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It Bites
April 13, 2024, 5:10pm
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from the fridge

What can I say , incredible performance by everyone today . Quality on the ball , fast in attack and solid at the back . The best I’ve seen us play this season by a long way . Well done everyone including the fans again . What a noise
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promotion plaice
April 13, 2024, 5:17pm

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Massive win.

Takes the pressure off Tuesday night at Colchester, in fact the pressure will be on Colchester.


When Leeds trainer Les Cocker was once told Norman Hunter had broken a leg, he asked: “Whose is it?”
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LocalLadGTFC
April 13, 2024, 5:18pm
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Every single one of them outstanding today, it's performances like today that make you think there's ability in them as we made them look awful. It was truly men against boys... I thought Green was superb and really pulled them apart, offered his usual tenacity but the past couple of weeks he's looked a bit more polished and like he can actually play football. Thompson his usual unreal self, can't remember them having a decent effort on goal. The more Mullarkey plays at centre half the better he looks... Ainley coming on just topped it off. Put the icing on a excrement season for him personally and the club as a whole. Rose coming off the only downside but thankfully he can now be rested after putting the team on his back for 8 months.
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Mariner93er
April 13, 2024, 5:23pm
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We outplayed and outworked them in every area of the pitch. I've been a critic of Green, but he was a beast and they couldn't handle him. Shout out to Rodgers and Malarkey too who have looked solid of late, but every player deserves praise today.

I won't feel comfortable until it's mathematical, but we're in a good position.
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LocalLadGTFC
April 13, 2024, 5:26pm
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Just seen we limited them to 5 shots and we had 20... sums it up really.
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WayneBurnettsJockstrap
April 13, 2024, 5:32pm

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Why does it take us 43 matches into the season for us to play like that?

Could you just imagine if we started a season playing that dominantly. The mind boggles.
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It Bites
April 13, 2024, 5:33pm
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Why does it take us 43 matches into the season for us to play like that?

Could you just imagine if we started a season playing that dominantly. The mind boggles.


Certainly caught me by surprise after Tuesday
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Madeleymariner
April 13, 2024, 5:37pm

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Just back sat in the garden with a glass of wine. We were excellent, Crewe hardly created anything Eastwood pulled off a great save at 2-0 and that finished them off. Thompson and, Green fight it out for MOM, everyone played well could of won by 5 or 6
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sonofmadeleymariner
April 13, 2024, 5:38pm
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Just back home. Its only 20/30 min drive for me and Madeleymariner depending on cycling pods and tractors.

I am still in shock. Artell told us they had that sort of performance in them, but I'll admit I wasn't too sure myself.

We dominated that for 93mins of the 96 played. The only realy chance they had was Eastwoods moment of madness near the end and we probably should have had 2 or 3 more today ourselves.

Far too many stand out performances today and everyone of those players ran themselves into the ground. I was worried Greeny was going to collapse at one point just before he was subbed off.

3 good goals, the way Hume's curled into the top corner was pin point, a goal from one of our long range throw ins and an absolute belter from Thompson.

Now I need to jump on social media and message a few Crewe mates giving it the biggun before the match  


I don't mind Roy Keane making £60,000 a week. I was making the same when I was playing. The only difference was I was printing my own - Mickey Thomas

The area you are trying to protect at corners is the goal - Chris Kamara

I once said Gazza's IQ was less than his shirt number and he asked me: What's an IQ? - George Best
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Spurn boy
April 13, 2024, 5:44pm

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I couldn’t believe how dominant we were at the beginning of the 2nd half when Crewe just couldn’t get out of their own half and was worried we couldn’t take our chances but the goal by Thompson just gave us so much confidence and apart from Eastwood scaring the shite out of us with his poor clearance I didn’t think we were in any danger of conceding a goal. UTM


