Swim, sink or float ?

alwaysright

alwaysright

@ Very Angry Camel
Jul 4, 2011
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Domus Clamantium
It's been a while since I have caused any mischief !

So, -- we haven't lost in the league since November (( ridiculous defeat to AFC Wimbledon - who if they had been a horse, would have been shot before half time to put them out of a lot of misery )).

We find ourselves in 14th position - EXACTLY the same place as after the aforementioned game ------ now -- don't get me wrong -- we have played ( mainly), very well against some of the tougher opposition -- BUT -- the fact that we are where we were, only goes to highlight our problem --- winning games, or, more specifically turning draws into wins --- why ?? -- well, we all know why !

I know that Mr. Scally won't need me to state the bleeding obvious - that we need to get somebody ( likes Eaves ), who can be the difference - to possibly extend our season towards the end of May...... I know that strikers don't grow on trees, nor come cheap - but - please - WITHOUT speculating with some of the ( unexpected ) revenue from the cup run, we can only look forward to L1 again next year. I appreciate that won't be a problem for many of you, but I actually believe that Evans AND the current squad's efforts deserve a little bit more from Mr. Scally......... I've spent too many seasons watching us just floating like an unwanted turd in a pool
 
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alwaysright said:
It's been a while since I have caused any mischief !

So, -- we haven't lost in the league since November (( ridiculous defeat to AFC Wimbledon - who if they had been a horse, would have been shot before half time to put them out of a lot of misery )).

We find ourselves in 14th position - EXACTLY the same place as after the aforementioned game ------ now -- don't get me wrong -- we have played ( mainly), very well against some of the tougher opposition -- BUT -- the fact that we are where we were, only goes to highlight our problem --- winning games, or, more specifically turning draws into wins --- why ?? -- well, we all know why !

I know that Mr. Scally won't need me to state the bleeding obvious - that we need to get somebody ( likes Eaves ), who can be the difference - to possibly extend our season towards the end of May...... I know that strikers don't grow on trees, nor come cheap - but - please - WITHOUT speculating with some of the ( unexpected ) revenue from the cup run, we can only look forward to L1 again next year. I appreciate that won't be a problem for many of you, but I actually believe that Evans AND the current squad's efforts deserve a little bit more from Mr. Scally......... I've spent too many seasons watching us just floating like an unwanted turd in a pool
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I will agree on one thing. Scally has brought Evans in for a reason. I believe that reason is because he knows Evans can do the job (promotion) - So....if you want the job done properly you need to give Evans the tools to do it with. Simply put, we need a striker, and we need it now Mr Chairman.
 
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There is always a large price tag attached to proven strikers, even if we had the £500k to £1m we would need to buy one, it would then need that player to want to be here (Eaves was already here but soon jumped ship)
Average gates of less than 5,000 will never pay for recognized talent, we have to hope that young players with potential (Tucker) will just come good.
 
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grumpygit said:
There is always a large price tag attached to proven strikers, even if we had the £500k to £1m we would need to buy one, it would then need that player to want to be here (Eaves was already here but soon jumped ship)
Average gates of less than 5,000 will never pay for recognized talent, we have to hope that young players with potential (Tucker) will just come good.
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So - that's a vote for 'Float'..........and , more seriously ;

I have no real problem with floating (( more agreeable than drowning )) - but - THAT level of ambition, and the low level of quality that is associated, is a major reason why our average attendances are plummeting - more people are not willing to put up with dross - and, whether anyone likes it or not, the TV companies - like SKY &BT, can offer multiple quality products, in the comfort of our homes, at a fraction of the price of 'comparative mediocrity' that is swerved up at Priestfield.

Nearly 11,000 customers turned up a couple of weeks ago -- to watch a premier league club v Gills. Most didn't come to watch Gills. Most of those people ( 3500 -4000 ) probably live in Medway - and definitely won't be coming tomorrow - they 're not interested in 'floating'.

