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We weren't rubbish !

Discussion in 'Gillingham' started by alwaysright, Nov 3, 2019.

  1. alwaysright

    alwaysright @ Very Angry Camel

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    Not my words -- Steve Evans post match interview.

    Evans is right ---We WEREN'T rubbish --- We ARE rubbish ! -- not helped by YOUR RUBBISH team selection and tactics (( I am assuming that you actually had any tactics --- other than hoofball )).

    Why couldn't Mr. Evans have been a little more honest and gracious -- just like Burnley's manager, Sean Dyche. He pointed out that Burnley were beaten " fair and square - the other team won because they were better than us. " --- the same principle applied at Priestfield --- not the same lame excuses we're hearing almost every week.

    I've said, plenty of times, that I am realistic about our fortunes. I know that I am not going to see world beaters wearing a Gills shirt. I only really look for 100% commitment. --- but -- that doesn't excuse the fact that it is not unrealistic to expert so-called 'football professionals' to have a much better idea as to how to play ( more efficiently ), against a particular opponent or weather conditions.

    Evans may be justified in bemoaning the size of our budget - but - he knew that before he took on the job. I might sympathise with him that Mr.Scally has been unable to secure or provide better funds - just get on with it ( a-la-Wycombe ! ).

    Evans may be justified in saying that the referees are poor - and don't give anything to us. Evans is correct - the officials are really poor - but -- for BOTH teams. I could point out that Emer was lucky not to get red-carded for a shirt pull on a Rotherham break, just outside our penalty area ( the referee and Mr.Magoo with the flag failed to see it ). Have you seen the position of Byrne's left foot when he takes a throw-in ? - well over the line. The referee missed hand-ball on a couple of occasions by our defenders ETC, ETC............ as much as it might not look like it, I suspect that, over the course of a season, things even themselves out---- we can't control when we get the good or bad decisions ---- ------- but ----- what IS in the control of Mr.Evans is the team selection and tactics.

    Mr. Evans must have known that Rotherham had 'giant' defenders. Did he select our only tall striker ( Mandon ?) - NO ! Did he not realise that it was very windy ? ( perhaps he didn't - because his own wind coming out of his foul mouth was repelling it ! ) Did he not see that we were not winning any headers when the ball was launched towards the Rotherham back line ? Did he not think to instruct our players to try not to lose immediate possession by just hoofing the ball upfield ? Did we try to play the ball on the ground ? Did he think that the same 11 deserved to come out for the second half ? (( admittedly he might have struggled to decide which three were worse than the others -- I reckon he could have started with 'Mr Assist- for- two- opposition- goals,' - O'Gilvie. ))
    I know that our players have (( very limited )) quality - but - the team selection and tactics could - should have been much better. Better decisions in these departments, by Evans, may not have changed the ultimate result -- but at least it might have achieved some approval and gratitude from the fans -- instead of what Mr.Evans is succeeding in achieving every week -- the contempt from fans who are becoming so alienated, that they are not prepared to pay even just £1 to watch the crap of offer ( and to be treated to abject, miserable performances for at least the fourth year in a row. )
     
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    Last edited: Nov 4, 2019
  2. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

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    I realise that any opinion is subjective, but I actually agree with some of what Evans is saying.
    I didn't think we were overall bad, I didn't think Rotherham were anything special either, they rarely threatened our goal without our help.
    We still have a dodgy defence, every goal Rotherham scored was down to a defensive mistake, last week at Accrington our defence was poor, 1 world class save from Bonham and several good saves, on top of them hitting the post 3 times doesn't make for a strong defensive display, it's a lucky defensive display.
    some people look at the score and think that determines a good or bad display, unfortunately with our defenders it just tells you whether we've been lucky or not.
    Spending a million pound to get a 20 a year striker would improve our chances, but if he needs to score 4 goals to win a match then what's the point, stop conceding silly goals every week then we can worry about our strike rate
    The midfield are performing better than last year, and the forward players are scoring some goals, the trouble is how many times have silly defensive errors lost us the match.
     
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  3. alwaysright

    alwaysright @ Very Angry Camel

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    grumpygit
    Whilst I understand your sentiments - and agree with a lot of them - the fact remains - we are rubbish ! - whether that is in defence or any other area of the pitch ( or off it ). The defending is no better than last season - which was awful -- but -- if we can only afford 'donkey type' footballers, we're never going to win a Grand National ! We got rid of Zakuani - who, before he was injured, was arguably player of the season. We get Jones - who should be in the middle of the defence - but play him in midfield - thereby further exposing the deficiencies of Emer and O'Gilvie -- yet we leave out Pringle ( the only player I have seen - since Oldaker, who can pass the ball. ) Whilst I wasn't always impressed with the attitude of Elliot List - at least he could sometimes run and beat an opponent - instead we have the ultimate lame horse; Marshall - who couldn't beat an egg!
    And, whilst I can't criticise the strikes ( mainly because we haven't really got any worthy of the description ), it certainly doesn't help if we haven't got the quality to score one goal - let alone the number ( more ) required to beat mediocre opponents if we continually gift-wrap goals for them. It is little wonder that another ( constant ) fact is that it really is painful to watch Gillingham FC.
     
