League One side Lincoln City have had an incredible season so far. Michael Skubala’s side sit in second place and are just six point behind leaders Cardiff City, as they look to chase down promotion to the Championship. Here we take a look at how the Imps players are faring this season. Please note: only […]
League One side Lincoln City have had an incredible season so far.
Michael Skubala’s side sit in second place and are just six point behind leaders Cardiff City, as they look to chase down promotion to the Championship.
Here we take a look at how the Imps players are faring this season. Please note: only players with 10 appearances or more will be included.
Keeper Wickens is sometimes used as a scapegoat, his handling can sometimes be questioned.
Despite this, the former Fulham man has gained 11 clean sheet in 64 appearances for Lincoln City.
Included in our League One team of the season, Darikwa has been captain fantastic and alongside Reach, uses his full back area to push forward and create, whilst also being solid defensively.
Darikwa also contributes with goals and has scored three goals and assisted a further one, including a double against Peterborough United on 4th January. ‘Ten’ never gives the Imps less than an 8 in the ratings consistently.
Lembikisa turned up at Sincil Bank (sorry the LNER Stadium) as a back-up to Darikwa and he played 11 games during his loan.
Despite playing those games, Darikwa never looked like being ousted from his position. Lembikisa wasn’t bad, not at all but he was just up against it whilst at Lincoln City. Wolves recalled him recently.
Sonny Bradley has been a revelation, our answer to John Terry, a solid defender who will stick his head in anywhere, whether scoring or defending.
Bradley replaced Paudie O’Connor in the summer and has hit the levels of the Irishman, if not bettered.
Teams dread playing Tom Hamer because when the ball goes out for a throw-in, Hamer jogs over casually and launches it into the box. His throws are an arsenal for Lincoln City.
As well as this, he has built up a solid partnership with Bradley and defensively he looks solid.
‘Jacko’ as he’s affectionately known, has been really unlucky with injuries this season, and the form of Tom Hamer hasn’t helped his cause either.
One of those injuries was a concussion earlier in the season and Hamer came in and stamped his authority on the position.
This being said, the Imps know they have a ready-made replacement should Bradley or Hamer become injured.
The second inclusion from our League One team of the season. Reach was a free agent when he signed for Lincoln City! Nobody has any idea why!
He has hit the ground running with the Imps and has made that left back spot his own! His goal against Barnsley was class, if you haven’t seen it go take a look!
He’s just as good going forward as well and has been utilised as a winger in a few games!
Towler never lets anybody down and being a utility defender, he has been known to slot in at centre-back, left-back and even further up the field.
Like Jackson, he’s a squad player but when you have players like Jacko and Towler not able to break into the team then you know you’re doing well!
Jefferies had surgery and has only recently come back into the fold, he’s done well though and has slotted back into the matchday squad like he never left!
He’s another that is a brilliant utility player, he’s played right-back, centre-mid and further up the field. He never lets anybody down.
McGrandles struggled to get noticed a bit last season, Ethan Erhahon outperformed him, but with the fellow Scot now having left for Bolton, the 28-year-old has been solid!
Alongside Bayliss he will scrap and create in that CDM role.
Bayliss is just as solid at CDM or CAM, like McGrandles he digs in and will scrap to win the ball back!
He’s also a creator and this could be why they work so well together, with both covering different attributes!
Ukrainian Varfolomeev joined Lincoln City at the start of the season for a club record fee. Already we are seeing why that sort of money was splashed out.
He’s like McGrandles and Bayliss rolled into one and has stepped in whilst Bayliss has been out injured. Like the other two, he can scrap and create and is more than ready when needed. He is only going to get better.
Hackett has been one of the players of the season. He struggled for starts last season and often came off the bench but this season he’s been a star!
He has scored seven goals and assisted a further two in that winger position.
This makes him the highest scorer at Lincoln City.
Moylan is a livewire, and with the other forwards at the club it works! Sometimes even Moylan himself doesn’t know what he’s going to do!
He’s played 15 games, despite a big injury this season, and scored two goals and three assists.
A friend of mine was at the Harrogate game that Moylan got injured at in August and pointed him out as the player of the match.
Ring has been seriously unlucky!
He never lets anybody down but with players like Moylan, Hackett, Street, Draper and Collins ahead of him, he just can’t seem to get into the team.
With this being said he has played 16 times this season but only 647 minutes. In that time he’s got three goal involvements, and is always ready to step in.
Street returned to the Imps following a solid season with Doncaster Rovers in League Two last season.
He’s played 32 times this season for the club and is always dependable, scoring six goals and assisting a further two. Him and Draper have stepped up since James Collins season-ending injury.
Draper has his critics, much like Wickens and a lot of that is down to a lack of goals.
His stats are the same as Street’s though, played 32 and scored six and assisted two.
Draper does a lot of the dirty work up top, chasing and hurrying defenders when they are on the ball. Since House’s injury he has taken on the role that he vacated as a harasser.
Collins experience is unrivalled at the Imps and the club are supporting him following his season-ending knee injury.
The Irishman has played 44 games across the last two seasons, scoring 16 and assisting two.
House has been very unlucky, he was making that position behind Collins his own until his injury against Port Vale.
Up until that, he had scored four goals and assisted one in just 18 games.
House is due back soon and will be looking to force his way back into the side.
If the Imps can continue this run of form, could they be celebrating becoming a Championship side in May?!
