As its all doom and gloom, lets have a run through the squad and try and work out who we thought was best under which Gills manager/Head Coach shall we? Won't be including the players who signed in the summer for Bonner or the youngsters as there is no comparison available. 1. Glenn Morris - The Cat is good under all managers. The finest of wines. Everyone Wins. 2. Remeao Hutton - Arguably better under Clemence as had more freedom? Certainly been poor this year under Bonner. Clemence Win. 3. Max Clark - Looked like a non league player when first signed under Harris and rightfully lost his place to Malone. Had an upturn in form under Clemence and started this season this well. Last 2 months fallen off a cliff. Clemence Win. 4. Conor Masterson - Solid defensively under Harris and added goals to his game under Clemence but defending did suffer. Crap this season. Harris Win. 5. Max Ehmer - Arguably our best defender under Harris, even when the going got tough stayed level headed. Lost his place for a while under Clemence but when he returned we solidified. Crap this season. Harris & Clemence Win. 6. Ethan Coleman - Took a while to earn his place in the side under Harris but once he did, never lost it after that. Continued good form under Clemence albeit started becoming more negative in his passing range. Has surgery last summer and hasn't found his previous form consistently enough. Harris Win. 9. Josh Andrews - Err? Came to us injured and only played 7 times under Clemence whilst scoring one goal. Looked like an improvement and more mobile Oli Hawkins. 14 appearances so far this season with again only one goal in the FL Trophy. Can't stay fit, looks less willing to chase balls or put his body about. Clemence Win (slim pickings for this one) 10. Jonny Williams - The enigma. Worked hard under Harris but was often played out Wide Left which clearly wasn't his best position at this stage in his career. Under Clemence he played regularly but again seemed to be chopped and changed where he would be played, at times looked our only good player (Wrexham away) and then others just as ineffective as the rest. Started like a train with his performance against Carlisle under Bonner and not really replicated since. Bit like Andrews its slim pickings but I guess Clemence Win? 12. Oli Hawkins - Great start linking up alongside Tom Nichols and then suffered Plantar Fasciitis for several months which perhaps cost Harris his job in the end as he was his main outlet. Once back in the side under Clemence he was very much played as a lone striker and often isolated due to having the turning circle of a dumper truck. Barely been fit under Bonner or if has, been played as much at CB as up front. Harris Win. 14. Robbie McKenzie - Often suffered due to his versatility under Harris in that he played a lot of games at either LB or RB for a long time due to the inconsistent form of others. Saying that he was my vote for player of the year when we were relegated rather than O'Keefe. Post Galinson his gametime became more limited under Harris although did start getting back into midfield often when Coleman was unavailable. Clem again didn't utilise Robbie much, majority of the time as the cover as the right side of a back three. Arguably since Bonner came in, he's been much back to his best playing in the position he's best at. Harris & Bonner Win. 17. Jayden Clarke - Only started really getting involved for Harris last season as an impact sub. Effectively thrown to the scrapheap by Clemence. Has thrived under Bonner with regular gametime and backing to play forwards. Bonner Win. 22. Shad Ogie - Looked like a revelation when first signed under Harris. Errors started creeping into his game under Clemence. Started the season well during Masterson's spell injured but since Conor has returned, Shad's own performances have worsened and now is probably our most Jekyll & Hyde defender we have, echoing David Tutonda from a couple of seasons back. Harris Win. 25. Jake Turner - Started shakily and took time to try and force himself as a Number One keeper. When he did finally get a chance to displace Morris under Harris he earned the shirt with regularly good performances. Continued to be number One under Clemence and continued good shot stopping ability but his distribution proved to be much more of an issue due to the time he'd take over whether to kick or throw out. Been a victim of multiple injuries this season but has fallen down to being 2nd choice after breaking his nose against Bromley. Harris & Clemence Win. 38. Tim Dieng - Again was a big improvement to the midfield when he signed under Harris. Continued injury problems has tarnished his time in Kent under all three managers. Has always looked a goal threat under all but has proven to be incredibly inconsistent under both Clemence & Bonner. Harris Win. So we have 5 Wins outright for Neil Harris. 4 Wins outright for Stephen Clemence with only 1 outright for Mark Bonner. We then had 1 Harris & Clem Win, 1 Harris & Bonner Win & 1 Everyone Win. What was the point of all of this? Frankly I've forgotten since I started typing so could be all drivel but enjoy the debate.
