Team for Mansfield

Would like to see us put out a similar side to the one that ended the game on Monday:

Crocombe
Emmanuel Waterfall Maher Amos
Clifton Morris Green Khan
Orsi Lloyd

Hopefully the Waterfall sub was just down to his booking and not because of an injury, but if he's unavailable then Smith steps in.

Opportunity for Amos to stake a claim for the left back spot with the season winding down.

Clifton on the right should give our midfield a bit of balance. Green covering Khan when he gets forward.

Orsi and Lloyd as a pair is something I'd really like to see Hurst stick with over the next few games - thought they worked really well together at the end of the Donny game and we already know what we're getting with Taylor and McAtee. Let's use these games to figure out who we want to keep around next season and where we need to improve.

Crocombe
Emmanuel efete/smith Waterfall Maher Amos
Clifton Morris Green
Orsi Lloyd


IF I was manager that'd be my line up.

              Crocombe

Emanuel Smith Maher Glennon

Clifton Hunt Green Khan

             Orsi Lloyd

No McAtee for the rest of the season unless he's staying on loan .

Would replace Emanuel who had a poor game against Donny and looked exhausted with Efete who should have learned from his mistakes against Hartlepool.

Don't think we can play 4-4-2 and have any control of the middle of the pitch with the players we have. I'd go:

Crocombe

Emmanuel
Smith
Maher
Glennon

Clifton
Morris
Hunt

Khan
Orsi
Lloyd

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Don't think we can play 4-4-2 and have any control of the middle of the pitch with the players we have. I'd go:

Crocombe

Emmanuel
Smith
Maher
Glennon

Clifton
Morris
Hunt

Khan
Orsi
Lloyd

Like this.

Quoted from Spurn boy

Would replace Emanuel who had a poor game against Donny and looked exhausted with Efete who should have learned from his mistakes against Hartlepool.

I'd much prefer to play a completely exhausted Emanuel than a super fit Efete,he's a liability in every game but I suppose every one has their own opinion.

Quoted from Grimal

I'd much prefer to play a completely exhausted Emanuel than a super fit Efete,he's a liability in every game but I suppose everyone has their own opinion.

One of the worst home records in the league against the second best away record in the league.

Whatever team we pick, it'll be a tough game to win.

Quoted from ginnywings

One of the worst home records in the league against the second best away record in the league.

.

So we are bound to win then.

Quoted from MaccasBoots

Would like to see us put out a similar side to the one that ended the game on Monday:

Crocombe
Emmanuel Waterfall Maher Amos
Clifton Morris Green Khan
Orsi Lloyd

Hopefully the Waterfall sub was just down to his booking and not because of an injury, but if he's unavailable then Smith steps in.

Opportunity for Amos to stake a claim for the left back spot with the season winding down.

Clifton on the right should give our midfield a bit of balance. Green covering Khan when he gets forward.

Orsi and Lloyd as a pair is something I'd really like to see Hurst stick with over the next few games - thought they worked really well together at the end of the Donny game and we already know what we're getting with Taylor and McAtee. Let's use these games to figure out who we want to keep around next season and where we need to improve.

After the last 15 minutes at Donny, not many could argue with this team.

Whether you play Glennon or Amos that's not much difference either. Same with Morris and Holohan.

Orsi is a must. He really makes things happen in the final third. Give the lad a good run of games to the end of the season.

Quoted from Spurn boy

Would replace Emanuel who had a poor game against Donny and looked exhausted with Efete who should have learned from his mistakes against Hartlepool.

He hasn't learned from his mistakes all season .Emmanuel far superior

Why shouldn’t McAtee play again for the rest of the season? Some people have some short memories. Yes he hasn’t had the best couple of games, but his pressing, endeavour and quality out of nowhere gets us goals and assists that we badly need at the minute.

Quoted from davmariner

Why shouldn’t McAtee play again for the rest of the season? Some people have some short memories. Yes he hasn’t had the best couple of games, but his pressing, endeavour and quality out of nowhere gets us goals and assists that we badly need at the minute.

I don't think it's anything against him it's more looking at those more likely to be here next season

                         Crocombe

Emmanuel.   Smith.   Maher.   Glennon

          Clifton.      Green.      Khouri

            Lloyd        Orsi.         Khan


Think young Khouri deserves a chance now we are mathematically safe, Holohan, Efete and Waterfall are clearly injured and McAtee and Taylor out of form. Seen enough of Morris to know he shouldn't be here next season.

I suspect he’ll start wit Taylor and Mcatee but I’m not sure I’d bother. That said, I don’t think Orsi has 90 minutes at full tilt in him.

I’m still not a fan of Green or Morris but I’d possibly play Green and Clifton and then the others are all of a muchness in there for me.

Of our games left, Saturday is one that matters so there won’t be any laying down and letting them win…

Quoted from davmariner

Why shouldn’t McAtee play again for the rest of the season? Some people have some short memories. Yes he hasn’t had the best couple of games, but his pressing, endeavour and quality out of nowhere gets us goals and assists that we badly need at the minute.

