Cod Almighty | Diary

What are we playing for?

22 March 2019

The Mariners are closer to the playoffs than they are the relegation zone. Mathematically, there's still plenty to play for, although the reality is that we're likely to finish the season exactly where we are right now. Would that represent success, failure or something in between?

At the start of November our place in the league looked precarious. Then we had a decent cup run while our league form took us to the brink of the playoffs. We're a team much better equipped at finding a way to win games but by the same token we also have a fragile underbelly that's contributed to 18 league defeats this season.

I’d like to say that there are one or two remaining games that are getting me excited but the honest truth is that I’m struggling to feel motivated by any of our last eight fixtures, given that there’s so little to play for. Of course, Michael Jolley and the players will disagree. There's always pride at stake - and contracts. Usually.

Not many players would be under contract beyond the summer so you’d be able to argue that, for at least some of them, they’d be playing for their futures. But this year is different. The only players who are genuinely out of contract this summer – in the sense that the club doesn’t have an option to trigger an extension – are Danny Collins, Martyn Woolford and Wes Thomas. Three of our most experienced pros.

Oh, and Jonathan Hooper. Forgot about him.

Elliot Embleton, Kristian Dennis and Joe Grayson will return to their parent clubs, while the likes of Harry Davis, Reece Hall-Johnson and Alex Whitmore could be released if Jolley doesn’t see them as part of next season’s plans (and if our contract tracker is accurate). If they’re kept on, it gives us a solid base to build on – two experienced keepers and seven defenders with a good mix of youth and experience.

It’s in midfield and attack that I’d expect to see the biggest investment. What sort of budget will Jolley be given? Well, something a bit better than this season’s, if I’ve understood the rumours correctly. Hopefully the board have seen enough in Jolley to back him with a bit more confidence. I’m not saying we should go overboard, but clearly the man needs funds to get what he thinks will improve our squad.

I don’t think any of us are demanding a huge or irresponsible injection of cash, but we get good gates at this level and, along with sponsorship money, I’d expect our budget to be more competitive next season. Or maybe we'll remain in the lower quartile because every other club is being irresponsible?

I have no idea what budget tomorrow’s opponents Bury had at the start of the season but they’re going great guns at the minute and look likely to make a return to the third division. Their recent away form in particular is impressive – they’ve won five of their last six on the road and are unbeaten anywhere since Boxing Day – so they’ll represent a tough challenge for the Mariners.

You’re able to watch Jolley’s pre-match thoughts for free on the official site, which has been both new and superb for a very long time now. It’s also where you can watch a video of Wes Thomas saying he hopes to bag a few more goals before the season’s out. I’ve watched neither and I don’t intend to – much like I don’t read the articles on the Telewag site any more – because I’m pretty certain they’ll reveal nothing more than what the headline’s already told me.

Well, the Shakers certainly have something to play for tomorrow. How Town play in response to a team fighting for promotion will certainly be a measure of Jolley’s motivational skills.