Winning is important ….but ‘HOW’ you lose, also is important.
I don’t expect The Gills to win every game… At times, I expect them to only try to not to lose ! My only demand is total honest commitment – such as the 2nd half v Swindon –( where the overall result was fair. ) The result was slightly disappointing, but the effort couldn’t be faulted…. I‘m not sure about yesterday [at Newport], until the last 10 minutes !
I’m as guilty as many for criticising Clemence’s formation and style of play – which, too many times, has been incredibly defensive and utterly boring – despite due consideration that in certain games ( mainly away from Priestfield ), the priority is to be defensive and secure one point……Obviously the ‘plan’ is abandoned when the team concede – and have to try ‘harder’ to score to equalize !- causing me to be frustrated with knowledge that, with a bit of earlier enterprise, and/or a bit of better luck, Gills would not have lost v Newport.
It's the manager’s job to set up the team… His objectives will be slightly different to the fans ! … Of course, we all want Gills to win every game – but we have to be realistic…and we have to accept that, in most / practically all away games, Gills won’t be trying to win - but - trying not to lose ! – and it won’t be very pretty to watch….If Gills had come away from Newport with a point – nobody would now be moaning at the seemingly ‘lack of effort’ to draw or win the game until the last 10 minutes….
The ‘direction’ of the result of a game (especially after it is lost), is the responsibility of Clemence. Ultimately, it is his tactics that will decide the outcome… Fans (me), have been quick to criticise Clemence when Gills lose after having been ultra negative – and that criticism is given greater argument when fans see the team become desperately unlucky with their attempts to save the game and, maybe quite rightly, fans will tell Clemence that he should be doing A,B or C !
I will offer Clemence some leniency despite the result at Newport..Gills efforts (albeit only in the last 10/15 minutes ) deserved to have been rewarded with the point that was the objective – Gills were unlucky………but you have to make your own luck !
In very recent games, Clemence has relented his extremely defensive tactics in Home games – but—even so, that has been confined to the 2nd half of games – when invariably we are 0-1 already (( we haven’t scored a home league goal in the 1st half for 13 games ! ))… Gills have started to create some chances to score, and have greatly improved our negative goal difference…The players, for all their limited ability, have proven that, with a bit more ‘positivity’ and ambition, they can score… I would like Clemence to use the whole 90(+) minutes to try to win a game – and if Gills still lose …..
fans won’t complain because of the loss, but given 'sympathy' because of how they were ‘managed ’ to lose !
... it's often said ( often by 'losers' ) that '' winning isn't everything ''- but- even 'loser' know that 'it's how you lose that counts.'
I don’t expect The Gills to win every game… At times, I expect them to only try to not to lose ! My only demand is total honest commitment – such as the 2nd half v Swindon –( where the overall result was fair. ) The result was slightly disappointing, but the effort couldn’t be faulted…. I‘m not sure about yesterday [at Newport], until the last 10 minutes !
I’m as guilty as many for criticising Clemence’s formation and style of play – which, too many times, has been incredibly defensive and utterly boring – despite due consideration that in certain games ( mainly away from Priestfield ), the priority is to be defensive and secure one point……Obviously the ‘plan’ is abandoned when the team concede – and have to try ‘harder’ to score to equalize !- causing me to be frustrated with knowledge that, with a bit of earlier enterprise, and/or a bit of better luck, Gills would not have lost v Newport.
It's the manager’s job to set up the team… His objectives will be slightly different to the fans ! … Of course, we all want Gills to win every game – but we have to be realistic…and we have to accept that, in most / practically all away games, Gills won’t be trying to win - but - trying not to lose ! – and it won’t be very pretty to watch….If Gills had come away from Newport with a point – nobody would now be moaning at the seemingly ‘lack of effort’ to draw or win the game until the last 10 minutes….
The ‘direction’ of the result of a game (especially after it is lost), is the responsibility of Clemence. Ultimately, it is his tactics that will decide the outcome… Fans (me), have been quick to criticise Clemence when Gills lose after having been ultra negative – and that criticism is given greater argument when fans see the team become desperately unlucky with their attempts to save the game and, maybe quite rightly, fans will tell Clemence that he should be doing A,B or C !
I will offer Clemence some leniency despite the result at Newport..Gills efforts (albeit only in the last 10/15 minutes ) deserved to have been rewarded with the point that was the objective – Gills were unlucky………but you have to make your own luck !
In very recent games, Clemence has relented his extremely defensive tactics in Home games – but—even so, that has been confined to the 2nd half of games – when invariably we are 0-1 already (( we haven’t scored a home league goal in the 1st half for 13 games ! ))… Gills have started to create some chances to score, and have greatly improved our negative goal difference…The players, for all their limited ability, have proven that, with a bit more ‘positivity’ and ambition, they can score… I would like Clemence to use the whole 90(+) minutes to try to win a game – and if Gills still lose …..
fans won’t complain because of the loss, but given 'sympathy' because of how they were ‘managed ’ to lose !
... it's often said ( often by 'losers' ) that '' winning isn't everything ''- but- even 'loser' know that 'it's how you lose that counts.'
Last edited:
