Football thread 2016/2017

[Mervyn and Trish]

Is a four poster the same as a six pointer?

[barney]

Quite an easy win for the Gills. We looked a different class to be honest. On my way back to The Tunnel with a grin on my face. Shame for Aldershot. Long way to go.

[towny44]

Nice to start off with a win and a much better showing than the last home game of last season when Brentford beat us 5-0. Not perfect but they stuck at it and hopefully winning will become second nature, but we have Newcastle and Villa next so won't be easy.

[barney]

playing Newcastle & Villa really shows the gulf in modern day football Towny

Gills chairman did an interview last week and said that our playing budget was £1.6-£1.8 million

He contrasted that with Newcastle's which is believed to be somewhere around the £50 million mark

I don't know what the Terriers budget is but it's significantly less than many in that division, that's for sure.

Money doesn't guarantee success but it doesn't half bloomin help.

[barney]

Well, played two - won two

scored 6 - conceded 2

Mind you we started like this last season then fell away at the end.

[barney]

EFL (or whatever they call it now) cup draw and the Gills have an away tie at the Hornets

I expect that Watford will put out a B team and the Gills will win 4-0

A really weird draw by the way with all the 'seeded teams' already selected home or away so just the opponents to pick

So it was sort of ... Watford seeded at home to play ...

It was to keep all of the Premier teams away from each other so that they can pretty well guarantee two big sides in the final

Seems fair to smaller clubs

It also seems weird to call it The English Football League cup, when they seem determined to eliminate all the teams from the English Football League.

[daib GC]

It does mean however that the smaller teams get a pay day. I bet Cheltenham re quite happy with an away day at Newcastle with potentially the largest gate of the round.

[barney]

Good point Dai.

we had Newcastle at home in this cup season before last and it was more or less a sell out for home fans

Newcastle were dire by the way and won it 1-0 with a Gills own goal

How the mighty have fallen but it could always be worse. Just look at Villa!

[Manoverboard]

EFL (or whatever they call it now) cup draw and the Gills have an away tie at the Hornets

I expect that Watford will put out a B team and the Gills will win 4-0 ...

Entirely possible but kindly note that our ' B' team are mostly International players these days

[RB1961]

Well it's upon us. The new season.
Not sure if having no centre halfs for the 1st game against potential top 4 rivals is a good plan.
Will have to wait and see. A win will be nice...if we lose the atmosphere will be very hostile and unfortunately there will only be one man to blame.
As I say let's wait and see.

RB

[oldbluefox]

Useless lot!!! Now we're in relegation trouble!!!

Spirited display by Hull especially when you consider the problems they have off the pitch. We looked half a yard short today. Roll on next week when we've got RB's lot.

I suppose Mobplod's Watford lot will win and I won't hear the last of it!!!!

[Manoverboard]

The Hornets took the first half and the Saints the second, typical first game of the season with both teams playing a new / revised system. One point and 10th in the table .... that'll do me

ps ... I suspect that the Foxes game plan has been rumbled

[oldbluefox]

ps ... I suspect that the Foxes game plan has been rumbled

Thank goodness the Hornets are more generous with their points than Hull were!!!
Trouble is yesterday Hull conceded possession to us and we didn't know what to do with it. However I feel sure Claudio will have that sorted out soon enough.

[barney]

Well, there you go!

Who would figure that result after Gills weekend humiliation.

Watford reserves 1 - Gillingham reserves 2

Dack's first game back after injury and bossed the game

[qbman1]

I can't help but compare the genuine joy and enthusiasm of the GB womens' hockey squad with the snarling, underperforming national footy team. Rooney probably "earns" more in a month than the whole hockey team make in a year. The girls really looked like they had a pride in representing their country - and they clearly enjoyed themselves. Please convince me that money hasn't ruined football - I can't bear to watch any more!

[barney]

Money has totally ruined football at the highest level qb.

Once upon a time, before Sky invented it and the 'Premier' league was formed, big clubs bought players from smaller clubs.
Those smaller clubs bought players from even smaller clubs and the money trickled down.

Now, big clubs scour the world, sucking up hundreds of young players that they neither need or want, just on the off chance that they discover a gem.
Chelsea had 60 players out on loan last season, 99.9% of which will never kick a ball for Chelsea.

It's just because they can.

When the really big clubs decide there is more money in a European super league and leave what is left of the Premier league to go back to the original format, that will suit me.

92 Football League clubs.

[towny44]

Meanwhile Terriers fans are just basking in the delight of being top of the championship, and hoping that Wolves don't spoil our party this weekend.

[oldbluefox]

When the really big clubs decide there is more money in a European super league and leave what is left of the Premier league to go back to the original format, that will suit me.

92 Football League clubs.

I agree with everything you say barney. Did I ever mention we were Prem Champions last season ( ) but nevertheless money has ruined the national game. It is no longer the preserve of the football supporter, it is a money making business and if the bigger clubs go off to for a European League of their own I will say good riddance and hopefully everything will start to settle down.
Unfortunately greed has taken over and whilst clubs do look to buy in locally, the prices which are asked for them are astronomical so I can see why clubs go abroad.
I think this summer we offered in the region of £30million pound for a big lump who happens to play for Watford and knows where the net is. The offer was turned down by both the player and the club (quite rightly) so now we are scouring the Continent for a player who will cost half as much and want half the wages.
I wonder how long it will be before Kante (on £150k a week) will find himself warming the bench at Chelsea? Hoovering up all the talent as the big clubs do is scandalous. They should be on the books of the lower league clubs wheree they can be brought on, play regularly and, if they make the grade, be snapped up then by one of the bigger fish.

Rant over!!!

PS It was wonderful last season hearing all the pundits coughing and spluttering, and the bigger clubs coming up will all manner of excuses when Ranieri's band of hopefuls upset the apple cart.

[barney]

Spurs away should put a few quid in our coffers.

The Chairman had a grin on his face anyway.
Justin Edinburgh going back to his old club.
The pundits will love that one.

Gills will certainly sell the full 2,4000 allocation.

I bet Gillingham won't put out the youth team for that game.

We had three teenagers making their debuts against Watford but they did very well.

[Manoverboard]

Well done the Gills ...

We had quite a few players in our line-up who are awaiting transfers so nobody, including the Manager, gave a hoot about losing. It was reported locally that the Manager didn't even mention the game the following day ... but there again the Footy League Cup was never of great interest to the ' BIG ' clubs.

It seems that ' lil ol ' Watford are now the 50th richest Club in the World, Que ?

[oldbluefox]

Huddersfield leading the charge at the top of the Championship. One of our number will be a happy bunny, won't you towny!!!!

[towny44]

Huddersfield leading the charge at the top of the Championship. One of our number will be a happy bunny, won't you towny!!!!

I imagine you're feeling quite chipper this morning as well Foxy.

[barney]

I couldn't be bothered to go to Shrewsbury but listened on the radio.

at 2-0 down, I turned it off in a hissy fit.

Later I put on Sky with Jeff Smelling, only to find us at 2-2 and in with a shout, so tuned in again to hear us nick it in the 94th minute

Well done to all teams who had a win

[Manoverboard]

.... and to those who lost to the Gooners

[oldbluefox]

Huddersfield leading the charge at the top of the Championship. One of our number will be a happy bunny, won't you towny!!!!

I imagine you're feeling quite chipper this morning as well Foxy.

Three points in our relegation battle