Cod Almighty | Diary

Is it second pair of socks season already?

29 September 2022

Well. Labelled as Glass Half-Full Diary, I should positively reflect that there are worse problems than not seeing your side win at home in August or September I suppose. Cost of living, inflation, interest rates, Scunthorpe United... - but I'm still mardy about our home form nevertheless.

In two of those recent home games, an element of overdue luck fell for Ryan Taylor each time he scored a goal. A deflection. A keeper's fumble. Result: two goals. Supposedly these things even themselves out over a season. Based upon the constant manhandling of our Ryan by visiting defenders, I predict 20 goals for Taylor before Christmas, before his surprise appointment as Rotherham United's new player-manager. He's played for them loads, he must be a candidate. Anyhow, on Tuesday night, no luck for Ryan, but at least I've not ranted about Michee's moment of madness, or the officiating either.

When Ryan Taylor is mentioned, I no longer think of the 'other' Ryan Taylor: the versatile Scouser most famous for his spells with Wigan and Newcastle. You know, back when Wigan were high-flyers briefly. Ryan Taylor (38) is now playing for Buxton, incidentally. Our Ryan Taylor is younger (34); he's slightly older than our other Ryan, Ryan Bennett (32). Not that he's ours. Yet. (I can hope, can't I?). Bennett currently 'belongs' to nobody but utilises our training ground. Strange to see him in GTFC gear in public for the first time since 2010. He barely seems to have aged at all though.

Today's diary comes post-fixture rearrangement frustration earlier in the week. I looked briefly at City's U21s from the one Trophy game they did manage to fulfil so far this season. Well, I've never heard of any of these young ones. And they lost to Mansfield.  

I reiterate the previous diarist's congratulations to the Mariners Trust for their stance on this fixture nonsense. What next? Of course, I don't advocate attending the ridiculously rearranged Man City game. With many already boycotting this competition, for it to interfere with our League fixtures puts it unwelcomely back on the radar.

Tuesday 8th November 2022 has 2 calendar entries for me; 1) Grimsby Town vs Crewe (POSTPONED), and 2) Cleethorpes Town vs Worksop in Northern Premier League East. The only ways I want to see Manchester City impact our fixture list would be a league fixture, the FA Cup or League Cup, or in a pre-season friendly. We shouldn't be playing their U21s, let alone moving other games due to their demands. So, assuming no EFL u-turn, see you at the Linden Club on the 8th.

Finally, a quick plug here for a recent fantastic fan success story, well-worth a read and One of Our Own! I'm not a fan of the honours system, but even GHF Diary can make exceptions for the very well-deserved recipient featured here.

UTM