Lawrence last year was a stand out palyer. This year watching him is like having toothpicks stuck in the eye. He and Hessy do not get along anyway so maybe this has transfered into his performances? As some have said above Evans should have started. The 2 youngest players on the pitch (Evans and Gazza) showed composure beyond their years and really taught the rest of the team what to do in the lead up to the goal, yes Tomlin was top quality for his skill and strike but it is because of those 2 he got the chance. Essam wasn't phased when he came on, and say what you want to me but maybe another injury in the back 4 is exactly what we need, forcing Hess into the changes we're all crying out for. Richards riles me with his persistent waste of possession. Why oh why was Jack Payne fit enough to take up a space on the bench but not start, he gave us shape and was willing to play the ball to feet. Anyone else think Kedwell has piled on the pounds a bit? I know he's been ill so maybe that's the reason?
I watched Richards last night and every time he got the ball, the shout went up 'HOOF' - you would have thought the message would have at least rung through to someone by now. I think I said last season, I did not want to see him in a Gills shirt again along with Oli. However, for a while he proved me wrong but last night really just confirmed what I already knew, he is incapable of making any movement forward with the ball or to keep it on the ground, his first instinct is to clear it out of his zone skywards! Gazza showed the initiative, full of energy, great kicking and I just loved his rolling the ball out from the back. He could combine whatever was required within the game and was not frightened to do so. Evans should have started, he was in my starting line up from my very FIRST selection on here (not several posts later) ahead of what was to be a cancelled game against Burton - why has Hessy not brave enough to make these changes sooner when first promised. I am was beginning purely in my own opinion to think he did not have the balls to do it. Difficult one with Jack Payne, so I will not criticise Hessy for that decision not to bring him on in the first half. Fantastic he came on but it nearly did cost us his further participation when he went down injured, while at the same time just recovering from injury. I think we need to respect Hessy's decision on this one because it was a further injury risk but we got away with it and Jack helped change the game. Tomlin - what can I say. Fantastic, brilliant, just not getting the headlines he so deserves. What a goal. Essam good to see him get his chance although for the wrong reasons on the night, as you do not like to see your players injured. First half back four, No, No, No and No. 433 your having a laugh with that bunch. Weston, where was he during the game, should have made it 2-2, Tomlin had set him up nicely. Welcome aboard Evans, Essam and Gazza
some of what some of you lot say now and lately is just laughable, that whole defence is suspect and uncomfortable and have been from the outset, and thats being kind to say the least! not one of that so called experienced pro backline are goodenough wear that shirt and trust me hess has so much to do with that! hess has had two weeks of no games and time to put a holt to the rot and picks that very same defence...the guy is clueless, along with some of you who don't want to see fault or bad comments of this team being therefore told. doesn't make me anyless of a fan because i have an opinion when i see my team falling by the wayside, yet it's so blatently obvious to see. point after point being dropped, performance after performance so painful to watch regards players i've said about from the beginning! montrose gives nothing to the side whatsoever, defending or moving forward.= not what we need. lawrence is like a lost YTS player in his first game out of touch with no energy.- lost it completely. frampton is not a leader or does he lead by example, again unaware of stamping his mark.= bench player at best. richards what can i say other than punt up field or out of play, plus no awareness as a defender. = never rated him and with what defenders we have, it makes him look above average. martin out of his depth with or without the ball. = have not seen him improve or add a thing to the leftside. weston plays when he wants to and has no battle for a midfielder and is happy to watch the game go by.= luxury player who adds no fight to our midfield when needed. kedwell is hit and miss, runs around alot like oli, but is that enough for what we need him for???.= abit harsh on him, but does he offer whats needed...sometimes not. as for lee & whelpdale they are a big disappointment...is this due to hess...i say yes without a doubt because he doesn't have the balls or motivation to inspire input ito the players thats need!!! all these players are holding us back along with oli who is just a number! hess does nothing to make a difference when needed at a time like this, god knows what his shadow gets paid for???....both clueless and unaware where to turn to next!!! want to give hess everychance, but our season is over if you ask me and next season will be no different under him...minus our best players!!! fans are starting to take note and we are going backwards...fast!!!!!
