The article reproduced here is from Phil Tooley's 2nd January 2010 Green Un column. The Green Un is published every Saturday evening and costs just 60p.
At the mid-point of the season, John Sheridan's first campaign in charge at Saltergate, the half-time report is easy to compile and can be simply summed up: Plenty of promise, but could do better!
There's no doubt that Sheridan will have made a straightforward New Year's Resolution; to get more points away from home.
Ahead of today's home game with Shrewsbury, Spireites home record has been very impressive. Played 11, won 9, drawn 1, lost 1. No-one in the basement can match that. Even the game that was lost, against Crewe, Chesterfield played very well and lost mainly due to a profligacy in front of goals. They even saw two penalties saved before Alex got on the scoresheet. Dario Gradi said at the time that Spireites were the best team they'd faced.
However on the road, the record reads; Played 11, won 2, drawn 1, lost 8. Only sure to be relegated Darlington have picked up fewer travelling points amongst basement clubs. The irony is that the two wins came against the section's top two sides, Rochdale and Bournemouth. The draw was against today's opponents Shrewsbury.
On their day there's no side in League Two that can match Sheridan's men. Superlatives based on speed and skill have been witnessed in abundance after wins against Notts County, Macclesfield, Darlington and Burton at Saltergate, as well as following those two way triumphs.
But the age old problem of conceding daft goals, the dilemma Sheridan's predecessor Lee Richardson never got to grips with, has continued to haunt Spireites this term. The last five away concessions have all come from hopeful and, to be honest, not very dangerous crosses into the box and four of them have been finished by headers, the other being from a rebound after a header had been saved. With a centre back pairing of Ian Breckin and Rob Page, that's not an element you'd expect to be the weakest link.
To review the early stages of the marriage between Spireites and Sheridan, I've chosen to divide my thoughts into four appropriate sectors; something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
Something Old
Three 'new' faces in the summer were indeed old favourites. Ian Breckin and Mark Allott rejoined the club they'd both served impeccably in previous spells whilst Drew Talbot returned permanently after a successful loan spell from Luton last season.
Additionally full back Phil Picken returned to the fray after spending the second half of last season on loan at Notts County, a spell he didn't seem likely to return from.
It's difficult to think of any moments of disaster in Breckin's game this season but concessions of headed goals has been a real nemesis for Sheridan to date. Whilst Breckin and Rob Page have done reasonably well individually, it's clear that the partnership does have weaknesses and it's the most important area that needs addressing in 2010. Aaron Downes looks set to break up the partnership after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, which player will stand aside is the subject of plenty of current bar-room debate in the town.
Midfielder Allott has always polarised opinion amongst fans. The converted striker has terrific vision and excellent close control and is the lynchpin that much of Spireites play passes through. But many feel he's too one-dimensional and predictable, views dismissed by his fans. The fact that he's the only man to have started every game this season for a manager who was also his boss at Oldham confirms the only view that counts.
Talbot, a winger for Richardson last term, was signed by Sheridan as a striker and has played in both roles to date this season. His work-rate is magnificent, his goal-scoring record so far good and he's certainly a fans' favourite who's always missed when absent.
Picken has re-invigorated his Saltergate career, playing in either full back role. His enthusiasm and spirit restored to the level that is was in his first couple of seasons at the club following his move from Manchester United.
However there's only one 'old' truly deserving of that tag. Saltergate. Home sweet home will not be home any more from July this year. The ground, in situ since 1871, is in the final throws of its End of an Era season and when Bournemouth visit on May 8th, there'll be many tears shed.
Something New
Sheridan, Tommy Wright & Mark Crossley breezed into the club in June and have settled in quite nicely at Saltergate, now of course the domain of another new face, majority shareholder Dave Allen.
Allen's investment has made the stunning progress on the b2net Stadium possible and Spireites' new home is really taking shape now with work set to start on the inside after all of the steelworks and concreting was completed before Christmas.
The new money man promised attractive, attacking football and his choice of manager has delivered that. Five goals have been scored on three occasions so far, the best pre-Christmas home record for 42 years has been delivered and entertainment levels have been high.
However despite what's believed to be a significantly higher wage bill than was in place last season, the side is still struggling to pressure the top three and the manager regularly criticises the inner strength and winning mentality of his team.
The only brand new permanent face (player-coach Crossley apart) on the playing staff signed in the summer is Wade Small. The ex Owls man made an instant impact at his new club but since he picked up a hamstring strain in the game that saw him bag a last gasp winner against Accrington Stanley, he's been unable to produce that early zip on a consistent basis. An automatic starter when fit, but he's been subbed in seven of his last eight games and the only goal he's scored since that Accrington effort three months ago was a last minute consolation at Bury.
More recently Sheridan took a punt by signing winger Terrell Lewis from minor non-leaguers Chalfont St Peter. The eager to learn flyer has had only a few minutes pitch time in the first team and needs a fair bit more work to be done on him before he can be considered a likely regular squad member.
Something Borrowed
Half a dozen loan men have breezed into Saltergate this season and the clear winner of the 'most impact' award goes to Donal McDermott, now back with parent club Manchester City.
Five goals and six assists in 15 starts and 3 sub appearances speaks volumes about the contribution the bubbly Irishman made. Fast and fearless, the most anticipated January transfer window news would be news of his return. Whether City feel another spell in League Two would benefit his development remains to be seen, but undoubtedly Sheridan will ask after him.
Midfielder David Perkins (Colchester United) and full-back Mark Little (Wolves) have been at the club for three months now and a decision on their futures will be made after today. Both have been regular starters and both have plenty of strengths, though neither have won the fans' hearts in the way McDermott did in his similar length spell.
Perkins' spell has seen him start 11 league games, 6 won and 5 lost whilst the man he in essence replaced, Derek Niven, has started 13 league games to date, winning7 and losing 4 with 2 draws, indicating that Perkins' presence hasn't improved the results of the team.
Little's league record mirrors that of Perkins whilst the man he ostensibly replaced, Picken, has been a starter for 9 won games and just 4 losses plus 2 draws, a better return than his replacement.
Of the more recent borrowed men, Kieran Djilali (Crystal Palace) has shown plenty of the right sort of strengths you want from a loan player, as has Ian Morris, whose versatility would be a welcome longer term addition.
However Davide Somma's hamstrings have been too influential in his spell. His two appearances saw plenty of promise, but being available for just two games in the month is a disappointing return.
Something Blue
Without doubt the injuries to Jamie Lowry (cruciate) and Gregor Robertson (broken leg) at times when they were both enjoying their best form for the club were the worst moments of the first half of the season.
Having failed to score last season, Lowry had reached six ahead of his training ground injury in October whilst Robertson, having regained the left back spot from Kevin Austin at the start of September, played at the top of his game for a dozen games before a sickening double fracture picked up in an innocuous challenge against Carlisle in the Johnstone's.
Both men are unlikely to feature again this season.
Other disappointing elements this term, away form apart, have been from the penalty spot. Misses from Lowry, Small, Somma and Lester have frustrated and no doubt their failure to make any impact on the first team this season has hacked off the likes of Danny Hall and Paul Harsley (both on loan at Darlington), Lloyd Kerry and Martin Gritton.
First round exits in both the Carling and FA Cups also meant that any glory and money-making opportunities were lost.
