Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: ChrisBx on January 27, 2023, 04:01:01 pm
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Just announced on Twitter. Loan until the end of the season.
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Suppose the moaners will now moan about DS telling porkies about not bringing anyone else in now
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Welcome. There will be some that won’t be happy. Good luck
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
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Perhaps they couldn’t find the right players for permanent players so covering positions in the loan players which is better than being light in positions
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
My guess is better permanent players will be available in the summer.
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Or these are loans with a view to buy in the summer
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He has a 100 games under his belt. Plenty of experience good luck to the lad.
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
Define heavy reliance. I think you know the difference. In the first half of the season, quite often the starting XI included all permanent players.
It was a resource that we've now tapped without saddling ourselves with more players who might not make the grade.
Hopefully a couple of these loans will be in the 'try before you buy' category whilst the spine of the team remain contracted players.
In my view, it's shrewd.
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Suppose the moaners will now moan about DS telling porkies about not bringing anyone else in now
Think they're mainly unhappy about it being another loan deal...
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
In fairness to the club, when you change manager part way through the season then you probably do become more reliant on shorter term signings for the remainder of that season.
My expectation is that we'll see more permanent signings in the summer.
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
My guess is better permanent players will be available in the summer.
exactly always gonna pay over the odds in Jan window for players,plus it could also be take you on loan with a view to a perm deal,tbf we still haven’t got that many loans anyway really
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
In fairness to the club, when you change manager part way through the season then you probably do become more reliant on shorter term signings for the remainder of that season.
My expectation is that we'll see more permanent signings in the summer.
We brought multiple players in last January. Safe to say not all of them have worked out. It's not a great time to do business.
We're also looking at potentially replacing a dozen players in the summer. Committing ourselves to players now is not likely to aid that process.
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You can’t make many long term plans in January. Hopefully as said it’s with a view to a permanent deal. We are in the market where we have to catch them early before they cost too much.
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Hope this lad becomes a Darling Bud by May!!
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
I don't see how 4 loans out of a squad of 20 odd players can be described as a heavy reliance.
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He signed a contract summer 21 so is he out of contract this summer
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
Define heavy reliance. I think you know the difference. In the first half of the season, quite often the starting XI included all permanent players.
It was a resource that we've now tapped without saddling ourselves with more players who might not make the grade.
Hopefully a couple of these loans will be in the 'try before you buy' category whilst the spine of the team remain contracted players.
In my view, it's shrewd.
Fair points made, but I will push back on the "try before you buy" comment - how many examples of this have we actually had in recent years that have been any good? Whiteman, Anderson and John aside I can't think of any (which is not many when you consider we've loaned 30 players in the past 3-and-a-bit years!). If they excel, most of them end up getting a better permanent move than coming to DRFC which you can't blame them for.
As for a definition of "heavy reliance" - I think you know what I mean, but you can ask GB for his definition at MTO as he's admitted that we've been too reliant on them, and he's the CEO, that's not just coming from me.
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
I don't see how 4 loans out of a squad of 20 odd players can be described as a heavy reliance.
Almost half our transfer business since 2019 has been loan players:
https://twitter.com/tombiltcliffe/status/1619009896128839681
And don't just take my (or Tom B's) word for it, our own CEO thinks we have been over-reliant at various points in the last 3 years:
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-how-many-loanees-club-hope-have-future-819617
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/international-football/doncaster-rovers-aim-to-be-great-entertainers-with-a-permanent-cast-3250143
I think it's a valid concern to raise. If you don't then we'll agree to disagree.
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He signed a contract summer 21 so is he out of contract this summer
Wiki reports a 3 year deal with Burton (indicating Clough saw him as a good prospect) from August 2021 which would run out in 18 month’s time. Is that incorrect?
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Pib different recruitment team now - with the exception of T Miller they aren’t from Prem teams, these are players who need to prove their worth
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https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/3108-lakin/
Not out of contract until the end of next season.
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Pib different recruitment team now - with the exception of T Miller they aren’t from Prem teams, these are players who need to prove their worth
Aye, I'd be interested to know what their strategy is genuinely.
At the moment it looks like the pool we're looking at is players that share an agent with Schofield. Let's hope there's a bit more flesh on the bones than that when we need to seriously rebuild in the summer.
Also FWIW, Nelson is from the PL too.
