If Gills get promoted this season, they will come straight down if we 'perform' as we did at home last night. For far too long the home performances have been poor. ( relegation form over the last 8 or 9 games ) You will know that I have been 'priviliged' to have seen all the away victories - but - although we have performed much better away from Priestfield, recently we have ridden our luck a little. We have placed more emphasis on defence - which I will admit has looked more solid than at home. We have created fewer chances than earlier in the season, and when we have taken the lead we have 'parked the bus'. So, although the away form is to be commended, there have been times when we could have lost games that we have won. I'm not so sure that I could say the opposite about the 6 home defeats ! Gills could easily have many fewer points than 65. Some of you will say that other L2 teams at the top have a similar home record. You will remind me that, despite the results, we are top with only 12 games to go - so therefore the rest of the teams in L2 are worse overall. But although I would agree, I would then say, that only goes to prove how BAD the standard is in L2. We would need considerable changes and additions to the team to survive in a higher league, otherwise we will be relegated by Easter.
The fact we have been top for most of the season and stayed there is as much of a surprise for some of our fans as other teams fans and we could now well of used up our luck regards that score. teams are beginning to close fast with reliable runs and the main fact of scoring goals on a consistent basis...where as we now don't really look like scoring from any part of the field and that is due to teams sitting back and hitting us on the counter when possible, which MA has now decided to apply to most matches also...and that's the policy for a team top of the league...really ! when we played oxford at there place earlier in the season we looked impressive all over the park...yes mainly due to the fact we had wright and payne in that team, yet last night was very poor from us...where has it gone wrong ??? i seem to remember MA saying this team would improve as the season went on and get better...sorry but i don't see any improvement other than a consistent backline and are all these loan players the answer, especially when they don't even get a game ?, plus MA said loans are not his way forward because they are not committed to the cause..yet here we are !. we should of used that January window wisely, because it's there for all to see ! i did say we would struggle against oxford and i'm sorry to say i was proved right. the fact we score a goal when possible and then sit back for the rest of the match in most games and use that same policy time and time again has used it's sell by date. sort it out MA !!!
Last night was no surprise. It was exactly the same as the 10 previous home games of which we have won 2. (Morecambe which was complete robbery with Burton coming off the bench and nicking a last minute goal to win undeservedly, and Northampton when we won with two truly bizarre goals which are unlikely to ever occur again). In those last 11 games at home there has never been any sustained Gills pressure on the opposition goal, the opposing goalies have hardly had a save to make and, with the sole exception of some excitement against Exeter, entertainment levels have been dire. Contrast this with the away form which has been sublime and for which MA deserves full credit. The problem is that he is obsessed with defence. He has a magnificent back 4, a workmanlike midfield but with no guile and a complete inability to surprise the opposition. It is hard to criticise the forwards when they have such limited support. Last night called out for a Jackman defence splitting pass but alas his body mass index was too high to allow him the opportunity to win games for us. So, where do we go from here? Promotion is assured. Experimentation has to be encouraged because we know away points are not going to be so easy next season and home games are going to have to be won. Dack provided what very limited attacking threat existed last night he must stay in the team. Perhaps with MA's enthusiasm for rotation, he should ask Hessy to run the next three home games. Better to lose 4-3 a few times than watch the sterile stuff of the last four months at Priestfield and at least there would be the prospect of selling some season tickets. Scally has had to discount ticket prices mercilessly in recent months to get anyone to watch, it will be interesting to see haw he will be able to drum up any interest from now on.
Bristol what are you on about saying "promotion is assured"?? We have twelve games to go and 7 points clear is not a lot when you have home form like ours! My opinions about the situation: - Our midfield is terrible, and unable to take any kind of control at home, when the onus is on us to attack. Any chance of recalling Payne from his loan? - However, we are very good as a counter-attacking side, and that why we're so good away from home. Great defence. - I'm very worried about Burton's form, I think they could win the league - Promotion is certainly not assured, especially now we've lost Cody. If we don't go up, then letting Payne and Jackman go has to go down as one of the worst blunders of GFC management.
Two home wins two away wins and a couple of draws will drag us over the promotion line (and Gills will do better than that, even with last night's form). Promotion has been beckoning since July. The challenge now is to be ready for League 1, which we are not.
