Yesterday, I was incandescent with rage. It was fairly late in the game. We were awful for most of the game. I had pointed out my thoughts to the 'Northern Elite' as to where we were going wrong - hoofball, square pegs in round holes, players not being sharp enough. So - what happened? Well I was only 'alwaysright' Everything about which I spoke before the match 'came true.' Last week any of the 1171 Gills fans at Colchester could have told Edinburgh that Dickenson is NOT a fullback. He was 'ripped up 'by the Us quick forwards and was subbed at half time. ( should have been sooner ). At Barnsley, Dickenson didn't have quick players to contend with - but was still 'found out.' Both goals originated from down our left side - although to be a bit fair to Dickenson, the rest of the team did make sure that they 'contributed' in sharing the blame for poor defending. But the situation with Dickenson makes us extremely vulnerable on our left side. Again he was nowhere near 'his player' - and when occasionally he was close to their man - he got beaten - that's how both goals started. The only time Dickenson looked 'effective' was late in the game - after the subs, when we actually strung a few passes together. Dickenson, playing as a winger was at least, less of a liability at the back. Now - I can't put all the blame on Dickenson (apparently it's all Cody's fault) - because Edinburgh persists in playing Dickenson as a fullback - when CLEARLY all THAT is being achieved is a MASSIVE weak link for opponents to exploit. It's almost like giving other teams a one or two goal head start ! ---- But ( and finally getting to my point relating to my opening comment ) - at THAT point in the game, Dickenson swung his leg lazily as the ball came to him - and it went askew - shanking off his shin and into the side stand. Having conceded possession, Dickenson just ambles back whilst Barnsley exploit the hole in our left side - and very nearly added a third goal. Even with a current knee injury I could have reached our defence quicker than Dickenson was able to think about it ! I was furious. I told him to "Get off the bloody pitch !" None of the 248 Gills fans rebuked me for my 'disloyalty' -- I wonder what they would have said if they heard me asking members of the Northern Elite what price I should place as a 'reserve' for my season tickets on E Bay. I've come to a decision - if Dickenson remains as a fullback - I will not bother to go to away matches. I haven't got a problem with the team losing ( the last 10 minutes were 'enjoyable' - although we were 0-2, we made an effort ) - but - the selection of Dickenson as a fullback is WRONG and is TOO BIG a liability to expect anything other than defeat. I told you last week that if we didn't change our tactics ( including hoofball and team selection ) we wouldn't have long to wait for our second defeat. Why am I alwaysright ?
Always, there will be occasions when you are wrong and this is one of them. If playing with wingbacks and a narrow midfield you're asking for trouble, the point of a wingback is someone should be covering his position when he is going forward, this would be the winger if playing them, or the centre back if you have three, or the defensive midfield. Even when playing in the defensive position he should be getting cover, just look at other teams to see how this works. whilst the narrow midfield diamond is good to watch when it works, it is equally poor when it doesn't, for me Jed has to take the blame not the players. Jed is the one who signed the players, Jed is the one who assigned the players a position, Jed is the one who has shown no change of tactics when things aren't working. I now await the barrage of criticism for daring to suggest it's Jed's fault.
Grumpygit - How dare you say I'm wrong ? I totally agree that the manager needs to take blame. That has been expressed by me in BIG letters. I can recognise the benefits that Dickenson can bring to our team. THAT is NOT as a fullback. I think you said that you was at Colchester - if so you would have seen the 'benefits' that Dickenson brought to the team as a fullback. I said that he should have been replaced by Garmston - LONG before half time. I also said that Dickenson wasn't ( isn't ) being given the support he needs - THAT is a tactical error - ( Je's fault ). Dickenson can bring options for the forward play of the team - BUT he cannot handle being used as a fullback - in the same way as I doubt if Dack would be much use as a goalkeeper. The inclusion of Dack as a goal keeper probably would create a MASSIVE liability for our defence - so I wouldn't want him in goal. Dickenson definitely presents a MASSIVE liability to our defence - that's why I don't want him played as a fullback ( keep him in the opposition half ).
