Not long back in after a mammoth day and I would like to share my thoughts with you about what I've seen this afternoon. I'm at all times trying to be as positive as possible and i'm not going to attempt to offer solutions but the very fact I have mentioned the word 'solutions' would indicate that we have problems. Oh yes indeedeedo. We do.
First of all Fleetwood are a good, strong , physical side with some quality players - some of which cost more than my gambling habit. That is a lot of cash! They are expected to do well this season and therefore taking this into account I was hopeful that we could perhaps nick a draw here today but my heart expected defeat. Not only did we lose today but we were made to look like a gaggle of clowns in a circus big top juggling things and riding unicycles badly - we were utterly demolished by a good solid side, not exceptional but a side who were confident in what they were doing and aided by total ineptness by most of our calamitous outfield. I say outfield as Ricey is exempt, ok so he made a rick which led to their 3rd goal but it should really have been 9 or 10 really and if it weren't for the lad again with a MOM performance it would have been.
Their first goal came after they had whipped in about 20 crosses prior to this cross that led to the free header and we had failed spectacularly to get rid of the danger effectively. It had been coming, second goal was an excellent strike from Sarcevic but he had about 5 years to take it, he could have got the deckchair out and read the paper before rattling it off. The third was a Ricey cock up for which there is no way i'm going to give him stick for, the 4th was just f*cking annoying like the silent Fleetwood fans. I thought there were 3000 and odd Laurel and Hardies in the stands it was that quiet.
There is an old saying, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR and I have seen large signs in the last 3 away games that perhaps this old adage is going to come and bite me on the arse. I got my wish and wanted Ling out thinking a new man would at least attack and make us more competitive and easy on the eye. The last 30 minutes aside at Northampton and a few minutes second half at Morecambe and we have looked WORSE than a Martin Ling side. Totally lacking any creativity, players getting bypassed so easily, players all over the shop and creating nothing. For all the stick Ling got we rarely got tonked under him and he kept us in games generally despite our lack of scoring prowess at the other end. This was pointed out to me by Bengull today and I totally agree 100%. I have asked for Knill and I've got Knill and i'm going to give him the time to see if he can get things right.
We are conceding goals and we look desperate at times both in midfield and at the back, we also struggle to get forward. Today was a Ling esque performance but Fleetwood would only have won 1-0. I'm happy that Ling is gone, I stick by that and i'm still happy that Knill is at the helm but I am completely shocked by what I have seen today. Knill hasn't produced the attacking football I had hoped for thus far in general. The second half against Northampton is the sort of performance level I anticipate for most games and even if the goals don't come at least we're giving it a go. Now it's like we're back to the Ling days but will ship 2, 3 , 4 goals instead of 1.
I'm not a finicky fan, I fully support Knill and Brass and know we're only a handful of games in and they must be given time to try and get some sort of consistency in performance levels. I don't mind spending £100 on a day at Fleetwood, being out of the house for 12 hours and losing 4-1 but if the players have not even turned up then it is unforgivable. I am trusting Knill and I will forget about today, it must be a blip and we are ready for Rochdale.
RICE 9 MAN OF THE MATCH - Despite being at fault for the 3rd he made some superb saves and was involved all game.
TONGE 6 Tried to carry the ball forward at times and wasn't that bad.
NICHOLSON 5 Below average
DOWNES 8 This bloke is a legend and if he gets injured we're f*cked.
PEARCE 5 Solid at times, slow to react at other times. A bit like Saah when he first arrived. Should improve.
MANSELL 5 Tried to keep the team ticking over as always, grafted but little else.
HARDING 1 Abysmal, corners and free kicks in promising positions wasted because he consistently failed to execute a dead ball properly and put it in a dangerous area. Constantly brushed aside, bypassed and left for dead which led him to make a few late challenges trying to retrieve the ball, one for which he was booked for. He had some nice slick gel on his hair but there was nothing slick about his play. Did f*ck all. I still maintain he gets given more time as I feel its only fair but there is no way on this earth I can see any way in which he will suddenly get better. I've seen some chinks of promise in Pearce and Bodin even already this season but I've seen this guy 3 times now and it's like having 10 men. I don't wish to be harsh on the lad and he should get some more time but by the same token, he needs to dramatically improve otherwise we have a problem if Knill won't drop him.
CAMERON 2 Almost as bad as Harding. Didn't even know he was on the pitch. My Grandma would have given us a better attacking outlet and she passed away 5 years ago. Shocking.
CHAPPELL 7 Our best attacking player by a mile, busy, industrious but just couldn't get any joy or help from team mates.
HAWLEY 3 Really bad today, usual hold up play but had nothing to work from to be fair to him. Still poor though.
BALL 4 Lots of endeavour but to no avail.
SUBS: SULLIVAN 5 Ok
BENNERS 7 Did really well when coming on, battling for headers , coming back to help and a superb finish from the edge of the box for our goal. A rare bright spot.
KNILL 3 Failed to motivate, failed to select the right 11 and failed to bring on subs when the time was right. At 2-0 down and labouring we needed change. 3-0 came and it's game over then changes made. Not his finest hour.
If Fleetwood have pretensions of rapidly climbing the footballing pyramid then maybe they could get the local council to put some f*cking road signs up indicating that there IS actually a football ground here. One road in, one season in and still no road signs. How f*cking hard can it be?! I found my way this year, got lost last. They also need to stop going to sleep in games and make some noise.
I saw something that filled me with hope upon leaving Fleetwood (and it wasn't just that I WAS leaving Fleetwood
) but it was something I've never seen before. I saw a rainbow but with another rainbow above it. Two rainbows! I half expected Bungle, George and Zippy to magically appear in the vivid bands of this meteorological wonder. I didn't though and nearly started to cry, I loved them but not as much as Mooncat. Mooncat was sh*t hot AND green! I saw hope that next week at Rochdale we will play like we did at Northampton. Will the real Torquay United please stand up.
Great to stand on the back step with Bengull again and also to see a TUFC fan dressed as Kermit the Frog!
F*cking roll on next Saturday!
