When Mark Hughes was appointed manager at Bradford City, I said he would be out by Xmas. He has spent all his playing career at Premier League or equivalent. I argued his players would not be able to play like he wanted and expected. They didn’t. He was sacked although it took a little longer.
DA comes from a set up at Crewe where they had a youth development scheme and playing style embedded. At Grimsby we have neither. He seems to take an age to recruit a higher standard of player needed to play in the style he wants. We were saved last year when the players persuaded him to play a style they could cope with.
This year we have gone back to his earlier preferred style with disastrous results. Can’t defend corners cos we hadn’t practiced….rubbish. Lose to a side hammered by the mighty Hartlepool 5-0 yet we concede 4 goals….not good enough
This is going to end in tears and probably much sooner than many expect
When Mark Hughes was appointed manager at Bradford City, I said he would be out by Xmas. He has spent all his playing career at Premier League or equivalent. I argued his players would not be able to play like he wanted and expected. They didn’t. He was sacked although it took a little longer.
DA comes from a set up at Crewe where they had a youth development scheme and playing style embedded. At Grimsby we have neither. He seems to take an age to recruit a higher standard of player needed to play in the style he wants. We were saved last year when the players persuaded him to play a style they could cope with.
This year we have gone back to his earlier preferred style with disastrous results. Can’t defend corners cos we hadn’t practiced….rubbish. Lose to a side hammered by the mighty Hartlepool 5-0 yet we concede 4 goals….not good enough
This is going to end in tears and probably much sooner than many expect
I was as keen as anyone for us to move on from Hurst and find a bit more flair and style to our game. What I see at present is the recruitment of a few journeymen and a gamble on a player with obvious talent but no experience in English football.
We seem to be putting sustainability ahead of playing ability and it all seems like muddled thinking.
We are doomed. And the artell disciples wont let you hear it- 1 in particular.
4 goals conceded to a part time flipping side. Our manager stating 4 weeks into pre season we havent worked on defending. Scrabbling around in the dirt 2 weeks before the season starts for players to come into your starting 11.
5000 season ticket holders before the end of May. This is what we’ve got to look forward too. Its pathetic to be honest
We are doomed. And the artell disciples wont let you hear it- 1 in particular.
4 goals conceded to a part time flipping side. Our manager stating 4 weeks into pre season we havent worked on defending. Scrabbling around in the dirt 2 weeks before the season starts for players to come into your starting 11.
5000 season ticket holders before the end of May. This is what we’ve got to look forward too. Its pathetic to be honest
But please make me eat my words. Somehow
South Shields are fully professional and have been since the start of the 2021/22 season.
We are doomed. And the artell disciples wont let you hear it- 1 in particular.
4 goals conceded to a part time flipping side. Our manager stating 4 weeks into pre season we havent worked on defending. Scrabbling around in the dirt 2 weeks before the season starts for players to come into your starting 11.
5000 season ticket holders before the end of May. This is what we’ve got to look forward too. Its pathetic to be honest
But please make me eat my words. Somehow
Artell disciples ? Do they even exist ?
I think at this rate we are defined by those who are panicking and those who are saying it’s only pre-season and the window is open.
Are they? That does surprise me. Regardless, its still excrement😂
Yeah they had a lot of money pumped into the club, remember them playing in the FA Vase game before us at Wembley when we played Halifax in the trophy I believe... now look at us
Just in case you don't get it, he is extracting the urine out of you doom and gloom merchants.
I’m really struggling to see what you’re seeing??? Doom and gloom is one thing but if you actually think we won’t struggle with this current set-up, I think you may be deluded.
If you think we struggled last season, tell me where we’ve improved?
I, unlike you lot, am not clairvoyant, as you seem to know how the season is going to end. If you are so confident, why don't you go and put £1000 on us to go down at the bookies?
As for, 'this current setup', I'm fairly sure that our squad is not complete yet so I would very much doubt that 'this current setup' will be the one that starts on August 10th.
Forgot to tell you where we improved, everyone of our new signings is an improvement on those that they have replaced, in my opinion, and obviously in the Managers opinion too.
However you feel about Artell, pro or against, the fact that we have fans digging him out in PRE SEASON is absolutely obscene.
We’ve got supporters slagging off transfer activity before the window has shut, and pre season results now seeming to matter (despite that never being the case before).
Now if we’re 10 games into the season, we’re shite and have no players then fine. But the meltdown part way through pre-season is borderline laughable.
We need some more players, and if we haven’t signed any more in 2 weeks then the questions towards the club will be absolutely justified, but I can’t get my head round why those questions are being asked now. Is it because the rumour mill says it’s just loans now?
Not taking pre-season results too seriously and not judging the squad before the season starts shouldn’t be a controversial opinion, but it seemingly is amongst our fans.
There are literal sayings about the meaninglessness of pre-season friendly results because it’s a time-honoured fact that they tend to have relatively little bearing on a team’s fortunes come the proper season. However, it’s the intersection of concerning signs that has given me a real surge in anxiety over the last 7 or 8 days or so.
That we’re playing poorly and losing in friendly matches against supposedly inferior opposition isn’t ideal in isolation, but knowing anecdotally that we haven’t added the players required to play a system we were absolutely wretched at last season, we’re significantly lacking in depth and increasingly troubled by injury brings a sobering element of reason to such performances.
That for one reason or another we don’t appear to be doing a great deal about the situation is as puzzling as it is concerning. One of the wonderful things about football is its wild unpredictability; maybe, just maybe, everything will be rosy in the world of GTFC next season. But looking only at the facts in front of me right now, I have less optimism about the 24/25 season than I did 20/21, and that’s a thought that makes me feel a tiny bit sick.
As I suspect it is the reincarnation of black and white bear,whoever it is they need to take off their rose tinted glasses and get a dose of reality.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day,teach a man to fish and you give him an excuse for him to escape from the wife and kids for the weekend and drink lots of beer.
As Ruuger mentioned betting, there are currently 4 teams below us according to the bookies. Morecambe, Bromley, Harrogate and Newport There’s always a Crawley but bookies are quite perceptive
As Ruuger mentioned betting, there are currently 4 teams below us according to the bookies. Morecambe, Bromley, Harrogate and Newport There’s always a Crawley but bookies are quite perceptive
So that is the pinnacle of our ambition 4th from bottom then
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day,teach a man to fish and you give him an excuse for him to escape from the wife and kids for the weekend and drink lots of beer.
I haven’t been on The Fishy much pre season, lost all interest in Town pretty much since about two thirds of the way through last season - still renewed my season ticket but had to seriously think about it for the first time in nearly 20 years. A few weeks ago I told by somebody who works at Cheapside that he’d be suprised if DA was still in charge by October, I laughed at the time but I’m certainly not laughing now, very very worried the state of the team at the moment.
Somebody who works at cheapside eh that brings it down to a couple of people
As Ruuger mentioned betting, there are currently 4 teams below us according to the bookies. Morecambe, Bromley, Harrogate and Newport There’s always a Crawley but bookies are quite perceptive
Betting odds rely pretty much entirely on the bets which are being placed. The fact that 4 teams are below us according to the odds is just an indication that people are betting against them. If our rubbish pre-season form continues and we don't make any decent signings, I'd imagine the odds might swing against us.
