The Medway stand is near packed from what I see. 5-1 now all the others on they get a corner and score.
i'm expecting a good write up from hoadie & throwoff i see ryan gilligan played, but did dean morgan or ben may or any other trialist play ??? who's this ben carter or is it meant to be joe carter ?
I think it is meant to be Joe Carter. In reply to your question on did Ben May or Dean Morgan feature that is a no, they were not included, it may be that they have been told to go or they are featuring in another game. Maybe all this with Lee Hughes is the reason why.
Right I will start with a summary of the game then I will give each player and rating and a comment for each of them, some of them may be short but others I may have more to say about them if they stood out. The team which started the game was as followed, Forecast, Evans, Carter, Payne, Hare, Davies, Allen, Gilligan, Strevens, Dack, Birchall. I was quite happy with their performance as a team the players which stood out were Evans, Dack and Birchall, also I think Allen and Payne were good. Birchall seemed to have a good amount of pace and worked very hard, he has surprised me as I thought he would be lacking pace due to the amount of time he has been out of action. I think Dack deserves a special mention, he was top class, yeah some of the goals were tap ins but he worked hard and got into good positions, he is defiantly one for the future. After the 60 minute point when we made 11 changes the players which stood out were Lee, Jackman and Kedwell. Also I would like to mention Frampton who surprised me, is it just me that thought this or has he got faster, if I remember right he run the ball through the middle and no one got into him which surprised me as he is normally slow, good news if he has gained pace though. Overall a great game and worth the money, really nice to see the young players play and see us play the ball on the ground more, the 2 touch pass system is much better. Right now the ratings for the players. Forecast 6/7- Did not have much to do so can't rate high, first touch and he put it into the Medway stand, not sure on him yet. Evans 8- Running was great, he got forward a lot, he was more like a right winger, kept on getting caught offside though but he is a good player and he showed it. Carter 7- Looks like a good player, worked well and passed well should keep Martin working hard to keep his place. Payne 7- Passing was top quality, did not lay a pass wrong. Hare 7- Looks like he will be a good player, good to see him do well, bet his Dad is proud. He looks nice and strong at the back. Davies 7- Good work rate, good passing and seems to be good with his head when needed. Allen 8- Works really hard and gets stuck in, the sort of player we want, I think he looks decent and may do well this season. Gilligan 6- Did not do too much, did not really see enough of him as he was more central than I thought he would be. Strevens 6- Decent player, work rate is good but could not say much more than that. Dack 9- Top player and will be a Premiership player in the future, once he found the back of the net he could not help himself putting the ball there again and again. He gets himself into great positions and seems to know what he is doing, you would not look at him and think he has never played a professional game for us. Birchall 9- Work rate was brilliant and so deserved his goal, his pace is really good and I am amazed that he has come back so strong. He is showing what we missed of him last season as his pace is what we needed. Now I will give a report on the players who come on after 60 minutes, there is not much to say about them and you may not agree with what I have got to say but it is a honest opinion. Here is the team which player after 60 minutes; Nelson 6- Did not have much to do like Forecast and the goal he conceded was not his fault really as it was a good goal. Fuller 7- Seemed to look very strong and got stuck in, nearly scored aswell which is not something he does either as he has never scored a league goal for us. Essam 6- Did not have much to do, passing was good. Frampton 7- I was pleased with what he done, he seemed to have a lot more pace and looks a totally different person, if he has gained pace and works a bit harder I will start to change my opinion on him. Like to see him running with the ball. Martin 6- Did not do too much but was OK. Brunt 6- Looks a good player, good passing but not much more to say. Montrose 7- Looks like he is playing a more attacking role than last season, I like the way that MA has organised the midfield as it has benefited Montrose, his passing is better and he looks better on the ball. Lee 8- He was great when he come on and the goal was top class, yeah it was the keeper fault but there is many of times that a player has connected from that range and put it wide, he was getting forward well and like normal he was getting stuck in. Also have to note he was playing in a more attacking role. Kedwell 7/8- Worked well in his time on the pitch and scored a good goal. Whelpdale 7- Decent job in his time on the pitch and passed well. Jackman 7- Decent running and well worked passes, proper team player. Finally I would like to say I like the new that we play, the two touch pass system is much better, it has benefited the players in midfield as they seem more tactically aware, Martin Allen has shown how tactics can make a team play well. The players that stood out better so far are Montrose and Frampton, they seem to work better under Martin Allen than they did under Hessenthaler.
