Ainsworth

I'm a bit like Ainsworth on it, completely run out of ideas. Just seems to be no consistency in any department other than one called losing. Worst back to back defeats in 60 years does not bode well for the manager.

It's down to the owners now really to decide the way forward, if they stick with the manager or send him on his way I will support their decision.

Afterall it's their finances that are suffering, so you would think they would have the best inside knowledge to what's best for their bank balances - let's be honest here the finanacial stakes have to be right to move forward.

Spring is on the way, sunnier weather hopefully, and Brad & Shannon will need bums on seats - how do you do that without upsettting the bread and butter of STH's - especially as there is nothing to play for now other than pride.

I can't even see much to look forward to in the remaining fixtures, a Tuesday night game is not much fun for Swindon fans, and we get to welcome Steve Evans on Saturday, so we can both commiserate on past dreams.

Those travelling to Salford will be the hardcore and waiting on the answers to all of the above.

If I'd been Gareth on Saturday, I'd have taken the players over to the travelling fans for a quick Q&A session, even if it's just to ask what the hell is going on.

I think that there is a combination of problems......The injuries to the squad is bad luck for everyone - including Ainsworth - not helped by recruiting 'older' players (( not totally his fault )) ...There were /are the health issues of Ainsworth - which disrupted things ---- but -- that excuse can only be temporary...

Ainsworth has been back in charge for a while - and things are getting worse !.... I'm still trying to understand the deployment of round pegs in square holes ! - definitely a factor in the ineffectiveness of several of the squad.......I struggle to believe that Ainsworth couldn't see that....Is he too stubborn to accept that experiments ((( such as Gale at RB have failed ? )) -- that's not very professional in my estimation.

Then there is the issue of players out of contract. It looks as if these know they won't be retained -and thus not 'trying.' - (( other than trying my patience! )) Fans will say that many of the squad is 'dead wood' - not recruited by Ainsworth - BUT - there are plenty enough who are his signings. These too are NOT performing (( probably because they have been used in the wrong positions, or with the wrong combinations and tactics.))
I don't totally blame Ainsworth for the obvious lack of interest from the P45 squad - they've been on the beach for several weeks !

I nearly didn't enter the stadium last Tuesday - when I saw the lineup... My message to one of my sons ((( both are STH and decided not to go the the game )) -was '' I fear a bloodbath. ''........ I can't help being alwaysright. ......... I have serious doubt about the Swindon game... My heart tells me to go to the match...... My head tells me that I am mad (((( but - if I was sane, I wouldn't ever go to Priestfield.))))

Regarding Ainsworth's future with GFC - I will be 'kind' and say that - with a total clear-out in the Summer, I would like to think that things will be better next season..........which will be the 64th time I have repeated myself !

If I rememeber correctly everything was going fine with the season until GA had to rightly go into hospital. It fell apart in his absence, maybe I'm remembering it wrong. Then for some reason the season never gained traction again.

What I do think is there seems to be a lack of consistency in the line-ups, that really can't help - I know you get injuries and stuff, players unwell such as Sam and having to go to hospital, my sincere best wishes to the lad.

But you must all remember the days when we had the same 11 players, week in week out, the same shirts numbered 1 to 11 - so I do question inconsistency in the team selection unless you are the Premier League clubs of this world.

Other than that, I really don't know what the problem is, even if you are leaving the club, players are still paid up until they leave, so we should all expect the same commitment. I even like the players, can't think I dislike anyone.

I don't know the answers, I'll just go with the mood on any given day.

Oh dear, brb...... Times have changed (( I know that you are aware ! )).....There appears to be little loyalty to your employer.... I could go all 'political' and give some reasons - such as short-term contracts / shared jobs and zero-hour contracts ---- all of which doesn't encourage employees to give anything that resembles value-for-money - let alone busting a gut etc..

