Any team news yet?

What time is kick off?

17:30

Thats good,  i will be home from work just in time then. :)

come on you mariners!!

What's the odds that it's Dave Moore/Chris Doig in charge today?

Good grief do we have a game today? Must have missed that - been a bit quiet

Does anybody have the link to the new online footy site please?

Quoted from Judas Jay

Does anybody have the link to the new online footy site please?

They're not taking on new people.

Hearn not in the squad.

Why?

Not even going to watch this. Stinking decision.

Is this a tactical or fitness related decision?

Cook Hannah up top in 442 . Only guessing

Quoted from pontoonlew

Not even going to watch this. Stinking decision.

Why not wait for the facts ?

Quoted from Alfie

What's the odds that it's Dave Moore/Chris Doig in charge today?

Long by the look of it

I see mcnulty has shed a few pounds

Why on earth would Hearn not be in the squad unless he was unfit?

There doesnt seem to be a lot going on in the practice before kick off they look subdued

If he's not in the team he must be injured not to have a player like hearn in the squad is a stupid idea.

4-3-3

Confirmed.

This could be a long afternoon! Still, UTM

Also, Hearn has deleted his twitter account..

I think he's on the move.

Can someone tell me the starting line up please? I'm 'stuck' in Mallorca with only an IPad and gin and tonic.

Macca Goodall doig Pearson bignot Kerr disley paddy Colbeck Rodman shop

Thanks

Pretty dire so far. Luton look comfortably in control.

Luton edging it up to now.

Whats really annoying they seem to have ages before being challenged maybe its the 433 but when we're on the ball no movement

The lone striker is so isolated in this system

Quoted from alvinghammariner

Also, Hearn has deleted his twitter account..

I read this earlier, looked and it was still there.

Luton Playing 4-4-2?

Scott kerr struggling to keep up with the play

Jesus Christ Disley has been so bad this season

4-1-3-1

Quoted from Meza

Scott kerr struggling to keep up with the play

Spot on - he's been a waste of a shirt so far this season

Creating nothing. More of the same. Dismal.

Luton should be 2 up by now, Town are very poor for me (apart from Lewis)

Impressed with goodall kept gray quite

We've got nothing. Just like the end of last season.

I thought weve done well and we aint even got out of first gear yet.

they might have more chances but you have to take them.

It's like as soon as we pass the half way line we become clueless.

PLAYED PEARSON!

Exactly. We've got no strength, no pace and no creativity.

Half time kerr off were playing with 10 men

That's absolutely brilliant defending by Pearson. If only the rest of the players were as committed as him.

We give the ball away way to easy, poor first half from Town, luckily Luton are missing the chances they have, surely we have to improve second half?

Luton have had enough chances to win this comfortably, fortunately for us they are pish poor in the final ball in.  We however, are doing them a massive favour by not even getting in to their final 3rd and string more than 3 passes together, we need to go 4-4-2 and get two proven strikers on at this level.

Also the long ball success rate is we are winning it 2 times out of every 4, then nothing, as mentioned earlier pretty dire.

What a complete and utter pile of cr@p that was.

Disley, Kerr and Mclaughlin garbage.  

Would bin Kerr and Mc at half time for Neilson and Thanoj.

Happy to be 0-0 but we have the look of a beaten team.

Kerr looks alarmingly off the pace.

Would be nice to test their keeper.....has he had a direct shot to save yet?

Disley, Kerr and McLaughlin have been disgracefully poor. Pedestrian movement from the three of them and all guilty of repeatedly giving the ball away. 4-3-3 will never work with a midfield trio incapable of retaining possession.

I think we're getting stronger. Kerr aside, everyone is doing their job and we're getting into it. We can't concede though as we haven't got two goals in us. Here's hoping.

Maybe Hurst has signed a suicide pact with Scotty. The 433 experiment will probably see them both out of the building. Hope not but it's not looking good.

We get the ball and 5 seconds later, it is either out of play, or back with Luton.

Yet another shotless 45 mins. They are totting up alarmingly.

At least BT have subbed that stupid bint

Kerr finally does something good and sprays a pass out wide for Colbeck in space who proceeds to put it out for a goal kick under minimal pressure. Jesus wept.

Anybody else think John Still looks like Barralad?

Quoted from cmackenzie4

Anybody else think John Still looks like Barralad?

