Hi all, this has been a brilliant season so far and should end the same way, but just a little moan from me about today against Gills, i thought we played far too much sideways, and until JET came on didnt look like scoring at all, its fine to keep moving the ball across when teams bank up behind the ball, but it needs one of the strikers to drop short to make space behind or to allow your fellow striker to bend a run. otherwise it needs a player to run at them direct to draw a defender out to make that space, only JET and Freeman do this, and im afraid Agard needs to work on ball control/contention, upper body strength and his footballing brain, to me hes been very disappointing for a while now even before his injury. Until JET came on ( a little too late for me) we were a little predictable and one dimensional. Its just a little view not a damning view and im still very excited about our club, season and future, so dont attack me too much, lol. What were your views peeps?
JET needs to start on Tuesday with Wilbz.. Whilst I like Agard and think he can come good but he isn't as effective as JET at the moment, but let's not forget we have just won 5 in a row, so a result like this was coming. Plus it's always hard to win a game when you playing against 11 defenders.
I agree that Jet was probably the better choice for this game, we have played each other 5 times now and Gillingham are a much better outfit lately under their new manager, it was a classic case of cancelling each other out in the main, they were very good defensively but I thought we easily did enough to win the game. (good keeper!) Sitting in the Atyeo is a very different view of the game to sitting in a side stand and you really notice the lateral movement from the strikers and I did notice it was lacking a bit yesterday and that includes Wilbs too. It was crying out for Jet because he is capable of running straight at and opening tight defences that sit narrow, Cotts should have got him on earlier for me, also Little was in and out of the game and I would have left Bryan on myself who I thought was threat all game whereas Little looked like he was blowing late on, maybe swapped wings, Tavernier didn't really contribute much. Pack, Smith and Freeman were excellent.
Agard is an enigma but SC prefers him to JET because of his work rate. He however never seems to score anything else other than what we used to call a 6 inch drive. We are clearly lacking a quality striker. While I am sure promotion is assured I believe next year we will need a new strike force as I am sure JET will be on his way and Wilbs will be another year older. Yesterday was another mundane home performance. Bryan is a danger but needs to improve his finishing whereas Little is one dimensional i.e. push it and run. We should have won yesterday but our usual luck disserted us.
I am sure that there will be some mini revelations regarding ins and possibly outs during the summer, but my trust is in Cotts to pull out some rabbits. Yes, a new and quality strike force. The onus will be on Mr Lansdown to invest and not be shy. As with Maynard, an outlay of decent proportions will result in a greater chance of establishing ourselves or even launch a run for glory. One remembers Southampton investing in Lambert, and Brighton also buying a highly thought-of striker on their return to the Championship. But that battle is for another day, so lets firstly just enjoy what for this club has been a rare event indeed - the sweet and flagrant smell of success !
'Pack, Smith and Freeman were excellent' as they were at YTFC. But I'm afraid Agard gets worse. Yeh, the guy works his nuts off but honestly he can't trap cement (cue RODney). He gets a few goals but he's playing in a top League 1 side and gets numerous chances. In the same way Fielding is protected by a League 1 'top outfield'. Concern that either will be up to Championship.
I would expect Matt Smith to be signing in the summer as a replacement to Wilbs. Kit Symmons is a stubborn ****er not praising him when he's now scored two in one and half games for them since returning. I don't enjoy listening to people moan about our players like the ones behind me yesterday with Agard. He might be suffering from confidence or last season might of just been a one off. Moan on forums to a degree but not at the game, unless it's Kilkenny he's the exception. Would prefer to be getting another Jack in the box like A Cole or my all time favourite super Bob (even though he could also score upside the box) Goalie is a different thing as in lower leagues even in the championship goalies consist of either shot stopping or commanding crosses. Never do you get the complete package as they either play in the prem or sit on the bench in the prem. I remember Shiny wanting Scott Loach from Watford, and he did look a good goalie, now look he's on loan at Yeovil from Rotherham. Would like to see either a replacement or back up, as I do like Frank Fieldings mentality to have that disaster beginning last year but come back fighting.
Fielding has been a big improvement this season, we do need some back up as if he were to be injured, we only have a young untried keeper on the bench- Pack and Fielding were excellent yesterday, Smith played well but I would just like to see him be a bit more creative at times. For me he seemed to sit very deep yesterday and that might show in his career goals tally of 5. (Flint in comparison has 8 this season alone). JET was the only one who looked capable of unlocking their defence and I agree that he ought to have come on earlier or even started, and yes, a top striker I feel will be an essential requirement next season
While Agard is getting slated I would just simply remind you that we were all hearing all the same criticisms of Flint last season, he needs to settle for a season, I am absolutely certain he will be a different player next season. You only have to look upwards to see players so say not good enough for us, tearing it up this season. Pitman at Bournemouth Gerken at Ipswich Skuse at Ipswich Bolasie at Palace. and thats without thinking about it!
'I am absolutely certain he will be a different player next season' I pray you're right. I can't see it but Cotterill agrees with you and he doesn't get much wrong. 'see players so say not good enough for us, tearing it up this season' You forgot Junior.
We created chances we just didn't finish them, we didn't quite get the shots on target and we didn't quite get into the box enough. However we showed lots of promise yesterday and it was a good game to watch, just needed a last minute winner to make it!!
SC is very switched on and having managed at Championship level previously he will know now what we need the make a decent fist of it at that level and hopefully his planning for next season is already well under way. We certainly need additional bodies throughout the team from keeper to strikers. I'm sure that this current squad if left 'as is' wont be pushing for a play off place (or better) next season. It's a tough league as we know. As for Pitman at Bournemouth, he's been nothing short of a revalation since he went back there and is doing much better than I for one expected him to in the Championship but that also goes for Bouremouth themselves. It will be 2 fingers up at everyone if they go up and Eddie Howe will become a very sought after Manager at much bigger clubs.
I have often believed that certain managers "fit" certain clubs with there being no other reason than "it's just the right combination." Eddie Howe with Bournemouth seem to fit into this category and I'm fast hoping that SC is the same with City. Just remember how under-whelmed everyone was at the time of his appointment but how quickly things started to turn around.
