Crewe Alex 2024-25 End of Season Grades

We're back with the Alex's end of season player grades. I know the season hasn't finished, but the game with Walsall won't affect my thoughts on any player, regardless of how good or bad they are in that final fixture. Plus, with a 3 part season review coming next week AND likely a piece on the clubs retained list, I won't have time to fit this in. So I'm releasing it now.

I'll start by saying that for the first time, we're about to see a dramatic drop in a lot of players grades from where I put them after the Bromley game in early January. Which is ironically where things started to go off a cliff. x players saw their grades drop. I've listed players half term grades in brackets so highlight the movement.

As ever, with my grades, I always say that to get a grade, a player has to have made at least 1 league start and/or appeared in 5 league games in whatever capacity to get a mark. So, that leaves out Tom Booth, Lucas Sant, Fin Roberts and Nathan Robinson from the senior players. But Callum Agius gets a grade and we have 2 new entrants in Tom Lowery and Connor O'Riordan. Players who've improved their grade will get green, orange if they haven't moved, red if they've been downgraded and blue if they are a new entrant.

So, that gave us 25 players to grade. With some reluctance, let's get into it:

D - Not Good Enough, Requires Dramatic Improvement

Jack Powell(C)

I thought Powell was on his way back in January, but since then he's fallen off a cliff. Why were they so quick to extend his contract given he's 31 and coming off a long term injury? He's not a total write off, but his lack of use by the management in recent weeks to the point that he can't even make the squad says to me they've totally lost faith in him. Were he out of contract this summer, would you keep him? I don't think I would. This was totally avoidable and a classic heart over head moment from the management.

Chris Long(C)

Round and round we go. Yes, this is harsh given he's their 2nd highest goal scorer, but the off field issues couple with his mard arse attitude and cupping his ears to Alex fans make him a thoroughly dislikable player. Said goals don't excuse his constant injury issues either. I really, really, really, really hope he's released next week.

Kian Breckin(C)

I was probably too generous in giving him a C back in January, because in truth his impact was virtually non-existent when he did play. This isn't entirely on him and more on it just being a loan move which didn't work out. They happen all the time and I hope he can find a club next season where he can flourish.

Omar Bogle(B)

Little did we know that his 2 goals against Bromley would be the last goals he would score this season. He's been unlucky with injuries, but as the Alex's form has declined, so have his performances. So bad have they gotten, Lee Bell has banished him from the squad altogether, which is not a great sign when they are badly struggling in front of goal. Is there any way back for him? Hard to see one at this point. I had misgivings about him when he first joined and sadly, those fears have been realised. Are they going to be stuck with an aging, injury prone malcontent who they can't offload? I sure hope not.

Ryan Cooney(B)

Sigh. Who knew that his October form was as good as it was going to get? He reverted to his 23-24 form in 2025 and then kept on digging. He was an utter liability in games, with his discipline going right out the window thanks to frequent yellow cards and 1 red, plus numerous defensive mistakes. His likely final act as a Crewe player was a penalty miss in a key game against Bradford. He won't find another EFL club and its long past time to look for an upgrade on him.

Zac Williams(A)

Maybe my A grade from January was overly generous. Just like my D grade now is overly harsh perhaps. But I am so sick of him being an utter liability and still starting every week. The management have sunk their season in part because they insisted on shoe horning either him into a position he doesn't suit, or even worse by shoe horning in a system which doesn't work around him. It's not been worth it.

They've tried desperately to shop window him, but all they've got in return is ill discipline. 12 yellow cards and 1 red in his last 27 games(should have been 11 yellows and 2 reds had his swipe in the Port Vale home game been properly assessed) is an absolute disgrace from someone they've put in a leadership position. He's an immature, petulant child, who badly needs to grow up and start acting like the leader he's supposed to be.

I hope someone takes him off the Alex's hands in the summer, because both he and the club need a fresh start away from each other.

C - Acceptable, but Could Be a Lot Better

Callum Agius(N/A)

He should have played a lot more than he has done, in what has been a wasted season. 1 goal and 1 assist is an acceptable return in his first year as a pro, but why has he only played 13 times? If, and it's a big if, they can get him consistent game time and he can start to turn out decent performances and goal contributions in 25-26, that could be a game changer for them. Like I said though, a big "if" at this point.

Charlie Finney(C)

Injuries and the form of Max Conway have kept him out and to be honest, it's time to move on. Had they and he handled his calf injuries better in 22-23, then he might have played more and developed into a decent L2 player. But he'll be 22 in October and he's barely played. He won't turn into "one that got away" if they let him go. Time to move on for me.

Lewis Billington(C)

I've said it before and I'll say it again, he should have been moved to CB instead of them signing James Connolly last summer, which would have allowed them to sign a proper RB. But that ship has sailed. Billo seems like a nice lad and an honest pro. He's a reasonable defender, but if they are going to keep playing him at RB, they may as well move on in the next few weeks, because a full back he aint.

Conor Thomas(C)

I have said it over and over again, but it seems i'm in the minority. What does Conor Thomas do? He's injury prone, he's slow, he gets bypassed in midfield repeatedly. And he doesn't provide any threat at the other end. His stats are underwhelming and the eyeball test doesn't improve my opinion of him. Just a very average player talked up to be some sort of lower league Pirlo. I don't get it. Should have been released 12 months ago. Should be on his way out now. But they're still stuck with him for another season. Good lord.

James Connolly(C)

I won't downgrade him, because his hamstring injury eventually ended up keeping him out for most of the 2nd half of the season. He's a limited player and I'd peg him as depth at best next season. I'm not quite sure what they thought they were getting, but he's become almost a forgotten man at the moment. Can he force his way back into the team in 25-26?

