By which we mean, the specific player at the top of the power rankings is there for the first time in over two years, not that someone has been in top spot for 26 months
⇧ 1. Sorba Thomas (9): We were tempted to go with Jack Rudoni given that his absence has highlighted just how little Town has in attack without him, but his ongoing absence only serves to make Thomas even more important for the time being. Overall head and shoulders above the rest over the past few games. Hasn’t topped this leaderboard since September 2021, which feels about right
⇨ 2. Jack Rudoni (2): We miss him terribly; get well soon.
⇩ 3. Jonathan Hogg (1): Starts if fit and is an important leader. Drops slightly regardless, largely because of the reasons above but also thanks partly to Rarmani Edmonds-Green putting in a respectable back-up performance against Watford (and, to a lesser extent, against Hull).
⇧ 4. Danny Ward (6): Town’s inability to find an alternative solution throughout the striker’s ongoing absence has weirdly caused Ward’s stock to rise. Still yet to play for Moore, who will be itching to get the chance.
⇩ 5. Michal Helik (3): Town’s first-choice center-back in any shape, and rightly so.
⇩ 6. Lee Nicholls (5): Largely blameless for the town’s issues since we last did this. He was still a hugely important player in his day.
⇧ 7. Tom Lees (12): Looks to have taken Josh Ruffels’ place in the back three, at least for now, and has pretty well escaped all censure even in a difficult period. We think Moore just likes him and is going to find a place for him come what may, despite good competition.
⇩ 8. Matty Pearson (4): The best of that good competition. Made to look even better for having been left out of the starting line-up at Leeds, but the man was omitted to accommodate that move to a back four, so has to drop below Lees in these rankings.
⇧ 9. Ben Jackson (18): This month’s big riser has effectively laid claim to the right-back slot that has been a problem for Town all season. He is quietly starting to come into his own now.
⇩ 10. Delano Burgzorg (7): Moore is not our favorite player, as attentive readers will be aware, but Moore will be keen to keep trying to get a tune out of him; we’ve seen the approach the manager takes when he doesn’t have a maverick attacking player in the side, after all. There is something there; we’re just not convinced we’re ever going to see it, but what alternative is there but to try at this stage?
⇩ 11. Yuta Nakayama (8): He has had his ups and downs this month, which leaves us wondering if we might see Josh Ruffels nab this place as soon as action resumes after the international break.
⇧ 12. Josh Koroma (13): We just get the impression that Moore isn’t a great believer in Koroma, who, in fairness, has been in middling-to-poor form this season. But he’s basically the only proven Championship goalscorer in the squad at the moment (along with Ward), so he’ll keep getting chances to find form again.
⇩ 13. Josh Ruffels (10): Very unfortunate to drop out of the top 11, having been one of Town’s most reliable performers this season. That injury came at an inopportune moment, with Lees and Nakayama both finally fully fit. As we’ve said, though, we won’t be surprised to see him re-take his place.
⇩ 14. Ben Wiles (11): We don’t quite think the midfielder deserves the opprobrium he has been given in some quarters, but even we have to acknowledge Wiles has been largely sub-par since arriving in the summer. Neil Warnock had Wiles pegged as a number 10, but we don’t think Moore quite knows how to use him.
⇧ 15. Kyle Hudlin (20): Offered an eye-opening performance in his first start for the club, against Watford. It isn’t the right tool for every job, but it is developing nicely and clearly has its uses.
⇧ 16. David Kasumu (17): We suspect Moore will like Kasumu’s dynamism, aggression, and ball-carrying ability and won’t be too surprised if he forces his way in ahead of Wiles. Another member of the Never Played for Moore Club, which, when you think about it, has a broad enough remit to also include most of the rest of the world. It’s just nice to be included, isn’t it?
⇩ 17. Jaheim Headley (16): We’re as surprised as anybody to see a down arrow next to Headley’s name, but we think that has to be the case if Nakayama, Ruffels, Koroma, and Burgzorg are all fit; being third choice in two different positions means we can’t put him higher. He’d still be coming off our bench a lot, though.
⇩ 18. Kian Harratt (15): Scored against QPR but was given a thankless job against Cardiff and Leeds, then found himself behind Hudlin away to Hull. Weirdly, we think Harratt probably leapfrogs straight into the XI if Ward still isn’t fit, but if he is, being a like-for-like alternative means we have to place him here.
⇧ 19. Rarmani Edmonds-Green (21): Has done himself no harm whatsoever with a couple of solid, if unspectacular, outings to remind us he can actually do a job if called upon.
⇩ 20. Brahima Diarra (19): As with Wiles and Koroma, we just have this strange sense that Moore has yet to really figure Diarra out. There’s a pattern there with players who like to play in the pockets just outside the box, isn’t there?
⇧ 21. Pat Jones (22): Good if fit, never fit. Shame.
⇩ 22. Tom Edwards (14): The revelation that he was concussed at Elland Road offered some explanation for his performance there, at least, but he looks a long way off the pace regardless.
⇨ 23. Chris Maxwell (23): Back-up goalkeeper.
⇨ 24. Josh Austerfield (24): RING RING. RING RING. Hello? Oh, it’s a January loan away to League One, how are you?! Uh-huh. Yeah good thanks! Yeah. Yeah. OK, sorry to interrupt – I’ve introduced a comic premise here and don’t really know how to get out of it. What’s that? Yeah, going to just break the fourth wall in quite a hackneyed way. Yeah. [laughs] Alright. Take care.
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