Steve's Top Six Target
Thu 12th February 2015 | Irlam | By Ian Templeman
Irlam manager Steve Nixon is setting a target for his young squad to improve on the club’s best ever finish last season.
Despite blooding a number of young players who have come through the ranks this season, Steve believes there is enough quality in the squad to be among the group of clubs challenging for a play-off place.
“We had our best ever season last season in the League, with our biggest ever points tally and we want to build on that”, he said. “So I am looking at matching that tally first as a target and then see where we are then.
“We've never finished higher than eighth, so hopefully we can aim at least for that again”.
A feature of the Irlam squad this season is its youth, and Steve says he has no worries about giving young players an opportunity to impress in the first team, although they have to learn quickly.
“Already we have had six players make debuts in the first team this season”, he said. “We want to them get there as soon as possible, and not wait until they are 19 or 20.
“On Saturday (against Cheadle Town) we had five lads under 20 in the team that started the game, but we have made two now signings this week, lads who are 20 plus, to give us that bit of experience for the run in for the last couple of months.
“Our defensive record up to about five games ago was one of the best in the division, we were up there alongside Colls and Cammell Laird. But we changed the formation a bit and although it's produced more goals, we have been conceding more at the other end.
“So we need little tweaks, and get across to younger players that while it's great going forward in possession, they have other responsibilities when we are defending, and they have to click on to that”.
Looking ahead to upcoming games, Steve believes that Irlam can certainly have a say in how the play off positions pan out at the end of the season.
“The play offs are a great introduction”, he said. “All the teams that are out of the top two, probably right down to 14th or 15th can think they can get there, and there is still a lot to play for.
“Teams around us like Widnes and Cheadle are probably looking at a play off place, but we have got games in hand on them, and while two more points against Cheadle on Saturday would have better, if we can get a run together I still think we can beat our previous best in the league.
“The majority of our remaining games are at home, I think we've got seven or eight at home. Our home record is decent, we don't lose many at home, and I still don't discount us getting well up into that top half of the table”.
Steve's Top Six Target
Thu 12th February 2015 | Irlam
By Ian Templeman
Irlam manager Steve Nixon is setting a target for his young squad to improve on the club’s best ever finish last season.
Despite blooding a number of young players who have come through the ranks this season, Steve believes there is enough quality in the squad to be among the group of clubs challenging for a play-off place.
“We had our best ever season last season in the League, with our biggest ever points tally and we want to build on that”, he said. “So I am looking at matching that tally first as a target and then see where we are then.
“We've never finished higher than eighth, so hopefully we can aim at least for that again”.
A feature of the Irlam squad this season is its youth, and Steve says he has no worries about giving young players an opportunity to impress in the first team, although they have to learn quickly.
“Already we have had six players make debuts in the first team this season”, he said. “We want to them get there as soon as possible, and not wait until they are 19 or 20.
“On Saturday (against Cheadle Town) we had five lads under 20 in the team that started the game, but we have made two now signings this week, lads who are 20 plus, to give us that bit of experience for the run in for the last couple of months.
“Our defensive record up to about five games ago was one of the best in the division, we were up there alongside Colls and Cammell Laird. But we changed the formation a bit and although it's produced more goals, we have been conceding more at the other end.
“So we need little tweaks, and get across to younger players that while it's great going forward in possession, they have other responsibilities when we are defending, and they have to click on to that”.
Looking ahead to upcoming games, Steve believes that Irlam can certainly have a say in how the play off positions pan out at the end of the season.
“The play offs are a great introduction”, he said. “All the teams that are out of the top two, probably right down to 14th or 15th can think they can get there, and there is still a lot to play for.
“Teams around us like Widnes and Cheadle are probably looking at a play off place, but we have got games in hand on them, and while two more points against Cheadle on Saturday would have better, if we can get a run together I still think we can beat our previous best in the league.
“The majority of our remaining games are at home, I think we've got seven or eight at home. Our home record is decent, we don't lose many at home, and I still don't discount us getting well up into that top half of the table”.
