Cod Almighty | Diary
Diary - Wednesday 10 April 2013
10 April 2013
This Town team's a funny one - and I don't mean they make me laugh. They make me do a lot of things, like swear and curse, but they very rarely make me laugh. Occasionally, they make me feel proud - and last night was a case in point when they grabbed a 2-1 win at Dartford after it seemed destined to finish in defeat.
Despite some ropey form and a patched-up side which featured none of our three permanently contracted centre-backs for practically the whole game, they fought back to clinch a win against a decent side with a strong home record. The win, combined with Forest Green's defeat at home to Hereford, also threw shut the play-off trapdoor. Ah, how we have longed for the days when we'd refer to the dotted line between us and sixth place as a trapdoor. Your West Yorkshire Diary has been staring up at it for so many years that it's given me neckache.
Perhaps we can say our place in the Conference play-offs later this month is a result of not sacking managers willy nilly. After all, Shorty and Shouty are now into their third year with the Mariners and the progress they've made with the team is there for all to see. There was no Pearson, Miller, Niven, Devitt, Hannah or Hearn on the pitch when those two late goals went in. What they've done is build a squad capable of challenging for promotion, and even if we don't agree with their rotation policy to keep the players fresh, three wins and three draws in 16 days isn't bad going.
Occasionally you have a manager (or two) that you just have to trust. I stopped thinking about their team selections, formations and choice of tactics a long time ago. I don't try to justify their decisions either. All I know is that, since they came to the club, they've improved Grimsby Town. They've signed players like Liam Hearn, James McKeown, Andy Cook, Shaun Pearson, Craig Disley and Ross Hannah. So if at first I don't see the logic of signing Lenell John-Lewis, or them starting 4-3-3 instead of 4-4-2, I just try and consider the bigger picture.
Anyway, on with the rest of today's words. Shouty's sounding more Soothy again and waxed lyrical of the save McKeown made in his post-match thoughts to the BBC. Good old RS - he's like the scary teacher you had at school who you ended up admiring years later. Is it just a coincidence that the last manager who led Town to the play-offs also had the initials RS? Things are different this time, though - we also have PH. Neither alkaline nor acidic, Shorty is like the friendly teacher you had at school who wouldn't shout at you if you didn't do your homework. He'd just say he was "disappointed" in you.
Apart from the "Let's go to Wembley again!" war cry reverberating around the Grimsby ether today, there isn't much news floating around. As of yet there's no word on the severity of Derek Niven's injury, or how likely it is that Pearson or Ian Miller will play at Luton on Friday night. I suppose the local news wire needs to save something to dangle off it tomorrow.
There are some bits and pieces on the NSNOS about play-off dates, an evening with former Liverpool and England defender Phil Thompson at McMenemy's later this month and a brief article to explain how Devitt's red card in the reserve game against Morecambe the other day doesn't actually carry through to first-team games. So he remains available for selection for the final three games of the season.
Someone who won't feature in them is Joe Colbeck after he was sent off for the latest of early baths last night. Radio commentary suggested that the red card may have been a soft one, but neither Shouty nor match winner Aswad Thomas saw the incident. Indeed, it sounds like one of those where the only person who did see it was the referee. GTFC have confirmed that they will not appeal and Colbeck - dismissed for the second time this season - will serve a four-match ban.
Colbeck, along with Frankie Artus, has been on a good run of form ever since Wembley, but with Devitt, Marcus Marshall and Cleveland Taylor waiting in the wings [I see what you did there - ed.] his absence shouldn't prove too much of a concern. I'm just wondering what the managers plan to do with the centre-backs. What is clear, however, is that Simon Ford could finally make his second Grimsby debut after being recalled from his loan. Has he even been playing at Telford? Does anybody know? Did anybody care before now?
Finally today, over on the Save The Mighty Imps blog, there's a little write-up of former Town striker Rob Duffy, who could be forced to retire due to an injury he picked up in only his third appearance for Lincoln. It's always a shame when any player is forced to consider his future in the game due to injury, so we wish him a speedy recovery.
Oh - and don't forget to register your vote for Town's Player of the Year. You may actually have to think about this one!