David Artell says Town are relishing the challenge of welcoming league leaders Bristol Rovers to Blundell Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Mariners head into the sixth league game of the season unbeaten, having taken seven points from their opening five fixtures. Rovers arrive at the home of the Mariners at the top of League Two, with Steve Evans’ side boasting the division’s best attacking and defensive records so far this season.
Artell has provided an update on the squad, discussed the development of Mark Shelton and Finlay Cartwright, praised Giosa D’Avanzo after his Player of the Month award and looked ahead to Sunday’s historic fixture for the women’s team.
The Head Coach also discussed the importance of the EFL’s Raised in the EFL campaign and shared his thoughts on Saturday’s Retro Shirt Day.
Here’s everything Artell had to say ahead of Saturday’s game…
On the latest squad news
Artell says one or two players who have been out injured have returned to the grass as they continue their rehabilitation.
“There’s one or two lads back out on the grass that I’ve seen. Not joining in, which is good.
“So, I’d imagine they’re in end-stage rehab, but you remember, if they’ve been out for a while, end-stage rehab can be three, four, five weeks.
“If they’ve been out for two weeks, it can be three, four, five days.
“So, it doesn’t necessarily mean a return at any point for any of those, but at the same time, it’s better that we see them outside running and hitting a ball and stuff.
“So, I’ve seen one or two of them, which makes me hopeful that they might be joining in with us in the not-too-distant future.”
On Mark Shelton and Fin Cartwright settling in
Shelton and Cartwright have now had their first full week of training with the squad following their respective moves to Blundell Park. Artell was pleased with the impact both players made during Saturday’s draw at Cheltenham Town and says the pair have been given a crash course in how Town play.
“Yeah, I think you saw the impact that both of them had on Saturday.
“They’re good players and I said we’ve got to get a bit more out of them.
“They’ve both played on Tuesday because they’ve had low minutes since the start of pre-season.
“We did a bit with them on Monday, and we’ve done a bit with them today and a bit tomorrow about how we play, so they get up to speed.
“So, when they get on the pitch again, they’ve got more of a chance of having an even greater impact than they both did on Saturday.
“We’re trying to give them a crash course in how we play.
“And they’ve both been brilliant and receptive to what it is, but we’d like to think that we’ll profile these players so that it’s their natural sort of game that we’re trying to get out of them.”
On Tuesday’s reserve fixture
Shelton and Cartwright both featured in Town’s reserve fixture against Rotherham United on Tuesday as they continued to build up their match fitness.
Artell was pleased with the competitive nature of the fixture and the opportunity it provided for players to maintain their sharpness.
“Those two played so we could get more minutes into them.
“Mark is particularly low, so we’re just trying to build them up so that they can play more games.
“The rest of the lads, it was a really good fixture, really good competitive fixture.
“A genuine sort of throwback to an old reserve team fixture that I played when I was a young pro. They’re good for our lads to keep competitive in and keep their sharpness up.
“So, it was a good game. One or two good performances, one or two not good performances, but that’s normal, if you like.
“But a welcome match, really, so that we could keep on top of everyone.”
On Geza’s Player of the Month award
Turi was named Hartwell Grimsby Player of the Month for August after making an increasingly influential start to his second season at Blundell Park. Artell believes the midfielder is continuing to develop but wants to see even more from the Italian.
“Yeah, he’s coming on, he’s getting better. He’ll continue to get better. He’s a good kid. He wants to learn, wants to get better. He’s had a positive influence on the games.
“He can have an even greater one without a shadow of a doubt. It took him a while to get used to English football, but I think you can see now he’s getting better physically. He is having more influence on games, but there’s much…”
Artell says Turi must continue to push himself and avoid settling for simply being ‘okay’ during matches.
“I’ve said to him, ‘You’ve got to have even influence. Don’t settle for just being okay in games, if you like.’
“He’s got some real good ability, so he’s got to show that for 100 minutes every Saturday and every Tuesday if there’s a game on Tuesday as well.
“So, he’s still got plenty to learn. Still can have more influence on games, but he’s made a good fist of it so far.”
On the importance of developing young players
Today marks the beginning of the EFL’s Raised in the EFL campaign, highlighting the work clubs do in developing young players and creating pathways into senior football. Artell believes clubs at EFL level play a vital role in producing players capable of reaching the highest levels of the game.
“I think every player comes through, even if you come into it from non-league, you’ve come through somewhere. It’s not very often you’ve just played for your school team until you’re 24 and then get in the first team. It’s not usually the case.
“I think there was a stat during the World Cup – how many EFL appearances the team that was playing for England in one of the matches played. That shows how important clubs like ourselves and at this level are in forming world-class footballers.”
Artell also reflected on his own experience as a young player and the importance of being ready when an opportunity arrives.
“For me as a young kid, I look back and I think I just wanted a chance. I was really grateful to Ronnie Moore, who was terrific with me. He gave me an opportunity.
“But you had to be ready. So, it works both ways. You’ve got to be good enough. You’ve got to really want it. It’s not an easy job being a footballer. Everyone thinks it is, it’s not. It’s one of the toughest.
“Because you get judged every Saturday in such a public eye, public gaze. You have to be ready for the real negative stuff and the rough and tumble of it all and the physical side of it all and the mental side of it all, certainly now with social media and everyone having an opinion.
“Most of which is incorrect, but for some players that really does affect them. So, they’ve got to be really strong-minded, strong-willed and have an unquenchable thirst to want to get better.