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Perhaps they couldn’t find the right players for permanent players so covering positions in the loan players which is better than being light in positions
Yo maybe right because the funds that we had available and two players leaving then 4 loans and a free transfer should not have used all those funds. We only have to hope they are better than the ones we brought in last January.
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
Define heavy reliance. I think you know the difference. In the first half of the season, quite often the starting XI included all permanent players.
It was a resource that we've now tapped without saddling ourselves with more players who might not make the grade.
Hopefully a couple of these loans will be in the 'try before you buy' category whilst the spine of the team remain contracted players.
In my view, it's shrewd.
Fair points made, but I will push back on the "try before you buy" comment - how many examples of this have we actually had in recent years that have been any good? Whiteman, Anderson and John aside I can't think of any (which is not many when you consider we've loaned 30 players in the past 3-and-a-bit years!). If they excel, most of them end up getting a better permanent move than coming to DRFC which you can't blame them for.
As for a definition of "heavy reliance" - I think you know what I mean, but you can ask GB for his definition at MTO as he's admitted that we've been too reliant on them, and he's the CEO, that's not just coming from me.
Just to add to other poster comments above. Things aren't that black and white. As said, I hope you can tell the difference between the over reliance GB referred to when DM left with loan players in key positions. This is entirely different with loan players supplementing the established first team squad.
Of course not all loan players convert into permanent signings. There's a number of categories.
1. Stocking fillers
2. Development players destined for bigger things
3. Try before you buy, although that may also depend on us achieving a promotion for example or not being relegated.
4. Those that don't perform.
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Only played twice this season for Burton. 20 odd games last season.
I would suggest he has been brought in as cover. Don’t see him being 1st choice.
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
Define heavy reliance. I think you know the difference. In the first half of the season, quite often the starting XI included all permanent players.
It was a resource that we've now tapped without saddling ourselves with more players who might not make the grade.
Hopefully a couple of these loans will be in the 'try before you buy' category whilst the spine of the team remain contracted players.
In my view, it's shrewd.
Fair points made, but I will push back on the "try before you buy" comment - how many examples of this have we actually had in recent years that have been any good? Whiteman, Anderson and John aside I can't think of any (which is not many when you consider we've loaned 30 players in the past 3-and-a-bit years!). If they excel, most of them end up getting a better permanent move than coming to DRFC which you can't blame them for.
As for a definition of "heavy reliance" - I think you know what I mean, but you can ask GB for his definition at MTO as he's admitted that we've been too reliant on them, and he's the CEO, that's not just coming from me.
Just to add to other poster comments above. Things aren't that black and white. As said, I hope you can tell the difference between the over reliance GB referred to when DM left with loan players in key positions. This is entirely different with loan players supplementing the established first team squad.
Of course not all loan players convert into permanent signings. There's a number of categories.
1. Stocking fillers
2. Development players destined for bigger things
3. Try before you buy, although that may also depend on us achieving a promotion for example or not being relegated.
4. Those that don't perform.
It's absolutely not that black and white. In fact I would posit that you're viewing it in a more cut-and-dry sense than I am. You suggest we're no longer looking at a situation where we're filling key positions with loans, yet we've just replaced an outgoing right-back and outgoing central midfielder with loans. Both pretty key positions.
And not only that, Brown is our only real recognised RB (Seaman has been playing RWB recently I grant you, but was nowhere near the team before KK stated his intention to leave and isn't proven), and Lakin is the only real cover of any note we've got for our two first choice central midfielders. No slight on them but I'm not counting unestablished prospects like Ravenhill and Degruchy here. So I suspect those two loanees will see a fair bit of game time. As will Nelson and T. Miller I'd imagine, as we need them to be able to come in and compete for those positions they play in.
I guess my concern isn't with one particular signing or another, but more with the umbrella question of: what is the strategy? I've seen suggestions that several of the signings also share the same agency as DS, which would add to my concern. We've just done a re-structure but what is the plan and how will it serve us better going forward than the way we've operated previously? I'd be interested to find out.
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Pib different recruitment team now - with the exception of T Miller they aren’t from Prem teams, these are players who need to prove their worth
Aye, I'd be interested to know what their strategy is genuinely.
At the moment it looks like the pool we're looking at is players that share an agent with Schofield. Let's hope there's a bit more flesh on the bones than that when we need to seriously rebuild in the summer.
Also FWIW, Nelson is from the PL too.
