We’ve made a dream XI of players with the best win ratios for Boro’, so it’s now time to do the same for our unluckiest players. Now, this isn’t meant to be in any way vindictive or anything like that. For some players at some clubs, it doesn’t quite work out. All we would say, though, is that we’d probably rather these players weren’t near a Boro’ starting XI anytime soon. And you no doubt note the high proportion of representatives from the 2019-20 season…
The minimum threshold to be considered for this is again 10 matches. No “played one, lost one” types. Losing once or twice doesn’t make one of our unluckiest players. Eight or nine?
Well.
Boro’s Unluckiest Players XI
GK: Jesse Joronen – P11 W2 L6 (18.18%)
To be fair to Joronen, we had to dig a bit deeper into our list of players with the lowest win ratios to get a stopper for this side; down at 18th if you will. He’s also doubly unlucky in the sense that, unlike virtually all other goalkeepers to play for us, he’s scored a goal for us!
DF: Ryan Johnson – P13 W1 L9 (7.69%)
Long hoped to be our next big talent, things never took off for Johnson in his five years here. And his record when he did get a chance makes for uncomfortable reading. Still, he has gone on to have a very solid career and was recently capped by Northern Ireland for the first time.
DF: Bradley Barry – P17 W2 L9 (11.76%)
The 2021-2 season was a struggle for Boro’ – and it’s no surprise to see a representative from that campaign in here. In games the defender featured in, Boro’ conceded 31 times – with an awful 5-0 defeat at Newport in there. Steve Evans came in as boss and Barry was released.
DF: Jamie McCombe – P16 W2 L11 (12.5%)
DF: Steve Shea – P28 W4 L13 (14.29%)
In fairness to Shea, he has a higher draw proportion than his peers in this ‘Dream’ XI.
MD: Johnny Goddard – P13 W1 L8 (7.69%)
Arriving late in the January 2018 window, we genuinely can’t recall a thing about Goddard in Boro’ colours. We even paid a fee for him. With just one paltry win to his name while he was here, Dino Maamria – replacing Darren Sarll – saw no reason to keep him on the books.
MD: Noor Husin – P12 W1 L7 (8.33%)
Afghan international Noor Husin came in at the start of the 2019-20 season. Need we go on here? Like many, Husin struggled to make any real impact as we floundered embarrassingly. The midfielder left in February 2020 – but has since gone on to do well at Southend United.
His one ‘win’? On penalties against Fulham’s young ‘uns in the Football League Trophy. Jeez!
MD: Tom Soares – P20 W2 L13 (10%)
Past accomplishments meant little to us when Tom Soares arrived in summer 2019. Once of the Premier League, sure, but not visibly up to League Two standard while here. Then again, who was? His two victories came in the Football League Trophy, which is partial credit right?
FW: Dipo Akinyemi – P16 W1 L10 (6.25%)
No-one has a lower win ratio for us after at least 10 games than unfortunate Dipo Akinyemi. He was left somewhat exposed by Teddy Sheringham; making his debut aged 18 and just six months after joining our academy from Potters Bar Town. To his credit, he did score once.
He remained with us, though out of the first team spotlight, until March 2018. After heading back into non-league, Akinyemi has since built a nice CV and is currently playing in Ireland.
FW: Femi Akinwande – P11 W1 L6 (9.09%)
In summer 2020, Boro’ were doing our dealings not knowing what league we’d be playing in. Femi Akinwande arrived from Billericay Town. But he was probably a signing made with half an eye on us playing in the National League. And perhaps that’s why it just didn’t work out.
FW: Jake Cassidy – P10 W1 L9 (10%)
By January 2020, the writing was on the wall for our season. But that didn’t stop us bringing in someone, anyone, to stop that. Jake Cassidy signed from, erm, Maidenhead United. And it would be a black or white state of affairs. We either won or lost when he played. Mostly lost.
The exception was a 4-0 win at Cambridge in which he scored. His debut. All downhill then.
Boro’s Unluckiest Players (Subs)
We had to dig into the top 20 to find a goalkeeper. So, we thought we may as well round up this into a full-blown matchday squad. No sub keeper though. We can’t be that unlucky?
Sub: Ben Chorley – P14 W2 L10 (14.29%)
Smiffy pulled a masterstroke in dumping skipper Mark Roberts in favour of Ben Chorley for a February 2013 trip to Brentford. By masterstroke, we actually mean complete disaster.
Sub: Paul Digby – P20 W3 L11 (15%)
We recall Paul Digby being one of our better players during the 2019-20 season. Not that it’s saying much. Unbeaten in his first five for us, it all tailed off with eight straight defeats.
Sub: Charlie Lakin – P25 W4 L12 (16%)
Now, we also reckon Charlie Lakin emerged from 2019-20 with some credit. In fact, less than half the games he featured in ended in defeat. He’s hoisted by the petard of our shite form.
Sub: Charlie MacDonald – P20 W3 L10 (15%)
Some players’ fortunes suffered because of Teddy Sheringham. Others because of the 2019-20 farce. Charlie MacDonald’s record tanks because of Wayne Turner. Not bad, just unlucky.
Sub: Dani Lopez – P15 W2 L10 (13.33%)
This one knocked us back a bit. Dani Lopez’ star turn against Sheffield United turned out to be just one of two wins he experienced for us as our first League One efforts started to fade.
