Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 11 August 2011

11 August 2011

Is that it then? Is everyone all rioted out? And all it took in the end was a bit of rain, because those chaps don't want to get their new trainers wet now do they. The riots, presumably sponsored by Adidas, ranked high on destruction but low on substance. As far as riots go it lacked the style of the 1980s and they definitely lacked the soundtrack. 'White Riot', 'Anarchy in the UK', 'Eton Rifles' or 'Ghost Town' would provide atmosphere and context to any 80s riot montage, but what have we got this time? All your Part-Time Diary has heard during these riots are people making shit jokes about the Kaiser Chiefs. Oh do fuck off.

I've had enough of rioting anyway and, as I'm sure you're all aware, Grimsby kick off against Fleetwood on Saturday - barring any looting of Ramsdens - but we will leave any match previewing to Guest Diary tomorrow. Fleetwood have thrown in a preview with our former players today and Rob Atkinson seems to be looking forward to it, apparently shouting soundbites out to the Fleetwood reporter. I'm feeling the warm glow of pre-match, pre-season optimism and hoping that Grimsby can reciprocate with a good performance at least. We, of course, beat the promotion favourites and eventual champions in the opening game of last season. That will have absolutely no bearing on Saturday, what with Grimsby having a different team, different and more managers and a shiny new kit and Fleetwood, well, Fleetwood not being Crawley. But it's still good to remember that we beat them last year. Definitely one of the few highlights.

There really isn't anything else to report at the moment, I think the Telegraph is saving itself for an all-out weekend assault on previews, reviews, pictures and some of those lovely player ratings they do. So here's an email from Chris Beeley for you all to read:

"Hello from riot-torn West Bromwich. In answer to the rhetorical question at the end of Tuesday's diary re: what we should expect from the first game of the season, I'm pleased to see that S&S are at least trying to do their homework on the opposition (see Fleetwood's website for pictorial evidence). I would hope, then, for a coherent game plan, a fit team, and some early season keenness from both crowd and players.

"Bitter experience points towards a 3-0 defeat with goals from Atkinson, Till, and Linwood, but let's be positive. I like the look of some of the new players, and the Lincoln game was very encouraging, so I would be happy with a good performance and a score draw. Rome wasn't built in a day and all that - I don't want a flash-in-the-pan win; we all think we're ace and the work rate drops again. Come on Town, give us some reasons to be cheerful again."

Thanks Chris, and also to everyone who's emailed throughout pre-season to make the Diary that bit easier to fill. But Chris, I'd rather you hadn't mentioned the nightmare 3-0 scenario: you've got me all nervy. Good sentiments nonetheless, and I tend to agree that a good performance would probably offset not winning; marathon not a sprint and all that. Was it the defeat of Crawley last season, a flash-in-the-pan win, which ended up with us all thinking we were ace?