iScout League Two - Cheap Utility Players: Studs and Duds

[bumgarb]

I hope for this to be a discussion where others post cheap utility players that they have also found and praise or bemoan the player's usefulness.  I know a lot of people that post here are managing Tier 1 teams, but I'm currently managing Crewe Alexandra in EFL League Two.  So cheap for me currently means below £250K (really below £100K).  It seems there are plenty of +£1M wonderkids posted here - I'd like to see a few lower league cheap players.

In my mind utility means the player is listed as Natural (bright green), Accomplished (dark green), or Competent (bright yellow) in 5 or more positions.  If they are not found in 5 positions but are natural, accomplished, or competent in some unusual combination of positions, that counts too.  For example, if they are Natural as a Attacking Midfielder and Midfielder on the right and left and Competent as a right and left defender and striker (D RL, ST) - that is unusual to me.

I took over Crewe in October of 2018, they were at the bottom of League Two with their wages over budget and less than £90K for transfers.

So, here are four versatile players I've brought into my club.

DUD - Warren Clarke (Sheff Wed)

Here is Clarke when I first scouted him. 

I got him on a Bosman in the 2019 Summer window for free and less wages.  But his value dropped £50K; his current and potential ability ratings dropped to 1 and 1 after acquiring him.  He does a decent job of filling positions off the bench but rarely rates higher than a 7. I usually have to sub him out if I start him. The board and fans called it "bad business". 

Now in the 2020 January window, he has seen some slight increase in his abilities and ratings. I'm still hopeful he will turn out better.

 

STUD - Carlos Mendes Gomes (Morecambe)

This is Gomes at the beginning of the game.

I acquired Gomes for £35K in the 2019 Summer window with a £1.7K wage. He has an okay form with 3 goals and 6 assists in 16 games.  His abilities and coaches ratings have increased.  This is Gomes in the 2020 January window.

 

STUD - Otis Khan (Mansfield)

This is Khan at the start of the game.

I first brought Khan in on loan in the 2019 January transfer window.  Crewe Alexandra was struggling in the relegation zone of League Two when I took over and Kahn helped significantly in our fight to pull up to 19th out of 24th. Khan played 14 games on loan to Crewe and scored 6 goals with 2 assists. I've kept an eye on Khan and he seems unused at Mansfield. As I've managed to deal my way into some funds, I recently acquired him in the 2020 January window for £140K and £2.2K in wages (he wanted £3K). Here is Khan at the start of his new tenure at Crewe.

 

??? - Jordan Cranston (Morecambe)

Here is Cranston at the beginning of the game.

I only just scouted Cranston in the Fall of 2019.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I found him.  The abbreviation of his positions is so long it doesn't fit the column in the game.  Here it is so that you know, D/WB RL, DM, AM LC.  That still seems short compared to the positions displayed in the game.  My scouts were rating him at 1 star but I decided to take a gamble on him by bringing him in on loan in the 2020 January window.  I attached a £20K buyout and Morecambe is paying 100% of his £1.5K wage.  After bringing him into the club, the coaches now rate him as a 2 / 2.5.  I think he will make a great versatile sub, but only time will tell.  

Here is Cranston on loan in the 2020 January window.

 

I hope other lower league managers find this useful. If you are playing below a tier 1 league and have found great utility players that are truly cheap, please share them.

 

[Mr Tree]

Great piece, man. I've spent some time down in the lower leagues this year but can't recall anyone and not planning on returning soon, sorry, but I'm sure there'll be plenty who find your list useful 👍