by fan_of_mulligan » Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:48 pm
Poor Team Selection, Poor Substitutes, Poor Decision Making, Poor Performance, Poor Result and the goal we conceded was very poor as well - and any talk about Gillingham challenging for the playoffs is over for this season, I couldn't see Gillingham seriously challenging for the playoffs this season, but I would of used the playoffs to try and push Gillingham to end as high as we possibly can in League One, because a top half / top ten finish in League One would be a incredible achievement considering where Gillingham were in The League One Table in January.
Justin Edinburgh has to be criticised for his team selection and substitutions today, starting Luke Norris as the lone centre forward with John Marquis as a left winger in a unbalanced 4.2.3.1 formation wasn't unexpected as Justin Edinburgh stuck with the team that won 2-1 against Crawley Town the week before, but the substitutions were very strange, taking off John Marquis for Brennan Dickenson and John Egan off for Leon Legge was like for like, Justin Edinburgh was very reluctant to substitute Aaron Morris when it was clear that two defensive holding midfielders was pointless when we were 1-0 down.
Justin Edinburgh should of taken off Aaron Morris for Brennan Dickenson and Luke Norris subbed off for Cody McDonald, then play Jermaine McGlashan and Brennan Dickenson on both flanks with Cody McDonald and John Marquis up top with Bradley Dack playing behind the two strikers, the front four also should of been instructed to press high and force Fleetwood Town's Defence into rushed or hurried clearances, because charging down lost causes and Gillingham being on the front-foot only really happened in the final ten minutes of the match today when things were getting desperate.
The 4.2.3.1 Formation can work and the formation can work exceptionally well, but you need pacey wingers on both flanks and plenty of movement off the ball to make this formation work, if Justin Edinburgh wants to persist with this formation then Brennan Dickenson has to start on the left with Jermaine McGlashan on the right, I would prefer switching back to the 4.4.2 diamond midfield formation and playing Cody McDonald and John Marquis up-front, I think Luke Norris is a hard working striker with plenty of potential and ability, but after starting the last three matches I think Luke Norris needs to be named among the substitutes bench and that Cody McDonald should play alongside John Marquis between now until the end of the season.
Whenever Gillingham get a massive attendance at Priestfield Stadium (7,961 today) we lose in-front of a big attendance, a win today was not only essential in ensuring that Gillingham will be in League One for The 2015 / 2016 Season or that Gillingham can still challenge for the playoffs or end in a top half / top ten position in League One, but a win today would of been a great opportunity to encourage the casual supporter to come to more Gillingham Matches or buy A Season Ticket for Next Season, I think that's what hurt the most about today's defeat, Fleetwood Town at home was a audition for Gillingham Football Club to show-case themselves to the casual supporter and we have failed that audition badly today, a win against Fleetwood Town might have encouraged supporters to buy tickets for The Bradford City, Rochdale and Notts County Matches, but these matches will probably drop back to The usual 4,800 attendances that we have been seen at home matches this season.
Fleetwood Town's Time Wasting, checking the ball wasn't flat for every goal-kick, throw on, corner kick and free kick was very frustrating, but Fleetwood Town had a game-plan and they came to Gillingham with every intention of picking up a point, in the last four home matches the opposition has scored the opening goal, against Colchester United and Doncaster Rovers Gillingham fought back to earn a point, but against Barnsley and Fleetwood Town, Gillingham have lost 1-0 and this is something we have got to work on when we do go behind and the opposition sit deep, play for time and slow the game right down - however I also think that 1-0 flattered Gillingham to some degree because Fleetwood Town created several goal-scoring opportunities and they could and perhaps should of gone in at half time 2-0.
Leyton Orient for me is now a must win game, if Gillingham do win at Brisbane Road on Monday then Gillingham will move nine points clear of Leyton Orient with five matches to play, should Leyton Orient win then they are just three points behind Gillingham and we're looking over our shoulder at the relegation zone, team selection can no longer be about looking at players for next season, Justin Edinburgh has to name his strongest team and make sure that his tactics are spot on against Leyton Orient, because his tactics and substitutions were appalling today.