To criticise Richards for poor distribution is like criticising a fish for not being able to breathe outof the water!! Richards is a lower league defender, he knows how to throw his body inthe way of things and to put his boot through the ball, unfortunately the need for a cultural centreback is non-existant in L2. The problem is that none of the midfield are making enough space to provide options for the defenders to play simple balls, how many times is the ball played across back four, waiting for someone from midfied ot actually want the ball?!
Firstly your right, he is a fish out of water, secondly you do not need to be cultural, to actually see a space as big as a black hole to run into rather than lumping it one, even Salmon know how to swim up stream. The opposition worked out what he was going to do, because it was keep back lads and just look skywards. If we run out of balls, we knew where they all were, on top of alwaysright shed (Gordon Road Stand)! Even Lawrence had learned a couple of times (Stoke & Wimbledon) that you can actually run with the ball and if the midfield don't help out, just bypass them. Much like Martin has been doing for a while, leaving Framps and Lawrence open due to lack of pace at the back. Evans worked it out so why could not Richards?
Firstly you have much more free reign as a full back to bring the ball out and go looking for the passes, at centreback your creative freedom is limited much more. Richards isn't a ball carrying defender, the chances are if he did try to bring upfield he would get tackled isolating the other centreback. Secondly play to your strengths, Richards is there as a destructive force not a creative one, the system work so much better when Payne dropped back to take the ball off Richards.
TBH tactically I am like Hessy, I do not have a clue. I can only say what I see. However, I do accept your point BSG. So it leads me to another question, what about Martin then, his movement forward has caused us horrendous problems, should he not stay back for the same reason. I spoke to someone that does not go to the games but watched it on TV and the first question I was asked was, your problems appear to be because you are not playing 442, why not with that first half team?
The fullback need to push forward to give the team width. We play essentially 2 central midfielders and an anchor man to protect the central defenders. Without asking Martin et al to push up our play would be very narrow and congested down through the middle of the park, which limits space for players to operate in. Ideally the two wide forwards (Kuffor and Tomlin) would drop back to give width. Unfortunatley Kuffor isn't naturally adept at this but Tomlin is (why Tomlin has been the pick of the forwards at the moment) leaving us very lopsided.
Spelling correction, new software done that, not using it anymore it was on an update on firefox, it is ****, it changes your words, nasty thing trying to say that. I have corrected now.
I really second this comment from HOADIE. Spiller really is a favourite of mine. He shows grit and determination, a willing to play a passing game and gets the crowd going. Not sure how many of you are on Twitter, but today he has been sticking up for Hessy after some fools have started slating him and not for his tactics but name calling etc. Top professional.
Yeah I read that earlier, personally I would like him to come back into the team and get the captains armband as Lawrence and Frampton are both not up to the job so that is Captain and vice captain out, and I don't think Richards should take the band then even though he has been good this season, Spiller is a leader and deserves it as he is a top professional like you said.
Agree Richards shouldn't have got the armband yesterday! A trivial matter but when you have Jackman, Kedwell (former Wimbledon Captain) and Payne on the pitch why give it to him?! Kedwell or Spiller would be my men to lead the team on the pitch. Passionate about the club and both vocal characters.
I would love keds to get it as he is a legend in my eyes but I think Spiller would be my captain with Kedwell vice captain as it is better that he has someone to fall back on as I know that he can sometimes struggle to motivate, something he is getting better at, so happy that he is adapting a bit more now though, maybe it is me that has helped him.
Hoadie - are you points collecting again, or do you seriously believe that - I've never heard Keds mention in any interview you helped him?
No, just saying that I have been passing on messages to him to tell him to keep his head held up high and that even though the form is bad it only takes a few moments of magic and the play off fight will be back on.
