Too true Glenn. I'm used to disappointment. As a Miller of some 50 odd years I can only count on one hand the great moments of this club (not including individual games) which have always, absolutely always been followed by disaster, and last year just about did it for me, after so much promise. I didn't want Warne's' or Barker and became very cynical.

Having said that, ever the pessimist I am, I have been aware of a growing optimism, a good pre season, a feeling that we're assembling a decent squad and even a moaning old so and so like me is beginning to feel upbeat.

A new season then. Onward and …….upwards??

Here we go again more like.

We had 54% possession and 2 shots on target.

We had six corners. They had no corners.

Fleetwood had 46% possession with 3 shots on target of which 2 were converted into goals.

We can only move forward and create more chances in front of goal.

I'm sure I heard the seagulls laughing at full time.  

Seemed like we had a lot more possession than that and spent a lot more time in their half - which of course counts for nowt. We created nowt and didn't seem to know how to create anything either. Was very disjointed which is hardly surprising. O'Donnell made a right mess of the 1st goal, but more than that couldn't see who it was let the striker run in front of him. After a bit of getting nowhere probing, they should have gone 2 up when one of our centre halves decided to head a high ball against the back of the other centre half in front of him, that matey number 7 went one on one should have scored instead of smashing the upright - but guess what? they got to the rebound fashioned another chance instantly but O'Donnell did redeem himself with a very good top bins save.

Didn't see it after the 2nd went in, we had a very high line throughout which of course pressed Fleetwood back but they were happy to counter us and knew we wouldn't get through them, they won a lot at the back but also won a very high %age 2nd balls.

Not overly concerned - its one and the 1st game, but Taylor's game is not crossing a ball from the touchline, on top of that neither Proctor or Da Ball wanted to take that chance and be 8 yards further forward when those crosses came in. How Forde gets the nod over Newell is beyond me.

Didn't think Fleetwood were all that tbh, if that's the benchmark to getting into the top 6 then god help us

That was an awful long journey just to confirm my suspicions that our midfield is mediocre at best! In a game that was marred by a very strong wind, the only two players that showed any composure and skill in midfield were Dempsey and McAleny of Fleetwood. In the conditions our defence looked reasonable but Mattock was lethargic in letting the cross come in for their first. McAleny got in front of Iheikwe and O'Donnell was slow to react. Also think O'Donnell was at fault for the second - no keeper should be beaten at his near post from the edge of the area. Taylor worked his socks off with little quality end product and Forde lacked strength and wasn't positive enough against a right back who he had the upper hand over. On the plus side, Proctor's control, hold up play and distribution were quality. Early days but lots to work on - perhaps with better conditions (which Fleetwood are obviously used to) we might have fared better.

On a separate note, how do Fleetwood manage to put together such a successful team? Their pitch is like an average training ground, just over 3 and a half thousand watching with about a 1000 of those visiting fans, yet they have some very good quality players and I imagine an expensive manager - have they got a rich backer?

The only encouraging part of the day was seeing the faces of the demoralised SWFC fans on their coaches returning from PNE!!

Ah well, only a couple of days before we start our cup run!!

GlennMiller wrote:

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That was an awful long journey just to confirm my suspicions that our midfield is mediocre at best! In a game that was marred by a very strong wind, the only two players that showed any composure and skill in midfield were Dempsey and McAleny of Fleetwood. In the conditions our defence looked reasonable but Mattock was lethargic in letting the cross come in for their first. McAleny got in front of Iheikwe and O'Donnell was slow to react. Also think O'Donnell was at fault for the second - no keeper should be beaten at his near post from the edge of the area. Taylor worked his socks off with little quality end product and Forde lacked strength and wasn't positive enough against a right back who he had the upper hand over. On the plus side, Proctor's control, hold up play and distribution were quality. Early days but lots to work on - perhaps with better conditions (which Fleetwood are obviously used to) we might have fared better.

On a separate note, how do Fleetwood manage to put together such a successful team? Their pitch is like an average training ground, just over 3 and a half thousand watching with about a 1000 of those visiting fans, yet they have some very good quality players and I imagine an expensive manager - have they got a rich backer?

The only encouraging part of the day was seeing the faces of the demoralised SWFC fans on their coaches returning from PNE!!

Ah well, only a couple of days before we start our cup run!!

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 "Mattock was lethargic in letting the cross come in for their first"

I thought last year both our full back positions were the main reason we went down, team wise. I assumed after the Bransley game where we looked solid, that Purrington would be left back.

Not going to judge until 10 games in and to be honest I thought playing them away was always going to be a tough opener. and at least there will be no player thinking its going to be easy after that.

UTM.

-- Edited by Davidedin on Sunday 6th of August 2017 09:59:00 AM