Four Games Left...

alwaysright said:
brb - the incident to which I refer was not the move for the goal.
It was a conventional counter attack. The Gills player ( who was out of position ), made a pathetic attempt to get back -- I reckon I could have 'walked' faster !........... I'm not saying that he would have got back in time -- but it was the lack of effort -- giving up without trying -- not acceptable................ and therefore it is no surprise that none of our players put in enough effort to intercept 1 of the 25 opportunities that was presented before the ball enters the net.
Your video shows some nice passing by Ipswich -- but not one Gills player getting really 'stuck in.' -- everyone backs off - the ball gets crossed - O'Connor and or Bonham could have prevented the goal -- but the lack of intensity in our style of defending resulted in neither player being sharp enough.
Things improved in the 2nd half (( like I said, I do greatly appreciate the effort after half time )) -- but the damage had been done.
The lack of 'engagement' in the first half is the responsibility of Mr.Evans. Perhaps he would have noticed - if he wasn't too busy arguing with Lambert.
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What makes this even sadder is go and read the Ipswich Town comments online, anywhere you like. I checked out their main one's along with video blogs and the responses were, we are pleased with the win but the performance needs to improve! Depite it only being 0-1 we were never concerned.

So they are top of the league and think they could have done better. Well we can't really do much worse from our perspective, 25 opportunitites to stop the ball being walked in the net.

If we lose at Oxford, then it's time for Evans to walk. That as Gills Pegleg has pointed out is exactly how long maddog was given.
 
If we are going to compare Maddog, who had 14 months to build a team, and SE who has had just 4 months then lets look at the stats.

Maddog after 9 games.
won 1, drawn 3, lost 5, GF 10, GA 15, GD -5, points 6.

SE after 9 games.
won 2, drawn 4, lost 3, GF 14, GA 10, GD +4, points 10.

The teams we have already faced this season.
Bristol Rovers, Doncaster, Blackpool, Wycombe, Coventry, Ipswich,
6 of our 9 games against teams who are in the top 8.

I still firmly believe that we have a young team that can only get better, Ipswich were better at the professional side of the game, when to commit the foul,
when to lay down and play dead, when and how to waste time and frustrate, these are things our players will learn.
 
grumpygit said:
If we are going to compare Maddog, who had 14 months to build a team, and SE who has had just 4 months then lets look at the stats.

Maddog after 9 games.
won 1, drawn 3, lost 5, GF 10, GA 15, GD -5, points 6.

SE after 9 games.
won 2, drawn 4, lost 3, GF 14, GA 10, GD +4, points 10.

The teams we have already faced this season.
Bristol Rovers, Doncaster, Blackpool, Wycombe, Coventry, Ipswich,
6 of our 9 games against teams who are in the top 8.

I still firmly believe that we have a young team that can only get better, Ipswich were better at the professional side of the game, when to commit the foul,
when to lay down and play dead, when and how to waste time and frustrate, these are things our players will learn.
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Playing devils advocate only;

Maddog did not have 14 months to build a team. He built a team to get us out of and win League Two. We all knew that team would not be good enough for a different style of game in League One. Martin Allen also never had the fortunes of a depleted Bolton Wanderers team whom we gained a win against and virtually until now were smashed out of sight by every team. Also another false dawn is the likes of Bristol Rovers and Wycombe being classed as top eight teams, playing devils advocate again and as you would say, that was 'only after' eight games. We got results against those two teams because once reality kicks in they will be down here with us. Also Evans has the saving grace of a league that this season only contains 23 teams, through the loss of Bury.

We have a young side, yes, that is promising, our movement on the ball can be good when we get it together, but as always there are dead weights that need to be shipped out, like yesterday. But other than that, as you were grumpygit my friend <whistle> ;)
 
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Our first 9 games in the 2013/14 season and the teams position at that time.
teams in the top 8, Wolves 3rd, Bradford 5th, Crawley 8th.

teams in midtable, Brentford 11th, Swindon 12th, Colchester 13th.

teams at the bottom, Crewe 18th, Bristol City 19th, Coventry 22nd.

It's all about form at the time you play any team, we have played more inform teams this year than in 2013.
 
grumpygit said:
Our first 9 games in the 2013/14 season and the teams position at that time.
teams in the top 8, Wolves 3rd, Bradford 5th, Crawley 8th.

teams in midtable, Brentford 11th, Swindon 12th, Colchester 13th.

teams at the bottom, Crewe 18th, Bristol City 19th, Coventry 22nd.

