Audio:
http://wall.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/Event/Mariners_Wall/132086943

Said "it's about time" then went on to say.... (2:43)

"All in all, sat on the bench you're thinking 'Do I change it and really go attacking ?' but I think any point away from home is valuable. And as it turned out, 3 is obviously even better."

3 times more "'valuable" !
Have to say, I really hope he isn't suggesting he WOULDN'T have gone attacking in search of 3 had we not got the breakthrough ?
But got to be honest, that's what it sounds like !  
Not that a point would have been disastrous by any means but are we thinking "playoffs first" here ?

Goes on to say.... (from 6:32)

"There's a lot of good signs ultimately it's about points and winning games but actual you know, goals against, places, us away record, places that we've won, we've beat some of the better teams as in higher in the league and won at some difficult places so for me there's a lot of positive signs there, but ultimately we just have to keep winning games."

JT: "All managers say they don't look at the league table, will you be looking at it tonight ?"

PH: "No I know where we are but, I think Matt asked me that yesterday. And genuinely it was more about, in truth keeping trying to be unbeaten still. And the 3 points is an added bonus. Again, not that we came for a point. But more than anything it was important we kept a run going and like I said to Klim, the 3 pts is credit to the players and we're in a good run of form. We'll try and continue that but we've got a sort of day off as such this weekend with the FACup."

I appreciate keeping a run going CAN be important.
But more important than wanting to put 2 extra points on the board ?!

Personally, I certainly never "expect" Town to win or draw ANY game (cos anything can happen...)
But equally for me, "momentum" doesn't mean voluntarily SLOWING down (by not taking risks to lose your 1 point) AFTER you got 3 the time before.

It's a near certainty we're gonna lose again at some point this season anyway.
So what's with this idea of an "unbeaten run" ? (that's most probably gonna end at some point anyway)
More "false dawn" accusations ? Extra few quid on the gate v Oxford ?
Whatever the reason, wonder if we're in danger of losing focus on the ultimate 1st prize.

Dear Mr Hurst,

Much as I support you, feel compelled to say your seemingly defensive comments towards victory tonight feels like Forest Green (away) deja vu all over again !

You make a very good point about the tough places we've won.
However I'd kindly suggest you ALSO look where Barnet have won on their travels too ! (see 'Barnet' thread).
i.e. Chester, Southport, Dover, Forest Green, Gateshead, Welling.

Then perhaps re-consider (in context of chasing the league leader), whether:

a) 1 point REALLY would have been such a "valuable" result tonight.
b) In light of the unfair 'fallout' after our first 3 undefeated games, whether defeat really would have been so bad.
Especially AFTER winning 4/5 games on the bounce....
c) whether for the future (if you can keep this winning league run going), ultimately losing the occasional away game is really SO disastrous in the grand scheme of what I'm sure we'd ALL like to see you achieve - i.e. automatic promotion.

End of the day, no-one is saying promotion is easy by any means (well most aren't !)
But IMO, we can worry about POTENTIAL "fan reactions" to every defeat until we're blue in the face.
I'm not sure it's gonna do our automatic promotion prospects much good ?
If we can beat (or get a result) v Halifax on Tuesday, please let's not imagine a draw away to Altrincham is good reason to smile.

Very well done to you and the players tonight !

UTM.

Was this thread really necessary 80's?
We go 2nd in the league and you decide to introduce just a hint of negativity.
Still time to delete before one of the famous five wake from their 6 week slumber and feel the opportunity to return to the keyboard has arrived.

What's the issue ?

Yes it was completely necessary if we want really want to have a realistic chance of automatic promotion IMO.

That's not to say Hurst isn't doing a brilliant job.
Or we couldn't gain promotion through the playoffs if we didn't quite manage it via the automatic route.  

All I'm saying is while we've got the knack, let's keep trying to find it.

Quoted from thevera

Still time to delete before one of the famous five wake from their 6 week slumber and feel the opportunity to return to the keyboard has arrived.

