Let's talk about the Gillingham game

[selby]

  After the  display in the first half last night being positive is becoming harder and harder by the game, the one positive in this upcoming game the fact that I will not be trailing down with little hope of a good result all the way to one of Britain's prettiest towns Gillingham, and the joy of watching a well drilled in the dark arts of winning a football game led by one of the games great personalities Fatty Evans, at a place we rarely do well even in seasons when we do well.
  With in my mind the unwarranted clamour against Butler gaining popularity among the supporters, the club as a whole and the team especially have come to somewhat of a cross roads. Nothing that a little run of good results cannot put right, but at the moment our confidence and fitness of the squad does not bode well for that to happen, least of all at a resurgent Gillingham.
  What do you think?
  One bright spot for me last night was the first game at league level for Brandan Horton, especially as he originates from the Askern area, who did his reputation no harm at all when coming on and shows potential, good luck for the future young man, and with Jones and Grieves formed a trio of academy graduates who were not the worst players on the night we had on view, Again what do you think?
  Hopefully a couple of our walking wounded could be returning to fitness, What team would you pick?
  Is the already criticism of Butts warranted?  (I will hang my coat on the peg of I don't think it is by the way)
  Can we actually get a result and lift some of the gloom?
  Lots to discuss about this game, please have your say.

[Filo]

Unless we get the likes of Bogle and Bostock back we’ll get nothing from the game

[drfchound]

Selby, that line about Gillingham being one of Britain’s prettiest towns really had me laughing.

[selby]

  Why?  or have I got it mixed up with Windsor Hound? I will have to look at the map.

[godlike1]

Nothing more than a draw if we are lucky. I think that even with Bogle and Bostock back we are flawed with how we are trying to play at the minute. Fatto Evans will be rubbing his hands at this one and want to make our fall from grace even harder

[Branton Rover]

I’d have Wright at Right back & bring Cam John in alongside Anderson with Amos continuing at left back - play Halliday right midfield might be a bit more solid than powderpuff as it was at Oxford

[steve@dcfd]

We need James for left back, we need Bostock for centre midfield and we need Bogle for the front with Okenabirhie on the left. Sims won’t be available I believe but would be good if he was. This is a game we aim not to lose and we hope we can win.

[Chris Black come back]

Bostock out on Saturday. Bogle, Sims and Robertson have a chance.

[Campsall rover]

Selby, that line about Gillingham being one of Britain’s prettiest towns really had me laughing.

The Medway towns have certainly got nothing to do with the garden of Kent.

My least favourite away day of all. I hate it so much i haven’t been to our last 3 league games there and i also missed our FA Cup game last season.

On the 6 occasions i have had the misfortune to visit the Priestfield we have 5 defeats and one draw.
All league games.
 
They are our 2nd worst bogey team to Reading in the entire EFL.   Although our record against them is somewhat better since our return to the League in 2003 ( it could not be much worse ) than it was in previous decades, which was quite appalling.

[RugbyRover]

I'd have......

                               Jones
Halliday           Anderson        Butler         James
Wright
Lokilo              Smith             Robertson   Sims

                               Bogle

Should give Brad a fighting chance.

[Rovers91]

If injuries allow I would play this team but I doubt we will have all them back available.

Jones
Halliday Anderson John James
Bostock Robertson
Sims Copps Feji
Bogle

If we had some more competition at right back I would drop Halliday and I think Smith could do with a rest.

[scawsby steve]

I'd have......

                               Jones
Halliday           Anderson        Butler         James
Wright
Lokilo              Smith             Robertson   Sims

                               Bogle

Should give Brad a fighting chance.

Butts has retired.

[DonnyOsmond]

Isn't Seaman eligible?

[RugbyRover]

I'd have......

                               Jones
Halliday           Anderson        Butler         James
Wright
Lokilo              Smith             Robertson   Sims

                               Bogle

Should give Brad a fighting chance.

Butts has retired.

still the best we got !

[essexrover]

Isn't Seaman eligible?

I was wondering that too. He might be worth a try.

[normal rules]

I rate Gillingham as a place much like I rate Chatham. The birthplace of the shell suit and home of the slapper.
Orrible southern toilet.

[Dutch Uncle]

Does that mean that Gillingham House Rules, as devised by Steve Evans, can be summarised as ‘what is in the brown envelope stays in the brown envelope’

[drfchound]

I rate Gillingham as a place much like I rate Chatham. The birthplace of the shell suit and home of the slapper.
Orrible southern toilet.

To be fair, they do have a stunning looking WPC.

[sedwardsdrfc]

I’d be tempted to play Wight right back give John a run at centre half, where he belongs, and play Halliday right midfield he has energy and his strength is going forward (better than the wingers we have available).

Even if we are struggling with injuries again we need to be harder to beat. If we’re picking a poor team (like Tuesday) let try to forget playing out from the back and play for a bit of territory. No good brining teams onto us when we’re lacking confidence and quality. Hoping AB is pragmatic enough to see that and play for a result

[i_ateallthepies]

I’d be tempted to play Wight right back give John a run at centre half, where he belongs, and play Halliday right midfield he has energy and his strength is going forward (better than the wingers we have available).

Even if we are struggling with injuries again we need to be harder to beat. If we’re picking a poor team (like Tuesday) let try to forget playing out from the back and play for a bit of territory. No good brining teams onto us when we’re lacking confidence and quality. Hoping AB is pragmatic enough to see that and play for a result

100% agree with this.

