What Went Wrong at Gillingham? And How To Fix It?

[William Henry Foulkes]

A few thoughts:

Long (obvious but I'll say it anyway)

Problem: Didn't command his box, this spread uncertainty throughout the defence and led to at least the first two goals.

Fix: This is a very longstanding problem. (Was it different when he was on loan if so, why?) All I can think is that he totally overreacts and goes for Grobbelaar style overcommitment. I once heard Hansen say he didn't mind playing in front of Grobbelaar because you knew how he played and you could adapt. Realistically though...

McFadzean

Problem: Can't defend at all at this level. Run ragged. Turned inside out. Got one good ball in when we were 3 or 4 down. Looked lost. Felt sorry for him - and it's not good when you feel that about one of your own players.

Fix: Don't play him there again!

McEveley

Problem 1: Playing-wise he got under the ball once - this for me was his biggest failing last season - but at least he didn't totally miss it and got something on it. Progress! Other than that I didn't see him do anything particularly bad - one poor touch but that was confidence.

Problem 2: He shouldn't be captain. I respect Adkins's assessment and it must be based on something but it hasn't worked out. McEveley had a go at Long (about goal kicks). He realised 10-15 minutes later what he'd done but this was wrong. Didn't lead vocally or by performance. Doesn't offer anything on the pitch in this role.

Fix 1: Did he play that badly? Is he garbage? If someone can point out any shortcomings then fine, but I didn't see anything in particular. Not really a problem? <puts tin hat on and retreats to shelter>.

Fix 2: A serious issue. Especially after being backed so publicly. I'd give it to Basham, but you can't really assess unless you know the players day-to-day.

Collins

I thought he played well - apart from one obvious moment.

Problem: Abusing your own goalkeeper, and other players.

Fix: Longstanding issue, and maybe Clough was right about him. Play him for now and manage it (quietly minimise any disruption), but look to move him on. I think we need CHs (has anyone mentioned this?).

Freeman

A threat going forward, and did enough defending.

Problem: He was knackered after about an hour and I don't think he should've been (unless it was just that he's sprinted and needed to recover).

Fix: A good pre-season should sort that out.

Leave it at that for now apart from...

The Team

Problem 1: Generally second best to the ball all over the pitch. We were a yard or two off the pace. Gillingham were just more committed.

Fix: There was talk before the match of slowing the game down, playing at our pace etc. Not all the bloody time lads!

Problem 2: Switching play was sometimes slow, with balls floated out to the wings rather than drilled over.

Fix: Drill your balls.

I think we've got the best manager we could have and a great board. I think it might take a while (raising the eternal question of: How long do we give them?) but if we can't make progress with this lot in charge - and digging up the pitch didn't reveal vast oil reserves - then we're doomed to roam the eternal darkness of Division 3 for all eternity.

 

[blade.i.am]

Great post. Sadly, I think your last sentence still holds good until the results start to improve.

 

[robbiez666]

You missed out Baxter. The player protecting our defence

I think the stills for the goals on another thread show why Collins and J-Mac should not be first choice CBs.

 

[Bartleby]

Long

Adkins said that he flapped under the pressure from the fans behind and didn't stick to the game plan as a result, kicking it long (pardon the pun) rather than playing it from the back - does that tie in with what you saw?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Adkins said that he flapped under the pressure from the fans behind and didn't stick to the game plan as a result, kicking it long (pardon the pun) rather than playing it from the back - does that tie in with what you saw?

The abuse just had to affect him. A different personality might've waded into the crowd (Cantona at Palace). Forum goes into meltdown.

With regards to the kicking, as someone else pointed out (and I'd forgotten) one attempt at this got charged down. Maybe he was already shot by then and just didn't trust himself to make tight passes in dangerous areas. There were a few shouts of what amounted to: "Hoof it clear!"

So a mixture of factors, but generally a loss of confidence.

 

[alcoblade]

Quick improvements;

Swap Long for Howard
New Centre Half
Drop Baxter from any midfield 4 (I'd list him)
Until (if ever) Wallace is fit - don't play a midfield 4
Bring in a commanding central midfield figure

UTB

 

[BeatleBlade]

I wasn't at the game, I have only seen the highlights and read the reports.
However, despite conceding 4 goals they were all fairly simple errors. 3 of them came directly from set pieces and 2 were almost identical. With two taller CBs who both mark properly (and don't head the ball into their own net) then these types of goals can be kept to a minimum. McFadzean is only playing because Harris is injured, Brayford is injured (meaning Freeman must play RB) and Alcock is injured (I think). So when the injuries clear up in that department we should be better off there.
I think the goals conceded all have fairly simple fixes which is good. Although we were supposedly much worse for the entire game which I can't really comment on because I didn't watch it and I'm not sure what went wrong there. The result was awful but I think we can bounce back soon.
However, despite today's signing (good news) I do wonder why we couldn't get anyone in permanently. Is it because there is a lack of quality CBs available? Is it down to FFP constraints or a more limited budget. I doubt it's the latter due to the amount of money the Prince has put in and the fact that we managed to attract Adkins here.

