“Shall I post or not?” I thought, after the extremely disappointing showing today. However, after reading some of the posts on here, particularly those calling for Coleman’s head, I thought I might as well have my two penn’orth, for what it’s worth.
Firstly, no-one has remarked on the absence of Tom Lees and Jonny Flynn from the squad. I don’t actually KNOW, but feel it is reasonable to assume that they have been stricken by the “lurgy” which has been affecting the club in the past few days. (If I’m wrong, then the next bit of this post is irrelevant…….. however…… assuming that this was the case, then the moving of Phil to right-back was enforced, leaving the central pairing of Darren and McCarten.)
Ok, now, I feel that Darren NEEDS Phil to cover behind him and allow him to go forward to win the ball. That cover was not there today, leaving Darren to rely even more on his “get rid at all costs” philosophy. McCarten, with the best will in the world, looked raw and inexperienced, not sure what was required of him and certainly not up to the “cleaning-up” role which Darren needs.
This seemed to affect the confidence of Boozer, who had what I believe to be his worst ever game for Stanley. As one of Bavs’s greatest critics, it grieves me somewhat to say that there were times when I wished he’d been playing today!
However, on to the rest… Proccy, before being made captain, was a bit of a “headless chicken”. Then, having taken on the responsibility, he became something of an inspiration. Sadly now, for whatever reason, he seems to have returned to poultry mode. This does not make him a bad player – he just seems to feel that he has to make up for others’ deficiencies.
Ryan, Winnard, Phil, Symes and Kee.. reasonable marks today, often for making up for others’ failings.
Grant…. Was he playing? Turner…. I have said before that I am not convinced that he is the answer to all our problems but, if you leave out the player who is most likely to feed him, i.e. Joyce, then you leave him with a mountain to climb.
So, to sum up, then, Grimsby, fighting relegation, took the game to us and thoroughly deserved their win. This doesn’t suddenly turn us into a bad team, but into a team which has lost a bit of confidence and for whom things are not working out any more.
On the positive side, we are safe and could yet end the season with a respectable top-half finish, so let’s get behind them, stop carping on about where things have gone wrong and try to encourage Coley, Jimmy and the team to put things right. Incidentally, full marks to the Ultras and the Clayton End today. I’m sure there were times when you didn’t feel like singing, but that kind of support should be an inspiration to any team.
Onward and upward, then. Let’s get back on track at Darlington next week and show those who prophesied relegation at the beginning of the season that they write Stanley off at their peril!
On Stanley On!
. I stand by my signature block!
especially if they think people disagree wi there view.
Coley and Jimmy have done an amazing job this season and over the last ten seasons! 
They have totally defied predictions about relagation. So well done. 
sing with the Ultras 
and continue our historical journey with STANLEY