Well maybe the famous 5 have 1 or 2 good points buried within their doomish negative "I can't back down cos I've picked my choice now" outlook.
The trouble is (or was), their expectations were off the richter scale at the start of the season when we had players injured.

Everyone has something to offer and no-one is completely right or wrong.
ginny and moosey might be a bunch of miserys but there's no doubt they sometimes know what they're talking about regards tactics etc.

If you ask me what the exiles/anti Hursts maybe forget is, THEY'RE the ones (not just Hurst) who can also probably help make the extra difference to promotion if THEY join the push, SUPPORT and make themselves eveyones heroes.

That's assuming they're out in numbers there reading it all...
I sure hope they do return cos if you ask me we need every man, woman and child on board getting behind the cause.

By the way if you're gonna complain about "negativity" please don't shoot the messenger ?

At the end of the day we all know it's a lot more positive and inspiring for everyone to read intended shows of support at BP (well done gary elton !) than to read any of us (including myself) moaning about Hurst's negativity.

The way I see it, if he really is negative then he's doing bloody well so who knows what a little bit extra positivity might do too.

Paul Hurst will never be a Mourinho, Holloway or Warnock to the media but even he must be bouncing inside that one of the hoodoos has been seen off... not in style, perhaps, but three points are on the board and Grimsby are currently 2nd in the table, and on a good run of results.

The "one match at a time" and somewhat dour style of talking has to understood as his "natural" style.

His team have done what was needed and won a difficult away game where we have struggled in the past, and last night's ref needs a thread of his own.

Whatever way the weekend cup game goes, he still has to have the next league game against Halifax to consider - a really important chance to strike a blow against a promotion rival.

It's still so close in the 2nd to 9th position that every 3 points can change league positions, so we need this run to continue to try to cement this 2nd position over the next month if possible.

I don't know who the famous five are but for me, Hurst is still a play off kind of manager. He will always put out well drilled, efficient, hard working sides that are difficult to beat but without that swagger that title winning sides have. To get to the next level, we need more goals in the side and a striker like Vardy, Tubbs or that guy at Luton whose name escapes me.

Despite all our dominance last night, we created very little and profited from a lapse by their keeper from a poor initial shot. Could easily have been the usual 0-0.

Before anyone calls me negative, i'm not. Recent results have been great and i'm well chuffed but i just think we need a prolific striker in the Hearn mould to give us that little bit extra that winning the title takes. With only one automatic promotion spot, we have to aim for the top.

So. all in all, i think 80's is right in that Hurst is still erring on the side of caution with a 4-5-1 formation and a holding midfielder  and that the play offs are still our best shot. Lenny is left isolated a lot of the time and currently it is working for us. Let's hope it continues.

I'm worried about Carl Magnay's injury. Hurst says it's his knee but doesn't yet know the extent of the problem. Magnay has previously suffered a horrible knee injury that he was very lucky to return to playing from. Let's hope it's his other one, and/or is a minor problem. Fingers crossed from us all I'm sure.

Quoted from 120797

Dear Mr Hurst,

Much as I support you, feel compelled to say your seemingly defensive comments towards victory tonight feels like Forest Green (away) deja vu all over again !

You make a very good point about the tough places we've won.
However I'd kindly suggest you ALSO look where Barnet have won on their travels too ! (see 'Barnet' thread).
i.e. Chester, Southport, Dover, Forest Green, Gateshead, Welling.

Then perhaps re-consider (in context of chasing the league leader), whether:

a) 1 point REALLY would have been such a "valuable" result tonight.
b) In light of the unfair 'fallout' after our first 3 undefeated games, whether defeat really would have been so bad.
Especially AFTER winning 4/5 games on the bounce....
c) whether for the future (if you can keep this winning league run going), ultimately losing the occasional away game is really SO disastrous in the grand scheme of what I'm sure we'd ALL like to see you achieve - i.e. automatic promotion.