Dead Eye Dobbin stood motionless waiting, waiting, waiting for the ball to arrive. Back came the right foot, Down came the right foot, Bang ! Headlines around the world as the ball flew into the very top right hand corner of the goal.( Jim Dobbin scoring in the 89th minute for Town against Newcastle United away 24/10/1992 )
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Yarborough Vaults
April 13, 2024, 5:45pm
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This was typical Town: great performance right at the end of an awful season so now you start dreaming of what's possible and buy a ST only to be done in by October again. Count me in!
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hampshiremariner
April 13, 2024, 5:49pm
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Brilliant. Well played lads.
We are virtually safe. FGR cannot catch us. Sutton can, in theory, level with us on points but we have a far better goal difference.
The BBC is saying we have ‘assured’ our place in L2.
Cannot believe it, after all the trauma. Hopefully, the lads will be able to pick up an few more points in the remaining games.  
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smokey111
April 13, 2024, 5:52pm
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Quoted from LocalLadGTFC
Every single one of them outstanding today, it's performances like today that make you think there's ability in them as we made them look awful. It was truly men against boys... I thought Green was superb and really pulled them apart, offered his usual tenacity but the past couple of weeks he's looked a bit more polished and like he can actually play football. Thompson his usual unreal self, can't remember them having a decent effort on goal. The more Mullarkey plays at centre half the better he looks... Ainley coming on just topped it off. Put the icing on a excrement season for him personally and the club as a whole. Rose coming off the only downside but thankfully he can now be rested after putting the team on his back for 8 months.


Undoubtedly Rose has had an excellent season, but our record when he isn't on the pitch isn't terrible. I would rather lose him than Thompson.


"The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That’s how I see football, that’s how I see life.” Bill Shankly
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Maringer
April 13, 2024, 5:53pm
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The question is about the players. On the assumption that we now stay up, how many do we want to keep? The odd decent performance aside (such as today), I don't think that many of them have proved themselves reliably good enough to be keep as starters next season. It's not so long ago that JJ Hooper finishing the season with a hat-trick before scoring about one in 20 games the following season. Even if we have done better over the past couple of months, we're at the wrong end of the table for a very good reason.
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Rodley Mariner
April 13, 2024, 5:53pm
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Quoted from Spurn boy
I couldn’t believe how dominant we were at the beginning of the 2nd half when Crewe just couldn’t get out of their own half and was worried we couldn’t take our chances but the goal by Thompson just gave us so much confidence and apart from Eastwood scaring the shite out of us with his poor clearance I didn’t think we were in any danger of conceding a goal. UTM


I thought the way we started the second half was the most impressive thing today. Saw someone saying it was a completely different performance to Tueaday but I'm not sure it was in the first half other than we got a bit unlucky on Tuesday and a bit lucky today with the mistake by the keeper. We were dire in the second half on Tuesday though and we completely took control from the 46th minute today.
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Ruston AT
April 13, 2024, 5:57pm
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Saturday is going to be a fantastic atmosphere  .......utm
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LocalLadGTFC
April 13, 2024, 5:58pm
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Quoted from smokey111


Undoubtedly Rose has had an excellent season, but our record when he isn't on the pitch isn't terrible. I would rather lose him than Thompson.


Yeah Thompson for me has to be up there with one of our best ever signings just due to the importance he has brung to the team. Without him we are down 100%. Grabs every game by the scruff of the gonads and never shys away from it.
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RonMariner
April 13, 2024, 5:59pm

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Thompson, Rose, Vernam and Tharm.

Build a new team around them.
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Manchester Mariner
April 13, 2024, 6:01pm

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Quoted from RonMariner
Thompson, Rose, Vernam and Tharm.

.


This times 100. That's your spine sorted, with a bit on the left with Charles.


"Lovelly stuff! not my words but the words of Shakin Stevens."
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hampshiremariner
April 13, 2024, 6:02pm
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Just back home. Its only 20/30 min drive for me and Madeleymariner depending on cycling pods and tractors.

I am still in shock. Artell told us they had that sort of performance in them, but I'll admit I wasn't too sure myself.

We dominated that for 93mins of the 96 played. The only realy chance they had was Eastwoods moment of madness near the end and we probably should have had 2 or 3 more today ourselves.

Far too many stand out performances today and everyone of those players ran themselves into the ground. I was worried Greeny was going to collapse at one point just before he was subbed off.

3 good goals, the way Hume's curled into the top corner was pin point, a goal from one of our long range throw ins and an absolute belter from Thompson.


Now I need to jump on social media and message a few Crewe mates giving it the biggun before the match  



My mate of 50 years is a Crewe diehard. Hardly misses a match. He wouldn’t email me after the Forest Green defeat because he was so ashamed of their display. He is going to be even more upset tonight, but I am not going to rub it in. Crewe have an outside chance of promotion and I would prefer them to go up rather than money bags Stockport.
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Heisenberg
April 13, 2024, 6:06pm
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Quoted from smokey111


Undoubtedly Rose has had an excellent season, but our record when he isn't on the pitch isn't terrible. I would rather lose him than Thompson.


