Playmaker's EFL 72: #30 Mickey Demetriou

Playmaker's countdown of the EFL's best performers this season is on a roll and we make a stop at the home of The Railwaymen as we enter our 'Top 30'.  

It's certainly been no easy task, but - just to clarify - our '72' is less a roll call of the best footballers in the EFL and more a tribute to those players who have enjoyed the most memorable seasons while racking up the most impressive stats.

Whatever the criteria, we're confident in our selections of the most outstanding players through the Championship, League One, and League Two and welcome any debate on the subject!

The next man on our ’72 of the 72’ list for the 2023/24 campaign is an EFL stalwart in the form of the ever effective and versatile Mickey Demetriou of Crewe Alexandra.

Number 30: Mickey Demetriou (Crewe Alexandra)

The 34-year-old centre-back, who has also played at left-back throughout his career, has been essential in Crewe Alexandra’s promotion push throughout this campaign.

The Durrington-born defender, who joined from fourth-tier rivals Newport County on a free transfer last summer, has been named in the League Two Team of the Season after a campaign in which he has scored eight goals and earned six assists.

According to WhoScored, Demetriou is one of the highest rated players in League Two this season, averaging a rating of 7.32 per game. 

He has been a pivotal man at the back for Lee Bell’s side this season. With an average of 1.5 interceptions per game, that is the most of any Crewe player this season.

Demetriou has also averaged 5.8 clearances per game, too, which is two more than any other Crewe man. His impressive defensive displays are also reflected in terms of blocks, too, with 1.1 per game being the most of anyone in the Crewe squad. 

His astounding contribution, in terms of goal involvements, just adds another invaluable strong to the defender's bow - the fact that his eight strikes this season put him level with the likes of Wrexham forward Steven Fletcher and Stockport striker Kyle Wootton telling its own story. 

The Railwaymen have missed out on automatic promotion to Stockport County, Wrexham and Mansfield Townbut Demetriou’s experience and nous will be crucial for the Alex as they head into the playoffs and try to return to the third-tier of English football after their relegation in 2022. 

📊Most League Two points in 2024:

3⃣6⃣: Doncaster*
3⃣5⃣: MK Dons
3⃣3⃣: Wrexham
3⃣2⃣: Crawley, Crewe, Stockport

* on seven-game winning run, the longest current streak in 'The 92'#DRFC @drfc_official pic.twitter.com/QO3EoEF8d9

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) April 10, 2024

Playmaker's EFL 72...the countdown

31: Stephy Mavididi 32: Marc Leonard 33: Josh Sheehan

34: Matt Smith 35: Kwame Poku 36: Illan Meslier 37: Aden Flint

38: Ronnie Edwards 39: Josh Sargent 40: Alex Gilbey 41: Ben Sheaf

42: Jobe Bellingham 43: Devante Cole 44: Jacob Greaves 45: Paddy Lane

46: Herbie Kane 47: Dan James 48: Archie Collins 49: Karamoko Dembele

50: Haji Wright 51: Dan Crowley 52: Cameron Brannagan 53: Aaron Collins

54: Andy Cook 55: Connor Shaughnessy 56: Jannik Vestergaard

57: Willy Gnonto 58: Ellis Simms 59: Charlie Hughes 60: Fatawu Isshaku

61: Sam Hoskins 62: Paul Mullin 63: Chris Martin 64: Omari Hutchinson

65: Isaac Hutchinson 66: Sam Tickle 67: Ben Hinchcliffe 68: Michał Helik

69: Lewis Wing 70: Rob Apter 71: Kyle Walker-Peters 72: Alex Palmer