Gillingham players told a few home truths by manager Steve Evans ahead of trip to Portsmouth

Steve Evans told some of his Gillingham players a home truth ahead of their trip to Fratton Park on Saturday by insisting: You aren’t good enough.
Gillingham boss Steve Evans Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty ImagesGillingham boss Steve Evans Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Gillingham boss Steve Evans Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

The Gills boss felt the need to spell it out straight to certain members of the Priestfield playing squad after they lost 1-0 at struggling AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

The defeat dented Gillingham’s ambitious play-off hopes and left them sitting 15th in the table – nine points adrift of sixth-placed Doncaster.

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Evans confirmed he will make changes for his side’s game against Pompey as he contemplates individuals’ futures ahead of the summer transfer window.

He told Kent Online: ‘Some of them (the players) aren’t good enough.

‘There is a lack of focus, there is a lack of knowing what standard you have to be at to win games.

‘We had the second half performance (at Wimbledon) which was very good.

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‘Anyone in the league would be worried if we played like that, but they would look at the first half and think they win comfy.

‘You can’t have that massive, massive difference from the first half to the second half.

‘We have some players who are deservedly top half and consistency tells you some of them fail.

‘We will deal with them in the summer, that’s all we can do.

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‘On their day lots of teams will take them but there are too many days where we don’t know what we are getting.’

When asked how he could sharpen his players’ focus and understanding of what it takes to win games, Evans replied: ‘You don’t. You change players.’

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