By Nathan Jackson
July 31 2010

Chesterfield have now left Saltergate and will hope to secure something they didn't manage in their final three seasons at Saltegate, a Playoff place. The Spireites have been busy in the transfer market, with a substantial number of players leaving the B2Net stadium. However, will Chesterfield fans put the same pressure on Sheridan that they did on Richardson.

ffPLEASE FORGIVE THE USE OF THE SALTERGATE LOGO, HAVING NOT BEEN TO THE NEW GROUND, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET PICTURES.

Chesterfield are probably one of the unluckier sides in the division. They have had good seasons in each of their three years in the division and have yet to finish inside the Playoff places at the end of the season. Last season was the closest they've come in terms of position, finishing eighth and just two points behind Dagenham. The reason for them finishing in 8^th is simply their away record. Only four teams lost more than the 12 that Chesterfield "achieved" and none of those finished above 16^th place.

Maybe it's a confidence thing as Chesterfield have generally been a good side at home in recent seasons, infact their first eleven home games last season produced nine wins, one draw and one defeat, no-one in the division came close to even slightly matching that at that point. The home form did fade away a bit towards the end of the season, although fourteen home wins was only bettered by three sides, all of whom went up.

Maybe it's just that Chesterfield fans have a bit too much expectation. For all intents and purposes, Lee Richardson did a decent job and John Sheridan hasn't actually made any improvements on the lack-of-Playoffs that Richardson was heavily criticised for by some of the Spireites faithful.

It promises to be a season of firsts for Chesterfield as they are moving into the new B2Net Stadium, a far cry from their old, dilapidated Saltergate stadium. The stadium has already seen a classic, with Derby winning a friendly there 5-4 during the pre-season. City are one of the first visitors to Chesterfield and strangely could make the trip twice in the first few weeks of the season as both have been placed into the north eastern section of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Sheridan has certainly made an interesting signing or two in pre-season, with the most impressive capture being that of Craig Davies from Brighton. He has also brought Simon Ford, Dwayne Mattis, Danny Whittaker and Ian Morris to the club, whereas Barry Conlon, Danny Hall, Adam Rundle, Kevin Austin, Danny Boshall, Alan Goodall, Paul Harsley, Lloyd Kerry, Terell Lewis, Matt Malak, Phil Picken and Simon Whaley have all left. Martin Gritton has also been loaned out.

The main source of goals will still be Jack Lester, whom missed spells of last season through injury. Chesterfield have never really properly replaced Jamie Ward, his replacements have come, generally flopped and left. If Davies can do well at the B2Net Stadium then Chesterfield could be on to a winner.

Lester certainly still knows where the goal is and has a massively impressive record of 56 League goals in just 102 appearances for the Spireites. Very few strikers in the country ever manage an average of better than a goal every two games, but Lester does and his impact on the team is immense. Craig Davies has never had quite the same impact as Lester in terms of goals, although he did secure an £85,000 move to Verona in 2006 from Oxford.

Lester's importance to the Chesterfield side can't be understated. Unlike a lot of other strikers in the division, his goals actually change games. His 12 goals last term secured the Spireites 9 points, although he did miss December 26^th through to April 5^th, only playing on game in that time. Had he been available then there is a high likelyhood that Chesterfield would have made the Playoffs.

Overall, there's not a lot I can really say about Chesterfield and I suspect they will again be challenging for the Playoffs and if they can keep Lester fit then they have a decent chance. They must improve their away record though, as if either their away record had been better or Lester staying fit last season then they would have made the Playoffs, there's no question about it.

Sheridan has yet to prove he's any better than Richardson and the pressure could get pretty intense from the Chesterfield fans, especially if their first season in the new stadium doesn't go according to plan. If he can get them to the Playoffs then given that they've been stable in terms of League position over the last few years, you'd expect Chesterfield to be one of the favourites to win them. Whether they make them or not is another matter.

Will a new start for Chesterfield give better luck?

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 31/07/2010 22:08

theimps.ka
31/07/2010 22:08

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