Pace over power: How Gareth Ainsworth can pivot for Gillingham's run-in | OneFootball

Gillingham boss will have his sights set on next season, but a refresh of his current side can give the Kent club a positive finish to the campaign.

When Gareth Ainsworth was appointed Gillingham manager, the club announced that his arrival marked the start of a two-year plan to revive the club's fortunes. Now, as the club approaches the end of Year 1 without any huge improvements in the on-pitch performances, it's approaching crunch time.

This week, ahead of Gillingham's home game with Fleetwood, Ainsworth himself has said that it will take time for him to action the changes needed to turn Gillingham from pretenders to contenders in League Two. And now, with the team far enough from the relegation places to be free of worry, but too far adrift of the playoff places to realistically challenge, a window has opened up for Ainsworth to start experimenting as the team approaches the end-of-season run-in.

Time to introduce more pace

Watching Gillingham this season, it's been clear that the team as a collective is short of pace. Wingers Garath McCleary and loanee Jonny Smith came in to provide exactly that, but injuries have curtailed both men from being a constant presence in the Gills lineup.

However, there is pace in Gillingham's squad, and with the opportunity now there for Ainsworth to tinker a little, it would seem like the perfect time to pivot from Ainsworth's more physical approach to one that accentuates quickness across the park.

Attack: Pace over presence

Typically, Ainsworth has preferred to operate with a "big man" up front, with much of the play aimed at a target man, and players working off him. However, over the course of the season, it's an approach that just hasn't worked.

There was optimism that Josh Andrews could develop and improve under the mentorship of veteran target man Sam Vokes, but that development hasn't materialised. Vokes, meanwhile, offers an option from the bench, but perhaps not the movement to be a major threat from the start of games.

The arrival of the livewire Ronan Hale has brought a legitimately pacy, exciting striker into the squad, but he needs service, and a strike partner. We've seen him played down the left, working off Andrews or Vokes, and it hasn't maximised his talents.

Playing him through the middle, with a strike partner, could make a difference, and there have been a few encouraging early signs of a connection with fellow young gun Seb Palmer-Houlden – a swift, hard-working runner, rather than a more static target man.

Playing them as a pair up front, with a quick, creative midfield behind them to provide service on the deck, rather than through the air, could be a difference-maker for Ainsworth's Gillingham.

Midfield: Composure over cardio

For much of the campaign, Gillingham's midfield has spent a lot of its time doing a lot of running, but really not creating too much when in possession. The hard work is there for all to see, but the skill, guile and creativity has been sorely lacking.

The likes of Armani Little, Ethan Coleman and Robbie McKenzie all offer helpful qualities for a League Two midfield, but too often we've seen two, or sometimes all three, of them operating in the midfield together. In truth, the team would benefit with just one of them anchoring the midfield, with the other places occupied by more creative options.

Those options could include Bradley Dack, who could operate as an advanced midfielder to provide a bridge to the forward line. There's also new signing Cam Antwi, who would bring fresh zest and energy to the midfield unit.

Wing backs: Pace and creativity the key

Whether they've been played at full back or wing back, the production from wide areas this season has been erratic, at best. Max Clark has come under fire from some quarters, but has arguably been a stronger performer this season than Remeao Hutton, who arrived at the club with a reputation as a provider of crosses and assists that, overall, he's struggled to maintain in a Gills shirt.

Both men offer an option at wing back – Hutton is better suited as a right wing back in a 3-5-2, while Clark is a stronger pick at left back in a back four – but there are other, more dynamic, forward-thinking options Ainsworth might fancy trying at this stage of the season.

Garath McCleary could occupy either flank and provide pace and attacking impetus out wide, while on the left, youngster Lenni Cirino has shown flashes of being a positive selection in a wing-back spot. Defensively, they might not offer as much experience as the duo of Clark and Hutton, but going forward, they'd give the side an added dimension that might allow Ainsworth's side the chance to outscore teams, rather than try to eke out single-goal victories.

Defence: Square pegs in square holes

The team has suffered through a lack of consistency in team selection at the back, with several combinations tried over the course of the season. Given the personnel in the squad overall, the team looks more settled in a 3-5-2 formation, so picking a solid trio and sticking with it would make the most sense.

Omar Beckles is the natural pick in the middle of the three, with Andy Smith and Sam Gale operating either side. Both have delivered their best performances while operating in a three, so that trio, played consistently as a unit, should be given the rest of the season to mesh and potentially establish themselves as a trio ahead of next season.

Changes are coming at Gillingham

Regardless of how Ainsworth approaches his team selections through the remainder of the season, one thing does seem clear. Changes are on their way at Priestfield, with significant player turnover likely to be a major topic of conversation among the fanbase during the summer.

The two-year plan at Gillingham depends on a major overhaul of the squad in the summer, but now, as the club gets ready to start marketing season tickets for the 2026/27 campaign, some positive on-pitch performances from the current squad will be crucial to keep morale up before the end of the season.