Not my words -- Steve Evans post match interview.
Evans is right ---We WEREN'T rubbish --- We ARE rubbish ! -- not helped by YOUR RUBBISH team selection and tactics (( I am assuming that you actually had any tactics --- other than hoofball )).
Why couldn't Mr. Evans have been a little more honest and gracious -- just like Burnley's manager, Sean Dyche. He pointed out that Burnley were beaten " fair and square - the other team won because they were better than us. " --- the same principle applied at Priestfield --- not the same lame excuses we're hearing almost every week.
I've said, plenty of times, that I am realistic about our fortunes. I know that I am not going to see world beaters wearing a Gills shirt. I only really look for 100% commitment. --- but -- that doesn't excuse the fact that it is not unrealistic to expert so-called 'football professionals' to have a much better idea as to how to play ( more efficiently ), against a particular opponent or weather conditions.
Evans may be justified in bemoaning the size of our budget - but - he knew that before he took on the job. I might sympathise with him that Mr.Scally has been unable to secure or provide better funds - just get on with it ( a-la-Wycombe ! ).
Evans may be justified in saying that the referees are poor - and don't give anything to us. Evans is correct - the officials are really poor - but -- for BOTH teams. I could point out that Emer was lucky not to get red-carded for a shirt pull on a Rotherham break, just outside our penalty area ( the referee and Mr.Magoo with the flag failed to see it ). Have you seen the position of Byrne's left foot when he takes a throw-in ? - well over the line. The referee missed hand-ball on a couple of occasions by our defenders ETC, ETC............ as much as it might not look like it, I suspect that, over the course of a season, things even themselves out---- we can't control when we get the good or bad decisions ---- ------- but ----- what IS in the control of Mr.Evans is the team selection and tactics.
Mr. Evans must have known that Rotherham had 'giant' defenders. Did he select our only tall striker ( Mandon ?) - NO ! Did he not realise that it was very windy ? ( perhaps he didn't - because his own wind coming out of his foul mouth was repelling it ! ) Did he not see that we were not winning any headers when the ball was launched towards the Rotherham back line ? Did he not think to instruct our players to try not to lose immediate possession by just hoofing the ball upfield ? Did we try to play the ball on the ground ? Did he think that the same 11 deserved to come out for the second half ? (( admittedly he might have struggled to decide which three were worse than the others -- I reckon he could have started with 'Mr Assist- for- two- opposition- goals,' - O'Gilvie. ))
I know that our players have (( very limited )) quality - but - the team selection and tactics could - should have been much better. Better decisions in these departments, by Evans, may not have changed the ultimate result -- but at least it might have achieved some approval and gratitude from the fans -- instead of what Mr.Evans is succeeding in achieving every week -- the contempt from fans who are becoming so alienated, that they are not prepared to pay even just £1 to watch the crap of offer ( and to be treated to abject, miserable performances for at least the fourth year in a row. )
Evans is right ---We WEREN'T rubbish --- We ARE rubbish ! -- not helped by YOUR RUBBISH team selection and tactics (( I am assuming that you actually had any tactics --- other than hoofball )).
Why couldn't Mr. Evans have been a little more honest and gracious -- just like Burnley's manager, Sean Dyche. He pointed out that Burnley were beaten " fair and square - the other team won because they were better than us. " --- the same principle applied at Priestfield --- not the same lame excuses we're hearing almost every week.
I've said, plenty of times, that I am realistic about our fortunes. I know that I am not going to see world beaters wearing a Gills shirt. I only really look for 100% commitment. --- but -- that doesn't excuse the fact that it is not unrealistic to expert so-called 'football professionals' to have a much better idea as to how to play ( more efficiently ), against a particular opponent or weather conditions.
Evans may be justified in bemoaning the size of our budget - but - he knew that before he took on the job. I might sympathise with him that Mr.Scally has been unable to secure or provide better funds - just get on with it ( a-la-Wycombe ! ).
Evans may be justified in saying that the referees are poor - and don't give anything to us. Evans is correct - the officials are really poor - but -- for BOTH teams. I could point out that Emer was lucky not to get red-carded for a shirt pull on a Rotherham break, just outside our penalty area ( the referee and Mr.Magoo with the flag failed to see it ). Have you seen the position of Byrne's left foot when he takes a throw-in ? - well over the line. The referee missed hand-ball on a couple of occasions by our defenders ETC, ETC............ as much as it might not look like it, I suspect that, over the course of a season, things even themselves out---- we can't control when we get the good or bad decisions ---- ------- but ----- what IS in the control of Mr.Evans is the team selection and tactics.
Mr. Evans must have known that Rotherham had 'giant' defenders. Did he select our only tall striker ( Mandon ?) - NO ! Did he not realise that it was very windy ? ( perhaps he didn't - because his own wind coming out of his foul mouth was repelling it ! ) Did he not see that we were not winning any headers when the ball was launched towards the Rotherham back line ? Did he not think to instruct our players to try not to lose immediate possession by just hoofing the ball upfield ? Did we try to play the ball on the ground ? Did he think that the same 11 deserved to come out for the second half ? (( admittedly he might have struggled to decide which three were worse than the others -- I reckon he could have started with 'Mr Assist- for- two- opposition- goals,' - O'Gilvie. ))
I know that our players have (( very limited )) quality - but - the team selection and tactics could - should have been much better. Better decisions in these departments, by Evans, may not have changed the ultimate result -- but at least it might have achieved some approval and gratitude from the fans -- instead of what Mr.Evans is succeeding in achieving every week -- the contempt from fans who are becoming so alienated, that they are not prepared to pay even just £1 to watch the crap of offer ( and to be treated to abject, miserable performances for at least the fourth year in a row. )
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