It’s early days in Ian Deakin’s management, but I wonder if what we’re seeing is because of the players he’s inherited or it’s his (and to be Ilkeston Town’s) blueprint – that is, we’re not a sweet footballing side, retaining possession and moving the ball from side to side and back to front, like we’ve seen from Macclesfield, Workshop, and Bamber Bridge recently, but we’re an effective side, that is, we’re good at stopping the other team from scoring, and we find a goal when we need a goal?

Re the spine of the team, it looks like most pieces are in place. Matt Yates is a terrific keeper, I hope he’s with us for a long time. Luke Cox gets better and better each game. Perch just goes about his work quietly, and Anderson and Parker look very promising full-backs (I really like it that their main focus is on doing their main job, which is defending, they concentrate most of their energies on stopping the other team scoring, rather than marauding forward at every opportunity and leaving us open at the back).  We’re better at blocking crosses coming into our box, but also, I’m really enjoying not worrying so much about balls coming into our box when they do.

You’ve got good defensive midfield cover in Errat-Thompson, Dixon, Keane, and Minkley, you’ve got creativity in Wilder, Hallam, Starkie, and Brandy, and you’ve got good wingers in Walker and Goodson (I know Zak pops up with a goal every now and then, be it wonder goal or tap in, I just wish he was involved a bit more in games, he seems to be anonymous a lot of the time).

I wonder if the one piece missing is a ‘big lad up top’? A focus point up front, someone to hold the ball up allowing other players to join an attack. A player good in the air, a player who’ll chip in with 15 goals a season. Is Tyrell Waite that player? I hope so, it’s early days, he had a good first half against Worksop and looked very unlucky to get sent off against Lancaster. So perhaps patience is the answer and he’ll get chance to prove himself.

I know Ian Deakin said at the fans forum it would be a bumpy ride for a while until him and his team got things in place, but I have to say it’s been great fun so far. It seems like there’s a real feel-good factor around the place at the moment, there’s a smile on people’s faces, it feels like we can look forward with some confidence. Long may it continue.

I think they are better of has subs

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It's still ill early days and there's plenty of time for fortunes to change but I would say Marske and Atherton are certs to be relegated. 
At the top  end of the table my three teams to at least make the playoffs are Macclesfield, Radcliffe and Marine. The other two places in the top five could be taken by Warrington Rylands and Worksop.
It’s too early to predict where Ilkeston might finish because of all the recent changes but we may have a better idea at the end of October.
I don’t expect Ashton to maintain their good start and It’s not too late for Matlock to make a challenge. 

 

plymrob wrote:

I guess though I had best take this opportunity to ask Mystic Matchman... what I can look forward tomorrow driving-up tomorrow to see Chelt-Derby? I'll take a Chelt goal... and maybe best forget the other number! I'll be making sure to check out your reply - but maybe tomorrow night!


Hi plyrob. I must admit that have a soft spot for Cheltenham as some of my relations used to live there in the Leckhampton district of town and I've spent many happy times there.. There's always hope of a result in any game although Derby have been getting better results when playing away. Thank you for posting. I wish we could get more posters on here.