Cod Almighty | Article

by Sean Fieldsend

28 April 2005

Several weeks ago now I was sitting in the Pontoon watching a Grimsby Town team still battling for a play-off spot, playing against a Yeovil team that was supposed to be a bit good itself. Eleven minutes into this test of the Mariners' progress, Yeovil's Arron Davies picked up the ball 25 yards from Town's goal. Though Davies' shot was really more of a gentle backpass, Anthony Williams decided to dive over the ball and let it nestle in the back of his net.

Wales' (U-21) number oneWilliams knew what he had done and what the consequences were; he didn't want to get up and look into the Pontoon and see the angry faces staring back at him. I have to admit for that moment I felt genuinely sorry for 'our Anthony' and wanted to put a consoling arm around him. As a member of the goalkeeping clan myself I knew how he felt. But sympathy soon gave way to anger and rage of the rest of Pontoon, and I joined in with the chorus of boos that had now started.

My mate turned round: "How is this barracking gonna make him feel better and give the poor guy some confidence?" I agreed with what he was saying, but could only reply with: "We're playing the best team in the league and that wanker has let that in."

I think this shows the attitude of football fans - and it's the same attitude the world over. We are all ruthless creatures and we only care about doing well. We want to win. We want the best players. And there is no room for sympathy: collectively and individually, we are a set of bastards.

But I'm more concerned with what Russell Slade might call "the Welshman", what the team sheet would call a goalkeeper and what many loyal Town fans would call a liability. It goes without saying that the Mariners have been very fortunate in recent times with the quality of our goalkeepers, but this time it looks if our luck has run out.

As a relatively young Mariner I instantly think of two names when I think of Grimsby goalkeepers: Aidan Davison and Danny Coyne. Both undoubtedly played massive roles in the recent history of our club, be it gaining promotion or avoiding relegation. Maybe it isn't fair to compare our current fourth division custodian with the keepers who played for us when we were higher up the league - so let's try and be fair and weigh up the positives and negatives of having Anthony Williams between the sticks.

The negatives

• vulnerable to shots (see Yeovil)
• vulnerable to crosses (see any game you choose)
• highly vulnerable to free kicks (see Notts County)
• defence has no confidence in him (ask Terrell Forbes)

The positives

• out of contract after two more games

It has been a very difficult first season back in the basement league, but there have been some positives to take out of it. While I'm writing this we sit 17th in the league table, so I'm finding it a bit difficult to see what these positives are, exactly; but hey, at least we're not gonna get relegated.

Expectedly beaten, for a changeAnyway, back to moaning about Williams (after all, everybody else seems to be). Mr Slade has recently decided to show us that moaning about his players is something he enjoys, and Williams hasn't escaped Sort It's wrath this season. Slade proclaimed after the recent victory over Oxford that his goalkeeper "hasn't had the greatest game with his hands today". Bugger me, Russ - that's what he is supposed to be good with, isn't it? Chairman Fenty thought he was missing out on the action and jumped to the defence of his Welsh fumbler with, well, characteristic high speed. We should stop criticising Williams, said the chairman, because everyone else had a rubbish goalkeeper too. Well, that was more or less it. Presumably Mr Fenty thinks it's OK to keep playing Terry Fleming because everyone else has rubbish midfielders too?

This season has been disappointing and despite the odd glimmer of hope the season was essentially over several weeks ago. If we want to challenge next season several things have to be done. The fans have a major part to play in this transformation, as we all have to lower our expectations. We no longer play in Division One (OK, so nobody does since they changed its bloody name again, but you know what I mean). We can't attract players like John Oster and Danny Coyne and, as hard as it is to accept, the future lies with players like Terry Fleming and Ronnie Bull.

Secondly, Sort It needs to go shopping in the summer. I don't mean for an entire squad because we all know that hasn't worked and this club needs stability. He needs to go out and buy two new goalkeepers - and, yes, that means getting rid of "the Welshman". Why two? Williams has spent a season unopposed in the Mariners goal, and Slade couldn't have replaced him even if he'd had the nous to realise that Williams wasn't good enough. Paul Fraser was obviously deemed surplus to requirements so he must have been really bad. If we bring in two new goalkeepers it will provide much-needed competition and the standard will have to be raised by both to get a chance in the first team.

Of course Slade will tell us he works on a budget and that he can't afford to waste his wages on players who aren't playing. Well, one goalkeeper can have Williams' squad place and I'm sure no-one will notice if Glen Downey leaves, because nobody noticed him arrive, and unless you've been paying avid attention to the half-time kickabout no-one would have seen him play.

And what of Anthony Williams? Well, to be honest I really don't care. I'm a football fan. And therefore I'm a ruthless creature.

Has Sean summed up your thoughts rather brilliantly, or is he being far more harsh and beastly than is absolutely necessary? Use the legendary Cod Almighty feedback page to speak your brains.