Who stood out for the Imps


By Nathan Jackson
May 22 2004

With the season now over for the Imps, we look at all the players and review their season and their chances of being here next season as we look to get a playoff place at minimum.

  • ALAN MARRIOTT
  • Alan had his best season for the Imps yet. He was the only ever present involved in the side and his brilliant saves had kept the Imps in many games and proved to be the turning point. However, earlier in the season, Bradford tried to sign him so we know the higher divisions are watching him and the summer could prove to be the time that the popular keeper finally gets to play at a level worthy of his talents.
  • MARK BAILEY
  • No one really knew how much Bailey meant to the side until the first few games of the season, it turned out to be no coincidence that when Bails returned from injury, the goals started pouring in for the Imps as his marvellous crosses lead to some excellent goals. The defender scored 3 goals this season, one in the LDV Vans 1st Round against Telford, another in the playoff second leg against Huddersfield and a 70 yard goal in the final minute against Carlisle which ended any realistic chances of the Cumbrian’s surviving. Bailey should still be around for next season.
  • PAUL MAYO - NOW LEFT THE CLUB
  • Paul was unfairly seen as “the weak link”, even putting in 8 goals wasn’t good enough for some fans. Fans were on his back from day one and to be honest, I for one am glad he went to Watford but not in a bad way, it’s good for his career as he really was an excellent player other than the odd mistake. He only missed one game before going to Watford and that was for being sent off at Swansea and missing the Huddersfield game. Good luck at Watford Paul.
  • BEN FUTCHER
  • Futch had a disappointing season compared to the standards he set last season. After ending top scorer last season, Futch’s total went down a very lowly 3, 2 of which were scored past Bristol Rovers. Although Futch still remains useful for his aerial advantage, he isn’t very effective for getting the ball into good positions as the majority of times this season, every time the ball got to him, even if there was no-one in sight, he’d simply hoof it straight to their goal keeper and we’d have to start all over again. With changes expected in the summer, it is hard to see Futch keeping his place in defence unless he improves his overall ability.
  • PAUL MORGAN
  • You never realise how important your captain is to you until you lose him to injury. Morgan didn’t play any of the last 5 games and it’s no coincidence that City failed to keeper a clean sheet in that time and failed to win, losing 3 times. Morgan yet again proved his is the backbone of the team and especially the defence as anytime he has been absent this season, we haven’t kept a clean sheet, infact, the record of goals conceded when he hasn’t played goes, 1,3,1,3,3,2,2. Despite being ignored by Northern Ireland yet again, Morgan is a firm fan favourite with the Imps fans due to his impressive and seemingly flawless displays as he has made very few mistakes in the season. I fully expect him to still be here next season and back as captain.
  • BEN SEDGEMORE
  • Sedge’s impact was more off the field this season as his programme notes detailing the antics of the squad was voted as the most popular article in the programme. Sedge didn’t really play a part until a freak injury to Butcher mid season saw Sedgemore suddenly go the rest of the season (bar 1 game) as an ever present in the first 11. Sedgemore soon made it realised he wanted to desperately score for the Imps as he has been here the 3rd longest but still hasn’t scored for the Imps. However, despite some brilliant displays, in the current 5-2-3 system, I can’t see him being an major threat to the 2 better midfielders at the club in the form of Butcher and Gain.
  • RICHARD BUTCHER
  • Butcher went from a good player to a great player this season until a freak injury saw him only start 2 games after new years but before that, the only player who had a bigger impact, was Gary Fletcher. Butcher scored arguably, the best goal saw in Division 3 this season with a mammoth 35 yard screamer at Mansfield. When Butcher got injured, it was no coincidence City’s form started to go out of the window and many people say that if he hadn’t have got injured, then City’s excellent home form at the time would have continued instead of turning into a run of hapless performances. Butcher is a truly excellent player and arguably, the best player we have picked up on a free transfer for a long time and hopefully next season, he will prove one of the major players in a hopefully, very successful season.
  • SIMON YEO
  • Super sub started the season very badly, not only for getting sent off in the first game, but not scoring until the 3-1 win over Huddersfield in mid October. However, Yeo is one of only 2 players to come of this bench this season to score (the other being Wilford). Yeo is an excellent striker, however, whenever he starts, he never has quite the same effect as out of his 13 goals, only 5 came when he started. Yeo will always be a useful substitute but will probably never get a long run in the first team from now on as whenever he starts, he’s almost never the same player as when he’s a sub.
  • DENE CROPPER - HAS NOW LEFT THE CLUB
  • Dene was one of those players who would give you his all, but would never get anything for his efforts. When he left the Imps, no-one really noticed as the other strikers were bang in form and 4 strikers in form, don’t leave much room for someone, who at the time of leaving, hadn’t scored for 18 months. Dene was a great lad but not that great at football and would be more suitable as a defender due to his size. Out of all his appearances this season, his best came against Mansfield where he was unlucky to score but his most astonishing miss, came in the last minute against Huddersfield when a volley from 2 yards out, went over the bar.
  • PETER GAIN
