The majority of transfer window goals fall into one of two groups. acquiring talented players and making sure your bright prospects stay with the team.
This resonates with Rhys Mortley, a Gillingham fan commentator for FLW.
Towards the close of the previous season, Gareth Ainsworth's team was hard to beat. In fact, during his ten games at Gillingham thus far, the 52-year-old head coach has not lost in the dugout at Priestfield Stadium.
Only three of those 10 games have been victories, though, and the Gills have once again displayed ineptitude in front of goal.
Gillingham only scored 41 goals in League Two the previous season. They had failed to score more than one goal per game for the fourth straight season;
their closest total was 46 in the 2023–2024 campaign. Therefore, one of Mortley's requests is to sign a proven goal scorer before the transfer window closes, while simultaneously making sure that no team in the top divisions tries to sign 20-year-old forward Joseph Gbode.
A Gillingham fan commentator describes the perfect Joe Gbode scenario.
Making sure the young players stay at The Priestfield Stadium was Mortley's major concern when asked by Football League World what his biggest fear was for his team from now until the end of the summer transfer window.
"My biggest fear right now is losing our best young talents, particularly Joseph Gbode," he stated.
"There's already been some rumours of Championship clubs circling him, and Luton were rumoured to put a bid in."
Gbode, an academy product, had a fantastic season for Gillingham the previous season and was a vital part of the team by the conclusion of it.
He scored a goal or two in his final two outings against Swindon Town and AFC Wimbledon to round out the season.
Before starting in their opening-day tie with Accrington Stanley, the 20-year-old scored two goals in their final preseason match against Dartford.
"He showed a lot of promise in pre-season, and letting him go would send a worrying message about our ambition."
In their fourth straight League Two season since relegation, Gillingham will be looking to at least contend for a spot in the top seven under Ainsworth.
Two 17th-place finishes in the last three terms are interspersed with a 2023–2024 campaign that finished in 12th place.
This summer, a fan pundit made requests for Gillingham.
Another worry is that, in spite of some wise acquisitions, we don't have a proven League Two goal scorer who can win close games," Mortley added.
"If we don't end up adding that crucial creative spark or another attacker to support Sam Vokes or Seb Palmer-Houlden, then we risk repeating last season's goal-scoring problems."
Palmer-Houlden and Vokes are both new to Gillingham this summer. Although he hasn't played in League Two, 35-year-old Vokes brings a wealth of EFL experience, and Palmer-Houlden comes in after leaving Bristol City without ever playing for the senior team.
Mortley has some reservations about the Gills' ability to finish entire seasons, but Vokes might use that experience and players like Bradley Dack, who rejoined the team this summer, to move them up the division.
"Lastly, whilst adding experience in the form of Dack and Vokes is great on paper," he stated. "The next three weeks are critical because there is a clear concern about their condition and any serious injuries could quickly disrupt the team's progress.
We already have a couple out. "Keeping Gbode and bringing in that key attacking player could define the whole season."
Read more at;https://www.allsportnews.co.uk
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