Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 17 November 2011

17 November 2011

As yesterday's diary mentioned, toast sandwiches are almost de rigueur in this austerity-obsessed week. Your Guest Diarist, being a bumbling old joskin, was not even mildly surprised by this 'revelation' from the media city people at the BBC. Growing up I was regularly forced to consume toast and dripping for breakfast. Dripping, for younger readers, was consumed because the by-products of bacon back in the day were good (actually back in the several days before that, as 'back in the day' nowadays only takes you to about the year 2000) - rendered fat instead of salty water. Teatime would regularly include sugar sandwiches - a thin, grainy confection - and Sunday tea involved a bit of tinned fruit accompanied by a lot of bread and butter.

But if toast sandwiches were offered at the GTFC catering shacks, what would they cost? Two quid, I guess, and bring your own salt and pepper. What is Fenty's policy on bringing home-made toast sandwiches into the ground? If someone dare ask the question why, gosh, the AGM attendees would be full of anticipation of fierce debate after the boringly predictable re-election of John Fenty and the return of the status quo.

So, with Coulson suspended this Saturday for his fifth booking, there is a change to discuss. Will the team feature both Eagle(s) and Makofo from the start (we are at home, after all)? Or will the lob-sided 4-3-3 thing persist with Hearn a lonely flower on the left touchline; a spectator again? Perhaps Green might feature on the left too. We'll have to wait and see. But really I'm glad that sense has finally been seen and that I'Anson is getting the chance to show his ability and his potential. The managers baffled me when they dropped him in the first place and confounded me even more when there was talk of loaning him out. He's the best defender we've got.

And Manny Panther is sure to get a good reception in his debut at Blundell Park. Memorably named, with a warm, enthusiastic personality and seemingly a decent addition to midfield. What's not to like? A full week's training will have got him a bit fitter, so I really hope he has a good match. Being a Town fan, of course, I'm assuming the worst - a tight hamstring or, say, two unlucky bookings; you know the way these things go under Fenty. Any road, I'll be back tomorrow to help preview the first home Saturday game in what feels like bloody yonks. See yer.