Post of the Week Winner

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 03/11/2007

AFTER much deliberation Rob, Billo and Nicko have decided on a post of the week, and apologise for the delay in announcing the winner who is.....BIGChris. Congratulations to BIGChris, who wins a ticket to a match in the Pontoon.

Season to Date

I think most of us would describe the season thus far as a huge disappointment. Yes, some are saying that the football is fantastic, well The Vicar and Mr Buckley seem to think it is, but nobody can deny that a position of 20th is a bit of a let down.

Before the season started I was asked my views on this site and said that I didn't believe we would start particularly strongly but, possibly a loan signing or two would see us push on from Oct/Nov onwards.

I hope that that turns out to be crystal ball gazing and Messrs Logan and Butler can kick start our season.

In addition to the results, certain players must be a bit disappointed at their contributions so far. The top 3 let downs for me have to be Toner,Fenton Rankin-all for differing reasons.

Toner has ability but he hasn't been a Div 4 football for the majority of his league career for nothing. This is his level. IF he could produce his skills consistently for a full match let alone a month or a season then he would be at a different level.

In patches last season he showed what he is capable of but at present he is playing in fits and starts. IMO he has done very little over the last 3/4 games but he is under no pressure for his place. We have no left sided midfielder available.

Fenton annoys me. He is another who should be excelling at this level. When Whitts was given the number 15 shirt and Macca retired I expected, even wanted, Fenton to grasp the captaincy and LEAD the team. Unfortunately, he has shrunk into his shell far too often and has to carry the can for several of the goals we have shipped.

I am convinced there is a dominant, consistent defender in there somewhere but it doesn't come out often enough for my liking.

I don't think many of us expected Rankin to be first choice striker when the season started, I certainly didn't!

He has shown a desire to work hard and has lost a few pounds but for all his effort his attempts on goal have been woeful. He has started virtually every league game and not to have scored is a very poor return. If he had notched 2 or 3 it could have made so much difference to our position and possibly to the whole season.

Other disappointments for me must be the lack of opportunities afforded to Jones and North. In their cameo appearances Lump has done quite well but he has proved before you need to give him a run of games to get the rewards. North seems to have taken a few steps backwards which is not unusual for a young striker-Jim Lumby anyone?. Last season he looked to really have something which shoved by original thoughts down my throat as I had never been that impressed with him in the stiffs. I just hope he is suffering from '2nd season syndrome' and will come good soon. He is one Buckley needs to invest some time in, as I think it would be to everyone's benefit.

The season is not without some positives though. Barnes IMO has looked a decent keeper and for all his lack of 'footballing' ability Whitts is a fantastic example to all. Newey, generally has looked good going forward (as he always has) but has improved defensively. I have to add that in the last game against Rochdale he seemed to have his 'coulntgiveashit' head on. I hope that is a one off.

Boshell is another who has done better than expect whilst his central midfield colleagues are all capable of better than they have produced thus far.

Till, on his day, can get people of their seats. He does have pace and ability but he is still a young lad (20?) and I believe there is much more to come from him.

The other big let down has to be Buckley himself or more importantly his tactics. 4-5-1 at home hasn't worked. Look at our victories if you doubt it.

His failure to build a balanced squad is also a let down. Several months into the season and to have no right back and only 4 defenders (one 36 and another 17) is appalling.

I CAN see why he has gone with 4-5-1. With 5 in midfield we do tend to strangle the opposition and therefore dominate possession. Once he has gone with 4-4-2 games have opened up with chances at both ends.

I think we should be playing 4-4-2 and going for it, especially at home. Yes, the opposition may get more chances, but they will miss as many again because they are, 4th Div strikers. I think the onus is on us to out score the opponents but I assume Buckley hasn't got the confidence in his strikers for them to do that.

Perhaps some have lost confidence because they haven't been given a run of games to get confidence (except Ranks).

So the time has now come for the weight of the season to rest on the broad shoulders of our two loanees.IF they can become the catalyst to kick on and get on a winning run others will come to the fore.Most of tomorrows POM entries are predicting Butler to score. I just think he will give even more opportunities to his fellow strike partner (assuming he has one!)and together we can start to haul in some points.It is not putting too much weight on his shoulders as I think he can kick start the season for those players who haven't quite reached the heights they expected.

I really hope it is full steam ahead from now, whatever the result tomorrow, and our beloved Grimsby Town can alter its course and steer towards the upper echelons

The next home game is against Islamabrad and they will sell out the Osmond end. Lets all get down to BP to make their journey an extremely disappointing one.

BIGChris

The Fishy are offering another ticket in the Pontoon to the person who can accumulate the most points in the POM in the November games after today's match. The games are MK Dons, Carlisle, Doncaster, Morecambe, Barnet plus a possible FA Cup Replay with Carlisle. In the event of a tie a winner will be picked at random.

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