Suprised to see how we compared to last season. Even more so considering we don't like finishing with 11 men and don't have a 750k striker on the books this year. People will point out 2 more goals conceded but the FK vs Coventry and penalty vs Wycombe shouldn't have stood.

Are our expectations higher now than this time last year? Not a Slade fan by any means but it could quite easily be a slow start much like last year (and seemingly every year)

Form after 4 league games:
16-17 - WLLL
17-18 - WLLL

Goals scored/conceded:
16-17 - 6/7
17-18 - 6/9

Point is last year was our first season in league and was about consolidation,this season should be about progressing not regressing.
Furthermore as you said we don't have a 750,000 striker on our books or for that matter a striker that looks like being prolific.

Quoted from Jaws

Suprised to see how we compared to last season. Even more so considering we don't like finishing with 11 men and don't have a 750k striker on the books this year. People will point out 2 more goals conceded but the FK vs Coventry and penalty vs Wycombe shouldn't have stood.

Are our expectations higher now than this time last year? Not a Slade fan by any means but it could quite easily be a slow start much like last year (and seemingly every year)

Form after 4 league games:
16-17 - WLLL
17-18 - WLLL

Goals scored/conceded:
16-17 - 6/7
17-18 - 6/9

Obviously you're trying to justify our poor start but we haven't got a striker worth 10% of that figure and can't wait for a striker who was widely derided last season to get back to fitness. It's hardly healthy is it?

Quoted from Jaws

Suprised to see how we compared to last season. Even more so considering we don't like finishing with 11 men and don't have a 750k striker on the books this year. People will point out 2 more goals conceded but the FK vs Coventry and penalty vs Wycombe shouldn't have stood.

Are our expectations higher now than this time last year? Not a Slade fan by any means but it could quite easily be a slow start much like last year (and seemingly every year)

Form after 4 league games:
16-17 - WLLL
17-18 - WLLL

Goals scored/conceded:
16-17 - 6/7
17-18 - 6/9

Here's a stat for ya..

Number of GTFC fans shittting themselves, hoping and praying there's two worse teams somewhere in this league

16-17   0-5%
17-18   95-100%

Quoted from Jaws

Suprised to see how we compared to last season. Even more so considering we don't like finishing with 11 men and don't have a 750k striker on the books this year. People will point out 2 more goals conceded but the FK vs Coventry and penalty vs Wycombe shouldn't have stood.

Are our expectations higher now than this time last year? Not a Slade fan by any means but it could quite easily be a slow start much like last year (and seemingly every year)

Form after 4 league games:
16-17 - WLLL
17-18 - WLLL

Goals scored/conceded:
16-17 - 6/7
17-18 - 6/9

Why?

??) ??) ??)

Quoted from Bigdog

Here's a stat for ya..

Number of GTFC fans shittting themselves, hoping and praying there's two worse teams somewhere in this league

16-17   0-5%
17-18   95-100%

Yes, my expectations WERE higher after last year, based on Slade's assertion that we would challenge for a play-off place. Having seen us and the quality (or lack of) signings, I expect nothing and hope that we just survive, nothing more than that.

Last season we had a really good striker, and we had 'momentum'. This season is the difficult second album.

Quoted from arryarryarry

Why?

A push by Akinfenwa on Collins before the handball, maybe.

There are 42 games to go. Some are having us in a relegation scrap after four.

Obviously our start is worrying but years of watching football have taught me that form can change quickly. I don't even look at the league table for at least ten games.

The problem with a slow start is that you go into every game thinking the opposition is good because they're higher in the league table than us.

Suddenly a home game against Crewe looks more difficult than it needs to be. They're 4th, we're 22nd, the bookies will have them favourites and this can get into the heads of players who are perhaps mentally fragile.

And on the back of two successive home defeats to start the season, a third becomes unthinkable and the pressure really is on.

I hope we have players with the right attitude. Right now I'm struggling to see who on the pitch is going to pick us up and drag us forward.

From what I can remember about the start of last season, even though the result weren't going our way the performances deserved results, where as this season it's been excrement and we've deserved intercourse all.  

Quoted from RichMariner

The problem with a slow start is that you go into every game thinking the opposition is good because they're higher in the league table than us.

Suddenly a home game against Crewe looks more difficult than it needs to be. They're 4th, we're 22nd, the bookies will have them favourites and this can get into the heads of players who are perhaps mentally fragile.

And on the back of two successive home defeats to start the season, a third becomes unthinkable and the pressure really is on.

I hope we have players with the right attitude. Right now I'm struggling to see who on the pitch is going to pick us up and drag us forward.

Good post. The additional point I think is that we've already spoiled whatever advantage there is in playing at home. I can't remember the last season where we made Blundell Park a 'fortress' as the players repeatedly like to say, before capitulating badly to all and sundry down Cleethorpes way. Our home form has been average to poor for a long time. Opposition managers often say that Grimsby is a tough place to go, but, in reality, the stats say you've a fair to good chance of picking up a result. What gets me is that we get turned over by some poor to decent teams on our patch (like Wycombe), but you just know that we'd never do that to them at their place. As you say, it doesn't take long for the players to lose confidence in playing at home, and the fans to get edgy and quick to vent their frustration.

