Let's talk about the Gillingham game

[selby]

  A game that is just the opposite to what I think is a game that lower league sides should be playing over the holiday period, a long journey that can be in poor weather that can turn dangerous, no local interest, and to top it all a place  where we rarely do well, and my theory is it is all to promote the premiership at holiday time.
  Yesterdays game brought everyone down with a bump, one of the few games this season when the whole team played poorly and below the standards they  have set for themselves, looking more disjointed and ponderous as the game went on, and devoid of looking like they could breach Fleetwood's defence.
  Now we have to  go to play a team where again we do not have a very good record of success, and always seem to be able to grind us down in past games, and in this instance are coming off their second success against Portsmouth so will be full of confidence.
  I maybe controversial with some supporters, but I would make no, or very few changes to the starting line up if injury allows that is. The right back position is a worry of course hopefully one or two will be fit or play one of the youngsters, but none of the substitutes at Fleetwood did anything to force a start, and we we did not play as well in the second half as we did in the first half of that game.
  Gillingham I expect to approach the game tactically  similarly to Fleetwood,  so that is where we could make a change to the way we actually play our own game, and Tweak our formation, but we have done well for much of the season playing attacking football so i am not sure we will consider it.
   What changes if any would you make?
   Are you confident we can bounce back, and get a result?
   Would you be prepared to play Lund or a youngster at right back if injury demands it?
   Would you like me be willing to take a chance on such as Amos in that position?
   Much to discuss, please have your say. 

[Chris Black come back]

After a truly dire start to season they have picked up recently and have lost one in six, including turning over Portsmouth at home on Boxing Day.

Given our form over recent games, their form, our away record there over the years, we are probably underdogs here.

[Campsall rover]

We are more than overdue a win against Gillingham home or away.
I think our overall record against them is the 2nd worst against any side in the entire football league other than Reading. 
I am sure there will have been some stern words from GM after yesterday’s display and he will be looking for a reaction so maybe just maybe this is the time to break that sequence and go and bring 3 points back from the Priestfiield Stadium.

[Chris Black come back]

If you look at the side we put out last time we won there then you have to hold out some hope for Saturday. Early in the SOD reign with plenty still trying to find their feet. Am sure this lot can do as well.

[drfchound]

Since the turn of the century we have won as many as we have lost against Gillingham.

[steve@dcfd]

If Blair is fit I’d play him at right back.
Again I would start Tommy Rowe in place of Crawford, I believe would make the centre three stronger.

[selby]

 Steve, Crawford did not play badly yesterday, and when he went off we lost some control of the midfield area.

[steve@dcfd]

Steve, Crawford did not play badly yesterday, and when he went off we lost some control of the midfield area.

But am I right in saying that Cummings went off and Rowe came on then Crawford went off and May came on. Now Kane went to rightback  in the second half and Coppinger dropped into midfield so we would have lost control of the midfield. Without Kane our midfield is no better than last year especially when the energy of Blair is missing.

[selby]

   Crawford brings just as much energy to the team as Blair, and is much neater and a better passer of the ball, and is much more aware of what is going on around him.
  If as yesterday Whiteman has one of his games when his passing is constantly being intercepted, whoever plays in that position struggles.
  In both games Fleetwood have cut off our out ball, by dropping off when we had possession and making Whiteman play deeper, have to play longer balls to the front men that rarely get to the intended player, then they played the ball forward early and long to their front runners.
   It worked at the Keepmoat and yesterday   

[Alan Southstand]

For me, it’s not so much the midfield 3 that
Is the problem. The first problem is we’ve lost the link that Mason provides and further, the 2 that flank Marquis do not, consistently, work the left and right sides, particularly when we don’t have possession.

Wilks is ok with his runs with the ball, but rarely provides an end product. Copps is probably our top creator, but he can’t get up and down as much these days. The 2 new lads coming in may well sort that, but not on Saturday!

[RoversAlias]

We were far better than them in the home game and somehow didn't win. Let's hope we can get the job done this time and end 2018 on a high.

I agree Selby that the fixture list isn't much good. In non-league they have managed to put as many local derbies and short trips together as possible over this period yet in the PL/EFL they haven't even tried. Not everyone can play a local game but it must be doable to put together better matches than these. There's been some daft long journeys I've noticed in the EFL yesterday and on Saturday.

[RedJ]

I don't understand why they've given everyone either two at home or two away either (or it seems that way, can't be f**ked checking for sure).

[Campsall rover]

I don't understand why they've given everyone either two at home or two away either (or it seems that way, can't be f**ked checking for sure).

It’s the same every season 2 away and then home on New Year’s Day. Or visa versa.
Been like that fo a considerable no of years.

[Rovers91]

We need to freshen it up I would bring Rowe into midfield and could we possibly put Crawford in Copps role? Not sure if Copps will start it's a quick turn around Wednesday to Saturday and then with a game on Tuesday.
Be good from next week when we will have a couple more players for options.