I returning a Season Ticket for a refund was a thing, I think we’d see about 2k returned right now!
Sounds like most people (even those regular optimists) are also getting very worried.
DA totally unconvincing with his interviews too - he knows he’s in the 💩. Also seen somewhere that he’s struggling to attract players, just wondering if that’s the location, the ownership, the poor wages or the personalities (I.e DA).
I returning a Season Ticket for a refund was a thing, I think we’d see about 2k returned right now!
Sounds like most people (even those regular optimists) are also getting very worried.
DA totally unconvincing with his interviews too - he knows he’s in the 💩. Also seen somewhere that he’s struggling to attract players, just wondering if that’s the location, the ownership, the poor wages or the personalities (I.e DA).
I don’t see this season going any other way.
I think the main reason we struggle to sign anyone, is we’ve been absolutely crap for 20 years. None of the present day players will remember our championship years . The only way we will attract the better players is to offer more wages than they’ll get at rival clubs. Rightly, or wrongly the owners don’t think this is the right approach . I’m also worried about this season, Artell is totally unconvincing and looks like he’s had enough already. Our squad looks short on quantity and quality . I can see a couple of panic loan signings coming in. We need 3/4 first team starters ASAP. The most worrying thing is though it’s not just my opinion , my mates and town fans at work are all saying the same. I hope the recruitment team can dig up a few gems and prove us all wrong.
In fairness too him, It is difficult to attract players here.
That's part of his job, though? He should be selling the club to players. We might not have a top budget there's plenty of opportunity to get a regular starting spot and we've got a big following home and away. Plenty of TV games to get in the shop window and make a name for yourself. We should be talking about the play-offs within 2 years not hinting about a relegation struggle. Even if you privately think the play-offs are a pipe dream, keep that to yourself.
'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
I know Jim Dobbin very well and he signed from Barnsley for us and he said Grimsby are well known for being big payers in football. We paid more than Barnsley he told me that. These footballers all know each other in the players bar after the wolves game at home all the players came over to Jim for a chat Robbie Keane the late great Dean Richards Ian Atkins all these players talk to each other. We have been dross for a quarter of a century now we are now below Rotherham, Doncaster , Lincoln, Exeter To name few all clubs have moved on we have stood still.
Betting odds rely pretty much entirely on the bets which are being placed. The fact that 4 teams are below us according to the odds is just an indication that people are betting against them. If our rubbish pre-season form continues and we don't make any decent signings, I'd imagine the odds might swing against us.
For manager markets yes, for outrights not so much. The traders will have ratings for each team and adjust throughout the season for form/injuries etc. If 20 people off the Fishy suddenly stuck decent sized bets on GTFC winning the title it might move the price a ladder or two, but we wouldn't steam in.
For manager markets yes, for outrights not so much. The traders will have ratings for each team and adjust throughout the season for form/injuries etc. If 20 people off the Fishy suddenly stuck decent sized bets on GTFC winning the title it might move the price a ladder or two, but we wouldn't steam in.
Interesting to note that of the 4 large betting companies offering odds on League 2 relegation so far, the result yesterday saw us move to 5/1 from 8/1 with BetVictor and to 5/1 from 7/1 with WilliamHill. I suspect some of that may have been Town fans betting on Town to get relegated but it's worrying that the bookies seem to think our chances of staying up are diminishing at an alarming rate as we get closer to the start of the season.
In fairness too him, It is difficult to attract players here.
I think we have discussed this many times and concluded it's not the location but you have to pay more than the going. If location was a problem then the China man ( forgot his name) would not have come here.
You can please some of the forumites some of the time but not all the forumites all of the time
I think we have discussed this many times and concluded it's not the location but you have to pay more than the going. If location was a problem then the China man ( forgot his name) would not have come here.
But the thing is, how do we know why players don't want to come here? Has DA said it's because of where we are? I don't know if anyone who posts on here is privy to negotiations between the club and a potential new player, but I very much doubt it. People are just guessing, as I have said before there are numerous reasons why a player will not sign for a club.
I think we have discussed this many times and concluded it's not the location but you have to pay more than the going. If location was a problem then the China man ( forgot his name) would not have come here.
think you are referring to Chinese captain Zhang. Someone told him he was signing for a club on the East coast who play in black and white stripes. Yes, you got it, he thought he was signing for Newcastle. Allegedly.
But the thing is, how do we know why players don't want to come here? Has DA said it's because of where we are? I don't know if anyone who posts on here is privy to negotiations between the club and a potential new player, but I very much doubt it. People are just guessing, as I have said before there are numerous reasons why a player will not sign for a club.
We've been bottom dwellers for 20 odd years, but even then managed to sign some great players. Sadly for us, just not in the same team.
Fick me, we agree on something... After watching the York and SS games, we are indeed screwed. Let's be honest, Cleethorpes and GB games hardly lit the world up.
Bet Victor had us at 8-1 for relegation chucked 100 quid on well worth it. If or when we go down 900 pounds bonus
Show us the betting slip or I call bullshit.
Batch, Crombie, Moore K, Wiggington, Cumming, Waters, Bonnyman, Ford, Emson, Drinkell, Whymark. Love you all, You are the reason I'm on here. You've had help from Todd, Handyside, Futcher P, Groves, Mendonca, Macca etc etc etc. Up The Mariners!!!!!!!!!
Well I can tell you that you are all wrong. So I have the same views as that guy, look at how many people on here presently have the same view on here about DA, so what about it, means f*ck all,
There are some weird people on here who seem to object to me posting my opinions, yet they are doing it all the time, and sometimes not very polite with it. If you don’t like my opinions, don’t read them, or block me, it’s all up to you, and I couldn’t care less,
Bet Victor had us at 8-1 for relegation chucked 100 quid on well worth it. If or when we go down 900 pounds bonus
Bless him he’s put all the pocket money his mum gave him on but the poor little fella still hasn’t worked out the difference between pounds and pence. And that they don’t serve children in the bookies.
Didn’t and Haven’t taken to DA I think he is to arrogant and fanciful It’s a tuff August So rather than wait till 10-12 games B4 we realise it’s gonna be yet another one of those seasons owners might act Early Sep I hope I’m wrong to Come on Town!!
Think the one saving grace, assuming everything goes to pot as predicted on here, is that the owners have shown they’re not afraid to pull the trigger if needed. If it’s going pear shaped I don’t think he’ll see November.
He seems to take an age to recruit a higher standard of player needed to play in the style he wants.
Literally at the first opportunity, within 2 months of getting the job here, he brought in Thompson and Tharme. Two players largely unheard of to our fanbase but soon became vital parts of the spine, significantly improved us.
No-one has seen any of our new signings in competitive action in a Town shirt.
Judgement is made on flipping pre-season games. How many times have we done this before of either having a good pre-season and then a excrement actual season or vice-versa? 2008/09 we battered Winterton 12-1 or something ridiculous and everyone had us down to challenge for the title.
Honestly, the pathetic meltdown on here to games that mean nothing is embarrassing. It's justification for all football to shut down for the summer and the first we know of new signings is when they announce the line-up for the first game.
Artel is a winner at this level. He's built something that's gone onto be successful. That's not an opinion, it's a fact. He improved us in his first transfer window but poeple are still judging him on the output of the second window before it's even shut, never mind actually seeing how it turns out.
