Only six other users logged on when I opened the Fishy today and lead thread is about a Chelsea player. We have a non footy section so why not a non GTFC category too? At least the Lincoln obsessives can say they are in our division. Has the moribund state of the Club affected The Fishy too? Is the season over?
Saturday saw another canary fall from it's perch but we seem to ignore the warnings from the small explosion after the Oldham game. I don't buy the 'discussions take place in all dressing rooms' guff. The oxygen of honesty is urgently required down the Mariners pit.

Croton, I set that thread up, purely based on what I saw last night..
I agree the main threads should be about GTFC but I am so angry about the state of our once great club and also the absolute garbage we are being dished up week in week out that I needed to change tac and talk about something with a positive tilt...
Sick to my back teeth with clubs smaller than ours that certainly do not have the staunch support we give ours going on to bigger and better things, always moving forward and when things regress acting faster than our board appear to want to...
Stuck in the dark ages with no light shining at the end of tunnel of gloom!!..
For the first time in nearly 45 years of following and supporting GTFC I actually considered turning my back in them and taking up needle work classes on a Saturday afternoon...
I honestly cannot take much more of the sick to the bottom stomachs feeling I keep getting on not just match days but every time I open up this app or discuss the demise of Grimsby Town Football Club..
Sad, sad times..

To be honest I think a lot of fans may be feeling like myself, nonplussed!

In many ways this season is over and has been for a number of weeks and given that I am finding the approach by MJ, a former youth team coach for many years very confusing. In particular why did Pollock not start on Saturday why was Wright not recalled and given a game, why was Burrell not given at least 20 minutes?

He has, somewhat surprisingly, given Cardwell an extended contract and if he has faith in him why not play him up top in his preferred position to at least give the guy a chance to impress.

Why play Davis in midfield? Why play Clifton if he has an ongoing injury?

Whilst he is not making the wholesale tactical changes MB introduced his weekly tweaks in tactics, players and forward formations are an indication that he is far from having a style and system that town will play. In many ways he has the worst traits of Hurst, worries about the opposition too much & home games are something to be endured rather than enjoyed, MB, tactical changes and playing people out of position and Slade, never accepts responsibility for continuing poor results and continues to play in a style that is simply not working.

Like many after the Newport game and the superb way Hendrie and RHJ stormed down that right to create numerous opportunities that MJ had finally introduced his style of play. Since those two have hardly played together in the same way and as good as that performance was little did we realise how little Focus Newport had on that day prior to playing Man City.

To sum up I am now somewhat downhearted as I really don’t know what MJ is about!! He may still prove to be an excellent Manager but like many starting to wonder whether that will be for us as to date there is no evidence that he is learning from his mistakes.

Big summer ahead but at present I have little optimism but let’s hope I am wrong.

I wrote a really long (probably boring) post and deleted it.

Put simply, if he wants to play 3-5-2, he needs to get the right players in. If he doesn't want to play 3-5-2, he still needs to get the right players in.

There's been some bad luck, and some bad signings. We're down to the bare bones. I expect better. Summer will tell us where we're going.

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

To be honest I think a lot of fans may be feeling like myself, nonplussed!

In many ways this season is over and has been for a number of weeks and given that I am finding the approach by MJ, a former youth team coach for many years very confusing. In particular why did Pollock not start on Saturday why was Wright not recalled and given a game, why was Burrell not given at least 20 minutes?

He has, somewhat surprisingly, given Cardwell an extended contract and if he has faith in him why not play him up top in his preferred position to at least give the guy a chance to impress.

Why play Davis in midfield? Why play Clifton if he has an ongoing injury?

Whilst he is not making the wholesale tactical changes MB introduced his weekly tweaks in tactics, players and forward formations are an indication that he is far from having a style and system that town will play. In many ways he has the worst traits of Hurst, worries about the opposition too much & home games are something to be endured rather than enjoyed, MB, tactical changes and playing people out of position and Slade, never accepts responsibility for continuing poor results and continues to play in a style that is simply not working.

Like many after the Newport game and the superb way Hendrie and RHJ stormed down that right to create numerous opportunities that MJ had finally introduced his style of play. Since those two have hardly played together in the same way and as good as that performance was little did we realise how little Focus Newport had on that day prior to playing Man City.

To sum up I am now somewhat downhearted as I really don’t know what MJ is about!! He may still prove to be an excellent Manager but like many starting to wonder whether that will be for us as to date there is no evidence that he is learning from his mistakes.

