Cod Almighty | Diary

It's almost autumn and an hour in the Upper Findus will have Jason Dadi Svanthórsson feeling right at homee s

3 September 2024

It is interesting to read Dave Burns' and John Tondeur's first impressions from a pre-season game, that the new players had not looked any better than the ones they replaced for they reflected all our August fears. Now, one by one, the chickens are coming home not to roost but to lay their eggs.

Newbegin Diary took an immediate liking to George McEachran: he has that deft ability to work in the smallest space, not just to frustrate his foes but to spring Town into the attack. Cameron McJannet has already met the expectations set by the college friend of Target Demographic Diary. However, it is the forward from exotic places on whom we we cast our fondest hopes and against Bradford City, Jason Dadi Svanthórsson took the eye.

He'd looked peripheral until Saturday but one hoped it was just a question of needing time to acclimatise. Early on, he was once more crowded off the ball from a position close to the penalty area, but then minutes later, near the halfway line he beat his man and laid the ball off. Was he one of those players who is only effective in positions where there is no direct threat, or was it a sign of growing confidence? His goal provided the answer, and watching it back you see the subtle sway which deceived the defender, giving Svanthórsson the time and space to finish. Then we were 2-0 up and when he had the ball at his feet, head up in the centre of the field, he was a compelling, commanding presence. It is not just the high shoulders which suggest John Oster in a blond wig. 

Over the weekend, Dave Artell said that he hoped to stay with Grimsby for a long time. He has passed beyond the honeymoon period for a new manager, when all he has to do is wring some organisation out of old players hoping for another year on their contracts. Now he is building a long-term relationship, and the signs are good. It may be a while before we challenge for honours, but we are not going to be starved of entertainment until then.