Cod Almighty | Diary
What's the Story Evan Khouri
23 October 2024
Is it easier to write about the Mariners or talk about them? We'll let you, dear reader, decide.
This particular View From The Findus podder (is that even a word?) was once au fait with writing about Grimsby Town on a daily basis during our original non-league years, so it's now a bit strange penning thoughts on four consecutive away wins and all kinds of record-breaking stats.
A first win at Prenton Park since 1998. Four away league victories in a row for the first time since 2007. We've already managed a win away at Gillingham for the first time in decades. Hell, we even beat Bradford in the league since what seems like 1746. The four consecutive away wins is apparently the best winning run in the entirety of the 92 - a winning streak tied with a little team called Liverpool. And who remembers the last time we played them away...
What is with all this positivity and what have you done with Grimsby Town?
Pre-match I hoped Artell would revert to the 3-5-2 that has served us so well recently. We seem much more difficult to beat with three centre-halves giving the full-backs some defensive protection, and with most of our wingers injured - and the chance to bring big Doug Tharme back in - I was delighted when the team sheet was revealed.
What the formation also gives us is two attacking threats. As much as we all love Danny Rose, the last few weeks he's looked a little isolated on his own up top and with more strikers than wide players, bringing in Obikwu from the start paid dividends. It took some time to gel last night - our group WhatsApp saw at least one VFTF podcaster hoiking Obikwu from the pitch before he netted the winning goal - but when it did we showed incredible resilience to grind out the result.
Of course, the game wasn't without its share of drama. Was the Tranmere player fouled or did he dive? The ref decided it was the latter, and maybe, just maybe, we were due some luck after the Notts County debacle.
Whilst I have the platform, a couple more recent reflections. Sign me up to the Cameron McJannet fan club. Whereas the swashbuckling efforts of McEachran have been spotted by many, it's not just David Artell who thinks we have a prime Paolo Maldini-ite in our ranks. The former Derry defender has been divine in most games this season - full credit to the scouting team for plucking him from Northern Irish obscurity.
And though it's going to be a Britpop summer in 2025, (What's The Story) Evan Khouri may be the hottest ticket in town if he keeps up with some of these performances. Conteh and Hunt are long, long forgotten men now. Well done, Ev.
In other news - remember the name Grayson Giles. He has nine goals so far this season for the youth team and five in his last three. That's some record and bodes well for the future. It's been years since we had a yoof striker who could bang 'em in…
I'm not yet sure we're going up, but for those of a particular GTFC generation you could say this version of the Mariners is now at least too good to go down.