2009/10 season after 7 league games: Won: 3 Drawn: 1 Lost: 3 Points: 10 Goals scored: 13 Goals conceded: 7 We got relegated that season just as a reminder...
Just showing that your point about the current league points are irrelevant I shall remain gloomy as I don't believe in the current rose tinted glasses about our position. I don't agree that tearing apart the squads core including key youngsters, signing 15 players (even though Thomas went back), sacking Mark Patterson without making any announcement with regards to it, is the right way to manage the resources effectively and I'm still yet to be sold.
Pegleg I think you could edit my posts in the ARGRS thread - to make them sound less cheerful. On a more serious point -- I'm not sure how many games you've seen this season. I will always state that we have limited financial resources -- and this will have a major effect on our footballing destiny. The major difference that I have seen this season is the large reduction of 'hoofblll.' We have tried to play on the deck - pass the ball - instead of just lumping it forward. This hasn't always been successful - but - the 'attempt' is much more pleasing to watch than we've had for a few years -- and the effort has been [generally] good.......quality won't be brilliant without a lot of money (( which we will never have )) - but- who knows - it wasn't long ago when Bournemouth were nowhere - today they are well established in the Premier.......... We needed a change at the top [manager] - with better ideas. Evans may just bring us one of the several promotions that he's had with other teams. I think, from what I've seen, there is more positives to come. ps - No. I haven't taken a happy pill { speedball would be less painful )
The important thing is are we improving. https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/league-one/form-guide/four
I felt the team put in a decent performance last night, In very brief spells they looked slick, how I like to see us play, however, the final delivery was awful. My concerns, Bonham has received lots of praise on here, if you look at our star player table he currently sits second. I felt he looked more like Calamity Jack last night, but he's allowed an off game, but he needs to sort his kicking out (oh for the days of Gazza). Jakubiak, another player currently sitting fourth in the star player table, I ask what did he actually contribute last night? The well dones go to Tucker, O'Connor, Jones, (sad to see Fuller get injured), Hanlan tried but was not at his best. Marshall, good player but final ball appalling. We've got the makings of something, but as of yet I'm not quite sure what, I'm seeing slickness but failing to see the quality to deliver at the end of it. But that could be just gelling as a team. There is lots of work to be done, and maybe the approach is how can we work around these weaknesses, so that we can deliver. But I'm going to say it again, for eagerness alone, well done Tucker
What's with all of the positivity on this board? We've won 20% of our games this season. We have a minimum of 42 games left in all comps (not taking into account if we progress in any cup). If we continue at this rate of winning 20% of games played, that will take us to 10.4 games won across the season in all comps. That is simply not enough, nor is it an improvement on Steve Lovell. Yes the football you're all watching might be a bit more aesthetically pleasing but that doesn't matter if we're not getting the results. If you take away Bolton as it was a bunch of kids, we've won only one competitive game in nine, I fail to see how that's an improvement.
For me it's about the performance, after several season of watching rubbish it's a refreshing change to watch a team trying to play football. We are one of the smallest clubs in league 1 (based on attendance/budget) so I don't expect us to win every game in the season, I do want to leave the stadium feeling we were in with a chance. Over the last four league games we are 3rd in the form table, that for me shows improvement, add that to the pleasing football and I'm happy. Just by way of a counter argument, we have only lost 25% of our league games.
Fair comment. I've tried to look through the stats, to see if it gave us any clues to our mixed performance, for example, the teams we've played were they teams likely to get promoted. But I saw no real evidence of that. I see the basis and purpose of the team we have, but it saddens me to say, with the exception of a few, they are below the par that we need to be, to stick any realistic chance of play-offs. I think we really need to be honest with outselves as you are doing and find a workaround to these weaknesses. You like me (especially under Maddog), will highlight players and youth we have dispensed with that could have overcome these obstacles but were not given a chance. I really more today though wanted to highlight one big positive, and that is when Barry Fuller went down, my honest first thoughts, well that's us ******* now! Yet Jack Tucker came in and did a superb job, and even you will applaud the benefits of that. Sometimes it's fate that gives you your break.
