Interview with a Grimsby Town fan TSS November 9, 2009 Away Fans Views 3 Comments In the second interview with an opposition fan, TSS welcomes Rob from thefishy.co.uk as we look ahead to the Football League Trophy game tomorrow night. TSS – Hi Rob, thanks for taking the time to talk to TSS. Looking at the League Two table, you’ve not made a great start to the season, do you think you can turn it round or is relegation inevitable? Rob – Inevitable, no way! There’s a lot of poor teams in League Two and there’s plenty of points to pick up. We managed it last season. No doubt we will strengthen the side in January and I’m sure we’ll start to improve soon from having a new manager. TSS – Since we’ve competed in the Football League Trophy, I’ve heard fans from a lot of clubs write it off as a pointless competition. What are your feelings on the cup? Rob – I think it’s a brilliant competition. Dozens of teams have played at Wembley now in the final. The final is different every year (unlike, yawn, Man Utd v Chelsea, or Man Utd v Liverpool over and over again). Last year’s final was a cracker between Luton and Scunny. Real fans attend the final too, not your suits and corpoprate types, and glory hunters from places hundreds of miles away from where the teams play. I’d watch the JPT final ahead of the FA Cup final without a moment’s hesitation. TSS – What’s happening with the management situation? I see you’ve parted ways with Mike Newell and Neil Woods is currently running the show. Are you expecting him to be a permanent replacement, or do you have someone else lined up? Rob – Nobody knows, including the Chairman I suspect. Neil Woods is a good Youth Team manager and has been doing that for ten years. He quite rightly is not sure whether he wants the big job. The chairman seems to be giving him every chance though by giving him a nice long spell as caretaker. TSS – Peter Sweeney is one player that stands out in your squad as you signed him from us last season. He never really got much of a chance at Elland Road, how is he getting on at Blundell Park? Rob – He’s a good player, probably our most skillful player, the biggest problem is his mouth. He gets booked at least every other game for dissent. He’s suspended on Saturday against Bath for 5 bookings, probably all for dissent! TSS – Who else should we be keeping an eye on, on Tuesday? Rob – Barry Conlon can be a real handful up front. Akpro may play alongside him, he looks a bit like Drogba and is Ivorian as well, but there the resemblance ends LOL. TSS – Everyone seems to have an opinion on Leeds United. What are you feelings towards us? Rob – I like to see the “big” clubs get knocked off their perches from time to time. Nobody has a god-given right to be in the top divisions. Obviously Leeds also have the added spice of being one of the big Yorkshire teams, so Grimsby fans will have a particular rivarly with them, as we do with Sheff Wed and Barnsley. It’s a shame we’re down in the lowest division as most of our biggest rivals are playing higher up now, so no doubt our supporters will make the most of the occasion to express their dislike of Leeds! We had some right battles in the 80’s! TSS – The last time you beat Leeds United was in the Old Division Two in 1986, although the clubs have met very few times since. Do you think you can cause an upset in the Football League Trophy? Rob – We got to the final two years ago and won loads of games against League One sides away from home. Winning over 90 minutes is going to be hard but I think we can get a draw, and win on penalties. TSS – Finally, what’s your prediction for the game on Tuesday and who do you think will lift the Football League Trophy this season? Rob – I predict a draw which means it will go to pens (may the best side win!). I think a League Two side will win this year. The beauty of this competition is it could be any of the teams still in it. Best of luck to Grimsby Town for the rest of the season and thanks again to Rob for taking the time to answer the questions.