Pre-season action for Grimsby Town is well under way. Although friendly results don’t matter, a steady improvement in performance level and comprehension of the style and structure that the team is aiming for is desired. Head coach David Artell’s recent remarks demonstrate his commitment to getting the best out of each player, both individually and collectively.
The Mariners defeated Boston United 2-0 earlier this week to extend their winning streak to three games in friendly play. Earlier in the week, they had identical victories over nearby eighth-tier teams Grimsby Borough and Cleethorpes Town.
While a number of key first-team players are recovering from injuries and treatments, a mix of first-team players, youngsters, and trialists have played during these matches. Manager Artell has expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort and willingness to put what they have learned in training into practice, but he acknowledges that he is looking for more in future matches, calling himself ‘a hard man to please’ on the club’s official X account as he looks to refine his possession-based strategy
The former Gibraltar international said, “It’s about constantly getting better and ironing things out,” following last weekend’s victory at Cleethorpes. The application is present, which is a plus. They’re making an effort. There were occasional, truly high-quality moments. We made progress, but we still want to see certain things.”
These measured answers convey to Grimsby’s players that, although their head coach is somewhat happy with the level of desire displayed, he expects them to move on with consistent growth and never waver from their principles.
Since actions speak louder than words, Grimsby supporters are both nervous and excited about the upcoming campaign, having had a challenging season thus far this century.
With the freedom to bring in his own players and hone his preferred techniques during the summer without worrying about earning points, many are eager to see what Artell can put in place.
Grimsby’s 2024–25 season preparations begin this week with a trip to another National League team, York City. They then play sixth-tier teams, South Shields and Alfreton Town, and League One teams, Rotherham United and Mansfield Town. The team’s goal is to start the season strong on August 10th.
That will undoubtedly happen soon, but perhaps the Mariners will be more equipped this time around and will strictly enforce alignment between the coaching and recruitment setups.
The evidence of how well that has been accomplished won’t be apparent until the competitive action starts, but Mariners fans should take heart from their head coach’s recent remarks, which highlight the high standards he holds himself to, and hold out hope that these factors taken together will bring about better times for their team in the future.
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