Gillingham manager Mark Bonner admits it’s tough to pick a team – for all the wrong reasons.
He’s seen a lack of consistency in his side and they head to Wimbledon tomorrow (Monday) off the back of a disappointing loss at Colchester on Boxing Day.
Bonner’s got plenty of players to choose from – he had 24 outfield players training ahead of the Christmas schedule – but not many have been able to turn in the consistent performances to make their place in the side a given.
Speaking after a 2-0 loss on Boxing Day, Bonner said: “The lads make it difficult for me to pick a team when they play like that (at Colchester) because it’s like, ‘who’s really laid down a marker for their place in the team?’
“They have to make sure that they realise their own shortcomings in the game a little bit, as well as I’ll have to do my own.
“These players were good players and are good players and are capable. The difference between our best and worst is too big. I think that’s the difference.
“That’s from week to week and sometimes in games. It’s just about trying to get that consistency and that drive from everybody to find that level. We’ve certainly got more players available now.
“Some are getting fitter and closer to their best, which gives us problems.
“If you look at the league table, the two statistics at the moment that just aren’t high enough for us is, number one, too many defeats in the number of games that we’ve played. Number two, not enough goals scored.
“We have to improve in those two areas. Obviously one helps the other hugely to be, one, more ruthless and creative when we have the moments that we have and two, better to get control and create more of them.
“That starting base usually is a real intensity and an incredible urgency without the ball to run past it, to run beyond, to get your hand on people and stop them playing like they did (at Colchester).”
The Gills remain in touch of the leading sides in the table despite their shortcomings. They head to Wimbledon on Monday night just four points off the play-off places and six from the top three.
Bonner said: “In the last seven league games, win three, lose three, draw one. Fifty per cent win rate isn’t enough to have the season that we want to have.
“You look across the league (on Boxing Day) and you see all the results and I’ve said this time and time again, it’s an opportunity to stack some results together with lots of games in a quick period of time to make an imprint in the season.
“We’re not showing enough quality and consistency at the moment to be the team that does that.
“We have to give more and do better, all of us, in order to make sure we do it.”
