Fleetwood v Rotherham

[Reaper]

I reckon both teams will be around playoffs come next May so im expecting a tight a tough game to start with.

Sold out away end with the first batch of tickets selling out under 4 hours and the 2nd batch in matter of minutes taking it to around 1100 millers there with plenty gutted fans like myself missing out.

I reckon we'll line up similar to this with 4411 formation.

O'Donnell
Emmanuel, Ajayi, Ihiekwe, Purrington
Williams, Vaulks, Potter, Newell
Ball
Proctor

Predicted score: 2-2

 

[MillerWhale]

There was a time last season when Fleetwood looked like they might nick 2nd spot from Bolton. A couple of poor showings in the playoff semis doesn't mean they're a bad team and I've not seen anything in the transfer market to suggest they're significantly weaker. I was happy with the signing of Ball, but he wasn't nailing down a regular place.

Having seen Fleetwood's home statistics last season, they seldom give anything away on their own patch. My worry is that we'll have hoardes and hoardes going up there that are expecting to walk the division or at the least be top 6, and woe betide anyone getting in the way. It has a recipe for the atmosphere to turn poisonous so I'm hoping the fans can remain patient and realise that a loss or not winning is not a big disaster as it's a tricky start and it's usually difficult to establish form early on.

My prediction is a 2-1 home win. I think Fleetwood will realise we're fragile given the lickings we took last season and fully expect them to try and expose our frailties from the off. I think we're stronger and better prepared than last season whilst also the gulf now between the second and third tier is enormous. So I think they'll come out to hammer us, realise it won't be that easy, but still nick it.

Can't decide whether it's a good time to be playing them early or not. They're in no rhythm and neither are we. If I look on paper, our first 11 is better than theirs but they're a tight group, should be very confident and are on their own patch. Should be a hugely intriguing tie.

 

[K-Win]

My worry is that we'll have hoardes and hoardes going up there that are expecting to walk the division

That's some expectation after losing 33 league games last season! I don't know much about your team admittedly but history shows how difficult it is to change a losing mentality into a winning one.

 

[Millerbri]

That's some expectation after losing 33 league games last season! I don't know much about your team admittedly but history shows how difficult it is to change a losing mentality into a winning one.

I can see why you would think that way looking at last year's results.

But the team that starts on Saturday will probly only contain about 5 of last year's players, obviously the better ones.

I think we won 8 out of 9 pre-season and only lost narrowly to a Sheffield United side that romped the league last year so confidence may not be as low as you would expect.

We have managed to offload some, nay pretty much all of the bad apples and there seems to be much more of a team spirit this year.

I think we have a difficult start and don't think we are going to suddenly become all conquering, but I do expect to be much more competitive and hopefully win a few more this time around.

Hope springs eternal.....and all that!

I was lucky enough to get a ticket and I am looking forward to it, but would certainly be happy with a point to start the season.

 

[K-Win]

Good luck then - only 4 days to go!

 

[Sheffsteel]

I think we won 8 out of 9 pre-season and only lost narrowly to a Sheffield United side that romped the league last year so confidence may not be as low as you would expect.
.

I went to the friendly at NYS the other week where Sheff Utd won 2-1 and to be honest it was a very even game, draw would have been a fair result.

I was in the Sheff Utd end and we were saying how Rotherham definitely looked like a top end league 1 team. We had more quality with better passing in midfield but you showed a lot of energy, organisation and aggression playing a fast direct game. Your players even looked very fit and up for it to say it was a pre season friendly.

It was my first ever visit to the New York stadium and I was really impressed. It's a bit small but it's not a boring new build bowl, like the others. The stands are different and have character.

It must give Millers a real sense of pride to watch their team play in such a fine stadium, walked past the old stadium Millmoor and it looks a real dump, night and day improvement.

 

[Millerbri]

I went to the friendly at NYS the other week where Sheff Utd won 2-1 and to be honest it was a very even game, draw would have been a fair result.

I was in the Sheff Utd end and we were saying how Rotherham definitely looked like a top end league 1 team. We had more quality with better passing in midfield but you showed a lot of energy, organisation and aggression playing a fast direct game. Your players even looked very fit and up for it to say it was a pre season friendly.

It was my first ever visit to the New York stadium and I was really impressed. It's a bit small but it's not a boring new build bowl, like the others. The stands are different and have character.

It must give Millers a real sense of pride to watch their team play in such a fine stadium, walked past the old stadium Millmoor and it looks a real dump, night and day improvement.

You are right about the stadium it is a bit small and it stopped us taking full advantage of the bigger away followings in the Championship.
But you have to remember we were in League 2 when it opened 5 years ago.

There is a plan that enables it to go up to 16000 then 20000 but that won't happen now we've been relegated, if ever.
But it's big enough for this league and I think we are very lucky to have it.

Regarding United, I thought the were very slick moving the ball around and carved us open a few times without taking the chances created.

I think you should be ok next season if you can play the ball around like you did at NYS, but you might need a better striker if the hope is to challenge.

