Hi Lads or Lassies I'm up for pre match drinks as it's final game of the season - I'm still sorting ticket arrangements but whatever happens I will be along for a drink. So for those interested, drop us a PM...I know PegLeg will be up for this as we have discussed a probable location but happy to see what other suggestions people have. Please as always, no actual final agreed venue location arrangements posted on here. Cheers brb
As brb stated, I would be up to meet some fellow not606ers who share their love of the Medway Muppets
Strange day today losing again but with colchester getting a late late equlizer away to Barnsley. I now feel if Gills do win against Millwall we could sneek in the play offs. If we win and Barnsley dont beat champs Wigan and Scunthorpe dont beat Sheff Utd away we could yet do it. If we get an early goal Priestfield will erupt. Lets get behind the boys in blue.
Oddly I feel quite optimistic about our chances. Yes I get that Wall will want to keep their momentum but if you was the manager on the verge of promotion via the play-offs, are you really going to take risks for what is to them a nothing game. Would I fancy travelling to Wigan the Champions on the last day of the season, not one bit, and Sheffield United are not going to be any push over for visitors Scunthorpe. I can't remember the season the old brain matter is going but anyone remember when we got relegated from this league on GD on the last day against all the odds, everything was stacked in our favour against about five other teams, so maybe this time with the most unbelievable lifelines of Colchester equalising in the 98th minute against Barnsley, fate will be kind...
brb I hate you ! ( no thanks for the memories ). It was 8th May 2010 at Wycombe. I believe that about 5 results had to go wrong that day in order for us to be relegated. We had fantastic support that day (about 2300 Gills fans ). Wycombe had already been relegated and only playing for pride. We managed to play rubbish football and lost 0-3 It shouldn't really have been a surprise - our away form under Stimson was awful. That season we didn't win one away game - and in the last 9 away games we only scored in one game. It was the only time I (almost) left a game early. I was still inside the stadium when the final nail was put into our coffin................. still - it was no excuse for the mindless morons who went round to Stimson's house the next day in some sort of witch hunt. edit - did you notice the date ? -- 8th May...... Dejavu ?? edit - our tactics that day were wrong - we spent too much time defending -even at 0-1 and 0-2 !! In some way I'm more confident about next Sunday, because we can't afford to be defensive ( unless we're 2-1 up in the 98th minute !! ) - surely the fact that we must win will mean that we have got to go all out attack ?
I hadn't realised the date, hopefully the footballing gods will return some of our much overdue luck on this occasion. On a separate note, and me not being one to cause a bit of a rumpus, I noticed Cody was in the line up again yesterday, yeah he scored again and we lost, just saying people, just saying
So - brb - you want to go f/phishing ? I have said that we haven't got the personnel to get the best out of Cody - and certainly not with hoofball tactics --- so he could easily be left out of the line-up -- BUT -- just who is going to score our goals ? I don't know what's happened to Donnelly, or Samuel for that matter. Norris has been as effective as Loft this season ( make of that what you will ). At least McDonald tries to harry the opposition defence - in some effort to look interested. When we have to choose from what we've got, there are other so-called strikers who are further up the list for criticism than Cody. ps - it's all very well giving Dack a free role - but opposing teams 'double - up' on him - and too often he get's crowded out. -- and you do realise that it was Dack that could be attributed the blame for Burton's first goal - for not being sharp enough in his defensive duty. ( Yes, I know he took the corner from which McDonald scored ). - Now put your reel away - otherwise I will say just one word to you - Hereford !