This is the level of reaction I'd expect if we lose our opening 6 games, not a couple of kickabouts that will be forgotten about very quickly.
Literally at the first opportunity, within 2 months of getting the job here, he brought in Thompson and Tharme. Two players largely unheard of to our fanbase but soon became vital parts of the spine, significantly improved us.
No-one has seen any of our new signings in competitive action in a Town shirt.
Judgement is made on flipping pre-season games. How many times have we done this before of either having a good pre-season and then a excrement actual season or vice-versa? 2008/09 we battered Winterton 12-1 or something ridiculous and everyone had us down to challenge for the title.
Honestly, the pathetic meltdown on here to games that mean nothing is embarrassing. It's justification for all football to shut down for the summer and the first we know of new signings is when they announce the line-up for the first game.
Artel is a winner at this level. He's built something that's gone onto be successful. That's not an opinion, it's a fact. He improved us in his first transfer window but people are still judging him on the output of the second window before it's even shut, never mind actually seeing how it turns out.
This is the level of reaction I'd expect if we lose our opening 6 games, not a couple of kickabouts that will be forgotten about very quickly.
Exactly, how many league games have we lost this season. I never go to the pre season games , they are messy. The predictive belly aching on here is just crazy. Could easily go wrong but we don't know yet and it is like Salem on here, for me the loopiest period ever on the Fishy with League 2 sages predicting our downfall by halloween. Give the new lads a chance and Dave Artell a bit of breathing room, this negativity is feeble. Deal with a crisis when we have one , at this point this is fiction and a complete waste of energy. utm
Exactly, how many league games have we lost this season. I never go to the pre season games , they are messy. The predictive belly aching on here is just crazy. Could easily go wrong but we don't know yet and it is like Salem on here, for me the loopiest period ever on the Fishy with League 2 sages predicting our downfall by halloween. Give the new lads a chance and Dave Artell a bit of breathing room, this negativity is feeble. Deal with a crisis when we have one , at this point this is fiction and a complete waste of energy. utm
I’m afraid that failure (and we’ve had a lot of it!) breeds negativity. Every close season brings great season ticket sales but even greater expectation for the season ahead.
I’m pretty sure that had we not been non league twice in our recent past, then we as a fan base wouldn’t be as paranoid as we are now.
Think the one saving grace, assuming everything goes to pot as predicted on here, is that the owners have shown they’re not afraid to pull the trigger if needed. If it’s going pear shaped I don’t think he’ll see November.
I don't know that they can afford to do it mate. Cost them £300k + to get rid of hurst,
It's pretty obvious which style DA wants to play. I fully expect him to roll the dice and try again with a better quality of players. I fully hope he's willing to try things in pre-season and see what works, and what doesn't.
We know he can revert to a more pragmatic style if needed. I'd rather we try to put together some good football, rather than starting long-ball from day 1 of pre-season. You will never progress unless you have the courage to try things.
It's pretty obvious which style DA wants to play. I fully expect him to roll the dice and try again with a better quality of players. I fully hope he's willing to try things in pre-season and see what works, and what doesn't.
We know he can revert to a more pragmatic style if needed. I'd rather we try to put together some good football, rather than starting long-ball from day 1 of pre-season. You will never progress unless you have the courage to try things.
If that's the case I hope he at least modified his requirements a bit - not knocking it to the 2 defenders on the 6 yard box EVERY single time without exception like he tried at first. Berating keepers and defenders publicly if they deviate from that on even one occasion. You know, learn from past experience a bit.
I’m afraid that failure (and we’ve had a lot of it!) breeds negativity. Every close season brings great season ticket sales but even greater expectation for the season ahead.
I’m pretty sure that had we not been non league twice in our recent past, then we as a fan base wouldn’t be as paranoid as we are now.
"I’m pretty sure that had we not been non league twice in our recent past, then we as a fan base wouldn’t be as paranoid as we are now." Twice bitten, Thrice shy.
DA comes from a set up at Crewe where they had a youth development scheme and playing style embedded. At Grimsby we have neither. He seems to take an age to recruit a higher standard of player needed to play in the style he wants. We were saved last year when the players persuaded him to play a style they could cope with.
I always will have an affinity to Grimsby via family but when you travel often for work and on the side see how other clubs work via watching and reading or even through talking to ex players you can see where things can be improved.
Ideal manager for me would be one that can inspire,be tactically astute and adapt. At this level man management can make a huge difference though . Knowing how to motivate players, when to rest players and utilise the squad and also able to bring cohesion within the group where players enjoy the environment and mostly get on with each other.Be interesting to witness in person how Artell conducts training sessions. I think a professional stance helps how training is conducted and whether there is an element of enjoyment to it which helps. Some training sessions between championship and league 2 clubs can be a marked difference as well where the set up is far more professional. I know money is an issue as some training complexes are far superior to others but small things like this can bring a marked difference to how players perform .
I don't know that they can afford to do it mate. Cost them £300k + to get rid of hurst,
No wonder Hurst was so complimentary of the owners. 6 figures in the bank and straight into a League One job a few weeks later!
That figure strikes me as being a bit naïve, the terms should have been that he continues to get paid until he finds another job. Given that he rocked up at Shrewsbury so soon, it would have cost us a fraction of that had we done what many other clubs do.
I listened to the You Tube Interview and tried to remain positive.
I do wonder if he is now starting to clutch at straws - he didn't come across as anything other than resigned really to me - but I may be mistaken.
Alarm bells rang during the interview when he said something along the lines of (and it is not verbatim) - "the previous manager set the club up defensively so that proves when we start working on the defensive angle it will sink in easily" - there's been a reasonable turnover of players hasn't there since the end of last year - are a significant number not DA players?
I took the opportunity to go back to listen to some of his very early interviews - especially the "M'eh" one.
I so want him to succeed am just not sure we will - I want to say he won't but I just can't give up.
I was lucky in the late earlies and early 90's I got to watch Town and the start of the Buckley era and was spoilt watching Exeter play decent football when I wasn't up here - seems a lifetime ago now.
I think i just want someone to care - I use to think AB was press prickly - DA absolutely wreaks of "it wasn't me!"
DA could learn a lot from Buckley’s model. His teams played excellent football but didn’t f*ck about with it at the back. Buckley knew the percentages game, the importance of crosses and set pieces and we were effective and artful in the opponent’s half.
Literally at the first opportunity, within 2 months of getting the job here, he brought in Thompson and Tharme. Two players largely unheard of to our fanbase but soon became vital parts of the spine, significantly improved us.
No-one has seen any of our new signings in competitive action in a Town shirt.
Judgement is made on flipping pre-season games. How many times have we done this before of either having a good pre-season and then a excrement actual season or vice-versa? 2008/09 we battered Winterton 12-1 or something ridiculous and everyone had us down to challenge for the title.
Honestly, the pathetic meltdown on here to games that mean nothing is embarrassing. It's justification for all football to shut down for the summer and the first we know of new signings is when they announce the line-up for the first game.
Artel is a winner at this level. He's built something that's gone onto be successful. That's not an opinion, it's a fact. He improved us in his first transfer window but poeple are still judging him on the output of the second window before it's even shut, never mind actually seeing how it turns out.
This is the level of reaction I'd expect if we lose our opening 6 games, not a couple of kickabouts that will be forgotten about very quickly.
