With The National League confirming this week that there will be no more league games played this season due to the Coronavirus pandemic it is probably timely that I have spent the last few days working on a variety of metrics to try and rate each Notts player for the season that quite possibly never was.
Without access to individual stats such as tackles, dribbles, pass accuracy, shots saved etc I have had to consider the stats that work for all positions whilst considering the team element.
Data I have collated this seson includes games and minutes played, goals and assists, clean sheets and PPG.
I have created weighted calculations for each of these elements, for each player rated. It's quite apparent that forwards and attacking midfielders might score higher than defensive players so I had to consider this in the metrics as well as making sure that calculations that involve player minutes on the pitch don't overly favour those that have played the most over the duration of the season.
Having considered all of these aspects I was able to formulate a system that rates players as fairly as possible whilst ensuring their contributions are rewarded accordingly.
Players scores are calculated for each of the disciplines mentioned above. There is no maximum score as it depends on too many factors but as an example the highest rating achieved was 6.66 so although some of the ratings for those at the bottom of the table look quite low you do have to consider the context of the scoring and that they may have played most of their minutes/games during a bad run of results.
Please remember that these are not my own personal, potentially subjective ratings but ratings derived from statistical data collected throughout the season relating to both individual and team performance.
Only players with 90 minutes or more playing time have been included, even if that 90 minutes is over several games.
And so to the ratings. Firstly the following players did not register enough minutes to be rated:
Kane Hemmings
Matt Tootle
Remaye Campbell
Jake Kean
29. Sam Graham - Rating: 2.06
Sam joined on loan from Sheffield United after the opening day defeat at Eastleigh and was thrown straight into the mix in the home game against Stockport County where he partnered fellow debutant Connell Rawlinson. Unfortunately injury was to bring a halt to his time at Notts just as he was starting to find his feet at the heart of the Magpies defence.
28. Declan Dunn - Rating: 2.33
With 163 minutes under his belt, Dunn made 3 appearances for the Magpies at the beginning of the season including being named in the starting line up for the Barnet game before going out on loan to Grantham Town.
27. Nathan Tyson - Rating: 2.39
Tyson made 18 appearances for Notts scoring once, in the 5-1 win over Chorley way back in August. The experienced striker had gone to Chesterfield on loan.
26. Sean Shields - Rating: 3.15
Shields joined the Magpies on a season long loan from Ebbsfleet in early September and has made 19 appearances in 976 minutes on the pitch. The lively midfielder has 1 assist to his name which came in the 2-0 win at home to Torquay Utd.
25. Ross Fitzsimons - Rating: 3.21
A keeper that has been out of favour at Notts this season with just 4 appearances and was the main protagonist in the most unusual of circumstances when recalled from his loan at Chesterfield to play against, Chesterfield, arguably his best game in a Notts shirt.
24. Pierce Bird - Rating: 3.47
The young defender has appeared 11 times this season accummulating 281 minutes whilst contributing to 5 clean sheets and a personal PPG of 2.09. Maybe would have hoped for more opportunities this season and was recalled from a loan spell at Grantham Town.
23. Jim O'Brien - Rating: 3.60
A firm fans favourite O'Brien's season has been hampered by two nasty injuries and most of his 20 appearances during the poor start to the season. If we could calculate a rating for recovery from bad injuries he would be top of the class!
22. Ben Turner - Rating: 3.68
Like O'Brien, Turner has suffered with injury this season.When playing he has shown his strength and experience and has netted twice, however a PPG of just 1.30 and reduced match time have impacted his overall rating.
21. Joe McDonnell - Rating: 3.76
Drafted in on the back of Slocombe's injury and Fitzsimons on/off loan affair with Chesterfield the AFC Wimbledon keeper has had a steady start after making his debut in the 2-1 away win over Yeovil in the FA Trophy.
20. Zoumana Bakayogo - Rating: 3.78
'Zoum' has managed 1,351 minutes in 17 appearances for the Magpies this season. He has chipped in with an assist in the 2-1 FA Trophy win over Dagenham and has a PPG average of 1.88.
19. Regan Booty - Rating: 4.23
A technically gifted midfielder with a wand of a left foot has struggled with injury. However 2 goals and 7 assists in 23 appearances is not to be sniffed at. Booty has a PPG average of 1.65.
18. Dion Kelley-Evans - Rating: 4.49
DKE started the season at right back for Notts featuring in the first 9 or 10 games before losing out to Richard Brindley. However the energetic young fullback, who has re-established himself in recent games, has pitched in with 2 assists and has a healthy PPG average of 2.04.
17. Alex Lacey - Rating: 4.57
A relative late comer to the squad joining the Magpies in November 19 Lacey has shown he is a solid and composed centre back and has enjoyed a good partnership with Connell Rawlinson. A couple of goal contributions would have seen him much higher in the table. PPG average 2.46.
16. Richard Brindley - Rating: 4.65
27 Appearances, 2 assists, a goal of the season contender and a PPG average of 1.78. It's safe to say this established right back has the game to be an influence all over the park.
