I will not reinvent the wheel, the same as I said on other social media... I've got a lot of time and support for Neil Harris, it's all too easy to say sack the manager, if he says he needs help, find out what help he needs and give him it, if we can't give him what he needs, what are we going to give the guy that replaces him, nothing? Feel free to differ with my opinion or support it (of course).
It's interesting, I was watching the Cup replay Wednesday night on ITV4, between Salford v Posh, and it was interesting during the game, the cameras didn't pan to the manager or even their Chairman, this the same club that had players such as Ivan Toney. So I asked myself what's the trick, then the cameras gave me the answer when they suddenly focused in on Barry Fry. We appear to have no structure at our club, something that Neil Harris spoke of when he first took the job and when you have no structure in todays game, you have no young talented players that the bigger clubs coming chasing after, now our bread and butter of survival. Afterall when was our last most sought after player? I can take you back more than ten years ago, where we discussed youth v experience, now it appears we have neither!
Game 18 is an interesting point to take stock as I believe I’m correct in saying that Nil (as he’s now referred to on KoL) Harris was also in the hot seat for 18 league games last season. Those 18 only saw us hit the back of the net 12 times I think, but the meagre goals scored produced 21 points. It’s worth noting also, that 14 of those points came from the first 9 games - evidence that the new manager bounce was short lived. We’re all too painfully familiar with the 6 goals in 18 so far this season and the tragic 13 points gained. So in 36 matches played, Harris has achieved less than 1 point per game on average and his ‘don’t risk losing through trying to win’ tactics have treated us to a goal every other game. He seems to be a lovely fella and I’m sure he’s done the very best he could under incredibly challenging circumstances, but I feel that before it’s too late we need to see if somebody else can get a tune out of this very poor squad. There’s also the question of whether Storey and Harris can be trusted with whatever funds are available in January. Based on what we’ve see, it’s a no from me. Time for change.
Question for you mate, IF and I know that's a very big IF...a new owner came in before the January window, would you consider keeping Neil Harris on, as hopefully new owners would come with a new budget for players?
Really good question brb. All things considered in that potential scenario, I’m sorry to say that I still don’t think Harris is the right man for us.
Problem with leaving it to Harris until then if the current rot continues, we could just be in the same scenario as last season where we left it too late to turn it around. I want Harris to succeed but I'm failing to see where we're going to get any wins from. Newport and our next game against Crawley were the two games we should have a chance in and already proved to be worse than Newport. If we get nothing from Tuesday either then I can't see us getting anything against the likes of Bradford & Salford in the coming weeks. How long can you keep someone on the basis he's getting us a cup run if it means we're fighting to even stay in the football league?
You’re right PegLeg. Had we not won those penalty shootouts, would Harris have been gone already? I think he would. This is worth a watch to give us some hope. Also provides a reminder of what it was like to score more than once every two games.
I see that Harris has claimed that '' It's the same old cr*p.'' - well - we all know what can't be polished !... and I'm not sure that Gills could even score v Qatar. There are so many problems with the Club - starting with, and principally with Mr. Scally - filtering down to a thru-pence ha'penny outfit - with, at times, strange formation and tactics.. For me, the season was defined when we re-signed Ehmer and then a defender that (relegated) Wimbledon rejected.... I hate myself for starting the thread [[ there is worse to come ]] - but- I actually had to stop myself from posting it before the season kicked off. I couldn't be bothered to watch the Newport game ( my son invited me to view on his very large television )...... I have actually given away TWO tickets I paid for the Crawley game .... I have a season ticket for Home games - but - really do NOT want to waste my time to do a 100 mile journey just to watch cr*p ( on 14 more occasions ).............. I'm only going for the free shower at half time (( no update from the Club re my complaint against the Maintenance clown. ))
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway...n-to-be-in-gillingham-boss-struggling-277442/ Always feels like the beginning of the end once a manager is talking to the press like this. I recall Evans doing something similar after we’d been royally spanked by someone back in January. If the dressing room wasn’t already lost I bet it is now. Defeat tomorrow night and it’ll be curtains for Harris I reckon.
He certainly seems lost reading that article - sometimes the easiest answer is right in front of you, what system would the players prefer to play, who do they feel is the strongest elements of the team. Rather than chatting to media sources, would it not be better to have honest open discussions with the players as a group. I would hope he has already done that but reading this don't help 'honestly I don’t really care what other people think' well maybe there is the problem, you are putting yourself in the corner. please log in to view this image
Another match, another game we've failed to score in, another nail in the coffin perhaps. A 0-0 draw at this stage when our next league games before Christmas are Salford City, Bradford City & Stockport County surely means that Harris is already walking the plank just waiting for the heave-ho. 6 league goals in 19 games is simply not good enough.
In Harris we I trust... https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2022/november/gills-sign-callum-harriott/ Neil Harris has made an attacking addition to his Gills squad. Gillingham have completed the signing of former Colchester United and Reading winger, Callum Harriott, on a short-term contract. please log in to view this image