"He improved us in his first transfer window" Well yes he did, but that's not what spooked me and others, it was the fact he totally misread what he inherited and made play method decisions without looking closely at the cause why Grimsby was dropping ion the league, hence why PH was sacked. He said the right things from the off, and so we gave him time, and excuses until it dawned on us that actually he didn't know what he was doing. If you have team that cannot string a few meaningful passes together, you must be mad to play out the back. And don't mention the corners, they were so embarrassing I still think some teams kicked the ball out so they could use our corner kicks to attack our goal because we invariably cocked it up. Our Manager and the Team must have trained on different pitches. There was then a standoff/revolt/frank exchanges call it what you will and some semblance of a team appeared, which saw us out, but it was touch and go. But the magic was broken, the same Manager is building our new team, and yes if the last half of last season was a bit better than the first half, then fans would be cool about the preseason, but that's not what happened to fans are worried. But yes we lost no points, I'm sure a few loans will come through the door to calm our nerves. Only 293 hrs to KO UTM
Yoda made an interesting point earlier. He pointed out, via Jim Dobbin that Town were good payers back then. We had no problem getting the most amazing team assembled since the 1930s.
"He improved us in his first transfer window" Well yes he did, but that's not what spooked me and others, it was the fact he totally misread what he inherited and made play method decisions without looking closely at the cause why Grimsby was dropping ion the league, hence why PH was sacked. He said the right things from the off, and so we gave him time, and excuses until it dawned on us that actually he didn't know what he was doing. If you have team that cannot string a few meaningful passes together, you must be mad to play out the back. And don't mention the corners, they were so embarrassing I still think some teams kicked the ball out so they could use our corner kicks to attack our goal because we invariably cocked it up. Our Manager and the Team must have trained on different pitches. There was then a standoff/revolt/frank exchanges call it what you will and some semblance of a team appeared, which saw us out, but it was touch and go. But the magic was broken, the same Manager is building our new team, and yes if the last half of last season was a bit better than the first half, then fans would be cool about the preseason, but that's not what happened to fans are worried. But yes we lost no points, I'm sure a few loans will come through the door to calm our nerves. Only 293 hrs to KO UTM
He came in, worked to the mandate of the 'Grimsby Way' which didn't work, he adjusted and made us stubborn rather than exciting and it got us through to the end of the season. I'm pretty sure he's said since that he tried to change too much too soon and has changed his approach since, surely that's to be applauded rather than having the Hurst like stubborn approach of just trying and trying the same thing time and time and time again?
He's got an approach he wants to use for our style, which you've got to presume aligns with the 1878 view. Last season wasn't the time to embed that because the previous recruitment didn't align with it. The judgement on how last season went under him should be minimal, he was largely working with someone else's tools. This season he's got his own players in, I think there's a small handful (Rose, Wilson, Pyke, Vernam, Rodgers and Eastwood...Khouri too) as players he's either not signed or given new contracts to? It's this season we should judge how his players work with his approach, but certainly not after two pre-season defeats before the season has even kicked off.
If you want to judge on last season, once he recognised that he couldn't install a free flowing style with those players and went more pragmatic we were mid-table form I think? That's run of the mill, neither great nor bad, with the last managers players and a style he's not really keen on. That shouldn't be making people nervous, that should be making people think what will happen when he gets his own players and can use his favoured approach.
He came in, worked to the mandate of the 'Grimsby Way' which didn't work, he adjusted and made us stubborn rather than exciting and it got us through to the end of the season. I'm pretty sure he's said since that he tried to change too much too soon and has changed his approach since, surely that's to be applauded rather than having the Hurst like stubborn approach of just trying and trying the same thing time and time and time again?
He's got an approach he wants to use for our style, which you've got to presume aligns with the 1878 view. Last season wasn't the time to embed that because the previous recruitment didn't align with it. The judgement on how last season went under him should be minimal, he was largely working with someone else's tools. This season he's got his own players in, I think there's a small handful (Rose, Wilson, Pyke, Vernam, Rodgers and Eastwood...Khouri too) as players he's either not signed or given new contracts to? It's this season we should judge how his players work with his approach, but certainly not after two pre-season defeats before the season has even kicked off.
If you want to judge on last season, once he recognised that he couldn't install a free flowing style with those players and went more pragmatic we were mid-table form I think? That's run of the mill, neither great nor bad, with the last managers players and a style he's not really keen on. That shouldn't be making people nervous, that should be making people think what will happen when he gets his own players and can use his favoured approach.
1 What is the "Grimsby Way" ? 2 Who told him to play the GW? 3 How do you know he was "mandated" to do that ? 4 I can only judge DA on last season, because that's how I know him. He was unemployed for 20 months before that, and anyway, I've never heard of him before he joined. 5 The pressure to change was the fan's disquiet, collapse of morale of the team hence the heavy defeats. There were times after match interviews that he was at a different match, and looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. The players meeting was "forced" upon him, but it should have not got that far if he knew what he was doing. That's his job.
Now that he has brought in his "own" players we shall see what they are made of and the tactics unfold. Only 3 more training matches and 289 hrs before KO. UTM
1 What is the "Grimsby Way" ? 2 Who told him to play the GW? 3 How do you know he was "mandated" to do that ? 4 I can only judge DA on last season, because that's how I know him. He was unemployed for 20 months before that, and anyway, I've never heard of him before he joined. 5 The pressure to change was the fan's disquiet, collapse of morale of the team hence the heavy defeats. There were times after match interviews that he was at a different match, and looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. The players meeting was "forced" upon him, but it should have not got that far if he knew what he was doing. That's his job.
Now that he has brought in his "own" players we shall see what they are made of and the tactics unfold. Only 3 more training matches and 289 hrs before KO. UTM
You obviously didn’t listen to Stockwood’s interview at the time.
Points 1-3 MuddyWaters answers, Stockwood has pretty much directly answered those exact questions.
Point 4 - It's like getting a plumber in to decorate a room that a bricklayer started. Write last season off. It's clearly not how he wants to set us up nor with the players he would have signed. His original description of 'meh' to sum up the side in November gave it all away as to what he would be looking to do. Mistakes made, sure. But it was always, always going to be a transitional period. Fair enough you've never heard of him, but he's got a pedigree at this level. To my knowledge the last manager we had with one of those was Alan Buckley (I'm not counting Mike Newell falling drunkenly over the line with Luton, despite doing his best to mess it up).
Point 5 - Firstly do we actually know that this happened? This so called player rebellion? Artell said he held a warts and all session with the staff and players, is that the same as players openly rebelling? To be honest I don't care what enforced the change, in my eyes it's good leadership to a) take stock of what everyone is saying and b) acting upon it rather than just banging your head against the wall a hundred times. This one feels like he'll never win and that he's getting criticised because he changed something that wasn't working to something that was much better?
That run itself wasn't half as long as I think a lot of people remember. There were 9 games between the 1-1 draw away at Newport and the 1-1 draw away at Morecambe. Within that we comfortably beat Salford away and drew with Notts County and Accrington. The defeats against Walsall and Donny were horrific to watch, Notts County draw was just one of those crazy games. The Xmas fixtures against Harrogate and Mansfield were poor performances but hardly end of the world type stuff. Tranmere at home the side. Stockport at home we were just outclassed. Of those 6 defeats, 2 came against sides who got promoted, 1 against a side that finished in the top 7 and another that finished just outside.