Wash your filthy mouth out with soap!
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Heisenberg
April 13, 2024, 6:08pm
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Quoted from LocalLadGTFC


Yeah Thompson for me has to be up there with one of our best ever signings just due to the importance he has brung to the team. Without him we are down 100%. Grabs every game by the scruff of the gonads and never shys away from it.


The word “brung” is as Grimsby as you can get!!

UTM.
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IlkleyMariner
April 13, 2024, 6:13pm
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Quoted from RonMariner
Thompson, Rose, Vernam and Tharm.

Build a new team around them.


Think all are on contract for next year and clearly amongst our best.
Let’s enjoy the relative enjoyment of staying up before getting giddy about who to keep.
At least DA has two more weeks to decide who he wants.
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jimgtfc
April 13, 2024, 6:23pm
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Where on earth did that come from? Individually and collectively! Huge performances from Green, Rodgers, Vernam, Obikwu… the list goes on. Curtis Thompson though, the man ran the show! Not only just those individual performances but they looked like a team, playing some lovely stuff at times, mixed in with keeping it simple and safe and then just pure graft to complement it all. Best performance of the season in my eyes, especially given the opposition, only one side looked like a playoff team today and it certainly wasn’t Crewe!

That’s us safe, it would take an extraordinary set of results for Sutton to overtake us now, and I’m sure we’ll get that point that sets it in stone within 3 games anyway.

Special mention to David Artell as well. I’ve been very critical of him, both on here and privately as well, even until recently I wasn’t sure he was the right man. Today though, he’s given me a level of confidence going into the summer that he might be able to assemble a decent squad and hopefully won’t have to go through the relegation battle nerves again.


"Falls to Arnold... Arnold! That's it! Thats it! He's sealed it! Grimsby Town are back in the football league!!! Just a minute to go and Nathan Arnold makes it 3-1! Look at the scenes behind the goal! Look at the relief! The agony is finally over!!!"

John Tondeur - Wembley Stadium Sunday 15th May 2016
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tarka
April 13, 2024, 6:33pm
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Quoted from smokey111


Undoubtedly Rose has had an excellent season, but our record when he isn't on the pitch isn't terrible. I would rather lose him than Thompson.


Oh come on. I get the gist of what you're saying but please, treat them both with respect. They are both good, honest pros.
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dapperz fun pub
April 13, 2024, 6:37pm
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Quoted from tarka


Oh come on. I get the gist of what you're saying but please, treat them both with respect. They are both good, honest pros.


I agree both are very important for our rebuild next season they both have a winning mentality
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grimps
April 13, 2024, 6:39pm
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Well I reckon we’ve now got 3-4 players that would get in any team in this league , maybe one or two more if their confidence is up.
I really believe we won’t be in this position Next season
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smokey111
April 13, 2024, 6:48pm
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Quoted from tarka


Oh come on. I get the gist of what you're saying but please, treat them both with respect. They are both good, honest pros.


Not sure saying he has had an excellent season is disrespectful. Just pointing out that without Rose our form is reasonable. Without Thompson, I wouldn't be as confident......


"The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That’s how I see football, that’s how I see life.” Bill Shankly
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RonMariner
April 13, 2024, 6:50pm

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Artell Post match
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tarka
April 13, 2024, 6:58pm
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Quoted from smokey111


Not sure saying he has had an excellent season is disrespectful. Just pointing out that without Rose our form is reasonable. Without Thompson, I wouldn't be as confident......


But why feel the need to compare?
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RonMariner
April 13, 2024, 7:03pm

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Quoted from tarka


But why feel the need to compare?


We are lucky to have both of them here for next season. Both real quality.
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Limerick Mariner
April 13, 2024, 7:04pm
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Quoted from RonMariner


Artell Post match


The importance of the result was actually multiplied by Mansfield’s win at the Franchise. They play Sutton at home on the last day and now they can’t get automatic (assuming Mansfield wrap it up on Tuesday) and can’t finish lower than 6th, they’ll want to have the second leg at home but will likely have that wrapped up. They’ll rest players.
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kevikov
April 13, 2024, 7:10pm
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Quoted from Limerick Mariner


The importance of the result was actually multiplied by Mansfield’s win at the Franchise. They play Sutton at home on the last day and now they can’t get automatic (assuming Mansfield wrap it up on Tuesday) and can’t finish lower than 6th, they’ll want to have the second leg at home but will likely have that wrapped up. They’ll rest players.


