The Shape Of Things To Come

By: Nick Osborne
Date: 17/07/2001

WITH all the 'coming and goings' of players, some real and some fictional, its pretty difficult to see how things will shape up for the Mariners next season. Like all fans of the club, my hopes are high.

With the official line being 'mid table safety' I am hoping against hope that we will do better than that. How much better is another question, one which I don't have the answer to. A faint hearted push for the play-offs might be acceptable, then again, a play-off position (mathematically anyway) by Christmas would be ideal.

Grimsby's biggest problem will be attracting quality players to the club, with high wage demands out of the question and transfer fees way in excess of what we can afford maybe mid-table is our only hope.

This is a problem faced by many smaller clubs in the football league these days, and one that won't have a happy ending for many clubs in the future. The blame lies squarely on the 'prawn sandwich brigade' at the bigger clubs. Their interest is in scoring points on the political or commercial side rather than on the footballing side, but that's another story.

Grimsby Town FC, will this season have one of the hardest struggles for success that they have had for a long while. Even bigger than last seasons. Just what we call success is open to interpretation.

For me it will be a respectable league position and a decent cup run. With the manager planning on more loans than the local finance company, we will be struggling to find our own 'Tarzan'. With our resources we will be lucky if we end up with cheetah.

All in all, the season has some great 'local derbies' to look forward to, so it won't all be doom and gloom. Expect some great results from some of the mouth watering ties that lay ahead.

Up the Mariners.

Nick Osborne.

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