The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Is football a business or a sport?




The Caretaker
The Caretaker

Morecambe v Grimsby Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 18/09/2008

THE Mangerless Mariners move to Morecambe for more misery, merciless mayhem and most likely a massacre. How’s that for alliteration!

Home > 2008-2009 Season > Previews > Morecambe (a)


The Opposition

Overview

Morecambe eh? They will still be scratching their heads after last year's tremendous treble or whatever hybrid word Sky would use for some boring aimless tight match between the top four. A 4-0 win a 1-0 win and a 0-0 draw wouldn't that be a beautiful run nowadays? Well no point dwelling in the past, present day problems are more pressing and worrying. Morecambe on the other hand aren't too happy either. They survived their first season in the league with a brilliant 11th place just behind Bradford and 5 in front of ourselves. The Shrimps will want to improve quickly on the 5 points they've accumulated so far this season, and a win would catapult the north westerners up towards the early play-off runners.

The Team
Sammy Mcllroy (above) did dip into the transfer market during the summer window. Diarmuid O’Carroll joined from Scottish big boys Celtic while Neil Wainwright skipped across the country from Darlington. Leaving the western shores to pastures new were Jon Newby who left for Morton while Carl Baker left to join promoted Stockport for a healthy £175,000. Loan wise McIllroy has had more luck then Town in bringing in loan players. Rene Howe (left) has joined from Peterborough and Dan Smith has joined from Plymouth. McIllroy has kept the same size squad as last year but will have hoped to have strengthened it with his few additions. Time will tell whether or not this is the case but if they can replicate last year's success there is no reason why Morecambe cannot establish themselves as a league club.


One to Watch
Michael Twiss. The former Man Utd midfielder is to me personally one of the best players in League Two. Twiss made a habit of ripping teams apart in the conference and has carried on that tradition when he made the step up to the leagues. His array of passing, technique and an eye for goal make him one of the most dangerous midfielders in the lower leagues.

Recent Form

TownMorecambe
LChester(h)1-3
LGillingham,(a)0-3
WChesterfield (JPT)(a)2-2 (4-1p)
DLincoln(a)1-1
LBlackburn (LC)(a)1-4
Currently 20th in League Two.
DBarnet(a)1-1
WShrewsbury(h)1-0
DOldham (JPT)(a)1-1
LDagenham(h)1-2
LBury(a)1-2
Currently 18th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownMorecambe
Danny North2
Howe2
O'Carroll2

Team News

TownMorecambe

  • Ipswich midfielder Liam Trotter has joined Town on a month's loan.

  • Richard Hope (ankle) and Robbie Stockdale (calf) are back in contention for a recall, with Stockwell most likely to start.
  • Morecambe have no injury worries and are expected to name an unchanged line-up.
  • Squads

    TownMorecambe
    1GKPhil Barnes
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFTom Newey
    4DFRyan Bennett
    5DFMatthew Heywood (c)
    6DFRichard Hope
    7MFPeter Till
    8MFPaul Bolland
    9FWMartin Butler
    10MFChris Llewellyn
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13GKGary Montgomery
    14MFJames Hunt
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFJavan Vidal
    17MFNick Hegarty
    18MFPeter Bore
    19FWDanny North
    20FWAndy Taylor
    21MFSimon Heslop
    22FWNathan Jarman
    23MFGrant Normington
    24GKLeigh Overton
    TBAMFLiam Trotter
    1GKBarry Roche
    3DFMichael Howard
    4DFDavid Artell
    5DFJim Bentley (captain)
    6MFCraig Stanley
    7FWMichael Twiss
    8MFGarry Hunter
    9FWWayne Curtis
    10FWRene Howe (on loan from Peterborough United)
    11MFNeil Wainwright
    14FWDiarmuid O'Carroll
    15MFFraser McLachlan
    16MFStewart Drummond
    17FWAaron Taylor
    18FWPaul Lloyd
    19MFRyan McCann
    21FWMatthew Blinkhorn
    22DFAndy Parrish
    23DFHenry McStay
    24MFMatthew Bell
    25DFDanny Adams
    30GKScott Davies
    TBAMFDan Smith (on loan from Plymouth Argyle)

    Head to Head

    Town have lost just once in the five fixtures between the two clubs to date.

    P 5 W 2 D 2 L 1 F 7 A 3

    Morecambe Head-to-Head (12th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 0 Morecambe 0 (Tue 04th March 2008)

    One of the most celebrated 0-0 draws in Grimsby's history as it meant Town qualified for the JPT final against MK Dons at Wembley. Phil Barnes was the hero of the night, making a string of saves to keep Town's dreams intact.

    Report

    Prediction

    Please, please, please win a bloody match!

    Morecambe 0-1 Grimsby Town

    Reader's POMs

    Add To Facebook


    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!


    Related Stories


    Forum Latest
    Thread TitlePostsLatest Post
    Fun weather forecast for Saturday32TownSNAFU522/11 15:47
    JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW 40rancido22/11 14:59
    40 years ago15Limerick Mariner22/11 14:56
    Prediction Thread Colchester Home34Brummie Codfather22/11 14:52
    BOXING DAY131mickylyons22/11 13:15
    Colchester Saturday19wuffing22/11 11:58
    "Beat the Clock"  Colchester21Wiley240522/11 09:33
    It’s all gone ‘quite’10SpiritOf9822/11 09:16
    TV Games/Upcoming Fixtures3SiteBot22/11 03:30
    Lincs. Cup Highlights14Lincoln Mariner 5621/11 16:05