[spireitematt]

So I made the short trip up to Buxton. Caught the train which took about 10-12 minutes and arrived in the town at 14:45 and rushed up to the Silverlands. I got at the ground at 14:55 but kick off was meant to be 15:00 so I guess they started a little early either that or the time on my phone is wrong.

When I got there I expected to see a strong first team with probably the starting XI which was most likely to play against Oxford but I was in for a surprise as the team we played was a very young and youthful side with a few first teamers.

First half it was mainly all Buxton and they should have been ahead after 15-20 minutes but they fluffed there chance. Ritchie Humphreys was like a work horse in midfield and could say he was our playmaker he encouraged and helped out the young players a lot. He had a good shot at the Buxton keeper but it didn't amount to much. Just before half time Buxton had a great chance to take the lead but the keeper who was in net for us who was a trialist he pulled off a great double save with his legs. Kristian Dennis had a great chance as well before half time but his shot went wide and didn't test the keeper.

At half-time I went for a pint and found a team sheet on the bar door some of the names were recognisable others I hadn't got a Scooby who they were.

Second Half we brought on a different keeper who wasn't bad and Jon Nolan came on as well. We had a lot more chances to score a goal but didn't take them. Buxton played well and were very physical and the younger players found it difficult to deal with. In my opinion it wasn't the greatest of games and Buxton should have won comfortably 2 or even 3-0 I don't know how they didn't score.

Conclusion. We've got a lot of young up and coming players but I don't think many of them are ready for a call up to the first team anytime soon. The back four were very sloppy I thought and at times lucky not to get punished. Didn't think much to Liam Graham a few Buxton players got the better of him and he did look slow to react at times. Reece Mitchell looks a very good skilful player and he has pace but can run too much with the ball and he did run it out of play when he got to the byline but also whipped in some good crosses but no one was there to get on the end of them. Kristian Dennis looks like he has potential and seems hungry. Jake Beesley another good player who has potential but seemed to struggle with the physicality today.

For me the stand out players in the game were Humphreys, Mitchell, the two keepers and Dennis. The rest seemed quiet.

Derek Niven looked good for Buxton and another former young Spireite George Milner played well and Buxton look like they have a great keeper.

This is the team which played.

Chesterfield: Allinson (gk) (Killip 46') - Donohue, Maguire, Smith (Ofoegbu 60'), Graham, Mitchell, Humphreys, Rowley (Nolan 45'), Beesley (German 60'), Dennis

[bluepooch]

Ive been waiting for the arrival of Nolan all pre season ,what sort of player is he ? Tough tackler ?,box to box ? Playmaker ?.I guess ill get to see him myself on tuesday .
Im disappointed that you didnt rate Graham as he has been good imo

[spireitematt]

Ive been waiting for the arrival of Nolan all pre season ,what sort of player is he ? Tough tackler ?,box to box ? Playmaker ?.I guess ill get to see him myself on tuesday .
Im disappointed that you didnt rate Graham as he has been good imo

He was very quiet. Just come back from injury so I guess he was easing himself in. Which game did you go to where Graham had a good game?

[bluepooch]

All of them he played in

[Devongone]

Thanks for the report Matt.

I think a friendly against a team like Buxton, that presents a physical challenge, is a good thing. Liam Graham can clearly play from what Pooch has observed, but it could be a team that relies on speed, physique and effort highlights the reason clubs take him on but he doesn't get a first team game. But it is early to despair, he played for Whitehawk at a level and type of football that would have presented a physical challenge. Maybe it was an off-day or perhaps the team's inexperience led to his poor performance.

I've been raving about Ricky German's potential, but he's at a point now where he needs to step out of academy football. He has to play against men, accept that physical challenge and display those attributes that lead our Juniors to look for him in every attacking move. I'm a big believer in if you're good enough you're old enough. But taking all those good things about your game with you into men's football is vital ....... and then you have to continue your development. It's a big jump and no one can tell how it will go. Ernie Moss did it, Kevin Davies flew it, Jordan Bowery made it and Tendayi transformed from a centre forward to a full back but he got there. But all too often Juniors reach competitive senior football and stop doing all the things that got them there in the first place. And they end up getting released with perhaps 3 first team appearances on their CV.

If you can't learn to handle Buxton, then Division One will be even harder and any higher ambition will be totally unrealistic. If it were down to me (thank god it's not) a promising youngster like German would either play in our reserves every week or get loaned out for a couple of months to a Buxton. When you're top of the young lads it's relatively easy to impress, but if you can do it when you're the baby of the team and you still don't shirk a challenge, then you're the real deal.

By the way every friendly report I've read when Humphreys is on the field he is one of our best players. Have we really got five better midfield players in the club than him? Will they work as hard, understand and read the game as well, pass the ball as well, tackle as well ..... and even score as often?