End of the day, no-one is saying promotion is easy by any means (well most aren't !)
But IMO, we can worry about POTENTIAL "fan reactions" to every defeat until we're blue in the face.
I'm not sure it's gonna do our automatic promotion prospects much good ?
If we can beat (or get a result) v Halifax on Tuesday, please let's not imagine a draw away to Altrincham is good reason to smile.

Very well done to you and the players tonight !

UTM.

I didn't go but listened to the commentary. They were speaking about the referee and said 'he seems to be focusing on all the small things that don't really matter but missing the big things that do'

That comment could also be used for this post.

:)

Salford, I guess you'll be keeping an eye on that Magnay injury diagnosis with your expertise. I think I'm right in saying that Magnay had previously suffered a compound knee injury - damaged meniscus, ruptured ACL and joint surface fracture - a horrific and complicated injury I've suffered myself.

I listened to the interview last night and think that Hurst mentioned that Magnay was able to hobble off the pitch, so you wouldn't think the injury was too extreme. He apparently hurt the knee blocking a shot so hopefully it has just been jarred and he won't be out long, if at all.

Quoted from chaos33

:)

Salford, I guess you'll be keeping an eye on that Magnay injury diagnosis with your expertise. I think I'm right in saying that Magnay had previously suffered a compound knee injury - damaged meniscus, ruptured ACL and joint surface fracture - a horrific and complicated injury I've suffered myself.

Haven't seen how he did it so impossible to tell mate.  If it is just through a block tackle usually it's only a mcl. Hopefully just a minor one.

Quoted from acko338

Paul Hurst will never be a Mourinho, Holloway or Warnock to the media but even he must be bouncing inside that one of the hoodoos has been seen off... not in style, perhaps, but three points are on the board and Grimsby are currently 2nd in the table, and on a good run of results.

The "one match at a time" and somewhat dour style of talking has to understood as his "natural" style.

His team have done what was needed and won a difficult away game where we have struggled in the past, and last night's ref needs a thread of his own.

Whatever way the weekend cup game goes, he still has to have the next league game against Halifax to consider - a really important chance to strike a blow against a promotion rival.


It's still so close in the 2nd to 9th position that every 3 points can change league positions, so we need this run to continue to try to cement this 2nd position over the next month if possible.

I am pleased he is not. Mourinho, Warnock or Holloway, self publicists who like the sound of their own voices. PH is a quieter person, more measured and yes maybe a bit dour. I prefer him to a performing clown. Let him get on with the job, he and the team are not doing too bad at present are they?

Didn't Hurst say he got up but was struggling if it was bad he would have been stretchered off.  Im thinking a twisted knee out for 2 weeks or just a bang cleared up by Saturday.

Yes, hobbling off the pitch a very good sign. I'm not suggesting that he has experienced another injury comparable to his previous - you don't hobble off the pitch with that, but I would hate it to be another semi-serious problem with a heavily repaired knee, even a bad twist or medial tear. Hopefully it's a 'jarred knee', and it's his other one!

Quoted from ginnywings

So. all in all, i think 80's is right in that Hurst is still erring on the side of caution with a 4-5-1 formation and a holding midfielder  and that the play offs are still our best shot.

Woah !
Hang on a minute.
Just to be clear ginny....

I think:

i./  Hurst is most PROBABLY "erring on the side of caution" (not ALWAYS a bad thing)
ii./ you don't necessarily need to "go attacking" or use a more attacking formation straight from the off. (but would obviously encourage it in the right circumstances)
iii./ There is some concern over LJL isolated and 4-5-1
iv./ I picked a 4-2-3-1 but accept that formation (and more importantly Hurst's 4-3-3) can often end up playing like 4-5-1.

Also I never said "play offs are still our best shot", that's your guess I assume. (and if so, guess the bookies would agree with you).

Anyway some excellent thought provoking points ginny. (+1)

I'm off to bed, I'm knackered...