Morris would be nailed on everytime for me, no issues with him whatsoever. McKenzie, another player who gives his all and scores some goals to dig us out of holes, I wouldn't be playing him in defence though and when I saw he was RB last night it P'd me off. I think there's a problem with Hutton yes, but I don't think he is actually the problem, I've just not put my finger on what it is. Jonny Williams, I've always liked him and always will. Jayden Clarke always the dark horse for me, likes to prove people wrong and why not I say. Finally Ogie, I love Shad, but as PegLeg said, can be Jekyll & Hyde - now I know TGPL won't agree with me on this, but I'd be trying him in another role, that isn't defender....and that's probably why I would never make the turf fork stabber at half-time let alone manager. I'm looking through all those other names listed in the OP....nope I'm done. I'm mad as a hatter and happy to be so.
Well as you say there are a few people who are now suggesting moving Ogie further forward as perhaps a defensive midfielder. Certainly not up front though, Sheesh.
Yup, I've got some ideas on how I would like the team to look, and Ogie being further forward would be a crucial part of that. Hutton I think we need to be careful who we have in front of him, he will work hard for you, but appears to become despondent, like people do when they feel they are the only one pulling their weight. Morris is a nailed on keeper for me, sorry Jake, but I'm going for the wiser and older man on this one. Max Clark has been shocking and needs to be dropped, his cliff edge fall is beyond repair for me, I just cannot accept whatever is going on there. Jayden Clarke and Johnny Williams would feature for me, although can we play these two together. How that team looks I'm no tactician, but it's the players I would select at best. As for our long list of potential up front guys I'd bin the lot of them, unless someone could persuade me otherwise. I'd keep Gbode btw.
I have had a good read, and I feel apart from the two goalies, get rid of and change the lot. Under three gaffers no one seems to do what they are getting paid to do. Dack came back, another with injury problems, but gets a wage. All I have seen him do when he has played is ballet dance around the field and as far away from the ball as possible.How much more will the club take? We are now 4 games ( Point difference ) from the play-offs. But only 3 from where we were before Mr G took over. Let's see what we can do away to Tranmere who themselves are 5 points behind us and 5 points clear from relegation
well - the way things are going -get him in the team even if he can't score ! I think he's got Hurtado's number (( apparently he's banging in goals in Greece )) - if the new and loan players can team up, we might have a chance of scraping 0-0
Yeah I'd liked to have has Hurtado back, I don't understand why we didn't try and go in for him, he's been about the best player to wear our shirt in the last couple of seasons. If this lad is on Chelsea books, certainly worth a punt, we're getting desperate now. We just need a player for everyone else to feed, I'd take a gamble and stick Gbode and JJM up front. Get Dack or someone to tuck in behind them. I'd probably even move Oggi into midfield. I know I'm nuts...but it's got to be better than anything else we've tried for the last three seasons.
Another poor result, just as well Tranmere could score., are the team staying in a hotel as they are at Grimbsy on Tuesday
The performance on Saturday was shocking! It's like whatever we do we still lack that cutting edge and creativity. Midfielder was non existent also (I really don't know why Coleman has even tried Nolan at wing back as it clearly doesn't work) I personally think his best position would be in the 10 but with Dack in the team I'd probably bench Nolan. Our wing back positions seem to be a big part of our problem because we aren't actually creating anything of quality from there. It's constant hopeless balls forward which never come to anything. The worrying thing is we have quite a large squad but it constantly feels like we are 3-4 players away from solving our issues as these issues of lack of goals have been going on for so long now. The only thing I can say is I felt McKenzie was having a bad game but when we switched formation and he come into midfield then the midfield seemed much more solid (This is where he should be starting). But the one thing I think is more important than anything is getting a left back in who has some pace as there's no way Max Clark would even play another minute if I had my way!
It's been a long time. It's just a shame that the Gills have taken a massive downturn during that time.
Personally I don't feel we have the squad for the 3 at the back. Id personally shift Ogie out to left back and play one of the young lads at centre back until Masterson is back and until we have bought in a decent left back. I think a basic 4-4-2 probably works best with our team as the 1 upfront clearly doesn't work.
changes at the 'back' - just for Hoadie https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/gills-sign-andy-smith-loan
