Cod Almighty | Diary
Diary - Tuesday 6 September 2005
6 September 2005
The Diary's still resting up, so Dirk here again.
In the build up to tonight's game at Chester, Mariners World carries an interview with Graham Rodger who hopes Town can recover from "Friday's bad day in the office". A man who believes league tables don't like, the Rodge observes with three away wins on the trot this term "we are better away from home; the team is more suited to playing away from home." But after Friday night's first-half display led to, in the eyes of Town's número dos, over-confidence let's hope the players aren't as eagle-eyed nor self-aware. "If there aren't changes the players will be fortunate after Friday," Rodgers said sternly enviously eyeing his mate Russell's axe, "and the bench is as strong as it has been for years." Handy with Tony Crane fit enough to be a substitute this season. There's little other team news other than Gary Cohen likely to replace Calvin Andrew, who is suffering from purgatory (depending on what you read Slade's trying to get him back to fourth division hell or he's staying in Luton paradise).
Talking of purgatory, Nick Hegarty and Paul Ashton have made their mark with Whitby Town, helping the Seasiders to four points in three days. Hegarty's substitution after a lively performance against Matlock Town on Saturday even drew boos from his quickly formed fan-club. Crikey! It's Pontoonitis in reverse. And last night Hegarty and, particularly, Ashton impressed our idling reporter in a goalless draw with Bradford Park Avenue. Am I alone in wondering the point of signing Tom Taylor to warm the bench if we have two handy youngsters anxiously waiting to strut their stuff at Blundell Park? Your thoughts to the usual address.
From current players having a go elsewhere, we turn to ex-players elsewhere, and first up is Anthony 'Tony' Williams speaking to the Cumberland News, basking in confidence after keeping three clean sheets so far this season. "If someone had said in pre-season that I would keep three clean sheets in the opening few games, I would have snapped their hands off." Tony, you're not alone. He continues, "It was nice to come into a side which hadn't just been put together as it takes time to gel so it's not ideal having too many new faces all at once.The whole team works hard for each other. There are no idle lads and everybody is prepared to do a job for each other." Will Ashley Sestanovich break Chairman's John land speed record to snap of Williams's hands when he hears this?
John Thorrington, the American whose 206 minute Town career in the second half of the 2003-04 season included a performance against Bournemouth that has stuck in the minds of several Cod Almighty correspondents, is the subject of an interview where the author shows that although sarcasm doesn't cross the Atlantic, a derogatory view of our home town certainly does. "But Thorrington ended [his European career] with lowly Grimsby Town, a lower-division team in a lonely outpost on England's windswept northeast coast that attracts fewer than 5,000 diehard fans on average to its games." Thorrington, to quote the Pasadenas, is doing fine now with Chicago Fire. "I'm just happy to be out there playing and healthy again." Stop snivelling Blanche.
Time to break open the diary postbag, and there seems to be something about Macca.
Our very own Miles Moss is cynical about the club retiring Macca's shirt number. "I'm not sure the club will take James Woodhouse up on his suggestion of 'retiring' Macca's shirt at the end of the season. However, I'm sure what they will do is rip it off his back as soon as the final whistle goes on May 6, and have another one of those blithering auctions."
The robotically named 'Hannah B2' writes in to Agony Diary with a problem. "My boyfriend always sports these T-shirts. I am a Notts County fan and have noticed something quite disturbing on the Macca T-shirt. I am keen to know what the protrusion is between Macca's legs as it has caught my eye a few times and I am not sure it's suitable attire for when he meets my parents. Can I have some feedback in the diary please?" WOOooooOOOO. You just don't want to be embarrassed by the fact your boyfriend supports a better black-and-white-striped team.
"Great interview, and nice idea about retiring the no 2 shirt," says Jason Ives. Why thank you Jason. "I'm also claiming an assist in Macca's goal [against Rushden] - I had my Macca T-shirt on." Clothing with magical powers? You'll be telling us Stuart Campbell donned an invisibility cape before games next. Jase continues, "Another thought on Macca, what with him nearing 600 games for the club, I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that Macca deserves some national attention for his achievements with Town. Perhaps a few e-mails to Sky Sports or Football Focus?" It's a fine idea Mr Ives, and one I think the club had in mind when they tried to get Macca a Lordship.
Regular postbag letterer John Pakey concurs, showing great minds think alike: "I like the idea of nobody being allowed to wear Macca's number. It seems the perfect way for the club to acknowledge what he has done for Grimsby Town. God, I love that man. I thought Thundercliffe's feature on the big man himself was bloody brilliant. In fact, Cod Almighty, you're just bloody brilliant. Best website, ever. You put the best spin on football there is." Give over, man! You're making me blush more than the time I walked out of the loo with my wanger hanging out of my fly. Get back to the point. "I was wondering if anyone at the club has told Match of the Day that, if they want to slum it in the fourth division, they should really do a piece on the ever-present right-back. If anything just to get that goal shown to the lunchtime audience on a Saturday." Leave it with us, people. We'll get on it. Which leaves the last words of today's diary to Mr Pakey. "UP THE MARINERS and LONG LIVE SIR JOHN."