 

[derfblade]

I wasn't at the game, I have only seen the highlights and read the reports.
However, despite conceding 4 goals they were all fairly simple errors. 3 of them came directly from set pieces and 2 were almost identical. With two taller CBs who both mark properly (and don't head the ball into their own net) then these types of goals can be kept to a minimum. McFadzean is only playing because Harris is injured, Brayford is injured (meaning Freeman must play RB) and Alcock is injured (I think). So when the injuries clear up in that department we should be better off there.
I think the goals conceded all have fairly simple fixes which is good. Although we were supposedly much worse for the entire game which I can't really comment on because I didn't watch it and I'm not sure what went wrong there. The result was awful but I think we can bounce back soon.
However, despite today's signing (good news) I do wonder why we couldn't get anyone in permanently. Is it because there is a lack of quality CBs available? Is it down to FFP constraints or a more limited budget. I doubt it's the latter due to the amount of money the Prince has put in and the fact that we managed to attract Adkins here.

Quick fix? Keep Done Sharp, Murphy, Wallace,Brayford,Reed,Basham......and replace the rest....simples.

 

[sheffielder]

Quick Fix for Saturday

Howard
Freeman Basham Edgar McEverley
Adams Reed Wallace Murphy
Sharp Sammon/Higdon

 

[bladesadviser]

The abuse just had to affect him. A different personality might've waded into the crowd (Cantona at Palace). Forum goes into meltdown.

With regards to the kicking, as someone else pointed out (and I'd forgotten) one attempt at this got charged down. Maybe he was already shot by then and just didn't trust himself to make tight passes in dangerous areas. There were a few shouts of what amounted to: "Hoof it clear!"

So a mixture of factors, but generally a loss of confidence.

As I have said on a couple of other threads Long looked terrified when he was waiting for the game to start, a real rabbit in the headlights. I never normally notice players but he stood out as a player who would rather be anywhere else

 

[FTPE]

Quick Fix for Saturday

Howard
Freeman Basham Edgar McEverley
Adams Reed Wallace Murphy
Sharp Sammon/Higdon

I'd keep Basham in midfield otherwise it's tiny, keep Collins at the back with Edgar, other than that your team seems really a good one.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Adkins said that he flapped under the pressure from the fans behind and didn't stick to the game plan as a result, kicking it long (pardon the pun) rather than playing it from the back - does that tie in with what you saw?

Yes, he tried to play out a few minutes after the first goal, out to the right-back. Over cooked it a little, went out for a throw-in and got the verbal carnage for it. Despite CBs always splitting down the sides looking for it short he went for the hoof up front after that.

 

[Bartleby]

Yes, he tried to play out a few minutes after the first goal, out to the right-back. Over cooked it a little, went out for a throw-in and got the verbal carnage for it. Despite CBs always splitting down the sides looking for it short he went for the hoof up front after that.

so the actions of the fans did have some bearing on the game then (though probably not the final result from the sounds of it)

 

[Grecian2000]

Fix: Drill your balls.

Has there ever been a problem where this is the answer?

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

so the actions of the fans did have some bearing on the game then (though probably not the final result from the sounds of it)

You'd be a strong man, of any age, to take the dogs abuse Long was getting and NOT let it affect your game. Given he's only 21 (and most 21 year olds today can't find their own arse without an app to help them) it's nailed on he will react. Anyone watching who's played could see what the team were supposed to do, but Long was shredded to the point of punting it, rather than engage with anything that had even a slight risk attached.

 

[lazyfecklessblade]

Need to address a lack of aggression throughout. Gills were attacking the ball, closing down and harrassing - we didn't move the ball fast enough to counter this and they ended up physically and mentally getting the upper hand. Games end up battles like this in L1 and we need players who thrive in that environment (or who are mentally prepared to do so)

 

[Peter Dornan]

Adkins said that he flapped under the pressure from the fans behind and didn't stick to the game plan as a result, kicking it long (pardon the pun) rather than playing it from the back - does that tie in with what you saw?

We did split the centre-backs to either side, and Basham and Baxter dropped towards the 'D' in front of the penalty area. The issue as I saw it was that Gillingham countered this by having two forwards come up towards our penalty area too. One hung around in between McEveley and Baxter and the other hung around in between Collins and Basham. That meant George couldn't really risk the short pass - would you trust Jay or Collo to pass themselves out of trouble near their own penalty area?

I think George had to kick it long, and we failed to adapt accordingly.

