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Article: Firstly an apology. SORRY | Football, Gillingham

Discussion in 'Gillingham' started by GeminiSwiftgfc, Aug 4, 2011.

  1. GeminiSwiftgfc

    GeminiSwiftgfc Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    I have tried to stay away from my negative side this summer but I have a few things nagging in the back of my brain going into the new season. Please, Will you all give me some kind of positive towards my following points:

    Defence: I have praised the strength and depth of the back line but 1 thing that worries me about it is a complete lack of pace. Will we get ripped to pieces by quick opponents or with the experience of the players mean that they'll be able to counter this issue?

    Dead ball. Over the last few seasons we have never made the best out of corners or free kicks. Will this be the same again? I have seen the goals that Lee scored for Peterborough and many were headed. Who will be able to supply the quality delivery?

    What happens if Kedwell gets injured? What will we do? I'm hopeful of us getting another striker on board and I think it's good that Hess hasn't just signed bodies up front. He seems to be taking his time to get the right player in which is good. But there has been a severe lack of goals in the 2nd half of preseason and I'm worried. :emoticon-0107-sweat

    Actually that's not as much as I thought it would be. I compare our overall squad with the rest of League 2 and I would change the whole squad for any other. But by nature I am a worrier. Although I do try to remain positive.

    Any one else have any other concerns I've not thought about?
     
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  2. superbob

    superbob Member

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    I'm assuming you meant you wouldn't change the squad for any other?

    I agree with most of your worries, particularly with the lack of pace at the back, but I guess we'll just have to play a deeper line to negate any pace that other teams have going forward.

    It's also definitely worrying if Keds gets injured, even if we do get another striker in. Having said that, I'm actually more worried that we're taking too long getting another one in; it takes time for new players to gel with the rest of the squad and for them to fit in with the team's style of play, and any new striker will already have missed the pre-season preparations in this department. I think it's imperative that we get somebody in asap, even if it's just for the time it takes Birchall to get back to fitness.

    I think my only other concern would be with the goalkeeping situation. I'm perfectly willing to get behind Flitney and Gazza, but Flitney might not necessarily take to league football as hoped, and Gazzaniga is unproven at any level (although i have heard very good things). I suppose we shall just have to wait and see!

    All in all though, I am extremely happy with the squad we have and optimistic for the coming season (so much so that I've had a bit of a flutter on us going up as champions! Not too much though, I'm only a student!). Role on Saturday!

    UTG
     
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  3. GeminiSwiftgfc

    GeminiSwiftgfc Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    Yes what I mean is that I think the squad as a whole is as good if not better than every other team in league 2 and I wouldn't swap the entire Gills squad for, say, the entire Crawley squad. Overall I am very happy with the team.
     
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  4. gills4everandaday

    gills4everandaday Active Member

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    agree with most of what has been said on here, although i do feel more confident about the season ahead than i have of recent seasons...have had a flutter on the gills to do well.

    we need to let the team and players play with no pressure and freedom...make priestfield enjoyable once again for club and fans alike!

    thing i would say is that hess said he wanted pace and width in the team this season...don't see it to be honest...not been addressed as i see it!

    without doubt we need a striker or two (hess is right in taking time to get the calibre striker we would need), need left winger, goalkeeper situation time will tell...hope paolo gazzaniga comes good for us?

    lastly it's bad business why the new kits are not available yet or the club have not responded to fans asking when is behond me!!!...missing out on a big sourceable income when it's needed! what happened to p scally saying more would be put into the sales & marketing side this season???
    heard a thrase that sumed the kit situation up...it's like having xmas and not being able to get your tree till fan/feb or easter in may.
    guess these questions will be asked at AGM tomorrow...along with more important questions & answers???

    ON A WHOLE CAN'T WAIT FOR US TO KICK OFF NOW!


    UTG!!!
     
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  5. GillinghamLAD

    GillinghamLAD Member

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    Also agree with most of what has been said Gemini. With regards to the pace I have a lot of confidence in the experience and quality of our centre backs to know when to play touch tight and when to stand off. Lets face it Frampton and Lawrence probably should be League 1 players and King should be a top League 2 centre back if he stays fit. If the injury never occured, a Championship player.
    The dead balls is interesting. We have more height this year though and Weston/Spiller to deliver the balls. Not sure about Whelps delivery so possibly him too?
    And what most people seem to have forgotten is that Simeon Jackson was our only really out and out fit striker for a year or 2. We managed then. Not saying we will now but it might not be as bad as it seems.

