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Post by brads213 on Sept 18, 2019 9:37:33 GMT
One of our problems is that we have a continental goalkeeper who parry’s and punches instead of catching
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Post by Gassy on Sept 18, 2019 9:47:34 GMT
One of our problems is that we have a continental goalkeeper who parry’s and punches instead of catching What has that got to do with anything?
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Post by Antonio Fargas on Sept 18, 2019 9:59:20 GMT
One of our problems is that we have a continental goalkeeper who parry’s and punches instead of catching What has that got to do with anything? Catch it means catch it!
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Post by Nortongashead on Sept 18, 2019 10:05:47 GMT
Good write up Steve. People are staying away not because the heart has been ripped out of the club. They are staying away because fans are fickle and every fan/supporter has a tolerance level. Some are happy to watch a side hamstrung of pace, quality and tactical nous with the occasional high of a decent performance and result. Others have voted with their feet which they are quite entitled to do and will return when the bigger picture sorts itself out.
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Post by albaron on Sept 18, 2019 10:11:56 GMT
Good report Steve -- Yes us fans are staying away because we are fed up with the way the direction the club is going in. Whatever that direction is ? I am a season ticket holder and have now stopped going to all away and night matches.
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Post by markczgas on Sept 18, 2019 10:23:22 GMT
" Should probably have scored with his second half attempt from just inside the box which went agonisingly wide with the keeper beaten. Had it gone in or Sercombes chance I feel we would have gone on to win comfortably "
There you go, much closer to a win than a draw !
Positive signings - None !? positive for me are : Jaakkola, Hare, Davies and Smith, add in Kilgour (cos he's like a new signing). Little will probably thrive once he gets more game time. So well done GC. Leahy and Adeboyejo - jury still out. Leahy is only ok so far.
Stadium blow hangover is the more likely reason for drop in crowds not the football played.
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Post by bristolsfinestever on Sept 18, 2019 10:23:46 GMT
Spot on. 'A club that's had it's heart ripped out' is a pathetic and embarrassing statement. It was only a matter of weeks ago a fellow League One club were removed from the Football League FFS. Wake up and get some perspective. We've got a steady, not spectacular budget for this division and we're trying to operate more within our means. We've brought in some decent players over the last 12 months and looking more settled on the pitch now. Our budget will be competitive for this division which is a great level to be at. This sense of entitlement amongst some is just ridiculous. Problem is, it is hardly a great selling point to get fans back we have a steady if not unspectacular budget and we grind out results. When the crowds did rise significantly it was on the back of back to back promotions and the fact we seemingly had ambitious owners to take us to a new level. Mind the gap and all that nonsense. Now that has evaporated we are left with the die hards who followed the club during non league, Twerton etc. We are pretty much back where we started I feel. If we were to secure a new stadium then that would give us a much needed boost, but that seems years off, if ever. This feels pretty close to how I see it.
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Post by canberragas69 on Sept 18, 2019 10:28:21 GMT
Steve - your reports are a great asset, especially when I am in Australia! However, like others, I think your view here is a bit strong. I also think that, in part, it misses the point. I think we did strengthen from last year, but the problem was that they were almost all defensive players. In my view, this reflects the managers' experience and attitudes; he was a centre half and he is, essentially, defensively minded. Yesterday was a case in point. For the first 20 minutes or so in the second half we pressed and were all over them. When we didn't score however, we dropped off and gave them too much space. I also disagree that they were a poor team, when given space they played well to feet.
Anyway keep your reports coming and I hope it cheers you up a bit in future.
Onwards and upwards
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Post by gashead1981 on Sept 18, 2019 10:38:05 GMT
I think the thread title is a touch exaggerated. We are a club in a bit of a transition on the field post DC and GC shaping his squad and with a few things behind the scenes off it.
We are players light in a couple of areas and what looks like a now serious injury to one of the gem finds of the season so GC is very much working with what he has. Sercombe is also a bit match rusty as is Little a couple of games should see him back to what we know he can do and will give Cogs an option for a different formation too.