Age thing - sorry forgot about him
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
I don't see how 4 loans out of a squad of 20 odd players can be described as a heavy reliance.
Almost half our transfer business since 2019 has been loan players:
https://twitter.com/tombiltcliffe/status/1619009896128839681
And don't just take my (or Tom B's) word for it, our own CEO thinks we have been over-reliant at various points in the last 3 years:
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-how-many-loanees-club-hope-have-future-819617
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/international-football/doncaster-rovers-aim-to-be-great-entertainers-with-a-permanent-cast-3250143
I think it's a valid concern to raise. If you don't then we'll agree to disagree.
No, I don't disagree with you at all about the need to move away from an over reliance on loans, which we clearly had under Moore. I just think that only having 4 loans now shows that we're on the right path.
Let's face it, no club at our level can afford to have no loans whatsoever; it's just not doable.
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
I don't see how 4 loans out of a squad of 20 odd players can be described as a heavy reliance.
Almost half our transfer business since 2019 has been loan players:
https://twitter.com/tombiltcliffe/status/1619009896128839681
And don't just take my (or Tom B's) word for it, our own CEO thinks we have been over-reliant at various points in the last 3 years:
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-how-many-loanees-club-hope-have-future-819617
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/international-football/doncaster-rovers-aim-to-be-great-entertainers-with-a-permanent-cast-3250143
I think it's a valid concern to raise. If you don't then we'll agree to disagree.
No, I don't disagree with you at all about the need to move away from an over reliance on loans, which we clearly had under Moore. I just think that only having 4 loans now shows that we're on the right path.
Let's face it, no club at our level can afford to have no loans whatsoever; it's just not doable.
Absolutely. I'm not advocating 0 loans either.
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Another player who shares the same agent as DS. Probably not a sustainable approach to transfer business!
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Pib - personally I don’t think 4 loanees is excessive, but I can see where you’re coming from. We stated that our strategy would be to move away from loanees, and now it looks like we’re moving back towards it. We stated that loanees should be star players, and now we’re padding out the squad with them. That suggests to me that either the strategy doesn’t work, the strategy has changed or we’re kind of making it up as we go along and not following a strategy. And it’s the last bit that concerns me a bit. We have a very well run club off the field but even after we’ve changed our recruitment structure things all seem a bit ad-hoc and reactive. We’ve lost 2 first team players and our captain but I’m not sure there was a contingency plan in place for that other than let’s raid DS’ agency network.
That being said, I think it’s too early to really judge things. I can see why we’d be cautious to commit to longer term contracts based on the last couple of Januarys so loans do make sense from that perspective. And if the squad is in that bad a state, it will take more than one window to fix it.
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Pib - personally I don’t think 4 loanees is excessive, but I can see where you’re coming from. We stated that our strategy would be to move away from loanees, and now it looks like we’re moving back towards it. We stated that loanees should be star players, and now we’re padding out the squad with them. That suggests to me that either the strategy doesn’t work, the strategy has changed or we’re kind of making it up as we go along and not following a strategy. And it’s the last bit that concerns me a bit. We have a very well run club off the field but even after we’ve changed our recruitment structure things all seem a bit ad-hoc and reactive. We’ve lost 2 first team players and our captain but I’m not sure there was a contingency plan in place for that other than let’s raid DS’ agency network.
That being said, I think it’s too early to really judge things. I can see why we’d be cautious to commit to longer term contracts based on the last couple of Januarys so loans do make sense from that perspective. And if the squad is in that bad a state, it will take more than one window to fix it.
Yep, agree with that Nick. You've articulated what I'm trying to say better than I have.
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We have brought in loans who have something to prove.
Their careers are at stake. If they aren’t good enough we haven’t lost anything.
There will be a lot more fish in the sea come the summer.
Only 1 from the Premier League this time.
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Not knocking the player as I don't know much about him (or knocking anything at all really) but a genuine query - I thought the club were trying to move away from a heavy reliance on loans? It's been said on here before from those more ITK than most that the club were aware of the way the core squad had been decimated by an over-reliance on loans previously.
Would I be misguided to point out that that policy seems to have lapsed very quickly, with now 4 loans and 1 permanent joining in this window, considering since the summer window closed we have lost three permanently contracted players who were all regulars in the first team?
Define heavy reliance. I think you know the difference. In the first half of the season, quite often the starting XI included all permanent players.