Before and after that 9 game spell, it wasn't that bad. Before it was quite exciting and encouraging, MK Dons away and Crewe at home particularly. After it was dull to watch but results wise it was very efficient.
Must be great being crap at something then getting paid 300k to go away
But that's not how it works. They sign a multi year contract, and the club has agreed to be liable for those payments until the end of the contract unless there is a specific clause that covers this and most managers will not sign a contract that says "maybe leave your last job, maybe uproot your family, and if we do not like you, you'll have no job tomorrow and no pay".
There could be an agreement to pay off early, but the cost of it is already agreed when the contract is signed and both parties know this. It's why when you sign a new manager for 2 years, and you fire them, you'd paying for 2 managers. The firing approach is expensive and takes money out of the wage budget and can push you further into the excrement than you were. You cannot just be a toddler, spit your dummy out and say "I DON'T WANT THIS ONE ANYMORE!!!! WAAAAH!".
That's an old trick. No sir you answer the question or don't engage.
He answered the questions you asked last November along the lines of ‘we were a excrement watch, we want to go back to playing how we used to when we were good and DA is the man to do it’
He answered the questions you asked last November along the lines of ‘we were a excrement watch, we want to go back to playing how we used to when we were good and DA is the man to do it’
So in essence the Grimsby Way is playing good football? And that's an answer? It beats me why you bother with a footy forum.
Points 1-3 MuddyWaters answers, Stockwood has pretty much directly answered those exact questions.
Point 4 - It's like getting a plumber in to decorate a room that a bricklayer started. Write last season off. It's clearly not how he wants to set us up nor with the players he would have signed. His original description of 'meh' to sum up the side in November gave it all away as to what he would be looking to do. Mistakes made, sure. But it was always, always going to be a transitional period. Fair enough you've never heard of him, but he's got a pedigree at this level. To my knowledge the last manager we had with one of those was Alan Buckley (I'm not counting Mike Newell falling drunkenly over the line with Luton, despite doing his best to mess it up).
Point 5 - Firstly do we actually know that this happened? This so called player rebellion? Artell said he held a warts and all session with the staff and players, is that the same as players openly rebelling? To be honest I don't care what enforced the change, in my eyes it's good leadership to a) take stock of what everyone is saying and b) acting upon it rather than just banging your head against the wall a hundred times. This one feels like he'll never win and that he's getting criticised because he changed something that wasn't working to something that was much better?
That run itself wasn't half as long as I think a lot of people remember. There were 9 games between the 1-1 draw away at Newport and the 1-1 draw away at Morecambe. Within that we comfortably beat Salford away and drew with Notts County and Accrington. The defeats against Walsall and Donny were horrific to watch, Notts County draw was just one of those crazy games. The Xmas fixtures against Harrogate and Mansfield were poor performances but hardly end of the world type stuff. Tranmere at home the side. Stockport at home we were just outclassed. Of those 6 defeats, 2 came against sides who got promoted, 1 against a side that finished in the top 7 and another that finished just outside.
Before and after that 9 game spell, it wasn't that bad. Before it was quite exciting and encouraging, MK Dons away and Crewe at home particularly. After it was dull to watch but results wise it was very efficient.
Ans to point 5, he should have been ahead of the curve when fitting Square Pegs into Round Holes, and then being surprised we got hammered. But you don't think so, that's all fine then, nooooothing to worry about, DA has his finger on the pulse, knows each players strengths and weaknesses and we are up for a scintillating season. Only 3 Friendlies and 285 hrs to kick off. UTM
Ans to point 5, he should have been ahead of the curve when fitting Square Pegs into Round Holes, and then being surprised we got hammered. But you don't think so, that's all fine then, nooooothing to worry about, DA has his finger on the pulse, knows each players strengths and weaknesses and we are up for a scintillating season. Only 3 Friendlies and 285 hrs to kick off. UTM
Right, the approach he inherited was the one that cost Hurst his job. The one that saw our pre-season and early season optimism dashed pretty quickly. He had to change something. Because otherwise we were heading down.
He changed it and initially it worked, he even said he was surprised how some of the players looked like they could play his way and it might mean the transition process was quicker. That didn't sustain and the likes of Hunt, Gnahoua and others didn't live up to that early promise from those first few games. He pivoted and adjusted, bringing in a couple of players who helped that hard reset but also for the future shift towards a 'better' style of play. That worked.
He inherited the square pegs and round holes, he did his best he could with that. It wasn't pretty but he managed to make it fit, sort of.
Criticise him if we hit October and we're getting battered and it's awful to watch. Not for him having to do a stop-gap on the crap he inherited last season and a few pre-season games.
Right, the approach he inherited was the one that cost Hurst his job. The one that saw our pre-season and early season optimism dashed pretty quickly. He had to change something. Because otherwise we were heading down.
He changed it and initially it worked, he even said he was surprised how some of the players looked like they could play his way and it might mean the transition process was quicker. That didn't sustain and the likes of Hunt, Gnahoua and others didn't live up to that early promise from those first few games. He pivoted and adjusted, bringing in a couple of players who helped that hard reset but also for the future shift towards a 'better' style of play. That worked.
He inherited the square pegs and round holes, he did his best he could with that. It wasn't pretty but he managed to make it fit, sort of.
Criticise him if we hit October and we're getting battered and it's awful to watch. Not for him having to do a stop-gap on the crap he inherited last season and a few pre-season games.
Every man and his dog could see it wasn't working and needed changing before he was eventually forced to change. That change forced upon him was just in time to save our EFL skins. The 2 best players brought in were via the recruitment team and had been targets before artell was even employed by the club. Tharme himself described his main weakness as 'passing' - he was not a player Artell identified as an Artell ball player, and he isn't, hence why he couldn't do it when we tried. He was simply a better defender than what we had and looked good in a 3 playing appropriately, rather than suicide football.
Of course Artell will be given fair chance by the owners to start the season etc, but the start to his GTFC career has been poor and he is already on thin ice given his failure to see what everyone else could see earlier last season. Must do better.
He changes it - it was forced on him. He signs good players - someone else identified them.
Must do better? I agree, 100%! But rather than put the bloke under pressure from the off how about giving him a fair crack at doing that? He shouldn't be on thin ice before we even kick a meaningful ball in anger.
He changes it - it was forced on him. He signs good players - someone else identified them.
Must do better? I agree, 100%! But rather than put the bloke under pressure from the off how about giving him a fair crack at doing that? He shouldn't be on thin ice before we even kick a meaningful ball in anger.
He can win - he could have made the change earlier that he ended up doing anyway, and that people were pleading for, including players!
That is what has led to him being on thin ice, which would be the same anywhere. I really do hope that he has learned from those experiences as that is key to us having a better chance this season, it's perfectly possible he has.
He can win - he could have made the change earlier that he ended up doing anyway, and that people were pleading for, including players!
That is what has led to him being on thin ice, which would be the same anywhere. I really do hope that he has learned from those experiences as that is key to us having a better chance this season, it's perfectly possible he has.
He's now doubling down by saying he received uncalled for abuse for saying we definitely wouldn't get relegated which turned out to be correct, which is why it was uncalled for in his opinion.
