We've been agreeing a little to often lately Lenny, so maybe time to disagree again. I think that is a little unfair on Hessy. It is undeniable for sure that he has an eye for talent, yes he did appear a little naive to me in the uneducated eye of a football supporter last time around but specialist in failure and too many chances, no, i don;t think so. I cannot think of anyone else at the moment that can step into do the job until season end. We are already staring L2 in the face, so why not give him a chance. Yeah, I know people will say, that's what the chairman has set up, him waiting in the wings. I don't really want to entertain relationships, I'm just more interested in us getting out of this mess. In regards to other comments above and MA, I will speak up in defence of his abrupt departure, however, i would also like to clarify that does not mean i would like to see him back either. Finally PT, I quelled my opposition to him and even wrote a very supportive thread of him many weeks back to balance opinion. It's what i do. But anyone that has seen the games, will know this is not about losing, this is not even about being in the bottom four, this is to me about the dire football on display. People will say we need to give him time, yes, that may be right, yes, one good result he may turn this around. But seriously try watching this for 90 minutes and tell me you didn't fall a sleep! And that last part of the sentence would be concerning to any chairman trying to bring finances through the turnstiles.
'What if' scenarios are of little consequence. Decisions were made for whatever reasons and we are where we are - deep in it. Blame who you like for making those decisions, or causing those decisions to be made, but it won't change anything. Something needs to change. We can discuss whether that's the manager or the style of play or the players, but at the moment we are only going one way.
brb- we need a manager with new ideas. We all know Hessys management style and lack of tactical awareness. We don't need him back for a 3rd or 4th tenure. Need a fresh start surely.
I can't help but think this is a case of the grass being greener. Admittedly, the matches this season have left me angrier than they have in seasons gone by particularly due to Taylor's repeated post match view of "I cannot complain if the players gave it their all". I am just sick to the stomach of this two season cycle of hire and fire, we have had so many apparent changes of ethos over the past fifteen years it makes my head spin. One thing people seem to agree on is how much we are missing Akinfenwa and Kedwell (of full fitness at least), our attacking play looked better earlier in the season whilst having Kedwell as some form of a make shift target man and I wonder if this could be fixed with a signing of an experienced physical forward. If not, sack Taylor, pay off the remainder of his contract (and possibly Hess' also) bring in the new guy who wishes to cut the chaff albeit needing two years to do so. Rinse, repeat. As for Taylor's status in the transfer market, I read that Egan was won over by Taylor's history of working with England U21's, if there is ANY positive from this season so far it is the capture of Egan.
I did do some calculations at the time although this was based on all competitions and I didnt do it at the end of the season but this is what I calculated: Martin Allen win percentage 15%. Taylor after 15 games was 33% and after 29 games it was 38%. Points per game for Allen would be nearly 0.7 points pr game. After 15 games Taylor had 1.2 pts per game and after 29 games it was nearer 1.3 points perngame. These were done converting any cup games to league points.
I'm on the opinion of Mad Dog was starting to turn it around. You only have to look at the introduction of Davies at the back and giving Joe Martin the nod to take free kicks just outside the box started to improve results with 2 straight wins. Ok you could argue that those points were what I made in a letter to the man and I could be responsible for those wins . However at that point in time it was wrong to sack him. We had drawn with Brentford and I believe Leyton Orient both games which we nearly won and both teams who ended up either going up, or just missed out. Now we've done naff all this season with Taylor's signings and are probably missing 3 players that left us during the summer. Now these three players may not have fitted the style of play Taylor is after but two of these played their best football under our current number 2 and he knew how to get the best out of them. Ok Charlie Lee would miss 10 games through suspension but let's face it, us Gills fans would rather see a tough tackling midfielder who would give his all until the dying minute than see some players flounce about and back out of challenge and then give up if we concede. The other player in question is another player we've cried out for in having a partner for Cody. Yes Keds is back and is a warhorse, but his connection with our main marksman isn't that of what Bayo had with Cody. You only have to look at how well he is doing at Wimbledon to see how much of a danger he is to opposition defences. Taylor had the opportunity to keep Bayo, Lee and Whelpdale. None of those he tried hard enough to keep and as a result, we're struggling with a squad with too little experience and lack of understanding of how to battle in these situations. I'm sorry Taylor but the damage was done in the summer. Go now so you can give someone else the fighting chance to keep us up, rather than let us sink back to the depths of the football league.
You want a fresh start but all you talk about is ex Gills staff back again? There was a reason Mad Dog left and same with ex players we need to move on and look to the future and not moaning about old players you want to return because again there was a reason that they left
out of interest what is your opinion on the reason Mad Dog left? because i was there that day away at Shrewsbury when the Chairman turned up and even i never suspected what was to happen hours later on the back of a couple of good results.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29768802 From my 'vantage' point in the Gordon Road Stand I look almost directly across to Peter Taylor - and never see him showing the passion and rectal rocketing that is illustrated by Allen. Can anyone near to PT tell me otherwise ? https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&r...DHaxSK-dy16fJbLxMZ9oYK5Q&ust=1415092985351546 the picture's title could be ; 'See no evil, Hear no evil and Speak no evil'
Martin Allen was rightly sacked, he's by far the best manager we've had since I've been a fan but if the players didn't get on with him then it shouldn't just be ignored as they're the ones who go out there and have to perform. However Peter Taylor should never have been appointed, his record since promotion in the 2005/2006 season with Hull has been rubbish, he's been sacked at Stevenage, Wycombe and Bradford and failed to get England under 20s out of the world cup group stages. He is outdated and a dreadful tactician. I am worried that Scally won't sack him because he's only a few months into a 2 year contract and it'll be quite costly to do so but we simply have to, we need to act now so that any new manager can come in and have a month at least to work with the players before the January transfer window. The squad is more than enough quality to be away from the relegation zone but the simple fact is Taylor cannot get the best out of them. I would do one of two things, either: 1. Bring in an experienced manager until the end of the season to ensure we stay up and then bring in a young manager with fresh ideas. 2. Bring in a young manager with fresh ideas for the long term now who sets his team up to win games rather than not lose them. Happy with either but action needs to take place now!
Sticking this link here as I feel Crawley are in a similar position to us and are probably having the same conversations. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29882542
Blimey imagine if PT was that honest instead of blaming everything and everyone but himself for this abysmal season we're having!
I didn't say that I wanted them back, more that they shouldn't have gone in the first place and we are paying the price for Taylor letting them go. All this hype in summer over Norris, Dickenson and Pritchard hasn't really been justified. Hints of potential here and there but no where near consistent enough to warrant getting a run of games. At least with the three I mentioned we all knew the talent they had and more often than not, one of those three would do something which could change the game in our favour whether it be a long throw into the box, a pinpoint cross or a header to win the game.
Whelpdale and Lee I agree with. Bayo was getting long in the tooth and couldn't last more than half a game. League one is a different proposition........however over the last two seasons certainly Rotherham and now Rochdale seem to be managing. As ex champs.......our position is more than a little disappointing (intended understatement).
Whelpdale and Lee would have still been assets at this level and Bayo still would have given us another option. We are playing boring uncompetitive football and PT cannot make decisions to change a game, as has been said we need fresh idea's and a passion for the club Ady Pennock anyone? Seems to be getting his team to play good football!!!
Watching Warrington last night, I was impressed how Shaun Reid managed to really motivate his players ( who were going down like nine pins - with cramp ) - to make them hold out Exeter and give the proverbial 110% - Taylor still reckons we played well against Crewe !