It was a resource that we've now tapped without saddling ourselves with more players who might not make the grade.
Hopefully a couple of these loans will be in the 'try before you buy' category whilst the spine of the team remain contracted players.
In my view, it's shrewd.
Fair points made, but I will push back on the "try before you buy" comment - how many examples of this have we actually had in recent years that have been any good? Whiteman, Anderson and John aside I can't think of any (which is not many when you consider we've loaned 30 players in the past 3-and-a-bit years!). If they excel, most of them end up getting a better permanent move than coming to DRFC which you can't blame them for.
As for a definition of "heavy reliance" - I think you know what I mean, but you can ask GB for his definition at MTO as he's admitted that we've been too reliant on them, and he's the CEO, that's not just coming from me.
Just to add to other poster comments above. Things aren't that black and white. As said, I hope you can tell the difference between the over reliance GB referred to when DM left with loan players in key positions. This is entirely different with loan players supplementing the established first team squad.
Of course not all loan players convert into permanent signings. There's a number of categories.
1. Stocking fillers
2. Development players destined for bigger things
3. Try before you buy, although that may also depend on us achieving a promotion for example or not being relegated.
4. Those that don't perform.
5. A favour for the same Agents as the manager. Putting the players in a shop window kind of deal.
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The odd player with the same agent isn’t too concerning but if it’s to become a common theme I’d be wanting us to look into it.
Not so worried about loans in Jan so long as we do good business in the summer. Then use the flexibility of loans in Jan.
We have an allotted space for 5 loans which we should use throughout the season it’s when we get 6-7 or 5 in the starting 11 that it looks silly.
Think we struggle to get loans who will be star players in this division. The best younger players will get a loan at L1 from day 1. We have to settle for the next lot down who maybe aren’t as highly thought of. Anyway we should aim for our start players been our own so we can keep them or at least sell for a decent fee
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What's wrong with using contacts with influence?
BobG
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Or these are loans with a view to buy in the summer
Just wondering if any know how many we have had on loan and then signed the player.?.......
maybe in the last 10 years?
please this is not a go at anyone just asking a question .
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Pib - personally I don’t think 4 loanees is excessive, but I can see where you’re coming from. We stated that our strategy would be to move away from loanees, and now it looks like we’re moving back towards it. We stated that loanees should be star players, and now we’re padding out the squad with them. That suggests to me that either the strategy doesn’t work, the strategy has changed or we’re kind of making it up as we go along and not following a strategy. And it’s the last bit that concerns me a bit. We have a very well run club off the field but even after we’ve changed our recruitment structure things all seem a bit ad-hoc and reactive. We’ve lost 2 first team players and our captain but I’m not sure there was a contingency plan in place for that other than let’s raid DS’ agency network.
That being said, I think it’s too early to really judge things. I can see why we’d be cautious to commit to longer term contracts based on the last couple of Januarys so loans do make sense from that perspective. And if the squad is in that bad a state, it will take more than one window to fix it.
Yep, agree with that Nick. You've articulated what I'm trying to say better than I have.
You've got to allow the manager and HoF some flexibility otherwise your handcuffing them to a specific strategy throughout the season. Things happen quickly in football and despite best efforts, we need to change things around.
We've heard DS talk about competition for places and two players for each position. At the start of the season, only two loans so the aim was to assemble a team of permanent players, supplemented by a couple of loans. That's the aim but, like other clubs you suffer injuries, players leave or don't perform so you have the opportunity in January to tweak things about. That doesn't mean you lose sight of where you want to be as a squad.
For example, if we'd have gone down the DM route at the start of the season and been maxed out on loans, then we've less wriggle room in Janaury, particularly if we wanted to keep all the loans.
That said, football is getting more short term these days so it's very difficult to keep the balance right.
You've got to allow for contingencies and give them some flexibility in shaping the squad the best way they see fit and with whom they can get at the time.
No doubt we'll be having similar conversations in the summer and beyond.
Hopefully Copps will break his silence very soon.
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Don’t have the facts but would be surprised if there are any clubs in League 2 who don’t have at least 3 loan players on their books by the end of this window.
The majority I would think have 4/5
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https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/albion-boss-names-names-those-8064771
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What's wrong with using contacts with influence?