He's going into the season with absolutely no goodwill from the fans. We took a step backwards last season, anything but a step forwards this season is unacceptable.
He changes it - it was forced on him. He signs good players - someone else identified them.
Must do better? I agree, 100%! But rather than put the bloke under pressure from the off how about giving him a fair crack at doing that? He shouldn't be on thin ice before we even kick a meaningful ball in anger.
Considering that Artell was in charge of two of our worst home defeats for decades, in the main the football was shite to watch and at one point it looked seriously like we would get relegated of course he is going to be under pressure. You can tell that by some of his interviews and I am sure that at some point last season our directors may have been thinking about getting rid so I'm thinking he may have a couple of months and if it is looking like we are in for a major struggle again he could be gone.
Considering that Artell was in charge of two of our worst home defeats for decades, in the main the football was shite to watch and at one point it looked seriously like we would get relegated of course he is going to be under pressure. You can tell that by some of his interviews and I am sure that at some point last season our directors may have been thinking about getting rid so I'm thinking he may have a couple of months and if it is looking like we are in for a major struggle again he could be gone.
Let's hope that isn't the case.
I very much doubt that as he often said that it wasn't a quick fix, and that it would take time. I don't believe he would have said that if the owners were not 100% behind that plan.
Right, the approach he inherited was the one that cost Hurst his job. The one that saw our pre-season and early season optimism dashed pretty quickly. He had to change something. Because otherwise we were heading down.
He changed it and initially it worked, he even said he was surprised how some of the players looked like they could play his way and it might mean the transition process was quicker. That didn't sustain and the likes of Hunt, Gnahoua and others didn't live up to that early promise from those first few games. He pivoted and adjusted, bringing in a couple of players who helped that hard reset but also for the future shift towards a 'better' style of play. That worked.
He inherited the square pegs and round holes, he did his best he could with that. It wasn't pretty but he managed to make it fit, sort of.
Criticise him if we hit October and we're getting battered and it's awful to watch. Not for him having to do a stop-gap on the crap he inherited last season and a few pre-season games.
Yes, he inherited the players (round pegs square holes) and took on some, seemingly better ones in January. No argument. What I'm saying, he misread the capabilities of his inherited players and carried on regardless. Why would you ask someone to juggle fresh eggs when they can't juggle? His new players got lost in the general grottiness of play, so we actually don't know how good they are. The 6-1 and 5-0 precipitated a fans backlash hence the "Warts and all" meeting with his players and staff. Things changed a bit for the better and we survived. My argument has always been that he was the wrong manager at the wrong time. He was rusty and made basic errors, which lost us points, hence our "lucky" escape, as there were times we were beholding to others to stop Sutton and FGR from going above us. As to this season, DA is tainted in my eyes, because if he couldn't read the players he inherited, but could scrutinise at close quarters, why should he be any better in recruiting players he has scant knowledge of, except a Data CV. But I haven't knocked him on the Friendlies, nor the recruitment numbers, nor the players he let go, as we will see shortly see. Lets hope I'm wrong, eh, because if your wrong, we are in a pickle. UTM
Yes, he inherited the players (round pegs square holes) and took on some, seemingly better ones in January. No argument. What I'm saying, he misread the capabilities of his inherited players and carried on regardless. Why would you ask someone to juggle fresh eggs when they can't juggle? His new players got lost in the general grottiness of play, so we actually don't know how good they are. The 6-1 and 5-0 precipitated a fans backlash hence the "Warts and all" meeting with his players and staff. Things changed a bit for the better and we survived. My argument has always been that he was the wrong manager at the wrong time. He was rusty and made basic errors, which lost us points, hence our "lucky" escape, as there were times we were beholding to others to stop Sutton and FGR from going above us. As to this season, DA is tainted in my eyes, because if he couldn't read the players he inherited, but could scrutinise at close quarters, why should he be any better in recruiting players he has scant knowledge of, except a Data CV. But I haven't knocked him on the Friendlies, nor the recruitment numbers, nor the players he let go, as we will see shortly see. Lets hope I'm wrong, eh, because if your wrong, we are in a pickle. UTM
Or, the owners hired him to come in and play that way, and he tried to work to the mandate he was given, that initially seemed to work, but then was clear it couldn't happen consistently with the players we had.
He later changed it and was pragmatic, but ultimately, if you're hired to do a job in a particular way, no person in the right mind would ignore that. Even before that, at season start, I think Hurst was being pushed to play this way, and the responsibility for us persisting with that style sits with them. Many who bash Artell suggest it took the players to rebel for him to try that style. I think it's quite clear he was put between a rock and a hard place, and came through it quite well.
It could still work with an attacking/passing style, but we have to hope we have had sufficient change in personnel to support that style.
Or, the owners hired him to come in and play that way, and he tried to work to the mandate he was given, that initially seemed to work, but then was clear it couldn't happen consistently with the players we had.
He later changed it and was pragmatic, but ultimately, if you're hired to do a job in a particular way, no person in the right mind would ignore that. Even before that, at season start, I think Hurst was being pushed to play this way, and the responsibility for us persisting with that style sits with them. Many who bash Artell suggest it took the players to rebel for him to try that style. I think it's quite clear he was put between a rock and a hard place, and came through it quite well.
It could still work with an attacking/passing style, but we have to hope we have had sufficient change in personnel to support that style.
What you are intimating is that the owners interfered with team play hence selection. You don't think the likely scenario was "get us out of this mess but next season we want..."
What you are intimating is that the owners interfered with team play hence selection. You don't think the likely scenario was "get us out of this mess but next season we want..."
Jason Stockwood on appointing DA stated that part of the remit of the job was to play football in the "Grimsby Way". It was widely rumoured that the board were not happy with Hursts pragmatic and quite frankly boring style, and at the start of the 2023/24 it was apparent he'd had his wings clipped and was tasked in playing a way that just didn't suit him, thus in the end he got the bullet. When Artell first came in you could see a more expansive, possession based style was to be adopted, only after getting constantly battered he, the staff and the players had the infamous 1hr 45 minute and after that he took on a very Hurst like approach which eventually managed to stave off relegation. So no, the owners didn't give him any ultimatums, he knew what was expected from the day he walked through the door.
Jason Stockwood on appointing DA stated that part of the remit of the job was to play football in the "Grimsby Way". It was widely rumoured that the board were not happy with Hursts pragmatic and quite frankly boring style, and at the start of the 2023/24 it was apparent he'd had his wings clipped and was tasked in playing a way that just didn't suit him, thus in the end he got the bullet. When Artell first came in you could see a more expansive, possession based style was to be adopted, only after getting constantly battered he, the staff and the players had the infamous 1hr 45 minute and after that he took on a very Hurst like approach which eventually managed to stave off relegation. So no, the owners didn't give him any ultimatums, he knew what was expected from the day he walked through the door.
I wish someone would explain "the Grimsby way" I can't remember under Buckley we were pissing about with the ball in our own area.
Games were waaaay more open back in all 3 Buckley eras. We played some brilliant football during the Mk I and II eras, but if you see footage of those days the amount of space on the pitch was huge. Players today are bigger, quicker and fitter and it isn't a great idea to play such an open game. Last season vs Notts County was ridiculously open - entertaining to watch, but not a great result for either team.
