Grimsby Town ignoring League Two blueprint could prove costly: View | OneFootball

Grimsby Town's squad lacks experience, and as that is often seen as a necessity to succeed in League Two, the Mariners may pay the price.

As the start of the 2024/25 League Two season moves ever closer, supporters and pundits alike begin to gauge the quality of the squads assembled so far, and who are the runners and riders for a potentially successful campaign. Grimsby Town's recruitment has been interesting, though still unfinished, and with a vital ingredient largely absent.

The Mariners have brought in seven new recruits thus far, mainly in defensive areas, and while boss David Artell has alluded to further incomings, the lack of experience throughout the Grimsby squad could be problematic, particularly in the fourth tier, where that nous and knowledge has often proved the difference between the achievers and the also-rans.

A look back at most sides that have flourished in a physically demanding, relentless division shows a number of seasoned professionals in their ranks. Just last time out, both Wrexham and Mansfield Town were promoted with squads with a higher average age than most; and it's well-known by followers of the EFL's basement division that players who know the level are often pivotal in getting over the line.

Artell's squad includes just two players over the age of 27. While forward Danny Rose and midfielder Curtis Thompson, both 30 years old, are strong characters who offer know-how and leadership, and Callum Ainley has around 250 Football League appearances to his name, genuine League Two experience is thin on the ground throughout much of the Mariners' ranks, with limited collective appearances at this level by comparison to others.

Average squad age often a barometer for success in League Two

Obviously, there are numerous variables and anomalies that go into what makes each individual side successful or not. There's no defined method to follow that guarantees success or failure.

This goes for average age and experience, too. For example, Crawley Town were promoted to League One last season as one of the younger squads in the division, while Sutton United ended up relegated to the National League as one of the oldest.

By and large, however, it's the teams with numerous players who have been there and done it in the fourth tier, those that understand the intricacies required on a weekly basis that come out on top in League Two. Last season's champions, Stockport County, along with fellow automatically promoted sides Wrexham and Mansfield Town all had an average age of over 27.4, with the latter two in particular having plenty of EFL know-how and physicality in their ranks.

It's not an exact science by any means, but time and time again, it transpires that experience makes the difference in the end, and Artell's Mariners could do with adding one or two more that fall into that category before August 30th.

Getting the number of players in your squad right is a tough balancing act for managers these days, particularly in the modern era of two yearly transfer windows.

Having enough quality and depth to cover all eventualities, while working within budgets in an ever-expensive industry is a challenging task for lower league clubs. Sufficient numbers are necessary, but close-knit squads can often form a togetherness that leads to success at this level, whereas a bloated squad is usually a sign of poor planning and, ultimately, a struggling side, with plenty of chopping and changing and numerous players unhappy at being left out on a matchday.

Artell is thought to be keen on going with a smaller group for the campaign ahead, but that could be seen as a gamble, as the Mariners have some players prone to picking up niggles and injuries that, should they flare up regularly, could leave the Blundell Park outfit exposed and undermanned.

Grimsby has many players who can operate in multiple positions, but a relentless schedule consisting of a minimum of 51 matches will stretch the depth and ability of a largely inexperienced squad. The Mariners are already favouring relative youth over seasoned experience, they can ill afford to leave themselves short numerically, too.