As in most seasons my emotions are already spinning out of control, we're going up as champions, we must be as we're undefeated after all. So now that's out of the way what are the positives ? Eleven players who want to wear the shirt, how long since I last felt that about a Gills team. Eleven players with skill and passion and more good players sitting on the bench. Eight goals scored from 6 different players, how long since we didn't expect one player (Jackson, Cody) to do all the scoring, this year you expect anyone to score. Playing the ball on the ground and looking good doing it. I titled this thread positive/negative but it's more unknown rather than negative. Can we defend against a good, fast, prolific attack. ? The answer is just days away at Rotherham. How will we be affected by the weather and pitch conditions. ? When the weather turns and the pitches start to cut up, can we adapt our style to cope. ?
the team togeatherness and committment seems to be there for all to see this season, as well as wanting to play for the club and hess. grumygit on your comment of...will the players handle the pitches when they start to cut up, with the way we play it at this moment in time. the likes of lee & whelpdale came to us mid season last year and i'm sure the pitches were not that good then. i'm sure the players we have signed, they've all played on all types of fields otherwise they just wouldn't be pro footballers, whelpdale non league not to long ago as well as kedwell, flitney, fish, birchall and montrose with wycombe on league 2 pitches...sure if we have to change pattern and shape to games we'll be fine mate! still think a pacey experienced striker & pacey leftside winger are a must and maybe later a young striker as we go along through the season? joe martin seems to of come on immensely this season, barry fuller hit and miss for me and sometimes found wanting, but in general stakes are high and showing alround, including curtis westons performances...just needs to tuck away a few of his chances!!!. confidence and results through out the team having a knock on effect...on and off the field though and our fans and other teams are starting to take note!!!...early days i know??? shame a few more fans can't turn up at matches though...like i say maybe early days and giving results abit longer...lets hope it's happy days more often than not in 2011-2012 though! UTG!!!
I agree gills,oxon grumpy - I'm in controversial mood today, so this should start a few debates! Positive - that the Gills have been solid and together as a team at the start of this season, something that I really cannot remember seeing last season. Negative - I cannot remember the exact attendance figure for Saturday but I think it was 5,050. It was a warm summer's Saturday afternoon so maybe people had better things to do, maybe it's the cost, maybe some are working on a Saturday (I've had to at times), some will be on holiday (yes I've been on hols during the football season), some people live abroad, and many other reason's. Absolutely no problem with any of that, however, sometimes there is nothing more annoying than seeing comments in regards to individual players, including name calling, after some games this season when you know those same individuals probably haven't even been to the game. Well there you go grumpy, that should kick start things, I've got the dentist later so that should make me feel even better!
Grumpy- I would like Gills to concentrate on the positives thus far - and to continue to be strong in midfield and defence. I would like to see the midfield link up more quickly with Kedwell - he has been too isolated at times , resulting in the loss of momentum. I believe that the midfield should be able to score plenty of supporting goals. If you were at Barnet you would have seen McLeod & Marshall cause major problems with their pace. This was more often when the ball was played long. This will happen from time to time, and we will suffer defeats because of it ( I don't seriously expect us to be unbeaten all season ) - But, if we do what is currently succeeding we should be good enough for the top 3.
i'll do the negatives then bite in the midfield and through the spine of the team good yes if its well used however already accumilating more cards in 4 games than we did in 10 last year could cause a problem with suspensions further down the line. lets just hope they are spread out when they come exposure to pace, as has been mentioned against pace our back 4 do look a little suseptable, lawrence and frampton have wise heads and are often possitionally good, however when fuller goes bombing up field or martin get drawn into the attack we are very exposed on the counter attack and we dont even have very rapid midfielders who can get back and help, hence 2 of jack paynes yellows this season lack of a plan B (debatable), kedwell is working his socks off up top much to the appreciation of the fans, his team mates and the manager. however unless we bring another striker in soon we are leaving us dangerously exposed should he burn out or need to be sub'ed. we will also come up against problems like sat when teams come and pack the midfield meaning there are 10 players floating in that area making it hard to play and break down, so we need to be able to change things up and put the other team under pressure to react to that change. personally i think oli has looked really good coming on, he may not be a natural goal scorer but he has linked into the play well and works well with kedwell upfront as his movement out to the wing to expose the height advantage he often has over full backs means kedwell can stay in the centre where he is most effective
