Sam Gale knows that Barrow will pose a tough test ahead of Saturday’s fixture at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Barrow come into the game off the back of a managerial change, which Gale admits will add to their opponent's motivation. The academy graduate realises that they will have to match Barrow's energy if Gills are to come away with maximum points.
The 21-year-old discussed his season so far, admitting that there is more to come in his game as he continues to learn and develop.
He also discussed the impact the team’s injury problems have presented this campaign, and highlighted the importance of this festive period.
The feeling in the camp going into Barrow…
We’re confident going into it. Regarding the four draws, it’s good that we’re unbeaten, and we’re showing that we’re tough to beat, like we did on that long unbeaten run that we went on at the back end of last season and going into this season. It’s weird that two losses and two wins would mean that you’re better off points-wise, but confidence-wise, you may be better off with four draws.
We’re confident going into Barrow. We know that it will be a tough game, and they will be up for it. Obviously, they have just had a change of manager, so they will come here motivated, so we have got to match their energy. We back ourselves to do enough to get the three points.
His season so far and his growth as a player…
I think that I said in pre-season that this would be a real test, starting from a clean slate where the club had aspirations, and it wasn’t last season, where the season was done a bit when I was playing. I have been happy with myself, but at the same time, I have been a bit unhappy with myself. I don’t think that I have been completely at my best.
I know that I have more in me, and there have been some games where I have come off the pitch, and I have felt disappointed because I want to hold myself to a high standard, so there is a lot to learn.
I am learning on the job every week, so I am trying to take what I learn from previous games into the future.
That’s changed in my mindset as well, like things that maybe a year ago I might have accepted as a good performance, I have changed my expectations for myself now. I might come off the pitch and think, ‘I was bang average today.’ Where 12 months ago, I may have thought that it was a really good game. You have got to keep doing that. You cannot settle. I have high aspirations, and the club has high aspirations. We are matching each other, so I have to keep going.
The impact the squad’s injury issues have had on the pitch…
It’s a challenge because I have played with so many different partners this season, and with the injuries that we have had, we have been unfortunate. It’s not just me, and we haven’t really been able to build long-term partnerships with people, which helps. I think that people need to remember that with our injury issues, the familiarity on the pitch is really important, with players building relationships.
Where we have had a lot of injuries and a lot of little knocks and suspensions, we haven’t been able to do that. I know that going into this Christmas period, we are starting get players back, so you should see the best of us.
Handling the Christmas period…
I have had a lot of experience of playing a large amount of games around Christmas because the non-league schedule is equally as hectic around Christmas. The amount of games won’t come as a shock to me, but the kind of full-time aspect of being around Christmas will be my first time.
You are maybe balancing training harder on some days and training lighter on other days because the Christmas schedule games are coming on days that they wouldn’t usually fall on, so I am trying to be prepared for that and to stay fit and healthy.
I love this period. The Gaffer said to us that this is where you can really make or break a season. If you go on a good run around here and have a good little month run, you maybe play ten games in that month, you are in a really healthy position to attack the season. Equally, if you don’t, then you are really fighting to get back into the race. I like this part of the season, I like the jeopardy of it. I am looking forward to it.