cheers hoadie just a couple of things.....i take it ashley miller is not involved with the first team ? and as for frampton i guess he looked better with pace due to only playing the royal engineers rather than pace of a pro team. so ryan gilligan sounds like he is not worth taking on from the two games he's taken part in for us ? not at all worried if morgan doesn't sign.
No I think Frampton just looks leaner and no Miller was not involved sadly. Gilligan does not look anything special as Dack and Allen looked better than him.
Thanks for the write up Hoadie, if anyone else has got a write up on the game that would also be appreciated to get different or maybe same views. So some questions... Jack Evans - a player that intrigues me. What you said about him Hoadie, just about sums up how I would describe him as a player and I have not even seen any pre season friendlies... quote: Evans 8- Running was great, he got forward a lot, he was more like a right winger, kept on getting caught offside though but he is a good player and he showed it. unquote. So the question (for anyone) Now Fuller looks to be on his way back, would Evans role not be better suited on the right wing? I just think his pace would kill opposition teams, whereas also he knows what is required in a defensive role, so would be ideal for getting back and supporting the back four, without the liability that some fans seem to aim at him. So now to Montrose and Frampton. It is not surprising me that these two seem to be get some applause. Although I would not read to much into running through the middle of the field (if I am understanding it correct). It may well show a weakness in the opposition and also if Framps is doing that, does it not also indicate a weakness in discipline to the role tactically being played? (I hope that makes sense) Martin - now here was me waiting for something positive and I read... qoute: Martin 6- Did not do too much but was OK. unquote OK is not good enough, stick him on the bench and give Carter his chance or maybe look at getting another left back in.
Good result against a weak team. A statement of intent in my eyes of how we should be destroying poor opposition at home. Perhaps it is Allens way, perhaps it is a hunger in the youth but when it went to 4 nil I think some sides would of shut down and let it be, you don't want to embarass a team too much in a friendly especially one for charity. We just kept going, wanting to add more and more goals. Royal Engineers outstanding quality was their VERY hard tackling, which was also not all that accurate, seeing players like Fuller and Birchall who have had these bad injuries keeping going at them after a few hard hits was encouraging. Dack was stand out, a better mans Luke Rooney, has the skill, speed and ability Luke did (probably more in fact) but has the team spirit and work ethic that Rooney never showed for us. Medways stand was probably 70% full, towards Rainham end it was nigh on full but over the other side where I went there was hardly anyone in block A or B (I think because they only opened the turn styles towards RE. Madometer - 6. He was wearing flip flops, fairly short shorts and a white polo shirt. Looked more like a lifeguard than a football manager! But no dog, falling over or serious madness. Player reviews _ Forecast - Looks like a goalkeeper with hardly any confidence. Which is hardly suprising, when he did take a bit of time to handle the ball or take a kick it was of decent quality, when he paniced and ran out he often hit it high into the air or into the stands. I think he will be our second choice behind Nelson but he can do a job if needs must and in no way looked as bad as some said he would be. I think he needs to play, needs to hear supporters getting behind him and so on. Maybe start him in the JPT. Evans, - Played on right this time, I had been told by some people who watch the youth a lot last season he could play left or right and if anything he looked better on the left than he did on the right against Dartford. If it is Martin or Evans, Evans should play everytime. Fast and agile, tracks back quickly and calmly with no silly challenges after an attack. he set up at least 3 of the goals and was unstoppable by there left back (and their sub left back they brought on to stop him!) Carter - Had next to buggar all to do for 60 minutes, they hardly attacked, our defensive line was almost on the half way line for most of the time he was on. When he did come into action his tackleing was good but he did that 'youth' thing of immediately looking for Payne or one of the older heads and getting the ball to them. Has ability that is clear and will come along this year if given the chance. Even putting him on the bench would build confidence I think. Payne - Same as Dartford, if this is the want away man then he has a funny way of showing it, putting in a full shift, going hard into tackles and talking to the supporters after he came off, seemed very comfortable and happy in a Gills shirt. Have a feeling he might still be ours for another year! His distribution was what we expect from Jack, not just tapping the first/easiest pass. He sent the ball to Evans for 2 of the 3 goals he set up and seemed to be our only midfielder who saw the weakness on their left hand side. His vision is obvious to see when he moves the ball like that despite their being easier passes around. Hare - Exactly the same as Carter! Nothing bad in him, but no chance to show what he could do. Davies - Again same as with Carter. I like the man a lot, in fact in 2 years I could see him and Essam forming the heart of our backline (premiership teams on the poach not withstanding!) He is strong and loud, has no problem shouting down players older than him and making sure they get into