Gillingham v Blackpool Official Matchday Thread 26.09.20

As long as we start on the front foot and start from the whistle I think we should be winning this match fairly comfortably. They're a young inexperienced squad, are lacking their 'key' attacking threat/playmaker in Kyle Dempsey and by all accounts are struggling with injuries and won't be able to name a full bench - on top of that they will have an 18 year old in goal unless they can find an emergency loan.

That being said - they have a few lads on loan from Arsenal who must have a bit of quality, Steve Evans will have them well drilled and they will be excellent at breaking up the tempo and stopping us from playing our game.

Could be 5-0 to the Pool, could equally be a frustrating 1-0 loss if we don't learn from our mistakes at Plymouth and the first 15 minutes against Swindon.

It's games like this where you're likely to be reliant on Plan B and C which determine the real outcome of the season.
 
I think some of the predictions of us scoring a hatful of goals are wide of the mark. I think when it all clicks we have the potential to score a lot of goals, but we're not there yet and so far I'd say we've been better defensively than anything else. We're still very much a new side too, and I think too much is made of injury problems sometimes. I remember years ago playing a Wigan side at home that had been absolutely decimated by injury and suspensions. They played a few teenagers I think but they were excellent and beat us comfortably. Sometimes the 2nd string ups their game to try and take the opportunity.

This isn't supposed to be negative, I just think some are expecting us to run before we can walk. I'm going for a 1-1.

All that said, I really hope this post doesn't age well!!
 
0-1 Keshi

Think it will be a cagey game. Just hope we don't go 1-0 down, Steve Evans will have them playing for fouls and wasting time for the entirety of the game.
 
I’m actually quite confident about tomorrow. Using Stoke game as a comparison, when we played Stoke we looked comfortable and was probably the better side. Gillingham’s game against Stoke this week was a real struggle for them. Stoke cantered to a win without going into top gear.

However, Evans is a wily old fox and always has something planned so we need to be alert to it.
 
tangomonkey said:
I’m actually quite confident about tomorrow. Using Stoke game as a comparison, when we played Stoke we looked comfortable and was probably the better side. Gillingham’s game against Stoke this week was a real struggle for them. Stoke cantered to a win without going into top gear.

However, Evans is a wily old fox and always has something planned so we need to be alert to it.
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We put a strong side out at Stoke. Gills rested a lot of players.
 
BFC_53 said:
I think some of the predictions of us scoring a hatful of goals are wide of the mark. I think when it all clicks we have the potential to score a lot of goals, but we're not there yet and so far I'd say we've been better defensively than anything else. We're still very much a new side too, and I think too much is made of injury problems sometimes. I remember years ago playing a Wigan side at home that had been absolutely decimated by injury and suspensions. They played a few teenagers I think but they were excellent and beat us comfortably. Sometimes the 2nd string ups their game to try and take the opportunity.

This isn't supposed to be negative, I just think some are expecting us to run before we can walk. I'm going for a 1-1.

All that said, I really hope this post doesn't age well!!
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Completely agree it’s a double edged sword - but apparently Gillingham are that low on numbers there is no second string to call upon. I believe they’re one of the clubs who drastically culled their academy to focus finances elsewhere so whilst Wigan’s, Bolton’s etc have had a healthy set of 18/19 year olds to call on to fill the bench Gillingham don’t have that luxury and as such the bench is sparse.
 
13 in, 9 out.


GILLINGHAM

IN: Ryan Jackson (Colchester, free), Vadaine Oliver (Northampton, free), Jacob Mellis (Bolton, free), Zech Medley (Arsenal, loan), Jordan Graham (Wolves, free), Trae Coyle (Arsenal, loan), Kyle Dempsey (Fleetwood, free), Alex MacDonald (Mansfield, free), Robbie McKenzie (Hull, free), Christian Maghoma (free agent), Scott Robertson (Celtic, loan), Dominic Samuel (Blackburn, free), Josh Eccles (Coventry, loan)

OUT: Max Ehmer (Bristol Rovers, free), Brandon Hanlan (Bristol Rovers, free), Regan Charles-Cook (Ross County, free), Mikael Mandron (Crewe, free), Ben Pringle (Morecambe, free)