BobG
Apparently some people have the notion that because they happen to have the same agent, that DS's agent must be foisting shit players on DS against his will and therefore trying to sabotage his own client's managerial career. Can't see the logic of that, myself. It's the same twisted logic that argues that the owners of a football club want to destroy their own property to reduce how much they have to spend on it instead of walking away and not spending anything on it ever again.
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I have no problem loaning players our record signing good standard permanent players is average at best. Otherwise we wouldn’t have been relegated and sitting 12 th in league 2
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What's wrong with using contacts with influence?
BobG
Apparently some people have the notion that because they happen to have the same agent, that DS's agent must be foisting shit players on DS against his will and therefore trying to sabotage his own client's managerial career. Can't see the logic of that, myself. It's the same twisted logic that argues that the owners of a football club want to destroy their own property to reduce how much they have to spend on it instead of walking away and not spending anything on it ever again.
Where has anybody said that first bit about DS’s agent trying to sabotage him? Genuinely?
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There is a huge difference to how DM had us, to how we are now. The club, or a combination of club and managers have changed that reliance.
It does make sense that we get loans in now though, and not throw contracts out to players. We have no understanding where we may be next year. Let’s hope we make a surge and get up there! It’s within our grasp.
I am sure if DS had identified his targets and they were available ,we would have signed them now though.
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I seem to think there are a couple of free agents attached to Schofield’s agent. Might be more to come.
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There is a huge difference to how DM had us, to how we are now. The club, or a combination of club and managers have changed that reliance.
It does make sense that we get loans in now though, and not throw contracts out to players. We have no understanding where we may be next year. Let’s hope we make a surge and get up there! It’s within our grasp.
I am sure if DS had identified his targets and they were available ,we would have signed them now though.
Quite right.
I'm an advocate of the loan system, although I do think lower league clubs should have access to short term loans as well as long term.
If I'm the manager, and I'm given access good young players who we might not otherwise get, then I want the best players in my team. That said, I learned in hindsight DM predominantly wanted the best for DM not necessarily Doncaster Rovers.
That said, you have to assess the consequences of filling that talent void at the end of the season, plus the usual turnover of contracted players. In DMs case, he didn't plan to be here to deal with that. This is one of main advantages of having the HoF now.
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What's wrong with using contacts with influence?
BobG
Apparently some people have the notion that because they happen to have the same agent, that DS's agent must be foisting shit players on DS against his will and therefore trying to sabotage his own client's managerial career. Can't see the logic of that, myself. It's the same twisted logic that argues that the owners of a football club want to destroy their own property to reduce how much they have to spend on it instead of walking away and not spending anything on it ever again.
Bit over the top. A few players is fine and that’s where we are at. So no worries.
But if it carry’s on in the summer with with say a good number of permanent signings on 2-3 year contracts I’d be a little worried. 1 that we aren’t spreading our net wide enough and 2 that there could be a bit of foul play going on. Agent stands to gain a lot from getting his players contracts and a manager can arrange those. A bit of s conflict of interest imo.
We’re a very above board club so I’d be surprised if point 2 would ever be allowed to happen but I bet it has at other clubs.
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Darren Moore used what funding he was given by the board, in the way he thought best. How he left wasn’t great but he went to a side that had ambitions to improve. You can’t blame him really.
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Darren Moore used what funding he was given by the board, in the way he thought best. How he left wasn’t great but he went to a side that had ambitions to improve. You can’t blame him really.
Moore was gambling that he wouldn’t be at the club long. It paid off but always worrying if a manager acts like that.
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Darren Moore used what funding he was given by the board, in the way he thought best. How he left wasn’t great but he went to a side that had ambitions to improve. You can’t blame him really.
Surely we had ambition to improve as highlighted by backing DM to bring in who he wanted ie Bogle
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Another player who shares the same agent as DS. Probably not a sustainable approach to transfer business!
If he’s an improvement on those that have left, does it really matter?
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Another player who shares the same agent as DS. Probably not a sustainable approach to transfer business!
If he’s an improvement on those that have left, does it really matter?
Kind of, because then when DS goes what do we do? The same as we’ve done in recent years and dismantle the squad again and rebuild it in another manager’s image?
Or would we be better off having a recruitment process and a structure that isn’t reliant on the Head Coach or manager, so that when the HC/manager changes we can find someone else to work with those players, rather than starting again every time?
