5: Chris Maguire
Lincoln City league record: 34 appearances, 4 goals.
Chris Maguire’s record of 34 league appearances and four goals does not immediately look disastrous, particularly when compared with some of the players above him. The problem was that his contribution was concentrated into isolated moments rather than sustained across the season. He was very much a Michael Appleton signing, an experienced player who had worked with the manager before and could theoretically provide some authority within a young squad. On his day, Maguire possessed enough technical ability and personality to decide a League One fixture by himself.
That day came at Sunderland, where he scored a hat-trick against his former club and produced one of the most memorable individual displays of the season. However, three of his four league goals came in that single game, while two of the overall four were penalties. One was scored at home to MK Dons on Boxing Day, when City led 2-0 before losing 3-2. Away from those moments, there was too much bluster, pointing and telling teammates where they should be, without enough effective football. The traits that Matt Rhead turned into something charismatic and constructive appeared abrasive in Maguire, who was regularly seen arguing with supporters after matches. Nobody doubted his talent, but Lincoln City rarely received the version of him capable of using it properly.
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