Cod Almighty | Diary

We're not useless, we're pretty damn good actually

2 November 2021

Fourteen games or near enough a third of the way through the season and we're second. Would I have taken that at the start of the season? You bet I would. I won't rehash Miss Guest's diary of yesterday but let's just reflect and agree we're doing okay. In fact, we're doing considerably better than okay. We will rediscover our mojo in front of goal but the more pressure on players the less likely it is to happen. I always thought of Lenny as more of a hold-up player than out-and-out striker but the grief he gets from some quarters isn't going to improve his game, in whatever role Hurst wants to use him.

In the week that a professional footballer in Australia came out as gay there was an alleged incident of targeted abuse at the Town game on Saturday. Most of you will have read about it either in discussions on line or the club statement. A few of you might have heard the abuse or the tannoy announcement but most didn't. At least we know the owners are looking to replace the public address system but let's hope it only has to be used for more positive messages in future. It's hugely disappointing it happened but probably not surprising. Whilst I don't have any inside knowledge, the suggestion is that the abuse was homophobic and not racist as some initially speculated.

Whatever their personal beliefs or values, can there be a football fan in the country who doesn't understand that if they shout racist abuse they will be reported and banned? Doesn't mean to say that they don't do it, probably believing those around them won't report it, but the message is clear. Other forms of discriminatory abuse? Probably less well understood. I read one thread where some participants thought that using derogatory homophobic abuse was just "playground stuff" and shouldn't be taken too seriously. I don't know the person's age but yes, it probably was playground stuff in his day, as it was for some people in mine, but that doesn't make it right. Schools nowadays try to stop it. Some words were acceptable in days gone by but usually only because of a lack of thought or, let's be honest, ignorance. The FA Respect campaign and the law covers all types of discrimination.

There are players I dislike but I don't feel the need to shout abuse at them. I really don't get the need to do it but maybe I'm in a minority. If an opposition player is getting loads of stick, I would put money on them doing well against us. Who needs a manager's pep talk when the opposition fans do the motivation for them? As a general rule of thumb, if you are targeting abuse at a player, it may well be unacceptable. If you're the bloke who sits behind me shouting "You're useless …………..(insert every Town player with the exception of Max Wright here), just don't turn up if you think they are that bad.

On to happier thoughts, we’re second! UTM!