a better position, as much as he didn't do much he honestly strikes me as possible captain material. Allen - Didn't seem to do much but again we heave heard he is here as a squad man, nothing wrong with him, no silly mistakes, his passing was generally accurate. Long kicking (which I think he only tried twice) was poor, needs to work on that. Gilligan - Didn't see him do much except run a lot! Puts a shift in no doubt but I cannot see what he adds to the team. His passing is average, speed is average, everything is average! However as a squad player might do well. Be nice to have someone who we know will do a fair job when needed. Strevens - Thought he looked better than at Dartford, kept moving the ball to Birch and Dack, seems to have the maturity and experience to know he is not the fast man on the pitch now he is older and is happy to play the supporting role. Directed the younger players at the front well and passed the ball nicely. Kept it on the ground again, and that we all like! Dack - MOM performer! Although I am not sure he is old enough for the Champagne! Needs to be blooded this season properly, we have a real talent here. Makes the occasional mistake as people his age do, sometimes tries to do too much but has the skill and ability to do very clever things, his turn round their centre back which led to his first shot was something you don't see at our level that often, with some mature heads round him and playing in the league I think he will learn quickly. Birchall - GOAL! Lovely strike as well, could of had more I am sure but again played the pass instead of the difficult shot a couple of times (once leading to Dacks goal), he seems to be a real team player as opposed to a greedy striker, and I like that. his speed is good, he seemed much braver than at Dartford, pushing forward even after heavy tackles, seems to be remembering his is not made of glass and can be hit hard and keep going. From 60th min onwards - Nelson - Number one! Silly goal conceded but it was one of those goals that would of gone in regardless of who was between the posts. Kicking was great, control of the area the same, had very little to do really but I noticed when we were having set pieces etc he was moving up to the half way line and barking commands at his back 4 even then, telling them which one should hold back (Fuller generally) and where to move in the box. I like captain goalkeepers and he has an authority to him. Fuller - I think the right back position is his, needs a bit more work but is looking like the old Barry again, willing to attack and move forwards but always tracking back when needs be, standing at the last man back for corners and provided a good few crosses (although all a little long!) Just needs more practice matches and time in training to get back to 100% Martin - Don't like him, never have, when we have Evans in the team he does not deserve to start, he made it look a struggle to get back in line with their incredibly overweight a slow midfielder and get the tackle in, he did not make as many crosses, passes or runs as Evans. Hate to say it but seems lazy. Frampton - Little to do, messed up the corner which resulted in the goal but he had only just come on, seemed as quick as at Darts (which is twice as a quick as last year) went on a few little runs forward but made sure to track back time and time again. I have a feeling this is his last full season, if he performs like he has in the first 2 friendlies it will be a high to go out on. Seems to have a good relationship with Essam both talking and covering each other when one moves up the pitch Essam - Seem Frampton and swap the names! Except I would hope this is not his last season! Lee - What a goal, had it been in the season would be GOTY contender! Ok it was an open goal, but from distance and he curled it over a defender to land it in the net, his positioning is just so good, so many times a blue shirt is tackled or blocked only for the ball to fall to Lee and him continue the attack. He seems to know where to be around the player in possesion Whelpdale - Not much from him compared to the usual Whelpdale performance, maybe still carrying a bit of the knock from Dartford, went on some of his usual runs at goal from midfield and took a couple of shots but his targeting was off, we all know what the man is capable of though, just had a bit of an off night for me. I would of expected goals against such weak opposition. Montrose - Maybe he heard us talking about him and it went to his head, kept attacking like at Dartford but seemed lacking in skill! one good run he made through the middle was ended by a simple tackle after he had already gone past harder challenges! I still think his is a confidence issue though and when he stuck to a holding midfield role (letting Whelps and Lee move) he looked good. Brunt - I have to say somewhat red faced I did not even notice him!, perhaps because I was looking at the older faces on the pitch with this review in mind! Jackman - Seemed off, some nice moving with the ball and passes but his corners and long balls were pretty poor in general, same as Whelpdale though, we know what he can do, maybe he has had a knock in training or who knows what. Kedwell - Has definately lost weight, when he came out to warm up everyone around me was saying the same thing, more mobile, and seemingly stronger, stands up after tackles and scored from open play (!) I don't know what his future holds, I can imagine Allen liking the idea of a big strong target man (especially when used with a smaller more agile striker) but I worry that if he doesn't lose a bit more weight and keep it off Allens fitness fantatic side will not like it. He made the move that lead to Lee's goal with a fine strike somewhat luckily saved by the keeper.
