If you are a “Mariner" it has been even more miserable for you than for us since mid November. They have played a mixture of top teams and form teams and all seem to have run their expected course. Their only wins have been a remarkable 3-0 win at Salford in late December and a home win over Crewe at the beginning of that month. This means that they are at the bottom of the 8-match form table, but they may judge that the home game against Rovers is a good chance to turn over a new leaf.
Having had a good outcome at Salford, Rovers should be more confident. Craig looked useful, Anderson seemed to perform better alongside Wood when he didn’t have to worry about what Oluwo would do next. Adelakun is proving to be very important and with the ever-reliable Ironside, those around them seem to be more effective too. The difference that Lo Tutala has made is immeasurable; he has the qualities which Jones so obviously lacks - reliability, confidence and athleticism, the essentials of goalkeeping. I really can’t believe we would have got any points out of the last 3 with Jones in goal. His distribution (allegedly Jones’s main attribute) looks better, although the defenders invariably allowed him clear the ball upfield when perhaps some alternative could have been used to confuse the enemy.
Grimsby will obviuosly see this as a chance to get back to winning and it is clear that they can score goals as we saw when they drew 5-5 at home v Notts County.
I hope we can win again so I’ll say 2-1 and go for Molyneux /Ironside for the first.
DPL v. Grimsby Town
posted on 16/2/24
Nookie, you crack me up! I did go to Cleethorpes as a boy, but luckily I can't remember the place.
As far as the game goes, I'll stay positive with a clean sheet at 2-0 to the Rovers.
I'll go for Molyneux for the first, subject to change when I see the starting line-up.
posted on 16/2/24
Cleethorpes had and still has the distinction of being the nearest seaside town to Doncaster and did its reputation suffer because of that or was it because the tide went out about 5 miles and the beach was strewn with dead fish? I did not know anyone who actually went on their annual holiday there - a day’s trip seemed the maximum endurance. It was Filey for us, but Bridlington and Scarborough seemed more popular with other families.
posted on 17/2/24
Donaldo - what memories! We never went to Cleethorpes again, but we loved Scarborough, and a DGS mate's family had a bungalow at Cayton Bay south of Scarborough (not sure of the correct name) My uncle had a caravan on a beach near Bridlington that we would visit. It was a great place for beach cricket - and my uncle had lost sight in one eye and when I bowled him a fast one, he said "Remember, you b-g--r, I only have one eye! Simple times, it it is so sad kids these days cannot have that pleasure.
OK, I'm getting old, and just so happy I grew up when I did.
posted on 17/2/24
Those were the days! The Working Men's Club trips made up of a convoy of buses loaded with crates of beer and crisps. We always forgot which number bus we were on. Bridlington and Scarborough mostly. My hols were at Reighton Gap near Filey in an asbestos home made prefab smelling of Calor gas and dripping wet in condensation. Come on Rovers make sure the Cod Eds have had their chips
posted on 17/2/24
Nice fish and chips, hope that we don't get battered 😏
Grimsby 1-3 Rovers
Ironside to score ⚽
posted on 17/2/24
Grimsby 1-2 Rovers. Ironside with the first.
posted on 18/2/24
Are we stunned into silence - another of those dreams perhaps, but no, it’s reality. A win to which the oft-used “unbelievable” might well be attached!
4 without defeat surely gives reasons to be optimistic at last.
posted on 19/2/24
Let's hope it's not another false dawn. The January loan signings seem to be making a big difference and the Anderson/Wood partnership too. Craig looks to be a big prospect and we now have a pacy winger who can cross a ball accurately and score. We'll see next Saturday if the ball really is in our court now and we can hit it into the net more regularly.
posted on 22/2/24
Sorry for being to be so slow in commenting on the win. Computer software problems is one excuse - I have a new iMac and some software I use was not compatible. Luckily I've sorted it all out and now everything seems to work. This is what I sent to a Rovers fan who lives on the same estate as we do:
At times the Rovers' play was too good for League Two, but at times they were disappointing and against a team with better shooters the score could have been different. There just does not seem the ability in some players to keep concentrated on the game for 90 minutes.
The start was amazing - I'm glad I got up in time! The first two goals were great team moves. It was the second half of the first half where they let Grimsby back into the game. I think their penalty a little harsh on Molyneux, and watching it a few times one could say the little contact there was started outside the penalty area.
Over the last few games there has been distinct improvements. The defence is much better now Wood is back from injury, and Anderson is nearly back to his best. Early in the season I thought Wood was getting too old, and a lack of pace could hurt us. While pace can still be an issue, his experience reading the game covers some of that issue. When Anderson came back from injury he appeared to be past his "best by date", but in the last couple of games seems to be nearly back to his best.
The other big change has been the impact of some of the loanees who came in January. Matty Craig from 'Spurs could become a very good mid-field player and is doing really well for his first time playing "man's football". Hakeeb Adelakun, after taking a couple of games to settle in, has been great. Three assists against Grimsby and goals and assists in other games. If he keeps this up, we should try and sign him in a permanent basis (he is out-of-contract at Lincoln at the end of the season). In Thimothee Lo-Tutala we seem to have a real goalkeeper! He worries me when he seems to dither too much before clearing the ball upfield, but this is a result of wanting to play out the back too often - but it has led to some of our recent goals. We are undefeated since he joined, and I do not think that would have been the case with Jones between the sticks! Hull recently extended his contract with them, so it would take a chunk of money to sign him permanently.
It was great to see Hurst score again. Last season he looked so good for his first time in "man's football", but since his injury this season has been up and down. Hopefully, this will give him some confidence.
Ironside really is an "old fashioned centre forward". If Adelakun and Molyneux keep feeding him well, he will hit the back of the net several times.
For the first time this season, I feel we may have turned the corner and will climb up the league. Hopefully, I won't have to re-think after we play some top teams.
I'm trying not to get too optimistic as Grimsby were a poor team. However, I live in permanent hope (which of course is not a strategy!)
posted on 22/2/24
An excellent appraisal Micky and I agree with all your views.
I think we are better without Close and much better without Jones. I share your nervousness about Lo Tulala clearing the ball, but his long punts upfield are usually quite productive.
Having sustained the improvement it makes me feel better about our fortunes than for a very long time.