Yeah they’ll probably ease players off but losing isn’t a thing you want to be doing at this point of the season if you’re in the playoffs. Even if you’re safely in them, winnning breeds confidence, losing starts the rot. Both are habits. Keep the good ones, stop the bad ones.  



I was there, the day Bradley Wood scored a 35 yarder!

From the black and white striped shirts
To the fish in the sea
You'll hear us singing
Coz we are Grimsby.

You won't hear us crying
But you'll hear us shout
Coz we are the Grimsby
And this is our chant.......... Grimsby! Grimsby! Grimsby!

     A.S.A.F.A.T.
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Limerick Mariner
April 13, 2024, 7:18pm
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Quoted from kevikov


Yeah they’ll probably ease players off but losing isn’t a thing you want to be doing at this point of the season if you’re in the playoffs. Even if you’re safely in them, winnning breeds confidence, losing starts the rot. Both are habits. Keep the good ones, stop the bad ones.  



I was actually thinking back to a couple of our play-off wins, we definitely eased off before the Fulham / Northampton wins and before the Braintree / Forest Green one, we played a weakened team before the Notts game but still beat Eastleigh 4-3

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Heisenberg
April 13, 2024, 7:21pm
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Quoted from RonMariner


Artell Post match


Check out 1 minute 30 seconds - is that a mouse running along the steps to the right of DA’s head?!!
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Kris2
April 13, 2024, 7:24pm
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Don't see anything but an empty bottle and some wrapper being blown in the wind.
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The_Laughing_Mariner
April 13, 2024, 7:24pm
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Certainly looks like it


<'(((((<

When I was a little boy
I asked my daddy what would i be
would I be United, would i be Leeds
Here's what he said to me

Oh Grimsby Grimsby
Whatever will be will be
You'll follow then faithfully
Oh Grimsby Grimsby


Tell me Mam me Mam
I dont want no tea no tea
I'm watching the Grimsby
Tell me Mam me mam
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pontoonlew
April 13, 2024, 7:25pm
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An unbelievably dominant performance from start to finish.

I still maintain I don’t think we’re that bad and we don’t look anywhere near as bad as previous relegation sides. I’ve a lot of confidence that next season will be very different and that’s not just based on today, it’s based on the majority of our performances in the past 12 games. Barrow, Harrogate & Wrexham were poor showings, but we’ve had more than enough good showings to suggest we’ve got some decent players. Today topped the lot though, every single one of them showed up.

A big summer is still ahead, but Artell has already shown himself to be more than capable of identifying the right signings.
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Limerick Mariner
April 13, 2024, 7:41pm
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Quoted from pontoonlew
An unbelievably dominant performance from start to finish.

I still maintain I don’t think we’re that bad and we don’t look anywhere near as bad as previous relegation sides. I’ve a lot of confidence that next season will be very different and that’s not just based on today, it’s based on the majority of our performances in the past 12 games. Barrow, Harrogate & Wrexham were poor showings, but we’ve had more than enough good showings to suggest we’ve got some decent players. Today topped the lot though, every single one of them showed up.

A big summer is still ahead, but Artell has already shown himself to be more than capable of identifying the right signings.


The Wrexham and Barrow defeats were down to individual errors, even Harrogate - where Gav really should have had us ahead at HT. We have to cut out the stupid mistakes we seem to make far more than other teams at this level (apart from Notts). The key recruitment is in midfield and a proper partner for Danny - not a young loanee. Jury’s out for me at keeper. If we can get Harvey for another full season will he make progress and become more dominant in the area - he’s big enough to?
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HertsGTFC
April 13, 2024, 7:47pm

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Quoted from kevikov


Yeah they’ll probably ease players off but losing isn’t a thing you want to be doing at this point of the season if you’re in the playoffs. Even if you’re safely in them, winnning breeds confidence, losing starts the rot. Both are habits. Keep the good ones, stop the bad ones.  



Crawley will beat Sutton on Saturday


"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style  
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louth_in_the_south
April 13, 2024, 7:54pm

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Well done to all the squad … players and management. A massive and unexpected result away from home that’s ensured our safety. A lot of pressure on them all , they’ve held their nerve in a fooking precarious position. I’m looking forward to a break from this sport for the summer and just going to enjoy the next few games .

