Last season I wrote about everything looking rosy down in the Garden of England at Kentâs only football league club. In a chapter called Youth v Experience. Stating, you only have to look on your TV screens or turn on your radio and see via the sports sections the name of Gillingham FC being represented. Well nothing has changed certainly in that latter paragraph, where the craziness of the man walking through the Priestfield corridors is still rolling his eyes, grinning with snarling teeth like some mad man possessed caught in the media headlights. The trouble with this type of publicity it can work both ways. Fortunately for our manager he has been on the right side of my most hated daily malice. Yet for a man that bonds so well with the supporters I have to question why anyone would want to write for such tabloids. Maybe our manager is not as mad has he would like to be perceived and he knows how to turn the potential of negative outlets in journalism into positive ones. What I would call playing them at their own game with reverse psychology. Although at last the red trousers seemed to have disappeared after the 4-0 drubbing at Wolves, with the home fans singing him a chorus of Santa tell us the score. Well he certainly did look like a complete elf after that game, which does not bode well in his self acclaimed attempt to smashing league one. Looking back I saw the early warning signs, while many were being blinded by the glimmer of a nice shiny league two trophy heading our way, I was being more vocal than most to the development of my own perceived five year aim, although no surprise really to see people wanting instant glory after a 49 year wait. The start of our League One season was not great before a ball was even kicked. The whole episode of those season tickets left a bad taste especially after sales of being handed a letter at collection and after ST receipt, reminding me of those terms and conditions on exchangeable tickets, one that could seriously come back and cause a huge bite in Scallyâs wallet if this season goes all wrong, especially after alienating us further with the first game cock up of shepherding us through one turnstile on my entrance to the Medway Stand and having my own entry blocked to my customary turnstile seven. Albeit it with an apology for circumstances that the Chairman was clearly not aware. Not forgetting Iâm still waiting for an explanation on my feedback of why it is better not to exchange an ST in absence and stretch out over two seats instead of one by giving someone the friends for a fiver voucher instead. A slight flaw in the logic of sales that Iâm not sure if the club have actually recognised yet. Maybe the club I so love has a short memory, I only have to look back to a previous article I wrote called performance of the season, Tuesday 21st February 2012, when only 3,248 turned up for that league two game. So while some may be happy at the full house pay days at the close of last season, those supporters are clearly only evident in commitment on big match days. I can never forgive Martin Allen for what I saw as his treatment of Connor Essam. A good season just appeased the situation nothing more. By treatment I mean media talk about fitness and then being sent out on loan to Luton Town, before his eventual departure to Crawley. We saw them all leaving the door, Gazza, Jackman, Payne, Evans. To be replaced by the newly introduced older experienced players which in fairness dragged us out of league two but what about our future ability to sustain that promotion. It even looked at one stage that Lee might be exiting the door and I could only think, the crazy manager decisions know no bounds. It felt as though only a twist of fate saved the day, maybe Iâm wrong...read on. But wait this is the crazy one who still for his own known reasons does not play the Cody and Bayo combo. Also whatâs happened to Callum Davies? So today Friday the 13th (September 2013) the twitter account of @TheGillsFC tweet... Gillingham FC ‏@TheGillsFC35m "Today I've spoken to Chris Whelpdale, Charlie lee, Steven Gregory and Antonio German available for transfer." Martin Allen #Gills Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale!?...has someone at the club finally lost the plot, as if the red card at Crawley was not bad enough at least I could blame the man in black but who's welding the hatchet...what do you think?...http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/F13theme.ogg
I just want to say I agreed with you last year brb as you may remember, in fact I originally queationes the signing of Barrett as the Bournemouth fans didn't rate him in League One. I was there fighting for both Connor and even more so the two Jack's (Evans & Payne). When both Payne, Jackman and Montrose were put up for transfer, I knew we couldn't have all three but I wanted us to at least keep two of them. For me Whelpdale and Lee are our best midfielders and if we want to atay in this league they are crucial. Gregory I think does the quiet stuff well and some of his passing is actually really good but people are quick to jump on his back. German I want to see given a chance but a loan may suit him. I atill don't see the point putting three of our midfielders up for transfer when we are short in that area anyway. Brb I'm on your side, if you want to march I will be there!
looks like Martin is losing the plot. Looks like he is desperate. He has been saying players are given their all and results will come but now says we need to freshen up. Yes we do need some quality so will have to get loan players in as we can't sign anyone as the transfer window is closed till January. Lee has been playing his best football this season whilst Whelpdale was our best midfielder end of last season. Gregory was his signing and has got better, and Allen actually paid a fee for German.
Not playing Cody, Bayo is beyond...... Not signing a quality midfielder after Payne went is bonkers.... Simples
The YouTube title and this 51 second video demonstrating MadDog's start to our League One season: [video=youtube;0PqsQc_mMrY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0PqsQc_mMrY[/video]
