Post by stevek192 on Apr 29, 2018 10:06:53 GMT
So here we go, Home match no 23 in a season that seems to have flown by and the only real reasons for playing the match other than to conclude the home season was the news that it would be Lee Browns last game as it would also be Nick Days last game on the microphone. That apart there was little in the way of excitement about this game. Team Selection saw no real shocks other than possibly the exclusion from the squad of Ollie Clarke and Ryan sweeney although it is likely that Ollie was injured.
I suppose in many ways the inclusion of Nicholls up front was a shock but that has been the case throughout the season. With 5 draws and one victory in the last 6 home games and absolutely nothing to play for other than pride the crowd of 9700 odd was probably a good attendance in the circumstances. i have to say we have seen some good games in those six matches but the fact we have plkayed mostly top teams does not hold for me because in previous seasons we can usually boast of mainly beating sides at home whatever their stature and in all honesty it has been a disappointing end of the season and probably overall a fairly disappointing season as regards results overall.The important thing is that it looked a lot worse at Christmas so from that point of view to have relegation thoughts pretty well wiped outby the end of March was in itself an achievement. Any hopes of a Play off place which was always an outside chance were also fairly easily cast aside with a disappointing run of results recently although the performances haven't been too bad.
Slocombe 6.5 Average game. Distribution questionable at times and looked a bit slow going down on the equaliser but it would be harsh to blame him for it and overall we didn't often look like conceding other than when they hit the post in the first half and had the goal disallowed.
J. Clarke 5.5 Looked slow and was caught out a few times but kept going and got in a few good challenges. His throw ins are questionable a bit like the other side but he never gives up and a bit like Sincs is the modelo pro but there again that is something you expect from a DC signing.
Lockyer 7 Like Craig a solid performance against a very robust and difficult player to mark in Tom Eaves. Was reliable throughout and his reading of the game is superb and would have been an 8 other than his last second lack of a tackle in the equaliser. That goal pretty well summed up our season.
Craig 7.5 Solid and uncompromising and a natural leader. knows what he is doing and when to do it or in other words has worn the shirt at a higher level and it shows in everything he does.
Brown 7 the sad thing about Lee leaving is that it is really an end of an era for the club and at a time when he was back to his very best after really a quite disappointing season by his standards. Had a good game and it was unfortunate that he was possibly at fault for the goal conceded in the last seconds but perhaps he was one of a few who didn't come out of that moment with much credibility. At least it didn't matter and I can only thank Lee Brown for his loyalty since he joined our club and the fine example he has set and the biggest compliment I can give him is that at his best he is up there with the top left backs in this division and he is not going to be easy to replace. and then... there is that small moment of the 92nd minute!! Good luck Browner
Moore 6.5 Better first half than second but worked hard down the right and IMO gave another good account of himself. I wonder at times if it is the Managers influence that causes him to rarely take on the full back but perhaps he is just that type of player and that is why DC signed him. I liked the way he was always moving and coming inside more in the first half and on the basis of him, Broom or Mensah I would definitely keep him for another year but also like to see DC sign another winger in the summer rather than do a Montano and let him go and then fail to get a replacement until January next year!!
Lines 9 MOM Superb. take away the sentiments of giving the MOM to Browner and Chris was the only contender. Always composed on the ball, always wanting to be involved and in recent times has won far more possession himself. The run to set up our goal was absolute class and he is another who I hope we will see again next season.
Sercombe 7.5 its been a great first season with the Gas and a well deserved Player of the Season. it was a great shame he got injured as the season was getting interesting but has come back and has got up to pace again and him and Lines look good together which is something that did not look possible earlier in the season where I must admit I did not think they could play together in the middle. I would pin a lot down to the improvement Tony Craig has brought to the defence which means we don't need to protect it quite so much. I very much hope that next season DC will be a bit more positive with his attacking intents at home and actually impose ourselves on the opposition rather than defend our own half.
Bennett 6.5 Didn't have the most successful day but there again he is always looking to make a positive creative output and by doing that he is always going to take chances others do not. He is so exciting to watch and I can't wait for next season if we can get a couple of strikers who match his ability on the ball and can finish well-something we have really lacked this season.
Nichols 5 Better first half than second but is not really playing as a striker and faded as the second half wore on. if he hadn't cost us £300,000 and wasn't under contract I would release quicker than Luke James but I feel that we have to give him another year and hope. My first signing in the summer would be to put a bid in for Tom Eaves because he would provide what we have missed as well as the goals because too often we lose out physically in the final third.
Harrison 6.5 Ellis for me has faded a bit in the last few weeks and whilst he has maintained his effort has lost a bit of the creativity and the goalscoring has deserted him. Still did enough to warrant his place but I still wonder if his place is alongside someone else or out wide coming inside. of course there is always a chance that he won't be here next season which will be a shame.
