One point in four games could be seen as a concerning statistic, and quite rightly Lincoln know that they have to improve if they are to start climbing the table. The players are all in position, so what exactly is going wrong at Sincil Bank?
LCM watched the game v Grimsby very closely, and came up with the following assessment of each one in an attempt to identify the current problem.
Rob Burch has come under some pressure following a howler or two against Dagenham. However on Saturday there was nothing he could do about Peter Tills opener for the Cod heads. Had it not been for Burch the score could have been considerably higher. The big stopper kept out a couple of good efforts, but his overall command of the area was his biggest strength on Saturday. He claimed high balls, came out to thwart a strikers advances on more than one occasion and berated his defence every time they lost concentration. Unfortunately for Burch they didn't seem to be quite as attentive as he'd hoped, and he spent as much time yelling at the four lads in front of him as he did stopping shots.
Paul Green looked comfortable if unspectacular at right back. Last campaigns Player of the Season has started moderately, but often found himself caught out after an advance forward. A successful team needs marauding full backs, and Green can deliver, but that same player needs to remember his defensive responsibilities to. However he received a couple of good passes from Stefan Oakes, and also managed to put a ball or two into the danger area.
Aaron Brown hasn't looked good at all in the left back spot, but like Green has a tendency to impress more in the opponents half. Brown is a makeshift left back, and it often shows as he was caught for pace and beaten far too many times against Grimsby. However coming forward he showed glimpses of the promise that has kept him in League One football for so long. He does have a nice touch and attacking the flank also seems to gain a determination he doesn't show in getting back. Hopefully working with Frank Sinclair will help him bed into the full back slot.
Janos Kovacs doesn't seem to be showing the same quality he did in pre season. Time and time again the towering centre back got beaten for pace, and once a man is past him there isn't a lot he can do to get himself back. The lack of pace should have been covered by Frank Sinclair, but the two looked like they hadn't played together before, which to be fair to them they haven't really. Going forward Kovacs hasn't showed the threat at corners that he did in pre season either.
Frank Sinclair showed a few flashes of the undeniable quality that made him a Premiership and World Cup star. However he also showed us the other side of his game, that of a 36-year-old veteran struggling to recapture any of the lost form. On paper Sinclair is a cut above this league, even now. In truth he needs to hit full fitness before we can see if he still has what it takes. There's a lot on his shoulders to keep his own game going as well as nurturing the infant back four he is playing in. The late header onto his own bar almost gave him another own goal to his collection.
The Defence - The Verdict
All in all it was a bad day at the office for the men at the back, Rob Burch had a lot to do and that in itself tells a story. The average attacking prowess of Grimsby often outwitted the fledgling back four, and LCM shudders when thinking of Omar Daley running at Aaron Brown, or Louis Dodds turning the pace on against Kovacs.
Lee Frecklington got the goal that earned the draw, and showed terrific composure in the face of immense pressure. However he also missed a good chance late in the first half and failed to impress elsewhere on the pitch. The Lincoln born midfield talisman likes a ball winner doing the work at the side of him, and sadly Stefan Oakes needs the same luxury. Often Freck found himself sat too deep to make an impact, and ploughed a lacklustre furrow through the middle of the park. I worry for Freck, as it's a direct competition between him and Oakes to be the creative spark alongside Scott Kerr donkeywork, and on this showing Freck will struggle to oust Oakes.
Stefan Oakes looked tired towards the latter quarter of the game, but proved to be a key link in the attempts to break down the Grimsby back line. Oakes does have a lovely knack for sweeping cross-field balls, with Paul Green the obvious benefactor. He did however also find himself dropping back as he attempted to occasionally perform the ball winning duties for Freck, and his attacks on any second balls seemed futile. There is no doubt though that he will be one of the key men in the coming weeks should he remain fit.
The Midfield - The Verdict
Its simply didn't seem to work. Both player kept dropping back and pushing forward leaving gaps in the centre of the park, and despite the obvious talent between them they didn't seem to perform as a pairing. It could be a bit like the Gerrard / Lampard problem for England, both are quality but only one can really play. We missed Scott Kerrs rugged tenacity to win the ball, and the knowledge that the attacking midfielder could push forward leaving Kerr as the holding man. Would Shane Clark and Stefan Oakes been a better pairing? Definitely not, but one of these creative player might have to add another dimension to their game to feature regularly this season.