** this is barring a 7-0 defeat at Colchester that would make the last couple of games a nightmare **


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moosey_club
April 13, 2024, 7:55pm
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Didn't realise DA wasn't on the sideline today but in the stand.... coincidence?


2023/24 DLWDDWDLLLWDLLLLWDDDWDLLWLDLLDWDDWLLDWLWLWL but not NLN 😁
2022/23LDWDWWDWLLDWWDLLLDLWLLWLWLLWDDLDWWDDDLLWDWLWLW
2021/22 WDWWWWDLWWWWLLLWLLDLWLLWWDWWWLWDLWWDWWWDLWD play offs WWW Promoted 🥳
2020/21  LLDWWLDLDWLWLLLDLWLLDLLDLLLWLLLDDDDWDDDLWLWLWL .. hello darkness my old friend
2019/20  WDLDWWLDLWWLLLDLDLDLDDWWDLLWDDWWL WLLW - ended
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Heisenberg
April 13, 2024, 8:07pm
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Quoted from louth_in_the_south
Well done to all the squad … players and management. A massive and unexpected result away from home that’s ensured our safety. A lot of pressure on them all , they’ve held their nerve in a fooking precarious position. I’m looking forward to a break from this sport for the summer and just going to enjoy the next few games .

** this is barring a 7-0 defeat at Colchester that would make the last couple of games a nightmare **


Ahem…..EURO 2024?! Good luck escaping football this summer!
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Stew0_0
April 13, 2024, 8:10pm
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Lee Bell's (crewe manager) video interview on twitter X is saying we dominated them from start to finish in every single position and they had 5 minutes in the game.
So credit going to the management and players for today against a team with play off aspirations.
Only followed the game on sky Saturday but what a result at a pivitol time of the season. Well done to all and let's make it completely mathematically safe on Tuesday so we can have an enjoyable and stress free last 2 games.

Utm
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louth_in_the_south
April 13, 2024, 8:17pm

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Quoted from Heisenberg


Ahem…..EURO 2024?! Good luck escaping football this summer!


Yeah I don’t care about that now !!


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RonMariner
April 13, 2024, 8:54pm

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Quoted from HertsGTFC


Crawley will beat Sutton on Saturday


You think so? They couldn't beat Colchester with home advantage today.
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The Yard Dog
April 13, 2024, 9:09pm
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Quoted from Limerick Mariner


The Wrexham and Barrow defeats were down to individual errors, even Harrogate - where Gav really should have had us ahead at HT. We have to cut out the stupid mistakes we seem to make far more than other teams at this level (apart from Notts). The key recruitment is in midfield and a proper partner for Danny - not a young loanee. Jury’s out for me at keeper. If we can get Harvey for another full season will he make progress and become more dominant in the area - he’s big enough to?


Sorry we need better than Cartwright next season, we need to sign experienced goalkeeper.
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SouthLakesMariner
April 13, 2024, 9:18pm
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Quoted from Heisenberg


Check out 1 minute 30 seconds - is that a mouse running along the steps to the right of DA’s head?!!


No way - take another look - it was a hamster.
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HertsGTFC
April 13, 2024, 9:23pm

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Quoted from RonMariner


You think so? They couldn't beat Colchester with home advantage today.


Allow me the optimism.


"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style  
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golfer
April 13, 2024, 9:43pm
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All the moans about our goalkeepers - Eastwood has looked fine to me since his return
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MarinerDevil
April 13, 2024, 9:58pm
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Quoted from golfer
All the moans about our goalkeepers - Eastwood has looked fine to me since his return

Yeah, aside from his moment of madness today, his handling has been spot on. Only a small sample size though, I still wouldn't be confident going into a season with him as no. 1. We need to make finding a keeper with good League Two experience a priority.
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mariner91
April 13, 2024, 10:35pm
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Quoted from golfer
All the moans about our goalkeepers - Eastwood has looked fine to me since his return


He has but he also looked good in the first couple of games this season. Yet once his confidence went, it really went. All players go through periods of having lower confidence but I've not seen many who have had it affect them as much as Eastwood did and it could well be the reason that he's nearly 28 but really not played that many games. You can't have that in your first choice keeper but he'll be adequate back up. A competent, experienced keeper is one of the priorities in the summer in my opinion.
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Limerick Mariner
April 13, 2024, 10:43pm
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Quoted from The Yard Dog


Sorry we need better than Cartwright next season, we need to sign experienced goalkeeper.


