Paddy Madden faced the media on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s game at Rotherham United.
Madden has played an important part in Fleetwood’s seven-game unbeaten run, and he’s feeling confident ahead of trip to the New York Stadium.
Here are the key talking points from his press conference…..
On the unbeaten run and life under John Sheridan…
“It’s been a wonderful turnaround, he’s (John Sheridan) just bought that positive vibe with him, lifted spirits and the results speak for themselves.
“Every day you come into training it is all football so you know you’re going to improve as a player.
“Some managers work on a lot of shape but there’s only so much of that you can do.
“At the end of the day you need to improve as a player and the best way to do that is to play football.
“I think it’s one of the main changes and the lads are coming into training with smiles on their faces.”
On togetherness…
“It’s a great bunch of lads, everyone here is, even staff members. It’s a well-knit club.
“Some clubs you go to the staff keep their distance from the players and you’re not together.
“But here, especially with the results, we’ve shown a real togetherness over the last month or two.”
On Rotherham…
“Anyone can beat anyone in this league if you’re not prepared properly or not in the right frame of mind.
“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go into it feeling confident with the run we’re on but it’s going to be a tough place to go.
“If we play like we have been playing we can beat anyone in this league.
“Usually it’s easier to play teams who need a goal themselves for the win because it leaves gaps on the pitch. They need the win so I expect a free-flowing game and a lot of chances.”
On being given freedom on the pitch…
“He’s excellent with that, I find a lot of managers, especially with attackers, don’t give you that free role but at the end of the day, strikers are strikers and are paid to score goals.
“The way the gaffer plays, you’re going to get chances and score goals.
“As an attacker, I can’t speak highly enough of the way the gaffer operates his front men.”
On competition for places…
“I always find if there’s competition then I’m always looking over my shoulder and have to keep performing.
“Jordy’s (Hiwula) done magnificent when he’s come on and scored some good goals for us.
“He’s a very good player but obviously because we’re on an unbeaten run, he’s found it hard to get into the team.
“It’s a team game after all, if he comes on and replaces me or Bobby Grant comes on and replaces me or Conor McAleny, you know it’s going to be a similar player which is good for the team.”
On looking up the league…
“The way things stand now you’ve got to look at the top half of the table. You’ve always got to set your sights high and look to go up.
“We’re in good form at the minute and I know it’s a cliché but you’ve really got to take each game as it comes and keep trying to rack up three points.
“Fleetwood’s an ambitious club and we don’t want to be in League One forever so we’re a club that’s always going to look up.
“Some people might not think we’re a big club but we’ve got the best facilities I’ve ever played in and it has everything it needs to push up the leagues.”