Because his race is run for us . He was brilliant last season but there's no future in history. We must move forward. We've all been moaning about the turn around time last season into this . We now have 3 months turn around to get thing sorted for a big season

Quoted from davmariner

Why shouldn’t McAtee play again for the rest of the season? Some people have some short memories. Yes he hasn’t had the best couple of games, but his pressing, endeavour and quality out of nowhere gets us goals and assists that we badly need at the minute.

For whatever reason, McAtee has been well below the standard he set last season, but it’s important to remember just how good that standard was. Some of the goals he scored and made were incredible, and there’s no way we would have made it through the play-offs without his guile and tenacity.

I periodically find myself re-watching moments from those play-off games, and the role McAtee played is undeniable. His goal at Wrexham was just so, so good - that shot wasn’t even on, and to have the vision to see it and the skill and calmness to execute it just seconds after going behind was just breathtaking. His Cross for Taylor’s equaliser too, way above that level or even this.

We wouldn’t have got past Wrexham without John McAtee, nor would we have dragged ourselves back into the final against Solihull. You have to ask yourself where we would be without him.

I can see the arguments against starting him right now, but regardless of that he deserves (and no doubt will get) a hero’s send off on the 8th May against Wimbledon. And it’s not often you get to say goodbye to your heroes. The man is a legend in my eyes.

Mcatee is a cracking footballer & we are a better side with him in it sure the stats will back this up

Quoted from Poojah

For whatever reason, McAtee has been well below the standard he set last season, but it’s important to remember just how good that standard was. Some of the goals he scored and made were incredible, and there’s no way we would have made it through the play-offs without his guile and tenacity.

I periodically find myself re-watching moments from those play-off games, and the role McAtee played is undeniable. His goal at Wrexham was just so, so good - that shot wasn’t even on, and to have the vision to see it and the skill and calmness to execute it just seconds after going behind was just breathtaking. His Cross for Taylor’s equaliser too, way above that level or even this.

We wouldn’t have got past Wrexham without John McAtee, nor would we have dragged ourselves back into the final against Solihull. You have to ask yourself where we would be without him.

I can see the arguments against starting him right now, but regardless of that he deserves (and no doubt will get) a hero’s send off on the 8th May against Wimbledon. And it’s not often you get to say goodbye to your heroes. The man is a legend in my eyes.

Echo your thoughts Poojah, I think that some people have very short memories. He's made us a lot of money through promotion, receiving a fee for him and actually being able to acquire him back on loan. Yes, he hasn't been at his able best this year but I think sometimes he tries too hard as he gets that frustrated at how poor we are at times. I know it looks like he's sulking but I think he holds himself as high as he possibly can he gets frustrated at people not being able to match his standards and maybe comes across worse than it looks. Whatever happens Johnny Mac will be getting a great send off from me on his last game here, should it be his last.

Was Waterfall injured when he was taken off at half-time at Donny?

Quoted from ginnywings

One of the worst home records in the league against the second best away record in the league.

Whatever team we pick, it'll be a tough game to win.

     and with Hewitt's  long throws

Quoted from Norseman

He hasn't learned from his mistakes all season .Emmanuel far superior

If Efete let his man drift off him like Emmanuel did on Monday for their goal, more would have been made of it for sure..Some players are under a microscope, some get a free pass, but that's football, always been that way..

Quoted from Bigdog

If Efete let his man drift off him like Emmanuel did on Monday for their goal, more would have been made of it for sure..Some players are under a microscope, some get a free pass, but that's football, always been that way..

Have to agree, not sure why a number of fans are so desperate to sign Emmanuel, he’s decent going forward but not particularly strong defensively. Fans get on Efete’s back as soon as a pass or cross goes astray but Emmanuel can hold on to the ball far too long and not a murmur!,

Fickle bunch us fans.

McAtee unlucky but to have had a first half hat trick at Wrexham.  Class performance when the fish and chips were down in a  critical game.

McAtee's form at the back end of last season was nothing short of remarkable, he certainly timed it right from the point of view of advancing his career. It was one of so many elements that had to come together to allow us to win those playoffs, Ben Fox's return from injury and incredible 3 game run was another. So was Cropper's long throw, so was Hudlin going off after being nutted by Smithy, so was Hayden being injured for Wrexham, so was the ball deflecting off the Notts' lads foot into the goal rather than wide from Gav's shot.

Without ALL of those things, we wouldn't have gone up.

One thing McAtee isn't is a Grimsby Town legend.......... He's near the back of a long que for that I'm afraid . Not every player who affects a season is a legend other wise you'd be calling Waterfall one too . He was just as important last season

Quoted from ginnywings

One of the worst home records in the league against the second best away record in the league.

Whatever team we pick, it'll be a tough game to win.

Nowt much to lose then.  Sit back and defend so they can have a go at us, or just go for it and have a go at them.

Quoted from It Bites

One thing McAtee isn't is a Grimsby Town legend.......... He's near the back of a long que for that I'm afraid . Not every player who affects a season is a legend other wise you'd be calling Waterfall one too . He was just as important last season

Anyone that played a key part in getting us out of non league is a Town legend in my view.

