Cod Almighty | Diary

Rape and pillage in the retirement village

5 September 2024

If you want to feel crushingly pessimistic here's one for you. Town have had a difficult run of opening fixtures but scored a couple of notable wins with optimistic performances. So far so good. But then looking back over the years your Guest Diarist thought hell, we always turn up against the good sides, wait until we are away to the bottomest team on a wet Tuesday night. Well, it was my birthday yesterday which always brings on the blues. Let's go to Chesterfield and bloody stuff 'em, eh?

When are we ever going to field all of our best players at the same time? The manager and his team spend ages sourcing and blending the squad to fashion a balanced team with youth, experience, pace, passion and ability. Then the season starts with three or four of the spine MIA. Tharme, Thompson, Davies, Rose - if we had all four match-fit and playing I reckon we could have had twice the start to the season. I still believe, with a fully fit squad we can be well up there this season. But a run of injuries could put us in trouble again. That's why it was so pleasing to see the likes of McEachran and Khouri stepping up and performing. And Green. Green is a bit of a throwback - everyone should learn to love him.

I just drafted a piece spotlighting another throwback player from the podcast team of the century. It got me thinking - would he have made it through our academy these days? Would we have bought him using the new data modelling scouting thingy? I suppose I mean would he fit the modern mould? There is definitely a mould these days and I am sure the video performance analyst can prove it is necessary. I am quite prepared to go with it if it produces fast incisive, progressive football with defensive stability. But I want joy and passion as well. Twenty five years ago fans often forgave frustrating player weaknesses providing they got a ration of blood and guts and maverick charm. Now? Let's see how the next phase of football pans out.

And it's the same with Town commentators - a long cherished line of mavericks (as the great interview with Burnsy bears out) comes to an end; replaced with cool, cautious professionalism but a lack of emotion and flair. Come on Humberside, us oldies still have fire in our bellies - get Burnsy back on! See yer.