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Supporters Rant Time!
By: Our Fishy Folk
Date: 19/01/2004
WE present here some of the fans and supporters comments and rants. The Fishy will accept all contributions for publication providing they are not libellous or abusive.
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Home > Features > 2004 Features > Supporters Rant Time! |
Haddocter says:
Firstly, let me take the opportunity to point out that what follows is a mixture of my personal thoughts on GTFC, mixed in with a fair sprinkling of conjecture.
So now Pouton has departed - what does that say about GTFC?
I don't think these departures are quite the damning indictment of what's going on down at Blundell Park that people may think. First Cas, and now Pouton, some might say - "enough is enough" - indeed some doubtless have already said it. However in the case of the former, I honestly believe that the team will not be weakened after this 'awesome' player's departure. I've also been maintaining for a long time now that Alan's (whilst acknowledging his staunch desire to walk through walls for the club) departure would not cause us too many problems - so long as he is suitably replaced - for me, that suitable replacement is Nicky Daws - who I believe, at the time of writing this article, has just signed on loan.
I made a mistaken comment in passing about loyalty in connection with Pouton's departure - let me put the record straight - I do not blame Alan for leaving at all and when you consider that his other alternative was to play on until the summer - with a promise of contract negations to come with no doubt much reduced terms - what was there to keep him here?
As far as any new contracts are concerned, the club stated that no new contracts would be offered until the summer as it would only serve to de-motivate - is this the case? Would a player not feel secure with a new contract all 'signed and sealed'? Or would it cause a lack of effort on the player's part, safe in the knowledge that his salary was going to be paid for the foreseeable future…. Or…perhaps no new offers are being made because yet again big pay cuts are in store for those who's contracts are up at the end of the season……..or am I just being cynical?
I don't blame Paul Groves in any way for either Pouton or Cas' departure - in fact in the case of Cas, I'd go as far as to say that I've been impressed by the dignity shown by Groves in the face of Cas' public outburst. From the information we as fans can garner through the forums available to us, in the case of Cas, it really does seem to be a case of the dummy being jettisoned from the nether-Netherlands pram.
Whilst I have acknowledged Groves for his dignified silence in relation to the Cas departure - I also ought to even the balance somewhat - I am not the only one who is continually mystified by his team selections, formations and use of substitutes etc. It is a thought held by many that Groves had struggled to take the step from team-mate to manager and subsequently may now have problems in telling those who previously were fellow team-mates that they possibly do not warrant a place in the starting eleven, let alone the squad.
Groves has made some good signings e.g. Edwards, and some that were maybe gratefully surprised at the chance of another year of professional football - I'll not stoop to naming names, however a central 'motor-like' defender and 'questionable' striker spring readily to mind at this point.
Is it possible that Groves cannot forget when a disagreement has occurred? Terry Cooke and latterly Phil Jevons come to mind.
Given many, many very poor displays - it perhaps also prompts the question - that if there is bad feeling between the manager and players, and some subsequently perceive that they are not getting a fair crack in the side - how can the manager succeed in attaining any sort of acceptable motivational levels within the team? I personally would have loved to have had an insight into the team spirit and camaraderie amongst the players just before the unacceptable trouncing at 'firmly bottom of the table' Wycombe Wanderers.
Another question many would like answers, is why young Hockless is not worth a place, given just how poor the team have been for the majority of the season.
Questions also have to be asked of the decision to award a contract to a player who, by the very nature of his injury, was not going to play (and indeed is still not playing) for the club for a considerable amount of time - could the money spent on this salary not have paid for a fully-fit player?
Nobody can doubt that Groves has been a wonderful servant to this club, and in time may well become a good manager - however as a club that is seemingly firmly ensconced into a downward spiral - is time a commodity that we are blessed with in abundance?
As a GTFC follower through and through, I fully appreciated that it was likely that we'd not go straight back up, and indeed may have to get used to life in Division 2, however it's the lack of effort/will to win/desire etc., shown on the park so often that as paying punters (although we feel more like paying mugs at the minute) is just not acceptable.
After a long, hard week of toil at work, the last thing we want to see is uncommitted so-called 'professional footballers' pulling on the jersey of our club (jerseys that we'd almost give body parts to wear) and then going on to put in performances that clearly indicate that they just don't give a damn.
Glenn Fuller pitches in with;
As a Grimsby exile living in York I'm sat here feeling totally despondent because of the shifts I work I don't get to games all that often anymore.. but at this moment in time I'm thinking why should I bother anyway?
The board at this time don't seem to care, the fans care, the board say there is no cash to buy!! So why not step down and find someone who wants to see a football club survive. OK we won't get an "Abramovich" but we want someone to help a club succeed (we should talk to a toothless budgie!)
Today's result was another reason why groves should go, but who would come here as manger what with no money to bring in fresh blood, rumours are that a Mr Buckley and Mr Alexander where seen at the Plymouth game.
It's OK saying get behind the team but with results like today's what reason do the fans have for coming back, as Mr Laws always said it's the results that get bums on seats and after today we are going to lose some, sorry many, and we will be lucky to get over 4k on Tuesday
Steve D comments;
As an avid fan, and season ticket supporter I have to say that groves your time is up. You've been a fantastic player and loyal to the club, but seriously, you don't have a clue about how to manage a football club.
I write this e-mail, for now action has to be taken. The club is full of wasters, Disco Des, Iffy ( No matter how much effort you put in son, you're still crap)
And now I hear we've lost Pouts and going to lose Mickey. Does Groves want to relegate us, selling our 2 best players can't be moving forward. Macca is past it, Mansaram is a poor player, Jevvo hasn't been playing and Grezza as they call him knows nothing.
If we are to stay up this season there has to be some drastic changes.
My other concern is why are our best players not being played. It seems to me that Groves would rather play 1 of his 'old friends' like Macca than play a team who is going to win games. Losing Terry Cooke was disappointing. Losing Pouts is disgraceful.
Oh my final moan is at Peter Furneaux. What do you do at the club? Unlike most chairmen who put money into the club, you do nothing!
I look forward to seeing Hockless play more often, because unlike most of our waste of space youth team he has some talent. I wouldn't be surprised if Mickey you do decide to leave you've got nothing to stay for.
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