Where Are You?

By: Mike Douglas
Date: 18/03/2005

IN the words of a certain Norwich City celebrity I ask the same question, Where are you the so-called twelfth man? The club we all love and support has been through the wringer financially and it is well documented why we are in the position we find ourselves in today.

I am a season ticket holder from the Lower Findus/Stones/Smiths stand and I have endured and suffered with everyone else during the last few seasons as hard decisions had to be made and realities had to be faced.

Two relegations later, a new chairman, a new manager and almost an entire new playing staff later we find ourselves in the basement division praying to keep our professional league status intact.

Enter Mr Slade. I admit to criticising some of his decisions during certain games, I also admit to defending him in the face of unrealistic demands expected of him considering his limited resources and lack of pre-season training opportunities. Asked by a fellow Mariners supporter before we kicked a ball in anger what I thought success would be for this season I replied "To be safe from relegation with five games to go and to have the clubs finances on an even keel again" In this regard Mr Slade has more than fulfilled the job and Mr Fenty is well on the way to doing the same.

I sometimes wonder how Mr Slade feels living his working life in a goldfish bowl often having to endure unwarranted criticism. He who is without sin cast the first stone indeed !! Let's not forget he is a young ambitious and reasonably new manager, how many of you in your working day never make a mistake? Always do the correct thing at the right time and always win ?

Give the man a break, get behind him and his team, and count your blessings. OK we don't always play the most attractive football and for the purists amongst us we don't always play the beautiful passing game but I also remember the grief we so called Town fans gave Mr Buckley even after he took us to Wembley twice. For those of you who are keen to jump on the bandwagon and follow the Town when things are great and we beat Liverpool at Anfield on a Tuesday evening (6000 Town fans) and we beat Bournemouth at Wembley (32000 Town fans) I ask the question "Where are you now in our hour of need ?"

Just ten quid from each and everyone of you "glory supporters" and we will have secured our future and can once again look forward to rising back to where we all feel we should be. For those of you who took the trouble to attend the quiz night and the fans forum both at McMenemy's you would have had the opportunity to talk to the players, the Manager and the Chairman regarding all aspects of the club, I did and was convinced we have the right team in place to take the club forward, to those of you who didn't, don't criticise people who are dedicated to the cause of Grimsby Town, the next time you want to see Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Newcastle or even Man Utd at Blundell Park just think that with your apparent indifferent attitude towards the club you may not have one to "support".

I strongly believe that in Mr Fenty we have a true Town fan in charge who can make sound business decisions and take the club forward. If he says Mr Slade deserves another season in charge of the team I back that decision 100%.

In the words of Winston Churchill "Let us go forward together" lets stop bickering, raise the cash needed to clear the debts and lets be optimistic about a bright future. We did it once to buy Ivano Bonetti's contract lets do it again, please give generously to the cause.

Fishyfinger also has his say on the subject.

So Mr Slade has been given the task of taking town through another 12 months. Well lets look at the facts, for the past three years we have fallen more times that Ronaldo, it has been a catastrophe of Hollywood proportions.

This year we started with Four professionals, Slade has scrapped about all over the place and put together a side that quite frankly should, playing the way we did against Wigan and Charlton, batter the living daylights out of teams.

Unfortunately in this league there are not to many teams that enjoy good football and would rather have a kicking competition missing out midfield altogether, lets have a midfield monster in the mould of Cockerill and a centre half that can not only win the ball but also use it to our advantage. We might make the play-offs but this year we are not ready for them.

Let Mr Slade have his second term and see what he can come up with, after all this has been the most successful season for years..... We didn't get relegated!!!!

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