 

[Revolution]

so the actions of the fans did have some bearing on the game then (though probably not the final result from the sounds of it)

If they had some bearing on Long's performance, that says more about Long than what was said to him.

He's made over 100 senior appearances. He should be focussing on what's happening on the pitch, not listening to what's happening off it. That is unprofessional.

 

[yuley82]

Why did non of the super tacticians and great problem solving managers from the forum apply when clough was sacked?

 

[Jehovah]

I cant cope anymore with the fans getting blamed for Long being useless. In his truly disastrous performance against Exeter at home under Wilson, I got hammered for slagging off "a young lad" etc etc
Years later and its the same old rubbish. He is a professional goalkeeper ffs. Why is he looking scared before a game? How many games has he played? He needs dropping, not molly coddling.


ARRRGGHHGGHGHHGHGHGH

 

[Bartleby]

Why is he looking scared before a game?

why was he getting slagged off BEFORE he conceded

 

[Bartleby]

If they had some bearing on Long's performance, that says more about Long than what was said to him.

He's made over 100 senior appearances. He should be focussing on what's happening on the pitch, not listening to what's happening off it. That is unprofessional.

I kind of agree with most of that but still don't see the point of venting the vitriol that I have heard was vented. Think he would be best looking fpor another club or another loan, Motherwell fans seemed to like him.

 

[Kenilworth]

Fix: Drill your balls.

100% Agree

 

[BeatleBlade]

Quick fix? Keep Done Sharp, Murphy, Wallace,Brayford,Reed,Basham......and replace the rest....simples.

We really don't need to do anything that drastic. Perhaps in the Championship they will be the only players necessary to hold onto but we can go up with just a few more additions.

 

[Guesty]

Problem 1: Generally second best to the ball all over the pitch. We were a yard or two off the pace. Gillingham were just more committed.

Fix: There was talk before the match of slowing the game down, playing at our pace etc. Not all the bloody time lads!

Problem 2: Switching play was sometimes slow, with balls floated out to the wings rather than drilled over.

Fix: Drill your balls.

Absolutely this. My mate and I were saying this at the game. So often the ball was a good one when it was played but it hung in the air so long that the recipient had been closed down by the time it dropped. Add this to the fact that Gillingham were a yard quicker all over the pitch and it's a recipe for disaster. Theirr new lad, number 16 I think it was, never stopped harrying and chasing. There was one bit, even at 3-0, where he sprinted around for a full 30 seconds or so always after the ball so our players could never settle. If the passing had been quicker and crisper he wouldn't have been able to do this.

Contrast that to our players when they had possession and the wasn't nearly the same aggression. Gillingham could pick their passes at will. Even the crosses were barely attacked by defenders!

 

[TheMonty45]

With all the emphasis on the defense (quite understandably) we didn't score either. Saw on the highlights that Freeman hit the side netting. Was that the closest we came?

 

[Guesty]

With all the emphasis on the defense (quite understandably) we didn't score either. Saw on the highlights that Freeman hit the side netting. Was that the closest we came?

Yes until the end when Murphy got through on goal and the 'Keeper saved well.

We never looked like building any attacks because we couldn't cope with their aggression. This even spread to Goal Kicks. The positions they took up meant we couldn't play it short as planned so Long booted it upfield. Of course, as our strikers were Adams and Sharp the ball came straight back every time.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Absolutely this. My mate and I were saying this at the game. So often the ball was a good one when it was played but it hung in the air so long that the recipient had been closed down by the time it dropped. Add this to the fact that Gillingham were a yard quicker all over the pitch and it's a recipe for disaster. Theirr new lad, number 16 I think it was, never stopped harrying and chasing. There was one bit, even at 3-0, where he sprinted around for a full 30 seconds or so always after the ball so our players could never settle. If the passing had been quicker and crisper he wouldn't have been able to do this.

Contrast that to our players when they had possession and the wasn't nearly the same aggression. Gillingham could pick their passes at will. Even the crosses were barely attacked by defenders!

Osadebe (no 16) was excellent. Big, strong, quick, athletic. He had everything most of our midfielders lack. Picked up for nothing from Tottenham's youth set up.

 

[Guesty]

Osadebe (no 16) was excellent. Big, strong, quick, athletic. He had everything most of our midfielders lack. Picked up for nothing from Tottenham's youth set up.

He was announced as MOTM on the tannoy which seemed well deserved. I hadn't realised it was his run that won the corner for the third until I read your analysis though. As well as his athleticism I was very impressed with his aggression. I don't mean fouls and being confrontation, just his relentless hunting of the ball as we tried to knock it about.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Osadebe (no 16) was excellent. Big, strong, quick, athletic. He had everything most of our midfielders lack. Picked up for nothing from Tottenham's youth set up.

Still time to make Gillingham an offer before the transfer window closes