Why Chesterfield are promotion contenders despite being 17th in National League

There is a lot of talk about what Chesterfield might be able to achieve next season.
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James Rowe will have completed the reshaping of his squad next season, the fans will be back next season, they will be better off financially next season.

But next year the expectations will be higher, bringing about more pressure, the bookies will have them listed as one of the favourites and all eyes will be on them again.

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Expectation and pressure can weigh you down, especially when a club as big as Chesterfield finds itself in non-league. But that expectation and pressure is not really there. It is a free hit.

Chesterfield have only lost one of seven games under James Rowe.Chesterfield have only lost one of seven games under James Rowe.
Chesterfield have only lost one of seven games under James Rowe.

So while the pressure is off and the players can play with freedom, it makes it the perfect time to go under the radar and be that team who makes a quiet surge up the league table and leaves everyone else wondering ‘where did they come from?’

At the moment, Chesterfield are dressed in camouflage, ready to strike when others least expect it.

Nobody, except us who have watched them under Rowe, will be looking at the Spireites in 17th and thinking they are a threat to the top seven.

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But there are still 29 games to go and 87 points up for grabs. And from what I have seen so far, there is nothing to fear and everything to play for.

If this group of players had been together from the start of October, I think they would have been too strong for most of the teams they faced back then.

The Covid breaks have come at a bad time in that the Blues had some momentum, but Rowe has also been able to use the time to bring in more additions.

Rowe is very grounded in his post-match interviews and it is like trying to nail jelly to a wall to get him to comment on what he thinks they can achieve this season. But deep down, I think he knows there is an opportunity to do something special this campaign.

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Once Covid has settled down and Chesterfield can put a run of games together, I believe they will be ready to push on.

Between me and you, the Spireites can get promoted this season. Just don’t tell anyone.