Lack of Professionalism At GTFC

By: Jamie Roberts
Date: 22/01/2002

ALTHOUGH I am a die hard supporter living in the depths of Shropshire I have unfortunately only managed to see Grimsby play 11 times in two years.

However I have noticed a dramatic change in the club's stature. In particular, certain players this season with the exception of at its beginning and during the Portsmouth (home) game. The thing is that what we achieved at the start was a great accomplishment, but everyone involved at the club should start concentrating on the present - NOT the past and future.

We all know that we have limited funds, down to the club being owned by greedy shop-owners, and inexperienced or simply crap directors. This is not helped also (correct me if I am wrong), but the club is paying £4,000 a week wages to players such as Menno Willems who is worried he won't be playing under Grovesie, because he is the only foreigner in the team, or in fact he is out of form. Well I personally believe that his efforts on the pitch are not worthy of the Vauxhall Conference, let alone his actual playing calibre.

Phil Jevons is another. Wondergoals are good but a good striker is someone who can score consistently a wide range of goals. Can he do this? Well is the Pope a Catholic? The next criticism of the club is the standard of coaching at Blundell Park. Personally I believe we should be mid-table with the full squad we have, however we are not taking control of the game when we theoretically are.

I mean at corners, throw ins, free kicks, goal kicks. Players are arguing like little schoolboys especially the more established ones unlike Simon Ford and Big Ben who get on with things professionally. I am not blaming the manager or tactics just the board, certain players (who know who they are) and coaches.

If we are to stay in the division we deserve to be in we will all have to pull together. I hate to use a cliche but we should be more like Crewe and everyone knows what I mean. Sacking LL was the a biggest mistake of the season - he is a well regarded and respected manager.

"...Mr Furneaux is simply switching responsibility for his own mistakes..."

Mr Furneaux is simply switching responsibility for his own mistakes. The Pontoon stand was split during the Pompey game and that is something hardly any supporters see, division amongst supporters of the same team. The players are not stupid they will pick up on this. Shouting abuse at Danny Butterfield will not boost his confidence, all I can say is at least he tries and he is also out of his natural position.

There is some hope in the form of Jonny Rowan, Pouton, Macca, Rob Taylor, Fordy and Big Ben. I hope that when these players return we will return to the Grimsby Town Football Club I love and not hate.

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