Well the inevitable had happened. Good away games to Cheltenham, York, Oxford etc. But no Torquay! What needs happening for next season? What players need shipping and bringing in? Which of the contracted players fo we need to say bye bye to?
We are very grateful we do not have to play Torquay because we so rarely beat them. As for today's game at least we came out fighting in the first few minutes with Taylor and Woods showing decent effort. The Posh are a classy unit and put us under tremendous pressure for the next half hour and could well have had six by half-time. Bradshaw's lovely finish meant we were not dead and buried at half time and Grandison gave it a real go by running directly at their defence. Bradshaw has scored two goals in the last few games by getting in a good position in the box and I was therefore stunned to see him banished wide with Eaves coming into the middle (not that Eaves stayed in the middle for long as he wandered all over the front line and again displayed the ball holding skills of a rampaging rhino when he could be bothered to break out of a trot), We did deserve to score in this period but were always liable with the floundering Winfield at the back to concede on the break which we duly did. It seems to me that we have had four cup finals in the last four matches and have lost them all conceding an average of three and a half goals per game. Jackson took over the side with us having a decent chance of staying up and we will now probably finish bottom. Even given the fact he was dealt a poor hand he has not shown any signs that he can turn things around. Our normal Salopian politeness and sense of fairness leads some people to think he should be given a chance next season. If we do start next season with him in charge we are likely to do a Wycombe and end up struggling to keep out of the Conference. We need to regroup quickly under a new manager. As for the players I would keep Grandison, Woods, Wildig, Summerfield, Taylor, Bradshaw, Goldson, Hall, Wildig and Macalister. I would not want any of the loanees we have had this season back with the exceptions of Mcalinden and Storey if they become available. I would try to cut our losses and get rid of liabilities such as Makawindare and Winfield. But most of all we need a manager who knows what he is doing - there are plenty out there who could do a decent job for us.
Strangely there are some within the club who are really impressed by Jackson and if he left us he would walk into a Championship club (presumably coaching) but I am still not convinced
Are the wide and central midfield good enough? I stick my neck out with this but do we need to improve across the line in this area? Also thinking about penalties - when Grolt was here we had big debates about goals scored and penalties. He did seem to score a lot of penalties which means he was in the box an awful lot. We dont seem to have gad a player like that for a long long time.
KDS, It is interesting that there is that urge within many clubs to promote from inside the club while most organisations have a rule saying the job must be made open to external applicants. Advertise the job and let Jackson apply and I suspect then his rather underwhelming credentials will be shown up for what they are - the real suspicion is that the Board would not want to hire a manager who has the cojones to point out the many deficiencies in the way the club is run.
what a pity ian sharps has just signed a new contract with burton, as he would be my number 1 signing, followed by matty harrold up front or similar and at least 1 experienced m/fielder. age need not weary them as they could lear coaching with town., and free transfers should be welcome. our "new" squad and selection of manager will be the first test of root and branch re organisation. expect Jacko to be appointed as manager soon after gills game. not my opyion as he has been responsible for most of the season with training of the squad. my choice if i had one would be paul tisdale at exeter who has done all he can at exeter without funding. The chairman's main job should be making it possible for whoever manager we have to attract new players and retain who we need on a stable 2 year contract. be are an unattractive club in the back of beyond, we need the potential to put us back on the map, so that our future cup runs may get us noticed again. finally a big thank you to bbc for featuring our game yesterday on final score. after 2 pints and a good lunch, i was awakened at 6 minutes past 3 by a commontator at the meddah about shrewsbury town surprising posh. i suspect we would have featured many times if it was not for weale. now can we keep him Roland!
Any of you coming over to Gills Saturday? I came over to your place earlier in the season, although I've never understood why the home bar is at the away end, with the opposition team/supporter coaches parked right outside! Then they had the front to refuse us entry to the place, but where there is a will there is a way.
There are numerous mistakes with the layout of our ground. All of the expensive seats sit in full sunshine so they all have to shade their eyes. The bar you refer to is the powerleague bar and is madly sited by the away end. They fenced off the area between away fans and the west stand fans so its a long walk around. They put a gate out to the west side onto a really narrow unlit footpath and we await the panicked crush that might happen one day. Oh and the ground is miles from a decent pub! I don't think many will travel down, if we still had a chance to stay up it might've been a big crowd. We took 300 up to Preston so guess it'll be less than that.
Agreed about the illogical siting of the bar. But he who is not without sin should not cast stones. Gillingham has the worst away end in League One. At other grounds they do usually offer some form of undercover areas as an alternative.
As mentioned a few months back, I will at least have a local away game if York stay down along with Exeter.
Sorry to see you go this weekend - hope you bounce back straight away I really enjoyed my visit to Shrewsbury this year, and I'll be looking out for your results next season. At least you have a couple of easy games against the Gas!
Cheers for that, we'll look forward to watching Town play in the vegetable isle in Sainsbury's Memorial supermarket
I'm not really sure on the logic used that decides if away fans can sit under cover. Off the top of my head, I can only think of about two occasions this season where that was applied. One time was in the FA Cup when we played Brackley. I think it depends on numbers and i would also assume risk. Because it means the away supporters sharing the Gorden Road Stand (GRS) - where there is no segregation from home supporters, other than stewards and seating. Although that particular section of the GRS is to the far corner adjoining the normal allocated away stand (BMS) or known by locals as the Town End, the complete opposite end and furthest distance from the more vocal Gills supporters in the Rainham End. I accept as do most Gills supporters the away section is an embarrassment but due to the cost involved and the Chairman having seeked land for a new ground, it is a never ending story and tale of woes for development. Although in contrast to your ground at least pubs are within walking distance, although not one's i use so can't vouch for the quality at that end of Town. In the picture below is the uncovered away end to the right, however, if you look to the far top right hand corner of the stand, seating marked with the 'S' from the wording Gills, that is where you would be allocated IF placed under cover, although unlikely on your visit; please log in to view this image The normally used Away pub in easy walking distance of the ground...http://footballaway.co.uk/uk/away-friendly-pubs/livingstone-arms There is a Brewers Fayre but only if travelling by car, it's quite a walk to the ground otherwise...http://www.brewersfayre.co.uk/brewersfayre/our-pubs/kent/honourable-pilot/menus.html You will not be allowed in the Cricketers (Sturdee Avenue), strictly home fans only. If any one is going and needs advice, just say on here.
I agree there are lots of criticisms of our ground but Gillingham remains the only League One ground that does not offer undercover accomodation as a matter of course for away support----no ifs and buts. The last time we played you I stayed at the Premier Inn next to the Brewers Fayre and took a taxi to the ground (bit too far to walk for my aged legs). It was a very pleasant few days away encompassing cricket at Canterbury and a visit to the Naval Dockyard at Chatham---highly recommended.
It was not really criticism of your ground. More that after a long journey the visitors fancy a beer, and location as with a lot of new grounds these days don't cater for the traditional expectations. As I said where there is a will there is a way, just hide your club colours. Yes, I forgot about the Premier Inn right next door. To be honest if I was an way supporter it's probably where I would choose to stay, especially being located next to the Brewers Fayre. A taxi is the sensible option for the trek down to the ground. It is walkable but rough guess would take you at least 30+ minutes.
We're (or i'm) hoping that when the new housing estate and shops are built next to our ground that they will stick a pub into the estate that does some tasty real ale