........ AND, of course, I never criticise .......... I'll be stumped if we ever change our kit to Hi Viz vests
Performances don't matter come the end of the season if you don't have the points on the board. I have never once questioned the amount of resources our club has, in fact if anything I've only ever questioned why so much has been done to rid our current resources for extra cost to bring more in. The fact of the matter is, our current form isn't creating enough wins, two in ten is simply not enough if we're going to get a top half/play off place finish that the current manager and chairman wish to promise us.
EXCUSES It is natural for any football manage to find excuses for unsatisfactory results. Often they will curse bad luck, bad injuries, bad viruses, bad referees -- or -- in the case of Paul Lambert, bad words from the opposing manager. Mr. Evans has every right to use any mitigation if The Gills fail to win --- although it would be nice if managers could be a little more honest and simply state that the opposition were too good and deserved to win. The simple truth -- putting aside all other excuses, is that we do not have a squad who has the quality to challenge at the top level of League 1. We will 'get lucky' occasionally, and beat the league leaders -- and other times we will be 'unlucky', and lose to the bottom club. ........... THIS is the future for GFC. If you only want to see a team win - then don't come to Priestfield. (( I only come to see if I can wind-up a steward )) ------- NO BARRIERS--NO PRODUCTION OF SEASON TICKETS on Saturday -- commonsense wins ! At Bristol, the simple truth was that BOTH teams were really poor. Neither deserved to win - despite the fact that The Gills had a semblance of domination late into the game. Mr.Evans said that we left 2 points in Bristol -- well -- I wouldn't have given either team 1 point . Against Ipswich, Mr. Evans seems to think that we should have won ! -- what - when we miss an 'open goal'? or should have done better when one-on-one with the goalkeeper ? Despite the great effort in the 2nd half ( much appreciated by myself ), Ipswich were comfortable, and never in real danger of us scoring. At least we gave 100% ...................... well, almost !!!! I won't name the player - but - there was an incident in the first half - when we had to defend a 'counter-attack.' The player concerned could have have intercepted the Ipswich player running at us with the ball. The Gills player could at least have got back into some sort of covering position - to have some effect when the Ipswich attack arrived in our penalty area................. the Gills player COULD - WOULD - SHOULD - but - didn't do any of that - because he couldn't be bothered to run. He simply strolled -- at a very gentle pace. I was apoplectic with anger at his lack of effort...... It was only by luck ( not recognised by Mr.Evans ), that we didn't concede from this attack. Mr.Evans is at liberty to make all the excuses he wants when Gills lose, and I will accept probably all of them -- but what I will not accept is when a player only gives 99% -- let alone not ' breaking sweat.' There is NO excuse for lack of effort.
Ok, I won't create another thread as this more or less already exists on the topic. Watch the video and hopefully Mr Evans will too....watch the WHOLE video, it speaks for itself....
brb - the incident to which I refer was not the move for the goal. It was a conventional counter attack. The Gills player ( who was out of position ), made a pathetic attempt to get back -- I reckon I could have 'walked' faster !........... I'm not saying that he would have got back in time -- but it was the lack of effort -- giving up without trying -- not acceptable................ and therefore it is no surprise that none of our players put in enough effort to intercept 1 of the 25 opportunities that was presented before the ball enters the net. Your video shows some nice passing by Ipswich -- but not one Gills player getting really 'stuck in.' -- everyone backs off - the ball gets crossed - O'Connor and or Bonham could have prevented the goal -- but the lack of intensity in our style of defending resulted in neither player being sharp enough. Things improved in the 2nd half (( like I said, I do greatly appreciate the effort after half time )) -- but the damage had been done. The lack of 'engagement' in the first half is the responsibility of Mr.Evans. Perhaps he would have noticed - if he wasn't too busy arguing with Lambert.
