Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 4 January 2008

4 January 2008

Now then, pop pickers - here is another dose of winter Diary virus to ease your vomiting blues. Slackers everywhere will be delighted to hear that if you get this bug that's apparently sweeping the nation you should not return to work until at least TWO DAYS after you are completely better. Yes, you must stay quarantined. That is two extra days at home grooving to your favourite Gong album or watching a whole series of 24 at once or whatever. Bring it on, eh?

But no Town players have gone down with the spew virus yet, and we nearly have a full squad to pick from for tomorrow's away game at Chesterfield. Ciaran Toner is a solitary moping figure in the Town injury room and we have more centre-halves and strikers than we can shake a stick at. Lord Buckley, in a relaxed and garrulous mood as he actually chatted his way through Dale's weekly interview on Mariners World, said that it had been great at training on Thursday. The official site seems to think the starting line-up will be unchanged. The lad who wrote the piece is obviously nervous about Chesterfield's loan signing Barnes, who is described as "a pacy winger who is comfortable with both feet".

Oooh, dear, that was a first for your Guest Diarist - I just went on Man U-fuckin-nited's web site to take a peek at the lad. The words they use ("lightning-fast" and "pacy" and, errm, "ginger") are scary. Young master Barnes has done an interview for the Chesterfield official site in which he explains that he signed for the Spireites despite it being cold when he went to watch them at Wrexham. The message to our wing-backs is clear - catch him late early on, and as near to the halfway line as possible. The booking will be well worth it.

Both teams tomorrow could be described as 'in-form' on the basis of points garnered lately. But are Town really playing to their potential? Is this really as good as it is going to get? Let's hope the lads in midfield can boss the game and create opportunities for Jones and North. It is time that Bolland, Boshell and, ahem, Hunt stepped up to the task a bit more.

Speaking of Gong, that most eccentric and long-running psychedelic band who are so important that they even have their own planet, Tony Butcher has issued a riposte to Rob McIlveen: "Well, Mr Phil Ball's Mate, I have never knowingly heard anything by Gong. I am aware of them, much like (but to a lesser extent) Spandau Ballet, Pickettywitch and Esther & Abi Ofarim. I have even been known to make reference to popular music from the most recent decade. Did anyone see Cochise?" Well, I never saw Cochise, Tony, although I am of both a vintage and of a musical sensibility that would make that a probability. But you've got to admire their album art. Put your greatcoats on, lads, and walk into the pub with that album under your arm. The world will be your flippin' oyster, I tell you.

And finally (I feel gruesomely like Steve Wright on Radio 2 here, reading out emails that purport to tell him his show is great, when everybody knows that it is utterly, utterly shit) we have had a new year email from Sibbo: "Just like to wish you all a happy new year and thanks for all your dedication in keeping the website an interesting read. Come on the Town." Well, thanks mate for putting up with us all.

That's 556 words which is enough. Let me get back to my hangover in peace. See yer.