Following Gillingham’s defeat at Bromley in midweek, boss Mark Bonner has been talking to KSN ahead of Saturday’s home game against Salford City and the manager wasn’t happy! 

Speaking at this week’s briefing, Bonner said, “I don’t think some of the levels in our game, some of the goals that we have conceded, some of the chances that we have missed, some of the moments in games, I don’t think it is reflective enough of where we need to be!” 

“And I don’t think the supporters, the staff and some of the players deserve that really, but we have to find a better level because we haven’t been good enough and we haven’t been consistent enough.” 

The manager went on, “When we score goals, they don’t seem to have the impact they should, and Wednesday’s equaliser should really have propelled us on to go and win the game and then when we conceded we looked beaten!”

“So, at the moment we are really disjointed, get dis-spirited really quickly – the effort levels at times are not good enough, we look soft sometimes, we look spoiled sometimes and none of those are really a good formula to becoming a really good team – there’s a lot to do!” 

“Although we started well and some may say we have a swagger, there wasn’t any identity developed then, I was telling everyone to calm themselves as we were miles away from anything and we probably scored a couple of wins that we maybe shouldn’t have done.”

“Everyone can be good for a short spell – motivation is nothing if you have not got the stamina that goes with it and we have to have the stamina to be motivated and driven and give that all the time regardless of the criticism that you come under.”

“Certainly, the team that we started with and moved away from a little bit and the level of focus and intensity and edge hasn’t been as good.”

“We are trying to find as many ways to get after the boys and support the boys to give them what we get – I think what we are giving the boys is good, but you wouldn’t think it is because of levels so far as too many moments have been so poor.”

“Whether that is physical level or engagement in the game or tactical understanding or just really simple, basic technical levels which at Bromley at times we really wanted – most of the game was fine as spells of the game were really good.”

“We started well and had some chances; we had some moments, but we faded out of the game and we lost the threat in the game. I just think we are soft at the minute as if you’re a winner you are a winner, I think we are a bit like half a team at the moment, but when we get it right, we will be all right!” 

“We have to get it right quick as no one enjoys this; no-one enjoys coming to watch this; no one enjoys coming into work as it’s miserable!”

“The second side of this is that without doubt, this side will be open until March or April as it’s the teams that can put runs together and will have to improve and will have to get better and will have to make changes – this season is still one that we can get something out of… it doesn’t feel or look like it now; it can be, but only if we turn things around ourselves, so that’s the key!”

“We have to get better soon as we don’t want to be sat where we are. I think the League is really open, I think the League does not have lots of standout teams, it is so even that the opportunities are there to put runs together and I know we keep saying a couple of wins and we are back in it, but we are just hoping it’s going to happen rather than making it happen.”

“It will have to be noticeable this weekend as we are playing another good side in Salford and if we find our best level we can win the game, but if we don’t, we will get beaten – it’s really simple!” 

“The number of chances that we have created and the quality of them simply hasn’t been good enough all season, but in the end, we have just got to win games full-stop left, right, centre, home or away wherever it is..”

“There have been games where we have taken big results, but there have been too many games where we have just drifted away and just been really average and games that have just slipped away from us – games we should be winning or certainly doing better in – but we haven’t had the grit to fight it and hold onto the results when we have them or the quality or the drive to just go on and win the game properly and find a better level.”

“That’s where we have to do better, I have to do better, I have to get more out of these players, but they have to give more as well as there is a pattern emerged over a couple of years that probably means right now that we are not ready to be a successful team meaning we will have to do something about it!” 

“The quick turn round from Bromley means that we will have to make some changes anyway for the weekend. Because we played for the first time in almost two weeks, if you didn’t play against Harrogate, it was nearly a month, so to go again quite soon would be probably physically demanding for some and they won’t be able to.”

“There were a few that were beat-up, bruised and battered on Wednesday, so they may disqualify themselves anyway and then there is the need to pick a team that is trustful, reliable and have the character that we are going to need in the game and make sure that we have an energy about us to match Salford and be a good Gillingham side.”

“There are loads of considerations, but I think changes are inevitable and we will put a team out that can hopefully deliver.” 

“When a game starts and you are not too sure what’s coming is definitely something you don’t want as a player, you certainly don’t want it as a fan when you turn up at the ground and you one hundred percent do not want it as a manager as when a game starts and you have put a team on the pitch and you are not sure what is coming is a bad situation to be in and is where we have found ourselves far too often.”

“We need to get over that and find a team that can give us what we want more often because we have seen it, but we haven’t seen it anywhere near enough!” 

The good news for Gills fans is both Bradley Dack and Aaron Rowe could feature at the weekend with the pair having struggled with fitness all season.