I was posing it as a question, and we probably do. But he’s 6ft 4 and 21, the age when players can make big gains in performance.

He might do, he might not, but clearly he has the potential attributes to be physically dominant. We’ll see.
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SheepGTFC
April 14, 2024, 2:37am
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A performance to galvanise around and build upon. This is the Town I know we can be. Brilliant.
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Mariner_501
April 14, 2024, 4:26am
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Quoted from The Yard Dog


Sorry we need better than Cartwright next season, we need to sign experienced goalkeeper.


I want him to be towns number one because it seems he is a legit town fan. But you’re right
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Mariner_501
April 14, 2024, 4:29am
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Quoted from MarinerDevil

Yeah, aside from his moment of madness today, his handling has been spot on. Only a small sample size though, I still wouldn't be confident going into a season with him as no. 1. We need to make finding a keeper with good League Two experience a priority.


He was awful and Cartwright was an obvious upgrade, at the time. but since he came back in he’s been great. However I still want  a new number 1. Such an important position
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Northbank Mariner
April 14, 2024, 7:40am
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Quoted from Mariner_501


He was awful and Cartwright was an obvious upgrade, at the time. but since he came back in he’s been great. However I still want  a new number 1. Such an important position


Why?....Eastwood is better than he's being given credit for. Watched him intently recently and his ability to read the game, speed of thought, communication and reactions are superb.
Think he was harshly treated by the fans as his so called poor spell came when our defence couldn't defend against a primary school forward and he was forever being left exposed.
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ska face
April 14, 2024, 7:50am

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Please have a word with yourself. Eastwood was rightly dropped after a spell of poor form including throwing one in his own net against Colchester, nothing to do with the defence. He’s done well enough in the last 3 games to maybe not get his contract cancelled but no more than that.

Cartwright, and all the other loan players, can go back. They’re someone else’s problem.
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mariner91
April 14, 2024, 8:00am
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Quoted from Northbank Mariner


Why?....Eastwood is better than he's being given credit for. Watched him intently recently and his ability to read the game, speed of thought, communication and reactions are superb.
Think he was harshly treated by the fans as his so called poor spell came when our defence couldn't defend against a primary school forward and he was forever being left exposed.


Eastwood was part of the reason the defence was so shaky. He exuded as much confidence and authority as I would if I were attempting to ask out Margot Robbie. I suspect Eastwood is one of those players that has the technical ability to be good and looks good in training but doesn’t have the personality for competitive professional sport. He absolutely can’t be the number 1 going in to next season.
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Yoda
April 14, 2024, 8:12am
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Eastwood looked good to me at the start of the season he did have a ropey spell but has returned and looks solid.
I would start him next season spend the money on the midfield.
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It Bites
April 14, 2024, 8:16am
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My thoughts on the Gk’s . Cartwright no where near good enough for lg 2 and should be sent back , hopefully Croudson doesn’t get him back . Eastwood is a very competent keeper who needs a good solid defence in front of him as proved since his return. He reads the game and is extremely alert and sharp . Yes he’s got a mistake in him but so have most lg2 keepers .

We need to sign an experienced gK in his early 30’s and let Eastwood and him fight it out
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toontown
April 14, 2024, 8:44am
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Quoted from ska face
Please have a word with yourself. Eastwood was rightly dropped after a spell of poor form including throwing one in his own net against Colchester, nothing to do with the defence. He’s done well enough in the last 3 games to maybe not get his contract cancelled but no more than that.

Cartwright, and all the other loan players, can go back. They’re someone else’s problem.


Totally agree. Eastwoods improvement to a level acceptable for a backup keeper means we don't have to spend money on paying him not to play for us, that's about it. Next season he should be playing in the trophy and on the bench in case of emergencies, so we're better off in that situation than when we had no back up keeper last season. Hes probably costing more money than we'd want to be spending on a backup so not an ideal use of resources but at least better than having to pay him to leave us.
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Zmariner
April 14, 2024, 11:57am
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Maybe I am easily pleased, but I am still buzzing with this result. We will have a football league team next season. Looking forward to getting the new season ticket and we go again. For the last couple of weeks, I have been kidding myself, that it doesn’t matter and making calculations as to how we can survive. Brilliant just brilliant, simple as that utm
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Marinerdeano
April 14, 2024, 3:52pm
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I don't remember a league match away from home that I have been to where we were so dominant. Thought we would revert to type 2nd half and sit back but we took the game to them and it felt like between 45 and 70 or so minutes my head was constantly facing to the left. Superb display.
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AncientExiledMariner
April 14, 2024, 4:27pm
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I think we're rewriting history on Eastwood a bit. He was good at the start. The ropey spell referred to is when virtually every shot on goal went in. Some games you had 3 shots on goal, 3 goals. Or we had more shots on goals, and they'd have 2, both went in and we lost. The loss of form was horrific. Hurst's last game, he dropped Eastwood for Cartwright. That form may have cost him his job.