It doesn't matter that the employee will still be getting paid until their last day... The modern trend is to do the least possible... In the case of the P45 members of our squad - I can see things from their viewpoint ---- why risk injury in the final few weeks ? They need to be able to be injury-free for their new club ---- so--they'll go through the motions............................... This is something where, as a STH ,I do not have any come-back... I can't get a refund for the c.rap product (( for the umpteenth time )), for which I have paid upfront......

Commitment should be expected by the Club ---- but not just from its' fans. GFC have had that from me for nearly 64 years - not that I'm complaining -- Ainsworth has seen to that = He doesn't like it when the fans point out the turd that is being served up week after week. The way I feel right now- if I could, I would hand back my season ticket for a partial refund....... which is something that I could do with any other turdy product for which I have paid in advance !..............Yesterday, I notified a retailer that I was returning a jacket I purchased online (( too small ))....I got an instant reply telling me that, as a loyal customer, I needn't return the item and that I would get a FULL refund ((( which happened within two hours ! ))

edit - being the honest person that I am - I did return the garment.

Crazy as it sounds, I don't think getting rid of Ainsworth is the right answer. We've been burned too many times since the Galinsons took over about firing managers too quickly. Only have to see what Harris is doing with Cambridge to see that we were far too hasty with that decision in October 2023. We've gone far too long of allowing managers say over players they wish to sign, Hessy getting them in, sacking the manager and repeating the process. We had 5 different managers in the last four January transfer windows and have been left with a real mismatched squad. Some players simply aren't good enough, others only fit particular systems we don't play and other areas we just simply replace properly (Ehmer in the summer). Defensively needs a hard reset in the summer as we've conceded more goals this season with 9 games left to play than the entirety of 22/23 and 24/25. Only four more goals takes us passed 23/24's total. Lets not forget we were rock bottom of the football league in January 2023 and this side has still conceded more than them, goes to show Max Ehmer wasn't ever the problem eh @alwaysright. Anyways enough jibes on that front, Ainsworth should be given the opportunity to make the changes.

Something like 16 players are out of contract in the summer. Ainsworth can get rid of as many as he likes then and we can afford to have a hard reset. If of course by Christmas we're in the doldrums of the league then we know what our answer is, but I believe he needs to be given the summer to try and get this squad right. It can't be a coincidence that 3 seasons on a trot they've started like a train and then fallen off a cliff when it comes to October. Maybe they should have been cricketers only playing in the summer, who knows. Get in a fully Gareth Ainsworth squad and then lets see what it can do.

RESIGN
I don't give a s.hit what excuse you have - that performance against Crawley ((( who, apparently couldn't buy a win ))) , was a real piece of dog's excrement..... Just go now !....... And you can take 95% of all the a.rsewipe in blue.
I apologise to those who may be offended by my rant and 'punctuation' - but - I'm not wasting my perfectly manicured vocabulary on the turd that I watched this afternoon.............. besides,----

--- this might be my last comments on GFC....As it stands, after nearly 64 seasons, I cannot see me bothering to go to the game on Easter Monday......or renewing my season ticket....I simply cannot trust Ainsworth to inspire any player (( as if any half-decent player will be bursting to join the current hoofballers. )) ......................

.........................I want to say so much more to express my utter disgust with the 'situation' on the field - but - I can only think of many swear words as adjectives - all of which do not even 'touch-the-sides' of my displeasure.

AINSWORTH - JUST GO !

I was doing other stuff today so only really paid attention to the last 15 mins. Guys serious question, were we trying to run the clock down, we seem to be taking for ever at corners and throw-ins. Crawley went into the game third from bottom, why are we running the clock down, get stuck in and get on with it.

