Fan's View - Gillingham away

[Paul B]

Fan's View - Gillingham Away

 

[yellowbow]

Thanks Paul, an interesting read again. My take on it all is that, for all the so called ‘pretty football’ we play in the middle third of the pitch, we constantly seem to be second best where it really matters - in both boxes. That’s where games are won and lost. For all of Robinson’s chatter about dominating games, it’s pointless if it’s in areas of the pitch that don’t matter. At this level of football, dealing with set pieces - defensively and attacking wise, is all important. That fact that we seem so inept has to be down to the coaching surely.

 

[Sarge]

Thanks Paul, an interesting read again. My take on it all is that, for all the so called ‘pretty football’ we play in the middle third of the pitch, we constantly seem to be second best where it really matters - in both boxes. That’s where games are won and lost. For all of Robinson’s chatter about dominating games, it’s pointless if it’s in areas of the pitch that don’t matter. At this level of football, dealing with set pieces - defensively and attacking wise, is all important. That fact that we seem so inept has to be down to the coaching surely.

According to KR on his last radox FF in response to a Q regarding specialist coaches (defensive and strikers) his response was we dont need specialist defensive coaches with DE and SD - I think thered be a few, self included, who disagree that DE & SD are in any way capable as defensive coaches given the amont of goals conceded from errors by our defenders.... Im not certain what his response was re a specialist coach for strikers was, (its late on a sunday afternoon after a busy busy weekend for me), memory may be playing up but didnt KR say something along the lines of we dont need a specialist coach for strikers? ...whatever he said re specialist striker coach, for certain he wasnt looking at bringing one in..... possibly a dedicated defensive and striker coach may have seen us in a better position in L1 than we currently occupy? ...agree 100% @yellowbow its at either end where most the problems are

 

[Paul B]

According to KR on his last radox FF in response to a Q regarding specialist coaches (defensive and strikers) his response was we dont need specialist defensive coaches with DE and SD - I think thered be a few, self included, who disagree that DE & SD are in any way capable as defensive coaches given the amont of goals conceded from errors by our defenders.... Im not certain what his response was re a specialist coach for strikers was, (its late on a sunday afternoon after a busy busy weekend for me), memory may be playing up but didnt KR say something along the lines of we dont need a specialist coach for strikers? ...whatever he said re specialist striker coach, for certain he wasnt looking at bringing one in..... possibly a dedicated defensive and striker coach may have seen us in a better position in L1 than we currently occupy? ...agree 100% @yellowbow its at either end where most the problems are

That's almost always the case when a team isn't doing well. But I keep coming back to this - we're not the worst at either end. 15th best with 1.194 goals scored per game. Yes, there are nine teams worse than us. Defensively worse. We've let in 1.5 goals on average. Walsall, Plymouth, the Gills, Scunny, Bradford and Rochdale are all worse than us.
This gives me some hope but what is more important is current form and ultimately points won.
Rochdale have let in 13 in the last 5 games. We've let in 7.
They beat us 7-5 on goals scored though.

 

[DannyW]

That's almost always the case when a team isn't doing well. But I keep coming back to this - we're not the worst at either end. 15th best with 1.194 goals scored per game. Yes, there are nine teams worse than us. Defensively worse. We've let in 1.5 goals on average. Walsall, Plymouth, the Gills, Scunny, Bradford and Rochdale are all worse than us.
This gives me some hope but what is more important is current form and ultimately points won.
Rochdale have let in 13 in the last 5 games. We've let in 7.
They beat us 7-5 on goals scored though.

