At the end of today's game a section of Gills fans decided to boo........ I'm not entirely sure if that was fair - and that comes from somebody who isn't afraid to be critical when necessary. I share the frustration of any fan who was disappointed that Gills failed to win - and that emotion was not helped by the way in which we conceded the Grimsby goal ( pathetic defending. ). BUT If the critics are 'honest', they would have to concede that the result was more about being unlucky ! I thought that Gills should have won the game... They certainly had enough chances (( which is a claim that hasn't been possible for most of the season. )) Today, Mahoney blasted two good openings - when he needed more composure... O'gie made an amazing run - and then chose to shoot (poorly), when a square ball would have given Naseden a 'tap in.' Hawkins had a great chance to score with a header - which could have been better directed (( much like 3 good headed, , missed, chances last week. )) Today, the fans might be critical of the quality of the end product - but not of the 'effort.'... These are L2 players - and will waste many chances... On this occasion. the finishing was poor - hence the result - but, I don't think it deserved fans to boo.
Just to clarify. For today, I thought the players were a little unlucky ( plus made wrong choices - principally Mahoney. ))....... but to be a little fairer - I thought Hawkins did a great job of 'work.'.... He was desperate for a 'strike-partner' - but - as usual, Clemence decided to be negative in his tactics and formation -- -- and yet, towards the end of the game, it appears that Ehmer was given licence to go up front ( despite Gbode on the bench !) Whilst our players have the fairly limited quality of fairly average L2 players, the results have not been given any help with the dreadfully negative tactics of Clemence...... who I have needed to criticise (( more than once )), for defending throw-ins with ALL the team inside our penalty area --- and then, last Tuesday, when only 0-1 at half time, decides to withdraw our only 'recognised' striker !! Galinson needs to review in which direction he wants the team (( and the ball )) to proceed. At the moment, that direction ( on the manager's instruction ), is sideways and then backwards - which leads to down !
I didn't go to the game today, but I did listen to the full match commentary and I've seen some of the highlights. I'd say I really didn't understand the boo's at the end, that could even be heard via the live audio and even both commentators couldn't understand who the fans were booing at and why....however, I'd be lying because it seems to be the mentality in todays game. I also believe if you behave and act negatively (by booing), then you can really only expect more negative vibes in the future, because the players and coaching team will be as confused as we are. As the saying goes you reap what you sow, or... please log in to view this image Anyway, I love Ogie, especially when he goes on his little runs, I don't expect him to have a strikers mind, I just love the fact he goes for it and he ploughs through the opposition so easily, we need more of that spirit.
Is it unlucky that we've had 70 shots in the last 5 games have only scored 5 goals in that time? Now I wasn't at the game nor did I boo, but fans including myself are getting considerably frustrated at our inability to take chances. It is what will cost us making the playoffs which when we reportedly have a top 3 budget for the league, is really the minimum that should be expected. A large underachievement and the recruitment team's inability to find us a goalscorer or two in January seriously needs questioning.
I just think we are very good at shooting ourselves in the foot, and as fans we are also good at letting negative vibes sway us, such as accepting the loss of Neil Harris (I know you questioned it at the time), someone who now manages a Championship Club, although looking at the table Wall are still not safe yet. In my heart I was never overkeen on the appointment of Stephen Clemence but I didn't think it right to be negative about the guy, especially when his credentials stacked up, having been at Toon with Bruce. When as you say, you get 70 shots over the last five games, and only manage to score five, I have to think fate is just against us, it's in our dna to be that way, afterall SC at Newcastle says it all, about 70 years since they last won an English trophy, perfect dna match for us! Sorry mate, bantz aside I haven't got an answer to it, all very strange. A question for you though PegLeg and anyone else that has thoughts on it, would you keep or pack Clemence on his way if we fail to finish in a play-off spot come season end?