BRB - YOU NOTICED IT !......... Absolute disgraceful 'effort.'.. 0n 88 min, Dack walked slower than a snail to take a corner - not good enough...Every time Hutton had the ball he passed it backwards.... Clark was dreadful - in fact he would have been more useful wearing a red shirt..........What was Ainsworth's idea in playing Dack across the middle of defence for much of the 2nd half ?........ I could go on - but - I'd be putting in more effort than the slurry wearing blue shirts.

alwaysright said:

BRB - YOU NOTICED IT !......... Absolute disgraceful 'effort.'.. 0n 88 min, Dack walked slower than a snail to take a corner - not good enough...Every time Hutton had the ball he passed it backwards.... Clark was dreadful - in fact he would have been more useful wearing a red shirt..........What was Ainsworth's idea in playing Dack across the middle of defence for much of the 2nd half ?........ I could go on - but - I'd be putting in more effort than the slurry wearing blue shirts.

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To be playing in the manner I saw that has to be manager instructions, no way the players doing that off their own back - if they were then the manager needs to put a rocket up them.

Why the hell would you play for a 0-0 draw at Crawley, all you are playing for is pride or in our case the serious lack of it.

Although we will not go down, we still are not technically safe.

I'm sure alwaysright remembers the season when it looked like we couldn't go down after the Southampton game, as we were so far ahead of the pack, and didn't Wycombe beat us something like 5-0 in the final game and relegate us, because all the other clubs won.

Something like that anyway.

brb - it was 0-3 at WYCOMBE ((( who had been relegated the week before ! )))....On the day, it was almost impossible for Gills to be relegated --- there had to be a sequence of 5 results which ALL had to go against us for Gills to be doomed -- and it happened.

Anyway just to cheer everyone up, listen to this, it's as I said they were playing for a 0-0, dreadful mindset...

Pressure !
The more I read of the drivel that comes from Ainsworth - the more I am disenchanted !.... The latest verbal diarrhea to come out of his mouth is that he '' never puts pressure on the squad '' !!!! ...... Is he mad ?... There should always be pressure on everyone in the squad.... The very least pressure each of the players need to feel, is the 100% expectation of 100% commitment (( even if they are not collectively good enough to beat the opponent. ))

My 'expectation' of every member of the squad is consistent with my expectation of anyone to whom I give 100% payment for the service they provide...There shouldn't be a 'need' to remind the players / tradespeople etc that they have a personal duty to perform at 100% levels - otherwise it is nothing short of contempt for the paying 'customer.'

Perhaps Ainsworth is implying that the Gills players are (supposedly), professionals and shouldn't need to be pressured by him - but - clearly there is a need for Ainsworth and the players to feel the pressure of anally inserted rockets !............or do they think that I am stupid enough to continue to give my 100% commitment and 100 pennies for every £1 of the cost of my 'stadium entrance fee' ?? ((( I'm certainly not getting anything much in terms of entertainment. )))

alwaysright said:

Pressure !
The more I read of the drivel that comes from Ainsworth - the more I am disenchanted !.... The latest verbal diarrhea to come out of his mouth is that he '' never puts pressure on the squad '' !!!! ...... Is he mad ?... There should always be pressure on everyone in the squad.... The very least pressure each of the players need to feel, is the 100% expectation of 100% commitment (( even if they are not collectively good enough to beat the opponent. ))

My 'expectation' of every member of the squad is consistent with my expectation of anyone to whom I give 100% payment for the service they provide...There shouldn't be a 'need' to remind the players / tradespeople etc that they have a personal duty to perform at 100% levels - otherwise it is nothing short of contempt for the paying 'customer.'

Perhaps Ainsworth is implying that the Gills players are (supposedly), professionals and shouldn't need to be pressured by him - but - clearly there is a need for Ainsworth and the players to feel the pressure of anally inserted rockets !............or do they think that I am stupid enough to continue to give my 100% commitment and 100 pennies for every £1 of the cost of my 'stadium entrance fee' ?? ((( I'm certainly not getting anything much in terms of entertainment. )))

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Going to be honest mate, I'm worried about Ainsworth's health, I think he probably looks at things in a different light after his recent hospital visit - let's be honest here, it all went wrong when he had to go in, and it's never got back on track since.

