Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Thursday 28 March 2013

28 March 2013

Transfer deadline days. They're not like they used to be, are they, readers? By heck. We had proper transfer deadline days when your original/regular Diary were a lad. Not like these transfer deadline days you get now. And there's another thing. Proper winters. We had proper winters back then. Radio Humberside on every morning to see if the schools were shut. Plenty of snow. Not like these winters you get n - oh.

One's estimation of most things tends to diminish as those things proliferate. And in 2013 it's hard to get excited on a transfer deadline day, for the simple reason that there are chuffing loads of the buggers. And they all have different rules. We don't know whether it's a deadline for loans or proper transfers or what, and whichever it is, the window always seems to open again in about another three weeks. I suppose it's quite late in the season now, so it might not this time - but who knows? Transfer windows are like birthdays, chocolate mini-rolls and downloaded pornography - the more you get, the less exciting they become.

Let's get it over with, then. Are Town going to sign anyone? Probably, yes. Why? Several reasons. One is the simple fact that I am writing this diary: on recent deadline days, no sooner has the Diary gone up than a new player arrives, rendering its content obsolete within seconds of publication. Another is that Richard Brodie, of course, no longer darkens our doors. We should remember to be polite, however, and the fact of his departure should not be seen as giving free rein to hurl abuse at the overweight, useless, jogging, barely interested bloody great carthorse. Thirdly, Shorty and Shouty just like signing people. For all their protestations about only bringing bodies in if they're better than what we've got, they are no more able to get through a deadline day without a signing than the Diary can mention three-times relegated Tory councillor John Fenty without reference to his political alignment or spectacular record at the helm of Grimsby Town Football Club.

Which area of the squad will be shored up by any new acquisitions? Well, Liam Hearn's exciting two-goal salvo for the stiffs yesterday perhaps lessens the need to replace Brodie directly. Going by the wording on Town's newly superb new official website, the centre of midfield is Town's top priority - despite a decent showing on Tuesday night from the youthful trio of Andi Thanoj, Dougie Wilson and Tom 'Napalm' Naylor. So there you have it: at least one arrival is expected by 5pm. They'll probably be announced before you've even finished reading the diary.