Champion pushes claims of Drillot for Muratti spot

Monday 8th February 2010, 2:29PM GMT.

Heavy going at the Track: Tics’ Luke Graham lunges in a bid to take the ball off Bels’ Dave Rihoy. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0914157)

Bels 3, Athletics 0
DRILLOT for Guernsey.

That was the message coming from Ian Champion as Bels won a a hard-fought game on a heavy Track pitch to stay 12 points clear of St Martin’s in the title race.

Simon Marley set Champion’s men on their way with a superb opener on 20 minutes and Dave Rihoy – who else? – and Craig Young made sure of the points after half-time.

But Bels knew they had been in a game, a point recognised by the Bels boss who was glad to be three points closer to his own maiden Upton Park appearance.

‘The big thing is the points in the bag. Nine points in a week and it is really good to get those nine points.

‘For the first half-hour they took the game to us and they are hard games [like these]. They are progressing really quickly.’

But while Champion rightly said having such a terrific strikeforce at his disposal is key to their title challenge, it is the form of his big central midfielder which excites him.

To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.

View more: Athletics news, Bels news.

1
George

February 9, 2010 at 8:13 pm

Matt Drillot was called up by the Island Manager – in 2005 i think – he turned down the opportunity. Plus he’s not as good as those currently in the squad.

Report abuse
2
Layla

February 10, 2010 at 10:16 am

George why bring up 2005

Things change people change there must have been a good reason for him to turn down the opportunity

In muratti football you need fighters, ball winners and players with big hearts and Drillot has all of those in abundance. He is, at the moment, the toughest midfielder in the Island and his football and discipline have improved unbelievably under Champion

He does not have the finesse but I would not face Jersey without him, you are right we do have some good players at the moment but we dont have a Drillot

I am sorry but Marc Laws is not the answer to us winning in Jersey but Drillot could be

Report abuse
3
Joel Bryden

February 10, 2010 at 4:19 pm

I agree Layla people and their lives change in 5 years and I think it has taken that long for Drillot to grow up and come to terms with himself

We all know he is a bit of a wild card but I have to agree with you he is the type of player, in his current form, who could have a big impact on a Muratti

Think of Budlo or Chris Dyer well Drillot is every bit as good and as strong as they were right now

If Tony Vance could get his head right, like Champion seems to have, he would have to play

George you cannot have all the twinkle toed players, even if they are better (in your words), in a Muratti. You need workers and a good mix of pure talent and labourers. In Drillot you have the hardest working player, who is beginning to show he can play as well as protect his back four and other midfield team mates

Now that Drillots disciplinary issues have been sorted out by Champion this year, everyone should now understand that he is harder and quicker than everyone else. The bookings he picks up now are often because he is too strong for opponents and referees take his challenges as fouls because of his strength

Champion and Layla are right he is Muratti, die for the cause, ready

Report abuse