How do you make a Gills fan happy?

[Garawa]

Not a joke, a genuine question! We seem to change minds quicker than a traffic light changes. After the first 2 friendlies everyone seemed highly positive about how the season was going to pan out (although they rarely are an indication of how it actually will) but we then lose 6-1 in a TRAINING match (didn't even qualify as a friendly) and suddenly it is going to be a tough season. There were even murmerings in some quarters about how a "poor pre-season" often leads to a "good season". 2 wins out of 3 is poor pre-season????

Then there was the euphoria of the triple signings and what great business the Gills had done but that quickly subsided when people started questioning how much (if at all) we paid for these players. Players on a free?! Forget some had been loan players last season the quality we hadn't seen for a long time and the likes of which I felt were well out of our capability of encouraging to sign for the club.

Now this week, our one and ONLY loan player brought in so far has got the ball rolling again. In a climate proliferated with loan players (including at many top European sides) it is a wonder we haven't got a lot more especially as we tend to use the loan market a lot. The lad from Chelsea initially got everyone excited with his youth pedigree but that also quickly turned into the inevitable "on the cheap" and "freebie" jibes. Forget that for his age category he is the equivalent of a big name and that perhaps our level could be a fantastic starting point for him. After all just look at what stunning impact his colleague Patrick Bamford had at both MK Dons (in our division) and Middlesboro (who were promoted to the Premier League).

Will our fans ever be happy with anything? Perhaps the close season is too long and they need the extra stress of the Gills losing a match! I fully appreciate that often there are genuine reasons that fans need to voice their concerns but this is possibly the youngest, most gifted and exciting team in years and they've been written off before a ball has been kicked in anger.

[Rimshot]

I think it's just the inevitability of our close season, which has exactly the same elements every year; noises off from Scally about 'new dawn, new investors, new ground , blah blah blah', then the desultory attempts to pick up players without any real budget. Let's face it - we're all desperate for something different and exciting to happen or some previously undiscovered talent to emerge.

Inevitably we over-react both at good signs and bad. Truth is guys it's likely to be same old, same old ...

[Garawa]

I truly think we have a couple of gems in our squad this season that are going to set the season alight. I may be proved wrong but Houghton and Donnelly could have a big impact and Osadebe could also be added to that list. Then there's Dack who, if he plays in the same role as he did in the latter part of last season, I suspect would have the biggest impact of any player at this club since the Championship era and he would become the type of player that is sought after by 90% of the sides in the Football League.

If you then add in the likes of Ehmer who in my opinion was the opposite of a "loan player no longer wanted by his club so we ended up with him" then we have the basics of a very good team.

I totally agree with what you say Rimshot and I guess we have been there many times before but this feels a little different and I wish for once our fans would see a few games of the new season before writing it all off!

[bunburygills]

Not being able to see any of these new players but reading up on them, looking at the ages in the team and liking what I hear and know about our manager, I'm feeling quietly confident about the season. I'm getting that mid table feeling with a chance of creeping into a playoff spot. When we rely on freebies and loan players, then I think that's the most we can hope for. If we play a better style of football and can attract a few thousand more through the gate, who knows where it might lead to. Let's stay optimistic.

[lidbid46]

Well I'm excited; but nothing new there I suppose! As usual, I think this season is going to be fantastic and Gills are going to play thrilling football. I will continue to believe tat until August 8th at least!!

[gillsfan1066]

How do you make a Gills fan happy,
A) Win the division.
B) Make the playoffs and go to Wembley, you saw how many Gills fans went there .

Finishing 12th or 14th, playing Port Vale or Colchester for the 496th time does little to excite anyone except the hardest of Gills fans, all 154 of them.

[mark8364]

Not a joke, a genuine question! We seem to change minds quicker than a traffic light changes. After the first 2 friendlies everyone seemed highly positive about how the season was going to pan out (although they rarely are an indication of how it actually will) but we then lose 6-1 in a TRAINING match (didn't even qualify as a friendly) and suddenly it is going to be a tough season. There were even murmerings in some quarters about how a "poor pre-season" often leads to a "good season". 2 wins out of 3 is poor pre-season????

Then there was the euphoria of the triple signings and what great business the Gills had done but that quickly subsided when people started questioning how much (if at all) we paid for these players. Players on a free?! Forget some had been loan players last season the quality we hadn't seen for a long time and the likes of which I felt were well out of our capability of encouraging to sign for the club.

Now this week, our one and ONLY loan player brought in so far has got the ball rolling again. In a climate proliferated with loan players (including at many top European sides) it is a wonder we haven't got a lot more especially as we tend to use the loan market a lot. The lad from Chelsea initially got everyone excited with his youth pedigree but that also quickly turned into the inevitable "on the cheap" and "freebie" jibes. Forget that for his age category he is the equivalent of a big name and that perhaps our level could be a fantastic starting point for him. After all just look at what stunning impact his colleague Patrick Bamford had at both MK Dons (in our division) and Middlesboro (who were promoted to the Premier League).

Will our fans ever be happy with anything? Perhaps the close season is too long and they need the extra stress of the Gills losing a match! I fully appreciate that often there are genuine reasons that fans need to voice their concerns but this is possibly the youngest, most gifted and exciting team in years and they've been written off before a ball has been kicked in anger.

Middlesbrough are not in the Premier League!!!!!

[Rimshot]

They were though.

[mark8364]

I know, but Gary is using Bamford as an example of quality young players making an impact on loan like he did at MK Dons and Middlesbrough! He says Middlesbrough were promoted to the premier league, but they lost the play off final!

[Garawa]

After all just look at what stunning impact his colleague Patrick Bamford had at both MK Dons (in our division) and Middlesboro (who were promoted to the Premier League).

I only missed out the word "almost" lol

[gillsfan1066]

I think the tougher question is how do you make Rimshot happy, I don't mean in a footie sense I mean just in life in general ?

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

Not a joke, a genuine question! We seem to change minds quicker than a traffic light changes. After the first 2 friendlies everyone seemed highly positive about how the season was going to pan out (although they rarely are an indication of how it actually will) but we then lose 6-1 in a TRAINING match (didn't even qualify as a friendly) and suddenly it is going to be a tough season. There were even murmerings in some quarters about how a "poor pre-season" often leads to a "good season". 2 wins out of 3 is poor pre-season????

Then there was the euphoria of the triple signings and what great business the Gills had done but that quickly subsided when people started questioning how much (if at all) we paid for these players. Players on a free?! Forget some had been loan players last season the quality we hadn't seen for a long time and the likes of which I felt were well out of our capability of encouraging to sign for the club.

Now this week, our one and ONLY loan player brought in so far has got the ball rolling again. In a climate proliferated with loan players (including at many top European sides) it is a wonder we haven't got a lot more especially as we tend to use the loan market a lot. The lad from Chelsea initially got everyone excited with his youth pedigree but that also quickly turned into the inevitable "on the cheap" and "freebie" jibes. Forget that for his age category he is the equivalent of a big name and that perhaps our level could be a fantastic starting point for him. After all just look at what stunning impact his colleague Patrick Bamford had at both MK Dons (in our division) and Middlesboro (who were promoted to the Premier League).

Will our fans ever be happy with anything? Perhaps the close season is too long and they need the extra stress of the Gills losing a match! I fully appreciate that often there are genuine reasons that fans need to voice their concerns but this is possibly the youngest, most gifted and exciting team in years and they've been written off before a ball has been kicked in anger.

Reading the Facebook forums,winning the league this season still wouldn`t please some!