Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 14 December 2007

14 December 2007

With a full squad in contention for places (unless you believe the Grimsby Telegraph, which is trumpeting a centre-half crisis ahead of tomorrow's match at home to bottom-placed Mansfield) assistant manager Mr Watkiss(es) has been cogitating on Mariners World about what he would do if Lord Buckley would let him. Whether one should change a winning team, for example. Particularly with regard to Messrs Newey and Boshell both returning having completed suspensions. And whether Peter Bore's future lies in playing at right-back after "looking a million dollars" in that position at Elland Road on Tuesday night. Lord Buckley's thoughtful yet verbose assistant asserted that the players had tried harder in training this week as there is competition of sorts (and at last) for first-team places all over the team. Well, hurray for that at least.

Right-back, since the retirement of the illustrious Sir John of McDermott, has been a difficult position to fill and half a dozen candidates have had a go there already this season. Young Mr Bore could probably play most right sided positions if he can be arsed, and has plenty of pace and talent. It is a shame that, thus far, he simply hasn't been capable of playing flat out with enthusiasm and discipline for a full 90-minute game. Even when he has taken a game by the scruff of its sad fourth division neck, it has only been for a 20-minute burst. Watkiss used the word 'nurture'. The question is for how long. Bore could be the new Hockless or he could be the new Michael Boulding. But with more testosterone, and less backhand.

Michael Boulding has done a great job this season scoring ten of Mansfield's 21 league goals. In fact Mansfield's goal difference is actually very respectable at minus four. It sounds like they could have beaten Bradford at home last week given that Boulding missed a penalty earned by his brother Rory, and the younger one had a goal disallowed for offside as well. Their away form has been dismal in terms of points gained with no wins and three draws.

Savvy readers will know what your Guest Diarist is building up to here. It shouldn't happen but it might. Another home defeat to an unfashionable lowly placed team who can't win away for love nor money would be three points lost - no more and no less (copyright A Buckley esq). To the fans it would be awful; simply awful. We need a home win and then a respectable points tally over Christmas. So get down to Blundell Park (it is only twelve quid to get in, for Christ's sake) and get behind the lads. You never know - it might be a good game, eh? See yer.