I agree with most of your report.
I just thought an interesting stay was that if we had closed out both the last home games for wins we would have been 4th. We really aren’t that far away. This division is mental and it could be as close as it was last year at both ends of the table.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Sept 18, 2019 10:40:18 GMT
Agree with your match report Steve
I think the off field leadership at the moment is disgusting
When was the last time we had a statement on the website from Wael and the owners
When was the last time we had a report from our CEO ?
When was the last time we had any news from our Chairman ?
Is our Chairman still with the club ?
How about our commercial Director ? Any recent news from Tom G ?
thee list go's on and on.........
I don't Blame GC for the style of football he is playing, he is dealing with the cards he has been dealt with and with a massive cut in budget for the whole club he is doing what he can
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Post by canberragas69 on Sept 18, 2019 10:49:28 GMT
I don't disagree that the A-Qs have been disappointing. However, even if GC had no resources to get a creative mid-fielder and has picked up a couple of excellent players in Hare and Davies (maybe Little as well, but not last night), he decides the tactics. With this team against any by the top division sides we should play a strong pressing game. I go on a bit about Burton, but to my mind that, for an hour or more, was the best we have played. We lost basically because of a single failure to stop a shot, which the scorer took very well. GC tends to go defensive especially if we are in front.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2019 11:07:03 GMT
Agree with your match report Steve I think the off field leadership at the moment is disgustingWhen was the last time we had a statement on the website from Wael and the owners When was the last time we had a report from our CEO ? When was the last time we had any news from our Chairman ? Is our Chairman still with the club ? How about our commercial Director ? Any recent news from Tom G ? thee list go's on and on......... I don't Blame GC for the style of football he is playing, he is dealing with the cards he has been dealt with and with a massive cut in budget for the whole club he is doing what he can We're losing £3m a year Henbury. Inevitable budget cuts will happen and rightly so.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Sept 18, 2019 11:22:39 GMT
Agree with your match report Steve I think the off field leadership at the moment is disgustingWhen was the last time we had a statement on the website from Wael and the owners When was the last time we had a report from our CEO ? When was the last time we had any news from our Chairman ? Is our Chairman still with the club ? How about our commercial Director ? Any recent news from Tom G ? thee list go's on and on......... I don't Blame GC for the style of football he is playing, he is dealing with the cards he has been dealt with and with a massive cut in budget for the whole club he is doing what he can We're losing £3m a year Henbury. Inevitable budget cuts will happen and rightly so. £1m i've been told
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Post by gasheadbou on Sept 18, 2019 11:42:06 GMT
I prefer a 6,000 ish attendance, the bar service at half time last night was so much quicker!
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Post by daniel300380 on Sept 18, 2019 11:45:39 GMT
Some will feel I have gone over the top after another undefeated home game but this is exactly how I felt last night having watched the team waste another opportunity to build on a good away win and fail to hold onto a lead that should have been in the bag. Gillingham were what I can only describe as a very ordinary outfit in what could really be a very ordinary division this season and yet despite one of our best starts to the season in recent years there was a complete flatness around the Mem last night that in all honesty represents to me a club that has had its heart ripped out and a squad which represents a total lack of any ambition and this is the reason that we find ourselves probably 3000 down on what we should be getting at this time. I can honestly say that I looked up at the West stand and thought to myself that there is just no leadership at our club and the atmosphere has been drained out of us supporters. It is a long time that I have felt that we supporters deserve better but recently I feel there is more a case for us getting what we deserve and maybe the missing thousands are in fact part of the problem or is it just a case that the lack of any ambition in the summer team building exercise in which the problems we had last season which caused the relegation battle have not really been addressed? Don't get me wrong it was not a bad performance last night but there is something missing and I would say it is almost a belief that we are not good enough to be winning these home games and that our results are maybe better than we actually are! There is a spark missing and that seems to represent the lack of interest in our club from the top to the bottom and I would describe the bottom as being us supporters where I would say the detachment between club and supporters is as great as the gap between the Championship and League 1 on the pitch. It is like a ship with no captain in terms of investment made and the news from the Al Quads early in the season that they were looking to sell has probably had a bigger effect on people than Wael could have thought when he made the announcement. It is very clear that with the club already running at a loss that the loss of 2-3000 on the home gate is hardly going to show the owners that