    Like gills,oxon4everandaday, the new kit business is getting on my wick too. Serious money being missed out on when lets be frank, Hess needs a new coach & wants a new striker. Surely if we have that money in the bank rather than forecasting it, would be much easier to play with budgets!!
     
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  6. brb

    brb Guest

    I've not seen any pre-season games, so it is a little difficult for me to make any judgements on our new team.

    I can only judge by reports, which leaves a question for me, in that when I take my seat on Saturday at Priestfield, if Rooney is not in the starting line up, why not?

    We played far to many friendlies imo, I assume these were for Hessy to access his players, if that is the case then surely Rooney has earned his place and yet when I look through predicted starting line ups, I'm assuming from people that have at least been to one or more of these games, very few if any name him other than on the bench.
     
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  7. gfclukey

    gfclukey Member

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    I think the lack of pace will be countered by Fish and Martin covering behind. From what I have seen in the pre-season the full backs have been given a lot of freedom to get forward but should be able to get back and cover when we are under pressure. Plus with Frampton and King/ Lawrence at the back the opposition are going to have to play out of thier skin to get the ball past them anyway!
    I think the lack of fire-power will be helped by the fact we have Weston Montrose Whelpdale and Rooney all in the midfield who will get forward and really support Kedwell.
     
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  8. GillinghamLAD

    GillinghamLAD Member

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    Agree with brb about Rooney. I only didnt't select him in my prediction for Cheltenham because that's who I feel Hess will go with. If it were me, Rooney would be starting no questions. In reality we have too many good CMs. As a result Hess won't leave one out, instead moving them to a position Rooney SHOULD occupy. What more can the lad do?!
     
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  9. bristol407

    bristol407 Well-Known Member

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    The fear has to be that what looks like a good squad will control 75% of games but not score goals. Remember Kedwell has not played at this level and the nearest thing to a supporting striker is the injury prone Oli. Unless Spayne and Rooney show a massive improvement quickly these two need to be moved on.
    Being optimistic Weston and Whelpdale might deliver some regular goals but will it be enough? It still looks a bit like work in progress with the most important bit-GOALSCORING-missing.
     
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  10. BSG

    BSG Well-Known Member

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    Ok first lets smash this myth that if you have concerns or criticise the club you are some how a bad fan! Gemini may fans share you concerns and you don't need to apologise for them, if that was the case everybody was a bad fan under the Stimson reign!!

    My concerns are similar, but the one I am most fearful of is the level of criticism that Hess isn't getting, everybody said we should walk the division last season but we didn't and everybody was making excuses rather than seeing the managerial shortcomings. Now that said I want Hess to succeed and I think the club is in a better position this season than last and we should do well.
     
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  11. Tom-Tom-Sat-Nav

    Tom-Tom-Sat-Nav Member

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    Good to see some constructive comments on here! There's a fine line between coming across as negative just for the sake of it, and expressing your opinions so nothing to be sorry for.

    The lack of pace defensively for a start, well take into account Macclesfield and Barnet at home towards the end of last season. Our defence was absolutely ripped to shreds. From what I gather we haven't added any real pace to our central defensive unit so will be interesting to see how we fair again against quicker and trickier opponents.

    As for Rooney:- his problem is that after a couple of years in and around the first team squad, he still seems to divide opinion. There is no doubt that on his day he certainly is a threat, but there's a big difference between banging them in pre-season away at non league teams, and then doing it when it matters. And again, his favoured or "natural" position is still undecided. Does he start on the right and bomb down the wing? Does he start on the left and cut inside a la Matt Jarvis? Or does he obtain a free role? This early on in the season are we prepared to risk putting him in from the start if we are unsure where he should play.

    Finally, the striker issue is unfortunate. Nobody could've seen Birchall's injury coming, and Kedwell will not be able to carry the goalscoring burden on his shoulders. So where else do we look? Stefan Payne hasn't produced the goods so far but then again he has not been given ample first team opportunity in which to do so. Dennis Oli...now if he stays fit, I truly believe he can be a handful at this level. But that's an if. There are goals in our midfield but we still need an out and out striker, and I believe that we've burnt out a lot of our cash on our existing squad so will need cheaper reinforcements.

    Bloody can't wait for the season to start now though.
     
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