Cod Almighty | Diary

Glad day

3 October 2018

Geologists, seismologists and classicists are gathering in Cumbria to investigate a shift in the Earth's crust around 9:30 last night. It is reported that 143 people felt the weight of the world lift from their shoulders. The effect quickly spread to several thousand people who suddenly all wished they too were in Carlisle.

Scholars of ancient Greece have been called to the scene after Grimsby fans said after the Mariners' 1-0 win that "there were 11 titans out there at Burnden Park tonight". Rumours that Michael Jolley has changed his name to Atlas remain unconfirmed.

You can gauge a manager's standing by looking at the reaction on social media to the announcement of the team line-up, before anyone knows how his selection will actually perform. Middle-Aged Diary had to laugh yesterday when one fan criticised the selection of Danny Collins. When it was pointed out to him that both his possible replacements were injured, he implied they might be shamming. Only a certain kind of Town fan could show such determination both to have their sour grapes and to eat them.

Before the game, Ahkeem Rose and Max Wright were shaping to be the latest in a long line of sticks with which to beat a manager. That the team is crying out for their pace and width was an increasingly popular notion. The news that Boston are seeking to extend their loans would have provoked cries that we need them back, and now. Boston have no game this weekend so Jolley will have the chance to see how they are shaping up in training. And today there'll be that bit more mileage in saying that the manager who sees them in training might be best placed to decide who should start next Saturday.

Meanwhile, about the time Town were defending yet another of the 2,000,000 corners that Mardy Diary says we conceded in the last five minutes, our friends at Forest Green scored a third against Cambridge. That goal means United, not us, occupy the second relegation place. But let's not worry about that now. A few more wins – and even in our relief, let's not assume we are suddenly going to go on a long unbeaten run – and our league position will look after itself.

It's still early days. All things are possible.