[Lytham Rover]

If injuries allow I would play this team but I doubt we will have all them back available.

Jones
Halliday Anderson John James
Bostock Robertson
Sims Copps Feji
Bogle

If we had some more competition at right back I would drop Halliday and I think Smith could do with a rest.

Where's Charlie Seaman?
Wasnt he next in line at right back?

[sedwardsdrfc]

If injuries allow I would play this team but I doubt we will have all them back available.

Jones
Halliday Anderson John James
Bostock Robertson
Sims Copps Feji
Bogle

If we had some more competition at right back I would drop Halliday and I think Smith could do with a rest.

Where's Charlie Seaman?
Wasnt he next in line at right back?

He was out on loan but assume that after the non league season closed he'd be available. Maybe it's a similar covid thing that stops the youth team been available. If not it's a pointless signing if he can't make the bench even with the injuries we've got now

[Rovers91]

Tbh I forgot about Seaman but assume he is available for selection as other week he was pictured on website with the other players arriving at Keepmoat for the game.

[sha66y]

This teams mentality still has some falling to do before individuals realise that they are not “ step up “ material just yet.....
They are not cohesive at all, just going through the motions individually and trying not to make mistakes..( .shackled and whipped)

Smith in my opinion is the weak link....he is over ambitious, over confident and playing the wrong percentages  in a team that is being mentally tortured by much better players and seemingly many more of them than we have in our team..

It’s time to shut up shop, play hard and mean, and stop thinking that the play offs is a real shot at anything.....we are not equipped for a concerted run at the Championship, so it should be removed from the plan,  yes we have injuries but why and how have we so many? ...we aren’t a hard physical team therefore we must be a team full of powder puff casualties...

AB can show passion, heart and loyalty, but I doubt he can patch up this wobbly thing and give it a direction, maybe I’m being a little too negative...

Gillingham will score 3-4 goals if allowed....
We must stop that happening first then try and work out how to get one......and hold onto it

[drfchound]

This teams mentality still has some falling to do before individuals realise that they are not “ step up “ material just yet.....
They are not cohesive at all, just going through the motions individually and trying not to make mistakes..( .shackled and whipped)

Smith in my opinion is the weak link....he is over ambitious, over confident and playing the wrong percentages  in a team that is being mentally tortured by much better players and seemingly many more of them than we have in our team..

It’s time to shut up shop, play hard and mean, and stop thinking that the play offs is a real shot at anything.....we are not equipped for a concerted run at the Championship, so it should be removed from the plan,  yes we have injuries but why and how have we so many? ...we aren’t a hard physical team therefore we must be a team full of powder puff casualties...

AB can show passion, heart and loyalty, but I doubt he can patch up this wobbly thing and give it a direction, maybe I’m being a little too negative...

Gillingham will score 3-4 goals if allowed....
We must stop that happening first then try and work out how to get one......and hold onto it

Doesn’t that last paragraph apply to all teams that play every week.

[albie]

Only Bostock not ready, according to DROS;
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2021/march/four-set-to-return-for-gillingham-trip/

[steve@dcfd]

So James,Robertson, Sims and Bogle all available for tomorrow also Greaves is also recovered.
Now it’s up to AB to pick the right team not just his favourites but a team to win the game. It’s up to him to motivate all the players we have whether permanent or loans.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Flipping eck! You're not giving him much leeway are you! Honeymoon period we'll and truly over.

I do think it will change the dynamic bringing Bogle back in but there's more to it than that as we know.

I think Smith has been caught between a rock and a hard place not really producing any sort of consistency being surrounded by different faces all the time.

Good that James, Copps, Sims, Robertson are all available again and I wonder whether Copps might get the nod above Richards again to show how best to manage that position.

We may see more of the positive side of Fej with Bogle to take the heat off him.

Whatever starting IX he picks, it's likely to be an improvement on Tuesday.

Once again, basics count for alot so we need to avoid doing daft things too often or any team will capitalise just as Oxford did.

[sha66y]

This teams mentality still has some falling to do before individuals realise that they are not “ step up “ material just yet.....
They are not cohesive at all, just going through the motions individually and trying not to make mistakes..( .shackled and whipped)

Smith in my opinion is the weak link....he is over ambitious, over confident and playing the wrong percentages  in a team that is being mentally tortured by much better players and seemingly many more of them than we have in our team..

It’s time to shut up shop, play hard and mean, and stop thinking that the play offs is a real shot at anything.....we are not equipped for a concerted run at the Championship, so it should be removed from the plan,  yes we have injuries but why and how have we so many? ...we aren’t a hard physical team therefore we must be a team full of powder puff casualties...

AB can show passion, heart and loyalty, but I doubt he can patch up this wobbly thing and give it a direction, maybe I’m being a little too negative...

Gillingham will score 3-4 goals if allowed....
We must stop that happening first then try and work out how to get one......and hold onto it

Doesn’t that last paragraph apply to all teams that play every week.

I don’t support all teams....this is my view on DRFC under the current situation we find ourselves in.....I guess you agree with it in principle then...

[Chris Black come back]

I reiterate that Smith is a real top player, but could do with a brief rest. Anything like his usual form and he is first on team sheet.