“Clubs like ours provide that platform, and a campaign like Raised in the EFL highlights that as well.”
On the women’s team playing at Blundell Park
Town’s women’s team will make their first home appearance of the season at Blundell Park on Sunday following promotion last season. Artell says the growth of the women’s side has been clear and praised the work being done across the club.
“They got promoted last year. They had, I think it was two games at BP last year. Might have been a bit more, but I think they had two.
“It’s that side of the football club is growing. There’s no getting around that fact. The manager Ben has been coming down to train a few times, and I speak to him fairly regularly. He’s a good guy.
“And we wish him every success as they start their campaign. I think they’ve done the club proud over certainly over the last 12-15 months, that’s for sure.
“Hopefully they’ll have another good season.”
On facing Bristol Rovers
Rovers arrive at Blundell Park as the league leaders after winning four successive games following an opening-day defeat at York City. Artell recognises the quality within the visitors’ squad but believes they also have weaknesses that Town will look to exploit.
“I think that’s a fair assumption, isn’t it? If they’re top of the league after we’ve played five games. It’s still early, but I’m sure they’re not going to be far away come 45 games either. So, yeah. I think we’ve had a middling-to-tough start and this is just an extension of that, really.
“So, yeah, I think it’s a good game. It’s one we’re looking forward to. I think, yes, they score plenty of goals. I think they’ve also definitely got weaknesses. But that’s like every other League Two team, and I’m sure Steve will be thinking, and maybe not saying, but certainly thinking the same about us.
“So, look, it’s a good challenge. Whenever the top of the table, whether even if after five games, rolls into town, you want to play well and you have to play well.
“So, that’s the challenge that lies in front of us and we’re looking forward to it.”
On Town’s strong form
Town are currently the second most in-form side in League Two since the turn of the year, behind Saturday’s opponents. Artell says the statistic reflects the strong finish to last season but is keen to keep perspective with so much of the campaign still to come.
“I didn’t know that stat.
“Yeah, I can see why. We finished the season really strongly and Bristol Rovers did as well. They’ve started off well. But there’s a long way to go.
“So, regardless, win, lose or draw on Saturday, there’s a long way to go. We played 59 games last year and we’re now on game six. There’s a long, long way to go. Will it help if we win? Of course it will. We know the three points and that’s the plan and that’s the challenge.
“Irrespective of form, irrespective of team, irrespective of league position, we’re always going to a game trying to win it.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday. I think it’ll be a real good game.”
On Steve Evans
Artell has faced Evans five times previously as a Head Coach and expects another competitive contest when the two sides meet on Saturday.
“You know what you’re going to get with Steve. I actually quite like him. I think he’s a good guy. I know some people don’t, but I like him. I always have two or three minutes with him before the game and if he wants to come in the office he can, he’s more than welcome.
“His team is super competitive. You know what they’re going to be. They’re going to be front-footed. They’re going to be at you. They’re going to stick it on you as well. They’re going to ask you a lot of questions.
“So, you’ve got to be prepared for that. You have to be prepared for that literally first whistle because that’s the kind of guy Steve is. Some people don’t like that abrasive character. I think that’s Steve Evans. That’s his teams. This is professional football. If you don’t like somebody sticking it on you and asking you questions, well, you’re in the wrong game.
“And for me, that’s what you’ve got to expect.”
On Retro Shirt Day
Saturday’s fixture will also mark the club’s 148th anniversary, with supporters encouraged to celebrate Retro Shirt Day by wearing their favourite Mariners shirt from years gone by.
Artell admits he has never been a big collector of football shirts but believes the different generations of Town shirts help reinforce the club’s identity.
“I haven’t got any football shirts. Or none that I’ve bought anyway. The only shirt I can remember having was a grey England away shirt from ’96, something like that. I was probably 15, 16.
“I never bought any club football kits either, British, English or on the continent. Like, even the retro ones.”
Artell believes the sight of Mariners shirts around the local area demonstrates the importance of the club’s identity.
“I think the club does a brilliant job with the shirts. You don’t have to walk far down Cleethorpes Road, Harrington Street, wherever you want to go further afield than the ground and there’s a Grimsby shirt.
“Whether that’s a current one or whether that’s one from last year or 10 years ago, whether that’s home or away. Because the club does such a good job understanding the supporters’ needs, wants, requirements, as well as fashion trends, if you like.
“So, yeah, it’s always great. I’d say the first couple of games of the season when it was sunny and it was hot, the black and white was everywhere. That’s important, that visual identity, representation of who we are.
“It adds to the culture of the place. It adds to the occasion and it gives us a positive.”
Artell says the sight of supporters wearing shirts from different eras can also have an impact on the atmosphere around the game.
“It might just, I don’t know, put a negative sort of one or two per cent into the opposition players. And all that is so important. That’s big margins in professional sports.
“So, hopefully we get to see loads of shirts on Saturday from all eras and all different sort of seasons.
“So that the supporters can compare notes and it’s another topic of conversation and they bring them the next home game and the home game after that because, like I said, it adds to the identity of the whole football club.”
On Saturday’s challenge
With Rovers arriving at the top of the table, Artell knows Town will need to produce a strong performance if they are to extend their unbeaten start.
“It’s a good challenge. Whenever the top of the table rolls into town, you want to play well and you have to play well.
“We also pose our own threats.
“So, like I said, I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
You can watch David’s full pre-match interview here:
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