Martin Cranie When we signed him, I was not overwhelmed at all. He had been released by Middlesbrough and West Brom had him trial but chose not to sign him. He had been around a few promotion chasing sides at this level but the wrong side of 30; I was not sure he was what we needed. The first proper sight of him was at Forest and he was fine and one of our better players in a poor performance. However, he did not quite seem to offer that overlapping that the other wide centre backs did so well but it is such a unique system it probably takes a lot of time and coaching to play that role. When he next started at Wigan he did better and was able to get forward.

He was mostly used on the bench but then had a bigger role in the second half of the season. He was excellent in two wins against Boro and then West Brom where he set up the goal but defended superbly. He then was very good when he came on at Hillsborough. He repeated this high level of performance at Leeds a few weeks later with a superb performance where the ball seemed magnetised to him. He was back out for a period of games but whenever called upon he did well.

Just seems a really solid defender. Decent on the ball, good in the air and reads the game well. Such a versatile player who can play a number of defensive positions. One that Wilder saw as being a real help and so it proved, showing how much, he knows and how little I, and others, know! Never let the team down and even when he played really well sometimes, he had to go back to the bench but just got on with it and always ready when needed. He seemed to lap up the celebrations and seeing him with his top off singing Wonderwall was another bizarre but great scene (say ‘Cranie you’re my Wonderwall!’)

Grade B+ (Last season NA)

Kean Bryan Bryan came in from Man City after a move to Rangers fell through with a different take on why it collapsed; some suggesting an injury and others saying financial terms had not been agreed. Wilder swooped and signed just before the season started. Seen as a left sided defender who could play left centre back, left wing back and also midfield. Bryan had come through the City ranks and had spells at Bury and Oldham on loan. He was on the bench at Middlesbrough but then disappeared and picked up a number of injuries and it was very stop start. He came back for the u23s around Xmas time and then played in the home game against Barnet. To be honest he was really poor and looked very shaky. Positionally he was all over the place and technically he looked suspect. He did not convince at all. I have seen him a few other u23 games and sadly I am not convinced by him at all. He looks a decent athlete and quite quick but he panics when on the ball and makes mistakes in the appearances I have seen. Looks a long way off being ready for Championship level but at 22 he is not a kid. Needs to go out on loan next season as will be someway off the first team. A signing that was a bit of a low risk, high reward type but one of the few made recently that had not worked yet. Good to see him celebrating with the team and part of things at the end.

Grade E (Last season NA)


Jake Wright A big part of the promotion side; Wright even played 10 times in the Championship this season although Richard Stearman and loan player Cameron Carter Vickers; meant his chances were limited. He did ok early on in the season and seemed comfortable at this level but a few knocks and Wilder preferring the two mentioned saw him not feature much post Xmas. This season with John Egan coming in; he seemed to be well down the pecking order and so it proved. I am not sure he has even made the bench this season even in the cup competitions and a number of injuries meant he was not even playing for the u23’s. I did watch him at the Lane in the Sheffield reserve derby and he looked very rusty. There were rumours of loan moves with Bradford, S****horpe and Mansfield mentioned but it never happened. He has one year of his deal left but has been put on the transfer list. If he can get fit; he could still have another 2-3 years of league football. He never relied on his pace and his organisation and reading of the game were his best assets. Sure, he could do a job for a League One/Two side and help young players around him. Was excellent in the Championship campaign and his winning record whilst playing was evidence of how important he was. Made a bigger impact than anyone though and another ***** piece in the early days of the Wilder adventure.

Grade E (Last season C+)


Daniel Lafferty A steady eddy type who played a little bit the previous season but lost his place to Stevens and was only seen as a back up. He actually played bits of games in midfield or left side of midfield when we tried to see out some games. Lacked pace and athleticism at this level and Stevens was just a better player despite a few oddly saying he should have another run. He did begin the season on the bench and actually got on against Aston Villa in the thumping win but Wilder wanted a bite more competition and brought in Marvin Johnson, a player he had chased before. From this point Lafferty was not really involved and most of his game time came for the u23’s. In January he went on loan to Peterborough who have since changed managers. He played quite a bit for Posh who were in and around the playoffs but fans views were mixed. Some saying he was decent but others saying he was no better than what they had. I think it is safe to say League One is about his level. He was a good pro for United and a big part of our promotion side but United moved up faster than many thoughts and had to upgrade from steady but fairly reliable pros such as him and Jake Wright. Never really let United down and will be well though of when he leaves this summer as he was unsurprisingly not retained.

Grade E (Last season D+)



The rest

Ben Heneghan was a bit of a Wilder punt when he came in from Motherwell in the August transfer window of 2017. He only played in the cup game against Preston and looked like technically he would struggle in our system. He was a big lad but did not have the athleticism needed at this level. He joined Blackpool on loan and has done ok though although fans accounts are mixed. They had a decent season all things considered. Now 25, he still has another year on his contract which surprised me but I would expect him to be move on for a nominal fee or simply given a free to allow him to join Blackpool or another League One club which looks about his level from where he has played so far in his career. He was put on the transfer list at the season end.

Callum Semple was allowed to move on after doing well at Queen of the South. Many were surprised by this as saw him having a future at the Lane but at 20 years of age, maybe United were unconvinced having brought him back to train for a period. I am sure they will have negotiated a sell on fee/buy back. He was not a regular for Ross County and was more in the news for breaking rules on gambling although his new club got promoted.

Jake Bennett played in the League Cup the season previous as a wing back but picked up a number of injuries. This meant his loan at Chesterfield was short-lived after he signed on a season long loan in October and he never played for the Spireites. He came back into the u23’s in the second half of the season but at 23 and out of contract he will move on now you would think.

Sam Graham spent time at Oldham on loan but ended up in a struggling team and lost his place. Many Latics fans were not impressed and he came back to United. A different loan move was arranged to Central Coast Mariners along with wing back/left midfielder Stephen Mallon. Both have been playing and did feature quite a bit either starting or from the bench in Australia but the standard in this league is not that high. Graham has another year whilst I think Mallon whose progress has been hindered by injuries may be out of contract this summer. Mallon and Graham both did feature quite a bit either starting or from the bench in Australia.

Rhys Norrington Davies was in and around the first team squad at the start of the season and has drawn rave reviews on loan at Barrow. He played most games for them. He now will probably need a league loan next season to test himself at a higher level.

Keenan Ferguson is a young defender who has been playing for the u23’s quite a bit but like George Cantrill; think he might be out of contract. Cantrill who can play a number of defensive positions was with Dewhurst at Guiseley from January onwards and also did quite well in non-league football.

Jean Belehouan came in from Manchester United but has not quite had the impact we would have hoped and his deal is up.

Some of the younger lads who are at u18 level but have played quite a bit at u23’s and shown some promise for the future includes Harry Boyes who has come from the ranks and Harry Sheppeard; a signing from Tadcaster United. Kyron Gordon only turns 17 this May and has been a regular for the u23 squads and is one that may be worth keeping an eye on. A quick and versatile ball playing defender.