Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 11 November 2005

11 November 2005

"After about ten pints, I think" said lovable scouser Paul Jewell when asked at which point he stopped thinking about relegation and started thinking about Europe. Alas, it would take a similar amount of alcohol these muggy November days before your Guest Diarist began to even think about our beloved Town gaining promotion this season. The absence of creative attacking football inspired by a playmaker in midfield, and the endless home defeats caused by goals from strikers that the home fans just know are bound to score against us, is like a non-stop thumping hangover lately.

So will tonight be any different? Another tricky fixture against opposition who have suddenly woken up to the fact that they are 'only eight points from the play-offs.' Apparently there's no failure in being second bottom in November these days - it's just delayed success. They haven't lost in four; their best players are coming back from injury; their wily old manager has successfully inserted a starting handle in to the backside of Clyde Wijnhard; and they are away to a side that lose at home, especially on Fridays. Ah, the ever-popular Friday night Grimsby Town home fixture beckons.

I just stopped off briefly to observe the two minute Remembrance Day silence. And was impressed to note that even the remorseless machinery of Sky Sports news stopped for a minute. Yeah, just a minute, and then the presenter told us, without a trace of irony, that the rest of the silence would be covered on Sky News, and that David Beckham thought it would be a real honour to captain his country tomorrow for the fiftieth time...

But don't be so flippin' negative, if Town win tonight they can go top. And all those around us in the table have got tricky away games this weekend. We are definitely due a win at home, so let's get down there, Friday or no Friday, cross our fingers and hope that Mr Slade plays a blinder. For it is he who has been out of form, methinks. You know all of this already but JPK won't be there because he's been called up by his country again. Jones the stick had his hernia operation just yesterday and is feeling a bit woozy and sore. Croft wishes he could be in the team but can't due to chronic unfitness. And Parky is still, well, Parky. Although the Telegraph tells us that he has had a cortisone injection, the pain of which has made Parky promise never to use shin splints as an excuse to skip training again. So it's Calvin or Parky on the left - with Newey making it very plain where his vote is cast - and Reddy and Jones-the-Lump up front.

Mr Slade has also scotched the daft rumour he started about playing the trialists after the adrenalin surge caused by the exciting mid-week reserves match subsided a bit. Toner and Ramsden will fill in for JPK and Rob Jones. Writing these diaries about Town is bit like turning lead in to gold - eventually you just have to shut your eyes, wish fervently and believe. See yer.