Gillingham first team coach Nicky Southall writes exclusively for the KM Group
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We have had to call Charlie Lee into the office this week
because he is becoming a referee’s worst nightmare.
He has picked up a few bookings this season, even more bookings
and then even more bookings!
We have had a chat and he knows he has to improve his
discipline. He needs to clamp down on that and his defending.
He can be rash at times and frustrated when he gives the ball
away.
He can go flying into tackles and he needs to start delaying
himself and standing up more.
On Saturday, as a team, we gave 17 free-kicks away and
Shrewsbury gave away five. That is remarkable and has happened a
few times this season.
We have been giving away too many fouls. When that happens, you
lose momentum and they, of course, have possession.
We need to be more patient, throughout the team, not just
Charlie, to make it difficult for our opponents.
The majority of teams in this league and most leagues, infact,
rely on set pieces, so we need to cut out the number of fouls we
give away.
Last weekend was a massive disappointment for us all but we have
another important game on Saturday.
Wimbledon beat us at their place in a game where we didn’t start
right and we also need to bounce back from our defeat at
Shrewsbury. A lot of the top teams are playing each other this
weekend, so if we can get the win we want, we can start clawing our
way back with the points.
At Shrewsbury, last Saturday, for some reason the edge wasn’t
there and neither was the spark. It was a big game and they were
one of our promotion rivals.
We knew that if we beat them we could go above them but the
performance was flat.
I sensed that in the warm-up and I told the players that in no
uncertain terms.
There was no spark in the warm-up and no spark in the game. It
was a strange atmosphere.
Players need to get themselves up for these games and that has
to come from within.
You can’t rely on other people, not your coach, manager or
team-mates, you need to do it for yourself.
As soon as you wake-up on a Saturday morning you need to be
focused and switched on for the game.
You need to be in the right mindset to do your job for the
team.
Hopefully, if everyone does that then that collectiveness will
pull you through but there were too many players far off it.
Right through the team the performance wasn’t acceptable and we
need to nip it in the bud straight away.
Thursday, January 19 2012
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