I don't know if others would agree with me, the first 4 games of this season showed good free flowing football with deserved success. the last 4 games (all be it we won 2) showed poor nervy hoofball. The set up hasn't changed (that would need Jed to realise things are going wrong) so if we look at the teams for the 1st 4 and last 4 can we see any difference. Game 1..............game 2.............game 3................game 4..................game 6..................game 7...............game 8..............game 9 Nelson...............Nelson...............Nelson................Nelson...................Nelson...................Nelson...............Nelson................Nelson Jackson............Jackson.............Jackson..............Jackson.................Jackson.................Jackson.............Jackson..............Jackson Egan.................Egan..................Egan...................Egan....................................................Egan..................Egan...................Egan Oshilaja.............Oshilaja.............Oshilaja...............Oshilaja................................................................................................................. Dickenson.........Dickenson.........Dickenson...........Dickenson............................................Dickenson..........Dickenson..........Dickenson Houghton..........Houghton..........Houghton............Houghton...............Houghton..........................................Houghton............................ Morris......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Dack.................Dack.................Dack....................Dack.......................Dack......................Dack...................Dack...................Dack................. Osadebe...............................................................................................Osadebe......................................................................Osadebe Williamson........Williamson........................................................................................................................................................Williamson Norris................Norris................Norris...................Norris.....................Norris.....................Norris................Norris...................Norris................ ..........................Wright..............Wright...................Wright....................Wright....................Wright...............Wright..................Wright.............. .........................Garmston......................................................................Garmston............................................................................................. ...................................................Hess.....................Hess.....................................................Hess....................................................................... ...................................................Donnelly................Donnelly............................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................Emher....................Emher................Emher...............Emher.................... ...............................................................................................................Loft.........................Loft.....................Loft...............Loft............................ ...............................................................................................................McDonald...............McDonald...........McDonald....................................... You might notice some names in all the games win or lose, you might notice some names appear in our good performances and not the bad, you might notice some names appear only in our bad performances, I'm not saying anything I will leave individuals to draw their own conclusions if any.
OK grumpygit - I'll take the 'bait' Oshilaja hasn't featured in a really poor performance - he looked really good before he got injured - maybe we're missing him more than we'd thought. Garmston was LB v Sheffield - NOT Dickenson ( who looked good going forward in that match ). He also started v Doncaster - where 5 changes were forced by injuries - and where we deserved the narrow win. He also came on at half time v Colchester and 'stabilised' the left side of our defence. Dickenson HAS been LB in our poor games - including one we won ( Blackpool ) - but, as a team we were not convincing. Dack - He's definitely featured in all our poor games. Nelson - maybe it's all his fault - He hasn't stopped any of the goals we've conceded ! I make no apology for falling into your trap - to repeat myself - that Dickenson at LB has caused us massive problems ( not just goals ). So - who is to blame - Edinburgh - for not using the correct players (when available) - for using the wrong tactics ( hoofball ), instead of using what wasn't broken in the first 4 games. ALSO You - Grumpygit - for not giving us the line up for game No.5 This is where we're going wrong - come on Nelson - pull your finger out ! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34373690
Garmston was on the bench v Sheffield and never came on, Dickenson played LB for the whole game, I didn't give the line up for game 5 because I was comparing the first 4 games with the last 4 games. This wasn't actually about Dickenson but the one name who appeared in the first 4 games and not the last 4, also the 3 names who have appeared only since the standard of football has slipped, not saying it means anything but interesting none the less.
grumpygit Your list gives TWO names that qualify the 'first 4 / not last 4' criteria - Oshilaja and Ehmer ( or Emher as you put it ). I mentioned my 'like' of Oshilaja - but I wouldn't say that Max was a weak link -- I don't think ANY of our players are a weak link - if deployed in correct positions and asked to play to their strengths - with tactics capable of extracting those strengths. I haven't got a problem with JE - just that he is doing the complete opposite of my previous sentence - with disastrous consequences.
The curse of copy and paste, spell it wrong and then repeat it ad infinitum. nearly did it again by putting a double "D" in ad
maybe i'm being thick but looking at the obvious difference between first four winning ways and great start then the subsequent four from that listing; 1. Ehmer 2. Loft 3. &...yes, you know who Quite influential names and all I reckon. Just saying. but more seriously looking at that, I would have to conclude our missing link is Oshilaja.