Big summer ahead but at present I have little optimism but let’s hope I am wrong.

I think the manager is going the way of many others - managers and players - he seems to have lost a bit of faith in the club.

We need a change at the top to galavaise the club and the public. If none is forthcoming then we will continue to plod along.

MJ is obviously a wealthy guy working for a city bank.

With us on the brink of the playoffs just to falter and drop to just above the relegation zone.

Has MJ got the hunger or the drive to become a top manager.

I have my doubts if we don’t win any of the next three games maybe it’s time for a change.
We don’t want him wasting another seasons budget and getting a new manager in the new season.

Very worried.!

Season is over, interest is waning as a result....i have for the last 4 weeks had at least one offer of a season ticket that wasn't going to be used by its owner, i had to turn two other ST offers down a couple of weeks back  such was the lack of enthusiasm amongst the holders.

Quoted from Yoda

MJ is obviously a wealthy guy working for a city bank.

With us on the brink of the playoffs just to falter and drop to just above the relegation zone.

Has MJ got the hunger or the drive to become a top manager.

I have my doubts if we don’t win any of the next three games maybe it’s time for a change.
We don’t want him wasting another seasons budget and getting a new manager in the new season.

Very worried.!

When MJ was appointed last summer I posted that he looked modern and trendy, had all the right credentials and said all the right things but that he had no experience of managing in England and had changed jobs as often as his socks. Nothing that he has done this season has changed my mind. In fact I would not be surprised to see him leave before he gets pushed, probably back to some coaching job.

Quoted from Yoda

MJ is obviously a wealthy guy working for a city bank.

With us on the brink of the playoffs just to falter and drop to just above the relegation zone.

Has MJ got the hunger or the drive to become a top manager.

I have my doubts if we don’t win any of the next three games maybe it’s time for a change.
We don’t want him wasting another seasons budget and getting a new manager in the new season.

Very worried.!

That's probably way off the mark. He gave up banking years ago and I doubt his years as a youth coach has brought him in much money. He's probably spent a large chunk of whatever pot he'd built up.

Secondly, you don't give up a well paid job to pursue your dream only to go lukewarm on it when you get your first proper managerial job in this country after years of scrabbling around the country running kids coaching (yes I know he did the Burnley job).

Thirdly, plenty of football managers on much more than Jolley (and have pots in the bank) still have lots of drive. They get where they are precisely because they are driven people and can't turn it off when they make money.

Anyway, I'm no more worried about the club than I was 3 months ago, or two years ago come to that.

Performances are bound to take a dip when the team is changed around. We've got injuries. There's a bit of experimentation going on. There's nothing to play for. Players won't risk further injury with nothing at stake.

We're neither as good as some of us thought we were when we were on the good run (hopeless optimist? Guilty m'lud), nor as bad as people think now we're on a bad run.

Board, underwhelmed? Yes.
Worried? No. Not in the short-term anyway.
Still critical of the regime? Yes. Undoubtedly.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Anyway, I'm no more worried about the club than I was 3 months ago, or two years ago come to that.

Performances are bound to take a dip when the team is changed around. We've got injuries. There's a bit of experimentation going on. There's nothing to play for. Players won't risk further injury with nothing at stake.

We're neither as good as some of us thought we were when we were on the good run (hopeless optimist? Guilty m'lud), nor as bad as people think now we're on a bad run.

Board, underwhelmed? Yes.
Worried? No. Not in the short-term anyway.
Still critical of the regime? Yes. Undoubtedly.

Works on a few levels that.

Quoted from psgmariner

Works on a few levels that.

Ah, Freudian slip.  ;)

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Croton, I set that thread up, purely based on what I saw last night..
I agree the main threads should be about GTFC but I am so angry about the state of our once great club and also the absolute garbage we are being dished up week in week out that I needed to change tac and talk about something with a positive tilt...
Sick to my back teeth with clubs smaller than ours that certainly do not have the staunch support we give ours going on to bigger and better things, always moving forward and when things regress acting faster than our board appear to want to...
Stuck in the dark ages with no light shining at the end of tunnel of gloom!!..
For the first time in nearly 45 years of following and supporting GTFC I actually considered turning my back in them and taking up needle work classes on a Saturday afternoon...
I honestly cannot take much more of the sick to the bottom stomachs feeling I keep getting on not just match days but every time I open up this app or discuss the demise of Grimsby Town Football Club..
Sad, sad times..

