The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Another Rant
Another Rant

Rant Time - Knocking the Knockers

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 26/07/2006

IT IS quite disturbing to read here, and elsewhere, the comments of some who see nothing but doom and gloom ahead for this coming season. Some people cannot help being that way. Maybe it is something in their genes.

I am sure we have all met that sort of person in our lives. Nothing is right, nothing can go right and if it does, it makes them even more depressed. So we expect the worse from them.

But it is a shame to read comments by people who I have previously thought were level headed and intelligent, forecasting our demise before a single ball has been played, or comments about the managerial abilities of Graham Rodger before he has made his first entry into the dugout.

There is nothing wrong in people airing their point of view, as I am doing here, and there is nothing wrong in moaning and groaning when things go wrong. We wouldn't be Town fans if we didn't. (That's part of the Town fans genetic make up I think.), but the continual pre season negativity we see from some, is neither constructive nor necessary.

I was one of those who wanted Town to appoint an outsider to come in as manager. But that did not happen and Rodger was appointed and I, like everyone else, have to accept that, and I have.

I too am not impressed by the pre-season results so far but I learned long ago that 'friendly games' (a misnomer if I ever heard one) are nothing more than a runout for the lads and a chance to get a few bucks in the till before the real stuff starts, so there is no point trying to judge Rodger on what has gone on so far.

What we need from day one is solid backing for the manager and the squad. Gaining promotion this season is going to be a lot harder than our last one when we failed at the winning post. What we need is a good start, but if that doesn't happen it isn't the end of the world.

Rodger is new in his position and it matters not what he has done or not done previously. It is what he does from now on that matters and the last thing we need is to hang a mill stone round his neck.

He will need every bit of support he can get. And that means you!

It would be a great pity if Graham Rodger was treated as badly as Russell Slade was (despite the fact that he steadied the ship and almost got us there.)

What we need is patience. Rodger needs time to get his squad working together and playing the kind of football that we would like to see at Blundell Park but he cannot do that overnight.

And he will not achieve that at all if he doesn't get support. Nothing discourages a team more than knowing the fans will be on their backs every time they make a mistake or if the fans are continually barracking the manager.

We need a new start this season. We have a new manager and a new squad. All we need now is a new positive response from the fans and supporters.

It ain't easy down here in the old fourth division. Why would we want to make it harder? Because that is what we will be doing if we don't get behind the club, the team and the manager.

Our part is easy.

Not so for Rodger. He has a huge task ahead of him.

It sure would help if he knew we were on his side too.


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This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!


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