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Wish someone would shut David pleat up

Goodall done well so far . Makes the left side more solid

We should have had a penalty there.

Pearson is involved in everything, he is having a good game.

For intercourse sake get another striker on to benefit from this improved performance

Much better by Town now.

Quoted from cmackenzie4

Much better by Town now.

We're keeping possession a bit better but still nowhere close to troubling their keeper. We need some goal scorers on the pitch.

C,Mon Town

Neilson on watch him score

Quoted from Freemoash88

Neilson on watch him score

Bloody hope so mate.

That was a stone wall penalty!

3 minutes left and we finally put another striker on...

Now Disley's injured - given his form so far this season that might not be the worst thing in the world!

Much improved second half  but i can't recall us troubling the Luton keeper once!

A deserved point in the end, Pearson man of the match for me and impressed with Goodall too.

1 shot on target in two games.......................... stats prove the system isnt working!

Quoted from tintowner

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Just seen me old mucker Barra in the stand, so can confirm he's sodomist all to do with that chap on the touchline! ;D

Good game second half from Town, very composed, but little threat in their box - same as Luton in ours.

Got to say we looked the better Team second half.

We played some brilliant passing football and Luton panicked.

Happy with the score hopefully we are starting to turn a corner.

UTM!

Abysmal first half, second half much better but without shooting you are never going to win games.  

0-0 Decent result away from home but the performances need to be better to win games.

Reminded me of the post-Nuneaton Wrexham away game last season.

433 can work its just our wingers are playing as if its 442.  The wingers need to attack diagonally and balls played into them.  Midfield need to support more.  Anyway good 2nd performance Pearson immense and if he carrys on like he'll be gone.

Well at least the players looked as though they knew a bit more about what they were supposed to be doing but there was no penetration at all up front. I can't see the point in J-L at all. He wins the ball but nothing comes of it and he never, ever looks like scoring himself. Surely Cook would be worth a go in that role if Hurst insists on 4-3-3.
The back 4 looked solid but they were too deep. Maybe this is so Doig's lack of pace doesn't show him up but it means there was acres of space in front for Luton to run in.
Best bit of the game was Nielson chasing back 70 yards at the speed of light to tackle their bloke near our corner flag. Making a point was he?

No shots on target again.

It's alright being solid, but if you can't create and score, then you are going nowhere. I've seen 2 games at BP and 2 on TV and i could count the shots on goal on one hand.

4-3-3 not working and too many goals sat on the bench and in the stands. People will say it's a decent point but the same people were saying that last season. Too many draws did for us last year and i can't see anything changing at the moment.

A good well earned / well deserved point tonight. I'm happy enough with that!  :)

Well earned point. Utm

I think we've come away with a good solid display defence-wise and a much deserved point. Think we're happier with that then the Luton fans, as the home side they must be wondering where the goals will come from.

Quoted from RoboCod

I think we've come away with a good solid display defence-wise and a much deserved point. Think we're happier with that then the Luton fans, as the home side they must be wondering where the goals will come from.

Like we are....

Will that btsport presenter shut up hes trying to find out whats gone on lol

Quoted from Neilo83

Like we are....

In the wider picture, possibly. But this is the Luton thread and they are fancied by most. It's bizarre to see Town with Hannah and Cook on the bench and Hearn not involved though, that's where the goals are.

We should have had a penalty

We are never, ever, ever going to score goals with 4-5-1 and John Lewis up front. If we want to go through the season hoping to fluke wins despite creating no chances, and eeking out the odd point with 0-0 draws and getting turned over by anyone half decent at home, then fine, but count me out. We need to go 4-4-2 at home next week and make some use of our decent players. It's our only hope of getting involved at the top of the division. The writing is absolutely on the wall. Ignore it at your peril Paul Hurst.

Interesting post match on Humberside...Hurst's responces would suggest Scott is not out of the picture yet.


As for the game second half alot better but seriously needs to think about the personnel if that formation is persisted with......for me the third centre mid needs to be rather a roving  striker or pure attacking midfielder like Neilson.

17-3 to Luton in shots, thought we had a shout for a pen at the end (not seen on TV)

We played some good football in the 2 nd half,

A fair result but we will never score many goals without Hearn, Hannah , Cook and Neilson in the side,

Things will get better , I am sure.

Quoted from Meza

433 can work its just our wingers are playing as if its 442.  The wingers need to attack diagonally and balls played into them.  Midfield need to support more.  Anyway good 2nd performance Pearson immense and if he carrys on like he'll be gone.