Trying to keep possession more is necessary these days and you rarely see teams punting the ball up field to a big bloke over and over again, because it just doesn't work most of the time. That said, you've got to be able to mix it up a bit and we need to get it out more quickly at times.
Games were waaaay more open back in all 3 Buckley eras. We played some brilliant football during the Mk I and II eras, but if you see footage of those days the amount of space on the pitch was huge. Players today are bigger, quicker and fitter and it isn't a great idea to play such an open game. Last season vs Notts County was ridiculously open - entertaining to watch, but not a great result for either team.
Trying to keep possession more is necessary these days and you rarely see teams punting the ball up field to a big bloke over and over again, because it just doesn't work most of the time. That said, you've got to be able to mix it up a bit and we need to get it out more quickly at times.
Oh for Tony Rees and the third man running that was Cunnington or Woods 🤔🤩
That said, you've got to be able to mix it up a bit and we need to get it out more quickly at times.
We were absolutely wedded to playing out from the back last season with no variety to our play at all. This made us painfully predictable and easy to play against. Passing the ball back and forth between centre halves and goalkeeper was only inviting pressure. Artell may be a purest but it cost him. If he reverts back to this it will cost him points and ultimately his job.
He hammered the players for going long, but even they could see it wasn’t working. If you want to play out from the back then use the full backs more. Losing it in a corner is far less damaging than in the middle of the box.
We definitely need to have a variation between tip-tap, trying to break the press and just launching it upfield. Let's hope the players show themselves capable of some flexibility.
We were absolutely wedded to playing out from the back last season with no variety to our play at all. This made us painfully predictable and easy to play against. Passing the ball back and forth between centre halves and goalkeeper was only inviting pressure. Artell may be a purest but it cost him. If he reverts back to this it will cost him points and ultimately his job.
He hammered the players for going long, but even they could see it wasn’t working. If you want to play out from the back then use the full backs more. Losing it in a corner is far less damaging than in the middle of the box.
We definitely need to have a variation between tip-tap, trying to break the press and just launching it upfield. Let's hope the players show themselves capable of some flexibility.
I wish someone would explain "the Grimsby way" I can't remember under Buckley we were pissing about with the ball in our own area.
To me, and possibly more of my age group, can remember the 50's and 60's and George Kerr's teams. The Grimsby Way then was 2 good wingers crossing the ball to a tall centre forward and having more than 1 or 2 shots on target.
You can please some of the forumites some of the time but not all the forumites all of the time
So the Mick Lyons Way then - God now that was truly awful - we people mention the perceived failings and arrogance of Holloway/Bignot, even to a lesser degree Artell then ML was right up there - well in my opinion he surpassed most of them!!
I remember as a 14 year old that being my first sense of football pain!!!!!
So the Mick Lyons Way then - God now that was truly awful - we people mention the perceived failings and arrogance of Holloway/Bignot, even to a lesser degree Artell then ML was right up there - well in my opinion he surpassed most of them!!
I remember as a 14 year old that being my first sense of football pain!!!!!
I agree about Mick Lyons, but anyone old enough to have watched Grimsby 3 Arsenal 4 in the cup, with a Charlie Nicholas hat-trick saw one of the most exciting games in last 60 years
We were absolutely wedded to playing out from the back last season with no variety to our play at all. This made us painfully predictable and easy to play against. Passing the ball back and forth between centre halves and goalkeeper was only inviting pressure. Artell may be a purest but it cost him. If he reverts back to this it will cost him points and ultimately his job.
He hammered the players for going long, but even they could see it wasn’t working. If you want to play out from the back then use the full backs more. Losing it in a corner is far less damaging than in the middle of the box.
A couple of things to think about here. Inviting pressure is kind of what playing out from the back is about. It is to draw their forward players out of position, therefore leaving us space in behind them which hopefully our players will get in to to receive the ball. Hopefully the players we have bought in are more technically gifted so able to play this way.
It will not work all the time, even Premier League players get caught in possession or make a bad pass too, but neither will hoofball, where at best you only have a 50/50 chance of retaining possession. I watched the whole match against Rotherham, and I only remember us losing possession once due to playing out from the back, when Wright made an awful pass that almost cost us a goal. I guess making good decisions is the key to playing out from the back, if a pass looks a bit risky, bin it and send the ball long.
Personally, I would rather see a goal kick played out to a centre half or full back than booted up field. Also, why when we kick off do we pass the ball all the way back to the keeper who then hoofs it up into their half, where the defender has a better chance to win the ball, and often does, surely it would be better to pass the ball to a midfielder, keep possession and move forward with the ball.
So anyway, I'm not a manager, never will be so I'm probably talking bollox, this is just my thoughts on playing out from the back, and as such, is just my opinion. UTM!
I agree about Mick Lyons, but anyone old enough to have watched Grimsby 3 Arsenal 4 in the cup, with a Charlie Nicholas hat-trick saw one of the most exciting games in last 60 years
Can't fault you there I remember watching it on MOTD but for everyone one of them........
A couple of things to think about here. Inviting pressure is kind of what playing out from the back is about. It is to draw their forward players out of position, therefore leaving us space in behind them which hopefully our players will get in to to receive the ball. Hopefully the players we have bought in are more technically gifted so able to play this way.
It will not work all the time, even Premier League players get caught in possession or make a bad pass too, but neither will hoofball, where at best you only have a 50/50 chance of retaining possession. I watched the whole match against Rotherham, and I only remember us losing possession once due to playing out from the back, when Wright made an awful pass that almost cost us a goal. I guess making good decisions is the key to playing out from the back, if a pass looks a bit risky, bin it and send the ball long.
Personally, I would rather see a goal kick played out to a centre half or full back than booted up field. Also, why when we kick off do we pass the ball all the way back to the keeper who then hoofs it up into their half, where the defender has a better chance to win the ball, and often does, surely it would be better to pass the ball to a midfielder, keep possession and move forward with the ball.
So anyway, I'm not a manager, never will be so I'm probably talking bollox, this is just my thoughts on playing out from the back, and as such, is just my opinion. UTM!
The thinking behind it is that it returns the game to a more natural setup, and at the EUROs, there were a couple of early goals/chances from it which it suggests the long kick from kick off to be successful. Albania scored the fastest goal in EUROs history doing just this.
We’ll kicking it long got England to the EURO’s final, it was seemingly Southgate’s ploy using Pickford’s long hoof, got fed up of counting how many times per game England reverted to this tactic.
We’ll kicking it long got England to the EURO’s final, it was seemingly Southgate’s ploy using Pickford’s long hoof, got fed up of counting how many times per game England reverted to this tactic.
Well that's all well and good, however in this case you are talking about world class players, not 4th Division players.
I’ve just scrolled quickly through the last 4 or so pages of this thread and it’s left me somewhat confused (not too difficult these days!)
What exactly is ‘the Grimsby way’ ? Is it attack minded that George Kerr used to play, Alan buckleys amazing play it on the ground style, Russel slade’s let’s just hoof the ball up to the front, Paul hursts ‘keep us shape’ or Mike Newell’s ‘ here lads, get these cans of special brew down you and there’s jägerbombs at halftime’ method.