Quoted from It Bites

One thing McAtee isn't is a Grimsby Town legend.......... He's near the back of a long que for that I'm afraid . Not every player who affects a season is a legend other wise you'd be calling Waterfall one too . He was just as important last season

Waterfall has his place in our history and deserves the praise he gets, but McAtee has been a once in a generation player for us. He scored almost twice as many goals than any other Town player last season, including 2 crucial ones at key moments in the play-offs, and most of his goals were absolute peaches.

There are so many players who played huge, incredibly memorable roles for us last season, but McAtee was absolutely talismanic. He stands above everyone.

Once in a generation.???? I think we'll leave it there .  

Quoted from It Bites

Once in a generation.???? I think we'll leave it there .  

Name me another player in the space of the last 20 years or so who played like John McAtee did last season. Tenacious, relentlessly hard working, skilful and a scorer of worldies, often in big moments.

We’ve had players who have scored more goals, players who were faster, bigger, stronger, maybe even technically better, but pound-for-pound for our level the 21/22 McAtee was a wonderfully complete package. Unique. Once in a generation.

Quoted from Poojah

Name me another player in the space of the last 20 years or so who played like John McAtee did last season. Tenacious, relentlessly hard working, skilful and a scorer of worldies, often in big moments.

We’ve had players who have scored more goals, players who were faster, bigger, stronger, maybe even technically better, but pound-for-pound for our level the 21/22 McAtee was a wonderfully complete package. Unique. Once in a generation.

Different sort of player but his contribution in one season was immense.....Amond.

Not picking a fight because I agree about McAtee but just throwing another possibility into the debate.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

Different sort of player but his contribution in one season was immense.....Amond.

Not picking a fight because I agree about McAtee but just throwing another possibility into the debate.

Oh, absolutely. Amond was fantastic, as were several others even in our dark non-league days - Connell, Hearn, Bogle - Reddy and Jones before that, too. I just feel McAtee has a unique blend of attributes the likes we will not see again for a long time, and I predict that despite his indifferent season, he will go onto have the best career of any Town player in recent times.

I think McAtee was excellent last season, all the qualities that people have detailed above but 2 other things stood out for me, his habit of doing things just at the right time, especially in the play off semi with the first Town goal and the equaliser in the final, this season he’s just not got going for whatever reason.

The 2nd thing is that last season he was brilliant with the supporters, he has time for everyone and that’s something he’s not lost despite relatively poor form versus last season, others may have gone into their shell.

The lad will go on to have a really good career and I have no doubt he’ll be remembered in the right way for a long way into the future.

I personally will remember him for the difference he made last season and being off his mammaries outside the town hall bottle in each hand singing “Scunny get battered”….

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I think McAtee was excellent last season, all the qualities that people have detailed above but 2 other things stood out for me, his habit of doing things just at the right time, especially in the play off semi with the first Town goal and the equaliser in the final, this season he’s just not got going for whatever reason.

The 2nd thing is that last season he was brilliant with the supporters, he has time for everyone and that’s something he’s not lost despite relatively poor form versus last season, others may have gone into their shell.

The lad will go on to have a really good career and I have no doubt he’ll be remembered in the right way for a long way into the future.

I personally will remember him for the difference he made last season and being off his mammaries outside the town hall bottle in each have singing “Scunny get battered”….

Absolutely - the epitome of a 'heart on your sleeve' player, you can see how much it means to him and the delight he gets from being loved by supporters. I really enjoyed his promotion parade celebrations too lol.

McAtee was our talisman last season and made the difference in lots of games. Not the case this season, unfortunately.

Uncomfortable with classing players as ‘great’ or ‘legend’. What’ll I’ll offer is that if we ever needed someone to make a difference the bloke I’d want on the pitch would be Mcatee. The biggest game he got the equaliser then with Crocombe and Taylor created that goal. I wish him well, it’s time to move on but I’ll treasure what he did for us. You need someone to make a difference in a big game there’s one bloke I’d choose.

The play off campaign was a real never say die team effort. MacAtee was brilliant but the entire team will always have a special place in my affections for that extraordinary fortnight. The Comeback Kings! Unforgettable.

Totally agree, and apologies if I downplay the team effort. Despite that there were moments we needed someone to make a difference and that’s where he was gold. Few can do that.

Quoted from DB

Was Waterfall injured when he was taken off at half-time at Donny?

Wouldn't have thought so or Hurst would have brought Efete on .Instead he brought khan on to give us more attacking options

Taking Waterfall off was the need to keep 11 on the pitch as well as needing the attacking option, especially with that card wielding ref in charge !!.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

Different sort of player but his contribution in one season was immense.....Amond.

Not picking a fight because I agree about McAtee but just throwing another possibility into the debate.

Both players had amazing seasons for us, but with Amond it felt like he was a high quality component of the team; he had a job to do and he did it brilliantly. Playing further forward than McAtee, if the game wasn't going our way, then he wasn't able to do something against the run of play and drag us back into a match. We also had Bogle scoring a fair few and at important times.

Daft as it sounds, I think the player with that quality in the 15/16 team was McKeown who at that stage of his career with us was capable of pulling off impossible saves when we were up against it. Different area of the pitch but the same ability to gain us results we didn't deserve