Quoted from Maringer

I listened to the interview last night and think that Hurst mentioned that Magnay was able to hobble off the pitch, so you wouldn't think the injury was too extreme. He apparently hurt the knee blocking a shot so hopefully it has just been jarred and he won't be out long, if at all.

Magnay tweeted last night it was jarred and that he expects to be fit on Saturday

Brilliant!  :)

It's a question of a manager's confidence in the ability of players.

If you don't trust them to outperform the opposition one on one then you pack your midfield to stop them playing, keep the ball, hope for a break, settle for what you can get. Anything more is a bonus.

If your side has the confidence to believe they can beat anyone, you use your midfield as a springboard for attack, get players into the box and settle for what you can get only if you can't get the maximum. Anything less is a big disappointment.

No prizes for guessing.

Quoted from 120797

Dear Mr Hurst,

Much as I support you, feel compelled to say your seemingly defensive comments towards victory tonight feels like Forest Green (away) deja vu all over again !

You make a very good point about the tough places we've won.
However I'd kindly suggest you ALSO look where Barnet have won on their travels too ! (see 'Barnet' thread).
i.e. Chester, Southport, Dover, Forest Green, Gateshead, Welling.

Then perhaps re-consider (in context of chasing the league leader), whether:

a) 1 point REALLY would have been such a "valuable" result tonight.
b) In light of the unfair 'fallout' after our first 3 undefeated games, whether defeat really would have been so bad.
Especially AFTER winning 4/5 games on the bounce....
c) whether for the future (if you can keep this winning league run going), ultimately losing the occasional away game is really SO disastrous in the grand scheme of what I'm sure we'd ALL like to see you achieve - i.e. automatic promotion.

End of the day, no-one is saying promotion is easy by any means (well most aren't !)
But IMO, we can worry about POTENTIAL "fan reactions" to every defeat until we're blue in the face.
I'm not sure it's gonna do our automatic promotion prospects much good ?
If we can beat (or get a result) v Halifax on Tuesday, please let's not imagine a draw away to Altrincham is good reason to smile.

Very well done to you and the players tonight !

UTM.

I think you're reading way too much into his post match stuff, we are second in the league and you're picking his interview to bits, you have him clearly stating he doesn't set them up for a draw.
It's a really tricky place to go and we took three points for the 4th game on the spin scoring 8 and conceding 2, that's pretty good going.

I listened to the interview and its the first time I get the feeling paul actually believes he can get promotion.

all his interviews come across a bit like he hasn't got the self confidence in the team or himself but that was the first one what made me actually believe what he was saying.

paul, don't you reel me in again  ;)

Braintree were very cautious, with 5 in midfield as well, they are a decent enough passing team but had little threat last night, they set up not to lose, If Hurst had gone 442 or 433 we may have struggled to have so much possession. There never seemed a lot of space on a bobbly pitch and Towns defence was very good again.
    Anyone who thinks we just just play our own game regardless of the opposition are in my opinion a little naive.  As it was, a great reactive finish from the shop and after that we looked more to score likely on the break than braintree. Great result, well done to Hurst and the team.  You could see how delighted the team were at the end, there is a bit of the winning spirit about the team now which is great to see.

Also a fantastic turnout by town fans again , looked to be nearly half the crowd

Great news on Magnum if true. And well done Johnny on that avatar ;D

Quoted from jonnyboy82

I listened to the interview and its the first time I get the feeling paul actually believes he can get promotion.

all his interviews come across a bit like he hasn't got the self confidence in the team or himself but that was the first one what made me actually believe what he was saying.

paul, don't you reel me in again  ;)

Hahaha just noticed JonnyBoy's avatar is a hotdog....go on jonny lol

Quoted from 3610

That comment could also be used for this post.

You mean I shouldn't criticize ?
If not, feel free to elaborate because your point escapes me.
If you think I'm not delighted with victory last night, you're very much mistaken.
The point I'm making is, we'd all like to see victory become a regular habit in the FUTURE too.
I don't mean win EVERY match, that's living in cloud cuckoo land...  