Oh I'm slightly confused, Hoadie never mentioned that Evans was on the left, assuming left back? Now I'm confused, what position was Carter playing? Although if Evans can play on the left - ideal
BRB - lemme at it. So the question (for anyone) Now Fuller looks to be on his way back, would Evans role not be better suited on the right wing? Allen's agenda was quite clear last night. Payne, Allen & Gilligan to stay central, Dack in the proverbial hole, and Evans and Carter to bomb forward on either flank. Evans was in fact caught offside more than any other player in the first half. The Royal Engineers played an extremely high line which I doubt we would often see in L2, at times there were up to 5 Gills players trying to break the offside trap. Evans was only really successful once or twice. With this in mind, I wouldn't imagine Evans would necessarily suit an out and out right winger position. No quote to really follow here per se, but RE: Frampton and Montrose? I really hope Frampton does kick on this season. For all our sakes. It looks as if he and Essam will be our first choice partnership, any defender MA brings in now will more than likely just provide backup. These means that we need Frampton to lead by example. It's all well and good doing that against the likes of Dartford and other pre-season opposition, but when it came to the crunch last season our defence was overrun far too frequently. Especially away from home. Montrose? Possibly the most frustating player in the squad, now Weston has departed. He's tall, strong and when he gets into his stride he can look up and play a fantastic pass. But he's lazy. We actually discussed this in length last night when MA was barking orders at Lewis and it looked to just pass right through him. If we are to build the midfield around the likes of Montrose then we can't afford to carry him through. He needs to take the game by the balls and start to dictate it. Hopefully he'll be another case of somebody, like Frampton, Kedwell etc. who needs another season to settle themselves in and start making their place in the squad their own. OK is not good enough, stick him on the bench and give Carter his chance or maybe look at getting another left back in. Ah, Joe Martin. The achilles heel. I really want him to succeed, I do. But he doesn't fill me with any confidence whatsoever. Full backs traditionally either repeatedly bomb forward and create, or they are more than adequate defensively. I struggle to place Joe in either category. He doesn't possess the guile, the pace, and his crossing ability on the whole flatters to deceive. Added to this, he picked up 2 or 3 red cards (can't quite remember the exact number) solely by mistiming tackles, being clumsy, not having the pace to track back. I can't help think he might improve his game if he indeed had somebody to challenge him for his pace, but Carter? Certainly not ready yet, but keep him in mind. Youngsters like him only really require one chance to impress. Anybody else BRB, while I'm in the zone? ;-)
martin allen likes attacking wingbacks with plenty of energy getting forward and back again, so expect a different situation this season regards who plays left and right back. don't think martin and fish are up to it and that leaves fuller, evans, carter and parter...so also expect signings in those positions very soon !
Martin and Fish are both under contract so can't forsee any changes there. They'll feature in the squad, I imagine Martin will start as first choice left back - Allen won't spend money bringing in fullbacks while there's still a few at the club.
