Headley: Hopes and fears - Season 2004/2005

Last updated : 09 August 2005 By Simon Head

For the first time in many years, Gills fans spent the first part of the summer breathing a heavy sigh of relief. That final day drama was an exciting and mind-numbing way to end a season - and I for one sincerely hope we avoid a repeat this time round.

I made my suggestions on what went wrong and where we can make changes to remedy the situation. While some of them were on the extreme side, they were indicative of the situation we found ourselves in. Changes needed to be made - and thankfully, things are looking rather more positive as the new season approaches.

But first, let's look back…

The Gills suffered badly last season. A ridiculously long list of injuries, coupled with poor form and, at times, naïve tactics, left the Gills battling for their lives as the season approached it's finale. Scenes of celebration at the Britannia Stadium were followed by statements from the manager and the chairman - saying they would not let the club get itself into such a position again this coming season. Exactly the words all Gills fans wanted to hear, but how is that going to be achieved?

Well, one of the biggest problems last season, the plethora of injuries, should be addressed by two signings made last season. The appointment of fitness coach Russell Holman and new physio Simon Webster should help make sure the team is fitter, stronger and in better shape to take on the challenge of the new Coca-Cola Championship season. Sometimes bringing back a player from injury is likened to signing a new player. If that is the case, we could welcome over half a dozen 'new players' for the start of the season. That's not bad for a start is it?! The club have also announced an improved gym facility, which should help the players rest and recuperate between matches.

We also need to look at the signings we made last season. Some, like John Hills and Patrick Agyemang, have established themselves as first-team stars. Of the others, Alan Pouton has taken time to settle in, but is now ready to feature consistently in the centre of the Gills midfield - while Darius Henderson had a nightmare with injuries since his arrival. It is still far too early to judge a player who wasn't anywhere near fit when he played last season. With a good pre-season behind him, we should hopefully see Henderson's qualities this coming season.

This summer, comments from the club suggested we would go for it in the transfer market and bring in the players we need. We identified the need for a striker with a good strike rate and a creative midfielder. At time of writing we have just brought in Iwan Roberts in a player/coach role. His arrival has given us a never-say-die striker who I feel could become the darling of the Gills fans.

His attitude and application, despite his advancing years, will earn us valuable points as the season progresses. They key, of course, is keeping him (and the other key players in the side) fit for the majority of the season. If we can do that, we could be in a position to avoid the relegation dogfight this season.

The other problem we must address cannot be rectified with signings or fitness coaches. The other problem that must be addressed is one of tactics. At times last season, poor tactics saw us defeated by teams we could and should have taken points from. Bizarre substitutions, questionable team selection and the insistence on long-ball football seemed to be the signature of Gillingham's season last term. Andy Hessenthaler is a young manager, still learning his trade - and Gills fans will be hoping he can see where he went wrong last season, and make the necessary changes.

Hessenthaler also said that it was a fresh start for the club this season - and places were up for grabs. With the talent we have in the squad, I sincerely hope that the management recognize our qualities and put faith in our most gifted players. We have the squad to put out a very competitive side, assuming everyone is fit. The worry I have is players who are past their best may still be higher up the pecking order than those who deserve to replace them. It's too early to judge at the moment, but I'd like to think we can field better players than Paul Smith, Nicky Southall and Hess himself this season. They've all done well for us in the past, but we now have the players to replace them - and I feel the time is now right to do so. If it indeed is a 'fresh start' for the club, then such a move would certainly give the side the impetus it needs.

The changes made in the background should hopefully give us a better chance of competing on a level playing field this season. With a full-strength squad at our disposal and some sensible management, this season could be a fair bit more entertaining than last season. Let's hope so anyway…