Cod Almighty | Diary

Lost in the woods

26 January 2022

Glass Half-Full Diary last wrote for you immediately prior to five new arrivals: Messrs. Amos, Burgess, Smith, Abrahams and Raikhy. My predicted 'avalanche of signings' has seen a three-game spell and three points from an available nine. Between the five, they've managed a total of seven starts, three sub appearances and no goals. Bit early to judge them, but a more immediate impact would be nice; perhaps Saturday at BP is their time? Stating the obvious, but these new signings have to get on the pitch to make an impact. 

Anyways, should we manage to lose (again) to Wealdstone, then (shrugs shoulders)...(sigh)...(sulks)...then the Glass might be Half-Empty.  

A Tuesday night game impacts the Wednesday morning mood. Current mood: foul. I won't mention (non)substitutions. Or shots, lack of. Or loanees. Or an over-reliance on John McAtee. Anthony Limbrick was a good-enough co-commentator for me to wish we still employed him.

I can't help but ponder signings which haven't worked out this season for whatever reason (the departed Sears, Revan, Longe-King being obvious examples). Perhaps we'd have been better off putting more (or any) faith in Luke Spokes. Or Jaz Goundry? Dare I say Sean Scannell or Joel Grant; both of whom have returned to non-substitute obscurity. Those latter two have been Frozen out, making them the Frozen II, perhaps we should Let Them Go. 

Imagine spending £300,000 on an Ollie Palmer? Not when we got ourselves a Ryan Taylor for free and a John McAtee for a bargain-meagre-confidential-undisclosed sum, but it does make you wonder. In our side Taylor is the physical target man, but an apparent nice front man, more Neil Woods than Steve Livingstone. Where is the nastiness, the directness, and physicality (ideally without reaching Bromley unsporting taunting or simulation levels) in this Hurst side? Perhaps an angry scorned Scannell or Grant could come on as sub, be nasty, be offensive, do something, and contribute? We've forgotten about them, has Hurst?

A friend requested I dedicate a section to our lack of a long-throw specialist. Mitch Rose was a brief example. Before that, Ryan Bennett? Or was it Rob Atkinson? A good point; so Matt Dean, Elliott Jackson, John Tondeur/Scott Woodthorpe, please ask Mr Hurst this? Paul Hurst doesn't seem to be on Twitter to ask.   

Talking of Twitter, your diarist is still in a shocked state at having a CEO. (Actually I will finish that sentence, but sorry I couldn't resist shortening it.)

And finally, your diarist is still in shock at having a CEO who tweets and stands up for us against the nonsense of an opposing manager and against the behaviour of his coaching staff and players. Town fans keep responding it doesn't matter because Bromley took six points off us, but that's not the issue here. I'm all for the CEO tweets here. For me, Bromley are now in the category of Gateshead and Cheltenham, the team I want most to fail in the play-offs, if they get there.

On Saturday I was distracted leaving Blundell Park by an opposition player turning to give verbal abuse to fans. Surely the professional thing is to smile, ignore it and walk off? I saw at least three Bromley players make an effort to taunt the Upper and Lower stands on Saturday. Given three others spent the match free-kick seeking and demanding cautions, it rankles. I'm not saying it's a heinous crime, but it is certainly irritating and unsporting, and probably won't stop until referees caution players for doing it. Actually, the stewards should eject them, like the Steve Evans incident. 

Just watched the Hurst post-match interview on YouTube: "We're falling short"; and we certainly are currently. See you at BP on Saturday regardless.... UTM!