One of the big selection questions facing Lincoln City head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw this weekend is whether Conor McGrandles comes straight back into the side.
Until the West Ham game, I suspect most of us would have assumed that, whenever he was available, he would play. After what we saw at Millwall, that decision feels a little less straightforward.
Conor’s dismissal wasn’t the reason we lost against West Ham. We were already down to ten men, already facing a huge task, and there were problems beyond the incident that saw him sent off. However, going down to nine before half-time extinguished any lingering hope that we might somehow get something from the game. With ten, you can still cling to the possibility of a draw; with nine against that opposition, you’re into damage limitation.
It was the first time in our history that we’d had two players sent off in the first half, which gives some context to how extraordinary the situation was. Conor’s part in that cannot simply be ignored, even if it shouldn’t overshadow everything else he’s done. His suspension created an opportunity for somebody else, and there has to be a question about whether that opportunity has been taken.
Let’s be clear, Conor has been one of our strongest performers this season. He was my player of the year during the promotion campaign; he’s a Lincoln City legend in my eyes, and there have been patches this season when he’s been outstanding again. This isn’t coming from somebody who sees his name on the team sheet and starts worrying.
However, being capable of playing in the Championship and being capable of playing a major role in the Championship are slightly different things. I absolutely believe Conor can contribute at this level, and if we’re going to survive, I’d expect him to feature regularly across the season. If we’re going to thrive, though, I’d also expect us to begin moving beyond some of the players who earned us promotion.
That isn’t an easy thing to write, because those players have given us something we waited a lifetime to see. They’ve earned their opportunity, and I think the club have been right to give it to them. Some have absolutely taken it, while others are still working out how to make their game effective against a different calibre of opposition. We’ve given the players who served us well a chance to shine, but that’s Lincoln City, isn’t it?
We’ve always been good at treating people properly at Lincoln City. Look at the way we supported Lewis Montsma, James Collins and Tendayi Darikwa when injury problems halted their impact, when other clubs might have looked at the financial implications and cut their losses. There is a cost to carrying players who cannot contribute on the pitch, but we recognise that there are people involved as well as contracts.
I’m proud of that, and I wouldn’t want us to lose it. Equally, there has to be room for the team to evolve, even when that means making difficult decisions about players we love. Giving the promotion winners their chance was fair; continuing to select them has to depend on what they offer now, alongside what the alternatives can bring.
For much of this season, our preferred midfield pairing has probably been Conor and Ivan Varfolomeev. Ivan is now a full Ukrainian international; he’s a crowd favourite, and there are plenty of footballing reasons to want him in the side. His ESC position is another consideration when we’re looking at the value of regular minutes, but his performances give him a strong case for selection in their own right.
Then there’s Yunus Konak, who has made a serious bid for a place after his performance at Millwall. We’ve seen him in other games, but this felt like a proper opportunity to assess what he could offer in the middle of a Championship contest. It was an all-action display, and alongside Ivan, he helped us get the better of the midfield battle in the first half.
He’s highly rated at Brentford, and he arrived with experience of this division from his spell at Oxford. He was credited with helping them make a fight of their survival bid, so this isn’t somebody encountering Championship football for the first time. Millwall gave us a much clearer look at why we brought him here and what he might add with a run of games.
That makes Conor’s return more complicated. If he comes straight back in, somebody has to make way, and I’m not sure either Ivan or Yunus did anything at Millwall to make that an easy decision. Conor’s standing within the squad is deserved, but the competition has to mean something when another player gets his opportunity and performs.
We shouldn’t discount Tom Bayliss, either. He’s a different type of midfielder from the other options, and a home game against Burnley might offer a reason to use him. We’re facing a struggling side, with a manager under pressure, and there is an argument for being a little more aggressive and trying to take the game to them. Tom’s ability on the ball could be useful in that sort of contest. His involvement would put another player between Conor and an immediate return, but it would also complicate the case for Yunus keeping his place. This is about choosing the combination that gives us the best chance against Burnley, and Tom belongs in that discussion.
Among the supporters I’ve spoken to, or whose views I’ve seen, there seems to be an appetite for Ivan and Yunus to start together again. I can understand that, because they looked capable at Millwall and gave us a platform, particularly before the break. I’d be interested to see how that partnership develops with another opportunity. I recall a similar clamour for Max Sanders to play, and he never impressed when he did, but Yunus took his chance.
There would still be scope to use Conor’s experience as the game unfolds, or turn to Tom if we need something different with the ball. Depending on how Burnley approach it, we might need to settle the midfield later on or find a way of being more adventurous. Having those options available would give Cohen and Shaw different ways to change the game.
Should McGrandles come straight back in? I’m afraid I am tempted to say no; he should not. If he were to come off the bench, it would be the first time we’d seen him as a sub entering play since the 2-0 defeat against Wrexham back in May 2025. I do suspect there has to be a form of penance for the indiscretion: him coming back in over Varfolomeev or Konak would feel a little like a free pass. While we don’t want the spectre of the red card to hang around too long, those two formed a good partnership against Millwall, and in my opinion, it should continue for the visit of the Clarets.
Comments Welcome!