Scunthorpe Utd: Grant insists confidence remains intact
Under-fire striker Bobby Grant insists his confidence has not been affected by any negative terrace talk.
As Scunthorpe United continue to languish at the wrong end of the table, struggling to find the net, it is their front men who have borne the brunt of fans' frustrations.
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FOCUSED: Bobby Grant is sure he can increase his goal tally, if more chances come his way
Grant remains the Iron's top scorer with nine, though accepts he still has some way to go to appease a section of the Glanford Park crowd.
Dismissing the criticism as part of the job, the 21-year-old says his primary focus is adding to his tally and is backing himself to get back among the goals as more chances come his way.
"At the end of the day, if you don't get chances, you don't score," he said.
"On Saturday, at Exeter, we created chances but the keeper pulled off three great saves.
"If we keep getting chances, we will score goals.
"It's about putting in a team performance, it's not about individuals.
"Us as a team and as strikers we practice every day.
"It's difficult on a Saturday because if you don't get the service, then you get judged. People will say, 'he hasn't scored goals'.
"That's part of being a striker, it's part of your job. You've got to score goals and you've got to take the good with the bad.
"When you're scoring you're the best thing in the world, and when you're not, you're the worst. You can't win.
"It's up to the fans, they all have their own opinions.
"I'm not going to sit here and say, 'I want you all to be my best mate', because it's not going to happen.
"When I was scoring people still doubted me. It's always the way. It's one of those businesses.
"The majority of the fans have been absolutely superb with me. I can't thank them enough for the support they've shown.
"If the others want to have their opinion, they can have it. It's not really going to affect me to be honest.
"If you keep working hard and keep doing it for the team, then I'm sure it will all fall into place."
After starting the season stuck among the substitutes, Grant is simply grateful to have been given a run in the team.
And with Chris Dagnall relegated to the bench, he is getting used to playing alongside Garry Thompson.
"It's different," said the former Accrington Stanley forward. "I've always played with a target man.
"When I was playing with Dags, he's a player who gives 110 per cent and is a fantastic player.
"It's just a bit of a change because Thommo is more of a target man, a bit of a more physical player.
"It's not easier but it's a different type of player.
"You can work off Garry, whereas with Dags you're working with him to try to get the ball back.
"As long as I'm on the pitch it doesn't matter which of my team-mates I'm playing with because they've both got fantastic qualities.
"I'm sure we can start scoring the goals."
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by bartonscorp
Sunday, December 25 2011, 1:44AM
“You are correct Oscar, I will certainly listen to the Radio Humberside report on the Scunny performance, and hope that it is about a win for us. It will be the second home game of the season that I have missed, the other being the Huddersfield match, which was supposedly a cracker, I have also attended a few away games this season. I have become very dejected this season though, and this must also be the opinion of many others !!, it's all right saying "support the team", but how many supporters can actually and honestly come away from the games saying that they had enjoyed watching this seasons matches, being a long term attending supporter come away feeling very depressed, and it spoils my weekends, simply because I CARE.
I also agree with what you say Robin Jackson, I must be going SENILE in my old age, after giving up my season ticket this year, I have been traveling from Barton early mid-week to collect my match ticket, then traveling same trip again on match day, I know that you can collect tickets on match days, but having knee problems, it is difficult for me to walk from the main car park to the club office, and then back to the Study Stand. But as for your comment regarding supporters wanting to see shots on goal, if you watch Match of the Day on TV, many great long range shots score goals for other teams, I have not witnessed one single long range shot on goal result in a goal for our team.
Looking forward to the Barton v Winterton match on Boxing Day, no problems getting pre-match tickets this time, but will probably be back for more punishment V Chesterfield and Hartlepool away, we have made a habit of ending teams poor runs.
UP THE IRON.”
by RobinJackson1
Saturday, December 24 2011, 1:20PM
“Very well put Oscar, if he has been supporting for sixty years he will have seen a lot worse teams than this one.”
by oscarmoggy
Saturday, December 24 2011, 9:58AM
“bartonscorp - You've been supporting Scunny for sixty years through thick and thin. Well unfortunately, once again it's thin and what do you do, you go and watch Barton. No doubt after you've heard the Scunthorpe report on Humberside you will be on here with some inane comments.
Enjoy the Barton v Winterton match, it could actually be a good game.
Support your team - every week not just when their winning or playing Man Utd.”
by PStoff
Saturday, December 24 2011, 8:22AM
“Confirmed - Robin Jackson does not go to games. Happy to sit on his farm accepting mediocrity.”
by RobinJackson1
Friday, December 23 2011, 9:56PM
“Bartonscorp is showing signs of going completely senile as he is already well on the way.
Listen to the fans who want to see shots on goal before opening your big gob but then again you won't be there so you forfeit the chance to criticise.”
by bartonscorp
Friday, December 23 2011, 9:39PM
“Bobby has come into the club, and has followed two brilliant strikers in Billy Sharp and Garry Hooper, these two were a cut above Scunthorpe United, and who ever came in after those two players were almost certainly going to fail, they were two class acts to follow.
After following Scunny for 60 years, through thick and thin (mostly thin), our present problems are far more than just a centre forward, Togwell and Thompson are the teams biggest problems, Thompson just runs about the pitch, usually in area's where the ball is abcent, and has really gone backwards this year, Togwell does almost nothing during matches, how he keeps in the team I fail to understand !!!!!!!!1 Get Dagnall back into the team, he is our best forward in the club.
As for Robin Jacksons stupid statement regarding criticising a player for shooting too much, what supporters mean, is that there is no point in our players shooting from 40 yards, when a build up by passing to a team mate would cause more problem, YOU GET POINTS BY SCORING MORE GOALS THAN OTHER TEAMS, not having more shots, and far too many of our shots either go over the stands, or are just like back passes to the keeper.
Anyway, Boxing Day this year will see me at the Barton v Winterton match, this should be better value than sitting through another miserable 90 minutes at GP.
GET IT SORTED OUT MANAGEMENT.”
by oscarmoggy
Friday, December 23 2011, 4:29PM
“He's also a liability - getting involved in things he shouldn't, jumping into defenders instead of going for the ball and going to ground to easily. I'm suprised he hasn't picked up a lot more bookings than he actually has.”
by PStoff
Friday, December 23 2011, 4:27PM
“Idiot.”
by RobinJackson1
Friday, December 23 2011, 3:53PM
“I never thought I would see a so called supporter criticise a player for shooting and would prefer him to pass. If you don't shoot you don't score.”
by brumbyOiron
Friday, December 23 2011, 3:08PM
“I think he's one of the few bright spots this season. Sure he shoots sometimes too often, or too soon, but can you say that of say Thompson? or Togwell?”