No personal offence intended Northbank. Just totally fed up with MJ's blanishments and the lack of leadership both on and off the pitch. I don't think all the players are on the beach but several were at odds with themselves and each other far too early on in the game. When things aren't going for you, one has to concentrate on one's own game before mouthing off at a team mate.
Jolley can move the magnets around but can he motivate people?

Quoted from Croxton

No personal offence intended Northbank. Just totally fed up with MJ's blanishments and the lack of leadership both on and off the pitch. I don't think all the players are on the beach but several were at odds with themselves and each other far too early on in the game. When things aren't going for you, one has to concentrate on one's own game before mouthing off at a team mate.
Jolley can move the magnets around but can he motivate people?

I see where you are coming from, I think the Wes Thomas affair is more of a reflection of the truth of how the players are feeling...maybe they've had enough of Mr Tactically Masterclass and just can't be arsed with the hum drum of the statements being blurted out week after week..
Don't want to say they've downed tools, as that would be very unprofessional of professional footballers, but it looks that way to me..

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

I see where you are coming from, I think the Wes Thomas affair is more of a reflection of the truth of how the players are feeling...maybe they've had enough of Mr Tactically Masterclass and just can't be arsed with the hum drum of the statements being blurted out week after week..
Don't want to say they've downed tools, as that would be very unprofessional of professional footballers, but it looks that way to me..

You can only talk the talk for so long .... then you have to walk, one way or another.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

You can only talk the talk for so long .... then you have to walk, one way or another.

Players lose you games, not tactics. There’s so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes." Brian Clough

..... says it all RRFC...no more words needed

Quoted from Croxton

No personal offence intended Northbank. Just totally fed up with MJ's blanishments and the lack of leadership both on and off the pitch. I don't think all the players are on the beach but several were at odds with themselves and each other far too early on in the game. When things aren't going for you, one has to concentrate on one's own game before mouthing off at a team mate.
Jolley can move the magnets around but can he motivate people?

He clearly can, the evidence was there for all to see at the end of last season. But then again it was a clear and identifiable target of staying in the league. The problem is what were we aiming for this season? Jolley was measuring the number of home wins compared to last season the other day and finishing higher than last season's points total. Hardly definitive targets that players can buy into and get up for let alone the fans. Winning ten home matches instead of six or finishing 14th instead of 18th are practically meaningless and you end up with a rudderless ship and 3k home fans every week which cuts the next season's budget. Whatever the playing budget is, our target has to be either survival or play-offs, anything else is meaningless in this division and there's that little difference in playing budgets except the very top and bottom to make much of a difference in setting a target or not. Sometimes a statement of intent can work wonders and sharpen intensity rather than worrying about if that statement of intent backfires. This season without a target has backfired anyway, so not having one doesn't work. What's the target for 2019/20 MJ? "Um.. well, we'd like to win more home games than last season and finish in a higher position than last season too so progression can be put on my CV." Do you think those targets will motivate the players enough and get fans buying season tickets to provide you with a healthy enough playing budget? "Well, I don't think it is right to put added pressure on the players to set any further targets" So if you don't think you're confident enough to set a target of being one of the 10 out of the 24 teams in this division chasing a promotion or play off spot and you don't think the players you've signed could cope with those targets, what is the point of you being here, the players being here or other than the true diehard fans turning up? "Well um.."

When was the last time in the Football League we started with the same manager as we finished with? How many times have we managed that in the last 20 years? It is pretty depressing at the moment and we're in a bit of a limbo, but at least we have a bit of continuity and hopefully the management team will have learned something positive about this season which they can take into the next one.

2007/08. A season that started and ended with bad runs, so very similar.

Just hope MJ doesn't sign Matt Heywood in the summer.

Whatever happens in the rest of the season the club simply has to go for broke these last few games to spark and retain interest for next season. That, and a shakeup at the very top of the boardroom as well. If only.......

Quoted from jock dock tower

Whatever happens in the rest of the season the club simply has to go for broke these last few games to spark and retain interest for next season. That, and a shakeup at the very top of the boardroom as well. If only.......

If only indeed..or are we that group of fans that should be grateful that we support a mid to low table League 2 side with little ambition. ..the club that's about to spunk away a load of money on floodlights that might only get used for a few years (if we get really lucky).

