Chesterfield got the bulk of their transfer business done nice and early and that put them in a strong position right from the beginning of pre-season. That is probably the aim of most clubs, but not many actually achieve it, so credit to everyone for making it happen. Miguel Freckleton was their last signing on August 30. It was quite telling that by the time Town had won the league, other clubs were still scrambling around trying to sign players to rescue their season.
This relates to the previous idea. The Spireites prioritised quality over quantity in their summer approach. They decided to bolster in areas that would matter rather than bringing on a tonne of new players, and the three big acquisitions of Will Grigg, Michael Jacobs, and Tom Naylor undoubtedly made a significant impact both on and off the pitch. They actually used the fewest players in the league, with two players for each position on their roster.
FITNESS
Paul Cook’s style of play is very dependent on having optimal levels of fitness, and a number of players have expressed how difficult the preseason was. However, they saw results from their exhausting long runs and gym boxing practices, as seen by the 19 goals they scored after the game’s 80th minute. They also didn’t have many injuries; in fact, they only lost a few towards the end as a result of shoddy pitches or poor tackles. Cook made excellent use of his experience in determining when to give a player a break.
ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK
Chesterfield was dangerous all over the pitch and finished the season with 120 goals in all competitions. Leading the way with 25, was Will Grigg, but significant contributions came from Tom Naylor (13), Joe Quigley (12), Armando Dobra (11), Ollie Banks (10), Liam Mandeville (8), Ryan Colclough (7), James Berry (7), and Michael Jacobs (6). Because of their aggressive style of play, they gave up 65 goals, while 12 other clubs allowed fewer. Although it’s often said that defences win championships and attacks win games, this time it was most likely the opposite.
For all of their free-flowing football, set-pieces proved to be very fruitful, with Town scoring more than 30 times from corners and free-kicks. There was a lovely variety and the deliveries from Liam Mandeville were superb. Assistant manager Danny Webb is the set-piece lead, so he deserves a big pat on the back
TOGETHERNESS
In football, the term “great lad” is frequently used, yet these guys are a close-knit, modest, and diligent club. They exude elegance both on and off the pitch, and their camaraderie and sense of teamwork enabled them to grind out victories and score late winners.