It's all about form at the time you play any team, we have played more inform teams this year than in 2013.
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I don't think any team down here has compared with Wolves for a fair few years - The defeat there was certainly no fault of MA's even though we were hammered 4-0 at their place. Wolves were an elite well above with finances to match, you only have to look at their league status last season to have seen that.

Brentford also, finished 2nd. There was at least two clubs in that league that our now Premiership sides and several Championship sides. Martin Allen had a far harder league than Evans is facing, I believe this is one of the weakest league one for a number of years, and that really does not flatter the Gills or Evans.

League One 2013/14 scares the crap out of me looking at it now, whereas the league this season is a mere kindergarden in comparison <whistle> ;)
 
The Gills PegLeg said:
Don't worry @brb they will soon see sense once he's sacked after the weekend <laugh>
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I doubt even under jest from me that Evans will walk after the Oxford game, if we fail again. However, and more seriously make a note of this date in your diary...

Tuesday 22nd October.

If we continue as we presently are, then deja vu will finally come home to roost, and truly follow in the footsteps, like for like of Martin Allen <ok>
 
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brb said:
I doubt even under jest from me that Evans will walk after the Oxford game, if we fail again. However, and more seriously make a note of this date in your diary...

Tuesday 22nd October.

If we continue as we presently are, then deja vu will finally come home to roost, and truly follow in the footsteps, like for like of Martin Allen <ok>
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Evans getting sacked....... in October ??

Unfortunately I cannot go to Shrewsbury -- I have a 'medical' procedure on that day ( no, I shan't be singing soprano afterwards ) -- I will have to see the game on ifollow.
I am sure you remember our day at Shrewsbury - we lost 2-0 ( better than the 0-7 I've seen there ) -- Getting into the 'Home' bar was probably the highlight of the day.

You may hint at 'jest' - but if things go bad before 22nd October, I would expect Mr.Scally to be asking serious questions. We go to Oxford on Saturday - they have just stuffed Lincoln 6-0 and will probably won't need the cheating ref & linesman they had last season when we lost. We need a minimum of a point.
We then entertain Southend ---- it is NOT an option to drop any points against a team struggling nearly as badly as Bury ! After this we have two 'stinkers' -- Portsmouth 'away' -- we'll be lucky to get zero points ! Then Peterborough come to Gillingham. (( at least we'll see some goals !! ))..... another pointless game................... and then our trip to Shropshire.

So - just how many more points do we think we'll have before 22nd October ?? probably 4 if we're very lucky.... it might only be 2 ( or worse ). If we do only get 2 points, we will have 12 points on 22nd October. We actually played at Shrewsbury on 12 October 2013, and had 9 points from 11 games. We currently have 10 points from 9 games......... This suggests a 'better' record this season --- BUT - by the time we play Shrewsbury ( and lose ! ), it might be only 12 points from 14 games --- which is exactly the same as by the time Martin Allen got sacked ( by text ).

A worrying trend, for me, is that Mr.Evans is racking up more excuses for bad results. He is starting to make all sorts of claims of extra points that Gills should have -- and how we should have won X,Y & Z games ( when everyone else could see that we got what we deserved ! )..... Basically blaming everything and everyone ( except himself ), for the results This is exactly what the previous managers did before they got sacked.

You might think that it would only be fair to previous managers if Evans get sacked after the same period of games given to the other managers -- but -- the frequency of all this managerial merry-go-round, is getting boring -- and not actually achieving anything for the long term prospects of our Club........... And I am sure that all of this nonsense has gone a long way to us losing a huge number of fans in the last 2 or 3 years - despite offering season tickets at 'reasonable' prices............. we will need a prolonged period of wins before people will be enticed to return to Priestfield. ( no, I also don't think that's going to happen any time soon ! )
 
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Oxford 4 (( with 6 changes from their team that stuffed Lincoln 6-0 )), West Ham 0.

Oh well, this gives Evans a great excuse on Saturday. If/when we lose, he can say that Oxford had just stuffed Man Utd last weekend - what chance have Gills got ? -- WELL - a whole week's rest compared with Oxford.
 
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grumpygit said:
Our first 9 games in the 2013/14 season and the teams position at that time.
teams in the top 8, Wolves 3rd, Bradford 5th, Crawley 8th.

teams in midtable, Brentford 11th, Swindon 12th, Colchester 13th.

teams at the bottom, Crewe 18th, Bristol City 19th, Coventry 22nd.

It's all about form at the time you play any team, we have played more inform teams this year than in 2013.
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Yes now we got Oxford who thrashed Lincoln and West Ham.
 
