Grimsby Town vs Bromley preview
Another League Two encounter and another game with a somewhat familiar foe.
Bromley and Grimsby have locked horns on four previous occasions during Grimsby’s last two visits to the National League.
For those keeping count, the record stands at two wins a piece.
Given that seven of Grimsby’s last fourteen seasons have been spent in the National League, it’s possible that newer members of Bromley’s fanbase would look at Grimsby as a non-league club done well.
But more seasoned fans grew up in an era where Grimsby Town were a Football League stalwart, even gracing the old money equivalent of the Championship under the likes of Alan Buckley and Lennie Lawrence between 1998 and 2003.
With this in mind, it is easy to imagine that Grimsby fans would consider the Mariners to be a ‘bigger club’ that has fallen on very hard and desperate times.
Their last two promotions from the National League were engineered by Paul Hurst during two different spells at the club, but their performances in League Two have been fairly uninspiring.
Hurst achieved Grimsby’s highest finish in seventeen years when they came 11th in 2022/23, but he was sacked in October 2023 with Grimsby floundering in 21st place. The chalice has passed to former Crewe manager David Artell, who has set about trying to establish the Mariners as a top-half League Two side.
Artell most famously got Crewe promoted to League One and managed them to their highest finish in 17 years (although he then guided them to relegation and got the sack).
He has pitched up at Grimsby to try and implement a ball-dominated playing style, but the jury seems to be out on that at the moment.
Often, when a manager makes a change like that, you need time to find the personnel to execute it. Coming in midway through last season would have made that difficult.
As Artell looked to put his stamp on the squad this summer, Grimsby were quite active in the transfer market. Cameron McJannett (Derry City), George McEachran (Swindon Town), and Jason Dadi Svanthórsson (Breidablik) are all recent signings who are likely to start against Bromley.
Recent consecutive defeats will worry David Artell, but the fact his side hasn’t kept a clean sheet yet this season will be of even more concern. Against a Bromley side that has proven goal-scoring ability, you have to assume this game won’t end goalless. (Famous last words.)
Grimsby currently lie in 21st place, with two wins from six games, but it is important to note that they are only one point behind Bromley in 15th place.
Both teams will be looking for an elusive win, but I suspect that if it ends up being a draw, Bromley will be the happier of the two sides.
Last Saturday, Bromley fell to a 2-4 home defeat to league-leaders Notts County. The immediate reaction in some quarters seemed to be disbelief that Bromley could let a two-goal lead slip, but after a few days of reflection, most accepted that Notts County are a good side and unbeaten for a reason.
Make no mistake though, Bromley are due three points. That’s not because they have to get them, but because it would be a timely boost for a squad starting to experience the growing pains of being a new side in the Football League.
Once again, Andy Woodman faces the dilemma of how to set up his side.
Against Colchester, he was brave enough to go with two up front, partnering Marcus Dinanga with Michael Cheek.
It is expected that Grimsby will dominate possession against Bromley, so a lot will depend on how Woodman wants to set up out of possession and if that can be achieved with two up top.
Grimsby play a conventional four at the back, so the need to support Cheek may not be as imperative as it would be against a back five. Will that be a factor?
That’s not the only pressing decision Woodman faces. For example, who will partner Ashley Charles in midfield? Jude Arthurs or Ben Thompson? And Besart Topalloj is back from suspension now. Will that mean he reverts to Idris Odutayo at LCB and Bes at LWB?
And here’s a question no one is asking: Is Corey Whitely an automatic pick at the moment?
It may even be that Byron Webster could drop to the bench soon, with a change in the middle of the defence.
When you go four without a win, and ship ten goals in the process, no one should feel safe in the team.
Your guess is as good as mine as to how Bromley will line up.
Who would you start with?
The From Bromley with Love XI
Smith
Grant Reynolds Odutayo
Imray Thompson Charles Topalloj
Whitely
Cheek Dinanga
Please note all match photographs in this article are by Martin Greig - please follow him on Twitter here
All articles are edited by Peter Etherington you can link to him here
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Would be surprised if Reynolds starts after his struggle last week . Don't think we will lose .