15. Joel Bagan - Rating: 4.66
The highly thought of Cardiff City loanee joined the Magpies in February. With just a few appearances and 263 minutes on the pitch Bagan boasts a 100% win ratio, a 100% clean sheet ratio and a PPG average of 3.0!
14. Scott Wilson - Rating: 4.78
Like Bagan Scott Wilson has benefitted from joining Notts at the beginning of a good run of results. 4 Appearances, 113 minutes, 1 goal and a perfect PPG average of 3.0 all contribute to a positive early impact.
T13. Adam Long - Rating: 4.86
4 Appearances, 337 minutes, 4 wins, 3 clean sheets and a winning goal at Fylde, the promising Wigan Athletic loanee has certainly hit the ground running for the Magpies.
T13. Sam Slocombe - Rating: 4.86
The first choice keeper joined Notts in the summer with his contract at Bristol Rovers having expired. With 12 clean sheets and a PPG average of 1.73 Slocombe has proved to be a safe pair of hands but injury means he hasn't played since January.
11. Damien McCrory - Rating: 4.91
The experienced defender has proven to be a bit of a utility player this season covering at CB as well as his favoured LB position. With over 2,600 minutes in 30 appearances, a PPG of 1.73, 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 yellow cards and 1 red card it's been an eventful season for the Irishman.
10. Sam Osborne - Rating: 4.92
It's fair to say this has been a breakthrough season for the Notts youngster. Seemingly unfancied by Ardley at the start of the season he was finally given his chance away at Boreham Wood and took it with both hands scoring with a great solo effort. Since then 3 goals, 3 assists and a PPG average of 1.93 has seen him creep into the season's top ten.
9. Michael Doyle - Rating: 4.98
Club Captain and a player that divides opinion it's difficult to ignore his contribution to the team, or indeed his sending off's. That said a PPG average of 1.83, a couple of assists, an injury time tap in from half way and 13 clean sheets have done much to keep his overall ratings up.
8. Wes Thomas - Rating: 5.18
Seemingly favoured alongside Kyle Wootton for most of the season it is difficult to ignore Thomas' individual contribution to the team which includes 36 appearances, 10 goals, 4 assists and a PPG average of 1.88.
7. Kristian Dennis - Rating: 5.28
Despite making most of his appearances from the bench Dennis has still managed to prove himself the clubs most efficient goal contributor with a goal/assist every 89 minutes played. 15 goals, 6 assists and a PPG average of 1.72 for this popular striker.
6. Callum Roberts - Rating: 5.30
Probably one of the Magpies most exciting signings of recent times the 23 year old former Newcastle man has made an immediate impact since joining from Blyth Spartans at the end of January with 3 goals, 3 assists and a PPG average of 2.00.
5. Tom Crawford - Rating: 5.38
A creative midfielder who had a successful spell at Fylde in the National League last season, losing in the play off final but winning the Trophy. A slow start and openly not favoured by Ardley early on, Crawford has had quite an impact since getting regular minutes. 2 Goals, 2 assists and an impressive PPG average of 2.73 means the young midfielder finds his way into the top 5.
4. Mitch Rose - Rating: 5.54
Another player that has divided opinion amongst fans, Rose has played the second most minutes this season and can also boast 3 goals, 5 assists and 13 clean sheets. His rating would have been higher if not for the 10 yellow cards he has accumulated and he has a PPG average of 1.68.
3. Connell Rawlinson - Rating: 5.64
The battling Welshman has become a firm fans favourite since joing from Port Vale in August. With 38 appearances, 2 goals, 3 assists and a PPG average of 1.66 Rawlinson has assisted in 14 clean sheets. You can see why some fans already have him as their player of the season.
2. Enzio Boldewijn - Rating: 6.25
The "Flying Dutchman" has spent more minutes on the pitch than anyone else this season. He has bagged 9 goals (all tap ins) and is credited with 9 assists, the most by any player for the season. With a PPG average of 1.71 Enzio has also assisted in 13 clean sheets and it's difficult to dispute the overall contribution he has made to the team during this season's campaign.
1. Kyle Wootton - Rating: 6.66
The 23 year old target man joined Notts on loan from Scunthorpe at the back end of August making the move permenant in January. Since joining Wootton has been pretty much ever present for the Magpies accumulating over 3,300 minutes on the pitch and is currently the leading goal scorer having found the back of the net 18 times in all competitions. With 4 assists to add to his goals tally he is the most influential player up front but has also contributed to 14 clean sheets for the team and has a PPG average of 1.86.
So there you have it, Kyle Wootton currently sits top of the pile closely followed by Enzio Boldewijn and Connell Rawlinson.
Newcomer Callum Roberts is already making waves and Tom Crawford appears to be making his point.
Now we wait to see if a decision can be made over how the season is finalised and if play off's can still be played.
I hope you've enjoyed this article, please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and any social media shares would be very much appreciated.
Thanks for reading,
Richard
COYP!