Joel Tabiner(C)

The debate over his position rages on. Personally, it's clear he isn't a CM. He has no feel for the spot. He never offers for the ball, doesn't know where to place himself and he looks lost. Thankfully, he's found a more suitable home on the right wing. However, that's not led to an upturn in production. His 3 assists this season were 2 from set pieces and 1 from his own penalty box. He's just not getting enough contributions and we're getting to the point where comparisons to Callum Ainley are looking more and more accurate. He's entering a make or break season given he turns 22 in November. The Alex need big, big things from him in 25-26.

Shilow Tracey(C)

Look, the horrendous leg break against Fleetwood was so unfortunate, especially only days after a stunning goal against Chesterfield. But let's be real here, for all his pace and hard work, he isn't/wasn't much of a goal threat. Yes, the 2 braces against Gillingham and Tranmere were fun.

But the reality is, he started almost every game up until Fleetwood and had just 6 goals to his name. If they want to do right by him and bring him back next season, fine. But as I said 12 months ago, they better be planning on only making him a bench option next season. He isn't good enough to be a regular starter at this level.

Owen Lunt(C)

I do think he's been poorly handled, although I also can't argue with anyone who calls him the next Regan Griffiths. What does he add exactly? We've seen flashes of potential, but nothing more than that at this stage. If he does stick around next season, it's a now or never next 12 months for him you feel.

Max Sanders(B)

Yes, he doesn't add many goals or assists, but they knew this when they signed him. So what exactly has he done wrong to basically be banished from the starting XI completely? He has completed the 90 minutes just 3 times since Bromley and in recent weeks has been an injury replacement, starting just 9 of the Alex's last 22 games. That doesn't bode well for next season does it?

Matus Holicek(B)

This is harsh I know, as he's probably been the standout graduate. But the fact is, since the Carlisle game, he's started 17 games and managed just 1 goal and 1 assist in that time. This is only his 2nd year as a pro, so he has time to improve. But given the lack of impact from him in 2025, I can't not downgrade him. He needs to find his best position(LW?) and get creating again.

Kane Hemmings(B)

I do feel for him, as he was rushed back from his foot injury and then the Gresty Road pitch claimed him with a hamstring injury. He tried his best and I don't blame the lack of goals entirely on him, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest he just doesn't have that same impact he did a few years ago. 4 goals, only 2 from open play. There are younger, quicker, better and dare I say it hungrier players out there for me.

Adrien Thibaut(B)

He's a real grafter. Every time he's on the pitch, he gives 100% effort. But unfortunately as time goes by, that is looking more and more like a mask for actual ability. He just doesn't have any penalty box presence and to be honest, he looks like a non-league player. I'd give him some opportunities early next season, but if he can't step up, loan him out quickly and move on.

B - Good Season, But Could Do Better

Tommy Lowery(N/A)

I really feel for him. It was looking so promising, like he was the missing piece to the jigsaw. But things have gone sideways and he's looked increasingly lost as his team mates have faltered. There is something morbidly poetic about him doing his best to bail out incompetent teammates in 21-22 to end his first stint at the club. And now, his last act in his 2nd spell was to do the same, this time ending with a red card on Saturday. I hope he finds a club that knows how to use him next season.

Connor O'Riordan(N/A)

He's been good, I won't question that. But he wasn't what they needed in the January window. They didn't need another CB. They had Demetriou, Knight-Lebel, Williams and Billington who could have moved inside. They could have gone to a back 4. But instead, they used a loan slot on a CB, despite serious needs in attack and out wide. He, like a few of his team mates, has seen his form drop in recent weeks. Again, he's been good, but he wasn't necessary. Heart over head from the management, yet again.

Jamie Knight-Lebel(A)

I can't not drop a grade, given how little he's played in recent weeks. It's bizarre to see him dropped to the bench after going on international duty, whilst others keep their starting place after doing the same. Cough! Zac Williams Cough! He's had a good season, but the management's treatment of him since January has been really poor.

Filip Marschall(A)

I feel harsh for dropping him in rating, but whilst I think he's been rock solid, there have been an increasing number of wobbles and mistakes from him. That's not all on him, the defence have also lost their way in 2025, Still, he can feel proud of the 16 clean sheets he's kept so far, which ties a single season record with Clayton Ince from 2002-03. If he gets one more against Walsall, he'll get the record. He's had a decent season.

Mickey Demetriou(A)

Is he starting to decline? I'd say there is evidence to suggest he is. The late fouls. The increasing mistakes. The lack of goal contributions from set pieces. And now, the injuries, which have seen him miss 9 games in the 2nd half of the season. It's such a shame that we weren't able to get him 3-4 years ago, but it's hard to ignore his diminished impact this season.

Don't get me wrong, he's still been really good and only a touch or 2 down from where he was in 23-24, but he's definitely taken a step back and the club need to plan for life without him should this continue into 25-26. At the very least, they need to find an experienced CB to come in and take the weight off him to lead the defence.

Max Conway(B)

He'll win player of the season and that's probably deserved, but for me, I just can't justify a grade higher than this. Why? His attacking output has been woeful and I know that sounds poor to criticise one of the few players who has been an ever present and put in 100% every week. But 2 goals and 1 assist from an attack minded LB/LWB just isn't enough. And it's for that reason I can't give him more than a B. Again, good season, but he has to find that final pass, shot or cross more than he does at the moment.

A – Fantastic, No Notes

Jack Lankester(A)

I probably should drop him like I have done most of the others, but how can I when he's barely played in the 2nd half of the season. After his goal against Bromley, he managed just 5 more appearances, with a broken foot and then a torn meniscus ruining his season. He's been a massive loss for the Alex and if they have any hope of even making it into mid-table next season, they'll need 30 games out of him at least. Let's just hope this season was a freak occurrence for him.