  • Gainy is one of the those players who he’s either going to blow you away or he’s going to be crap, it’s black and white, there isn’t a grey area. Gainy could turn a game easily but whether it was in your favour was a totally different situation. This case wouldn’t more prevalent than in the FA Cup game against Southend where he tried to be too clever near the City’s box and ended up losing possession to Bramble who scored the first goal in a 3-0 victory despite City being well on top at the time. However, when Gain is in form, there simply isn’t a better player in the division. All his 7 goals were from a master class of perfect finishing whether it being from his spectacular acrobatic effort against Hull or the delicate chip against Carlisle. Gainy’s talents are deserving of Division 1 and hopefully he can make it with City but I can’t picture him being here after next season if the Imps fail to go up again.
  • MATT BLOOMER
  • Bloomer is the most deadly scorer from a yard out you’ll ever see with a massive 2/2 over the season including 1 against Manchester City, however, this was one of his only saving graces this season. Granted he tried but he was only used to cover Morgan but Bloomer is a totally different player and isn’t up to the class the Bloomer is. Bloomer would struggle to hold down a first team place is Morgan was to be seriously injured and with his contract being up this summer, I can’t see him being here next season.
  • SIMON WEAVER
  • Now you see me, now you don’t. That was what Weaver was saying when Jamie McCombe came to the Imps and all of a sudden, a few games rest for Weaver turned into a dropping to the subs bench on a permanent basis. When Weaver did play however, he was a rock at the back and you get the feeling if a train was heading towards the Imps’ net, he’d stand in front of it. Hopefully Weaver will still be here next season but rumours are circulating that the defender wants a guarantee of first team football.
  • RICHARD LIBURD
  • To say I am not a fan of Liburd is an understatement but then again, he doesn’t care about the fans, he’s always the last on the pitch, first off it and one on it who puts in the least effort and you get a feeling he feels he deserves to be at a higher level, if this really is the case, he must be having a laugh. Liburd provided the occasional good ball which lead to goals, but that was it. He gave the ball away in bad areas and acted like he didn’t care. I’ve only ever seen Liburd do one thing to entertain the fans and that was fall over when he was about to shoot at Kidderminster. I really hope Liburd isn’t here next season.
  • GARY FLETCHER
  • If we didn’t have Fletch this season, there would be no way we’d have made the playoffs. The striker scored an impressive 18 goals this season and his leanest goal scoring spell probably came at the wrong time, when City looked on course for automatic promotion, he failed to score in the final 6 league games. However, Fletch was a truly inspiration player and whenever he didn’t play, we never really looked like winning. One of the few players this season who you could quite literally say could create something out of nothing, you only need to see his goals against Leyton Orient and Mansfield for proof of that. Fletch is the best striker I have seen whilst watching the Imps and will spearhead the Imps attack into Division 2 (hopefully)
  • MARCUS RICHARDSON
  • When watching Richardson, it’s amazing to see 2 different players at different stages of the season. He originally came on loan and was dynamite and everyone was demanding we buy him, so we did and now, a lot of fans wished we didn’t as since we signed him permanently, he has been rubbish, he’s always second to every ball, very very rarely wins a header and gives the ball away too easily. If you’ve ever seen Emile Heskey play, Richardson is less a division 3 version of him. He’ll probably still be here next season but will need to do a lot to maintain his first team place next season in the expected influx of “better” players next season.
  • FRANCIS GREEN
  • When a manager such as Keith Alexander spends £75,000 on a striker, he must be good, especially as to date, Green is the only player the Imps have paid a fee for in Keith Alexander’s 2nd spell as manager. Green is a very fast and effective striker although his goals are few and far between. I would like to see him stay as he offers a lot to the squad.
  • THE REST
  • NIALL MCNAMARA proved to be a false dawn, he looked dynamite preseason but never failed to have the same spark in the league, I would be very surprised if he was here next season.
  • KEVIN ELLISON has proved to be one of Keith’s few loanees to pay off as Ellison is one of the best crossers of the ball seen at Sincil Bank. It is unlikely we’ll sign him permanently, although, if we do, it’ll surely be a good thing for the Imps.
  • ARON WILFORD looks a very good player and won many headers and scored a well taken goal in the last game of the season. Hopefully he’ll still be here next season.
  • SCOTT WILLIS was one of those players who you like to keep in the safe so no-one could harm him but Keith seemingly lost the combination before sending the safe to Hereford. It is extremely unlikely he will wear an Imps shirt again which will be a disappointment considering he was an almost ever present last season.
  • RORY MAY is such a frustrating player, he’ll win loads in the air but other than that, doesn’t do a lot. Probably won’t be here next season.
  • KEVIN SANDWITH looks like a very good player and will probably take over the left back position next season.
  • DAVE WATTLEY never really did much on the pitch, probably won’t be here next season.
  • CHRIS CORNELLY has had a tragic season. He injured himself in pre season and hasn’t played a single game all season and has no had a relapse of the injury. Extremely unlikely he’ll be here next season.
  • PAUL SMITH had to retire after reinjuring his back in the playoff final last season.

    Bookmark or share this story with:

    •