Local Talent is the Answer

By: Steve Johnson
Date: 02/02/2010 (Last updated: 03/02/2010)

I HAVE finally given up doing the POM as I no longer recognise players to choose from, not that we score goals or win. I have lived away from Grimsby for many years but have always managed to see 6 to 7 games per season. Sadly I can no longer make the considerable effort to see a team lacking in skill, passion and commitment.

The last few times they have played like a team of total strangers.

I put this down to the club's attitude in recent years. Let's get another player on loan and further demoralise players trying to make the grade. The majority of the loans do not produce the goods and are not good enough to get into other poor teams. Henderson was great .Atkinson and Sweeney were good loans but most of the rest have been transient, disrupted the squad and crucially stopped the development of young players

Although football is now a squad game Grimsby have taken this to new heights. What has happened to North, Hegarty, Bird and Normington? What will happen to Wood, Shamin, Fuller? Will a constant stream of loans and haphazard signings allow these to develop? Buckley's third reign was a disaster, Newell's even more so. Recent mistakes have including hopeless signings such as Heywood, Hope and Llewellyn. There have also been poor extension of contracts: e.g. Boshell,Clarke.

And as to Woods, who appears to be acting like a rabbit caught in car headlights ,give him the chance to develop a young committed squad in the Conference. I am afraid that is where we are going and I suspect it will be a blessing in disguise and give him a chance to get back to grassroots. It will not be easy:,look at Luton, Mansfield etc.

Grimsby deserves league football, the Wembley days are long gone. The abject show at Cardiff was perhaps the start of the rot. Grimsby can come back but only with local talent being developed and with players committed to Grimsby Town

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