Hello and welcome to the all new and improved Match day Hub which is now the official place for Gillingham fans, I decided to update this so that you will know where to go and chat before and during the game. I always post this a few days before the match so you can start to create a debate before the game on what you think will happen in the upcoming game, you can post who you think should play in the game and why. In addition to that you may share with us what you think the team will be that plays as that may be different to the team which you think should play, if you think a certain player should not play you can share with us the reason why as it is good to know what the fans think about the team and why certain players should not be in the team if you want to tell us why. So all you need to do is post your starting 11 plus the 7 which you think will be on the bench, you may be correct or not but it don't matter as no points are awarded it is just for fun. If I am not at the game I will normally post updates about what is going on and the team which is playing, but when I go to games I write up a match report afterwards. You can post freely during and after the game sharing your opinion with us on the result and what you thought of the players who played. If you go to the game it would be great if you could write up a match day report telling up what you think of the result and what you rate each player out of 10 giving a reason why. This is open to both Gillingham fans and also the opposition, don't be afraid to post just because you are not a Gills fan if it is friendly banter that is allowed. Have fun and debate freely! Just want to add aswell if you do any bets you can share with us what you think is the best bet, I do bets each week so I will share them with you if you want.
I may be going to the game tomorrow, have to see in the morning It is hard to pick a team with how Martin Allen changes it but here I go Nelson Fish Flanagan Barrett Martin Whelpdale Lee Allen Weston Kedwell Strevens Subs Forecast Davies Essam Jackman Montrose Payne Burton I think this may be the team I think Mad dog may go back to 4-4-2 just for the cup.
I will not being going to this game today but I expect Martin Allen to be unpredictable again in his selection. I'm not sure who is fit, who is injured or whatever else is happening with these selections at the moment, so to turn the whole thing on its head, let us go for... Forecast Evans Essam Barrett (is this his position, I don't know) Jackman or Flanagan Whelpdale Lee Payne Weston Birchall Keds/Dack/Strevens I told you it was different, although funny enough, the only selection I am really doubting myself on there is Forecast!
I think you will all find that Weston is cup tied. Apparently he played for Brentford in the last round.
Allen has little idea what is his best team and if he keeps winning he will not care too much but this must be a great chance to experiment and give a start to some fringe players.
I don't know if it's a good thing to be so far away from being able to predict the starting XI or not! But... Nelson Fish Flanagan Frampton Martin Lee Payne Allen Jackman Kedwell Burton SUBS Forecast Davies Essam Whelpdale Montrose Dack Strevens I'm taking bets....
I wouldn't be surprised to see Tommy given a run out. As for the rest, perm any 4 from 8 defenders, any 4 from 8 midfielders and any 2 from 4 strikers. That's probably what MA will do
HAHA LOL, nice one, I was lucky enough to see Hessenthaler down outside the ground on the way to get my ticket had a good chat and got a photo with him. He said he believes Martin will take us places and also he believes we can beat Middlesbrough tonight, top man. Happy I got a photo with him as I have never been able to get one with him.
My first Gills game this season, thought on the whole we played well and deserved a better result, 2-0 is a bit flattering and all player gave everything good to see. How we never got a pen for all the shirt pulling inside the box i never know lol I was hoping to see Weston tho that was disappointing
V impressed with our centre backs, Barratt and Davies who were excellent and certainly won't face that sort of quality each week. We tried hard but just couldnt penetrate them until we gave up and went a bit long ball which was quite effective. Boro were easy on the eye and I really wanted us to score to take it to extra time just so I could see 30 more minutes. All bodes well for the season.
Middlesboro were in a different class in the first half but Gills gave them a good game in the second. Overall no shame in losing and Callum Davies was the best player on the pitch.
Right yeah we lost 2 nil but scorelines don't always give the full story, I think we played well tonight we gave all we could but it was not enough as Middlesbrough played like the Championship side which they are so how did the players perform I will give a run down of each player. Nelson 8- I think he played well he may have let in 2 but they were not his fault his kicking was great other than 1 that he put out of play. Fish 7- I think he worked well tonight made a few little mistakes but he was decent tonight. Davies 8- I think he looks a very good player and I can see why Martin Allen picks him, he is a real talent and has a great future when he was needed he was there. There was a few times when I thought we would concede and he got across to save us, when he was left at the back on his own he cleared the ball every time. Barrett 6- I think he was good, yeah he is not fast but he is good at heading the ball. Martin 7- Not a bad game, he worked hard tried to set up a few got the ball into the box, done the job a left back is expected to do. Lee N/A- Was not on the pitch long enough to give a rating he got injured after about 5 minutes so I could not give him anything. Allen 8- I think he looked very good and I think it was good that he was named man of the match even though he was not mine as I have tied between a few, his passing was good and he loves to get stuck in. Payne 8- I think he had a great game, got stuck in just like Allen and made many good passes, he is the sort of player who is good enough for the Championship. Jackman 7- I think he worked well he deserves to be in the team, his work rate was good, hopefully he will get to start more. Burton 7- I think he worked well to get the ball and control it but he did not have the finishing. Kedwell 6- This was not his greatest game, he tried hard but it did not work tried to score a few times but was off target Middlesbrough knew they had to mark him and their defence done their jobs, I would have rated him a 7 but for his mistake which led to the second goal. Subs Whelpdale 6- I think he had a good game, tried his best tried to get past the opposition, but still not at his best. Dack 5- I don't think he got going, he did not get into the game sadly. Strevens 6- Tried his best, tried to create something. Man of the match Callum Davies, top performance if he did not play we may have lost by a few more, he will be top class and in one way I can see why Martin Allen has time for him. I hope this lad is in the team every week as he looks so good, I feel he will be key this season, It is now tough picking between him and Essam, they are two top players but Davies is so strong in the air just like Essam and also he is brilliant at getting back even though he is tall he has good pace. The ref performed well for Middlesbrough, I cannot believe we did not get a penalty.
Well done Hoadie. A fair assessment of the performances. I thought Boro were going to overrun us in the 1st half as we took a long time to settle. 2nd half was a different affair. I was pleased with the commitment. It gives confidence that we should be able to match, and or outplay most, if not all sides in L2.
That is it... seasons over, watch us collaspe like a house of cards and Allen to be gone this time next week
We won't face quality like that every week, obviously. The likes of Emnes and particularly Carayol tore us apart in the first half and quite frankly we did very well to keep it at 1. The second half was a different story, Boro' at times looked a little rattled, we played into the channels very well and both Kedwell and Burton looked increasingly threatening as the match went on. Not overly sure why Lee came off after 10 minutes. He looked happy to continue and didn't look to be in too much discomfort, but fair play to MA for playing it safe, and Whelpdale was okay when he came on. A special mention to Callum Davies who acquitted himself very well. Certainly gives MA a selection headache with at least four decent centre-backs currently available for selection. Very good problem to have in my opinion, compared to last season! Not sure just who gave Charlie Allen the MOTM award. He was full of running but lacks composure, hopefully this is something that will come with games and with persistence. Overall we can be pleased with how we played and can look forward to progressing further in the league.
