Paul Cook has urged Chesterfield to treat Saturday afternoon’s Sky Bet League Two opener against Fleetwood Town as a fresh start, even after last weekend’s Carabao Cup defeat to the same opponents.
Speaking on Friday morning ahead of the match at the SMH Group Stadium, the Chesterfield manager said there are no secrets between the two sides and suggested the previous meeting should not be overread. His view was that both teams know how the other plays, so the game likely unfolded much as expected.
Cook also made clear that he is not anticipating major tactical surprises. He said coaches and managers are generally set up to play a certain way, and after Fleetwood won last weekend, Saturday will be “a completely different day.”
Ten new players and a settling-in period
The bigger long-term storyline for Chesterfield is the size of the rebuild. Cook said the club have ten new players and that it may take time for the group to settle. In his view, that process is normal and could take 10, 12 or even 15 games before the team fully clicks.
That does not mean Chesterfield should be patient forever, but it does explain why the manager is focused on momentum as much as results. Cook said every team wants to hit the ground running, gain confidence and build early rhythm, because a strong start can bring good things across a season.
He also used last season as a reminder of why simply having talented players is not enough. Cook said he never felt Chesterfield were a good team last year, even though he believed they had good players. In his view, the side was missing an ingredient or two required to become a proper team.
Home support could matter
Cook finished by pointing to the atmosphere around the club and the importance of the supporters. He said the stadium looks great and praised the home and away backing Chesterfield have received, including at Fleetwood last week.
His message was straightforward: the club should enjoy the journey together, get behind the players and make the home ground feel like a cauldron. Cook said the players will need the fans, and the fans will need the players, describing the season as one that will require a big joint effort.
For Chesterfield, that makes Saturday’s opener about more than just revenge. It is the first league game of the season, the first chance to build momentum and the first real test of how quickly a squad with ten new players can begin to function as one.
