Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 17 October 2003

17 October 2003

What's that old expression... the left hand doesn't know what the right winger's doing? Town's official site lets slip that Marcel Cas could have returned from injury too soon in midweek by deeming him doubtful for tomorrow's visit of Colchester - "It's in and around his wound that he got from the other Sheffield Wednesday game," says PG - but the player himself insists in his Grimsby Telegraph column: "I will be fit for tomorrow." I tell ya honey - what's a guy supposed to think? Simon Ford and Darren Mansaram might be in some kind of contention on Saturday after both began the LDV Vans tie on Wednesday, though no mention is made of tenuous groin victim Tony Crane, who didn't.

Former Arsenal youngster Jermaine Brown joins the Us squad tomorrow, having signed a one-month deal at Layer Road this week. He's still a youngster but he's not Arsenal any more. He plays up front. Hoping for a first appearance since breaking his leg a year ago, versatile defender Gavin Johnson also travels to Cleethorpes. He can construct bath panels from MDF, makes excellent choux pastry and knows a lot about tropical fish. Other injury victims Bobby Bowry and Kem Izzet are in line for comebacks, but another defender, Alan White, misses out with ankle issues and on-loan Birmingham frontman Craig Fagan is suspended.

"Tomorrow's bearer of colourful cards is Mr Phil Joslin of Newark." That's right, children - it's time for Markie's Refwatch. "A veteran of the lower league refereeing scene, Mr Joslin has shown three red and 33 yellow cards in 11 matches this season," writes Mr Stilton. "A modest total and less lenient than last season, when he waved three red cards and 80 yellow cards in 39 games. He prefers yellow to red, then. His last Town match was back in the 'glory' days of 2001-02 when Lennie Lawrence was still fashionable as a manager. He took charge of the 4-0 embarrassment away at Walsall, dishing out yellow cards to four Town players. Presumably for not trying. He was also in charge of the 3-3 away draw away at Stockport earlier in the same season, where no Town players were booked. I think this backs up my 'not trying' theory...". Not so sure, Mark - the Diary was at Walsall, and I'd have given them reds.

But there's more! "Tony 'The Butcher' Butcher said of his Walsall performance: 'A very odd referee. He seemed to give Town every little thing, but ended up booking three or so Town players for types of fouls that Walsall committed too,' which backs up his report for the Stockport match where he calls 'nice' Phil 'inconsistently inconsistent. Dreadful, in that nearly all his decision were, at best, debatable.' So, my assessment: a few daft yellows but we shouldn't see anyone sent off." Thanks for that, Stilts, and I'll see you at Barnsley.

After the weekend I, Mojo Jojo, that is to say, me, Mojo Jojo, your regular Diary writer - if you were to address me by the name Mojo Jojo, that would be correct, for my name is Mooooojo Jojo - will be taking time off to do some actual, real, paid work, so as to avoid being sent to live in Rochdale; and so this column will be prepared next week by a series of highly motivated and well-informed replacement diarists with superb writing skills, or, failing that, the rest of the Cod Almighty team. As ever, though, if any of you fancy taking a turn as guest diarist, then drop an email to codalmightydiary@yahoo.co.uk. I always say that when I'm gonna be away and no bugger ever wants to do it, but it's easy and fun and did I mention the groupies?