Anyone whoever learned to swim was probably frightened that they would drown. I am happy that Mr. Scally is keeping the Club afloat - but - in terms of the action on the pitch, I can 'float' in a better way in the comfort of my armchair ! I appreciate that spending money on players doesn't guarantee success - but - without some investment, we can virtually guarantee that we won't achieve any success.
......................... I'm just off to put on my mankini
 
I'm not convinced we have any money to spend at all. Whilst Mr Scally has previously publicly stated that they don't account for cup runs in the transfer budget so any money earned is additional income, he has also previously stated that the club expects to make £500,000 a year in transfers to equal out the budget. We've not received anywhere near that type of income in this financial year and the only transfer income in that time frame would be the rumoured £50,000 for Elliott List.

Now simple maths suggests £250,000+ in cup revenue plus £50,000 from Stevenage still leaves us with a deficit of £200,000. We therefore can't afford to splash the cash. Even if the chairman only collected £250k in wages (£50k down on last year) and paid the £90k he owes the club back, we would still be making a loss of £60k.

Our only saving grace in last year's budget was £500k earned income from the GFC School and whilst it is likely that this would have generated more income this year due to higher student numbers, it's also fair expect a higher amount has been spent on the GFC School keeping it up to standards possibly including additional staff. I'm therefore not convinced the footballing side can rely on the school's income to spend on players. We therefore have to lump the fact we can't afford one of these strikers and just deal with the fact we are where we are.
 
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The Gills PegLeg said:
I'm not convinced we have any money to spend at all. Whilst Mr Scally has previously publicly stated that they don't account for cup runs in the transfer budget so any money earned is additional income, he has also previously stated that the club expects to make £500,000 a year in transfers to equal out the budget. We've not received anywhere near that type of income in this financial year and the only transfer income in that time frame would be the rumoured £50,000 for Elliott List.

Now simple maths suggests £250,000+ in cup revenue plus £50,000 from Stevenage still leaves us with a deficit of £200,000. We therefore can't afford to splash the cash. Even if the chairman only collected £250k in wages (£50k down on last year) and paid the £90k he owes the club back, we would still be making a loss of £60k.

Our only saving grace in last year's budget was £500k earned income from the GFC School and whilst it is likely that this would have generated more income this year due to higher student numbers, it's also fair expect a higher amount has been spent on the GFC School keeping it up to standards possibly including additional staff. I'm therefore not convinced the footballing side can rely on the school's income to spend on players. We therefore have to lump the fact we can't afford one of these strikers and just deal with the fact we are where we are.
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Fair points and I certainly understand where you are coming from. I suppose it depends if Mr Scally is a gambling man or not. I don't think it would come as any shock if the Chairman's time at the club could be seen to becoming to an end in the near future, afterall I wouldn't blame him after ill health - I believe Evans probably said as much in differently phrased words when he came in, at the evening meeting we went to.

I still think Evans is here for a reason, despite our obviously lack of budget, and if he gets close enough to the play-offs, and we are only currently five points off them. Hmmm would The Chairman go for the big punt!

We stand to make around £1.2M in two separate payments, IF we were to get promoted (regardless of league position in doing so), that would give you the £200k back, with £1M to spare. Ok that messes up next years budget, but we live for now with an overdraft. Football is a high risk entity, the boss might just want one last bite of the cherry.

In case anyone wonders where I got my daft numbers from, an article from last year; https://www.express.co.uk/sport/foo...winner-charlton-sunderland-win-earnings-money
 
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Thanks Pegleg - I'll take that as a 'sink' ....... perhaps I should have started a poll !

I think I said in a previous thread that next seasons books have been balanced (( by Tucker signing an extension to his contract ))............... so we should be able to float until about 2022 /23................ I don't think Mr. Scally should follow Sheffield Wednesday's example - to offer a 10 year season ticket - I don't think there'd be too many takers.
 
Scally spent about £3m getting us promoted last time round, attendances never went up sufficiently to survive in the championship, I was amazed we lasted as long as we did.
We just can't afford to gamble on promotion and hope money will suddenly come flooding in.
 