The bit about pressure or lack of is probably something even I would do, as we get older we look at things differently, yes I know you are older than me, but I've got to a stage in life does it really matter. Hence my regular comments about the hatred of booing.

BUT, and here's the bit, it is his job, he hasn't said any of what I've written above, it's just my perspective on it. And if it was my job I know that comes with bollocking people sometimes. You either step up and deal with it or step aside, if I was Ainsworth I'd probably do that latter.

None of the above is meant as a bad reflection on the gaffer, it's just how my mind reads the situation, I wish all the best and good health in everything he does, but sadly football is a cut throat business, and nice guys don't last long in it.

You chaps should probably watch Andy Smith's interview before jumping to the conclusions about the pressure. Ainsworth tried to create an environment during the training week where the players could enjoy their football and themselves, the thinking if their in a more positive mindset, they will play better and perhaps get a result. Whilst the match was turgid, they had done the job for 90 minutes of not conceding. What can't be accounted for is how pathetic someone like Aaron Rowe can be with and without the ball.

Ainsworth has publicly said multiple times now that some of these players just aren't good enough. That is factually correct, but when you don't have an infinite amount of players in the squad, you have to keep using the crap ones, until the better ones return from injury. Ainsworth's team at the start of next season will look incredibly different to the one that has started the last few games, and yes Ainsworth will still be here next season, so let's just support the team and manager shall we?

I blame @alwaysright

brb - re your post above ( No.15 )
We are of similar 'generation.' ... I share some of the sentiments you have.. .... and (( Pegleg )), considering that I have been loyal since 1963, I believe that I'm entitled to be unimpressed with apathy - - which is what Ainsworth expresses when he states he doesn't put pressure on players.... As I have constantly said, I demand 100% commitment...... Particularly when I am paying with 100% commited finance (( and in advance x 3 with my family's season tickets .)) .... I am incensed when players can't be bothered to break sweat - let alone bust-a-gut !............ I feel that the Manager is not ' managing ' if he doesn't use appropriate discipline ((( when players have little or no self-discipline. )))...........

Incredibly, I find myself - for the first time in my life, seriously considering and doubting future attendance at Priestfield (((( even if I could get petrol for the 100 mile journey. )))) ---- At this moment, I cannot see me going to the game on Monday(( and beyond. ))...... and, so far this season, my two sons have not 'bothered' to attend several games ......... and none of the STH have any chance of a S.75 'chargeback ' for faulty goods.

alwaysright said:

brb - re your post above ( No.15 )
We are of similar 'generation.' ... I share some of the sentiments you have.. .... and (( Pegleg )), considering that I have been loyal since 1963, I believe that I'm entitled to be unimpressed with apathy - - which is what Ainsworth expresses when he states he doesn't put pressure on players.... As I have constantly said, I demand 100% commitment...... Particularly when I am paying with 100% commited finance (( and in advance x 3 with my family's season tickets .)) .... I am incensed when players can't be bothered to break sweat - let alone bust-a-gut !............ I feel that the Manager is not ' managing ' if he doesn't use appropriate discipline ((( when players have little or no self-discipline. )))...........

Incredibly, I find myself - for the first time in my life, seriously considering and doubting future attendance at Priestfield (((( even if I could get petrol for the 100 mile journey. )))) ---- At this moment, I cannot see me going to the game on Monday(( and beyond. ))...... and, so far this season, my two sons have not 'bothered' to attend several games ......... and none of the STH have any chance of a S.75 'chargeback ' for faulty goods.

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You've threatened on this board numerous times over the years about not renewing your ST, I even recall when Steve Evans took over you stated on this board you had severe reservations about renewing and yet you did.

