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Everything is currently looking rosy down at Kentâs only football league club. Gillingham having maintained the position of League Two leaders for much of the first half of 2012/13 season, that was until a recent home defeat to then second placed Port Vale, who of course have only temporarily taken the crown or so the Gills supporters would hope.
You only have to look on your TV screens or turn on your radio and see via the sports sections the name of the Kent side being represented. Now I do not read the tabloids but it is quite often brought to my attention that the Gills have another near full page match spread. So what has changed at Priestfield that with the exception of Championship memories, have generally seen them as always a lower league club normally hovering somewhere between division three and four in old money.
That change came about at the start of the new season in our centenary year in the name of Gillingham Football Club. In came a self confessed Mad Dog, because he froths at the mouth, Martin Allen.
What a great and unprecidented start to the new season it was to be with the boys in blue or red as it is this season going on an unbeaten eight game run, before suffering their first defeat of the season at home to Rochdale. However, form was quickly recovered and only one further league defeat followed within their next nine league games.
So how has the man heard continually shouting his instructions from the dugout gone about this miraculous change, remembering the Gills although the occasional promotion candidates are not renowned for being top let alone picking up league titles?
In came 31 year old experienced goal keeper Stuart Nelson, replacing the much loved character of 21 year old Paulo Gazzaniga, who went to Premiership side Southampton for a substantial fee. Not a popular decision with me but one that was accepted begrudgingly as a season ticket holder for financial reasons. To be fair nearly five months on Stuart Nelson has proved to be a more secure pair of hands than Gazza but sadly lacking the Argentineâs ability to direct a missile with pin point accuracy the length of a football pitch. So surely if Martin Allen wanted to play route one football, Paulo was more suited to the role.
I now move attention from between the sticks to upfront. Waiting in the wings, recovering from a season long injury was 28 year old Adam Birchall, who was originally meant to partner Danny Kedwell before Birchallâs misfortune and now he had a new challenger for position up front with Tomlinâs departure when 36 year old striker Deon Burton was brought to Priestfield. The front man Burton, attempted to gain the position of penalty taker over Danny Kedwell with disastrous affect. But between the two Burton provided the away cover as goal scorer while local lad Keds demonstrated his better side at home. Only recently it appears that Martin Allen has found some renewed faith in Birchall but even against Port Vale not as a starter. Again with route one football does Keds and Burton both fit the same role at the same time in a starting line up.
The new manager had won the hearts of many a Gills fan seeking long awaited glory and further changes were a foot with the good signing of solid defender Adam Barrett, occupying a place in the back line at a mere 33 years of age but donât knock it, having witnessed one of the best goal line clearances I have seen this season. While the likes of a much loved defender was loaned out to Luton Town, Connor Essam at the age of 20 to improve his fitness. I can certainly add that his lack of appearance in the first team has met with my disapproval.
This turns my thoughts now to our 19 year old defender Callum Davies, who MA appeased the fans unintentionally by selecting him ahead of Connor Essam. A great prospect this young man turned out to be and not a single supporter could fault his ability unless you had personal favourites in the Essam v Davies challenge. Where was I drawn on this affair, to be fair on middle ground both young Gills prospects fighting for a team place, certainly nothing wrong in equal competition. Now though it seems as if Callum Davies may have lost his regular team place as the manager secured the signing of 27 year old Leon Legge for the final hurdles and beyond on a two and half year contract.
Danny Jackman the Gills player of the year who had provided previous left back cover, had just signed a new one year deal in the summer but was rarely to feature in a starting line up. Questions were being asked by some of where are our previous favourites and why do they rarely feature in this so called 'team,' rotation system.
The signings were to continue and there is no denying that the experience of defensive midfielder David Wrightâs seven game loan spell from Crystal Palace did help the Gills in their deserved league position but at 32 years of age I was starting to question what was happening to all our young blood. None more so as an example than that of Jack Payne, who already at 21 years of age might be getting ready to make a step up to Championship football but will he really get his chance in a Crystal Palace starting line up or just be another bench warmer gaining a cold chill throughout the remainder of the winter months, while affecting his value in not allowing him to participate in our sought out promotion to League One and upping his profile, as the eyes gaze towards the Medway Towns looking for our future prospects.
As we supposedly build a squad for League One and Gazza has gone to a Premiership side and Jack Payne is good enough for the Championship, do we continually just sell to the highest bidder. Maybe in reality it is just the deep routed disease of the modern game.
Mad Dog loves the media and when I saw reports of us not just winning league two but building a team to âSmashâ league one, that is talk that just reminds me of a man standing there revealing the whites of his eyes as the eyeballs roll forever skywards, shouting âhereâs johnnyâ from The Shining or was it more light hearted like a Jim Bowen sketch of âSuper, smashing, great.â
Thoughtless words, at the very least in this supporters eyes, I assume with such comments that it means the Chairman will be able to firmly keep his cheque book hidden during the summer months.
