Just Back...on the bus.

Sadly but perhaps unsurprisingly a non-event. We managed to take the game to a hesitant Carlisle for the first 15 minutes and if Lloyd's dink over the defender/full blooded volley goes in it might have been different. Once Carlisle scored (after another episode of the soap opera f**k about with it at the back) they settled and managed a controversial (Town player down with head injury) second, mainly thanks to Amos giving the winger the widest possible sight of goal.
Second half was a total non-entity from both sides.  Emmanuel managed a couple of decent moments but a midfield shorn until very late of the battling attributes of Clifton was second best for the whole 90 minutes.
Unfortunately with the turn over of games we are going to be forced into playing the young loanees but neither showed anything today.
Nearly 500 away fans is astonishing after the week we've had.
Man of the match difficult to pick but probably between Lloyd who absolutely ran his heart out chasing lost causes and Smith who played like he'd never been out of the side.

Top effort from those who made the trip today. It’s one thing going to a premier league ground midweek, but another thing to follow that up with a trip to Cumbria a few days later.

Safe journey home to all of you.

We were the better team for the first 20 mins and Carlisle struggled to get to grips with us. I think it was Hunt who was dispossessed trying to play out from our area to concede that first goal and then our heads dropped and no surprise when Carlisle scored their 2nd. Was a bit worried we would be overrun in the 2nd half which thankfully we weren’t. Move on to next week now it was never going to be easy today after Wednesday nights heroics. UTM

Not an entirely unexpected result. Carlisle, flying high and in great form, comfortably brushed aside our much changed team.

There were some bright sparks from Lloyd and Khan, but we still look disjointed without our high energy midfield at full strength. Dickson-Peters and O'Neill failed to make an impact, but without regular game time they can't really be expected to. An error from Hunt and some dodgy refereeing sunk us in the first half.

The next two games - at home to Newport and Rochdale - are crucial. Win both and we're pretty much safe, it's just a matter of whether Hurst can manage the squad through this hectic schedule.

I think most would have predicted that today. Tuesday and Saturday will hopefully put it all to bed.

Fair play for going..
I agree Lloyd motm. I wish he'd get more balls to his feet and have players around him. Hopefully Tuesday we have virtually everyone back and we get back to winning ways.

This was a cruel fixture coming after the long trip to Southampton. No time to prepare properly before setting off to Carlisle.  I estimate the team has travelled almost 900 miles in five days. That must have been a hell of an effort for them today against a team thrid in the league.

Take Waterfall, Emmanuel, Glennon, Clifton, Holahan, McAtee and Orsi/ Taylor out of the side and only lose 0-2 away at a team in the promotion places doesn’t seem bad to me

Agree

we were missing several key first team players today so the result wasn't without surprise. Good to see Khan and Taylor getting the minutes to get them back to full fitness. Good to see Khouri get a solid 20-25 minutes of play. Wouldnt be upset if we made a bid to bring in Lloyd on a permanent deal in the summer as I think there's something there and he fits that Hurst profile, was full of endeavour and effort along with ability. Hope we can use some of that increased playing budget to tie down Emmanuel because he is a quality player.

It was always going to be a difficult game regardless of what squad we put out and now we look forward to Tuesday and Saturday where hopefully we pick up 6 points and put anyone with lingering doubts of a relegation battle minds at ease (personally I think we will be just fine)

Special mention to the 400+ fans that made the long trip to Cumbria today, doubly so for those that also attended Southampton on Wednesday as that is a mammoth trek between the 2 games.

UTM

To all the fans that made southampton & carlisle i really do doth my cap , you are truely amazing mariners top effort 👍

Quoted from Oly1987

we were missing several key first team players today so the result wasn't without surprise. Good to see Khan and Taylor getting the minutes to get them back to full fitness. Good to see Khouri get a solid 20-25 minutes of play. Wouldnt be upset if we made a bid to bring in Lloyd on a permanent deal in the summer as I think there's something there and he fits that Hurst profile, was full of endeavour and effort along with ability. Hope we can use some of that increased playing budget to tie down Emmanuel because he is a quality player.