The Gills PegLeg said:
I mean it's another game we've lost. Now equalled the amount of games and wins Mad Dog had when he got sacked. Mad Dog had the benefit of winning a league with us however lol
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Personally, the prospect of Evans managing our club filled me with dread but like many, I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. That’s now expired. Time to clear his desk.
 
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I agree lads. I went to the open evening, when he was full of positives and appeared to have the backing of the supporters in the hall. I had to give the man a chance despite my better judgement. That time is now up.
 
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Excrement
I've just got back from Oxford --- what a load of shiiiiiiiii !
Before the game, my travelling friend asked me; "Prediction?" I replied " 0-3, and probably before half time." (( I hate being alwaysright ).

The first half was dreadful. We didn't have a clue how to play - or how to stop Oxford from playing. Tom O'Connor had a nightmare of a game. I cannot believe that he deserves another chance -- Garmston CANNOT be any worse at LB.
The only one who tried to play football was Pringle --- but he got subbed - when others, like Byrne was allowed to remain on the pitch.

I have to say that Pringle's extraction is the latest in an increasing list of some tactical moves, from Evans, that have surprised me.

In the 2nd half we weren't actually any better. Oxford seemed to relax -- but still managed to have almost two thirds possession - and - when they ventured forward, they really should have added a couple more to the scoreline (( pegleg's prediction of 0-5 was not far fetched.))

There were chants in support of Steve Lovell, and " Scally Out" -- and nobody rebuked those fans. The only time we had any to cheer was our one [weak] shot on target ..............in the 93rd minute !

There was NOTHING positive to take from this game........................ I've seen dog excrement with more ability than the shiiiii that was on display from the team in blue................... I could elaborate further - but I think that everyone will understand when I use just one word - excrement
 
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We were poor today but most people would have expected that loss after Oxford thrashed Lincoln and West Ham. If we don't beat Southend then yes Evans should go. So got another week
 
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A few years ago now, when Norwich had Nigel Worthington as manager, and then later, Chris Hughton as manager, the football was dire to watch, and I actually found myself wanting us to lose, just so that they might hopefully get the sack.
I felt guilty for wanting my team to lose, but was I right?

I sense some of you may be feeling the same about your boys and Evans.
 
Resurgam said:
A few years ago now, when Norwich had Nigel Worthington as manager, and then later, Chris Hughton as manager, the football was dire to watch, and I actually found myself wanting us to lose, just so that they might hopefully get the sack.
I felt guilty for wanting my team to lose, but was I right?

I sense some of you may be feeling the same about your boys and Evans.
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It very much is a quandary @Resurgam . None of us want the team to lose, of course we don't but it does have to be said that Steve Evans is the most divisive manager we've had since the appointment of Martin Allen in 2012 more for their off the field antics.

Martin Allen before taking the helm at Priestfield had earned a reputation of using the FIFO mantra as manager (fit in or f*** off). To earn our respect he would have to hit the ground running right away, something which he achieved by winning something like 7 of our first 8 games that season. I will personally admit I was not a fan of his appointment at the time, I had wanted a couple of the other names mentioned at the time who appeared incredibly exciting and Allen seemed like the cheap option at the time compared to the other candidates. He won me over fairly quickly with the signings and positive results but he remained to be divisive throughout his tenure. Although he had won the majority of fans over as he earned us our first league title in 49 years. His sticking point was more perhaps his reliance on older and experienced one dimensional players than signing younger players with potential or playing our own youngsters. Mad Dog lost his job 12 games into the following season despite us winning 2 of his last 3 games in charge, something of which I disagreed with and still to this day think it was too early to make that decision, especially so as the football served up by his successor Peter Taylor was some of the worst football I've seen at our place.

From this it very becomes very easy to compare Evans with Allen due to perhaps being larger than life characters (Evans has the waistline to coincide with that). Evans has not had anywhere near as successful start to his tenure and it was tweeted this week he has had the second worst start to a Gillingham Managers role ever. I was against his appointment this summer but agreed to give him some time to see if he could change my opinion. Just like under Allen we saw some exciting signings in the summer, some of which seemed to have real pedigree so the excitement from Gillingham fans grew as if we could be seeing the same again. I was brought back down to earth when I saw us in a preseason game where we scraped a draw with a Conference team. The results have not improved and if you remove our win against the 17 year olds of Bolton (before their takeover might I add) we've won just one game in 11 under Steve Evans and that simply is not good enough.

I could never say I would want my team to lose but this "experiment" with Evans at charge clearly isn't working and I very much hope our chairman makes the right decision sooner than later to make sure we don't get relegated to League Two.
 
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