OK, so I posted this as a reply in another thread, but I feel the point is so fundamental to our plight that it should have a thread of its own... The discrepancy between the first third of last season and the start to this season can be summed up in three words: Payne, Wright, Jackman. They were the centre of our strong, passing midfield (Whelpdale being the other main component - now inexplicably transfer listed) that allowed us to dominate games and usually win by several goals in that brilliant few months. They have been got rid of (ok, Wright was not MAllen's fault) and replaced by vastly inferior players. We stumbled through the 2nd half of last season, amassing enough additional points for the title, thanks to the establishment of the rock solid League 2 defence of Nelson, Fish, Barrett, Legge and Martin - well done Allen for achieving this. But this defence alone is clearly not going to win us points in League One with its quicker, more skilful forwards. We are paying the price of allowing our midfield to decay.
I think you could look at the same facts and come to a slightly different conclusion. You are dead right that the Gills powered away at the start of last season and dominated games that they won. Once we got into October performances declined although results were still ok and there was no shortage of commentators on here saying how bad things were (although they were shouted down by others who pointed to the table). The good performances at the start of the season relied on Jackman/Montrose/Whelpdale/Lee and Allen who were controlling midfield very effectively. The decline coincided with the arrival of Wright and Vincelot, excellent players but loan signings which are invariably the kiss of death. That is not to say that loan players are in any way inferior in attitude or ability, quite the opposite in fact, but they often have a devastating effect on morale. Understandably morale plummets with the likes of Allen, Payne Montrose and Jackman when it becomes obvious they will not get a game. This just exaggerates the problem when the loanees clear off back to their former club. There appears to be a very strong correlation between clubs gaining promotion with loan players (who come back down again quickly) and clubs who stay up after promotion who rely much less on loan players in their promotion season. What we now see is the consequence of failing to build a team for the future by pi**ing off the talent which started last season so successfully. The moral is to avoid short term benefits of loan players if it is just going to store up a bigger problem in the future.
Bristol, it is an interesting point you make about building a team for the future but it seemed to clash with the clubs ethos of wanting to get out of league 2 at all cost.