It was always going to be a difficult game regardless of what squad we put out and now we look forward to Tuesday and Saturday where hopefully we pick up 6 points and put anyone with lingering doubts of a relegation battle minds at ease (personally I think we will be just fine)

Special mention to the 400+ fans that made the long trip to Cumbria today, doubly so for those that also attended Southampton on Wednesday as that is a mammoth trek between the 2 games.

UTM

Totally agree about Emmanuel. Use some of the additional money to sign/keep the quality we’ve got. That will also attract others to the club if they see we’re prepared to invest and improve.

Think there's approximately a 0.000001% chance of keeping Emmanuel. He's so far above this level it isn't even funny. Nailed on he'll have a hatful of league one and championship clubs in for him in the Summer.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Think there's approximately a 0.000001% chance of keeping Emmanuel. He's so far above this level it isn't even funny. Nailed on he'll have a hatful of league one and championship clubs in for him in the Summer.

This in abundance, Barnsley or somewhere would be perfect for him

Well done to those who travelled, especially if you’d been at Southampton mid week.

Safe journey home all!

PH was fairly hard on some of the replacements today. "made by job easier not harder". Guessing he means the Norwich lad and maybe O'neill?

Quoted from fishcake63

To all the fans that made southampton & carlisle i really do doth my cap , you are truely amazing mariners top effort 👍

Outstanding - 428 there. I was expecting 300. That’s 900 miles and two working days of travel minimum.

PH replaced Dickson - Peters at half time with Emmanuel.
Was fearing a drubbing in the second half also, so damage limitation was good - with George Lloyd who impressed me - hitting the post with a late header.
Thought Town did well for thirty five minutes with the 7 changes before the isolated mistakes.
Phil Bonnyman presented some sort of prize at half time and he waved at the Grimsby supporters, but only one person waved back. He does look different now.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Think there's approximately a 0.000001% chance of keeping Emmanuel. He's so far above this level it isn't even funny. Nailed on he'll have a hatful of league one and championship clubs in for him in the Summer.

I’m not so sure about this ^^ . There’s no doubt he’s a quality player but to say he can choose his options when every year there’s a conveyer belt of younger , fitter players available mean he has to be wise with his choice of contracts on offer . A good player who played a massive part in our recent success but has had to drop down to L2 for a reason. Time for him to recognise we’re not just some sh.ite team and get onboard for a go .

Quoted from Chrisblor

Think there's approximately a 0.000001% chance of keeping Emmanuel. He's so far above this level it isn't even funny. Nailed on he'll have a hatful of league one and championship clubs in for him in the Summer.

Well that's better than no chance .

I thought we were excellent for the first 30mins today, outplaying an in form team. Hunt was running the midfield but it was his mistake for the goal and his confidence and the whole team’s performance never recovered.

Another impressive late cameo from Khouri - when we’re resting players, he surely has to be a better option than one or two who made the starting 11 today.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I’m not so sure about this ^^ . There’s no doubt he’s a quality player but to say he can choose his options when every year there’s a conveyer belt of younger , fitter players available mean he has to be wise with his choice of contracts on offer . A good player who played a massive part in our recent success but has had to drop down to L2 for a reason. Time for him to recognise we’re not just some sh.ite team and get onboard for a go .

i hope you're right, but tbh hes too good for us. fully expect him to be at a top half L1 side next season

I reckon that PH thought, even if he puts all the best players in the starting 11, they would be so knackered that we would probably still lose anyway, so may as well see what the fringe players have to offer and keep the better players for the two upcoming games we have a better chance of winning.

Nobody staked a claim with a scintillating performance, so come Tuesday, all the rested players will be back, fit and firing.