we care a lot more than they do about the state of our club. Looking at Saturdays game at Lincoln when compared to the support their fans gave I would say we look distinctly average and they very much had the look of a club on the up similar to us after our promotion back to League 1. Their team like Gillingham last night looked little better than us and that seems to be the sad state we find ourselves in. A few positive signings here and there would have ,I am sure, inspired supporters that we did mean some sort of business rather than waving a white flag! Those missing thousands are not going to be easy to get back as the lack of any real creative instinct in the team shows clearly every game- three defensive midfielders in a home game with little to no width is hardly going to inspire people to make the effort to attend and the promises last season that we were only playing the way we were to get out of trouble which I believe was accepted by the majority has now been shown to be absolute rubbish as we are playing exactly the same style of football with the same lack of inspiring players. Anyway that is the way I feel and I will go through the individuals last night who show no lack of heart but a lack of the ability to put an ordinary League 1 outfit to the sword. It was very much a case of more of the same with an overall good defensive performance met with a hard working but uninspiring midfield supported by two full backs rather than any attacking width and a lack of speed and strength in attack other than the powerful Clareke-Harris . Jaakkola 7.5 A competent performance . Looked dominating in the air and made a couple of good saves but I am not sure if he should have done better on the goal as Bonham probably should have on our goal. Hare 7 A strong game on his return to the side and in truth until he was carried off we had little in the way of problems on that side. Very much hope that the injury is not as bad as it looked and that he will soon be back in contention because we do look short of real competition all over the pitch and only one injury in any of the departments of the team make us look a bit threadbare. Leahy 5.5 Still flatters to deceive with only one cross looking up to the standard we were given to expect in his attacking play and it was a very average performance although sometimes his control of the ball shows that he may yet be able to improve. Davies 8 Another strong performance in an area where we can be satisfied with the transfer dealings. The back three has worked well in most games and we more than held our own against a Gills attack that looked to be clearly missing the 20 goal a season striker that Tom Eaves was. Craig 8 Tony Craig is performing as well as ever and IMO it is a lot down to him as to how the other two "new" first team players have performed. Until Hare went off we had contained Gillingham well and looked well capable of holding the lead that we held for so long. Kilgour 8.5 MOM Just edged it from the other two centre halves for me with an overall excellent performance that bellies his years. It is amazing how the three central defenders have slotted in together and cover each other so well/ Upson 8 His performance has now become the norm to expect from him and what a good player he is on the ball and always wanting it and making himself available to receive it. Should probably have scored with his second half attempt from just inside the box which went agonisingly wide with the keeper beaten. Had it gone in or Sercombes chance I feel we would have gone on to win comfortably Ogogo 7.5 Battled for everything as usual and along with Upson was in contention for Man of the Match. JCH 7 effort and commitment could not be faulted but lacked the finish last night and would probably have been disappointed with himself when one against one in the second half with their defender but failed to get past him and a headed opportunity that was straight at Bonham. Smith 7 Runs about a lot and scored a good goal but for me his overall contributions were too lightweight and lacks the technical aspects of Nichols game but he could well develop into a good partner for Clarke-Harris Not sure if it was him first half who nearly pounced on a slow Bonham reaction to lob the keeper and then watch as the ball was cleared on the line. Clarke 6 Better than he has been in other games this season but still short of his best although I am not convinced that Sercombe improved the midfield when he came on which is probably our problem in that the three midfielders selected are probably our best three available. Sercombe 6 Not the Sercombe of old and just did ok . The Sercombe of old would have come off with at least one goal out of two good opportunities. Victor 3 Added nothing to the attack and looks way short on confidence and may I add ability. Reminds me too much of Blissett! Little NOLE but key in the equaliser and looked off the pace. Ref 4 About the usual standard of referees we get at the Mem Gills 5 A very mid table team who look way short of the usual team that Steve Evans puts together. They would have been very happy with probably an undeserved point Crowd 5 Quiet throughout and seemed almost expectant of an equaliser. GC- Can't really fault him on what he selects and what he has available although not convinced that Victor adds anything at all to the squad. So we move on to probably my least favourite destination of Wimbledon. We know what to expect but our three centre halves should be well up to the challenge and I have the feeling that we could be celebrating another away vicory but this is Rovers so who knows!! UTG Gillingham might be ordinary, but they best Wycombe on Saturday, who were top and unbeaten before that game. Was working last night, so can't comment on the game.
