Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 20 January 2009

20 January 2009

Your Guest Diarist is ageing and easily confused. I thought the Americans had had a black president, and that a woman is now in charge? Or is 24 not reality TV and just a thriller after all? On the day when Walsall announce a new manager who is not Buckley, and the Americans roll out a self-confessed mutt, it is Stuart Elliott who I am listening to. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Elliott said the debutants did their bit and the existing players did their bit as well (even the Buckley signings). He reminded us too, in a non-arrogant tone, that Saturday was only his second full game in ten months, and his first for three months.

Elliott is a big solid lump of a player: when he goes down (which he did quite often against Wycombe) the earth tremors a bit. He is very good at winning headers and heads the ball very hard. His shot is also powerful and you can see why he has scored lots of goals from time to time. Not the most mobile, but hard-working, and with those natural attributes he will be a huge asset during his stay I am sure. Like a nine-year-old handicapper he will come on for the outing.

The absurdly named Kevin Tunani has left us, according to the SNOS, which "would like to wish Kevin all the best for the future". That Greek lad from London, the SNOS adds, is hoping to get a game for the Town stiffs at Rotherham this afternoon. Nicholas Chrysanthou - the same lad who they wanted to play last week but the paperwork was too complicated as he is registered with Anorthosis Famagusta (that Cypriot club).

Does anyone know how they pick the league team of the week? Jamie Clarke wangled his way in and Mr Akpa Akpro leads the line - mainly for his fantastic final whistle love-in with the away fans on Saturday. Quite how JP Kalala was omitted, one will never know.

That lot who rode their bikes to Lincoln last season are trying to do it again, but the home game against the Imps has been assigned a noon kick-off again, which would require a 4:30am start for the bikers. Young Mr Spurr who is trying to organise things told the Telegraph that "for health and safety reasons, I can't allow that". What he means of course is it would be dark. When I was a kid I remember all the older pupils walking to Lincoln to try and keep our local grammar school open. It was 25 miles and they set off at 10pm, arriving at breakfast time. But then I was living in a lake in 1963 and never realised just how lucky I was. See yer.