Gillingham FC Forum

Apart from the substitutes, there is not a player that comes out with any credibility.......I would never have expected or envisaged that performance. It hurts...........You can carry one or two but you can’t carry 11 players.

People are going to lose their places in the team off the strength of that. It won't be allowed......They may not get back into the team for some time but they are accountable and that is the way it is. It is harsh but (Saturday’s performance) was unacceptable.

Two quotes from Justin Edinburgh after Saturday's defeat, very harsh words indeed. Question is when he says players will lose their places is does he mean for a Football League Trophy game which everyone would expect anyway or does he mean for all up coming games? The players he is directly referring to then is: Nelson, Jackson, Egan, Ehmer, Dickenson, Morris, Houghton, Osadebe, Loft, McDonald and Donnelly.

I doubt Nelson, Jackson and Egan will be criticised too much. Loft being the captain would be a surprise and the front two are still finding their feet (and fitness in Cody's case) as a pairing. So that leaves Ehmer, Dickenson, Morris, Houghton and Osadebe. Ehmer for me hasn't felt like the same player we had on loan, we seem to concede far more regularly when he is in the side. Dickenson is more prone to bookings this season (and is banned for tonight's game) after impressing me with his neat tackling last season but I don't think he has done too much wrong. Morris hasn't had the same impact in the holding midfield role and we have shipped 6 goals in two games with him there, we definitely miss Wright who now completes his 3 match ban. Houghton's performances have tapered off a bit I feel and Osadebe hasn't had enough of a turn to show what he can do.

For me I thought the midfield was too sterile against Stevenage devoid of any creativity. No Dack, no McGlashan. 3 of the 4 could play in the holding midfield position with Loft tasked in the Dack role of the creative force behind the front two and clearly he failed as we only managed 3 shots on target. Who would you drop or who do you think will be dropped? Looks like Ehmer, Morris and Houghton for me, possibly Osadebe as well.

I can see a change in formation to perhaps 3-5-2. If he uses a strong line-up to try out before the Bury game on Saturday I can see him going for this (maybe using Dack as a sub if needed):

..........................G. Morris (hasn't played this season so I would be surprised if he didn't play as this could be our last cup game)!

..............Egan..........Lennon.........Oshilaja

.............................Wright

Jackson..........Hesenthaler.........Loft..........Garmston

....................McDonald............Donnelly

Maybe McGlashan might feature somewhere but I think more likely as a full back replacement otherwise the ability to drop to a back 4 would be a bit trickier.