FanZone blogger Hannah Cawsey gives a detailed analysis of Grimsby Town's downfall at Crewe.
Another defeat, another blog for Mariners fan
FanZone blogger Hannah Cawsey gives a detailed analysis of Grimsby Town's downfall at Crewe.
I hate blogging after losing, although I've done it three times already, so I'm hoping that my next blog can be full of positive comments. This way looking back and writing about the game will seem less of a heart-breaking chore.
With keeper Nick Colgan picking up an injury before the second game of the season, manager Mike Newell was forced to bring in a loan keeper. This came in the form of six-foot-six, 21-year-old Saints shot-stopper Tommy Forecast. Not the best game to come in to as a new boy as he saw the Mariners crash to a shocking 4-0 defeat!
Such an appalling performance makes it hard to pass judgement on him so I shall reserve judgement until after Tuesday night's game.
Lightning shock
The team selection came as a shock to most fans as we learnt that Adam Proudlock and, more shockingly, Peter Sweeney were both left out of the team and in came youngster Josh Fuller and new signing Michael Leary.
Post-match interviews saw Newell justifying this as a tactic to help 'break Sweeney in gently' - comments which I don't necessarily disagree with after the second-half performance at Cheltenham saw him have a mediocre game.
It takes a brave manager to make unpopular decisions that will overall benefit the club, something that Grimsby has been lacking since the departure of Russell Slade in 2006.
Weathering the storm
The beginning of the first half saw neither team show any real hunger for a competitive game of football with both sides creating a few half-hearted chances.
Early on Akpro's on-going thigh strain got the better of him and he was substituted for Adam Proudlock. The first goal fell to Crewe 34 minutes in to the game after a strong penalty appeal by the Mariners was turned down by the referee, who had his back to the incident (no really you couldn't make it up!).
This stopped Town in their tracks as every player, convinced it was a penalty, came to a standstill while Crewe attacked straight up in to Town's danger zone and an easy goal for Zola put us 1-0 behind - a harsh lesson in playing to the whistle.
My last blog saw me questioning Town's 'bounce-back-ability' and again this was lacking in the Crewe game. A few near chances did not make up for the fact that Town fell apart after conceding the first goal.
From that point on we looked disinterested and sloppy with some half-hearted passing and some defensive faux pas. The second goal came as a shock to the system for myself, personally, mainly because it saw Zola head a ball over the head of the six-foot-six keeper Tommy Forecast.
At that height I would expect he had red cheeks after that goal went in.
Thunderous start in the second half
Convinced that Newell's second-half team talk would inspire some better football I was optimistic that Town could pick up the pace and start creating some chances.
This, however, we will never know as early on in the second half some poor defending by Nick Hegarty awarded Crewe a penalty. Assured by the 'blurb' on Forecast I remained hopeful he could save this penalty - the official club website said he was renowned for his penalty-stopping abilities and was an England hopeful! But well-taken penalty which sent Forecast the wrong way lead to Crewe's third goal and put a stop to any hopes of Grimsby getting back in the game.
Newell reacted automatically taking Hegarty and Fuller off to be replaced by Sweeney and Grimsby lad Danny North. Proving Newell's decision to leave Sweeney out was the right one the game carried on the way it had for the first half with Town failing to create chances and a complete lack of competition.
We were clearly the second-best team. Although North fought hard to get Town back in the game, the ten players around him didn't share his enthusiasm and Grimsby fell to the fourth and final goal in added time.
Boo
Sadly, but unsurprisingly, Grimsby's players were booed off the pitch and left to a chorus of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt'.
I understand that people want value for money and that this game was not up to scratch, however, does this really justify booing and such awful chants? Especially at the level we're at?
I don't know if the fans expect us to be playing amazing football week-in week-out but it's just two league games in!
With the new signings still settling in and some injury problems no one would want Mike Newell's job right now.
I can't help but think a little positivity goes a long way and the fans need to be 100 per cent behind the boys. I'm sure most of those fans did not witness the first half against Cheltenham and this is probably why I know that there is definitely promise in this team, and I paid £20 to get in at Cheltenham not a tenner!
I enjoyed Newell's post-match honesty, which for me shows his no-nonsense approach to his team. He accepted full responsibility and that they played the worst game he's ever seen in his managerial career. His faith in that being completely unacceptable, for me, gave me confidence that he will not be allowing that to happen again.
No excuses for the team, no passing the buck - let's move on. It's football and these things happen.
Looking to Tuesday's fixture against Rotherham, which for manager Mike Newell couldn't come sooner, it's a chance for the lads to get their heads back in the game without having to dwell on the poor run of results.
Keep the faith Town fans - we may call him Lord Newell but he can't perform miracles on the same level as Jesus!
Up the Mariners!
