Cod Almighty | Diary

To have and have not

23 January 2019

So the rollercoaster season continues with a fourth straight league defeat following four league wins in a row. The current run has led to apoplexy online in some quarters amid a change of formation – but let's put January into context.

Aside from Macclesfield, who had the new manager bounce and came up against a post-Palace-bedraggled Town, we have played three teams in the top six. Mansfield, Lincoln and Forest Green have had 12 defeats between them all season in 84 games. They are in form.

Whatever your views on the anti-football of Mansfield and Lincoln (I thought Akinde's sly elbow on Davis was far worse than O'Connor's forearm smash – and don't get me started on Cowley having a little chat with Mike Dean on the pitch before the second half kicked off), there can be no doubt that they are strong football teams who will go up this season. Forest Green win their fair share of free kicks but at least play the game on the floor.

The one thing these three teams have in common, of course, is money. Mansfield and Forest Green with their benefactors and Lincoln having used their promotion and cup runs as well as finding investment. Town can simply not compete financially and sadly this is evident on the pitch. Lincoln were just fitter and stronger than us and Forest Green, in one passage of play last night, turned our plodding attack into a rapid advance into our area with Town's players seemingly running in gluten-free treacle.

I'm not moaning, by the way. This is Thunderdiary being pragmatic. We're Grimsby and we're poor. Football used to level this out but it's too hard now. Money doesn't just get you the best players. It gets you staff who can get these players fitter and sharper; chefs, masseurs, scouts and technology. It really does become a different game.

Jolley knows he has to strengthen, particularly up front, but he also knows he has to offload to do so. John Welsh and Jordan Cook may have to be sacrificed along with Ben Pringle for some much-needed pace and tempo, not to mention creativity.  He simply cannot go and buy the kind of players he would like so has to build his squad another way.

I'm not endorsing the change to a back three, by the way. Jolley fluked his way to a settled side around October and should stick with what the players know. Free headers in the box shouldn't really happen if you're laden with central defenders. I'm with those who think a back four is the right way to play.

January comes to an end this weekend, when those who will not be named ride into Town. Another case of the haves playing the have-nots. Except in this case its Town who have the history, Town who have the right to call themselves a football club and Town who have all of the moral compass. Which is better than money any day.