effect as he had off the bench in the Championship. His extended contract might mean more game time for him next season.
Performance Grade: C-
LUCCA DE LA TORRE
Appearances (PL): 2 (0)
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Another one of our youngsters with undoubted potential who has rarely had a chance to show it in a white shirt. Has to break through soon if he’s to shine at Fulham. A loan out or a permanent transfer looks more likely at present
Performance Grade: C-
LAZAR MARKOVIC
Appearances(PL): 1 (1)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
When we needed players in January to come in and hit the ground running, we signed a player who’d hardly kicked a ball all season. He maintained the status quo with us. Only Jari Litmanen has probably achieved less amongst our list of mid-season window signings.
Performance Grade: F
RUI FONTE
Appearances (PL): 1 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Slav didn’t use him much in the Championship so it was no surprise to see him loaned out after his one appearance in the league cup. Fond memories of his enthusiastic celebrations at Wembley and might be useful back in the Championship?
Performance Grade: D
