Pringle - not just a name of a popular crispy snack Yesterday's game v Oxford was extremely short of chances created. I am sure that Evans must have seen that ! -- I realise that he was a bit pre-occupied in fighting with various Oxford players -- but.......... Surely Evans could see that the midfield needed to change, to use other personnel, to change what wasn't working (( unless he was happy with just 'floating' - even when 0-1 down )). We had Willock on the bench -- apparently he is fully fit. We had Pringle on the bench. He is definitely fit. Both these players have some quality - and one/ either or both could should have been given at least 15 minutes - to see if we could swim.
Yes strange only made one sub. Also thought Mandron might of come on. Still think Evans does not rate him.
Just when we were wondering whether Matty Willock actually still existed he was named as a sub on Saturday. Then, about 5 minutes from the end, with Olly Lee having taken a knock, we saw him warming up on the far side. And - yes, a player wearing the number 8 shirt replaces Olly Lee. Except that the Rochdale stadium announcer says that Olly Lee has been replaced by Matty Wilcock..... So perhaps he doesn't exist anymore after all. On a serious note, good to see him playing, but he didn't touch the ball for the first few minutes, and really didn't have the chance to show anything at all. Maybe tonight...
All-in wrestling................ or whatever Mr.Ricketts called it ! OK - Gills are not the 'real deal.' - but - what we ( the few that bothered to turn up ) saw, was a team that should be able to give most sides in L1 a problem. I like the way that Evans has got much more out O' Gilvie and Emer, and Tucker is a bonus. I have been waiting a long time to see more of Pringle - and he didn't disappoint - putting in several good crosses. Willock showed glimpses of the quality he has (( he got a bit greedy a couple of time - but after such a long time out, who can blame him? ). There were a few quite pretty passages of play by the midfield -- and with the bloody nuisance that is called John Akinde, we have the central forward we have long craved. He was rugby'd by two Shrewsbury defenders all night - but won enough, and brought others into play -- enabling a reasonably impressive number of shots on goal. The second half was nearly ruined by the clown with the whistle - but despite that, the play that I saw from The Gills, was nothing like rugby. It was entertaining and progressive football -- and, if continued, might just sneak us into contention for the play-offs ( maybe next year ). I think Mr. Ricketts has become deluded. His team did well against a very poor Liverpool performance - but - Shrewsbury are nearer to the bottom of L1 for a reason --- perhaps if Mr.Ricketts got them playing football instead of rugby his side might avoid relegation.
Enjoyable game, plenty of noise from the Rainham End, we won, I was absolutely freezing. The ref was ****
I see he's got detention today ! - I hope he's not late for class.............I'm all for discipline - but have the Club learnt from McCammongate ? On Saturday, Gills made the players drive to Swindon - instead of hiring a team coach - just to save a tiny bit of money - and yet still splashed out on a hotel booking to meet up before the game..... So - just how much (little) money - in real terms did the Club save ? The routine ( self-driving ) was also followed when the Gills played at Charlton.... and this meant that squad members who live in the London area, didn't have to go to Gillingham for the coach when the Valley was literary on their doorstep. It was claimed that - other than the money saved, the players felt 'fresher' than if they had to drive to Me7 and then sit in a 'cramped' coach ( instead of being confined to one position, and driving their own vehicles for 2 or 3 hours !!! ) - So, if there are health benefits, why don't they drive themselves more often ? - and this might be a good point that Matty Willock can make in his defence ---- because he's obviously being punished this morning ! Willock failed to reach ME7 in time to meet the team coach going to Lincoln. He stated that he was stuck in traffic on the M25.... ( traffic conditions can easily be verified - to corroborate his statement.) Willock has been given a 'punishment' of extra training today --- let's hope the M25 is less busy, and he's not late for his detention! If Willock's excuse is valid..... ( the M25 has a reputation for being a car park ! ).. I have been static on the damned road on many occasions ! - then, I think it's unfair that he should be punished --- and it is actually counter intuitive that the punishment should require him to risk a repetition of his ''offence'' - especially as it may harm his physical wellbeing to make an unnecessary journey ! If Willock has been reckless with his time keeping, he should be given appropriate punishment. I also believe that the matter should be 'private', and not gone to The Press..... and if it had to be publicly disclosed, The Club should have justified their '' judgement'' by stating that Willock's excuses were checked and found to be inaccurate ----- instead, I get the impression that Evans has acted as Prosecutor, Judge , Jury and Executioner, without bothering to listen to the Defence. ..... if Willock didn't 'turn up for work' ( without good reason ), he shouldn't be paid...... that might save the Club a bit of money - and give Evans a bigger budget ! - but - if he was the innocent victim of circumstances beyond his control -- and which couldn't have been reasonably foreseen, should he be expected to simply take being punished ? Would you ? Would Mark McCammon ? In these days of litigation 'at-the-drop-of-a-hat', GFC would do well to remember McCommongate - before 'punishing' a player - lest Scally finds himself in the High Court (again)
I must admit, a personal vehicle is always favourable over a cramped coach. Albeit does it really save money, because surely the players will claim mileage expenses? In regards to the M25, if it takes let's say 45 mins for the player to get to Priestfield, and you left an hour to get there, then I have no sympathy with the player, and deserves to punished. If he left 90 mins before, then I would fall on the side of the player. For me it's about what concerted effort did they make, to allow for the infamous M25. I believe it's all about what is reasonable. I hasten to add, the incident should be recorded on file, and the same 'reasonable' effort should be expected of ALL players. An exception to that, could be if they are unwell, because I would ask, should they even be coming to work.
brb I have had the luxury of travelling on (one of) the coaches used by the players. I went to Rochdale for an evening match. I was sprawled out in a lounge area ( settee style seating ) - we had Sky tv on board - I was able to move around, and on the return journey I was able to stretch out for a couple of hours of sleep - it was a lot less cramped than being STUCK in one position in my driving seat (( I've also driven to Rochdale - for the semi-final play offs a few years ago -- I know which mode of transport I'd choose. You are correct when you mention fuel allowances for the players using their own vehicles - so it makes any savings tiny in the 'grand' context..... I suppose my main concern is the disclosure of discipline - in the Press. I'm not sure if the publicity will promote compliance by the staff -- especially as it appears that 'sentence ' has been administered with haste - and possibly ( probably) without full appreciation for mitigation...... .... 45 minute journey for / on the M25 -- don't make me laugh ( I've taken two hours from the A2 to the Dartford Crossing. )
I had to laugh when I read the article on Kent Online. Why would you bother making something like this public? Really not convinced this is something we need airtime for, just deal with his tardiness internally.
