Akinfenwa and McDonald quotes - Big Man

I managed to speak to both Gills strikers after the win against Cheltenham last Sunday and have posted these below. I spoke to Adebayo about McDonald and vice versa and also - politely - broached the subject of the older man's weight. There's no arguing with the fact that he looks a little on the large side compared to your average footballer, but manager Andy Hessthaler won't give a stuff if he keeps on doing what he does.

At 13st 5lbs Akinfenwa puts himself about and has achieved cult status among the fans ... and not just Gillingham fans. I watched him against Wycombe and fans of the Chairboys and the Robins fans at the weekend were all singing his praises. I think that geniune football supporters appreciate it when a player puts in a decent shift- even if he plays for the opposition.

London Akinfenwa is one of the best pound-for-pound strikers I have seen this season and McDonald is a real poacher. I wouldn't bet against the Gills bouncing back up to League One by the end of the season.

Akinfewa, 28, has scored ten goals this season so far while McDonald has weighed in with 22.

I first asked Adebayo if he was enjoying himself as much as he looked to be ...

"It's good. It's always nice when you're going for something. We had a slow start and we've picked up now so hopefully we can finish strong. I'm quietly confident because I think we've got one of the best squads if not the best in this league. The quality of the substitutes we are able to bring on keeps everyone on their toes.


I've played with some good forwards, but Cody is good off the pitch as well as on it. He's a humble lad and he's going to go somewhere. He'll keep running for you and there's no one you want more in front of goal when you need a goal.

I'm learning from him as well. He's making me move more. I like to stay central, but when he's running around, I have to run a little bit too so we're both learning from each other.

I genuinely buzz off him scoring goals because it's a team effort. I'm not a betting man and so I like to go for the ‘sure thing’ and at the moment Cody is the ‘sure thing’. If I put it into the right areas I'm quietly confident that Codes will get on to it.

There's a perception of how a footballer should be and I don't fit that mould. I've always been my size and I know that people think I shouldn't do what I do with my weight, but it's just my size. It's just me. But when I get going I can get on to the ball. I'm quick.

I think everyone's got a reason for being I this league and I guess it's faster higher up the leagues and so I guess that's why I'm here, because of my size. But I'll pit myself against the very best. Give me Sol Campbell or John Terry and they aren't going to be stronger than me it's just the other sides of the game where they might be better.

The more games I play though the stronger I get and the fitter I get. I feel strong and fit at the moment.

There's a perception of how a footballer should be that everybody has to get over. Before I broke my leg I was a quicker and more powerful runner, but as you get older you have to use your brain a little bit more. I've always been able to use my body, but as I've got older I've realised I can't do what I used to do when I was twenty-four in my Swansea days before the broken leg.

Everyone thinks a footballer should be eleven stone, but I can't do what Cody does and he can't do what I do and that's what makes for a good partnership. We work off each other's strengths and that's why we're working well together and that's what I think football's about.

It's a team game and I'm just one piece of the puzzle. I love the physical stuff. If I go down after a shoulder to shoulder challenge or I don't get hold of the ball against a defender I'm disappointed because that's my game, that's my forte. I love the battle. When a team has to screen me and put two men on me I know they're scared and that's what I like.

I'm enjoying myself at the moment ad even enjoy the running around as it's usually for a purpose and not just for the sake of it.

Co-striker McDonald, 24, said:

"It's been a brilliant season for me. I was with Norwich and the manager Paul lambert told me to go out and get some games under my belt and hopefully score some goals and thankfully I've managed to do that. Unfortunately he couldn't give me the chance after the step up in leagues for Norwich last season, but hopefully I'm going to give him a bit of a headache for next season.

The boys here have been brilliant and they've put in a lot of chances for me and Bayo to get on the end of. This team don't really know they're beaten until there are beaten and the final whistle goes.

We'll have to see what happens at the end of the season but hopefully I'll get the chance up at Norwich.

Bayo is brilliant. He'll take the time to talk to me and he's been around long enough to know what he's talking about. And he really cares and will sit me down and spend time trying help me improve. He's a decent man as well."