The trouble is Paul that the stat that matters is the league position and that is a relegation stat at the moment. Agree we have to stick behind the manager and team till the end if the season but god KR does not make it easy

 

[Sarge]

That's almost always the case when a team isn't doing well. But I keep coming back to this - we're not the worst at either end. 15th best with 1.194 goals scored per game. Yes, there are nine teams worse than us. Defensively worse. We've let in 1.5 goals on average. Walsall, Plymouth, the Gills, Scunny, Bradford and Rochdale are all worse than us.
This gives me some hope but what is more important is current form and ultimately points won.
Rochdale have let in 13 in the last 5 games. We've let in 7.
They beat us 7-5 on goals scored though.

sat in 21st place in l1 currently with a gd of -12 isnt where Im liking the U's being.... this season a 19th place, or higher, finish would suffice after what has been a rather disappointing campain. Defensive errors time n time again, it seems too, probably contibute to a lower mid table scoring figure seeming worse than it is ? .... if we could rise to said 15th place in goals scored but instead 15th place in the final league table reckon Id be almost happy with that

 

[Paul B]

The trouble is Paul that the stat that matters is the league position and that is a relegation stat at the moment. Agree we have to stick behind the manager and team till the end if the season but god KR does not make it easy

Absolutely

But it is not yet a lost cause. It is all very fine margins at the moment. Leaving aside the 4-2 defeat at Accrington all of our matches since that non-display at Plymouth have been draws or decided by a single goal margin. I think that's also quite an important stat which kind of shows that we are not that far away.

 

[DannyW]

Absolutely

But it is not yet a lost cause. It is all very fine margins at the moment. Leaving aside the 4-2 defeat at Accrington all of our matches since that non-display at Plymouth have been draws or decided by a single goal margin. I think that's also quite an important stat which kind of shows that we are not that far away.

Oh I so want you to be right, so I'll ride with your stats and optimism till it's all over for the season. Thanks for your reports always look forward to them win or loose.

 

[Hackney Jack]

I Saw the push on Sinclair and it was a shocker. Holy belted him with both hands, and Sinclair went flying. The ref saw it too. How he never gave the pen I do not know.

 

[yellowbow]

I Saw the push on Sinclair and it was a shocker. Holy belted him with both hands, and Sinclair went flying. The ref saw it too. How he never gave the pen I do not know.

I think the ref still had the thought he should maybe have sent Dickie off on his mind. A blatant pull back by the last man in the penalty area and Gillingham basically ended up with no advantage from it (accepted, largely their fault!) He was never going to give us a decision so soon after.

 

[uptheus]

Not sure I agree with you about Garbutt, and I definitely believe Whyte should have been on from the start with Graham being substituted with Browne replacing him when there was 20+mins to go as he was getting rather leggy.

 

[Deleted member 222]

I think the ref still had the thought he should maybe have sent Dickie off on his mind. A blatant pull back by the last man in the penalty area and Gillingham basically ended up with no advantage from it (accepted, largely their fault!) He was never going to give us a decision so soon after.

The rules have changed so if it is penalty then it’s not a red card as well.

 

[Berliner]

The rules have changed so if it is penalty then it’s not a red card as well.

...unless the foul is deliberate, then it's still a red card and penalty.

 

[Manorlounger]

What worries me is that if, we were the better side, why didn't we win?

 

[Mellowyellow]

Great write up as always. I do worry though how many people say bear with Kr, as it is now as it has been since August, a one way trip to division 2. I cannot see how others see it differently.

 

[Paul B]

What worries me is that if, we were the better side, why didn't we win?

I didn't think we were the better side and that still worries me.

 

[uptheus]

I didn't think we were the better side and that still worries me.

I thought a fair result was a draw, but we were the better team 2nd half which made their winning goal in the 89th minute even more harder to except.

 

[Shropshire U]

As you rightly say, it's fine margins. My worry is that teams need battlers and grafters to get to the right side of the fine lines.
I don't see any real battlers and grafters in the squad that KR has cobbled together. Hope two or three step up to the plate in the few games left.

 

[Paul B]

As you rightly say, it's fine margins. My worry is that teams need battlers and grafters to get to the right side of the fine lines.
I don't see any real battlers and grafters in the squad that KR has cobbled together. Hope two or three step up to the plate in the few games left.

Mackie? Dickie? Brannagan? Even Sam Long, perhaps?

 

[TailsWeWin]

I enjoy reading your reports, Paul, because they always seem more considered than some of the knee-jerk reactions on here (including mine!) immediately following a match. It is rather depressing, however, than your tone is rather “more in hope than expectation” recently. I feel the same, unfortunately.