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grumpygit said:
Scally spent about £3m getting us promoted last time round, attendances never went up sufficiently to survive in the championship, I was amazed we lasted as long as we did.
We just can't afford to gamble on promotion and hope money will suddenly come flooding in.
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So are you suggesting to do nothing, and not spend money we currently don't have for a new stiker?
 
With Hanlan hitting 15 goals, Mandron 10, Jakubiak 12, Roberts 8, by the end of the season we'll be fine. :1980_boogie_down:
 
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alwaysright said:
And if Hanlan was a better striker, ( one that we should be seeking ), he would have had 15 goals a long time ago --- I am happy with his work ethic, but just how many chances does he waste ?
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I like Hanlan, and you think he would do the job, but as you rightly highlight, he just don't have that finishing instinct, sad really because otherwise would be a great player.
 
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brb said:
I like Hanlan, and you think he would do the job, but as you rightly highlight, he just don't have that finishing instinct, sad really because otherwise would be a great player.
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If Hanlan scores 15 goals he will be off in summer for bigger club
 
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gioblues said:
If Hanlan scores 15 goals he will be off in summer for bigger club
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I dare say. Like I say, probably my fav player. I just don't feel it is enough for any Championship dreams. We need a player like Eaves.... ;)
 
Floating - just like unwanted excrement in a swimming pool - is that a bit harsh on what I saw yesterday ((( ... and the referee's performance was diarrhoea )))
Yesterday's game was typical of my 'point.'. - and no likely change until we get somebody who can score goals. The actual entertainment ( on the pitch ) was virtually non-existent. The weak referee didn't help - but quality was in very short supply -- yet -- you'll tell me that the 2nd half 'effort' was pleasing. It couldn't have got worse than the first half, and if this game had been on the television, everyone would have switched off long before half time ------ and the tv viewer would be the people who some of us hope to come and watch us in the flesh..... No chance !

Yesterday was barely about 'floating'. I applaud the 2nd half effort - but- was the whole experience money well spent ? Those with more sense than me will say; '' No.'' This season, for personal reasons, I have not been able to attend as many away games as in previous seasons -- but -- I am hardly encouraged to do so with the dearth of quality / hoofball / instant loss of possession etc that I will get for getting up at a ridiculous time - and returning some time close to the next day, having spent a small fortune --- when for a fraction of the same money ( and time commitment ) ..............(you know what I mean )
 
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The Liverpool way.............. and they score from corners !
Just finished watching Liverpool v Man Utd .............. I'm not sorry to say that I enjoyed it (( it was entertaining ! ).
Whenever I have watched Liverpool, it is obvious that they use the whole width of the pitch -------- yes, I do know that they have quality players, especially their 'wingbacks.'

At Gillingham, we play a very narrow stretch of the pitch - with acres of grass unoccupied by a Gills player to provide an outlet / switch in play. Whilst our 'wide' players won't be in a EPL winning side any time soon, they do EXIST, and really need to be considered. At the moment, it is too easy for the opposition to know where the ball will be played (( hoofball - to just one side of the pitch. )) - and we lose possession too easily.

Has anyone noticed the number of corners we have 'won' this season -- quite impressive - unlike the quality of delivery therefrom. Against Peterborough it was 12- 1 in our favour - did we score from one ??
I recall a goal from a corner against Sunderland - but - can't recall any other ------- we used to score loads from corners ! Can we not have anyone able to beat the 'first man' - so many corners get cut out by the first defender ---- and where is the back post option -- and where is the Southall option ( ball cut along the ground to the edge of the penalty area - for the incoming strike on goal ) ?.................. what do the players do all week on the training ground ?

........... and whilst I'm at it --- can we please stop with O' Gilvie taking throw-ins from his 'opposite' side. The throw-ins are nothing special -- just looped into the middle of the opposition defence....... I dare to say that they are basically ineffective --- and certainly do not warrant the time wasted in O'Gilvie going to the 'opposite side - we have Fuller who can do an equal job - without wasting so much time - which negates any chance to take a quick throw -- you know - one where the defenders haven't had 60 seconds to get into place................... rant over (( for now ))
 
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