Cod Almighty | Postbag
Postbag: why supporting the Mariners is worse that Mexican pig aids
25 October 2009
In this belated postbag (the letters editor has been having technical problems), fans of other clubs tell us how wonderful we are, you take issue with our criticism of John Fenty and absolutely no-one is tempted to suggest films inspired by the Mariners.
I don't know anyone would think the club was in trouble.
Whatever you want to write to us about, send it here.
Overhead kicking
In your recent info packed data page on Barnet I read with interest the description of Mr.Forbes overhead kick against Barnet in Feb 09.
I am confident that is was as good as described, but I remember a goal from back in '97, from Walsall legend Roger Boli; and I believe it to be the best overhead I have seen in my football packed life. Trawling Youtube provided further evidence rather than going on my hear-say alone.
I hope this can be shared with the trillion other cod almighty readers.
from Tim, Trinidad & Tobago
Letters Ed responds: This letter inspired some reminiscences among the CA team, who also suggest Trevor Sinclair and a Muzzy Izzett goal against us. Anyone old enough to remember will know that the bicycle kick clearances of Mike Czuczman in the mid 1970s redefined the art.
Everyone likes us I
I read your preview of Barnet vs Grimsby on the website downhillsecondhalf and also the post match review. I think your writing is very entertaining. Keep up the good work and good luck for the season.
Your thoughts on Barnet are spot on and very funny.
from Joshua Stanton
Letters Ed responds: The article by Tony Butcher on which Joshua confers his praise starts out how much we used to like Barnet when they were a guaranteed six points for us. A cynic might think we was having a dig.
Everyone likes us II
Dear Cod Almighty,
I've been reading you from afar for some weeks now. Yours makes great reading on a Monday morning with a cup of coffee (white with one sugar). Such a breath of fresh air from the vacuous space that passes for some football team's websites today. I hope you continue for many years to come.
from Mark Sanderson
Letters Ed responds: I suspect the hidden agenda here is that he says nice things about us, in the hope that we plug his site. Oh go on then - 90 minutes of Burridge blogspot
Overtaken by events
Your new front page needs to be made into a T-shirt NOW!!
from Lee Bradley
Letters Ed responds: On that subject, does anyone want a few Newell revolution T-shirts? Buy now while stocks last.
Chris Jones deadly with his back turned
Isn't that Jones's first professional goal, after three or four clubs and several years? I would have thought such an epochal moment deserved more recognition.
from Phil
Letters Ed responds: Newell and Woods seem to have commemorated the occasion by granting Jones a holiday.
"Town sign Championship striker"
Mmmmm, I remember a similar headline...back in 1995...which was 'Town to sign Premiership striker' WOW! The atmosphere was electric..who was this ambitious premiership man keen to dip into Division 1 to enhance his career...Ferdinand...Shearer...Deane...Ekoku!?!! My money was on Deane..as Leeds was reputed the source club...recently back from injury ...I held my breath......then gasped as pint sized Jamie Forrester trotted out to the theme of 'boys are back in town'......so don't believe the hype!
from Tim Smith
Letters Ed responds: The Telegraph also once trilled excitedly that Lawrence was on the brink of signing five premiership starlets. Unfortunately, we did. Simon Ford was the best of them.
Why wallow in misery
I'm in bed with a case of Mexican pig aids so I couldn't get back for the game today, yet the thought that I'm the lucky one, being spared the cost of tickets & travel and an afternoon of complete misery has almost made me feel better... almost. Maybe getting in fights and getting banning orders so we don't have to go like loads of our divvy brethren is the way forward... cunts.
from David Parrott
Letters Ed responds: Also, you get over most illnesses, but supporting Grimsby is terminal.
Is Fenty a con?
I think you are being too hard on Fenty (See most of last week's Diaries). Anyone in his position has to support a manager until the time comes for goodbye, and it is often better if the real reasons are not made public, much as we should all like to know them. Perhaps you resent being shown that your hero has feet of clay.
Though I rarely see the Mariners as I live down south, I try to keep up-to-date through your splendid organisation and others. I have become increasingly worried over the last 2 or 3 months at a number of aspects: the long injury list, some players being on it without apparently suffering injury during a game (eg Atkinson, Widdowson); inconsistent playing formation, chopping and changing between 4-4-2 , etc, etc; inappropriate substitutions; poor disciplinary record - even young Wood already has 2 yellow cards in only 4 or 5 games which is not a good start to a promising career; the ability of some of last season's loanees, who helped us avoid relegation, seems to have diminished; the back four, who were expected to be solid, have leaked goals. I could go on, but all this is surely down to Newell.
Good luck to the new manager.
from Antony Chapman
Tory boy
Why the constant references to Fenty being a Tory? It's hardly unusual is it, given that most chairmen are Tories? Also, how does someone's political leanings affect their ability to run a football club? Answers on the back of a fag packet please.
from Kevin Hand
Letters Ed responds: To answer the second point first, John Fenty is not just a Conservative voter, he is a Conservative councillor. Politics is about how you think things (The country, a council, a football club) should be run, so Fenty's political ideology is certainly relevant. While agreeing with Antony's diagnosis of our current shortcomings, these things take time to solve: John Newman presided over the Mariners' relegation and then took a further season before laying the basis of the most succe