I am sure if any Gillingham supporter had uttered those immortal words of smashing league one, then they would have been sectioned but I suppose with Mad Dog it all becomes part and parcel of the care in the community. Talking of which he does have a style about him that is likeable a personality that shines through, no pun intended to two paragraphs earlier.
Having said that, I expect some less convinced supporters have already lost money for betting against the man, especially if they bet he would be gone by Christmas. I hasten to add I was not one of those, although I will admit to having been nervous at the prospect of being dropped right in it before the New Year, so at least we have leapt the first major hurdle towards the finishing post.
Mad Dog is still here and we are now at the January transfer window, discussions this time turning back to David Wright and Jack Payne with rumours of a loan swap according to some reports. I suppose with any loan deal at least options are still there, unlike full blown commitments or am I just speaking to soon!
This indicates in my eyes that the new man in charge is going to battle is way out of League Two with age and experience and his commitment with this team to be able to compete in League One.
But what then once MA has left us in a good league standing and he moves to possible pastures new, where will our assets be with an ever aging team or will we once again be relying on how deep are the ever reliable club chairman pockets â finds cheque book still collecting dust from the league two days. Maybe that is a little unfair because the incomings have been secured with sound financial sense, while proving to build a capable side that is breaking club records.
However, a one man personal ambition may bring us instant success but what of the future, well long term contracts having been given to youngsterâs Bradley Dack and Callum Davies, so that is a positive.
Sometimes I just feel supporters have very short memories, it was less than a year ago that I wrote âperformance of the seasonâ with this back line now practically missing, Evans, Essam, King, Jackman of course many a supporter will not remember that night on the 21st February, when only 3,248 hardened hearts turned up against Rotherham. Yes, they did not win us promotion, hence why we are languishing here for another season but what I thought they did show was the way forward if be it with someone different at the helm. Kingâs departure still leaves a taint for me.
So are the new generation of supporters only interested in instant success or promotion at all costs 'as seen on Sky TV' or do they favour views in a mix of experience and youth, with the latter being the main building block at minimal cost. Well just ask the 8,000 plus that turned up to Priestfield on Saturday 12th January 2013, because they will have your answers. Certainly a stark contrast to the previous mentioned 3,428 but find success and you find the fans and that is just as important in our survival.
Yes of course I will be happy if we achieve automatic promotion by the seasons end and for a brief moment all will be forgotten like words being blown away in the Medway Stand breeze. At least within less than two years going on promises, I should be smiling even wider as MA smashes League One and I then can concentrate on the next chapter in this open book, what is life without passion and so many shades of grey, maybe I should close the book and just enjoy the ride, because one thing is for sure, I will still be here when most of the current set up have long gone.
You only have to look on your TV screens or turn on your radio and see via the sports sections the name of the Kent side being represented. Now I do not read the tabloids but it is quite often brought to my attention that the Gills have another near full page match spread. So what has changed at Priestfield that with the exception of Championship memories, have generally seen them as always a lower league club normally hovering somewhere between division three and four in old money.
That change came about at the start of the new season in our centenary year in the name of Gillingham Football Club. In came a self confessed Mad Dog, because he froths at the mouth, Martin Allen.
What a great and unprecidented start to the new season it was to be with the boys in blue or red as it is this season going on an unbeaten eight game run, before suffering their first defeat of the season at home to Rochdale. However, form was quickly recovered and only one further league defeat followed within their next nine league games.
So how has the man heard continually shouting his instructions from the dugout gone about this miraculous change, remembering the Gills although the occasional promotion candidates are not renowned for being top let alone picking up league titles?
In came 31 year old experienced goal keeper Stuart Nelson, replacing the much loved character of 21 year old Paulo Gazzaniga, who went to Premiership side Southampton for a substantial fee. Not a popular decision with me but one that was accepted begrudgingly as a season ticket holder for financial reasons. To be fair nearly five months on Stuart Nelson has proved to be a more secure pair of hands than Gazza but sadly lacking the Argentineâs ability to direct a missile with pin point accuracy the length of a football pitch. So surely if Martin Allen wanted to play route one football, Paulo was more suited to the role.
I now move attention from between the sticks to upfront. Waiting in the wings, recovering from a season long injury was 28 year old Adam Birchall, who was originally meant to partner Danny Kedwell before Birchallâs misfortune and now he had a new challenger for position up front with Tomlinâs departure when 36 year old striker Deon Burton was brought to Priestfield. The front man Burton, attempted to gain the position of penalty taker over Danny Kedwell with disastrous affect. But between the two Burton provided the away cover as goal scorer while local lad Keds demonstrated his better side at home. Only recently it appears that Martin Allen has found some renewed faith in Birchall but even against Port Vale not as a starter. Again with route one football does Keds and Burton both fit the same role at the same time in a starting line up.
The new manager had won the hearts of many a Gills fan seeking long awaited glory and further changes were a foot with the good signing of solid defender Adam Barrett, occupying a place in the back line at a mere 33 years of age but donât knock it, having witnessed one of the best goal line clearances I have seen this season. While the likes of a much loved defender was loaned out to Luton Town, Connor Essam at the age of 20 to improve his fitness. I can certainly add that his lack of appearance in the first team has met with my disapproval.