Four or six points from the two upcoming games will see us well placed for the rest of the season and beyond.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I’m not so sure about this ^^ . There’s no doubt he’s a quality player but to say he can choose his options when every year there’s a conveyer belt of younger , fitter players available mean he has to be wise with his choice of contracts on offer . A good player who played a massive part in our recent success but has had to drop down to L2 for a reason. Time for him to recognise we’re not just some sh.ite team and get onboard for a go .

If he stays fit until the end of the season, he'll have offers of double what we'll pay. No chance he stays.

He didn't drop down because he's on the decline. He's 25 and had issues. Is proving he's ready to play and will end up somewhere that matches his ability. Which is not in L2

Quoted from ginnywings

I reckon that PH thought, even if he puts all the best players in the starting 11, they would be so knackered that we would probably still lose anyway, so may as well see what the fringe players have to offer and keep the better players for the two upcoming games we have a better chance of winning.

Nobody staked a claim with a scintillating performance, so come Tuesday, all the rested players will be back, fit and firing.

Four or six points from the two upcoming games will see us well placed for the rest of the season and beyond.

We need 12 points from 15 games to get to the magic 50, a strong finish will keep the interest alive into next season though.

Tondour & Kev Drinkell where referencing the threat of the drop yesterday on RH, seemed like quite an odd topic to me.

Win the next 2 games and I can't see any of he bottom 3 getting near to catching us  

Quoted from SouthLakesMariner

I thought we were excellent for the first 30mins today, outplaying an in form team. Hunt was running the midfield but it was his mistake for the goal and his confidence and the whole team’s performance never recovered.

Another impressive late cameo from Khouri - when we’re resting players, he surely has to be a better option than one or two who made the starting 11 today.

Do we know who is actually injured rather rested? I understand there is one of our normal starters?

PH said after game they’d be ok for Tuesday whoever it is/was

Quoted from Madeleymariner

Win the next 2 games and I can't see any of he bottom 3 getting near to catching us  

We’re 13 points ahead of Rochdale with 4 games in hand, I know they won yesterday against a highly ranked side but that would be one massive gap to overtake.

Crawley have played a game more than us and are 12 points behind, off the pitch they’ve gone bonkers.

Hartlepool, they have a 9 point gap but have played 4 games more.

Colchester and Newport lost yesterday and Gillingham v Harrogate was a good result for us, a draw.

We have to play all of them, with 2 of those games at home.

We won’t get relegated, 12 points from 15 games will be done.  

Quoted from marinerjase

PH said after game they’d be ok for Tuesday whoever it is/was

Thanks - good to know. I’m expecting strongest side on Tuesday, by the sound of Lloyd’s performance yesterday and some good graft against the Os it will include him.

Our GD is a lot better than the teams right at the bottom.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

We need 12 points from 15 games to get to the magic 50, a strong finish will keep the interest alive into next season though.

Tondour & Kev Drinkell where referencing the threat of the drop yesterday on RH, seemed like quite an odd topic to me.

3 wins would probably do the trick. 47 points is usually enough most seasons.

Quoted from ginnywings

3 wins would probably do the trick. 47 points is usually enough most seasons.

If it was last 3 games of the season and we were 3 points away from the drop, then calculations would be on my mind.
Right now I'm thinking 12th.

Surprised no one else has mentioned Phil Bonnyman. He played one game less for Grimsby than he played for Carlisle in his career.
Always remember him chipping in for Paul Wilkinson at Everton.
A shame only one Town fan waved at him, when he waved at the Town fans.
To be fair - the sound tannoy system may not have reached the Town fans - don’t know.

Quoted from Teestogreen

Surprised no one else has mentioned Phil Bonnyman. He played one game less for Grimsby than he played for Carlisle in his career.
Always remember him chipping in for Paul Wilkinson at Everton.
A shame only one Town fan waved at him, when he waved at the Town fans.
To be fair - the sound tannoy system may not have reached the Town fans - don’t know.

I was there and gave him a clap, to be honest I could hear that it was a player who had played for us, but I couldn't make out the name.

Excellent - think Phil will appreciate the communication problem on the day didn’t help but the Town fans would have been appreciative of his service.