Cod Almighty | Diary

Classic or Romana?

19 August 2024

Miss Guest Diary writes: How very Town – 2-0 up and we almost fucked it up. But in the end we didn't, thanks to a fabulous free kick from Jordan Davies. What a signing. Credit must go to David Artell too, who managed eventually to restore the balance with his substitutions and tactical adjustments after Town were seemingly bamboozled by Cheltenham's formation change. I won't be the only person who thinks that this time last season the game would have gotten completely away from us and ended in defeat.

Also, how much better did it feel to walk out of the ground with Town having scored the winner in the 93rd minute compared with how it would have felt if Town had cruised the last half hour and secured the 2-0. Quiet satisfaction or wild exhilaration? I know which lives longer in the memory but I'm not sure how well we'd cope with the stress if that happened every week. But I have a feeling it's going to be more frequent than the 1-0 keep-it-tight-keep-us-shape performances we aspired to under Paul Hurst.

Of course, it's very early days yet and, in line with policy at CA Towers, I won't be looking at the table until we have played at least five league games, but Saturday felt like a promise of better things to come. And having that first victory under their belt will take some pressure off the team – it’s no fun being one of the teams languishing on 'nul points' after a couple of games. Eh, Crewe?

Every player in the starting 11 deserves credit, but I want to mention a few specifically. I was devastated when Harry Clifton left us – his energy and enthusiasm, if not his skill on the ball, made him such a valuable part of the team. In the seemingly transformed Kieran Green I think Town have a fine replacement. Already popular with fans because of his commitment, Green seems to have developed extra fitness and determination – that interception in the build up to Town's second goal was magnificcent – making him a very adequate substitute for Harry in the team and maybe even as my new favourite.

Then there's Evan Khouri – plagued with illness and injury last season and with no specific role in the team – he rather surprisingly popped up at left-back against Bradford last Tuesday. Whether this was a genius move from Artell or simply needs must because of injuries to other full-backs, it has worked out brilliantly with two really solid defensive performances from him. Was it a coincidence that Cheltenham scored with a cross from the left only after Khouri had been moved into midfield? I think not.

Finally, there's Charles Vernam. It's no secret that not everyone here holds him in the esteem that some fans do. His epithet of The Wolds Panther was given not to acknowledge his speed and strength but to indicate his tendency to go missing in games – rather like a mythical creature. On Saturday he proved us wrong with a great free kick for the first goal and a spectacular goal of his own, along with a much more dynamic performance. He has more potential to fulfil before we'll be completely convinced he is worth whatever Town paid for him, but it's a start.

On to Notts County on Thursday – a place of mixed fortunes in recent seasons, so I'll not hazard any predictions, except which pizza Mr B will choose at Pizza Express. Some things are guaranteed: Sloppy Guiseppe.

UTM!