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Post by bexleygills on Jul 11, 2011 16:09:04 GMT 1
Actually I've seen Birchall play a few times, including the Dartford game where you could see all his flaws. The problem with Birchall is he needs a strong midfield to pass to him, we have that so its fine.
Akinfenwa was a spoilt baby on the field, you cant say he didnt moan as it was obvious when he did it. He scored few goals and although macdonal and him had an okay partnership for only one striker to score most of the goals that striker needs to be scoring 30-40 goals a season to make it successful which macdonald couldnt do because akinfewnwa was simply not that good half of the season. I can see Kedwell and Birchall knocking up 40 goals together (as in both not each that would be rediculous)
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Post by statotheblue on Jul 11, 2011 16:23:06 GMT 1
The only real problem we had with last years strikers was that they could not defend.Kedwell at least will be a asset when it comes to corners and free kicks at both end of the pitch from what I have read on Womble underground press. As for plan B I think it will be going 1 up front and 5 across the middle we have a far stronger midfield now although unless Rooney or Miller can quickly make the left sided roll his own(which I find unlikely)I feel we do need a left winger but maybe a loan could be our best bet there.
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Post by jaggysnake on Jul 11, 2011 16:47:25 GMT 1
Actually I've seen Birchall play a few times, including the Dartford game where you could see all his flaws. The problem with Birchall is he needs a strong midfield to pass to him, we have that so its fine. Akinfenwa was a spoilt baby on the field, you cant say he didnt moan as it was obvious when he did it. He scored few goals and although macdonal and him had an okay partnership for only one striker to score most of the goals that striker needs to be scoring 30-40 goals a season to make it successful which macdonald couldnt do because akinfewnwa was simply not that good half of the season. I can see Kedwell and Birchall knocking up 40 goals together (as in both not each that would be rediculous) Where did I say he didn't moan? Little wonder he did as he was completely frustrated at the lack of service and the persecution from officials. His contribution to our season is clearly underrated by some...
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Post by jaggysnake on Jul 11, 2011 16:50:34 GMT 1
The only real problem we had with last years strikers was that they could not defend.Kedwell at least will be a asset when it comes to corners and free kicks at both end of the pitch from what I have read on Womble underground press. As for plan B I think it will be going 1 up front and 5 across the middle we have a far stronger midfield now although unless Rooney or Miller can quickly make the left sided roll his own(which I find unlikely)I feel we do need a left winger but maybe a loan could be our best bet there. They're not paid to defend. One up front? Woo hoo. I don't think Birchall would be a very good lone frontman in this league, and what happens if Kedwell is injured and it doesn't work? You can't do much with only two strikers on your books.
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Post by statotheblue on Jul 11, 2011 17:08:46 GMT 1
Sorry I disagree you need to be able to defend from the front we have not been good at that that why our away record has been poor letting in far to many goals.A centre forward should be able to pick up the centre back that goes forward Bayo couldn't.That left Maher or Nutter often having to pick up a towering centre back we were lucky that we did not concede far more goals from set plays last season.
As for one up front given our midfield is the strongest we have had in this league for a very long time if not ever.I feel the more you get players like Whelpdale and Lee into your opponents box the more goals we are going to get.I really can see Whelpdale getting at least 15 goals this season.Lee should be good for 8 to 10.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2011 18:16:10 GMT 1
I think you are both talking some sense and also some rubbish! Firstly, bayo. Was superb last season until he got found out. Teams from the Oxford game onwards worked out if they played a holding midfielder, he was hopeless as that was the space he occupied. I don't think Hess was that bothered about keeping him or he wouldnt have offered a silly contract. McDonald- anyone criticising him has no idea. He missed chances but also created goals out of nothing on his own. A very fine lower league striker. Doubt he'd cut it at championship level, but 26 goals - end of discussion. Kedwell- I've seen him play 3 times, all on tele. He'll score more than Bayo, he's a leader, a fighter and someone you want to go into battle with. Is he better than bayo? No, he's different. He's less one dimensional, but Jaggy is right- we still need to play the right way. Birchall- I'm bloody excited. He's a risk, but his head is right where it wasn't when he played in the league before, he's got pedigree having been on Arsenal's books, he's very quick, surprisingly strong and a born finisher. Again his different from Cody- he won't waste as many chances, but he's not as good in the air.
Jaggy- how you can say we don't have a better squad than last year is beyond me. You're arguing frampton isn't better than Gowling, Fish no better than Sinclair, Whelpdale no better than Bentley, Lee not as good as Maher..... Sorry, it just doesn't stack up. The squad isn't perfect as Hess himself knows and has stated, but it's stronger. As for your desire to see Hess fail, I just don't understand that. You might not think he's the man for the job, but surely his status as a player means you'd want him to succeed, even if you don't think he will? I can't understand any supporter taking pleasure in watching the clubs manager fail
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Post by bexleygills on Jul 11, 2011 18:41:20 GMT 1
You'll find I thought Cody was good, just a) birchall better with the right midfield and b) lacked at the season end.
