Match thread Chester FC v AFC Fylde

Is it just me or have we just continued as we finished last season? I'm trying to be positive and was full of hope after watching us against Port Vale, although only a friendly. Tonight, we saw glimpses of what our players can do and do think we have some very good players, but it seems they are hamstrung by the formation they are being asked to play. I know it is only one game in but I'm already worried. I saw Halifax at the weekend and I'm sure, if we play to our strengths, we'll see our first home win for a while.

Was reasonably happy with the performance at half time but we looked out of puff second half playing too deep at times we had no outlet and relied on occasional breaks - I hope we don't play that defensive every game and play with more width - we looked a tad slow second half that might be due to not playing Saturday - some positives though with both White and Akintunde looking sharp and it's good to have the returning Hannah

First half was fine, very even. Second half was same old submissive McCarthy, sitting back and soaking up as if we are the away team and I'm so bored of it. We had over 2000 tonight and a load of young lads on the Harry Mac ready to sing their hearts out but they need some sort of spark from the team to get them going but the shackles are never released. New players but the same habits are there....allowing teams far too much freedom and inviting teams to attack down the flanks and get crosses in. I'm sure statistically the match might have been pretty even and neither keeper had much to do, but if any team was going to win then it certainly wasn't us. None of the full backs got past the half way line in the second half, it's so negative. LRT looked pretty poor to me if I'm being honest and hardly an improvement on Hunt, and Halls seems to love an aimless punt. I get that McCarthy wants us to be compact and tough to break down but at home we need to show more than that. I miss the days where I looked forward to us shooting towards the Harry Mac as you knew we'd at least put a bit of pressure on the opposition but these days it's far too submissive and quite frankly its boring.
I'm willing to cut McCarthy a bit of slack as given the circumstances of the last few days perhaps this should be viewed as a decent point, but it's still a worry that we always set up as an away team. Hopefully we can take the game to Halifax on Saturday and at least have a go at them.

I think it's tough to judge Bell on that cameo as the balls to him were atrocious he never had a chance did he - I think Bell is a good player given decent service

I thought we were good in the first half, played some nice football and matched Fylde but second half saw the same old, hoofing down the middle and I think we were lucky to get a point. On a more positive note, we have the players to give us a decent season and 4 strikers capable of scoring goals but can McCarthy get the best out of them. He can start, as you say, by getting them fitter, as Fylde made us look very pedestrian, particularly in the second half.

Can anyone remember the last time we looked genuinely like a better footballing team than the opposition? I get frustrated that every team that comes here passes and moves so much better than us, and we rely on staying in shape and whacking it forwards quickly hoping the catch them out. Away from home I can see us picking up points, but at home I really want to see us get on the ball more and make something happen.

I was wincing in those final 15 mins as it was just like last season waiting for the inevitable to happen.

Agree with all that and the final 15 minutes was a re-run of every home game since Christmas. We we're ok in the first half but nevertheless Fylde always looked more dangerous and could, or probably should, have beaten us convincingly.

Sorry but I get fed up with minute's applause/silences. They're a modern trend and inappropriate. 

I don't agree with all this, they're going to be sharper because they played Saturday. We aren't as sharp because the manager has Molly coddled them through pre season. 45 minute games for the best part and time off if you had a sore toe. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I have always believed you reap through the season what you have sowed through the pre season. Burr did exactly the same. Yes we have small squads but not preparing them properly is also a recipe for injuries when the competitive games start. There will be some sore legs in that dressing room tonight that's for sure.

Bang on. Their keeper rolled it out, defenders happy to take the pass and knock it amongst themselves until finding an opening in midfield. In all honesty we haven't played like that since the early days of Burr when Kingsley James would come and take the ball off Charnock/Brown/Kay and we would build from there. The following season Burr had a crisis in his footballing philosophy and we have never been a possession based team since then.

I remember attending a CFU meeting last August when McCarthy presented his footballing philosophy. My memory tells me he talked about hitting balls forward and trying to win second balls in key areas. I'd have hoped after nearly 12 months he would have sussed this doesn't work. The only time that tactic will work is if you have a target man who can win those balls and create problems. We don't have such a player and we aren't able to push forward to win those second balls as when we do we get over run at the back, which happened repeatedly this evening.

So, to summarise ...we were awful and quite promising. LRT had a good/ awful game at left back. We will be fine this season but could go down. The minutes applause was a good and bad idea. It's a good point but we should be beating promoted teams irrespective of budget. All I can be sure of is that Tarvin Blue will always see the worst in everything connected with the team and manager and that the guy who is in Germany needs help. I still think staying up this season will be a decent achievement and that will turn out to be an OK point. It's the games against Guiseley, Halifax, Solihull etc that will be crucial

To summarise it we have better players but tactically little has changed and JM is still shite that's about it. 

Hope the atmosphere sounded good in the Harry Mac tonight... over the moon with the numbers in there after hours of work towards the Cestrians 1885 movement. Was the busiest I've seen it in a while.