Dany N'Guessen had a typical Dany game, ineffective for half a match and dangerous for the other. Dany is a player with the talent to progress to better things in his career, but he seems to lack the drive or direction. When he has the ball the fans know something may be created, something special may happen. They also know that he'll occasionally try to hang on to the ball and walk it into the net. Every week you get one of three Dany's, the genius, the absentee or like Saturday you have him running hot and cold. One day he'll reach the potential he has and I feel will grace the pitches of the Championship with ease. That day wasn't Saturday and David Graham replaced him late on.
Lenny John Lewis was named by Ben Wright in the programme as the player with the best potential in the whole squad, and it's hard to argue with that. The sponsors awarded him man of the match on Saturday, and although LCM feels Stefan Oakes should have got it Lenny did impress. His pace and power will soon be joined by the finesse of a seasoned pro, and like Dany when it is he'll perform on a higher stage than this. Unlike Dany though Lenny does seem to have the drive and determination week in and week out. His final delivery needs a polish, and he needs to remain committed for 90 full minutes. Saturday he was perhaps the second or third best player in a Lincoln shirt (Oakes and Burch) but needs to put the ball closer to the forwards.
The Wings - The Verdict
One area that City don't have pressing concerns. Both Dany and Lenny have the potential to dominate the flanks in this league, and full backs won't relish facing either of them. Both need to improve the final ball, Lennys needs to be more accurate and Dany just needs to consider when to play it in. However both did deliver a few balls in on Saturday, and perhaps one should have been met with a shot.
Kevin Gall drives a Porsche with a personalised number plate, and moves around the pitch like the car he drives. However on Saturday most of his running resulted in nothing, and LCM can't recall a significant touch the Gall had. He certainly has the engine, but it seems to take him down dead end alleys. He must have more to show than this, but he was replaced by Sam Mullarkey midway through the second half. It wasn't the Welsh mans afternoon.
Ben Wright seemed almost everything a centre forward should be on Saturday. He's big, strong composed and looks every inch a goal scorer. However there lies the problem, he just can't get the ball into the net legally at the minute. Another offside goal on Saturday (another close call as well), he is getting into the right spots, but it's frustrating to think he could have two league goals to his name now. Despite this he is still showing the same weaknesses that he had last season, namely not aggressive enough and anonymous for periods. Maybe he didn't get the service; maybe he hasn't clicked with Gall yet. LCM thinks Ben could score 15-20 goals this season, but has to improve after Saturdays quiet afternoon.
The Forwards - The Verdict
No real threat to Grimsby at all. Ben didn't win enough headers; Kevin didn't run into the right spaces and neither of them looked like connecting with Balls into the box. If you score goals then the defence can afford a few lapses, but we didn't look like scoring in open play on Saturday and that's a big problem.
Sam Mullarkey came on for his league debut and in one minute achieved more than Kevin Gall all afternoon. It was his probing that tempted a foul for the penalty and that was enough to secure a 1-1 draw. After that he looked keen and did himself no harm at all. Three reserve goals in two outings earned him his spot on the bench and although he didn't continue that vein of form he did himself no harm at all.
David Graham didn't really get a chance to impress and perhaps he deserves a start sometime soon. He has six months to prove himself but will need more than five minutes at the end of a game to show what he can do.
Overall Lincoln looked disjointed at times and frail at the back. However fans have to realise this is a new team who have already suffered from injuries this season. The back four need to gel, Oakes needs to be fully fit and Dany and Lenny need to reach there blindingly obvious potential. Once that happens (and it will) we then need to put the ball in the back of the net, and if Gall continues to struggle or Ben keeps being called offside then I suspect Graham, Mullarkey and new signing Adrian Patulea will be knocking on the door. Okay so the optimism from pre season has gone, but the team still has enough class to knock on the play off race's door before too long. Keep the faith.