York City npower League Two season review: Rating the Minstermen

Tom Allan
Given a baptism of fire on his full debut at Northampton but, other than a few nervy moments, responded well. Great height for a centre-back and good on the ball. Will only improve as he gets stronger.
Appearances: 1 (4) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Matty Blair
Never hit the heights of his first season at Bootham Crescent. But, after being recalled to the starting line-up by Nigel Worthington for the club’s vital last three games, became a key man in the fight for survival. Will always frighten teams with his pace and energy.
Appearances: 39 (10) Goals: 7 Rating: 7/10

Danny Blanchett
Deemed surplus to requirements pretty swiftly by Gary Mills despite the latter’s claim that he would be a better left-back than the departed James Meredith. His brief outings did little to support that assertion. Looked vulnerable to pace and not very imposing physically.
Appearances: 2 (2) Goals: 0 Rating: 5/10

Lee Bullock
A dream return to his first club got off to the worst possible start when he conceded the penalty that denied City an opening day Capital One Cup win at Doncaster. Struggled, thereafter, to make an impression in midfield. Another summer signing quickly jettisoned by Mills and was loaned out to Gateshead and Stockport during the campaign.
Appearances: 2 (12) Goals: 0 Rating: 5/10

Clarke Carlisle
Shelved his retirement plans to take up Mills’ offer of a short-term contract. Commanding in the air and a good organiser but reckless with his tackling at times, conceding needless free- kicks. Upset the club when his plans to leave for Northampton in the transfer window were leaked and was subsequently sent off to Sixfields sharpish.
Appearances: 13 (1) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Josh Carson
Worked hard for the club during a loan spell cut short by injury. Looked comfortable on either flank, in the centre of midfield or even at left-back. Good attitude. Appearances: 5 Goals: 0 Rating: 7/10

Jon Challinor

Used sparingly by Mills with Parslow and Oyebanjo understandably preferred in possibly his strongest position – right-back. Was given a game there at home to Gillingham and performed well before breaking his leg. Generally enthusiastic and reliable in possession. Appearances: 6 (15) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Ashley Chambers
Equalled his goal tally of last season to finish the club’s leading marksman. The team never lost a league game when he was on the scoresheet and his goal at home to Plymouth seemed to breathe confidence into the side. A match winner on his day but prone to dips in form, which affect his influence on games. Appearances: 40 (2) Goals: 10 Rating: 7/10

Michael Coulson
Unfortunate to have his season wrecked in mid-October by knee ligament damage. Displayed a calm head in front of goal, as well as close control and intelligent movement from the flanks. Did well in comeback cameos during the final games of the season.
Appearances: 15 (6) Goals: 5 Rating: 7/10

Richard Cresswell
Fought for every ball played up to him during a popular return to Bootham Crescent on loan from Sheffield United. A key man in the transformation of the team’s fortunes during the final month of the season before being recalled by the Blades. Displayed genuine passion for the club.
Appearances: 5 Goals: 2 Rating: 7/10

Chris Doig
Spent long spells on the sidelines. When fit also seemed to struggle with the pace of League Two football. Overlooked for selection by Worthington when he preferred to call on teenage rookie Allan at Northampton for a pivotal match in the season.
Appearances: 15 (1) Goals: 0 Rating: 5/10

Ben Everson
His outings were so fleeting, it is difficult to make a judgement on the former Iceland premier division forward. Looked eager on his two appearances and managed to cause problems in the opposition penalty box on both occasions. Quickly loaned out to Gateshead by Mills though.
Appearances: 0 (2) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Jamal Fyfield
Fought back to re-establish himself at left-back, having fallen behind the likes of Blanchett and Charlie Taylor in the pecking order. Impressed in the first few months of the season but had several very shaky performances when the team began to struggle, resulting in him losing his place to O’Connell. At his best when dynamic going forward but needs to be stronger in the challenge and less tentative.
Appearances: 33 (4) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Michael Ingham
Another highly-consistent campaign from the ex-Northern Ireland international who looks set to break Tommy Forgan’s all-time clean sheet record for the club next season. Given more opportunity to display his shot-stopping skills than in previous years and impressed in that department. Errors with his handling and kicking are hard to recall too.
Appearances: 51 Goals: 0 Rating: 8/10

Oli Johnson
Looked capable of the unpredictable during his brief opportunities in the first team. Injury problems meant he was not fit for most of his City career though and he was subsequently released before the end of his contract by Mills. Frustrating season for both him and the club.
Appearances: 1 (6) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Danny Kearns
Very reliable in possession and capable of ghosting past opponents. His decision making perhaps needed a little work, particularly with his final pass in the attacking third. Later joined Rotherham after Peterborough recalled him from his loan with the Minstermen.
Appearances: 11 (1) Goals: 0 Rating: 7/10

Scott Kerr
Only provided glimpses of the inspirational form that had seen him be so influential for the team during the previous campaign. Rarely dictated the pace of games, as he had done prior to his knee injury in 2011/12. Was beginning to look like a forlorn figure before a back problem caused him to miss the team’s last seven games.
Appearances: 29 (2) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

David McDaid
Imported from the League of Ireland in January and surprisingly handed an 18-month contract by Mills. Looked over-awed and lacked sharpness. Will need to work hard in pre-season if he is to kickstart his City career.
Appearances: 0 (4) Goals: 0 Rating: 5/10

John McGrath
Experienced pro who did his best for the club. A good deliverer of set-pieces. His central-midfield partnership with Kerr lacked energy though.
Appearances: 9 Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

