Gareth Ainsworth is looking forward to the tough test his side will face on Saturday as Walsall visit the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Walsall won their opening day fixture against Swindon, playing the majority of the game with ten men. Ainsworth admits that the lack of footage showing Saturday's opponents with 11 men on the pitch will make preparation slightly more difficult. However, he realises it is going to be about what his team does on the pitch.
The Gills manager gave team news ahead of the fixture, including updates on the availability of Sam Vokes and Aaron Rowe.
Damien Theodore joined Burgess Hill Town on loan during the week. He joins several other players who will be plying their trade in non-league over the coming months. Ainsworth is delighted to see many younger players having the opportunity to gain important minutes, and promises that he will be keeping an eye on their progress.
Preparing for Walsall...
Walsall will be a tough opposition. They won with ten men against Swindon last week, so we have watched them, and it is difficult to put a plan together because we only get 20 minutes of footage with 11 men, and they aren't going to start with ten men against us. We have delved into pre-season a little bit and will have a look at them.
It's going to be about us and what we do. It's really important this season to understand that we can define our own destiny in the way that we play and the way that we apply ourselves in games, and the qualities that we bring. We have been working hard on that this week.
Team news...
There are one or two injuries getting close and getting out on the pitches. We are seeing almost a full squad training, barring Euan [Williams], and that is really good to see. I'm hoping to have some selection issues come the weekend, but definitely the upcoming games against AFC Wimbledon and Tranmere.
Vokesy [Sam Vokes] is coming into full contact training now, which is great. It's about building him up now and making sure that there are no other injuries. Non-contact training and contact training are totally different. You really exert yourself in contact training. Aaron Rowe is looking really sharp at the moment. They are going to be two big names, and hopefully, we can get them both back involved soon.
The team fulfilling its potential...
We have great potential, but potential is not always great. You have got to realise it, and they have to become the players that they are threatening to become and the team that they are threatening to become. All of the tools are there. There are no bad things here, and there are no major problems here.
I think that it's a few tweaks before we can go and unleash ourselves onto other teams. I am really happy with what I have got. I think that we're solid, and I think that we can build. I want to score goals and go and attack teams, and hopefully, we can put it all together on Saturday.
Younger squad members going out on loan...
I am really pleased. I said at the start that I wanted to trim that squad down. These boys are out playing men's football. They're gaining experience and learning the game. It's crucial for me, and it will be crucial for their development.
They are still around it and learning from us, but on a Saturday when they are not involved in my squad, rather than sitting in the stands and twiddling their thumbs, they are out now fighting for their places.
We have a loan system where we look at them all, get footage on them, all and get reports on them all. I am very aware of what everyone is up to and what everyone is doing.
