Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 12 July 2010

12 July 2010

Mardy Diary writes: At last. The law of averages said it had to happen sooner or later. So finally, on a day when I write the diary, not only is there some actual news but it is actual news of Alan Connell actually signing for Grimsby. Actually. Alan was first touted among the credible rumours a few weeks back, but Neil 'cards close to chest' Woods seemed to suggest the deal was pretty unlikely only last week. But it was just mind games you see? He was keeping other clubs off the scent of our hot, impetuous signing streak. So, another player in with strong rumours of a further, and probably final, player this week. Cor!

And this is a good thing, by the way, to disagree with Armchair Diary's previous assertion that early signings are bad. It appears to me that some of these signings have been tracked since well in to last season (Woods said as much with the signing of Gobern and, er, oh Cummins I think). I would presume that some, if not all, of the players approached were on John Deehan's magic shopping list that he was employed to compile last season. To me it makes sense to get a full squad in before pre-season really gets going - and that's exactly what has happened. If you hang around too long waiting for one player to sign you end up making panic signings like Anthony Williams and Ronnie Bull. And all the other crap we've signed since. If we make this final 'alleged' signing before the Frickley match I will consider myself to be 'bloody' impressed - which is one up on the scale from 'very'.

Reports back from Friday's pre-season opener at Brigg say... not too much, really. As we are all well aware, there's not too much that can be read in to pre-season games - especially the first few. Woods put out a mixed youth/experience team in each half to give everyone a run out. Reporter extraordinaire Tony Butcher commented that there was nothing much to report from the first half other than Peacock was as you'd expect, the trialist was a flitting disappointment and the youthers didn't do much to suggest their readyness. The second half showed some improvement with noticeable displays from Ademeno ("small, rapid and lithe"), Cummins ("old head guile") and Garner ("a born leader"). Bore and Ridley looked steady and experienced and Mark Gray looked capable. So, not a bad run out and a simple 1-0 win with a nice goal from Coulson. We're still over a month away from the start of the season, so a long time to go yet.

So there we have it - the World Cup is over (won by Buckley's Spain) and it's back to the proper stuff before you've even had chance to catch your breath. Excited yet? What's wrong with you?