Subs: Telford 7 Provided the spark which Nicholls lacked and really looks the part and took his goal well. Of course what we don't know is whether he can do this from the start or on a regular basis and he is another who we don't know if we can sign him even if we wanted to. Has DC been very clever here with his lack of usage? Only time will tell.
Gaffney 5.5 Wouldn't be surprised if that was Gaffney's last appearance at the Mem. for me he has had the look of somebody who was starved of appearances when he deserved to be starting and has now totally lost confidence in himself and probably believes himself that his future is elsewhere. He didn't really add anything to the mix yesterday.
Broom 5 Is he worth keeping in the Development squad of is he basically a non league player? My thoughts are probably the latter and that there are possibly better players in the Development squad.
Crowd 8 In the circumstances a good crowd which was quite noisy and gave Lee Brown and Nick Day a good send off. it will be interesting to see how the crowds stand up next season because I feel that if some investment is not made in recruitment in the summer then the number of season ticket holders will be less and so will matchday attendances. We have only won 11 out of 23 home games this season and for me that is not good enough particularly taking into account a disastrous away record.
Ref 7 Generally pretty good as although he seemed to miss a lot of the physical aspects of Gillingham's play perhaps it is just that we are neither physical enough or clever enough.
Gillingham 6 A rugged side who made things difficult for us with their robust tactics but overall were a very average side with little sparkle or invention- in fact a very typical but ordinary Gillingham side who probably just about deserved a draw which was as much down to our limitations..
DC- The DC magic has been lacking much of this season and he can only do so much with the limited amount of Investment that has been made. With a new Stadium as far away as it has ever been it is questionable whether the owners can match DC's ambitions and along with that the fans ambitions too. It has been very evident that DC has not been satisfied with the performances this season and the final finish will be disappointing. We are at the stage where the Manager will know that we need 4 or five quality additions but with the new rules on loan structure there is less room for error and we may have to keep some players because we cannot be certain we can get better and once the season starts that is it-there is no I month period where we can get in loan players to strengthen. For me the Manager has to take some blame for the chaotic start to the season where it was clear that whatever formation we put out we were playing with round heads in square holes and the injury crises showed that we are lacking a few more senior players and quality which costs money. For me we lack the physicality and power within our team to compete with the big boys in this League.
I think it is a case of some of the present first team players dropping down to regular squad players - Sinclair, Ollie Clarke, Partington, Moore to name a few and at least 5 new players coming in with players like James Clarke, Leadbitter, Gaffney,Burn,Broom possibly leaving in the summer.
Only time will tell but 19 defeats with 1 more probably to come is just not good enough. UTG
I suppose in many ways the inclusion of Nicholls up front was a shock but that has been the case throughout the season. With 5 draws and one victory in the last 6 home games and absolutely nothing to play for other than pride the crowd of 9700 odd was probably a good attendance in the circumstances. i have to say we have seen some good games in those six matches but the fact we have plkayed mostly top teams does not hold for me because in previous seasons we can usually boast of mainly beating sides at home whatever their stature and in all honesty it has been a disappointing end of the season and probably overall a fairly disappointing season as regards results overall.The important thing is that it looked a lot worse at Christmas so from that point of view to have relegation thoughts pretty well wiped outby the end of March was in itself an achievement. Any hopes of a Play off place which was always an outside chance were also fairly easily cast aside with a disappointing run of results recently although the performances haven't been too bad.
Slocombe 6.5 Average game. Distribution questionable at times and looked a bit slow going down on the equaliser but it would be harsh to blame him for it and overall we didn't often look like conceding other than when they hit the post in the first half and had the goal disallowed.
J. Clarke 5.5 Looked slow and was caught out a few times but kept going and got in a few good challenges. His throw ins are questionable a bit like the other side but he never gives up and a bit like Sincs is the modelo pro but there again that is something you expect from a DC signing.
Lockyer 7 Like Craig a solid performance against a very robust and difficult player to mark in Tom Eaves. Was reliable throughout and his reading of the game is superb and would have been an 8 other than his last second lack of a tackle in the equaliser. That goal pretty well summed up our season.
Craig 7.5 Solid and uncompromising and a natural leader. knows what he is doing and when to do it or in other words has worn the shirt at a higher level and it shows in everything he does.
Brown 7 the sad thing about Lee leaving is that it is really an end of an era for the club and at a time when he was back to his very best after really a quite disappointing season by his standards. Had a good game and it was unfortunate that he was possibly at fault for the goal conceded in the last seconds but perhaps he was one of a few who didn't come out of that moment with much credibility. At least it didn't matter and I can only thank Lee Brown for his loyalty since he joined our club and the fine example he has set and the biggest compliment I can give him is that at his best he is up there with the top left backs in this division and he is not going to be easy to replace. and then... there is that small moment of the 92nd minute!! Good luck Browner
Moore 6.5 Better first half than second but worked hard down the right and IMO gave another good account of himself. I wonder at times if it is the Managers influence that causes him to rarely take on the full back but perhaps he is just that type of player and that is why DC signed him. I liked the way he was always moving and coming inside more in the first half and on the basis of him, Broom or Mensah I would definitely keep him for another year but also like to see DC sign another winger in the summer rather than do a Montano and let him go and then fail to get a replacement until January next year!!
