Heat stroke, to much beer and great day at the office. Unlucky Bradley but 3-1 will do me on a great start to the 2012/13 campaign. Martin Allen coming to the touch line to applaud ALL the fans near the end, including the Medway Stand was a nice touch, nearly brought a tear to my eye. League Two and the Gills is where the real passion is at. Now what was I saying about wingers? Welcome aboard for the ride Myles Weston and as for Keds goal, unbelievable, got to see that again. Was you at the summer Priestfield party?
yeah i was lower tier Medway stand, i am well and truly cooked! Great goals by Kedwell and Weston! Good win but not a fantastic performance in fact i thought Bradford were the better team though they faded at the end and our better fitness came through! start of the 2nd half Montrose gave the ball away with a long raking pass as Allen was shouting to keep passing short.....straight away he told Payne your on! Lots of tips views and ideas coming on from the managerial team in the dugout to the players on the pitch, looks a lot better set-up UTG
I think Martin Allen is going to be a great fit for the club. Despite some occasional defensive frailties it was a very good performance. In addition to Dack (unusual name) hitting the post, the Bradford 'keeper made 2 superb saves in the first half. Many reasons to be cheerful overall.
Decent showing, the defense looked a tad shaky at points but after Weston came on we really gained another dimension. Dack was unlucky and boy does he have an unusual running style on him! I was in the upper tier of the medway and got truly roasted, bad times for a ginger ahaha!
I don't mind admitting that I feel that heat just about killed me today in the Medway Stand. Hence why no detailed match report at this time, my brain is still trying to cool down - lol Also if Mr Scally or any one from Gillingham FC, might like to explain how the heck you cannot have any bottled water available at half-time in this heat is beyond belief. My son had to step in and take over the conversation because to say I was about to kick-off in front of dozens of Gills supporters would have been an understatement. Trust me if any of your team want to contact me personally, I will be only to happy to have a chat about the absolute disgusting catering service today. I noticed as I returned to my seat there was some hasty retreat to get more water but frankly it is unacceptable. Do the catering staff not know when half time is and the expected rush, btw I was fourth in the queue, going down 30 seconds before the half time whistle. Some things just never change. As for the game at least Martin Allen's team faired considerably better on the pitch than the services off it. Charlie Allen was my surprise package today and certainly earned his place. Nelson seemed really confident in goal, no punching away but clean catches every time. Dack considerably unlucky, so deserved a goal. Myles, what I expect from the winger we have so been crying out for. Keds, two goals and man of the match. Can't get used to the number changes.
I actually found the game very enjoyable today but as some have said, i thought the defence (flanagan more so) looked a tad nervous and hesitant with fish and martin not overly confident for me in defencive areas either. do seem to have more belief and aim in what we are trying to achieve as a unit and mad dog is very fast starting to become a blessing for us and i will be the first to say i didn't want him here at first ! as for sitting in the sun in the lower tier medway stand, not only did i do that the whole time, but then i sat in traffic all the way back on the M25 & M40 going home...with no air con ...and have got to say i was ready to collapse when i hit that front door step of mine...now that is dedication for you
Really enjoyed today Keds was good.did anyone feel fish really matured 2nd half looked unsure 1st half but looked one of our better defender 2nd .that headed clearance at the end was quality and deserved the pat on the back from nelson .Weston looks promising. Burton ?? Early days but coug.
Have to agree with jayGills74 - thought 3-1 flattered us greatly, Bradford looked a pretty tidy outfit. Still, a great start! Nice to the crowd get excited when a player (Weston) picks up the ball and actually has the confidence/ability to run at people. We haven't had anyone who has been consistently able to do that in the last few seasons. Not sure what the best starting XI is yet - but good to see Allen make substitutions when he feels it needs changing up.
I was nice and cool on the back row of the Rainham End! The roof kept the sun off a little! I arrived at the ground about 2.55 with a bottle of water to drink. I asked the steward on the turnstile if it was ok to take it in and it was a yes if I remove the top, which I was happy to do! Maybe others could take their own water?
