This is going to require quite a large amount of honesty from everyone but I was interested to see people's opinions and how they have changed. What was your starting XI at the start of the season? And what would it be now? Now I know players have since left and some have come in. Some even come AND gone. These would be mine: Start of season XI: GK - Flitney RB - Fuller CB - Lawrence CB - Frampton LB - Martin CM - Payne CM - Spiller CM - Weston AMR - Whelpdale AML - Rooney ST - Kedwell Starting XI NOW GK - Gazzaniga RB - Evans (only because Fuller is injured) CB - Essam (Richards and Lawrence awful) CB - Frampton LB - Martin (no one else!) CM - Payne CM - Spiller CM - Jackman AMR - Tomlin AML - Kuffour ST - Kedwell
Richards is not at fault, I personally think it is Frampton and Lawrence who are the problems, also to add to your team once Lee returns who leaves the team, would you play him at Left back as he can play there and that way Evans gets more of a chance as he seems a good player from what I see last night/
Hoadie I admire your faith in Richards. I've just watched the game again on Sky this afternoon. Did you not hear some honest words by the commentators - particulary against Richards. The performance, especially in the first half was dreadful. There wasn't a lot to chose from in the back line in the 1st half - Richards was more noticable for the number of hoofballs he made. Things were better in the second period. I thought Essam & Evans did quite well, and of course Payne improved the passing in the midfield. Sky mentioned Southends work rate ( something I said in another thread )- there lay the main difference. Collectively, I don't think that too many players have worked hard enough and played to their strengths in 2012 - That attiude is not good enough when we know that the players can do a lot better - a la the last few minutes last night - when they suddenly awoke. When we've got the players that are good enough, it is the job of Hess to get them playing. With his passion for the Gills, I continue to struggle to understand why he cannot instil some of his passion into the players.
Yeah I know Richards does hoof the ball, but look at Frampton, he has seemed to be weak lately, and he is our captain, we want someone who is stronger not a player who lets us down and gives away penalties.
I agree with Hoadie on the Richards front, yes he did play hoof ball in the 1st half but who was he meant to pass too? The midfield were non-existent, Frampton on one side of him, Lawrence on the other, 2nd half with Essam and Evans the 3 of them started to pass the ball around quite well.
richards is a useless average defender at best and is to blame as much as the rest of that defence, the guy has no awareness or is he any good with the ball at his feet...sorry to say, but if some of you think he is the main defender to build our side around you need your heads read and soon!!! as has already been stated he just punts it forward or out of play because the guy panics, due to not being comfortable on the ball or in his own game. never have been impressed or wanted him as a starter from day one and the guy has still not convinced me otherwise...far from it! was at fault as much as the rest yesterday because none of them have any faith in the next man...fact! all set pieces were aimed to richards...why???...he did not win one ball or lead by example when given that armband...though i hold hess at fault giving him it full stop. he also let dickinson use his strength in moving him out of the way to score...no desire whatsoever to do what he is paid to do!!! he will drain any confidence from gazzaniga, essam etc if he remains...i'm telling you all now!!! get rid of him and the rest and give the new kids ago...time to build a new positive team who want to play and who are as confident in the man alongside him to make the next move.
I have made my defence of Richards on another thread (I forget which one... ) and don't want to repeat myself so I'll leave it there
