I have just had a chance to read brb's article on the vital site (a link is below for those who haven't read it) about the recent gills/AFC dons match and I have to say that a couple of things have got me thinking. 1, the Dons fans sang their hearts out, more often so than the Rainham End. 2, May I suggest the only part of the DVD you watch is the frame where the Wimbledon players and fans were celebrating their fourth goal. It is all in the heart. Now what I'm thinking is: Do we, the Gills fans, think that we are better that what we are? For the past few seasons Priestfield has been, more often than not unfortunately, devoid of any decent atmosphere. This could be because we have been in a slow decline for the past decade? Or maybe it's lack of terracing? Or maybe, just maybe, those few good years from the mid 90's have got us feeling we are bigger than we actually are? It used to be, win, lose or draw, that for many hours, before, during and after a match, all I did was sing myself horse. Now however when I try to I feel almost embarrassed. Maybe it's just me but there is definately something different. I know that the bond between player and fan is somewhat symbiotic and the players need to play well to get the crowd going and vice versa but I feel we could do better. It used to be that if we conceded a goal then we would just get louder, now we just seem to grumble under our breaths a little louder. I read on here and other websites about players needing to show more for the club but surely we can do better too? 12th man and all that. Let's all get behind the team. Remind them why they should want play for the club and roar our way up the league. TOGETHER! UTG http://www.gillingham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=270142
Preach away, my friend. I don't get a chance to go to away games too often, the last one being the away victory at Leyton Orient. But you cannot hide from one thing which is, why is there such a different atmosphere away from home? Priestfield used to be a fortress. For a little club from Kent that not many people knew about, down the years obtaining promotion, taking part in a couple of thrilling play off finals, putting ourselves on the map with trips to Arsenal and Chelsea, we really became part of the public eye. We all know that this can go one way or the other. We can continue to rise up the league or we can eventually realise that we are getting a little dizzy and ponder as to whether we are punching above our weight. Of course, spending consecutive seasons in the Championship, some of the players and the team spirit we had then, expectations would be raised. I think that may hinder some of the fans views of our current predicament. Take a look at the likes of Stoke, Man City & Wigan....teams that we beat in matches along the way and look where they are. It just goes to show what a little funding and ambition can do for you. We are where we are, we can't deny that despite us saying we have a squad far too good for this league, we know that there are still gaps that we need to plug. Some say it is down to tactical ineptitude, lack of passion, lack of team spirit, pace etc. I think in this league especially, you need to have a bit of backbone, a bit of fight. Somedays we bring it, somedays we don't. The likes of Shrewsbury away, Bradford and now AFC Wimbledon at home, we didn't turn up and this is the sort of performance that makes us doubt our possible promotion credentials.
