Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 14 May 2012

14 May 2012

Miss Guest Diary writes: For once, all the football events at the weekend went the way I hoped: Man Utd didn't win the Premiership, QPR weren't relegated, York won the FA Trophy and Town won't have to play competitively against Gainsborough Trinity next season. My motives for desiring these outcomes are a mixture of schadenfreude, sentiment and an irrational phobia. Hmm, I think it may be time for a break from football for a while.

But that's going to be really difficult. What with the Champions League final, the various play-off finals, England friendlies and Euro 2012, there is no weekend between now and Town's first pre-season friendly on 7 July that is football-free. Of course, none of these games will involve a high level of emotional investment - I save all the angst for Town - but there'll still be scope for irritation, frustration and disappointment. Especially when England crash out of yet another tournament in the quarter-final stages.

News about Town is in short supply. Shorty is telling anyone who will listen that Serge Makofo is not wanted at the club and won't be playing even if he stays until his contract expires next year. He hasn't started a game since February and apparently declined the opportunity to go on loan to Gainsborough Trinity. Maybe Serge shares my irrational phobia about that club.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Anthony Elding has shown more insight than I would have expected by indicating he believes that "he still has to convince some of the Town faithful of his capabilities". He plans to come back "fitter and stronger to do more next season and get more fans on side". I'm very willing to be convinced - but only by on-field performances and not off-field rhetoric. And that's an #eldingfact.

I'm sure everyone has already heard the news that Paul Groves has been given a two-year contract to manage Bournemouth. Congratulations! Groves is still in my list of top five all-time favourite Town players. Anyone who knows me will be aware that number one in my list is Wayne Burnett. Sometimes I daydream that Town are back in the league with Groves as manager and Burnett as his assistant. It could happen, couldn't it?