Has there seriously been any real progress since Taylor has taken over? We're 19th, still languishing above the relegation zone and don't pose too much of a threat against anyone. We don't go out and dominate games, ok may play it a bit more on the floor but we don't have possesion very often to do anything with it. I don't believe this "it takes time for a team to settle" nonsense because just look at the uplift in form that Bristol City had in a short space of time when Cotterill took over. He hasn't needed anywhere near a year to get them playing like a Championship side again. Taylor has had over a year and still hasn't changed anything apart from bringing in a lot of younger players. The problem is a few of these young players don't look interested half the time, players like Dickenson and Pritchard have been too unreliable for this level. Since he's been here only Egan and Aaron Morris have been the only permanent signings that have improved the team. Even Loft hasn't been as effective as we had all hoped so what Taylor really done for us then? The only thing I can work out he's done is left the fans in disarray and made it a chore to go and see us play. If something can make me change my opinion then great, but I think the argument will be more difficult than you think.
Agree with most of your post as i have said the same thing. The loan players have been better than the players taylor has signed apart from Egan who has been outstanding but in recent weeks players like Norris and Dickenson have been doing better. Loft has been ok but we really need him to boss the team more as he should be the stand out player.
Pegleg. the change has been monumental. Just look at the dates of birth of the players. PT has reduced the average age of the team by at least 5 years and out of the outfield 10 starters we have regularly seen 6 of them aged 22 or under. For a club like Gillingham this is a huge shift in strategy. There is no real money, Scally has no intention of funding any acquisitions for which I attach no blame to him, that is just the way it is. So there is a choice, bring in a few people past their best every season with the certain knowledge that next year the team will be a bit weaker than this (even though you might achieve a short term improvement) or be bold, build a team based on youth who might, no more than might, just develop into a really good side over a couple of seasons. To build a team from kids is a huge risk. First you have to find some talent then you have stick with them and find replacements for the ones who fail. To do this in less than two years is a huge achievement and it needs a brave manager, a supportive Board and patient supporters. Even then there is no guarantee of success but it is a better bet than the certainty of short term fixes which are never sustainable and always end in a downward spiral. The trouble at Gillingham is that there are a lot of supporters who cannot even understand what PT is trying to do and who cannot be patient for a couple of months let alone a couple of seasons.
The problem with bringing in young players (jack Payne) Is one example,is that as soon as they show they are going to be good they are sold , so we're back to square 1. I would'nt be surprised to see Egan sold this window or next. That's not so bad if the money is reinvested in the team as Peterborough do, but we all know that won't happen. We need a few older more experienced players who no-one is likely to buy for a couple of seasons who we can play the youngsters around and learn from them.
