Cod Almighty | Diary

I'd trade it all in for a bit more

30 July 2026

It’s a panicked diary today as I forgot it was my turn to pen some thoughts. And I haven’t been having many thoughts recently — at least where the Mariners is concerned. ‘Is’ concerned, or ‘are’ concerned? That’s a thought I’m having now. That, and how I’m going to do half the stuff that’s on my plate at work this afternoon.

To be honest, your West Yorkshire Diary is enjoying one of life’s mini highs having realised the out-of-date Pringles and out-of-date Actimel I’d accidentally consumed yesterday didn’t end my life (or, worse, kept me alive but made me vomit violently through the night).

I haven’t dwelt on this much, but what I’ve come to realise is that as I’ve got older I’ve become very good at switching off entirely as soon as the season finishes. It’s easier to do these days because of the way the club is run (or ‘are’ run. No, it’s definitely ‘is’). Folk know what they’re doing. 1878 Partners has (have) had its (their) feet under the table for five years now, during which it (they) brought the club kicking and screaming out of the Hurstian era of hunches and into the Artellian era of data where you tap a few keys and bob’s your uncle — there’s your new Irish midfielder!

I’m over-simplifying for comic effect. Or just for effect. The point still stands, though: recruitment ain’t what it used to be. Move with the times, grandad. Forget xG, it’s all about xV these days — the expected value of a player measured on the money we receive for him minus the money we paid for him. There’s a model for that. If someone’s thought it, it probably exists. Hang on, I think that’s something else. 

Anyway, competent people tend to know what they’re doing. It wouldn’t feel right if we landed every single target in a summer, because I doubt any club does. All we need to know (and the very least we expect) is that everyone’s trying their hardest, including computer software. Whatever will be, will be.

A Grimsby Town team drew 0-0 against a Boston United team last night. Not much to say, really. And since I’ve not really been thinking of much else recently (apart from why you don’t see many indirect free kicks given in the penalty area any more) I’ll leave it there. Oh — I did happen to visit York City’s new stadium yesterday! Yep... my mind is still bereft of thoughts.

UTM!