Cody McDonald

[Garawa]

A lot of people questioned Cody's penalty miss at the weekend after driving it straight at the keeper. We all know he is coming back from injury and isn't fully fit but he is our kick taker since Kedwell left and a goal would have helped him on his road to full fitness. We also know he doesn't really get going until after Christmas ha ha. I would have let Norris take it personally as the guy is troubling keepers left right and centre and literally a couple of inches at most is all that is stopping him from being on 8 goals this season.

Back to Cody! His penalty attempt is the only shot on target he has managed in 5 games. From the 5 games before those he only added another 2 giving him the same danger in front of goal as Egan, Hessenthaler and Osadebe! With half of those games being when he was our greatest goal threat at the end of last season it appears his urgency to try his luck at goal is lacking. How many goals could he get if he attacked the goal like Norris does?!

I'm not questioning his ability, I'm sure he will be good for 15 odd goals this season but in his last 10 games he has dropped off a lot! Donnelly looks like a player with PL experience but seems to be holding back. Williamson looks like he is capable of double figures but is hardly used. Who would you play? A loan striker really isn't an option given the choices we have available.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

I think we need to be patient with Cody,we know he is a fantastic goalscorer for us but he never had a pre-season like other members of the squad.He certainly looked sharper on Saturday than he did against Wigan.If his shot that hit the post had gone in he probably would have scored the penalty.His confidence is down a bit,but it certainly isn`t a lack of effort.Once he is at full fitness we will see the Cody of old again.You will only regain that fitness with match time,so I wouldn`t suggest dropping him.By the end of October/early November if Cody isn`t any better then the criticism will be deserved.From what I have seen Williamson wont score many at all,and Donnelly is full of running at the moment,but has been more of a goal maker than scorer so far.

I don`t buy into the view that Cody is lazy which I have read elsewhere,as if you watch his 64 goals for the club how many are simple tap ins? Not many.I would continue to play Cody with Norris as they`re both our most likely goalscorers upfront.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

I`m pleased that Cody has scored his first goal of the season.He needed that to get him going.I`m sure we will see Cody on the score sheet more as the weeks go by.

[gillsfan1066]

Correct Sir, now he has come out of the closet so to speak and scored his first goal, no longer will he be GFC's missing link, he will become GOAL SCORING SUPERMAN, put him down for one or two against Oldham this week.

[Rimshot]

CM is a class act in my view not every player succeeds by brawn alone.

[Garawa]

This has possibly been his leanest time at the club in terms of just not taking any shots at goal at all! Let's hope this goal gets him off running because with such a creative squad this season he could amass 25 goals! Donnelly has looked the sort of player that could get a load as well. He has the technique but didn't show much ambition before so maybe his brace will spark him into life as well. Exciting times! How many times in the past have we looked to just one player to win a game for us, now anyone can (maybe not Nelson, sorry Stuart).

[fan_of_mulligan]

This is Cody McDonald's goal-scoring record for Gillingham.........

2010 / 2011 25 goals in 43 appearances
2012 / 2013 4 goals in 7 appearances
2013 / 2014 17 goals in 48 appearances
2014 / 2015 18 goals in 49 appearances

Total 64 goals in 151 appearances - but Cody McDonald has made five appearances this season so Cody McDonald has now made 156 appearances for The Gills.

Now to break those goals down as there is a clear stat about Cody McDonald that is interesting but frustrating at the same-time.

2010 / 2011 Before January - eight goals - After January - seventeen goals
2012 / 2013 all four of Cody McDonald's goals were scored in the second half of the season
2013 / 2014 Before January - Eight Goals - After January - nine goals
2014 / 2015 Before January - Eight Goals - After January - ten goals

Forty of Cody McDonald's Sixty Four Goals for The Gills have been scored in the second half of the season, which is a remarkable stat, but frustrating as well, because if Cody McDonald can replicate his form from January over the course of a entire football season, he will score over thirty goals a season, but then if Cody McDonald did that score 30+ season after season then he wouldn't be at Gillingham Football Club for as long as he has.

[Garawa]

For as long as I can recall he has started every new campaign injured and then taken a couple of months to get up to speed with this one being no different. Of course his loan spell may have been different but he was here late in the season also. This will surely alter the figures but someone needs to find out what he does in the summer!

[lidbid46]

Perhaps he visits Gillsfan and takes a while to get over the shock!!