Cod Almighty | Article

by Jase Ives

2 January 2015

Town's abject new year's day performance against Macclesfield posed many questions. Jase wants some answers.

Why does it never seem to work out for us long-suffering fans?

Of course Grimsby Town have no divine right to win any game, or be in the Football League for that matter. That 'right' has to be earned, although there are a number of people who still believe that Grimsby shouldn't be playing 'the likes of' Alfreton. The fact is Grimsby are in the Conference for a reason. Quite simply we stopped being good enough to stay in the League.

Now, in our fifth season in the fifth tier, I'm watching games and seeing the same things I did five years ago. For instance, how often do we, as a home side, start games slowly and allow the away side to settle into their rhythm, play and dictate how the game is played? It's pretty much always the case, but why?

Blundell Park used to be a place teams hated coming to. Now it seems there's no fear factor at all. In fact they relish the visit. Grimsby are viewed as one of the big sides in the Conference in terms of our past, our money and the setting. Which is all a bit ironic given our levels of debt and a ground that is 'not fit for purpose'.

Other teams come here and raise their game, but we allow them to. Is that the manager's fault for not sending his side out fired-up enough? People suggest Paul Hurst is too laid-back, especially during matches, and never displays any emotion. Does this spread to the players? The players themselves should be professional enough, or determined enough, to start games better. They are, after all, being paid quite well, given the level they are operating at, and have better facilities than the majority of the teams they play against, be it on match day or in training.

The fans will Town to succeed. But inside they – we – all know the outcome Perhaps it is our fault? The atmosphere at Blundell Park is as flat as a pancake. But the fans have had a decade of pain, heartache and misery. The life and passion has been sucked out of them. They want Town to succeed; they will them to. But inside they – we – all know the inevitable outcome... again. Some view reaching the play-offs three times as an achievement. Others see it as a failure, not getting over the final hurdle.

We may, hopefully, face the same scenario a third time. We are told we have a better squad than in previous years, and competition for places. But are we confident that anything is different? For Macclesfield, Danny Whittaker had the middle of the park to himself, something we regularly afford the opposition midfield. We see corners never beating the first man. We see players not tracking back. We see players who looked good before they joined us getting dragged down to our 'level'.

Then who is to blame? Is it the 'board' with its endless chase for a new stadium, the loans, the spats with local media, poor managerial appointments? Where does it end, or is the club jinxed, fated to never return to the League? Perhaps we need an exorcism to rid us of all the bad things – be it the board, the manager, the players, the whole bad atmosphere – so that we can start afresh.

Many questions, asked before and no doubt to be raised many a time again. If anyone does have the answer... care to share it?

Well? Put Jase, and all of us, out of our misery? Tell us where it's all going wrong.