County v Gillingham: Match Thread (05/08/2023)

Simultaneously giving a bump to Ceefer's ticket offer and heralding the season's start a week hence by turning this into the Match Thread.

Post all your hopes and fears here...

Consider yourself signed up for Ceefer's County Prediction Game, Gazz-man! 😀

Apologies for not doing a Who are Gillingham note, my antennae have been elsewhere this week. Still County related but on something that may bear fruit in the not too distant future - apologies for the tease but if this works out I reckon it will make people rather happy.

Anyway, as ever, fingers crossed.

Unlike the previous two seasons, we thankfully looked physically ready to play the opening day's fixture, perhaps reflecting the more credible pre-season this time around. As a result, I don't think we'll foul as much (red cards killed us last early season) and I think we'll be avoiding the kind of silly errors we also saw (beyond those any side has now and then). So, this was a big plus for me today because we know we had a long campaign last time out and a short turnaround. Of course sharpness of decision/pass comes with the games and it was certainly missing - but I would expect that.

As for the game itself, Gillingham looked to have moments of tidy play but offered little cutting edge/threat. 'A draw would be great' was certainly how they played. To be fair to them, in the 2nd half they forced Ben into a wonderful save down to his left so the goal wasn't a unique foray forward. Oh.. the goal... what looked like a cheap FK award was then so poorly struck it seemed to create the disturbance a wonder pass would... it ultimately fell to an unmarked player in the box to strike home. For all new supporters today, welcome to County.

When MSH pushed on aggressively without the ball in the 2nd half it created space for Knoyle to bring it forward and we looked so much better with that aggression down that side. Rydel did fine throughout but too often received incredibly slow ball. By the time it got to him he was pressed and unable to whip one in, instead often having to go on his right to cross after we had lost any chance of retaining a bit of attacking momentum in the passage. And because they absolutely filled the box, we really needed both WBs and wide CBs picking out a cross rather than just hitting it in without much quality as was too often the case on the day. So quicker ball to them should sort that out. Rydel's first half cross did find MSH who did well at the back post to ensure he was on target with his header. It looked like he was a little cross with himself for not following into the back post 2nd half for a Rydel cross, but recognising where he should have been showed good understanding and the thumb up to Rydel was good professionalism.

Last season Hippolyte, when in CM, could carry the ball to give some dynamics. Barry is a tricky player who dribbles and offered that 'other dimension' to the team - as someone looking to thread balls, it seems obvious Olaofe running off shoulders should be a key ploy when he's on the ball. But Barry will lose it a lot too so Croasdale will really be needed, especially against good counteracting sides.

It wasn't obvious to me how Powell would fit the side before a ball was kicked... and having watched him today, it's still not. While the 2nd half possession afforded us to really have any midfield make-up, when played up front it didn't look right. Perhaps a 3-4-2-1 with Olaofe up top and Barry and Powell behind might bring each others skillsets out a bit more.

Overall, positives to take from a game with a rather cruel result. A bit of stewarding needed today at the end as someone decided to run down the Popside touchline to have a swing at their supporters and there seemed to be something earlier when stewards ran to the CE but not sure why (maybe in concourse, couldn't see anything). Let's hope the season isn't ruined by silly things. It could be a very positive one.