I am pleased somebody else has said this. I've been banging on about it for ever it seems. You can't play 4-3-3 with wingers stuck out on the touchline. When the ball is played up to J-L at least one winger has to come inside and join in. Like you say, attack diagonally.

Quoted from RoboCod

In the wider picture, possibly. But this is the Luton thread and they are fancied by most. It's bizarre to see Town with Hannah and Cook on the bench and Hearn not involved though, that's where the goals are.

Absolutely, utterly, TOTALLY OBVIOUS to ALL except those who pick the team ......  :-/

I thought the team looked more together, and with more fight.
LJL good again, Goodall composed, bit better from Kerr, Colbeck and Rodman not in the game enough.  Neilson looked good when he came on.
Truthfully, who wouldn't have taken a point before the game?
I did bet on the win though at 12/5  ;)

Point at places like Luton are always good but this system is not working in terms of an attacking ploy. When sides I played for had this formation we only played one wide player with two down the middle and I cannot understand why with the players we have we are not trying this approach. You can adopt one up front if you have a Lampard or Gerrard getting forward to support the lone striker but Dis and Kerr do not have the legs or the goal scoring record to support our current approach,

Whatever the fans say our best forward pairing in the Conference era has been Hearn and the much mligned Eldind who despite his countless misses scored 14 goals with Hearn getting 27. Who can see lJL getting ten this yer up front on his own. Put him with Hearn or Hannah or go back to Cook and Hannah which worked well for three months

Come on Paul get this system sorted and get us a quality mobile midfield player to change our fortunes positively.

I think yesterday's game is a good example of where that system can serve you if you're looking to keep it tight and perhaps try to nick a goal on the break in a difficult away game, but it's lunacy to just keep playing that way in every game. It's patently not working and it ought to be obvious to any coach worth his salt, especially when he looks at his bench and sees the talent that the system is excluding. We need much more flexibility and dynamism, especially at home, because it makes no sense to think that the set up for Luton away would also be exactly the same for Braintree at home ( for example). We have to do much, much better as an attacking force and we have to use our criminally underemployed assets.

Quoted from chaos33

I think yesterday's game is a good example of where that system can serve you if you're looking to keep it tight and perhaps try to nick a goal on the break in a difficult away game, but it's lunacy to just keep playing that way in every game. It's patently not working and it ought to be obvious to any coach worth his salt, especially when he looks at his bench and sees the talent that the system is excluding. We need much more flexibility and dynamism, especially at home, because it makes no sense to think that the set up for Luton away would also be exactly the same for Braintree at home ( for example). We have to do much, much better as an attacking force and we have to use our criminally underemployed assets.

Hannah and Hearn have to start imo.

The wingers and full backs need license to push forward in certain home games too.

Cut the long ball out get width and balls around the 18 yard box and we would get joy with these two uptop at home.

Also would conserve energy and tire the other team out. Let them chase shadows.

You need to score goals to win games and you won't score many when you play one striker (regardless of what 4-3-3 implies) who has a poor goal scoring record (18 goals in 74 starts + 29 subs).

There's nothing wrong with 4-3-3 but we play 4-5-1 don't we?

Yeah I know what you're saying

have to agree, we cant keep playing a guy who will never score- despite the fact we are creating very little-. denied a penalty, but i think we'd all have taken a point

It seemed to me that Hurst was happy to play for and gain a point, but with a bit of ambition, we could have nicked that game. Luton were a spent force in the second half and we should have gone for the kill. Bringing on Cook and Neilson earlier could have won us the game.

To win leagues, you have to risk losing a point to gain three. One win in three away from home is the same as three boring draws, so worth the risk for the extra points that are on offer.

It will also encourage more fans to turn up if we are creating chances. At the moment, the football on offer is dire beyond belief and totally lacking in excitement. The fans need waking up and have something to get behind. We have a boring manager playing boring football and the fans are drifting away.

For 30 minutes we were battered and lucky to survive. The main positive at half time was we were still in the game, which as we were at the home of the biggest club in the League was good even if fortunate.
When we came out at half time you could see we were upping the tempo and our passing improved (we hoofed it most of the first half). The midfield players got in the game more, seemed to have more time and both full backs got in the game as support players.

For all that we didnt really look like scoring.