Quoted from headingly_mariner

I think you're reading way too much into his post match stuff

I would probably agree with you except it's not the first time it's happened. (have said why, won't waffle to explain)

To be fair like you say, he has managed to win anyway without "really go attacking".
The issue and question for me is whether he would have done so (or was it just PR ? If so, it makes little sense to me !)
And more importantly, whether he'll do so in the future if faced with a similar scenario...

While our league run continues, my guess is (or at least I'd hope so), now he's bagged this fantastic away win (i.e. effectively secured 3 away draws on the bounce), he'll try to crack on away from home with a slightly more attacking/risky approach (at some stage of the game) to do as much as he can (or feels comfortable with) to win these games in pursuit of Barnet.

Don't get me wrong, I can certainly understand any cautious approach before (or even during) the match - generally I'd be the same !
Neither do I really give a stuff about his so called "negative" persona on camera.
And generally, also think any point away from home is always valuable too. (was under no illusions it would be very tough there)

However my criticism is ALL in the context of who we're chasing, trying to keep the pressure on.
Managers must be incredibly busy people but they should be looking at the league table with a fine toothcomb IMO.

Now who knows, it may well be Hurst has all these things covered anyway.
But tbh that's generally not the impression I got at all, hence the concern.
Anyway, I've had my say now so well done to all concerned for the great result.

Onwards and upwards...  :)

Quoted from codcheeky

Braintree were very cautious, with 5 in midfield as well, they are a decent enough passing team but had little threat last night, they set up not to lose, If Hurst had gone 442 or 433 we may have struggled to have so much possession. There never seemed a lot of space on a bobbly pitch and Towns defence was very good again.
    Anyone who thinks we just just play our own game regardless of the opposition are in my opinion a little naive.

Agree with you !

If you think I'm one of the "naive" ones, can assure you I'm not, think you're missing my point.

For me it's not necessarily about how you set up or what formation you go with.
Of course you have to "match them up" if you think it best to. (not sure about "holding midfielder", I picked 2 of them !  ??))
Keep it tight for 70 mins, see what happens, then "have a right go at them" - generally that's ok with me !

All I'm saying is just cos you're going 4-5-1, doesn't mean you can't try to play more attackingly
Or say, throw attacking subs on to try to win the game.
Same as a manager could go 4-4-2 and try to play very defensively.
Obviously formation dictates tactics to a certain degree...

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

It's a question of a manager's confidence in the ability of players.

If you don't trust them to outperform the opposition one on one then you pack your midfield to stop them playing, keep the ball, hope for a break, settle for what you can get. Anything more is a bonus.

If your side has the confidence to believe they can beat anyone, you use your midfield as a springboard for attack, get players into the box and settle for what you can get only if you can't get the maximum. Anything less is a big disappointment.

No prizes for guessing.

I wonder what the correlation is between those who believe:

a) Disley's legs have gone / is a clogger (I don't but he's hardly 'Mr runaround all day' either)
b) we should go with him + only 1 other in a TWO man central midfield ?

"If your side has the confidence to believe they can beat anyone" is all well and good in theory. (and not saying there's no truth in it)

Was I worried about b) myself ? Yes !
Whether that's good enough reason not to go with it is another question...

However with Brown missing (and Pell not looking 100% match fit), think Hurst has done the right thing going 3 in the middle (at least in our recent games).
Least surely no-one can say Disley hasn't been effective playing in front of the back 4 ?

Whatever we all may think, it's fair to say Hurst's tactics and seemingly pragmatic approach is working right now.

Think PH need interview coaching. He is too honest, he needs to say what the fans want to hear, not the truth!

Well if he did, would those not giving him much credit for anything suddenly be dishing out the compliments at will ?
Can't see it myself...

Course I see your point but always think honesty is a good thing.

He needs to use phrases like "kick on" "go again" "moving forward" and "next level" more, until he does that he's not a proper manager!