With regards to the manager I fail to believe that Ainsworth is the main man to blame in the instance for the pure matter that most of this squad have got several managers sacked in a short space of time. Its clear that they are the biggest issue alongside the recruitment. We have about 16 players out of contract in the summer and we have an opportunity to cull the deadwood and start afresh. With every humiliating defeat brings another nail in the coffin to that player's future at Priestfield and quite frankly I'd say good riddance to most. Gareth can build a team that is solely his, he can then be shot at next season if needs be. If you choose not to renew your ST next season then that is on you, I'm not going to tell someone how to spend their money, but the fact of the matter is Ainsworth will be here at the start of next season, so you can either vote with your feet, or accept the situation we're in and get on with it.

Pegleg - I have indeed threatened, on several occasions, not to renew my season ticket...
Since coming to Priestfield from 1963 season, I have been under no illusion that GFC are basically a squad with lower-league football ability...Quality has been quite rare over the years - but - ((( and brb will appreciate this ))), GFC has been my 'home' town club. My dad took me to the games - and taught me old-fashioned values - - not to expect much success - but to blindly give my loyal support...THAT mentality, largely does not exist in modern society....in most aspects there is little room for loyalty !

Modern values and priorities have changed - and, as I have become older, I too have made changes - and had to adapt when necessary.....but - unlike many (ex) fans, I have remained loyal to GFC.....even when my head has told me that I am utterly stupid for continuing to come back to the same 'retailer' to receive yet more c.rappy service....I do not tolerate dreadful ( even sub-standard ), rubbish from any other source -- why the Hell do I take so much excrement from GFC ?

WHY? - because GFC is in my blood - like nothing else... I probably tolerate a lot less from my two sons !.....There is no other explanation for my stupidity at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon....It's not as if I am unambitious for my Club... I'd like to see Gills in the Premiership - I would love to see Gills win every game -but - those are dreams.

I am a pragmatic person. I know my personal limitations. I understand the limitations of the Gills players. I am not a dreamer. I do expect Gills to suffer plenty of defeats - and any defeat, whilst it may be unwelcome, is not (for me), the main cause of any dissatisfaction ! - I am 'old-school.' I expect 100% commitment... I don't (necessarily) mind defeats - but - it is the manner in which a defeat is suffered... I expect (demand), that lungs and guts are burst in the process.... THAT level of exertion has hardly been evident over the last three or four seasons..

Unfortunately, in modern society there is little loyalty between employers and employees.. This situation is a catalyst for a lack of self-discipline (especially from employees )... People tend to give the least possible...They certainly need additional incentives before giving 50% effort for maximum reward ! -- but -- I am not interested in 50%...I expect / demand 100% commitment. ... I don't care if 50% is tolerated by the rest of society....In return, GFC will receive my 100% loyal commitment - even when we lose games..

.BUT -Ainsworth doesn't seem to (really) care ! He talks about not applying pressure on the players.. That is ridiculous....Ainsworth certainly doesn't seem to achieve much from the several players that are his 'signings' - Should I merely believe that he will motivate any new players next season ? -- it appears that Ainsworth won't be putting them under any pressure !! ... Footballers, even in Division 4 are fairly handsomely rewarded... Their 'carrot' is larger than most fans who pay their wages - - so should be the size of the 'stick' applied to ensure their performance... The 'stick, at times may need to be anally-inserted with maximum thrust !... Ainsworth is telling me ( and the players that he prefers to use a limp piece of celery !!........ I take this as an insult to my 100% commitment.... His laid-back attitude to the least expected discipline is inexcusable.. It is the reason for my (now) serious threat to not attend the next (( rest of )) home game(s)... Over most of the season, the football has been dire. There has been very little ( if any ) real effort.... Tactics and formations have been a mystery .. It's now one miserable defeat (heavy loss), after another...Ainsworth has lost the dressing room...The P 45 squad can't be bothered - .Why should I bother ? .... and I might make a 100% commitment to avoid Priestfield for (at least ) the rest of this season.