Grimsby 0-1 Wolves - FA Cup - verdict thread

[Sniffer]

Is there a tutorial to show members how to open a thread?

Anyway - delighted to be in the next round and avoiding the banana skin with a dreadful pitch as a leveller.

MOTM - Santi Bueno.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Thought we handled it well. Didn’t understand the negativity in the first half and at HT. We were quicker, stronger and better than them and if we’d actually hit the target with some very presentable chances it would have been a lot more comfortable.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Job done.

Pitch was major talking point. I think pitches like that are part and parcel of the FA Cup, after all the best FA cup goal ever was by Ronnie Radford on a pitch far worse than we’ve just played on. After our game I watched the end of Kilmarnock v Celtic being played on Astroturf. If I was a Grimsby fan having to watch my team every week I think I’d prefer an artificial pitch but would be interested to know others’ thoughts. Is it better for lower league clubs to play on artificial grass or risk a pitch like that in a wet winter?

 

[MobNet Wolf]

Win the cup and go down, call it a successful season.

 

[Sniffer]

Job done.

Pitch was major talking point. I think pitches like that are part and parcel of the FA Cup, after all the best FA cup goal ever was by Ronnie Radford on a pitch far worse than we’ve just played on. After our game I watched the end of Kilmarnock v Celtic being played on Astroturf. If I was a Grimsby fan having to watch my team every week I think I’d prefer an artificial pitch but would be interested to know others’ thoughts. Is it better for lower league clubs to play on artificial grass or risk a pitch like that in a wet winter?

From a commercial perspective artificial wins out every time. Am I right in thinking that they aren’t allowed in the English football league?
I recall a conference team having to rip there’s up.

 

[Jinky]

That will have taken a lot out of the players. Horrible conditions and the worst pitch I’ve seen in some time. Really low on quality throughout but can’t question the effort.

I know we’ll likely get spanked on Wednesday v Arsenal and I know we’re all but down so the focus should be on the cup, but with all that said, I’m still surprised by the lack of substitutions. And if he’s got Andre injured again by leaving him on too long, that’s properly stupid. We’ll have to wait & see the outcome of that.

Names in the hat though so that’s good.

Santi MOTM.

 

[Tredman]

Not normally we one to give these players any credit but I thought they did well, that was a horrible pitch against a pretty argricultural team with a shit ref. We were more physical than them and were pretty comfortable most of the game. Apart from his finishing I thought Tolu did well.

Happy with Redwards using the first team, what's the point in using them in the league - there is nothing for us there.

 

[NicholasG1973]

Not normally we one to give these players any credit but I thought they did well, that was a horrible pitch against a pretty argricultural team with a shit ref. We were more physical than them and were pretty comfortable most of the game. Apart from his finishing I thought Tolu did well.

Happy with Redwards using the first team, what's the point in using them in the league - there is nothing for us there.

That’s the problem with Tolu.

The “apart from his finishing” bit.

 

[Kenny]

Once he gets his eye of the tiger back he will be fine...

 

[Dire Wolf]

I must have seen things differently to others judging from the general vibe of the comments. Yes, we won and that is clearly the main thing. Yes, the conditions were awful, and the pitch was awful so that factors into the performance, absolutely. However, I thought we were fucking awful. We got through by doing the bare minimum of actually even trying to play football.

The effort was there on the whole, for which there is some credit I suppose, but fuck me there was virtually no difference between a L2 side and a PL side in terms of trying to play football. And some players certainly didnt seem to fancy it at all. Mane has been a breath of fresh air and deserves a lot of praise. Not today, I thought he looked like he couldn't handle the conditions and the physicality at all. Fair enough for a youngster.

I'm sure lots of people will use the pitch and conditions as a reason, but still, we are 3 (soon to be 2) levels above them and we didn’t look it.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I recall a conference team having to rip there’s up.

Happened to both Sutton and Harrogate from memory.

Then Sutton went back down inside 2-3 years so it was all for nothing.

Didn't see any of the game, was at the NIA for the UK Indoor Athletics (which was fantastic, and contained some fast blokes who probably can't play football very well, so I scouted some of them to replace Action Jackson).