Quoted from Abdul19

He needs to use phrases like "kick on" "go again" "moving forward" and "next level" more, until he does that he's not a proper manager!

;D

Given you a tick 80s because that has got to be the shortest post you've ever made  ;)

.   ;)

I have to say, listening to the interview as it was live on RH, I did notice Hurst saying he was in the dilemma at 0-0 of "do we go more attacking" and saying any point away from home is a good point and we were nice and solid etc etc. So I do think 80s has the basis of a valid point.

I'm not having a go at PH by this but I thought to myself at the time that regardless of our previous record at Braintree, a team with ambitions to win the league should be going there for 3 points, not thinking 1 point would be a valuable point.

As TRRFC says above, I wish Hurst would have a bit more belief in our team and approach games like we mean business and are there to take 3 points, not be solid and compact and hope to nick a goal.

We've got some great attacking talent in this team and we could do some real damage with it with the right approach.

If you ask me to guess, PH was scared to change the team/formation/tactics and introduce some of his more attacking players/approach cos he fears some will complain (about "changing a winning team") if it goes wrong.

Yes on this occasion it worked but it doesn't always by any means (e.g Aldershot).
Same as it doesn't always work when you do...
But equally, there's countless examples where players have come into the side and we've won.

Yes I'm a scratched record, I know (I bore myself !)
But it's so frustrating trying to convince those who seem to believe the same 11 can play and win every game until the end of season that ultimately, it's near impossible !
Even if the same team could notch up x wins, who knows how jaded they would be come the sharp end of the season. (IMO)

Some fans (not you Tommy !) can't have it both ways...
If some fans don't like 4-5-1 they can't complain about "changing a winning team" if Hurst decides to bring in new personnel and changes the team away from 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 !  ??)

I really hope Neilson and Pittman (both who returned for the Gateshead win) play Saturday cos god know when they'll be back otherwise.
If they're left out to pasture indefinitely, what a awful waste of talent and squad resources it would arguably be. :-/

I agree with these excellent points rasied by Tommy and 80's and others about set-up and approach. I admit that if we'd have drawn that Braintree game 0-0 or lost 1-0, there would have been a raft of familiar criticism about these aspects! This time it paid off. People have to accept that 'tactical astuteness' can be defined by one moment in a game, rightly or wrongly.

As you say at the end of your post 80's - when are Nielson and Pitman and, I would add, McLaughlin (and perhaps Hannah too) going to be restored to the team? Having them not figure for 3 or 4 games can become problematic for lots of reasons, and people will always argue that winning teams shouldn't be changed -  easy to see the points on both sides of that argument. Personally I would play Nielson, Pitman and McLaughlin on Saturday, even if they only get 30-40 minutes at some point. I think we can still field a very strong team - perhaps many people's idea of our 'strongest team' (a complicated concept in itself) and try to nurture sharpness and morale across the squad. I suppose this is the problem you face when you have a strong squad and practically everyone is fit!

I agree chaos. (+1)

Quoted from chaos33

People have to accept that 'tactical astuteness' can be defined by one moment in a game, rightly or wrongly.

Can you elaborate on this point ?
Think I know what you may mean but you've lost me slightly I'm afraid !

In the interests of brevity I'll simplify to this:

You win the Braintree game 1-0 and your tactics have paid off despite some (valid) criticism of how positive we might have set up. You draw or lose the game and see the return of the familiar criticisms about the way you set the team up, ambition, playing to win etc. The outcome and evaluation of result and performance hinges on Lennie's goal from our only real chance.

It goes in and we win 1-0  = general satisfaction. You miss the chance and draw or lose = the tactics were all wrong!

I'm not saying this is right or even fair, but it's how fans operate generally, and I'm no different.

Oh blimey !  ;D

Please just spit it out.. ;)  

It's a results based business for sure.

Quoted from codcheeky

Also a fantastic turnout by town fans again , looked to be nearly half the crowd

My thoughts as well.I remember when I went to the Barnet game last season away and our fans created a better atmosphere than theirs