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Post by jaggysnake on Jul 11, 2011 19:16:52 GMT 1
Desire to see Hess fail? Where on God's green earth have you magicked that opinion from? I am a Gillingham fan and I want them to win no matter who the manager is. But what sort of player he was matters not a jot. All I wanted last season was promotion and to be entertained a bit along the way. We got neither. And the buck stops with him. He failed last season and unless he changes the way he sends his team out this season, he will fail again.
As for the squad, I'd take Julian over Flitney. Cronin as bad as he was, is better than no one. Gowling v Frampton? We'll have to see. Same with Fish over Sinclair, but I concede that's a likely win for this year. Yes, Lee has improved the centre of midfield. Whelpdale is obviously better than our right-winger last year as we didn't have one. However, we've not come close to replacing Barcham, and as previously discussed, I'd pick last year's front two over the new signings which have cost us the best part of £200k and come with no league pedigree.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2011 20:56:56 GMT 1
I plucked it from the fact you said that either we go up or Hess is sacked and you'd be happy with either outcome. Personally, i'd only be happy with promotion. I'd be gutted if we didn't go up, whoever the manager is
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Post by swanleygill on Jul 11, 2011 22:35:50 GMT 1
Very interesting reading all the above posts, so thought id have my opinion so jaggy can criticise it. On the signings, Flitney hmm we will see. Fish hmm again we will see. Frampton great signing, excellent player. Montrose again a very good young decent player. Whelpdale amazing signing, Lee again amazing signing, Kedwell great potential, done very well last season, and he supports the club as a supporter as well as being a good player, Birchill if we get him, again a great player, cody started at dartford, now look at him, birchill 45 goals last season, amazing. whatever the level. I think if we get Birchill we dont need another striker,we have Oli and Payne who CAN do a job if needed, Our midfield is massivly strong, id be happy with kedwell getting 15 goals, birchill15 goals, whelpdale 10 goals, lee 10 goals, montrose 5 goals, frampton and fish will get a few to. We were never going to get, or be able to replace McDonald with a proven 26 goal league striker, What hess and scally have done,is improve the whole squad. Promotion is a must, we are strong on paper, and the players we have now all WANT to play for the gills, Thats massive. So support the players.manager, chairman, and club,
On a personal note, i have in the past been very critical of scally, but so far he is doing a great job this summer, so well done mr scally, keep it up.
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Post by jaggysnake on Jul 11, 2011 23:26:07 GMT 1
I plucked it from the fact you said that either we go up or Hess is sacked and you'd be happy with either outcome. Personally, i'd only be happy with promotion. I'd be gutted if we didn't go up, whoever the manager is I would prefer promotion, of course, but it's just refreshing to know that if this season is as shite as last, we should have a new manager for 2012-13. Of course I don't want that to happen, but it would be a decent consolation.
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Post by jaggysnake on Jul 11, 2011 23:32:41 GMT 1
Very interesting reading all the above posts, so thought id have my opinion so jaggy can criticise it. On the signings, Flitney hmm we will see. Fish hmm again we will see. Frampton great signing, excellent player. Montrose again a very good young decent player. Whelpdale amazing signing, Lee again amazing signing, Kedwell great potential, done very well last season, and he supports the club as a supporter as well as being a good player, Birchill if we get him, again a great player, cody started at dartford, now look at him, birchill 45 goals last season, amazing. whatever the level. I think if we get Birchill we dont need another striker,we have Oli and Payne who CAN do a job if needed, Our midfield is massivly strong, id be happy with kedwell getting 15 goals, birchill15 goals, whelpdale 10 goals, lee 10 goals, montrose 5 goals, frampton and fish will get a few to. We were never going to get, or be able to replace McDonald with a proven 26 goal league striker, What hess and scally have done,is improve the whole squad. Promotion is a must, we are strong on paper, and the players we have now all WANT to play for the gills, Thats massive. So support the players.manager, chairman, and club, On a personal note, i have in the past been very critical of scally, but so far he is doing a great job this summer, so well done mr scally, keep it up. By your standards, that's a half-decent post. Only two things I'd say... You say Oli and Payne can do a job. Well, they neither did that job or were given ample chance to do it last season. To me it's pretty obvious that Hessenthaler doesn't rate either of them that much, so, much like last season, we're going to be relying in two strikers again. And which players last season do you think didn't want to play for the club? No doubt you'll name McCammon, but after that I can't think if anyone even close to that fairly libellous claim. I must make a note of some of these goal predictions you lot are making, as they may look really funny in May. PS - I love how I've collected another negative karma today because I'm not completely deluded...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2011 6:58:58 GMT 1
I'd happily say there were players last season who's heart or more likely head weren't in playing for us. I'd also accept some of that was hessy's fault. For example, would you hand on heart say that Weston gave his all last year? Not entirely his fault- the manager doesn't trust him. How about Jackman? Again, Hess doesn't rate him so must be hard for him. Was fuller himself? Was oli's head there? He spent the whole season worried about his hamstring when he played. Barcham was similar- I don't think he liked Hess as I know he thought highly of Stimson. I hope that's not the case this year as we seem to have a lot of leaders and fighters
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2011 18:56:28 GMT 1
Report in todays' Sun ~ Hess about to sign £50 K Birchall, if this proves to be so glad to hear it,and a far cry from the originally reported sum required by Dover.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2011 19:13:53 GMT 1
Sorry folks on reading further postings it appears my news was history.
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