Bob's Board - Chesterfield FC: The Earl of Chesterfield - Viewing Profile - Bob's Board - Chesterfield FC

..to a pub brekkie then another match day meeting, mingling and mixing with massed ranks of fellow Town fans before and after a sold out game.

To finally drawing a line under what Carson and Co did to us.

To a summer where we can proudly wear our colours.

To eyebrow raising signings.

To the fixture lists coming out.

To days out at Notts and Donny.

To another sold out and sun-drenched Tairn grairnd hosting our long awaited return.

And most of all I'm looking forward to driving down Sheffield Road and not seeing 'National League' on that sign advertising our next match...

My head says PC is offering squad players an opportunity.

My head says it's top class man management.

My head says most of those fielded today won't be Town players next season.

But my heart still grieves at watching us lose to another outfit who, metaphorically, are a five or less bloke having a one night stand with a nine or more lass 'cos she's had a few too many.

Make no mistake - Kiddie fans (literally, given so much of their pubescent behaviour) will be bragging 'We've had them!' as they watch us every week in the EFL.

Back to reality, though. Stockport knew what they were doing releasing Palmer. A high standard National League player who'll have no problem gettting a contract at another high standard National League club.

Same applies to Jeff King.

Clements too will easily get a deal at that level.

Freckleton? Still a lot to learn.

Oldaker ditto in terms of consistency. I can see a loan.

Hobson? He might've been a star at Kiddie but way down our pecking order. Another NL loan next season.

Curtis behind him.

Banks. Ollie Banks. Superb footballer. Played a huge role in our success. A genuine Town pedigree. Yet...

..I wonder if he'll get more first team football elsewhere. Even if that's at a different L2 club.

Joe Quigley's a cult figure scoring a laudable double figures largely from the bench. We all love his application and passion. However these last few games confirm why he is a last twenty man. An even more bit part player in the future. So a possible money move instead? I'd pat him on the back and wish him every success if so.

Jonesey has more than earned his place in CFC history. Sadly Father Time dictates we need a younger version.

All that said I have faith in Paul Cook to do the right thing. As he's improved our club every year since returning. As he did before.

It's frustrating. Irritating. Embarrassing, even. Though these games we're now watching are, in a sense, getting a head start on our next campaign...

..to one and all.

Or more accurately, international Islamophobia Awareness Day.

You decide...

I'm absolutely convinced Paul Cook won't allow it.

I'm also absolutely convinced none of our players would ever admit to it.

But there's a line between knowing we're the best team in the division - in other words confidence - and just expecting to win.

I wonder if we've crossed that line recently.

For the first twenty minutes we were sloppy. No other word for it. We then turned the Spireite screw, as is our game plan, and could've/should've been well in front.

Albeit having conceded, too.

Our quality once more turned to goals second half. Delivering what was a comfortable position. Yet more sloppiness put ourselves under unnecessary pressure.

We all know what happened next.

Rochdale were the latest outfit to see any kind of result against CFC as a cup final win. Which is an enormous compliment. But they're also the latest outfit to benefit from casual defending when three points were there to be had.

My head tells me we're actually better off than this time last week. Twenty points in front with twelve to play. It also tells me it's only a matter of time before we go up. Five games? Six? Seven?

On the other hand my forty plus years supporting blue and white heart is desperate to do it yesterday.

But we have to earn that promotion, not sit back and expect others to hand it on a plate...

It's what Paul Cook's game is based on.

It's what's taken us twenty three points clear.

But it's obviously what some still need to understand.

Credit to Ebbsfleet - they came to have a go and were terrific on the break. A perfect away performance earning a fully deserved point. Which could've easily been three.

On the other hand we relied on our tried and tested patience. Pass, pass, pass. Look for the opportunity. Tire the opponent. On the day we lacked urgency, though. Incision. Tempo. Sloppy, in fact.

Meanwhile the limitations of reliable players were all too evident. Huge fan of both Banks and Mandeville, but it's glaringly obvious neither have confidence on their left foot.

As arguably one of the division's most outstanding talents, Dobra, has to learn when to off-load.

Then there's the King who did so much to create, yet so much to frustrate.

However in a daft sense I'm encouraged by today. We were always gonna drop points at some stage. The Manager will be as infuriated by our failings as anyone. So falling short like this convinces me we'll be properly at it next week.

I just hope those groaning and griping and grumbling 'cos we weren't five up this afternoon - which by the way we might've been - have the patience to understand that...