By Warren Taylor (TVFTM) 13/11/24
As we have a couple of weeks rest now due to international duties and a 15 game review show next Monday, I’ve had time to reflect on the first section of the season and to put into words really my thoughts and opinions.
Well where do I start?
I will start with pre-season whereby the signings we made Elliot Nevitt, Jack Nolan, Armani Little, Aaron Rowe, Jacob Wakeling, Marcus Wyllie and the Scarlett pimpernel himself Bradley Dack.
On paper these additions looked to be vital cogs in a promotion push after just missing out last season.
A new manager was brought in by the Galinsons, after dispensing with the services of previous manager the unlucky Stephen Clemence.
Mark Bonner was appointed with the remit of promotion to league two as the bare minimum requirement.
With three months to plan, train and
get the squad ready for the long hard slog of an English football season ahead and the promise of a new exciting brand to come, the pre season buzz and solid expectations of Gills fans were solidly in place. We arrived at Priestfield on a warm sunny afternoon in August for the first game of the season full of expectation and anticipation of the season ahead.
Carlisle were our visitors, a team that had been battered and bruised the previous season in league one.
An entertaining game followed delighting a big Gillingham crowd for the first day of the season. Carlisle looked a decent team, unfortunately poor defending and a lack of composure in front of goal led Gillingham to take their opportunities and run out 4-1 winners on the day. A brilliant start for Bonner and the team despite there being a few issues to sort out if the team were to get better.
However with the team that started against Carlisle we were missing three ingredients that has been a theme of our season thus far.
Andrews remained sidelined, Nevitt remained injured from pre season and the allergic to grass Bradley Dack we were told were weeks away from being fit.
Along with other injuries to the squad it’s hindered Bonner in these first fifteen games.
With Bonner having to chop and change the team constantly it’s been difficult to get a balanced and settled side out each week.
For the first six or seven we did well.
Winning games playing with ten men, Making Priestfield look like a fortress and a win at Notts County that showed this team could have some real bottle.
Unfortunately this was short lived and we arrived at Doncaster on a buoyant run of form looking to get a point or a win against a side who will inevitably be one of top seven sides come May.
Unfortunately the ugly head of Paul Scally was to appear before the game with the news that the club were actively looking to remove Paul from the board of directors of Gillingham Football Club.
Although the news was met with firm backing from the supporters of the club. The newly found optimism didn’t find its way on to the playing surface.
We were poor against a lively Doncaster side and showed very
little in the way of pace, heart or anything resembling an attacking threat.
It was to be the start of a poor run of form.
Three horrific home games against teams we should have beat in Accrington, Newport and Grimsby were to follow.
Coupled with defeats away at Bradford and Crewe we go to arch rivals Swindon and we should have easily won that game due to our hosts being down to ten men after 9 minutes.
However instead of going for the jugular we sit back allow Swindon to sucker punch us and get a last minute equaliser. Gutted is probably the word I would use.
It meant that October was a horrible month and one to get rid of quickly.
We then get knocked out of the F.A Cup and things are looking grim. But we hit back and beat the league leaders Port Vale. In what was a pretty dour affair, but the returning lesser spotted Josh Andrews has raised some hope that as we progress through the season some hope may return.
Even a goal against Stevenage and a run out for 44 mins has
increased the expectations. With Andrews fit we look a far better team.
So I go on to an overall view.
From what was a promising start we digressed back to type of the past two seasons.
The football has been as entertaining as eating grit
with the exceptions of Carlisle, Barrow and Tranmere at home alongside Notts County away.
My suggestion at the start of the season was that I felt we needed to sign a real leader, be it a centre half or central midfield player along with a left back have rung true.
I have not seen anything thus far that resembles a plan or identity of a team capable of promotion. I hope I’m proved wrong. The style of football hasn’t been impressive and it kind of alludes to my thought process that to get out of this league.
You either have the best 18 players in this league in your squad or you have a team of six footed shit kickers who kick and bully there way out of the division. Not pretty but effective, but the old adage is there in that people will still come and see a winning team.
If you are still Reading to this point, Thank you and Up the Gills!
Warren (TVFTM)
Leave a Reply