[selby]

  The best news for those travelling tomorrow to the game is the weather forecast for Gillingham Kent, is light cloud with a moderate breeze and very little chance of rain PHEW.
  Rovers91, I see little reason to freshen anything up, as we had had quite a good run up to the game at Fleetwood, and why change what was seen as your best team three days earlier, especially leaving out the best midfielder from that game. There is no reason for any pan nick at this moment in time, these three fixtures were always going to be problematic against form teams who we have always for some reason struggled against no matter what sides we have put out against them.
  The manager will of course follow his own path with regard to any changes he sees necessary, both in personnel and and tactical, as supporters we sometimes get carried away with emotion and disappointment, but we have been on a good run over the last month or so, and every team has a couple of set backs in a season, I would give the team a bit of slack to put things right, if form does not pick up in a couple of games at least new blood will be available to then freshen it up hopefully. 

[RedJ]

I don't understand why they've given everyone either two at home or two away either (or it seems that way, can't be f**ked checking for sure).

It’s the same every season 2 away and then home on New Year’s Day. Or visa versa.
Been like that fo a considerable no of years.

Has it? I always thought it was one of each. Even so, it's bloody stupid imo.

[selby]

  The powers that be are not in the slightest interested in anything basically outside the top six sides in the premiership.
   Endless talking about the same teams, managers, and players on radio and TV feeds the same news to the world, we even know which managers are liked by their players, where they go on holiday, and in some cases who the players want to play for next.
   The rest is a side show picking up the scraps, especially the two lower divisions who now have to rely on the Football League paper or local news to get any coverage at all.
   The inconvenience of long travel arrangements at holiday time is not considered, in fact it is used to get supporters to stay at home and gobble up the big games on TV. Another way of deflecting supporters away from local town sides to the brands that the city clubs have now become.

[esdailles left foot]

I am willing to bet Cummings makes a full recovery for saturday

[Chris Black come back]

Is Gillingham pay on day?

[RedJ]

Always assume it is unless they specifically state otherwise. Even then ring up on the morning and ask as I remember Luton the other year was 'all ticket' then they randomly decided to allow you to buy on the day.

[andysly]

Gillingham at 9/4 looks a big price

[Alan Southstand]

Are Mason and Wright still not available? I haven't seen anything either way on those 2, but if they're both ready, they would be in. And I would rest Copps for this game, so he is available for Rochdale game.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We are more than overdue a win against Gillingham home or away.
I think our overall record against them is the 2nd worst against any side in the entire football league other than Reading. 
I am sure there will have been some stern words from GM after yesterday’s display and he will be looking for a reaction so maybe just maybe this is the time to break that sequence and go and bring 3 points back from the Priestfiield Stadium.

3

We are more than overdue a win against Gillingham home or away.
I think our overall record against them is the 2nd worst against any side in the entire football league other than Reading. 
I am sure there will have been some stern words from GM after yesterday’s display and he will be looking for a reaction so maybe just maybe this is the time to break that sequence and go and bring 3 points back from the Priestfiield Stadium.

Agree. I think we're at an important part of the season where this group of players and the management need to decide how much they want to be successful or be content with being average.

They must get back to the high intensity football that we know they are capable of as a starting point.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

That's more like it. Good that McCann freshened it up a bit and looks like it paid dividends!

[adamtherover]

Bench looked very thin, shows how lightweight the squad is when only a few first teamers go missing...

[Alan Southstand]

Well, I got the Copps call just about right, but unfortunately I didn't realise it was partly due to him having a foot injury! That makes Mason, Wright, Copps all injured and Taylor with a sickness bug! No wonder, then, that the bench looked very inexperienced today.

According to GM, it's going to be a head counting exercise on Tuesday, which sounds ominous.

[Pancho Regan]

Well, I got the Copps call just about right, but unfortunately I didn't realise it was partly due to him having a foot injury! That makes Mason, Wright, Copps all injured and Taylor with a sickness bug! No wonder, then, that the bench looked very inexperienced today.

According to GM, it's going to be a head counting exercise on Tuesday, which sounds ominous.

Oh, and we won by the way!

[Alan Southstand]

Which I have already commented on, elsewhere. Not one to keep repeating myself. Not one to keep repeating myself. Not one to keep repeating myself.

 

[BillyStubbsTears]

Well, I got the Copps call just about right, but unfortunately I didn't realise it was partly due to him having a foot injury! That makes Mason, Wright, Copps all injured and Taylor with a sickness bug! No wonder, then, that the bench looked very inexperienced today.

According to GM, it's going to be a head counting exercise on Tuesday, which sounds ominous.

Happy New Year Alan.

[Alan Southstand]

And to you Billy.