Neil Harris says the Charlton game during the week was a good exercise as he looks at different combinations within his squad.
Neil Harris says that he is learning more about his Gillingham players after each and every pre-season game as he continues to assess his options ahead of the new campaign.
Harris is keen to unlock the team’s full potential and he was again able to put different combinations of players under the spotlight whilst evaluating the contribution of some of the side’s young prospects.
After the 3-1 home defeat to Charlton, the Gills boss believed it was another important step in being ready for the opening game of the season.
“It was an excellent exercise,” said Harris. “I’m learning more about my players all the time, what combinations work and what systems work.
“In the first half we were excellent, we should comfortably have scored four or five. We moved the ball and built the play really well. We looked the dominant side. Second half Charlton were really good and we lost our way and our confidence a little bit.
“I’m learning a lot. It’s about the group on and off the pitch, about leadership in the group, when we concede who responds and who drives the team.
“We’ve used these games as pre-season exercises to get after the ball but we won’t do that all season, we can’t go and press everything like we have in the last two games, you have to be clever with it.
“In the last two games, where we have got it slightly wrong, we have been punished and I don’t expect that to be happening in League 2.”