Fleetwood Town Season Preview 2021/22: Will it be cod almighty?

Fleetwood Town are a side that harbour big ambitions but last season saw them head in a new direction, dispensing with Joey Barton’s services in January and hiring Simon Grayson.

The former Leeds boss will be looking to improve on a 15th place finish in 2020/21 and will build a team in his own image. He has been there and done it as a manager but the jury is still out after an indifferent spell at Blackpool and the less said about his time at Sunderland the better.

It is, therefore, an important season for the 51-year-old but he’s very fortunate to be working for one of the best chairmen in the EFL. Andy Pilley, a local businessman, has helped push Fleetwood up the football league while keeping the club at the heart of the community.

He is a level-headed owner who understands stability is the best way to get results. He always backs his managers and that is why Grayson should get the time he needs to build something at Highbury.

It looks as though the 2021/22 campaign will be one of the most difficult and competitive yet, with a number of big fish swimming in League One.

For a club heralding from a town with just 26,000 residents (that’s 10,000 less than Accrington), it is amazing they are set to compete on the same pitch as Sunderland, Portsmouth, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday.

Expect this season to be a tough one for the Lancashire outfit. They will have to make the most of Highbury, a notoriously difficult place to get a result and one that also comes with that goal music.

The Squad

There was a distinctly youthful feel about the Fleetwood squad at the end of last season. Grayson gave a few of the youngsters an opportunity to impress with mixed results.

Defender James Hill had his moments, with the 19-year-old making 28 appearances in the league. Gerard Garner played 17 times scoring three with the 22-year-old used as a striker and wide on the left. Jay Matete, who looked really good while on loan at Grimsby, could be another of the side’s young players to feature regularly this season.

Experience has been added with Tom Clake arriving from Salford. The former Preston man has played most of his career at a higher level and he’ll be an important voice in the dressing room. Likewise, Republic of Ireland international Anthony Pilkington has signed following a brief spell with East Bengal in India. He is better known for his time with Norwich City, a club he made 75 Premier League appearances with.

Brad Halliday is a solid addition at right-back with Danny Andrew likely to keep his place as the dominant man on the opposite flank.

Callum Morton could be a game-changer. The energetic striker wasn’t able to shine at Lincoln last season but if he can stay fit, he is a young player with a lot of upside. When leading the press at Northampton, he excelled and was a key cog in the clockwork that got the Cobblers into League One.

Joel Coleman and Alex Cairns are both dependable goalkeepers and they are joined by young stopper Harry Wright who was picked up on a free from Ipswich.

Newcomer to watch: Ryan Edmondson

Ryan Edmondson has signed for the Cod Army on loan from Leeds and is a player that could end up being very important for Simon Grayson’s side.

He was at Northampton last season where he only managed two goals in 20 appearances but in a struggling side, it was always going to be a difficult move for the 20-year-old. It will be interesting to see how the England U19 international gets on at Highbury. Whatever happens, it is a great opportunity for the young striker.

Verdict

Simon Grayson has a massive challenge ahead of him this season. He is up against some big clubs in a division where it is hard to pick which sides are going to struggle. After the turmoil of the last couple of campaigns, the Cod Army just need to maintain the status quo and be solid or a flirt with relegation feels like a real possibility.

words James Richards, D3D4 Football