Things Getting Better?

The Silkmen have seen a tough start to the League Two campaign with each new week seeming to bring another high-flying or promotion hunting side to face the new-look Silkmen.

The club have made 14 signings over the summer and whilst most reports have been positive, the Silkmen have one win so far this season.

But whilst the Blues don’t look to have improved too much by looking at the League table, does it tell the whole story?

After the draw at Morecambe, the Silkmen had picked up four points from their prevous two games, a respectable return from the home fixture with Port Vale and an away trip.

Before this point the only defeat had come to the circus that is Notts County, and Leicester in the League Cup.

But two defeats since then have slanted the results list away from the improvement that many people have seen on the pitch. Both defeats have been labeled by many as harsh on the Silkmen, with Rotherham scoring twice on the break and also having the referee to thank for their three points, and the Silkmen creating more than enough chances to win the game against Crewe only to see them squandered before an 85th minute defeat.

So can we expect things to improve from here?

With so many new signings arriving at the same time it was always going to take time to gel. Many of these players were making the step into, or back into the Football League and have been thrown in at the deep-end.

The results against Northampton, Port Vale and Morecambe are all improvements on what we would have expected last season whilst the performances against Rotherham and Crewe, two more teams who will be ‘there or thereabouts’ at the end of the season have shown a commitment to playing better football and to attacking.

Perhaps the Silkmen need a slice of luck to get them underway, but a first goal for Ricky Sappleton, who doesn’t yet look fully fit and will improve with games, alongside Tipton will be a step in the right direction.

A bit more composure in front of goal and we should see plenty flying in at the right end as the season progresses.

This in turn would take the presure off the defence.

Overall, are we better than last season? The side has certainly looked stronger, more experienced and more cultured than last season.

Barnet is next and will be a tough game, so a little more patience might be needed, but there is no reason why the Silkmen can’t beat the form side and lay down a marker for the rest of the season.