brb phishing, I don't believe it. Still, I won' be getting involved other than offer the facts. McDonald..........starts 12..........goals 5.........starts per goal scored.........2.4 Donnelly............starts 24..........goals 10.......starts per goal scored.........2.4 Norris................starts 25...........goals 8.........starts per goal scored.........3.125 Samuel..............starts 23..........goals 7.........starts per goal scored..........3.286
Good stats grumpygit, so leads to two questions, firstly going by those stats why did Donnelly lose his place, secondly, what was our win ratio when Cody scored, you can apply that to the others if you wish. The reason I ask the latter I believe his last two goals have been on the back of defeats, especially after an earned point at Rochdale with him not starting. So where am I going with this, it is all well a good a player being the scorer but if it affects the overall result as a TEAM, then that is about has much use as a... I ask the questions, I'm more than happy for people to provide me with stats that proves my theory wrong, and I'm yet to see any
brb You have a very subtle way of trying to start an argument - and I have an inability to not stick in my nose when it concern The Gills. IF you are suggesting that ONE player is causing a problem with the results we've 'achieved' - then you're not being fair on McDonald -- because physically putting the ball into the opponent's net is NOT the complete expectation of a striker. I will accept it forms a big part - but football is a team game - where each player must play his part - be it scoring or defending. Any striker needs service from other team members around him. If they don't provide decent service, he won't score. The same principle applies to correct tactics - and we know that JE has made mistakes - probably costing us a better outcome in several matches. Now I'm going to turn your argument on its' head! It's unfair to blame the forwards ( or any ONE of them ), for goals scored by the opposition - surely the goalkeeper is at fault ? Perhaps we should be pointing our fingers at Nelson ( not my fingers ). But the argument against this way of thinking is that Nelson has probably been one of our better players over the last couple of years - albeit that he has had a couple of 'howlers.' And so it is with McDonald. Surely you must have seen that he 'tries' - even when he's not scoring. He puts an effort into his game - the sort of effort that isn't obvious in other strikers at the Club. In my previous post I mentioned about choosing strikers from what we've got. Quite clearly our main strikers aren't going to set the world alight - but they are what we've got - and we need to make the best of a 'bad lot'. -- However, even with the League 1 player of the season, we've still failed miserably over the 2nd half of this season -- NO team can be a 'one-man band'. I expect Dack ( and Egan ) to prosper in 'better' teams - but surrounded by other 'ordinary' players, they can't perform miracles . I am also satisfied that Cody is a much more natural 'finisher' than our other strikers - but the service to him hasn't been good enough. However - he 'tries'- even when he hasn't got the ball. I'm not able to say this too many times about the other 'strikers.' You've heard me say that I can accept our limitations, and even defeats - but what I won't accept is 'lazy' players. I reiterate that I'm not unambitious - just realistic about my expectations of the ability of our players. With regards to you inviting statistics to disprove your 'theory' - I say that you lay yourself open to an accusation of hypocrisy - because you have stated that you will support the Gills through thin and thinner -- that you are not a 'plastic' or a 'glory hunter.' -- ( Nor am I !! ). You cannot have it both ways -- well, not at Gillingham. I know that you appreciate our limitations - and that, like me, you will praise or criticise the team as a whole - and that includes the Chairman and manager - but I believe that, like me, you expect honesty from our players - regardless of win, lose or draw.
Thank you - I will always accept fair argument contrary to my own opinion, that's what football is about - however, I would go on to say that I feel sometimes people miss my point, I never have been very good with the English language But...and no suggestion on your part, I would like to highlight a few things, I have never said Cody is rubbish (well unless in jest - but unlikely) - I have never said that Cody is not a natural goal scorer and so on and so on. However, what I do say is I was relieved at the beginning of the season when he was not part of the starting line-up. The subsequent results boded us well. Then through bad luck and injuries, the messiah is back in the team, I even looked back on a review last night, where JE & Scally were praising the player, can't remember the link, sorry. Yet that causes me some intrepidation (have i spelt that right) when players get untold praise from the higher echelons (jeez another big word for me). grumpygit gave us stats, but I did not see you cover my questions based on his stats, not mine - why was Donnelly dropped? How many games have we lost where Cody scored based on those same stats? To play Cody you need a different set up, you have more or less i thought said that in the past yourself. Back to stats again, we returned to the team more or less I wanted to see at Rochdale, rubbish maybe but a very, very valuable point in the bag, since then NOTHING and guess who was back in the team. Having said that my old favourite returns on Sunday, Joe Martin Anyway it's a bank holiday tomorrow and I'm thinking of going fishing to give you all a rest
brb Perhaps there is a very simple answer to your question as to why Donnelly was dropped ! His goal scoring ratio is identical to Donnelly's ( according to grumpygit's stats ) - but - McDonald has scored a couple in recent games - what has Donnelly done ? He had a 'purple' patch in the middle of the season - but nothing recently - nor has he been 'trying' as much as Cody- who appears to be rediscovering some form after a long lay off through injury. I expect that JE can see that, currently, there appears to be a greater 'potential' for goals from McDonald than Donnnelly. Let's hope that each of them have at least 4 more games, before the end of May to improve their stats.