 

[codaplenty]

We played PNE last Friday with our first team and got thumped 1-5, an indication of what could have awaited us in the Championship had we achieved promotion. Losing Mclaughlin and Ball was always on the cards but a blow nonetheless, btw for you Millers Bally was always a regular and scored the highest number of goals in his 5 years with us, he does'nt score tap ins he scores absolute crackers, I wish him well apart from the obvious
Fleetwood now have a very young squad which Rosler will relish bringing on, there are some quality players around but it will take a good few games for things to settle down, competition is good and Saturdays match will be an indication of how tough this league is, 2-2

 

[SF_]

We played PNE last Friday with our first team and got thumped 1-5, an indication of what could have awaited us in the Championship had we achieved promotion. Losing Mclaughlin and Ball was always on the cards but a blow nonetheless, btw for you Millers Bally was always a regular and scored the highest number of goals in his 5 years with us, he does'nt score tap ins he scores absolute crackers, I wish him well apart from the obvious
Fleetwood now have a very young squad which Rosler will relish bringing on, there are some quality players around but it will take a good few games for things to settle down, competition is good and Saturdays match will be an indication of how tough this league is, 2-2

Despite that scoreline, I still wouldn't mind taking Cian Bolger off your hands!

 

[codaplenty]

Despite that scoreline, I still wouldn't mind taking Cian Bolger off your hands!

Many thanks for your kind thought , the second letter is OFF !

 

[Lance Stoe]

Come on Fleetwood.

 

[Reaper]

Come on Fleetwood.

Im starting to think your a closet millers fan.

 

[Reaper]

Sounds like we we're a bit rubbish today especially after the first goal which is a shame because we have done well pre season.

We should have signed players like McAleny apart from a load of non scoring forwards but our transfer policy is a joke.

Can't really comment on the game too much because i wasn't there but i would like to hear from other millers who were there.

I would give Warne 5 more games and if theres no significant improvement then he can go already.

 

[Lance Stoe]

Hahahahahaha. Karma. A small club getting their just rewards

 

[Boletus Edulis]

This is not me on a wind up of SERNWA, but you must be a little worried after that result? There is no doubt team and squad wise yours is in the upper half, but the concern must be after last season what the morale side of things could be. Losing is a habit. a bad habit. One game is clearly not a season, we lost out first three games last year and looked what happened. However, if after three to four games you have not won a match, I do wonder if you might start to panic a bit.

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Why would they panic??..Dont forget they have the best players in L1 by far

 

[PuB]

When I saw the score come up I assumed it had to be some kind of terrible mistake.

What a glorious giant killing.

 

[codaplenty]

This was a good win by Fleetwood, I expected a really tough match here but apart from the first 15/20 minutes it was a poor performance by the away side. You got Bally we got McAleny, think we got the best deal but one game means nothing. Crackin support from Millers, at least you got some healthy Lancashire sunshine !

 

[Reaper]

Ffs people judging after 1 game get a grip we played a really good side today but i still expect us in the top 10 come end of the season tbh.

However if we still finding it hard to kick start our season in a few matches time then it's time for a new manager.

 

[Chris]

Great start to the season. Top of the league

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Top 10????...It was only last week you were walking to the title and this division was awful!!

 

[Reaper]

Top 10????...It was only last week you were walking to the title and this division was awful!!

From which horses mouth is that from then?, certainly not from mine take a look at the prediction table thread.

 

[Millerbri]

I was there so I hope I might be a little more informed than some who have written comments on this thread.
The first 15 minutes we started really well and had a goal chalked off for offside, then they scored and we lost our way as Fleetwood enjoyed the better of the rest of the first half.

Second half we opted to try to use the brisk wind in our favour, put on Moore and played very directly but didn't create any clear cut chances.
The second goal was a speculative shot from the edge of the box and certainly poor goalkeeping, beaten on his near post.

For all our attacking it never felt to me that we were going to score and Fleetwood always looked dangerous on the break.
I think Fleetwood looked a very decent team, very competitive and they played the blustery conditions far better than we did so they deserved the win.
They will certainly turn many teams over, so the ones who are laughing at us now can take their turn and we'll see how it pans out for them shall we?

As for us, nobody really turned up, (or was it that they weren't allowed to).
On their returns, Ball was poor and subbed, Procter decent one minute, poor the next.

I don't think there's any need to panic yet, in fact hopefully it might just serve as a kick up the arse for some of the players after their relatively comfortable preseason results.

One thing.........I found it really difficult watching a team against us playing in virtually the same home kit as ours. I kept thinking we had won the ball and as their subs were warming up in front of us, I kept thinking "I don't recognise him".
Just see what you think when you visit us, It's quite weird.
I wonder if it does affect the players?

Anyway we were made very welcome by the Fleetwood fans and staff and I wish them well for the rest of the season.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I've not seen anything in the transfer market to suggest they're significantly weaker.

That's a funny way of saying they signed a forward with 12 goals in his last 15 L1 starts.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Fleetwood were a play-off side last season. Unless their manager badly screws it up (as Scunny's boss seems intent on doing) then I expect them to be challenging. Not surprised by this result. Going there is not an easy game.

 

[MillerWhale]

Can't understand the hysteria. I predicted a 2-1 home win and it was 2-0. It will take us some time to adjust to this more in your face league and Fleetwood away was a tough opener.