A very valid point you make gfc1234 - however, for a multi million pound contract, you would think it possible that 5,000 people can be catered for within reasonable expectation at a venue. Especially when the capacity of that venue was only half full. My view on it is they had 45 minutes to prepare for a 15 minute time window. Also I hasten to add I have deliberately only revealed part of the story. I accept I'm having a good moan but if you accept this rubbish then fans will get served rubbish. So the full situation in my view. There was a father and his young daughter sitting next to me in the stand, I cannot remember having seen them at the game before. About 5/10 minutes before half time, the young girl requested a drink from her dad in the soaring heat, hottest day of the year. To which he retreated underneath the stand to make the purchase. He promptly came back stating the catering position was closed. On me going down about 30 seconds before half time, that catering position was indeed closed. However, being a regular I knew unlike that spectator (assumption) there was further refreshment a slightly further walk towards the centre of the stand. On arriving there was no water or any offer to wait shortly in any attempt to get water. There was no steak pies being told they only had Chicken Balti. After making alternative purchases they then proceeded to try and overcharge me. My son taking over the conversation by this time, politely explained that I had already handed over a tenner and indeed was due change. Another member of the catering staff intervened (3 by this time) and accepted they were indeed overcharging us (not the first time I hasten to add). Maybe now it can be understood as a season ticket holder why I am upset, remembering we are slightly a captive market in a venue.
Someone on another board said they were sitting behind Martin and he was going mad when Montrose hoofed the ball forward, so immediately hauled him off and brought Jack Payne on ( who had mysteriously recovered from tonsillitis that was going to keep him out for 10 days ) . Mr Allen is not going to put up with players who don't follow instructions,that's for sure.
i was sat right behind dugout and yes Montrose hoofed forward as the boss was shouting short passing and Montrose was only about 10 yards away.......Allen immediately told Payne your on as the ball landed at a Bradford players feet!!
Just read the write up in the football league paper and while it was not mentioned in the report I noticed that Flanagan was only a four. Was he really that bad? Very good result though, Bradford look a strong team this season so to pick up all three points against them is very positive. I'm not too concerned over the performance at this stage, the team is starting to gel and so the performances should pick up over
In Hoadie's match hub he gave Flanagan a 5 to which I also agreed and also gave a five. So considering I was at least being generous, I would say 4 is fair enough. It's not being negative towards the guy (before Lenny starts), it is a fair reflection on an individual performance on the day. Against Charlton I would probably have given him an 8. We won 3-1 so if we can beat a team who I had before the game feared slightly, by that scoreline, then that can only mean positive in roads when we are really on our game. Of the back four yesterday, Fish, yes Fish would get my award for the best of the back four. Matt Fish is an improved player since the end of last season, he lacks that little something special to make it into my dream team, however, who knows, as confidence builds his skill may develop further. btw I gave Fish a 7. I like Allen's way, keep the ball on the ground and he was right to pull off Montrose (who I gave a 5) if he failed to follow instruction, from my position I did not witness what happened.
A few of things that I noticed about yesterday. 1, Bradford's kit was AWFUL, not only did I have difficulty picking their players out when I did the shirt really messed with my eyes. 2, Bradford also seemed to go to ground very easily, their penalty was incredibly soft (I doubt anyone in the ground had a better view of it than me, front row of Rainham end behind the post YES it was my mate that just left the ball so that Their player had to come up to the Rainham end and get the ball.) 3, in the first half we had a tendency to launch the ball in to the air, which I wasn't expecting, but I think it was maybe just a little too hot to be passing and moving too much? Second half was much better.
Have to say, was well impressed with Kedwell, having shed a stone in weight, he look fitter, faster and seemed to be full of confidence. Bring on Tuesday evening.
i tell you what brb, now that we have myles weston on the left to balance the rest of the side out, i'm sure gutted that we weren't able to bring gavin tomlin back this season to play alongside kedwell, because that would sure of made for good reading on paper as well as on the pitch
