Pre-Season Results

[gillsfan1066]

Well Ms. Fanny Mulligan, another wonderful report, ................I guess, unfortunately I have a job so after an hour of reading the blog I had to go to work, so did we win,what was the score ?

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

Gills drew 1-1 at Welling this afternoon.German scored our goal,and Welling had a chance to win the game late on but they missed a penalty.Gills play again at Dartford on Tuesday Night.

[gillsfan1066]

When do we actually play a game against 11 guys who don't spend all day working a full time job in the local gas station or window cleaning and all evening in the local drinking, and only train for 2 hours a week ??
I am all for playing the local minnows to put a few bucks in their coffers, but so far with a team which appears to consist of half of our starting 11 we have played 3 and scored only 6 goals, can't help but thinking a local pub team could have knocked in a few more in 3 games. Just wondering out loud ?

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

When do we actually play a game against 11 guys who don't spend all day working a full time job in the local gas station or window cleaning and all evening in the local drinking, and only train for 2 hours a week ??
I am all for playing the local minnows to put a few bucks in their coffers, but so far with a team which appears to consist of half of our starting 11 we have played 3 and scored only 6 goals, can't help but thinking a local pub team could have knocked in a few more in 3 games. Just wondering out loud ?

We play Ipswich on Saturday at Priestfield.Taylor wanted to play more local sides this year,Possibly to make sure he can work on systems and get the ball down and not get over run,like we would if we played Championship Teams/Premier League Teams.I do wish we could have a glamour friendly like Wimbledon did yesterday against a strong Chelsea side though.I`m sure it would sell out as well.Maybe we will get them in the FA Cup .

[Garawa]

It's all well and good mocking their part time status Gillsfan but in reality look at sides that have been relegated into the Conference and the divisions below it, they don't fair very well at all. Luton have been one of the biggest sides in there in years and it took them a while to get back, we will see how long it takes Bristol Rovers to do the same. Both Bromley and Welling are in that division with Rovers and I think both will be full time sides so really it was pretty much the same as us playing Yeovil or Britol City (as lower Championship clubs) when we were in League 2 and you wouldn't necessarily be certain they would win each time (and didn't). They were games we could lose especially changing the sides so much and remain unbeaten which, for a preseason, I am very happy with.

[gillsfan1066]

I was not as much mocking their part time status, I am disappointed that were basically struggling to score goals against teams like this, I would have thought a good First Division reserve team should beat the likes of Welling and Bromley by three or four, in each half.
Don't get the bit about teams going into the lower divisions and taking a long time to come back, thats because they automatically become one of "them", any of the good players who came down with them are sold and then they wallow around in front of a few thousand people not being able to buy players to get promoted , I would have thought being a Gillingham supporter you of all people would have known that,lol.

[Garawa]

Lol. I guess there are three key factors. Firstly we played significantly different sides each half with each containing plenty of youth players and trialists which would be far removed from the expected starting line ups.

Secondly, using my Championship club analogy, when Bristol City were a lower Championship club and we were a League 2 club we went to their place and beat them. Would they have been expected to beat us by 3 or 4 each half like you say as the difference in positions in the leagues is about the same. In fact, they were at home as well so that would be the equivalent of Welling coming to Priestfield and winning (just like Dover did). If we can do it to sides above us then lower league teams could to us but haven't so far in the friendlies we have had. Also the difference between Championship and League 2 players is greater than League 1 and Conference ones in my opinion.

Thirdly, they are the only local derbies against a league side. I am sure their gates would be considerably higher and the players of those sides would raise their game as they would not only want to win for pride but to also potentially earn a move out of it.

[fan_of_mulligan]

I like the away trips to Welling United, Folkestone Invicta and Bromley in pre-season, you never play these sides during the season, these grounds are local and easy to get to, and for those who have never done away pre-season matches before then pre-season friendlies give you the opportunity to cross off a lot of football stadiums you have never been to before, also at Non League Grounds you can move anywhere around the ground which isn't a luxury you get at Priestfield Stadium.

I don't know how Wycombe Wanderers and AFC Wimbledon can get a Chelsea XI to there grounds and yet we're closer to Chelsea geographically and we're a division higher and yet we cannot get Chelsea to send a second / third string squad to Priestfield Stadium, I have to say that £12 to watch Gillingham V Ipswich Town is very steep and I have also considered £10 to be the maximum you should pay to watch a pre-season friendly (unless we were to play Arsenal, West Ham or Chelsea at Priestfield Stadium).

[Elgrande]

A nice little pre-season unfriendly against Maidstone should create some interest?

[Garawa]

That would possibly be the biggest gate of the season for either side I reckon!! Can't see it ever occurring, the police would stop it unless we all handed them our first born!!!

I wondered how some of these friendlies came about. Wycombe travelled to West Brom rather than the other way round!?!?

[Elgrande]

Blimey that would cause confusion in Chatham and Shepway! ;-p
I think it is to with connections club to club and the draw of money G

[Elgrande]

Maidstone would be good though; might even see Jacob having pre match Cocktails with his hero Mr Gallagher!

[fan_of_mulligan]

If Gillingham ever played Maidstone United during pre-season, it would have to be at Priestfield Stadium, because you would have to have segregation between home and away supporters, at least the match would be well attended because I think there will only be 1500 inside Priestfield for the friendly against Ipswich Town.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

Gills beat Dartford 4-0 in a comfortable performance.Linganzi scored after 2 minutes,Norris added the second,Germany scored the third and his 2nd goal in 2 games,and Dickenson scored the 4th goal in the 90th minute.The toughest test comes on Saturday when we play Ipswich at Priestfield.It`s good that we`re unbeaten and seem to be gelling well as a Team.

[Elgrande]

Oh dear; I seem to have strayed into a world of dry facts and free of humour and irony. It must be a strange place to live!