That's very true TRJL, we were desperately unlucky to lose at Wycombe and at home to Orient last season, we deserved at least draws perhaps more out of those games. We were fairly beaten at Colchester admittedly. This season we have been very poor in all the games I've seen. I know we got back into it on Saturday but it was through a penalty and a wonder goal not building up pressure or playing well. We also look needlessly shaky defensively and we don't have Bogle or Vose even who we're causing Stevenage, Luton and Notts County at this time last season absolute chaos. Of Slade's signings perhaps only Dembele and Rose would get in the side that Hurst assembled last season. That really worrys me because Hurst side wasn't exactly filled with footballing genius. It was very good at what it did but not a flair team, this team seems to have the same lack of flair without being gritty or solid.

Quoted from Mariner_09

That's very true TRJL, we were desperately unlucky to lose at Wycombe and at home to Orient last season, we deserved at least draws perhaps more out of those games. We were fairly beaten at Colchester admittedly. This season we have been very poor in all the games I've seen. I know we got back into it on Saturday but it was through a penalty and a wonder goal not building up pressure or playing well. We also look needlessly shaky defensively and we don't have Bogle or Vose even who we're causing Stevenage, Luton and Notts County at this time last season absolute chaos. Of Slade's signings perhaps only Dembele and Rose would get in the side that Hurst assembled last season. That really worrys me because Hurst side wasn't exactly filled with footballing genius. It was very good at what it did but not a flair team, this team seems to have the same lack of flair without being gritty or solid.

I don't know what game you were watching but we were shite at Wycombe!

The trouble with statistics is that they can be interpreted to support whatever point of view you hold.

My problem, having seen the home performances so far, is that we don't look anywhere near good enough all over the pitch with a couple of notable exceptions. And this with most (if not all) of the pre-season business concluded and only a week left anyway before the window shuts until January. Besides, the judgement of our current management team on picking players looks to be highly suspect if their current crop of signings is anything to go by.

We can only hope that the ability of Slade and Wilkinson to make poor/average players better and knit them into a cohesive unit is good enough to keep us in the league. I'm not full of confidence though.

UTM

The weird thing Is, slade started getting results at home last season with the team he inherited. That team was playing better than the one he's assembled now.

Quoted from Mariner93er

The weird thing Is, slade started getting results at home last season with the team he inherited. That team was playing better than the one he's assembled now.

That's the bit that perplexes me. He came in and immediately made us more organised, it looked like we had a plan and the players knew their roles. We weren't world beaters but we gave the team that came second on goal difference a really good game at BP. Since then, he's introduced his own players and we've gone backwards, seemingly losing most of the organisation and definitely losing any fighting spirit we saw towards the end of last season.

I find this all very pathetic.  Have you heard yourselves.  I suggest reading back through the posts because like me i was cringing at some of the posts.  To right the team off after 4 games is.....well shocking, anyway what happened to thr 10 game rule lol.   Yes 5 red cards is probably concerning but if you replay them some shouldn't have been 2nd yellowed.  This is half the problem so quick to judge and no support.  You must be the miserable lot at BP and why its like a morgue.  

I have no problem with people's opinions but as long as they are realistic.  Being a Grimsby fan is like a marriage through thick and thin...so get behind the team they'll come good im sure.

Anyone remember Exeters start last season they couldn't by a win and were at the foot of the table for quite a few games yet managed to get a good position.

Everyone knows its finding the right balance in the team and some clubs get lucky.

It's like being in a very one sided marriage then with no love being given back.

Quoted from mariner91

I don't know what game you were watching but we were shite at Wycombe!

Last season away and not this season.

Quoted from Meza

I find this all very pathetic.  Have you heard yourselves.  I suggest reading back through the posts because like me i was cringing at some of the posts.  To right the team off after 4 games is.....well shocking, anyway what happened to thr 10 game rule lol.   Yes 5 red cards is probably concerning but if you replay them some shouldn't have been 2nd yellowed.  This is half the problem so quick to judge and no support.  You must be the miserable lot at BP and why its like a morgue.  

I have no problem with people's opinions but as long as they are realistic.  Being a Grimsby fan is like a marriage through thick and thin...so get behind the team they'll come good im sure.

Anyone remember Exeters start last season they couldn't by a win and were at the foot of the table for quite a few games yet managed to get a good position.

Everyone knows its finding the right balance in the team and some clubs get lucky.

As football fans we don't have the option of a divorce when your other half is letting you down, making you feel miserable and taking all your money without the occasion handjob at least in return.

(p.s i've been happily married for 12 years)

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

Last season away and not this season.

I know. We were shite in both games.

Quoted from ginnywings

There are 42 games to go. Some are having us in a relegation scrap after four.

Obviously our start is worrying but years of watching football have taught me that form can change quickly. I don't even look at the league table for at least ten games.

Totally agree with this.
Just depends on which fixtures you get at the start.
There will be many teams in false positions at the moment at the top and bottom.
League starts to settle down for me around the end of October.