This turns my thoughts now to our 19 year old defender Callum Davies, who MA appeased the fans unintentionally by selecting him ahead of Connor Essam. A great prospect this young man turned out to be and not a single supporter could fault his ability unless you had personal favourites in the Essam v Davies challenge. Where was I drawn on this affair, to be fair on middle ground both young Gills prospects fighting for a team place, certainly nothing wrong in equal competition. Now though it seems as if Callum Davies may have lost his regular team place as the manager secured the signing of 27 year old Leon Legge for the final hurdles and beyond on a two and half year contract.
Danny Jackman the Gills player of the year who had provided previous left back cover, had just signed a new one year deal in the summer but was rarely to feature in a starting line up. Questions were being asked by some of where are our previous favourites and why do they rarely feature in this so called 'team,' rotation system.
The signings were to continue and there is no denying that the experience of defensive midfielder David Wrightâs seven game loan spell from Crystal Palace did help the Gills in their deserved league position but at 32 years of age I was starting to question what was happening to all our young blood. None more so as an example than that of Jack Payne, who already at 21 years of age might be getting ready to make a step up to Championship football but will he really get his chance in a Crystal Palace starting line up or just be another bench warmer gaining a cold chill throughout the remainder of the winter months, while affecting his value in not allowing him to participate in our sought out promotion to League One and upping his profile, as the eyes gaze towards the Medway Towns looking for our future prospects.
As we supposedly build a squad for League One and Gazza has gone to a Premiership side and Jack Payne is good enough for the Championship, do we continually just sell to the highest bidder. Maybe in reality it is just the deep routed disease of the modern game.
Mad Dog loves the media and when I saw reports of us not just winning league two but building a team to âSmashâ league one, that is talk that just reminds me of a man standing there revealing the whites of his eyes as the eyeballs roll forever skywards, shouting âhereâs johnnyâ from The Shining or was it more light hearted like a Jim Bowen sketch of âSuper, smashing, great.â
Thoughtless words, at the very least in this supporters eyes, I assume with such comments that it means the Chairman will be able to firmly keep his cheque book hidden during the summer months.
I am sure if any Gillingham supporter had uttered those immortal words of smashing league one, then they would have been sectioned but I suppose with Mad Dog it all becomes part and parcel of the care in the community. Talking of which he does have a style about him that is likeable a personality that shines through, no pun intended to two paragraphs earlier.
Having said that, I expect some less convinced supporters have already lost money for betting against the man, especially if they bet he would be gone by Christmas. I hasten to add I was not one of those, although I will admit to having been nervous at the prospect of being dropped right in it before the New Year, so at least we have leapt the first major hurdle towards the finishing post.
Mad Dog is still here and we are now at the January transfer window, discussions this time turning back to David Wright and Jack Payne with rumours of a loan swap according to some reports. I suppose with any loan deal at least options are still there, unlike full blown commitments or am I just speaking to soon!
This indicates in my eyes that the new man in charge is going to battle is way out of League Two with age and experience and his commitment with this team to be able to compete in League One.
But what then once MA has left us in a good league standing and he moves to possible pastures new, where will our assets be with an ever aging team or will we once again be relying on how deep are the ever reliable club chairman pockets â finds cheque book still collecting dust from the league two days. Maybe that is a little unfair because the incomings have been secured with sound financial sense, while proving to build a capable side that is breaking club records.
However, a one man personal ambition may bring us instant success but what of the future, well long term contracts having been given to youngsterâs Bradley Dack and Callum Davies, so that is a positive.
Sometimes I just feel supporters have very short memories, it was less than a year ago that I wrote âperformance of the seasonâ with this back line now practically missing, Evans, Essam, King, Jackman of course many a supporter will not remember that night on the 21st February, when only 3,248 hardened hearts turned up against Rotherham. Yes, they did not win us promotion, hence why we are languishing here for another season but what I thought they did show was the way forward if be it with someone different at the helm. Kingâs departure still leaves a taint for me.
So are the new generation of supporters only interested in instant success or promotion at all costs 'as seen on Sky TV' or do they favour views in a mix of experience and youth, with the latter being the main building block at minimal cost. Well just ask the 8,000 plus that turned up to Priestfield on Saturday 12th January 2013, because they will have your answers. Certainly a stark contrast to the previous mentioned 3,428 but find success and you find the fans and that is just as important in our survival.
Yes of course I will be happy if we achieve automatic promotion by the seasons end and for a brief moment all will be forgotten like words being blown away in the Medway Stand breeze. At least within less than two years going on promises, I should be smiling even wider as MA smashes League One and I then can concentrate on the next chapter in this open book, what is life without passion and so many shades of grey, maybe I should close the book and just enjoy the ride, because one thing is for sure, I will still be here when most of the current set up have long gone.