But filthy conditions (I know that much), a lower league team who've already had a taste of taking a big scalp this season, no form in our squad, just get in, get the result and get out.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Also I know today was Grimsby, and Forest didn't score due to their own failings in midweek rather than anything we actually did...but we've now kept four clean sheets in 2026, and it's mid-February.

We didn't keep any in 2025 after 26th April.

 

[Mel Evo]

Missed it as I ended up in a bar in vallecas. Boozy crowd. They found an Atleti fan and sellotaped him to a tree outside. Santi Bueno kneeing one in while playing in what sounds like the Dogger Bank sounds pretty civilised compared to my afternoon.

 

[Kenny]

I must have seen things differently to others judging from the general vibe of the comments. Yes, we won and that is clearly the main thing. Yes, the conditions were awful, and the pitch was awful so that factors into the performance, absolutely. However, I thought we were fucking awful. We got through by doing the bare minimum of actually even trying to play football.

The effort was there on the whole, for which there is some credit I suppose, but fuck me there was virtually no difference between a L2 side and a PL side in terms of trying to play football. And some players certainly didnt seem to fancy it at all. Mane has been a breath of fresh air and deserves a lot of praise. Not today, I thought he looked like he couldn't handle the conditions and the physicality at all. Fair enough for a youngster.

I'm sure lots of people will use the pitch and conditions as a reason, but still, we are 3 (soon to be 2) levels above them and we didn’t look it.

Cup football is an odd beast that removes the normality from things.

Various factors but why are Mansfield beating a PL team, why are Burton taking a PL to extra time, how did our opponents from today knock a PL team out of the League Cup.

We should be beating with them ease, like we did with Shrewsbury but we have all seen us struggle and get beaten by lesser teams.

The conditions do play a part, especially these days so if the end result is we put the effort in and got the job done, then mission successful.

We will of course go back to being beyond shit in the League but thank fuck for any win. It breaks down the long spells of being beaten

 

[PuntsWolf]

I must have seen things differently to others judging from the general vibe of the comments. Yes, we won and that is clearly the main thing. Yes, the conditions were awful, and the pitch was awful so that factors into the performance, absolutely. However, I thought we were fucking awful. We got through by doing the bare minimum of actually even trying to play football.

You couldnt play football on it, it hampered them just as much as it hampered us.

The effort was there on the whole, for which there is some credit I suppose, but fuck me there was virtually no difference between a L2 side and a PL side in terms of trying to play football. And some players certainly didnt seem to fancy it at all.

I didnt see anyone not fancy it.

Mane has been a breath of fresh air and deserves a lot of praise. Not today, I thought he looked like he couldn't handle the conditions and the physicality at all. Fair enough for a youngster.

His strength has been skill, dribbling, etc. That was impossible today. And he's not quick or a powerhouse so was always going to struggle to impact the gamel but he certainly didnt shy away. Should have hit the target with his chance.

I'm sure lots of people will use the pitch and conditions as a reason, but still, we are 3 (soon to be 2) levels above them and we didn’t look it.

We did look it though. We were fitter, stronger and quicker. We were on every second ball, we dealt with everything into our third with ease. We played some decent stuff down the right side the handful of times it was possible to play. Any passes in the mdidle of the pitch were stopping dead. I think you are really playing down how bad that pitch was or being unrealistic in your expectations.

 

[Tony Towner]

Didn't watch the game as I need my beauty sleep, but from the highlights and general observation if the players weren't bothered because the majority won't be here nest year or the manager had lost the dressing room we'd have lost. Everything was set up for it. It doesn't change any of my reservations about Edwards, but fair play to him for making sure they were up for it.

Just based on those 3 minutes, Armstrong's miss is a worry, they are the chances he should be taking when finishing is his only real asset and Mosquera made his one a game blooper that without Santi would have cost us.

 

[YoungWolf]

Didn't watch the game as I need my beauty sleep

Fool, that would have helped!

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Has Santi been our most consistent performer over the whole season?

 

[jd1981]

Has Santi been our most consistent performer over the whole season?

He’s up there for sure

 

[Tony Towner]

Has Santi been our most consistent performer over the whole season?

I'd say so. Krecji has a higher ceiling, but has made more errors. They are the only 2 contenders really with Mane not coming in until half way. I hope he stays, he'd be solid in the Championship where pace doesn't threaten you so much