Cod Almighty | Diary

It passes the time

26 October 2022

It is vaguely paradoxical. If I point out that Grimsby hadn't been beaten by Barrow since 1968 before last night, it makes the defeat somehow seem worse. But if I point out we hadn't been beaten by anyone in four games, it is mitigation.

Middle-Aged Diary wasn't at the game last night, so I can't tell you whether or not Town were rubbish, but I'll take Paul Hurst's word for it. Having a manager who tells it like it is is a consolation, a sign that whatever lessons need to be learned will be learned.

Apparently there has been some ill-tempered reaction to Town's display on social media. I wouldn't know. I long ago learnt that it is not good for my mental health to have people who lose their rag at every reverse shouting at me from out of my timeline, and have muted them. I still get the echo of it though, from people whose tweets start something like "Judging from the reaction of some #gtfc fans, you'd think..." By doing so, they magnify the very negativity they deplore. If you read a comment "Player X should never play for Town again" you can take it, and rate it, at its value. Dark but unspecified references make everything sound worse. If you feel you must respond, reply in their thread; but don't give their emotional spasms more credence than they deserve.

There isn't such a person as "Player X" by the way. Unless it was Glen Downey.

The latest part of 1878 Partnership's dangerous hidden agenda for the Mariners is to help people who need warm coats this winter. There was a collection of them last Saturday, and there is still time to donate. See the official site for details.

Town's youth team were beaten at Scunthorpe over the weekend but now they have an Alan Buckley - and Neil Woods - derby to look forward to, having been drawn at home to play Walsall in the first round of the FA Youth Cup next Tuesday. Teams coached by or schooled in the principles of those two should be good to watch. Get along if you can.

Bye.