The keeper and back 4 did well 2nd half too

On to LJL. At Gateshead I thought he gave the most dominant centre forward display i had seen from a Town forward for a long while. Unfortunately he has fallen from that level and hasnt looked the part in the last 2 games. To keep the shirt you have to perform to your maximum (or very close to it) and now is the time for change.

Cook and Hannah up front on Saturday for me and if we persist in 4-3-3 then I'd add Hearn or Rodman to that and go with 3 forward players.  I know it was only the warm up but prior to yesterdays game Ross put every shot during shooting practice into the corner with unerring accuracy. If Kerr is part of the 3 then he must just sit. He isnt fit enough to support around the pitch. Sit, break it up and pass it (quickly).

A good battling point yesterday but it is only useful if we pick up the maximum points from upcoming games starting on Saturday

Cook and Hannah up front... Nielsen and Thanoj in the middle... and 4-4-2 please.....or... ffs..

3 - 5 - 2 anyone ???  :)

My take on yesterday was that Hurst on his own needed to prove himself by picking a team that would be difficult to beat, because of the nature of the present situation it meant that had we been tonked he would have been seen as the weak half of the equation and could have walked. the point won was a good one on the day but that`s history now and we need to start from Saturday onwards employing some of our goalscorers of which we have plenty and that is one of our strengths

all for it Garth...  we should go for a complete hammering of the opposition on saturday.... 4 or 5 goals please team....

just pick the one we want... remember the fishy runs GTFC..... Barralad shud have some input here methinks...  :)

Quoted from gary_elton

Cook and Hannah up front... Nielsen and Thanoj in the middle... and 4-4-2 please.....or... ffs..

3 - 5 - 2 anyone ???  :)

Boyband midfield  ;)

Totally agree with Ginny and BC.

Isn't it amazing how nearly the entire Grimsby Town fan base can agree on something and the one person that matters is the only clown who doesn't.

Interesting for all the AB critics, how many shots have we had on goal in the last two games? Much more direct football as we are currently seeing, doesn't necessarily mean more goals, but my god is it boring to watch. At least passnmove (tm A Buckley enterprises) is very special when it works. And when is does work it makes mugs of the direct style.

I can't even believe the word 'Buckley' is even being typed never mind slightly considered.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I can't even believe the word 'Buckley' is even being typed never mind slightly considered.

No I agree. To name a manager who managed over 1000 league games and never got relegated and got our team playing the most sublime football most of us have ever seen would seem to be a retrogade step.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I can't even believe the word 'Buckley' is even being typed never mind slightly considered.

Don`t be silly AB was the greatest manager GTFC ever had bar none, and his name on here is more than welcome by most football educated members, Oh how the Scunthorpe would like to brag about such a manager and his record, you don`t know how lucky you are

Quoted from Garth

Don`t be silly AB was the greatest manager GTFC ever had bar none, and his name on here is more than welcome by most football educated members, Oh how the Scunthorpe would like to brag about such a manager and his record, you don`t know how lucky you are

Frank Womack.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

No I agree. To name a manager who managed over 1000 league games and never got relegated and got our team playing the most sublime football most of us have ever seen would seem to be a retrogade step.

That is indisputably true, but it seems some have a short memory and an ability to overlook the fact that Buckley has been out of management for a long time. We went down this nostalgic road a few years ago and it was an unmitigated and dismal failure that tarnished the man's memory and reputation.

Alan Buckley is an ex football Manager. It doesn't matter how laudable your football principles are, you can't be a manager 'in the present' if you don't know players. Lets cease this silly talk of him returning to manage Town. It's ludicrous.

Buckley would most certainly get the current team playing the proper way.. I'd be happy to see him back for one more go.

Quoted from chaos33

That is indisputably true, but it seems some have a short memory and an ability to overlook the fact that Buckley has been out of management for a long time. We went down this nostalgic road a few years ago and it was an unmitigated and dismal failure that tarnished the man's memory and reputation.

Alan Buckley is an ex football Manager. It doesn't matter how laudable your football principles are, you can't be a manager 'in the present' if you don't know players. Lets cease this silly talk of him returning to manage Town. It's ludicrous.

He doesnt need to "know" players though to get the current crop playing surely?

I dont think his last tenure was a disaster anyway - what would we give for that disaster now eh?