Whatever happens, i fear it’s another season where there’s plenty of worry about falling into the ballsack of football that is the national league. Recruitment hasn’t been what could be classed as exciting so far and there’s only been sporadic soundbites from the club. Still, there’s a couple of weeks left to get players in for the start of the season so no need to write the season off. Yet!!
Jason Stockwood on appointing DA stated that part of the remit of the job was to play football in the "Grimsby Way". It was widely rumoured that the board were not happy with Hursts pragmatic and quite frankly boring style, and at the start of the 2023/24 it was apparent he'd had his wings clipped and was tasked in playing a way that just didn't suit him, thus in the end he got the bullet. When Artell first came in you could see a more expansive, possession based style was to be adopted, only after getting constantly battered he, the staff and the players had the infamous 1hr 45 minute and after that he took on a very Hurst like approach which eventually managed to stave off relegation. So no, the owners didn't give him any ultimatums, he knew what was expected from the day he walked through the door.
If PH had played his way, boring or not, and was at the top pushing towards promo, nobody would have dared sack him. We were sinking, with water up to our chins with no signs of rescue. And even fans who had "PH Walks on Water" tattoos on the posteriors, realised and joined the uproar. That's what sacked him.
If PH had played his way, boring or not, and was at the top pushing towards promo, nobody would have dared sack him. We were sinking, with water at our waste with no signs of rescue, and even fans who had PH Walks on Water tattoos on the posteriors joined the uproar. That's what sacked him.
All correct. But even during our respectable first season back in the league, finishing in the top-half for something like the first time in 17 years, it was still generally rather boring, particularly at home. I think my favourite home league game that season was the 0-0 with Bradford, which tells its own story.
The board’s vision to have the team playing entertaining, front foot football is something I am fully on board with. I’m absolutely nervous about our ability to deliver it in this era, with the budgetary limitations we face even in League Two, but the vision is understandable and honourable, imo.
All correct. But even during our respectable first season back in the league, finishing in the top-half for something like the first time in 17 years, it was still generally rather boring, particularly at home. I think my favourite home league game that season was the 0-0 with Bradford, which tells its own story.
The board’s vision to have the team playing entertaining, front foot football is something I am fully on board with. I’m absolutely nervous about our ability to deliver it in this era, with the budgetary limitations we face even in League Two, but the vision is understandable and honourable, imo.
The problem with Stockwood and Artells playing style in the fourth tier is that the less well off clubs get 11 strapping 6 ft 3” thugs who are capable of scrapping for 50 points a season at little cost.
Artell ball will probably work in tier 3 where more finances are more available
The problem with Stockwood and Artells playing style in the fourth tier is that the less well off clubs get 11 strapping 6 ft 3” thugs who are capable of scrapping for 50 points a season at little cost.
Artell ball will probably work in tier 3 where more finances are more available
Ultimately, that’s for the manager to work out. Buckley’s famous playing style was very much about keeping the ball on the ground for the most part, but his best teams still generally had players capable of mixing it throughout their spine.
I think we’re lacking that a bit in certain areas, certainly in terms of height up top, but there remains time to address that.
All this "Grimsby Way" stuff makes me laugh, not the fact Jason said it, as actually we all want to the team to entertain but that fact that some fans think Jason is dictating a certain style to Artell and he's just going with it.
"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style
All this "Grimsby Way" stuff makes me laugh, not the fact Jason said it, as actually we all want to the team to entertain but that fact that some fans think Jason is dictating a certain style to Artell and he's just going with it.
Exactly! I don't think it a case of JS dictating to DA how we play, more of a philosophy of adopting a playing style that goes throughout all playing levels at the club.
The Future is Black & White. "The commonest thing on this planet is not water , as some people believe, but stupidity ". Frank Zappa
Exactly! I don't think it a case of JS dictating to DA how we play, more of a philosophy of adopting a playing style that goes throughout all playing levels at the club.
Which makes perfect sense if you're going to grow your own talent.
"Crombie you would have got to that if you weren't such a fat ba%$@rd" - George Kerr, inspiration from the dug out 70s style
Ultimately, that’s for the manager to work out. Buckley’s famous playing style was very much about keeping the ball on the ground for the most part, but his best teams still generally had players capable of mixing it throughout their spine.
I think we’re lacking that a bit in certain areas, certainly in terms of height up top, but there remains time to address that.
I remember when we were chasing a goal, and we insisted in twatting about on the edge of the box, the screams from the main stand of "GET IT IN THE BOX"...
I remember when we were chasing a goal, and we insisted in twatting about on the edge of the box, the screams from the main stand of "GET IT IN THE BOX"...
Some things never change
I listened to a Lineaker interview where he said when he was at Barcelona and Cruyff was in charge if they needed a goal with 10 minutes to go the order was to put a big man up front and hoof it, if a total football style of course.
"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
I listened to a Lineaker interview where he said when he was at Barcelona and Cruyff was in charge if they needed a goal with 10 minutes to go the order was to put a big man up front and hoof it, if a total football style of course.
That’s a rather different scenario to playing like that from the off
All correct. But even during our respectable first season back in the league, finishing in the top-half for something like the first time in 17 years, it was still generally rather boring, particularly at home. I think my favourite home league game that season was the 0-0 with Bradford, which tells its own story.
The board’s vision to have the team playing entertaining, front foot football is something I am fully on board with. I’m absolutely nervous about our ability to deliver it in this era, with the budgetary limitations we face even in League Two, but the vision is understandable and honourable, imo.
Well, I can't argue that a team, full of honest endeavor and sportsmanship, and with a big dollop of panache would be all our wants. However, it would soon wear thin when you're tonked match in and match out. The mood of the fans is not great after, last season, and whilst it usually calms down and people are sanguine about preseason friendlies, DA doesn't seem as if he's got that luxury this time around. The match against Rotherham had a mixture of some lovely football and poor decisions. I'll be honest and if asked by DA what to do, I would say just get some points on the board by hook and by crook from the off and when you have some, try a bit of entertainment, but I doubt that will happen. I haven't seen the whole team play as yet, so don't know if I should be nervous or bricking it.
Well, I can't argue that a team, full of honest endeavor and sportsmanship, and with a big dollop of panache would be all our wants. However, it would soon wear thin when you're tonked match in and match out. The mood of the fans is not great after, last season, and whilst it usually calms down and people are sanguine about preseason friendlies, DA doesn't seem as if he's got that luxury this time around. The match against Rotherham had a mixture of some lovely football and poor decisions. I'll be honest and if asked by DA what to do, I would say just get some points on the board by hook and by crook from the off and when you have some, try a bit of entertainment, but I doubt that will happen. I haven't seen the whole team play as yet, so don't know if I should be nervous or bricking it.
Mate, with all due respect, which fans are you talking about, the 100-200 that post on here, of which a few are negative most of the time, or the 5000-7000 that go to home games, or all the exiles that cannot get to games?
You have no idea what mood the thousands of supporters are in, for instance my mood is great, looking forward to a brand new season with hopefully better players than we had last season, and a better League position at the end can't wait.
Of course you have an absolute right to post what you want, however making a sweeping generalisation like that is, in my opinion jumping to an unjustified solution.
I agree about Mick Lyons, but anyone old enough to have watched Grimsby 3 Arsenal 4 in the cup, with a Charlie Nicholas hat-trick saw one of the most exciting games in last 60 years
The only time I've ever really enjoyed a game that we lost.
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