Sadly, i gave up after the home defeat to Cambridge, and nothing that has happened since has made me regret that decision. I'm also glad i resisted the temptation to buy a season ticket this season. As moosey pointed out in another post, there are plenty of unused season tickets out there from people who have similarly given up, and i could attend any match for free because if it, but i just don't want to any more. It's just too depressing visiting Blundell Park, which has become a massive positivity sponge, sucking the life out of all who come into contact with the club. Players and managers appear all bright eyed and bushy tailed, only to slowly wither before our eyes, and you can see the light slowly leaving them by the week. No wonder players leave here and suddenly start performing better elsewhere. We have become the Bermuda triangle of football clubs.

I'm enjoying doing other stuff with my time now and unless there is a massive shift forward at the club, i may not be back next season, which is a shame, because i have been a loyal supporter for 48 seasons. Not posting much on here any more either. There's only so many times you can go over the same old ground before it becomes tiresome.  :(

Quoted from ginnywings

Sadly, i gave up after the home defeat to Cambridge, and nothing that has happened since has made me regret that decision. I'm also glad i resisted the temptation to buy a season ticket this season. As moosey pointed out in another post, there are plenty of unused season tickets out there from people who have similarly given up, and i could attend any match for free because if it, but i just don't want to any more. It's just too depressing visiting Blundell Park, which has become a massive positivity sponge, sucking the life out of all who come into contact with the club. Players and managers appear all bright eyed and bushy tailed, only to slowly wither before our eyes, and you can see the light slowly leaving them by the week. No wonder players leave here and suddenly start performing better elsewhere. We have become the Bermuda triangle of football clubs.

I'm enjoying doing other stuff with my time now and unless there is a massive shift forward at the club, i may not be back next season, which is a shame, because i have been a loyal supporter for 48 seasons. Not posting much on here any more either. There's only so many times you can go over the same old ground before it becomes tiresome.  :(

Understandable and you will not be the only one. I can see that season ticket sales will take a huge dive, especially if the remaining games are as bad as the last few. Glass half full days are behind us eh? :-/

No way will I be renewing mine unless some serious business is done over summer. Simple as that. Difficult enough attending as it is, but doing a 140 mile round trip on top of that is taking the urine.

My issue is not with Jolley by the way....

Quoted from 140381

No way will I be renewing mine unless some serious business is done over summer. Simple as that. Difficult enough attending as it is, but doing a 140 mile round trip on top of that is taking the urine.

My issue is not with Jolley by the way....

Same here....if we don't show some intent in the transfer market this summer I also won't be renewing my season ticket.....Mr Fenty might be happy with clawing back 200K a season and good luck to him.

Quoted from 140381

No way will I be renewing mine unless some serious business is done over summer. Simple as that. Difficult enough attending as it is, but doing a 140 mile round trip on top of that is taking the urine.

My issue is not with Jolley by the way....

Will that change if we end the season on a 13 game winless run?

As difficult as it is, I will be renewing come rain or shine. I love this club and will not abandon my support during this period and I fully respect anyone else’s alternative feelings or beliefs. I believe MJ should be allowed another half season at least to fully see his ideas out. UTM

Quoted from ginnywings

Sadly, i gave up after the home defeat to Cambridge, and nothing that has happened since has made me regret that decision. I'm also glad i resisted the temptation to buy a season ticket this season. As moosey pointed out in another post, there are plenty of unused season tickets out there from people who have similarly given up, and i could attend any match for free because if it, but i just don't want to any more. It's just too depressing visiting Blundell Park, which has become a massive positivity sponge, sucking the life out of all who come into contact with the club. Players and managers appear all bright eyed and bushy tailed, only to slowly wither before our eyes, and you can see the light slowly leaving them by the week. No wonder players leave here and suddenly start performing better elsewhere. We have become the Bermuda triangle of football clubs.

I'm enjoying doing other stuff with my time now and unless there is a massive shift forward at the club, i may not be back next season, which is a shame, because i have been a loyal supporter for 48 seasons. Not posting much on here any more either. There's only so many times you can go over the same old ground before it becomes tiresome.  :(

Glad you posted this mate I likewise havent been since the Cambridge game and can`t even give my ST away.

Quoted from Mariner Timsky

Will that change if we end the season on a 13 game winless run?

No. Why would it? Guardiola wouldn't make any difference if he's given a rotten budget to work with.

Quoted from 140381

No. Why would it? Guardiola wouldn't make any difference if he's given a rotten budget to work with.

