Donny v Gills

[GFC4EVA]

Well after a decent pre season the real stuff starts with us makinnthe trip north.
i reckon we will line up with something like this as the squad stands

Holy
oneill zakuani ehmer ogilvie
bingham
Martin byrne wagstaff
Nash eaves

Subs:
Nelson
garmston
wright
chapman
oldaker
parker
hessenthaler

if wilkinson is fit i would have him in place of eaves

 

[Rothmans]

Havent seen any pre season but looking forward to watching Gills play as a team and not 11 individuals all blaming each other.

 

[Reading-Gills]

I think we'll play 3-5-2 and the line up will be the same as the one which started at Colchester on Friday, with maybe Garmston in for Ogilvie and Wright in for Byrne.

Think we'll lose 2-1

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I expect us to line up 3-5-2
Lawlor
Wright Butler Mason
Blair Coppinger Whiteman Rowe Andrew
Mandeville Marquis
Subs
Marosi Alcock Garrett Ben Khemis(if signed) Beestin May Williams

 

[GFCSludge]

I'm going for a 1-1

 

[Hooped Wizard]

1-1 bore draw

 

[PuB]

6-0 Gills

Champions by March

 

[Hooped Wizard]

You're going down son

 

[PuB]

You're going down son

You know nothing my friend

 

[joethegill]

Not the worst starting game we could've had, can see us picking up a positive result.

2-1 Gills, Eaves and Wagstaff for us, cancelling out a Marquis (obviously) opener. Around 400-500 Gills there.

 

[Andrewboom]

Fergie Jnr's team have been very hit and miss against us over the years. Will be interesting to see if they can carry on the momentum gained from promotion. We witnessed the gap between the division ourselves when winning the championship 4 years ago. Only 5 of that squad still play in lg1 or higher.

Can't help but look at their squad and think most of their senior player got relegated with them just a couple of seasons ago. We know first hand what a pain Marquis can be. The Gills crowd took to him and it does not surprise me that he has flourished away from the rut he was stuck in at the new den.

We have had a high turnover of players, and now have a first team with plenty to prove. Hopefully that is a good thing, but you can't expect 100% of the signing to work out, so we will need some of our impressive youngsters to step up. Last years pre season was exciting on paper, but the workrate and fight was non existent. We have a lot less talent on paper this year, but hopefully the squad have many of the missing ingredients from last years mess.

 

[Gator]

Randomly had a dream about this game. Liam Nash came off the bench to score but we lost 2-1.

So I'll go with that.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I will revise our line up now given the new signings.
Lawlor
Alcock Butler Mason Andrew
Whiteman Kongolo
Coppinger Rowe
Mandeville Marquis
Expecting a diamond formation but with a lot of fluidity.
Subs:
Marosi, Blair, Wright, Garrett, Ben Khemis,Williams and May

I'm more confident of a win now.

 

[Lee]

I'm confident that we will get off to a good start, but have concerns surrounding our defence. With baudry out for the next month or so it's looking like butler and 1 of Alcock/wright/mason will line up as our center halfs on Saturday, which doesn't fill me with much confidence. Alcock has been poor for a year now, Wright hardly played in league 2 and while mason is a decent player, he's not a proven centre half at this level.

I'm going 3-1 rovers

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Gills keeper is a beast definitely won them a point today

 

[PuB]

Gills keeper is a beast definitely won them a point today

Tomas Holy, spent three years at Sparta Prague. Decent shot stopper but distribution let's him down sometimes, glad to hear he had a good game today.

 

[joethegill]

Yep, Holy was fantastic today, really pleased for the kid. Thought we looked so much more solid than last season, just didn't create anything really in open play. Donny had a few decent chances but fluffed their lines fortunately. Don't think either side will be troubling the top half too much, but defensively both look capable of a safe lower mid table finish.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Only issue with the game was that Eaves wasn't shown a straight red for the blatant elbow on Butler. Gills strategy seemed to be park the bus and hope to snatch a goal, which nearly happened in the first half except for a great save from Lawlor. I remember Holy making 4 good saves, including a one on one and if it wasn't him then a defender got in the way. He was beaten twice by Whiteman but the bar on one occasion and a defenders head saved the day. I think we will get better just need to be more clinical and mid table safety should be gained. I fear for the Gills though as they created next to nothing against a defence missing 2 key players.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I should have put this on before, I'm blaming an early start and jet lag. A massive thanks to all from Gillingham for joining in the minutes applause for the passing of one of our owners and President of the club, very much appreciated for a very humble and likeable man.

 

[GFCSludge]

I think last season has tempered our expectations somewhat and our incoming signings don't exactly set pulses racing, so an away point and a clean sheet is definitely a step in the right direction.

If we can avoid flirting with the bottom 4 too regularly and finish above the dotted line then we have probably achieved what was required.

 

[Gills4years]

Only issue with the game was that Eaves wasn't shown a straight red for the blatant elbow on Butler. I fear for the Gills though as they created next to nothing against a defence missing 2 key players.

Fair enough. We signed Eaves from Yeovil and from what I gather he seems to be trying too hard to impress at the higher level by putting himself about. Hopefully the management will calm him down after having to withdraw him on this occasion.

As we have had a high turnover of players in the close season, it will take a while to achieve the cohesion we require so not too bothered with the lack of chances created in the first game. Actually, though, some reports said the Donny keeper was called upon to make two or three quality saves. Obviously not as many as Holy though.