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Just got back staying at a friends so not as far as some have to go.

Overall - Fleetwood are an excellent team and it is more like a league two dream team than anything else. However we really didn't do enough to really compete with them and have away very soft goals.

A special mention for me has to go out to Nico/Mansell for being the worst on the pitch. It's the worst performance from both I've seen. Nico just hoofs the ball up the pitch and he was involved in one way or another in two conceded goals. It's his man for the corner, then it's a mixture of him and Mansel for the second.

Mansel just runs around and his enthuasim is to be applauded, however he is out of position so much it's scary. Sometimes he was at right wing and other times behind Downes and pearce!. Which leaves Harding EXTREMELY exposed! As Fleetwood played 4141, it ended up with 3 on Harding. For anyone who criticises him today seriously does not know much about football.

Overall the only real bright spark was Chappel who was our only threat going forward and was very good for the full 90 Minutes. Tonge also did well and we looked okay on the right, the left with Cameron and Nico is a disaster. Bodin has to play as he has some size and presence about him. Benyon did well also!

Overall the best squad of players won comfortably, as they should. I did feel for Knill today and the players as there was nothing at all we could do. We could have gone with any formation and/or team selection and still have lost comfortably. A very long trip and next time I think ill stay at home.

Fleetwood to be champions! It's a cert! There strength is depth is beyond Beleif in league two. They would have a good shot at promotion in league one!

exiledgull wrote:For anyone who criticises him today seriously does not know much about football.

Well given that almost every report on here has slated him today, I'm guessing we should discount them then?

Agree to some extent about Harding exilegull but he is simply not strong enough, quick enough or combative enough to be effective in there regardless. We have Mansell who can do all that and more and although his form has nosedived i'd have him over Harding all day long. The problem today was that they were both overrun in the middle, Cameron was offering them p*ss all and they just kept getting hemmed in and got more numbers in there. If what you say is the case though then how do you explain his similar performances at Morecambe and Northampton? I've not even seen the home games and apparently he has been dire in those too. It is a weird one because he was a key player for the Cobblers who got to the play offs last season so can't be that bad you would have thought but then again, lots of our players and ex players who weren't / aren't good enough got to the play offs the year before.

exiledgull wrote:Just got back staying at a friends so not as far as some have to go.

Which leaves Harding EXTREMELY exposed! As Fleetwood played 4141, it ended up with 3 on Harding. For anyone who criticises him today seriously does not know much about football.

Fleetwood to be champions! It's a cert! There strength is depth is beyond Beleif in league two. They would have a good shot at promotion in league one!

Actually Exildgull, you might have hit on our major failing. Midfield is the BIG problem area as we all agree. However, most teams play with at least three in midfield - you tell us Fleetwood played with four in midfield. Are we being overrun in midfield because Knill is persisiting with a 4-2-4 formation? Personally, I would prefer to see a 4-3-3 (or even a 4-1(Lathrope)-2-3) set up. What do others think? Also - are Fleetwood really that good, or were we so poor that they looked that good? They haven't exactly set the league alight up to now .......

I was thinking on the way back home:

I think we can all agree the players that have come in are better than those that have left (Apart from Howe) so why do we still have similar problems in that we cannot get the ball down and pass it?

Harding was offered a contract by playoff finalists, they obviously rated him! Also look we're Northampton are now! (Not all Harding I know). For those that went we saw glimpses of Harding today with short sharp passing and really drove us forward.

If we released Mansel would there be a que of takers for him? Would he have 10 managers on the phone saying come and play for me? I personally don't think he will. Mansel is a good player and has unbelievable enthuasim, but I dare you to watch his positional play it is scary.

I've ended up singling Mansell out, but he was just one of a very poor bunch.

In terms are Fleetwood that good, Yes they are!

They have individually the best centre halves in the league, best central midfield players in the league and have the option of either Matt, Parkin or Ball up front in league two. They were the best and strongest team I have seen at this level and they are currently 4th. Give them until Xmas they will be clear at the top.