I will try to answer this in a few parts. You first mention about the negativity which I appreciate there is still a hangover for some fans after being unhappy for so long during the Scally reign. Whilst it doesn't apply to all, there are still people out there who blame everything bad that happens with the club as being his fault and his alone. I do feel Clemence has some to blame with regards to the negativity. We were promised nice free flowing football when he came in and with exception of the defence needlessly playing passes to each other, I don't think we ever really saw it. Around Christmas (and the return to fitness of Hawkins), he abandoned that to play a 3-5-2 only. Whilst it's failed to decide on a couple of occasions bringing some positive results, the clean sheets which was our strong point has become more sporadic whilst our issues of being unable to score goals has continued. We got rid of experienced League Two players in Bonne & Nichols to bring in a lad who was out of favour at Burton (and seems out of favour here) and someone who we have yet to see in a Gills shirt because he's been injured since December. SC supposedly has the final say on signings and I think it's fair to say only Hutton has improved us thus far. I'd also ask what has Clemence done to get fans on side or to get us all pulling in the same direction? Harris understood what our fan base wanted, a team that is hard to beat and runs through brick walls for the shirt. Evans made it a us Vs the world mentality. What has Clemence done? Whilst he often says the things fans want may want to here, does anyone believe he feels a connection to the club or is he just here because it's a job? He's had 27 games in charge which has garnered 10 wins, 7 draws and 10 losses. Over the last 10 games we're 15th in the form table. If he doesn't make playoffs which was the minimum target when he came in then he's failed to build on decent ground work. Does he deserve a summer to build his own team I think it's easy to make arguments for and against. I'm not clamouring for him to go and I'm very mindful that it's been a fair whilst since a team got promoted from League Two after the team changed their manager mid season, but we can't really afford to stay in League Two for much longer with the plans the Galinsons have in place for us.
Fair points PegLeg. I don't even know where my own thoughts are at with it, but maybe that in itself tells me what the answer is, that SC has to go if we miss out on the play-offs. I feel like I've gone back to the feelings of before the Galinsons come in - not that I have any expectations, but I know the owners will have, I certainly would have if it was my money I was ploughing into the club. I genuinely do feel for Brad and Shannon. Thankfully I'm not paid to make the decisions, because at the moment I'd be pulling my hair out if I was. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it shows we were right and we should have stuck with Neil Harris. Brad would have been guided on that decision, and without creating speculation, I'd love to know in finer detail how it all came about (NH going). Anyway, reading back on what I've wrote, I guess I have already decided on SC really, I just hope he can prove me wrong - you've even stated what has Clemence done to get fans onside, well from where I'm sitting not anything that I can instantly bring to mind, and as you know, I'm not often short on answers, even if I'm wrong. Let's just hope we take this to the wire, because if we mess up in the next few games, the fans will not be holding back on coming forward with the solution..
I still feel PS should walk, The Galisons have the clout and want us to do well. The family has a business acumen second to none. And Gillingham FC is another business. It will always take time to adjust to a new business such as football, something he has admitted he knew little about, hence PS being kept around. Some might say what does PS know about football? But he saved our club, for which we still have to be grateful for. Clemence I felt should never have been offered the job in the first place, and his negative stance on lie-ups is proof. I thought we still had a chance of the play-offs but after the defeat to AFC that chance has gone, to many clubs around us with games in hand. But who knows what plans the football Gods have in mind. I still have the weekend of the 19th clear, which I have done since the season started. You never know I could be flying back to join the KOP xxx
I think it's highly plausible that we have a top 3 budget if you look at the players we've spent money on to buy since the Galinsons have come in. Just as a recap these are the players we've bought: Tom Nichols (£60k) Timotheé Dieng (£100k-£150k) Oliver Hawkins (£50k) George Lapslie (£50k) Jayden Clarke (undisc) Ethan Coleman (undisc) Shadrach Ogie (undisc rumoured to be £150k) Remeao Hutton (undisc rumoured to be £200k) Josh Andrews (undisc) Well over half a million spent on transfers and that doesn't include the higher wages of players like J.Williams, Clark, Malone & Bonne we've signed without a fee.