I hasten to add I'm merely basing my questions this evening on grumpygit's bigger phishing stats, not on a personal opinion of part. Yes, Cody's stats are identical to Donnelly so let's say I accept that as a reason as well as the answer, which I don't but I will accept it for argument sake, now the more important question, what is the win ratio when scoring? Well I now the answer to his last two scoring games, a big fat zero percent, yes Cody is not to blame for that but I would still question his inclusion as part of the reason....as proved for fear of repeating myself most recently at Rochdale - So I can feel reassured about one thing, if Cody starts against Wall, he's sure to score and everyone else will be happy the messiah found the net once again but...we are as sure to lose again too....just saying. Surely someone else see's my reasoning or am I only one as usual after all, I'm generally more right about these things than alwaysright
Donnelly had a purple patch but overall has been poor so that is why he is not playing. Norris has done ok away but also poor at home. Samuel best of the strikers but still not great. Without Dack's assists or goals we would be bottom half of table even fighting relegation. We need 2 new strikers next season. One has to be a target man to hold the ball up.
brb The big fat zero was a team 'effort' - in which Donnelly, McDonald, Samuel, Norris and Dack all featured. gioblues ( thanks for joining the argument ) brb - to 'prove' that there will always be statistics and damned lies - When did Dack last score ? I'll tell you - it was 15 games ago ! Even Norris has scored 4 times in that period. Perhaps we should drop Dack and put Norris in ! Would you ?? Of course not - why - because of his other contributions. McDonald has shown more 'potential' and indicated a return of form - albeit that the end result was a big fat zero - despite Dack and Egan. Now please don't be like a politician and twist the numbers to suit an economical approach to the truth. ps - how many 'plastics' do you think we'll have next Sunday - (or beyond). ps - I'm unsure which of us is 'more' right - but I bet we're both more right than some of the rubbish officials we've had this (every) year
Well I'm glad someone is sitting up and paying attention and thank you for obliging I'm so glad you mentioned Dack's lack of scoring ability recently, which comfortably fits with my next question and may I ask when did Cody return to the starting line up? I've lost count of the amount of times I've said Cody and Dack cannot play in the same team!...which brings me back to Rochdale again, which everyone wants to seem to avoid. Oh and by the way alwaysright...that name you mentioned, Egan ....who was it that scored against Rochdale my memory brain cells fail me Has the penny dropped to people yet or am I only the only inpatient around here...I assume you've all watched one flew over
See what grumpygit does...posts a load of stats on the forum then sods off grumpy....any chance of the Cody scoring/win ratio before Sunday, JE & Mr Scally have got important decisions to make based on them.
brb Actually - I haven't seen the film. I could steer this argument in a different direction - and cause more ripples than you ! When Dack got to 9 yellow cards ( and before he got injured ), I noticed that a certain 'aggression' disappeared from his game. It was almost as if he was afraid of that 10th card - which would have resulted in a two match ban. This was at a time when he was in the limelight and much speculation about his future was rife. Was he playing 'within' himself - afraid to be out of the team - out of the 'shop window' ? To my mind his 'effectiveness' took a downturn - then he got injured - and without him we became worse than Crewe. Since Dack's return - and without the imminent threat of a ban, his more aggressive style has returned - but he cannot do it on his own - although at times he does the nasty habit of trying to do so -- is he still trying to 'sell himself' ( he doesn't need to ) - and being too selfish when other players may be better positioned. --- having said this -- I suppose I can't blame him for wanting to ensure a glamour move at the end of the season. Anyway - getting back to our 'discussions' - I will play Devils Advocate - and (just for a moment) - agree with you - that we shouldn't play Dack and Cody in the same team - but - on the provision that team selection will be based on 'current form' as it relates to goal scorers - so NO Dack - but you've got Norris - perhaps he could play centre back and stick Egan up front -- do you remember Nyron Noseworthy a few years ago - he went on a great goal scoring run when he was changed from RB to makeshift centre forward.
