Géza Dávid Turi says he is determined to continue developing with the Mariners after signing a new contract with the Club until 2028.
It has been quite a week for the midfielder, who followed up his spectacular goal against Bristol Rovers with a new two-year deal and another international call-up for the Faroe Islands.
Turi has become an increasingly important member of David Artell’s side since arriving at Blundell Park, with the midfielder highlighting the patience and support shown to him by the Club, his teammates and the supporters as key factors in his development.
The 24-year-old also reflected on the difference between the player who made his League Two debut against Notts County and the one now involved in his third season with Town, discussed his ambitions to contribute more goals and assists, and looked ahead to Saturday’s meeting with Crawley Town.
Here’s everything Turi had to say ahead of this weekend’s fixture…
On signing a new contract
Turi was delighted to have his future settled after discussions with the Club had been ongoing since the summer.
“Yeah, delighted to get it sorted.
“Since summer we’ve been speaking with the Club to extend my contract and I was straight away happy and I wanted to get it sorted straight away.
“It took its time, but I’m happy it’s done now.”
On why Grimsby is the right place for him
Turi believes the patience shown by the Club, alongside the support of the Mariners faithful, has played a huge part in his development.
“I think how patient they were with me.
“The build-up and the fans as well. It’s unbelievable how many people come watch the game, and away fans as well.
“It just makes you want to stay here longer and how much they appreciate us players, not only me but everyone.”
On how much he has developed
The midfielder has undergone significant physical and footballing development since arriving at Blundell Park, and Turi believes the difference between then and now is considerable.
“It’s like day and night.
“From when I signed in January, I was a completely different person to who I am now, for the better.
“And it’s all help from the lads and the players, the staff, even the fans.
“Everyone’s been involved in this, and I just want to keep growing and be better.”
On the ‘Faroese Pirlo’ nickname
Turi has quickly embraced a new nickname given to him by supporters following his stunning strike against Bristol Rovers.
“I’ve seen some pictures of it.
“Yeah, I think it’s funny. I like it as well.
“I think it’s a good comparison. I like it.”
On having his future settled
With his new contract now signed, Turi says he will continue to approach each game with the same mentality regardless of his contractual situation.
“You can say that, but I don’t really think about it that way.
“I just go into every game like it’s, you have to win.
“Like you can’t accept a draw or a loss.
“So, I didn’t really think about it that way, but I’m pleased it’s done.”
On where he can still improve
Turi is keen to build on his attacking contribution, having already scored his first goal of the campaign against Bristol Rovers, while maintaining the defensive qualities that have become a key part of his game.
“Yeah, like of course scoring more goals.
“Of course, I scored one this weekend, and hopefully I can score more as well and be more involved in the attacking part.
“But clean sheets, I think it’s more of my main goal.
“But I want to be more involved as well going forward.”
On David Artell’s influence
Turi says the belief shown in him by Artell has been an important part of his progression since arriving at the Club.
“Everything.
“Since the start he said he’s going to take me time and I trusted him.
“And from Christmas I was playing almost every game and he trusted in me and got belief in myself and confidence.
“And I think I just built on that, since last year’s performance to this one.
“And I hopefully can keep going.”
On writing his own contract announcement message
As part of the announcement of his new contract, Turi wrote the words used in the accompanying video himself, explaining why it was important to communicate directly with supporters.
“I think they have to know what I’m thinking and why I wanted to stay.
“To get promoted, how much the fans also are involved in this for me to stay and try to get to League One.”
On his start to the season
Turi has started all six of Town’s league games so far this season and has contributed a goal and several assists from his midfield role.
“I think it’s been good as a six.
“I’ve scored a goal and got a few assists.
“And I think, of course, the defending part could be better.
“But we have a really good team and we just have to get the momentum going because I think if we get started, get a few wins in a row, we’d be hard to break down.
“And it just needs to click for us.”
On whether he is playing his best football
While pleased with his current form and confidence, Turi is reluctant to make comparisons with previous stages of his career.
“Yeah, I don’t know.
“Probably. I don’t really… I feel good. I feel confident.
“And it’s just, yeah, I don’t know.
“It’s hard to answer that.”
On the difference between his debut and now
Turi made his League Two debut against Notts County and says one of the biggest lessons he has learned has been understanding how quickly the demands of the division can change from one game to another.
“Just to understand what League Two football is all about.
“How much one game can change from another.
“Like when we played against Cheltenham, the first half and the second half was two completely different games.
“And we had a plan against Bristol and it was opposite from what that game was.
“And just have to be ready for those changes and just adapt as quickly as you can.”
On watching his Bristol Rovers goal back
Unsurprisingly, Turi has spent plenty of time reliving his spectacular strike from distance against Bristol Rovers.
“Unhealthy amount of times.
“A thousand times maybe, I don’t know.
“Like all angles, all the time.”
On his goalscoring ambitions
Turi has already set himself targets for improving his attacking numbers this season after managing just one or two assists without a goal last campaign.
“It’s more like, of course he wants me to score goals because then it helps the team.
“But I have a goal I want to reach, like to try to get, and same with assists.
“And just build on that side of my game because I know I can defend and do that sort of stuff.
“Because last year I didn’t score a goal and I got like one or two assists.
“And I just want to build on that and keep going in that direction.”
On another international call-up
Turi will once again represent the Faroe Islands during the upcoming international break and says he is proud to have another opportunity to represent his country.
“It’s always an honour to play for your country and I’m pleased I got selected.
“We’re going to play four games in 12 days. It’s going to be quite a tight schedule, but I’m up for it.
“And I just want to play as well as I do here.”
On the benefit of international football
The midfielder explained that playing international football presents a different challenge to League Two, requiring him to adapt once again when he returns to Blundell Park.
“It’s totally different as well.
“International football and League Two football are like two different… you just have to adapt as well.
“Teams more play possession-based games. It’s also a bigger pitch as well.
“And when you come back, you just have to adapt to that as well, quickly.
“And it’s a learning thing for me if I go away with the national team and come back.
“But I enjoy it. I don’t mind that.”
On his best week in football
After scoring a spectacular goal, signing a new contract and receiving another international call-up, Turi says the last few days rank among the best he has experienced in football.
“Probably best so far I’ve experienced.
“Yeah, I think so.”
On not getting carried away
Despite the excitement surrounding his own week and Town’s victory over Bristol Rovers, Turi is conscious that there is still a long way to go this season.
“Yeah, like only played six, so it’s 40 games left of the season.
“Everything has kind of happened and it’s still early.
“Crawley play quite good attacking football and we just have to be, I think, better than we were against Bristol.
“And I think we’re ready for the challenge.”
On the threat posed by Crawley
Turi is expecting Crawley to provide a different challenge to the one Town faced against Rovers, particularly with their ability to attack quickly.
“Because they have quite a good team.
“It’s what we’ve seen. They’re quite good and they play good attacking football, quick counter-attacks.
“And if we switched off for one minute, they can counter us and go one-nil or two up.
“We don’t know. We will see.”
On dealing with Crawley’s possession
With Crawley among the division’s leading possession sides during the opening weeks of the season, Turi says Town have been preparing for the challenge and will look to stick to their game plan.
“Yeah, we have a plan.
“What we were trying to go for, we were training, and if we can do that, we will see how much possession they can hold.”
You can watch Turi’s pre-match interview here:
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