LOANS EXPIRED: Alfie Jones, Thomas O’Connor (both Southampton), Olly Lee (Hearts), Jordan Roberts (Ipswich)
 
voyeur said:
We put a strong side out at Stoke. Gills rested a lot of players.
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With respect, I disagree. The Gills have a bit of an injury crisis going. They didn’t have enough to fill their sub bench for Stoke. I don’t think they had enough players to rest.
 
tangomonkey said:
With respect, I disagree. The Gills have a bit of an injury crisis going. They didn’t have enough to fill their sub bench for Stoke. I don’t think they had enough players to rest.
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Yeah sorry they do have some injuries - not sure how much that affected the team at Stoke - Evans will have wanted to protect some key players for the league game, surely?
 
I think gillingham usually go under the radar but they have some talented young and tricky players and IMO will be in and around the playoffs / top of 10 come the end of the season.

I think we may be catching them at a good time however and with what I’ve seen so far we will sneak it 1-2
 
Kaikai will replace Lubala (not rocket science) except that if KaiKai doesn't perform Lubala will be subbed for him.

I'd like Daniel Kemp to start because he's always in the mix when he comes on. The problem is, who makes way to replace him? Certainly not CJ, nor Yates -- somebody in midfield -- Robson, Anderson or Ward? No, they're all playing well. So young Daniel might find himself being a sub again -- hopefully, a Supersub!
 
Kai Kai may be on the bench..I think we could concede and still win...optimistic 1-3...its a decent test but we could do with a win to make up for Plymouth...win your home games and average over a point for away games and you go up...In Critch we trust
 
Husband wont be able to dislodge Mitchell thats for sure...maybe they could go Husband left back and Mitchell in front of him but I dont think so..eventually it will be Mitchell and Garbutt on the left...that will be a very strong left side for Div 1
 
They’ve recruited very well and will no doubt be dark horses.

I’m going for a 2-2 score draw.
 
Record against the Gills Won 15 Lost 12 Drawn 14
Not won in our last three games against them.

So I'm going for a 1-1 draw.
 
Injuries apart I'm pretty sure it will be the same 11 as started last week. Hubby will probably get Thorniley's place on the bench. Either Virtue or Kaikai will replace Winkey, the other will probably have to sit it out.
Pass purchased.
UTMP.
 
Not sure I’d put Husband in at Centre Half against Akinde - think we need height, strength and speed to handle the Gillingham forwards today. They will be quite direct and we can’t afford to be bullied by a Steve Evans team. Ethan Robson will have his work cut out today. I’d be minded to switch Ward with Sarkic who’s more likely to get his foot on the ball, play a little deeper and look to support Robson that little more than Ward has (not that Ward has done anything wrong)
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
Sarkic has done nothing to warrant inclusion yet so why would you swap him for Ward who has been one of our best performers to date?
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Sarkic hasn’t been given a chance to play yet - so how could he ‘warrant inclusion’ ? Ward has been excellent however is a more attacking minded player, he’s not a ball winning midfielder and prefers to play with the ball further up the field, whereas from what I’ve seen of Sarkic in pre-season he’s more likely to get stuck in and win the ball and then play with it from a deeper position (although he is still attack minded)
I think Gillingham will try bully us today and break down play so a more combatative player able to play attacking balls from deep may be more useful.
Horses for course and all that.
 
I want us to go out and really show what we can do. To put on a show that we all think is in these players. However, it's still early season and I wouldn't be surprised if we get caught napping. I've gone for 2-1 to the Pool but not with an unshakable confidence.
 
From what I've seen of Sarkic - which I acknowledge isn't a lot - I really like the control he brings to the game.
I think we're all trying to find that 11th man to complete the team - which I think could be Sakic or an advanced Mitchell, or maybe Garbutt.
 
29DaysLate said:
From what I've seen of Sarkic - which I acknowledge isn't a lot - I really like the control he brings to the game.
I think we're all trying to find that 11th man to complete the team - which I think could be Sakic or an advanced Mitchell, or maybe Garbutt.
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Kemp isnt gonna play in cjs position unless hes injured.
Cj never gets subbed
 
Good to have a settled side, so far. Good options from bench. Just got the picture up, to prove its working. Maxwell out warming up. Sounds breezy down there.
 
Settled team is good, obviously when night games kick in there will be changes to rest players, particularly with a high press game. Utmp
 
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