Cod Almighty | Diary
Diary - Friday 16 February 2007
16 February 2007
Having seen their team score eleven goals in their last two matches and one minute, the Town fans travelling to Mansfield tomorrow will be hoping for more net-bound ball action. Although in more normal times we would be worrying ourselves sick over that other statistic: seven goals conceded in the last three. And that is what Lord Buckley remarked upon in his interesting interview with Mariners World yesterday in which he explained that he was disconcerted with the way Town keep conceding cheap goals. So are we Alan, so are we.
Nonetheless, he was quick to confirm how pleased he was with Town's comeback and had especial words of praise for young Master Bore, explaining that "whilst he remains in this form he will keep Till out of the team". Lord Buckley went on to heap yet more praise on Toner, using the word 'magnificent' about him, before sadly going on to tell us that Toner has twisted his back in a fall and is a doubt for tomorrow's game. But Paterson is back for two more games and Hunt is available again. Buckley explained that it was highly unlikely that Paterson and Pulis would remain at Grimsby and that there had never been a cat in hell's chance of signing either of them permanently. So now we know.
But wait - the Telewag mutters darkly that the Town backroom boffins failed to adequately decipher the labrynthine tome that represents the Football League's rules on borrowing players. Apparently, according to the Grimsby Telegraph, "The Football League would have needed to be informed during the transfer deadline about an extended stay even though it is a loan and not a permanent transfer. Stoke permitting, the Mariners would have been allowed to extend deals as long as they hadn't reached their allowed quota on loan signings." The official site, in its transcription of that part of the Buckley interview, fails to make any mention of this and I am certainly not going to research this topic any further at this time on a Friday, gentle reader. Let's leave it like this - the whole system is an over-complicated fuck-up, and at least the bottom two divisions should be completely exempt from it.
Talks are underway, however, to extend Hunt's stay at the club, with Ian Fleming trying to rouse the Bristol Rovers directors from their torpor after a horrible recent double whammy. This was induced by conceding four to the likes of Grimsby, and then the City lot playing so well in the cup and afterwards bragging about merging the two clubs (i.e. swallowing the Gasheads whole).
Martin Gritton has given a short but illuminating interview to that ever-popular rag in the Guest Diary household, Mansfield Today. In it he confirms that his domestic arrangements include a house in Grimsby and a lodger. No, not an Atomic Kitten but Town's very own Mr Heggggaaarty. Gritton - who has scored five in seven since joining from Lincoln on loan - hopes he gets picked tomorrow, although Barry Conlon returns from a three-match suspension to add competition to Gritton and Boulding up front. Gritton says he wants to score but there will be no waffle about inexorable former player retribution stuff here thankyouverymuch.
On a final note there is nothing to say about Michael Reddy. Oh, and I got a letter from the Sports Minister today telling me that he knows all about our wishes to stand up at footy matches but there are basically two reasons why not: one is that it would cost a packet to re-adjust the grounds, and two is that nobody but the fans want it. Not the League, not the FA, not the local authorities. However, this only applies to the top two divisions and he is willing to listen to any proposals that can introduce standing areas in a safe and cost-effective way. So go on Mr Fenty, do something for the fans and put a 500 standing area into your new model dome. If you did I would go and stand in it. Wouldn't you? Let's hope for a point tomorrow. See yer.