I'm glad Eastwood is finding form, and is capable of more, but I don't think we can rely on him as a first choice. We'd need competent competition for him. I think Cartwright for another year battling it out with him would give options to rest either and give chance to recover. One thing we need to be aware of is, Eastwood hasn't proven he can do this over an extended period of games and we need to see if his resilience has improved, because there is still a bit question mark I don't think has been answered.

I will make clear though, he's a town player and I'd love him to demonstrate it and have some solid form. Time, and more games, will tell.
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davmariner
April 14, 2024, 4:58pm
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I think we're rewriting history on Eastwood a bit. He was good at the start. The ropey spell referred to is when virtually every shot on goal went in. Some games you had 3 shots on goal, 3 goals. Or we had more shots on goals, and they'd have 2, both went in and we lost. The loss of form was horrific. Hurst's last game, he dropped Eastwood for Cartwright. That form may have cost him his job.

I'm glad Eastwood is finding form, and is capable of more, but I don't think we can rely on him as a first choice. We'd need competent competition for him. I think Cartwright for another year battling it out with him would give options to rest either and give chance to recover. One thing we need to be aware of is, Eastwood hasn't proven he can do this over an extended period of games and we need to see if his resilience has improved, because there is still a bit question mark I don't think has been answered.

I will make clear though, he's a town player and I'd love him to demonstrate it and have some solid form. Time, and more games, will tell.


Sorry but I don’t want Cartwright back. He’s not good enough for the EFL and can’t imagine any other team taking a punt on him at this stage. We need better - a solid, experienced number 1.


Up The Mariners!
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RonMariner
April 14, 2024, 5:24pm

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Regarding Eastwood, he had basically played the last four games and conceded only one goal from open play. That is pretty good going in my book.
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Mayaman
April 14, 2024, 5:52pm
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credit where credit is due I suppose for Eastwood.  He's done well since his return.  Of course, he's had a much better defensive line in front of him but something is very different.  Take the two instances yesterday.  He got down to a close shot, which was a good save.  During his spell when he suffered low confidence, he would have still been on the deck.  Yesterday, he was up in the air like a jack-in-a-box.  The other was his mistake, which nearly led to the goal.  Again, he reacted sharply to prevent Crewe getting back into it.
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dapperz fun pub
April 14, 2024, 6:02pm
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Quoted from davmariner


Sorry but I don’t want Cartwright back. He’s not good enough for the EFL and can’t imagine any other team taking a punt on him at this stage. We need better - a solid, experienced number 1.


This
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mimma
April 14, 2024, 6:20pm
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It's not form we have suddenly come into, it's confidence. Our form has improved because of our confidence.
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arryarryarry
April 14, 2024, 10:15pm
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Well I didn't see that result coming. Couldn't make the game but a mate who went and his first away game of the season said that was the best we played all season.

Well done to the lads, now need that one point against Colchester or three preferably to hopefully send them down.
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diehardmariner
April 15, 2024, 10:40am
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Eastwood is more than fine as goalkeeper, as long as his confidence is ok.  

Mistakes happen and in goal is the one position where every mistake is magnified.  The best goalkeepers drop clangers but they bounce back straight away, Eastwood didn't do that in the early stages of the season.  He dropped one and didn't ever look to recover, you could literally see the confidence drain away from him minute-by-minute.

He looks now like the player we had on loan 3 years ago.  But the concern will always remain how long before his confidence leaves him again.  

He needs the sports psychologist who got in Rob Jones' head in the summer of 2005.
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diehardmariner
April 15, 2024, 10:46am
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Fantastic display, even better result.

Even with such a great win I found it soured a little by my thoughts of 'where was that all season?'.

As dominant a midfield performance as I've seen in a long, long time.  I was wondering from about 20 minutes in how long they could keep that tempo up and they didn't let it drop once, if anything they increased it as the game went on.  

