Manager Paul Cook sat down with the media on Friday morning to preview the Spireites’ Sky Bet League Two opener against Fleetwood Town at the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Firstly, Cook reflected on last weekend’s Carabao Cup defeat to the same opponents. He explained: “It wasn’t so much even a scouting mission; there are no secrets in football anymore.
“Everyone knows how each other plays and how it is, so probably the game panned out how we probably might have expected it to, if the truth be known. I’m not so sure there’ll be any changes in teams’ formations; I’m sure they’ll look at us like we look at them and think about how we can do better; that’s just normal in football.
“The reality is both coaches and managers are set up to play a certain way, and obviously last week Fleetwood won – good luck to them – and tomorrow’s a completely different day.”
Cook continued with how his side are prepared for the opening day of League Two, adding: “You’re always hopeful, you’re always expecting. I think we’ve got ten new players; you’re always aware it’s going to take a little bit of time, like every team.
“Like everyone you want to hit the ground running, you want to get up to speed, you want lads to gain confidence, it’s like every division, it’ll take 10, 12, 15 games to settle down, of course it does, that’s quite normal, but I think the majority of teams, if you can start well, it gains momentum, and momentum can bring good things, that’s for sure.
“Last year I wasn’t shy in saying that I never ever felt we were a good team. I always thought we had good players, but good players don’t make a good team. Good players can certainly help you, without a shadow of a doubt, but there are certain requirements that teams have to have to become a good team, and I just felt last year we were maybe missing an ingredient or two.”
Finally, Cook provided a message to the Spireites faithful for the season ahead, saying: “We look forward to the season, the stadium looks great, we get great support, great home support, great away support last week at Fleetwood. Let’s enjoy the journey together and get right behind the players.
“Let’s make our home place a cauldron; let’s get behind each other when we need each other. They’ll need us, the fans, and we’ll certainly need them. I think a big joint effort this season; let’s see where it can take us.”