I've already said that Loft is not my most favourite player - Oshilaja has more 'energy' - but may lack Loft's experience. Ehmer is of reasonable ability at L1 level. McDonald CANNOT be expected as a 'target' man if we play hoofball. Just what is wrong in asking JE to deploy the personnel and tactics we used v Sheffield United ? We won't win every game - but if we continue as in the last two games we'll struggle - and be grateful for the first 17 points to avoid relegation.
I was hoping someone would follow the same thought process as mine, the big difference I notice in recent performances is the tendency to play hoof ball. The first 4 games the ball was played out from the back and we kept possession, the recent games have seen the long ball to no one. Oshilaja offers good ball control, good distribution and even carrying the ball up field himself, maybe if I'm the only person who thinks this is our problem, then I'm wrong, and will have to re-evaluate my assessment.
grumpygit - EXACTLY ! -- BUT - We seem to have a manager who cannot understand that HIS tactics have been WRONG in those [last] 4 games (coupled with at least one wrong fullback.) I know that we are L1 and not world beaters - but, if it wasn't broken in the first few games, WHY try to fix it ?
It's why we are playing hoofball that's important, I think the loss of Oshilaja is a lot more significant than many realise.
I get your point and it is a very good one. However, are we seriously suggesting that because Oshilaja is injured that we suddenly need to launch the ball skywards. It seems quite a drastic change of tactics, unless in the 21st Century Oshilaja is the only player capable in the Medway Towns of keeping the ball on the turf. I can hear Brian Clough's words right now...
Dickenson was certainly "found out " at Colchester and I didn't go to Barnsley, so I can't comment about him there, but If as you say he gets forward but doesn't get back soon enough, then surely whoever is playing on the left side of the diamond, should be moving out to cover when he goes forward?
Exactly Vinney, he should have someone to cover him, so why did this work for the first 4 games and not the last 4. I don't want to start criticising players it's not my style, different players can fit different set ups. Oshilaja likes to play out from the back, his replacement likes to wack it up field. Midfield had Osadebe, Morris, Hess, Dack, Wright, Houghton, for the first 4 games (rotating), all are young with energy to spare and never stop running, one midfield place since then has gone to a player who doesn't suit the high speed game. I won't mention Cody it's been done to death, anyway he has no influence on the hoofball game and has scored no less goals than 2 other strikers.
Firstly - Well done to The Gills for the win against Fleetwood. It was good to see the ball on the deck much more than of late - although we still did see it in the sky a little too much for my personal liking...... Now for Dickenson ................................... I see that JE hasn't taken a blind bit of notice to my thread. ( if we win 5-1 every time he is welcome to shove my own words down my throat ). Dickenson's inability as a fullback was OBVIOUS. He was lucky not to receive a card for a previous challenge to the one for which the card was shown. He is unable to make decisions that come 'naturally' to a 'natural' fullback. Again it was no surprise that JE took him off at half time - otherwise WE would have been down to 10 men. I may not have to worry about Dickenson's selection for too much longer - because the rate at which he's attracting cards, he'll be suspended before too long.
Dickenson in the firing line again, what a surprise, at least on most sites he’s got Norris as a companion now. So the game overall was good and the result terrific, I would like to mention a few observations that I made and leave you to make of them what you will. There is no intention to be critical of any player. Full backs, Jackson was again very good and ably supported by Houghton and Egan, when the threat came down our right flank Houghton became our first line of defence, Jackson dropped in behind him, with Egan slightly behind and inside giving a 3 man barrier. If the threat came down the left side there was Dickenson, Dickenson and Dickenson, why Loft and Ehmer didn’t emulate Houghton and Egan is anyone’s guess. Having praised Egan, I don’t feel it criticism to point out that his first 5 touches gave the ball to the opposition, but we mustn’t mention that, must we. I realise that Donnelly scored a world class goal and rightly got praised, did no one else think his first goal was pretty good as well, he moved to the ball, held off the defender, realised that anywhere in the centre or left of the keeper was saveable, so with one touch he wrapped his foot around the ball and swept it behind and into the bottom right corner. Haven’t heard anyone mention this goal, yet I thought the technique was excellent.