I'm sorry Stevenage and Wycombe are not good sides! They never put us under any pressure and McKeown has made precisely zero saves in the last 2 games. We have been punished for poor discipline and poor defending.

Quoted from Mariner_09

I'm sorry Stevenage and Wycombe are not good sides! They never put us under any pressure and McKeown has made precisely zero saves in the last 2 games. We have been punished for poor discipline and poor defending.

Both where better than us when we played them so that's all that counts really.

Agree re the amount of work Macca had to do we where punished for poor attacking as well as discipline and defending as our shots on goal ration is crap to be honest.

Yes we had the same point this time last year but the difference is unless Hooper has some form of "attitude transplant" or Vernon suddenly becomes prolific we have no Bogle type figure to drag us p the table like we did last term.

It's going to be a long season ladies & gents, one where we really need to hope there are 2 teams worse than us otherwise it curtains.

Quoted from ginnywings

There are 42 games to go. Some are having us in a relegation scrap after four.

Obviously our start is worrying but years of watching football have taught me that form can change quickly. I don't even look at the league table for at least ten games.

Problem is Ginny, the transfer window closes in a few days and there's too many games until the January window.

Lincoln were probably thinking the same until that win. We ARE in a hole as Slade says but a couple of wins can change things totally at this early stage.

Glass half full (of whisky)  

Quoted from Bigdog

Problem is Ginny, the transfer window closes in a few days and there's too many games until the January window.

Yeah agreed, but there is nothing to say that we don't already have the right ingredients in the club and they could turn it around quickly. Not saying they will but it's too early to have us down as relegation candidates after four games. If we had everyone fit and firing, the team could look radically different.

So many have already decided that the players are crap, the manager is past it and we have a paltry budget. That may prove to be the case, but not after four games.

Quoted from ginnywings

Yeah agreed, but there is nothing to say that we don't already have the right ingredients in the club and they could turn it around quickly. Not saying they will but it's too early to have us down as relegation candidates after four games. If we had everyone fit and firing, the team could look radically different.

So many have already decided that the players are crap, the manager is past it and we have a paltry budget. That may prove to be the case, but not after four games.

I think we have some players that can play, especially when everyone is fit. The issue I can't get my head around is what type of football we are trying to play. At times the decision making, composure on the ball and ball retention is shockingly poor. It feels like Russ trusts the players to take responsibility and so far few have stepped up,

An example of the decision making was on Saturday when we where 2 minutes into injury time we still had 4 at the back and when we needed to get it up front quickly Macca takes the goal kick short to Clarke who tries to play it through mid field.Far too often do we knock it long and lose possession and struggle to win it back.

There was light at the end of the tunnel though after half time on Saturday before the Collins dismissal when we had DJ, Tombola, Hooper and Dembelle on we looked a potential threat. Add to those 4 the return of Vernon, Jones, Clements giving us different options we could see some improvement soon if we can get the right combination to get some kind of cohesion to our play.  

My biggest concern is that Russ's message is not getting through to the players and we face a couple of tough games next which could leave us with just 3 points for the first 18 available, which even at this early stage is relegation form I'm frraid.  

Exeter last season, they had a horrible start and after around 10 games alot of their fans wanted Tisdale to go, I also said he should after watching a couple of their games... Look how they finished, play off final losers, I think we need to try hold out to the 15 game mark and decide from their. I have to admit I do like most of our squad for this division, it's just the style of play and getting them all fit and unsuspended!

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Both where better than us when we played them so that's all that counts really.

Agree re the amount of work Macca had to do we where punished for poor attacking as well as discipline and defending as our shots on goal ration is crap to be honest.

Yes we had the same point this time last year but the difference is unless Hooper has some form of "attitude transplant" or Vernon suddenly becomes prolific we have no Bogle type figure to drag us p the table like we did last term.

It's going to be a long season ladies & gents, one where we really need to hope there are 2 teams worse than us otherwise it curtains.

I wouldn't be as pessimistic as that.

This is confirmation bias, but I would have been very worried if we had started this season badly under Bignot, but at least we do have an experienced manager who will hopefully address the problems soon enough.

I think Slade is a pragmatic man so I cannot see him persisting with a system that does not produce a winning team; we did ok at Chesterfield, held our own by and large against Derby, and some of our influential players have to come back from injury/suspension.

I would have loved to have seen more quality brought in during the summer but it is obviously a budget issue. If you don't pay enough they sign for someone else, sadly.

Let us hope for a couple of loan signings and a better display next game.

The biggest issue for me is that Slade's preferred formation just doesn't look like it is going to work. I can see what he thinks it can do, but I don't think we have the forward(s) to make it happen so we're left without enough of a threat or enough numbers in attacking areas.

Last season, playing Jones just behind the striker seemed to work OK. Let's try that again - 4-4-1-1.

I think this is the key point. The system and tactics need a rethink. 4-4-2 seems to be out of the question so agreed - 4-4-1-1 probably worth a crack, or 4-3-1-2, or even 3-4-1-2.

I think the system would be fine, if we attempted a passing game instead of the hoofs.