Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Wednesday 16 January 2013

16 January 2013

It's a bit nippy, eh! Perhaps it's no surprise that some Town fans are already wondering whether Friday night's game at Braintree will go ahead. Your West Yorkshire Diary just hopes that ground staff in Essex weren't educated at the Gateshead School of Grounds Maintenance.

But if it snows and freezes then there's not a lot anyone can do. Those of you thinking of going to the match might like to check the ticket and travel details, but you also might want to keep an eye on the weather in the meantime, as it doesn't look like a thaw is happening any time soon.

Having always led the way in the 'games played' column, the Mariners now look like they will be the ones playing catch-up. Luton, who seemed to have had at least two games on hand on everyone else since the start of the season, dropped points last night - a clear message that games in hand don't always guarantee points.

Town's stiffs did have a game against Rotherham today, but not surprisingly that's been called off. And that's about it, as far as news goes, so I'm now going to whinge about goals.

Sticking the ball in the net - it's an old football phrase, and one that's showing its age because I have noticed that the ball very rarely sticks in the net these days. It doesn't "nestle" like it used to, because we have these horrible, boxy, continental-style goals now, where the ball hits the back of the net and then rolls back out to the edge of the area.

"Pick that one out!" the commentators cry. It used to refer to the net, but now it's more likely to refer to the defender's arms after he's grabbed the loose ball and fights with the striker who wants the ball back for a quick re-start. Those after-goal scrambles do make me laugh, you know.

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer a goal where the ball hits the net and stays in the net. Check out these beauties from the 1994-5 season and tell me you don't crave for those triangle corners and draping nets to return.