John  Still is older than Buckley isnt he ( not absolutely sure) but if a John Still type manager with Buckleys qualifications applied when a vacancy arises we would be interested surely.

Never say never - if I had more confidence in the "board" making the right choice of applicants then fair enough, but with their previous shockers I would say Buckley would be a safe pair of hands for an interim period.      

I'm not denying Buckley WAS a great manager. But as has been said, his last stint was a total flop and he proved that he's not up to it any more. He's a top bloke and a club legend but he is way way way down on the list of potential candidates.

Be honest (with yourselves), who was the last managerial appointment at Town that excited you?  Mine would be Newell  :-/, how wrong can you be!

Who do you think the potential candidates are Lew? As for Buckley, it'd be a no from me but I don't understand how his last spell was 'a total flop'. Woods' spell was a total flop.

How has the Luton match thread turned into "who will be the next town manager?" thread??
Still too early to be discussing this IMHO, (despite what people may have supposed from previous comments of mine  ;))

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Who do you think the potential candidates are Lew? As for Buckley, it'd be a no from me but I don't understand how his last spell was 'a total flop'. Woods' spell was a total flop.

A flop in comparison to his previous stints.

As for candidates, well it's all great naming all these names but you never know how things are going to work out. For what it's worth I think Hurst will stay, I don't see a reason why he wouldn't. If we were to get a new face in the number one target should be Burr for me and we should move mountains to get him.

Quoted from Marinerz93

Frank Womack.

Ah !  the good old days,

When every team played 2  3  5   and went out to win a game,

Not , trying not to lose one.

I THINK WE SHOULD REVERT BACK TO THAT SYSTEM AND SEE HOW WE GET ON. :)

Quoted from grimsby pete

Ah !  the good old days,

When every team played 2  3  5   and went out to win a game,

Not , trying not to lose one.

I THINK WE SHOULD REVERT BACK TO THAT SYSTEM AND SEE HOW WE GET ON. :)

I wasn't around for those good old days but an old chap who sits behind me was.  He shut two blokes up who was arguing about who was the best Town manager one was obviously saying AB and this old boy put his hands on both their shoulders and said 'Frank Womack'

The look on their faces was brilliant and they stopped arguing  ;D

Quoted from Marinerz93

I wasn't around for those good old days but an old chap who sits behind me was.  He shut two blokes up who was arguing about who was the best Town manager one was obviously saying AB and this old boy put his hands on both their shoulders and said 'Frank Womack'

The look on their faces was brilliant and they stopped arguing  ;D

It was before my time as well,

BUT

My dad went to every game and kept a record of all the home games, scores, scorers  attendence and a little report of the game,

All I wanted of my dads when he died was the books he kept the records in,

BUT

Living down here some other family member cleared the house out before I got there and  must have thrown them away,

That made me even more upset if I was not grieving enough !!!!!!!

Why not someone like groves or even Appleton?

Anyway.....Back on topic!

Had Luton had anything like a striker worthy of the name the game may well have been put beyond Town by the break. Shaun Pearson's headed clearance in time added on at the end of the first half was absolutely fantastic.
We don't play 4-3-3 as both wingers continue to be isolated out wide with far too much space between them and J-L. I thought Rodman looked dangerous but mainly when he did come inside. It defies understanding that our midfield, knowing that J-L spends most of his time with his back to goal, don't support him more for a short lay off.

The second half was much better from the point of view of approach play but any team that leaves goalscorers who consistently achieve double figures on the bench can hardly expect to see an end product.
Neilsen looked O.K. when he came on but Cook was left out of the action for far too long. As for Hannah not getting any game time....

Ginny is right. It's boring to watch.

Just to point out that I did not in this thread suggest AB IV, I merely put recent performances in the context of the pathetic rewriting of his previous stints at the club, which some people see fit to diminish at every opportunity.  

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

He doesnt need to "know" players though to get the current crop playing surely?

I dont think his last tenure was a disaster anyway - what would we give for that disaster now eh?

John  Still is older than Buckley isnt he ( not absolutely sure) but if a John Still type manager with Buckleys qualifications applied when a vacancy arises we would be interested surely.

Never say never - if I had more confidence in the "board" making the right choice of applicants then fair enough, but with their previous shockers I would say Buckley would be a safe pair of hands for an interim period.      

That team was dreadful and he was lucky he was sacked or his record of no relegations would have gone. Great in his first two stints but he'd lost the sparkle in his last spell.