David McGurk
Injury and Mills’ surprising reluctance to recall him to the team restricted his involvement to 11 appearances. Fortunately, he was in the side when it mattered most and a record of only five goals conceded with him on the pitch speaks volumes of his defensive ability. Still reads a game impeccably and rarely mis-times a tackle.
Appearances: 11 Goals: 0 Rating: 8/10

Paddy McLaughlin
Could not build on his successful first season with the club and failed to influence many games. Struggled to impose himself in a physical sense. Goal return was way down on his tally for 2011/12.
Appearances: 29 (4) Goals: 4 Rating: 5/10

John McReady
Another injury victim after a broken collar bone in September. Displayed an ability to deceive people with his jinking demeanour on the ball. Could not make a first-team squad under Worthington however. Appearances: 0 (4) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Curtis Obeng
Sent back to Swansea early in his loan spell. Did not look as strong at right-back as Oyebanjo and Parslow. Also failed to convince when moved into midfield.
Appearances: 4 Goals: 0 Rating: 5/10

Jack O’Connell
Made the odd mistake but never let that affect him and came back stronger the next match. Great attitude for a loan player and belied his teenage years. Blackburn Rovers have a real prospect on their hands and he was just as accomplished when he switched to left-back from centre-half.
Appearances: 18 Goals: 0 Rating: 8/10

Lanre Oyebanjo
A season interrupted by injury again but had the measure of most left wingers when fit to play. Due to his spells on the sidelines, there is a sense that City still have still not seen the best of him. Would certainly be good to see him bombing forward more, in his previous manner, next season.
Appearances: 24 (8) Goals: 0 Rating: 7/10

Dan Parslow
Crucial member of the team due to the intelligence and commitment to the cause that allows him to fill a number of positions with equal comfort. Solved countless problems during the campaign, filling in as a full back on both sides of the pitch and in midfield, where the team always looked more combative with their Welsh warrior as the anchorman. Wears his heart on his sleeve and willing to fight to the bitter end.
Appearances: 48 (2) Goals: 1 Rating: 8/10

Tom Platt
His first-team credentials were overlooked by Mills despite goalscoring heroics from midfield during loan spells with Harrogate Town. Given his debut after Worthington recalled him to Bootham Crescent and was, thereafter, a mainstay during the final run-in. A real grafter who, for a teenager, relishes a physical battle.
Appearances: 6 (1) Goals: 0 Rating: 7/10

Michael Potts
Spent the first four months of the season on the transfer list before being given a surprise chance away to Rochdale and responding with two goals. Has undoubted ability on the ball and reliable in possession, but sometimes disappeared from the action and lacked strength in his shooting and tackling.Another who never featured under Worthington.
Appearances: 12 (3) Goals: 3 Rating: 6/10

Michael Rankine
Never matched the effort he put into his first game back at Bootham Crescent after returning to the club on loan from Aldershot Town.Troubled the defence of champions Gillingham on that night but, thereafter, his standards slipped. The striker’s fitness levels looked poor too and an injury suffered last season or a lack of game time does not excuse that.
Appearances: 5 (3) Goals: 0 Rating: 5/10

Adam Reed
Brought in on loan from Sunderland by Worthington and played an important role in rejuvenating the team’s midfield play. Weighed in with two important goals and timed his runs into the penalty box well. Tigerish in the tackle too despite his slender frame and finished the season undefeated in a City shirt.
Appearances: 6 Goals: 2 Rating: 7/10

Jamie Reed
Contributed well from the bench in the FA Cup games against AFC Wimbledon and also impressed at Port Vale. Struggled to make an impact otherwise. Finished the season without a goal in 18 games, including a loan spell with Cambridge.
Appearances: 4 (16) Goals: 4 Rating: 5/10

Alex Rodman
Dangerous at times when running at opponents with the ball but drifted out of matches for long periods. His goal threat was also poor. Sent back to parent club Aldershot by Worthington as the new manager looked for better loan options.
Appearances: 12 (6) Goals: 1 Rating: 5/10

Chris Smith
Began and ended the season in inspirational form and, aside from a little mid-campaign wobble, wore the captain’s armband with distinction. His determination and aggression in defence became infectious during the crucial run-in. Worthington also tapped into his aerial threat at set-pieces with the skipper scoring more times than any other player under the new boss with three goals.
Appearances: 50 Goals: 4 Rating: 8/10

Jonathan Smith
Puzzlingly discarded early and packed off to Luton in November by Mills despite being seemingly no better or worse than in his previous spell at the club. Still finished with just two fewer assists than Jason Walker, who headed that table. Might have been an ideal man to turn to when the season turned into a relegation scrap, although Platt and Adam Reed eventually provided the midfield energy, forward thrust and bite that was lost following his departure.
Appearances: 10 (4) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Charlie Taylor
Showed early promise following his arrival on loan from Leeds, particularly with the quality of his distribution. Looked his teenage years, though, when put under pressure in subsequent appearances. Lacked the physical strength of later loanee and fellow youngster O’Connell.
Appearances: 4 (1) Goals: 0 Rating: 6/10

Jason Walker
Taking away his three penalties, a return of six goals from open play was disappointing with one of those also literally going in off his backside. Worked hard to lead the line as the side’s lone central striker and did create seven goals for team-mates but could have hurt teams more in the final third. Rarely looked like providing those spectacular and audacious match-winning moments that made were typical of a phenomenal first three months at the club.
Appearances: 41 (7) Goals: 9 Rating: 5/10