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Post by reason on Sept 18, 2019 11:48:43 GMT
Thanks for the report Steve.
I know it is your frustration coming through, but I feel there is no point in continuing in the vein of your opening comments now. This is the squad we have, until the next transfer window at least, and even then our focus will be just on keeping the one or two players that we have, that make a difference (JCH). No value in persisiting in lamenting the lack of the two or three players that could have transformed the squad into something more competitive. We tried, within our budget, and we have what we have. Our best chance of retaining JCH and attracting the likes of Jack Payne, are improving our league position and being in contention for the play-offs. With the four points dropped recently, we would have been right up the league. However, our current league position reflects where we are as a squad at the moment.
On the game itself, I thought it was one in which had we got the second goal we would have secured all three points. A positive is that we were all over them at times, albeit that I thought they broke with more speed and purpose than we did. Especially in the first half we often opted for a long cross field pass, when not only was there a simpler option, but a better one too.
At half time I was discussing what could be changed to make us quicker going forward, and given that Cogs would probably not change to a back four, the options were limited: how to fit Sercs in; even more difficult for Rodman and Bennett. As it happened Ollie's injury allolwed Sercs to fit in, and I thought there followed a very good spell of play from us, probably the best I have seeen so far this season, where we created several opportunities. For Sercs to continue in the side I think it has to be at the expense of one of the midfield trio, and on current form it would have to be Ollie dropping out. And there lies the problem - dropping the captain! Unlike some others though, I do think he is a good player, but Upson and Abs are both playing well, and doing what Ollie offers but better. Had Ollie added the goals that he is capable of it would be a harder decision to drop him.
Although I thought Sercs did quite well, it was in his defensive duties that we see why Cogs picks Ollie ahead of him. However, in a midfield three, I think we should have the defensive cover to allow more creativity with the likes of Sercs, or Bennett, or even Nichols in a more withddrawn role. Regardless, we need to find a place for one of them if we are to progress to a side that can win games, rather than just scrape through or hang on for a draw.
At half time, I was thinking that Mark Little coming on would have got our game going forward with more purpose, and was thinking it was a shame that Hare could not switch to the left, as I think he is better than Leahy, and Hare's crossing is good. I still think Kelly is unfortunate in not been given more game time, as I do not think Leahy offers much more.
As it happened though, and I thought Little was on the field long enough to assess him, he was actually quite poor, and clearly off the pace. He will need to be on it very soon, as I fully expect him to get a good run of games now, so hopefully he will be back to his best with us.
So, agreed, another frustrating game showing our deficiencies, but we have to look forward and keep supporting the team.
UTG!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2019 12:13:01 GMT
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Post by hollyhillgas on Sept 18, 2019 12:37:42 GMT
Looked like 5-3-2 after Hare went off, which made Sercombe ineffective. GC should have gone 4-4-2 with Rodman instead of Little. Increasing matchday prices especially for over 65s is one of the reasons for smaller gates.
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Post by BelieveItWhenIAmSatInIt on Sept 18, 2019 13:34:37 GMT
Serious question, where does the money come from to fund this 'ambition'?
Only, we are currently running at a loss as a football club.. So any additional expenditure would come directly out of the owners pocket. Is that what you / we are expecting to happen?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2019 13:48:58 GMT
There are a number of fans on this very forum who clearly state they'd be happy with a mid-table finish. There is a problem right there. Fans should not be happy with that.
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