Toby Mullarkey looks a completely different player just by playing ten yards further inside.  3 months ago he was a complete liability who couldn't even figure out how to stand in front of a cross.  Now he's reading the game superbly.  

Kieran Green another.  Moves forward 10 yards, suddenly realises he's got chest control akin to peak Mark Hughes and he's a completely different player altogether.

It's those types of improvement that leaves me encouraged for next season under Artell.
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Poojah
April 15, 2024, 11:01am
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Quoted from diehardmariner
Eastwood is more than fine as goalkeeper, as long as his confidence is ok.  

Mistakes happen and in goal is the one position where every mistake is magnified.  The best goalkeepers drop clangers but they bounce back straight away, Eastwood didn't do that in the early stages of the season.  He dropped one and didn't ever look to recover, you could literally see the confidence drain away from him minute-by-minute.

He looks now like the player we had on loan 3 years ago.  But the concern will always remain how long before his confidence leaves him again.  

He needs the sports psychologist who got in Rob Jones' head in the summer of 2005.


It certainly didn’t help that Eastwood’s individual loss of form and confidence coincided with that of the wider team as a whole. Which came first is a bit of a chicken and egg question.

But I broadly agree with you. When he’s playing well and with a bit of confidence, Eastwood is a decent League Two keeper. He’s big, can come and take crosses and is much better at kicking than any other Town ‘keeper I can remember in recent memory.

But we do know that he is psychologically fragile. Over the course of even the best season, there will be hairy moments and times when the going is not so good. I think it would be a big risk going into next season without another ‘keeper with a decent amount of experience. Eastwood himself still has fewer than 50 EFL games under his belt, despite turning 28 later this year.


A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.
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ska face
April 15, 2024, 11:40am

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I think we need to move away from this approach of having two goalkeepers who both fancy themselves as a number 1. We don’t have the budget to do it effectively for a start - you end up with two 7.5/10 keepers rather than a 9/10 and 6/10 which is what you really need.

If you’ve got two keepers about the same level you’ll always have a manager questioning when & if to change them, there’s always doubt. Same with fans, there’ll always be a view that the keeper should be dropped if they think there’s someone of equal quality sat on the bench.

From the keeper’s perspective surely it’s better to have a clear idea of your role within the squad - I’d rather have a keeper confident they’re starting on Saturday, and a suitable understudy ready to come in at short notice if needed. Given changes to subs/squad sizes we’re no-longer in the position of having one pro keeper and a youth team player like we were previously.

Would surely also help in terms of recruitment, if we could turn around to someone and almost guarantee they’d be starting every week. I don’t buy the idea that having two keepers fighting it out every week develops them, think that’s a bit of a myth & any marginal gain you might get on the training ground is surely less than what you’d gain from having a settled, confident keeper and back line?
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diehardmariner
April 15, 2024, 2:22pm
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There' are very few occasions in my time supporting the club where I can remember Town having two 'keepers who were legitimately going it at it as first choice.

Paul Reece competed with Steve Sherwood but he was always firmly second choice, I think it was only injuries to Sherwood that really saw Reece get his chances.

Jason Pearcey and Paul Crichton in the mid 90's but again, the former was always really second choice and only got an extended run in the first team once Crichton went to West Brom.  

Phil Barnes and Gary Montgomery, definite first choice in Barnes.

McKeown had a few people brought in to compete with him but never really got challenged, Jonathan Hedge and Greg Fleming the ones that I remember.    Then much more recently McKeown competing with Max Crocombe.

Personally I think there's something in having two competing for the shirt, or at least having a legitimate challenge there as well.  I always thought McKeown went stale because his place in the side became too secure.  How it was handled when Dean Henderson took his place is a debate for another day, but it gave McKeown a kick up the bottom and he came back better for it.  Same when Eastwood took his place in 20/21, McKeown was far improved for the final few games that he came back in for.

The issue this season for me is more that we've had two inexperienced (one very and the other relatively) goalkeepers competing for the slot.  It probably wouldn't have proved an issue if we were doing well but we've had quite a few periods this season where we just needed a bit of know-how and guile between the sticks, even more so when we saw the likes of Waterfall leave.  

I've got a feeling we'll bring in a more experienced 'keeper in the summer to compete with Eastwood, but probably start with the No 1 slot in the bag.  If Eastwood moves on I wouldn't be shocked to see Cartwright back here for another year.  He hasn't done enough to merit a move up the ladder (like Andy Smith did) and is still miles off the Hull set-up.
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