Well a swap would be interesting!  ;D

Do you reckon that Jolley could win the CL for Man City if he was there with Guardiola‘s budget?

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Well a swap would be interesting!  ;D

Do you reckon that Jolley could win the CL for Man City if he was there with Guardiola‘s budget?

Could be a good premise for a Channel 4 "changing places" type programme...

Are we making progress or slowly sliding downwards? I can see us finishing below the 18th we managed last year.

Hurst/Bignot 14th
Bignot/Slade/Jolley 18th
Jolley ??

This season has had its moments, but so have the others.

The decline is mirrored in the attendances

2016-2017 5,259
2017-2018 4,658
2018-2019 4,511

This season has been better than last. The reason it's quiet is because we have absolutely nothing to play for. This was always going to be a transitional season so here are the positives:

1. Jolley has shipped out a lot of dross and the replacements (on the whole) are a step up.
2. We've blooded a fair few youngsters and we have a pretty young age profile.
3. Since about October we've not worried about relegation, i've not been frantically checking other scores as I was last season.
4. This season, and particularly at the moment, has given Jolley the opportunity to try things. it might not work now but if it benefits us next season then frankly I'm all for ir.
5. We've had a decent cup run that will have put a bit of cash in the coffers.

I'm struggling to go at the moment because of work but roll on August, I get the feeling next season could be ace!

I'm reporting this post

Far too positive for the fishy

Quoted from horsforthmariner

This season has been better than last. The reason it's quiet is because we have absolutely nothing to play for. This was always going to be a transitional season so here are the positives:

1. Jolley has shipped out a lot of dross and the replacements (on the whole) are a step up.
2. We've blooded a fair few youngsters and we have a pretty young age profile.
3. Since about October we've not worried about relegation, i've not been frantically checking other scores as I was last season.
4. This season, and particularly at the moment, has given Jolley the opportunity to try things. it might not work now but if it benefits us next season then frankly I'm all for ir.
5. We've had a decent cup run that will have put a bit of cash in the coffers.

I'm struggling to go at the moment because of work but roll on August, I get the feeling next season could be ace!

You are really unlucky to have been working. You missed all the huge entertainment of an incredibly exciting transitional season. Judging by the way the gates are going there must be quite a few more unlucky people who are suddenly having to work and can’t go to BP either.  ;)

[quote=657]

You are really unlucky to have been working. You missed all the huge entertainment of an incredibly exciting transitional season. Judging by the way the gates are going there must be quite a few more unlucky people who are suddenly having to work and can’t go to BP either.  ;)

The last game I went to was Oldham away and we very average so I get why people are so annoyed but I think we've got to be realistic. Even against Oldham we were far superior than we were under Slade.

Quoted from GrimRob

Are we making progress or slowly sliding downwards? I can see us finishing below the 18th we managed last year.

Hurst/Bignot/Slade 14th
Slade/Jolley 18th
Jolley ??

This season has had its moments, but so have the others.

The decline is mirrored in the attendances

2016-2017 5,259
2017-2018 4,658
2018-2019 4,511

If you're right (and I corrected the list of managers/season) if it proves anything it's that we should change manager more frequently  ;)

The club has squandered the boost it had from Operation Promotion.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

If you're right (and I corrected the list of managers/season) if it proves anything it's that we should change manager more frequently  ;)

The club has squandered the boost it had from Operation Promotion.

Operation Promotion seems a long time ago, so long I have even got the order of managers within the intervening seasons slightly wrong!

Unless we have a promotion campaign soon then gates are going to drift and when the season is over in March. Problem is we've been spoilt with all those seasons getting in the playoffs.

It'd be interesting to see how often fans come away from our games and can say they were entertained. Not often I'd suggest. I don't see Jolley lasting long. His talk hasn't matched the tactics, and any manager who persists with a 5-3-2 is setting themselves up to fall as far as I'm concerned.

Quoted from Mariner93er

It'd be interesting to see how often fans come away from our games and can say they were entertained. Not often I'd suggest. I don't see Jolley lasting long. His talk hasn't matched the tactics, and any manager who persists with a 5-3-2 is setting themselves up to fall as far as I'm concerned.

Not enough goal threat from MJ teams especially at home in most games despite seemingly having some decent attacking options. The lack of game time for Vernam in particular at home baffles me he has looked along with Embleton to be our most creative player but pretty sure he is seen as a luxury player by MJ?