Lines 9 MOM Superb. take away the sentiments of giving the MOM to Browner and Chris was the only contender. Always composed on the ball, always wanting to be involved and in recent times has won far more possession himself. The run to set up our goal was absolute class and he is another who I hope we will see again next season.
Sercombe 7.5 its been a great first season with the Gas and a well deserved Player of the Season. it was a great shame he got injured as the season was getting interesting but has come back and has got up to pace again and him and Lines look good together which is something that did not look possible earlier in the season where I must admit I did not think they could play together in the middle. I would pin a lot down to the improvement Tony Craig has brought to the defence which means we don't need to protect it quite so much. I very much hope that next season DC will be a bit more positive with his attacking intents at home and actually impose ourselves on the opposition rather than defend our own half.
Bennett 6.5 Didn't have the most successful day but there again he is always looking to make a positive creative output and by doing that he is always going to take chances others do not. He is so exciting to watch and I can't wait for next season if we can get a couple of strikers who match his ability on the ball and can finish well-something we have really lacked this season.
Nichols 5 Better first half than second but is not really playing as a striker and faded as the second half wore on. if he hadn't cost us £300,000 and wasn't under contract I would release quicker than Luke James but I feel that we have to give him another year and hope. My first signing in the summer would be to put a bid in for Tom Eaves because he would provide what we have missed as well as the goals because too often we lose out physically in the final third.
Harrison 6.5 Ellis for me has faded a bit in the last few weeks and whilst he has maintained his effort has lost a bit of the creativity and the goalscoring has deserted him. Still did enough to warrant his place but I still wonder if his place is alongside someone else or out wide coming inside. of course there is always a chance that he won't be here next season which will be a shame.
Subs: Telford 7 Provided the spark which Nicholls lacked and really looks the part and took his goal well. Of course what we don't know is whether he can do this from the start or on a regular basis and he is another who we don't know if we can sign him even if we wanted to. Has DC been very clever here with his lack of usage? Only time will tell.
Gaffney 5.5 Wouldn't be surprised if that was Gaffney's last appearance at the Mem. for me he has had the look of somebody who was starved of appearances when he deserved to be starting and has now totally lost confidence in himself and probably believes himself that his future is elsewhere. He didn't really add anything to the mix yesterday.
Broom 5 Is he worth keeping in the Development squad of is he basically a non league player? My thoughts are probably the latter and that there are possibly better players in the Development squad.
Crowd 8 In the circumstances a good crowd which was quite noisy and gave Lee Brown and Nick Day a good send off. it will be interesting to see how the crowds stand up next season because I feel that if some investment is not made in recruitment in the summer then the number of season ticket holders will be less and so will matchday attendances. We have only won 11 out of 23 home games this season and for me that is not good enough particularly taking into account a disastrous away record.
Ref 7 Generally pretty good as although he seemed to miss a lot of the physical aspects of Gillingham's play perhaps it is just that we are neither physical enough or clever enough.
Gillingham 6 A rugged side who made things difficult for us with their robust tactics but overall were a very average side with little sparkle or invention- in fact a very typical but ordinary Gillingham side who probably just about deserved a draw which was as much down to our limitations..
DC- The DC magic has been lacking much of this season and he can only do so much with the limited amount of Investment that has been made. With a new Stadium as far away as it has ever been it is questionable whether the owners can match DC's ambitions and along with that the fans ambitions too. It has been very evident that DC has not been satisfied with the performances this season and the final finish will be disappointing. We are at the stage where the Manager will know that we need 4 or five quality additions but with the new rules on loan structure there is less room for error and we may have to keep some players because we cannot be certain we can get better and once the season starts that is it-there is no I month period where we can get in loan players to strengthen. For me the Manager has to take some blame for the chaotic start to the season where it was clear that whatever formation we put out we were playing with round heads in square holes and the injury crises showed that we are lacking a few more senior players and quality which costs money. For me we lack the physicality and power within our team to compete with the big boys in this League.
I think it is a case of some of the present first team players dropping down to regular squad players - Sinclair, Ollie Clarke, Partington, Moore to name a few and at least 5 new players coming in with players like James Clarke, Leadbitter, Gaffney,Burn,Broom possibly leaving in the summer.
Only time will tell but 19 defeats with 1 more probably to come is just not good enough. UTG
