Having not been to any pre-season games myself this year, I just wondered on everyones thoughts regarding Simon King. He is obviously loved by many a Gills fan and the majority appreciate how much of a good player he is. Basically my question is, how close is he to being in the starting XI come August 6th? Obviously we have brought in Andy Frampton, and with Matt Lawrence being one of the stand out players last year, is King's form of 2 seasons ago going to earn him a place? These 2 seem to be among the first names on the team sheet, but could King join them with Frampton slotting in at left back? As I said, I haven't seen anyone play this pre season, but with King featuring in many games, is he well and truely on the road back?
Don't think he will be starting in the first league game. There has certainly been some improvement since last season but still quite a way to go yet. He still seems a little slower to me but I might be wrong.
Two years is just too long to be out of the game and as Gills79 rightly points out, the issue at the end of last season was loss of pace more than physical fitness. It is only because he had a long term contract that he is still around so in all liklihood he may only be a bit player from now on but there must be a small chance of something better, it is just unrealistic to expect it.
I said a couple of months ago,and I still stand by it: Simon should now go out on loan to somewhere like Ebbsfleet to prove his fitness and to prove he's over his injury.
vinney i just think it's not a risk hess will take with king, sending him on loan to me is a no go! he needs to be handled with care and ease. it's a shame but as bristol407 has said, he's been out of the game far to long...the days of seeing simon king at his best are long gone, would love to be proved wrong but we will never see that same player now!!! back up player at best i would think? good luck for the season kingy!
The thing is, though,we haven't got a reserve side this season,so unless he goes out on loan,there is nowhere for him to prove himself. It's no use him playing with the youth team,and it would be very unfair to even bring him on as sub,with no match practise. Sooner or later ,he's got to play competitive football, as I'm sure he will want to, to see if he's still up to it, and it seems to me he's only going to get that going out on loan.
think i would of prefered us to still be playing in a reserve league this season, as you say match fitness for players, plus able to look at other teams players. only thing was games were being called off due to the weather and change of games dates etc...hence no games for some players when they were needed! if i remember rightly...hess said he would arrange friendly matches against local sides when he felt the need to play a game this season and we have the kent senior cup & paints trophy for these players which would help matters!
i dont think king will be starting this season but i would think he could well be first choice and lets be honest if he can get back to 70% of the player he was then he'd be more than capable as cover or even pushing for a starting place. i have to admit when i heard that we werent playing in the reserves league i was a bit worried as it a good chance for player to stay fit and get into some form. plus it helps if players start playing well to push the starters to keep their game up
with hess liking his full backs to get forward as much as possible...do you really see king playing left back??...NO! no way with that ankle as it is will hess have king up and down that left hand side, that position will be martin or jackman...frampton or lee if needed!
First few months of this season will be very important for Kingy. If he can make a good start and get some games under his belt, then who knows. But if he doesn't play, then could see him being released and dropping down to the Conference.
Simon King played really well last night against Orient. Looked strong, won plenty of headers and a couple of excellent tackles.
was just about to post exactly the same, he looked solid and untrouble cleaned up after a few minor hiccups by martin and won all his headers and nearly scored at the other end. if he stays fit we've got one heck of a set of players for cb and that doesnt include the youngsters who by all accounts have been promising this preseason
feeling a bit gutted for young conor essam and callum davies, with king, lawrence, frampton and richards all to fight for places
its good for them as they can learn from 4 good defenders and it means they have a chance to go out on loan and learn their trade ready for a season or 2 times when they'll be pushing for first team spots
I don't think you can put Richards in the same category as Frampton, Lawrence and a back-on-form King!
Firstly, Richards did well last night and didn't play any hoofball, secondly, Hess has given Frampton the armband and hinted at him playing alongside Lawrence. Where that leaves King I'm not sure.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/9549630.stm Just found this article on BBC Football. Good to read he is ready to fight for his spot.
