by fan_of_mulligan » Sat Nov 07, 2015 9:36 pm
Today's result was by far the worst performance and worst result of the season and the first thing I am going to have to do is say well done to Stevenage, because Teddy Sheringham had a game-plan and his players played that game-plan effectively and efficiently and Stevenage fully deserved to win and 3-0 even flatters Gillingham to some degree as well, our players were out-fought, out-thought, out-muscled and clueless, against a team who looked liked they wanted the win more then we did.
But Justin Edinburgh has to take criticism for that performance today, Brennan Dickenson struggled at left back against Walsall Last Saturday so why did he play Brennan Dickenson at left back against Stevenage ??? why did he play The 4.4.2 Diamond Midfield Formation which Barnsley tore apart at Oakwell over a month a go in a game as important as Stevenage in The First Round Of The FA Cup ??? why didn't Justin Edinburgh make the necessary changes at half time to try and get Gillingham back into the game and why did he substitute Cody McDonald ??? - Justin Edinburgh did have his hands tied in team selection with Harry Lennon, Adedeji Oshilaja, Josh Wright, Bradley Dack and Luke Norris out either through ineligibility, injury or suspension, but Justin Edinburgh named a team and formation which was clearly never going to work because both Jordan Houghton and Emmanuel Osadebe are both light-weight in the middle of midfield and Cody McDonald and Rory Donnelly lacked the service and quality they require to make a difference.
What hurts the most about this defeat is the fact that this performance came in possibly our most important game this season, to lose 3-0 and put in that performance of The First Round Of The FA Cup hurts because this was our chance to have a cup run and maybe, just maybe, reach The Third Round Of The FA Cup, get a glamour cup tie and bring in additional revenue which will strengthen the squad in January for The Second Half Of The Season, It's not just the fact that Gillingham have lost against Stevenage, but it is the loss of additional earnings and the feel good factor a run in The FA Cup that can bring to your side which is what hurts the most about today's result.
Josh Wright has been suspended for the last three matches and Gillingham have drawn against Southend United 1-1, lost to Walsall 3-2 and lost 3-0 against Stevenage, we have missed Josh Wright's calming influence and quality in the middle of midfield, we also missed Bradley Dack for his tenacity, work-rate and quality in possession of the ball, Emmanuel Osadebe and Jordan Houghton looked lost out there on the pitch and replacing those two with Josh Wright and Bradley Dack may have made a real difference today.
Gillingham are still missing A Target-Man who can hold the ball up, knock the ball on and also win the first header from Ryan Jackson's long throw's, Luke Norris was sitting in the away end with Gillingham Supporters and we could of done with him on the pitch, I couldn't write A Detailed FOM BLOG for the match against Stevenage, just watching the game was frustrating let along writing thirty times how Stevenage have attacked down our left because Brennan Dickenson was out of position at left back, I hate to have a go at players individually, but Brennan Dickenson had one of those games where he probably wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole because he was clueless at left back, but also, there were far too many players on the pitch who's performance levels were not up to standard.
I also got to mention Trevor Kettle for the pathetic decision he made to book Rory Donnelly, Rory Donnelly quite rightfully said that Goalkeeper Jesse Joronen should of walked round the side of the pitch while being assisted off the pitch, rather then walk across the pitch and waste a bit of time for Chris Day to come on, Trevor Kettle clearly cannot take criticism and decides to show Rory Donnelly a booking and Rory Donnelly sarcastically applaud's Trevor Kettle, That one incident annoyed me, but any attempt to blame The Referee Today - even though it is Trevor Kettle - would be papering over the cracks, Gillingham got what we deserved against Stevenage - nothing - the challenge now is to put things right and win against Yeovil Town in The Football League Trophy on Tuesday Night.