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  4. WINDYROG

    WINDYROG Well-Known Member

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    Harsh but fair analysis.........
     
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  5. sensiblegreeny

    sensiblegreeny Well-Known Member
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    "Donkey type....................never going to win a National"

    Foinavon 1967.
     
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  6. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

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    I was always told that a team is built from the back, the other saying I remember relating to defense is "when in doubt, kick it out"
    (not Oglivie it back to the keeper and put him under pressure)
    the two championships I have seen us win,
    1963/4 scored 59....conceded 30.
    1999/2000 scored 66... conceded 39.
    Both occasions were built on a strong defensive display, rather than free scoring forwards.
     
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  7. Lord Sondes Clock

    Lord Sondes Clock Active Member

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    and let’s include the 95/96 runners up year too... 49 for, 20 against.
     
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  8. alwaysright

    alwaysright @ Very Angry Camel

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    We could go the whole season without conceding a league goal -- and still get relegated ! You can't win matches if you can't score.We are not Barcelona - who simply out-score the opponent.
    If Evans doesn't get a reasonable striker in January - he might as well go. We can save his ( and Raynor's ) wages. ........... I'm sure the letter E on the Rainham End sign wasn't cheap.

    nb - my rays of sunshine are deputising for Pegleg.
    ps - I forgot we won a championship in 1999/ 2000 !!
     
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  9. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

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    That should have been 2012/13...the goals for and against were right though. :emoticon-0136-giggl
     
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  10. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

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    I should also say that 13 teams have scored the same, or less goals than us,
    only 9 teams have conceded more.
     
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  11. alwaysright

    alwaysright @ Very Angry Camel

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    grumpygit
    All you are doing with these statistics is highlighting just how poor are most of the teams in L1 (( let alone L2 )) -- and thereby justifying those EX fans ( in the lower leagues ), whose number grow each week .................. it really is no consolation that our brand of rubbish is not a lot different to that of the other teams in l1.........................
    You might have more luck in cheering up Pegleg.
     
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  12. The Gills PegLeg

    The Gills PegLeg Up yer Harris

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    As Grumpy loves some statistics, here's some to brighten everyone's moods, the statistics of our permanent managers over the last 10 years:

    Mark Stimson - 33.33% Win Ratio
    Andy Hessenthaler - 38.61% Win Ratio
    Martin Allen - 42.19% Win Ratio
    Peter Taylor - 34.33% Win Ratio
    Justin Edinburgh - 39.22% Win Ratio
    Ady Pennock - 18.75% Win Ratio
    Steve Lovell - 34.78% Win Ratio
    Steve Evans - 21.05% Win Ratio

    Going great so far <laugh>
     
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  13. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

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    Last year under Lovell we lost 45.65% of our games.
    this year under Evans we have only lost 37.5%.

    If you don't go to games it might not matter, if on the other hand you do, then it matters a lot. :1980_boogie_down:
     
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  14. The Gills PegLeg

    The Gills PegLeg Up yer Harris

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    So basically you're saying you're happier to watch draws if it saves us losing at the detriment to us actually winning games? Most peculiar <laugh>
     
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  15. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

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    Anyone changed their opinion since this thread. :emoticon-0136-giggl:emoticon-0136-giggl:emoticon-0136-giggl
     
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  16. brb

    brb CR250

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    please log in to view this image
     
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  17. alwaysright

    alwaysright @ Very Angry Camel

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    I'm still certain that I wouldn't invite Mr. Evans over for a convivial evening.
    My original comments were made at a time when the team was significantly different to the present side.
    We needed better quality - and I believe that we now have it ( in terms of Willock, Roberts and Graham ) .We also desperately needed to replace Tom Eaves - and needed to spend money in this venture --- well -- we have. I like what I see in Akinde.
    I suppose that Evans has taken a little longer ( than I would like ), to mould the side into something a lot more viable - but - to give Evans ( footballing )credit, he is getting us playing reasonably well. I 'd like a play-off place - but I think we have drawn too many - and may just miss out .

    So - what of the future ? - well I fear that we may take backward steps when we have to return the loanees - and end up at square one. If the Akinde move bears reasonable rewards, it may encourage Mr.Scally to speculate a little more next season. We need to be a bit more clinical - to turn one point into three - and, at the moment, we haven't got the 'permanen' personnel in sufficient numbers.
     
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