In a roundabout way I’m trying to say, the reliance on the manager/HC’s own recruitment preferences rather than having a club-centric focus is partly what has got us into the position we’re in, in my opinion. And madness would be to keep repeating that and expecting different results.
So to me, and it seems others, it is a bit of a concern that we seem to be recruiting in this way.
Edit - I’d just like to add that this hasn’t all come from me and my fantasy land of how I’d like the club to be run. Baldwin and the board themselves have talked about trying to create an identity and recruit managers and players around that.
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Another player who shares the same agent as DS. Probably not a sustainable approach to transfer business!
If he’s an improvement on those that have left, does it really matter?
Kind of, because then when DS goes what do we do? The same as we’ve done in recent years and dismantle the squad again and rebuild it in another manager’s image?
Or would we be better off having a recruitment process and a structure that isn’t reliant on the Head Coach or manager, so that when the HC/manager changes we can find someone else to work with those players, rather than starting again every time?
In a roundabout way I’m trying to say, the reliance on the manager/HC’s own recruitment preferences rather than having a club-centric focus is partly what has got us into the position we’re in, in my opinion. And madness would be to keep repeating that and expecting different results.
So to me, and it seems others, it is a bit of a concern that we seem to be recruiting in this way.
Edit - I’d just like to add that this hasn’t all come from me and my fantasy land of how I’d like the club to be run. Baldwin and the board themselves have talked about trying to create an identity and recruit managers and players around that.
Spot on.
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Another player who shares the same agent as DS. Probably not a sustainable approach to transfer business!
If he’s an improvement on those that have left, does it really matter?
Kind of, because then when DS goes what do we do? The same as we’ve done in recent years and dismantle the squad again and rebuild it in another manager’s image?
Or would we be better off having a recruitment process and a structure that isn’t reliant on the Head Coach or manager, so that when the HC/manager changes we can find someone else to work with those players, rather than starting again every time?
In a roundabout way I’m trying to say, the reliance on the manager/HC’s own recruitment preferences rather than having a club-centric focus is partly what has got us into the position we’re in, in my opinion. And madness would be to keep repeating that and expecting different results.
So to me, and it seems others, it is a bit of a concern that we seem to be recruiting in this way.
Edit - I’d just like to add that this hasn’t all come from me and my fantasy land of how I’d like the club to be run. Baldwin and the board themselves have talked about trying to create an identity and recruit managers and players around that.
This exactly. Few posts on twitter about turnover of players. That’s all because we’ve had a turnover of managers that every time leads to a rebalancing of the squad
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Another player who shares the same agent as DS. Probably not a sustainable approach to transfer business!
I share the same concerns.
This doesn’t inspire me to think there is genuine talent spotting going on.
It smacks of a rookie manager looking after his mates at the same agency.
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Signing reserve players from Burton. Wow how far we have fallen
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Brace yourselves for the rush when no doubt the early bird season tickets are released next month.
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Darren Moore used what funding he was given by the board, in the way he thought best. How he left wasn’t great but he went to a side that had ambitions to improve. You can’t blame him really.
Surely we had ambition to improve as highlighted by backing DM to bring in who he wanted ie Bogle
Yes we did show some ambition, but Wednesday have big revenue coming in from crowds etc that we don’t. We can’t only do things in our own way, the board couldn’t match what he would get there.
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Brace yourselves for the rush when no doubt the early bird season tickets are released next month.
Club need to employ the greatest sales person in the world. They're not going to sell well at all. January statement and this window has ruined that.
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I really don’t understand who some people expected us to sign in this window.
The only players available are ones who are surplus at other clubs who are available either to sign permanently or on loan until the end of the season.
The only others are the Premier league U21 players on loan.
I seriously don’t know how many times I have said this. It is the same every January.
Why is that so difficult for some to understand.
The summer is the time to do most of the long term recruitment when players are out of contract.
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I don't mind loans, but I do worry about the quality of signings, a permanent striker who has been playing for a side 1 from bottom of the National league. The last time we came from Conference to LG 2 we came into the league with a striker who had been in the team of the season. He couldn't get in the team and left us soon after promotion (Paul Barnes) it doesn't bode well, but I will love being proved wrong. And now, a loan of a player that is leaving because he can't get in the team which is next to bottom in LG.1. These players are where they are for a reason, the same as teams are, Rovers are mid table LG.2 with unreliable form.
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Signing reserve players from Burton. Wow how far we have fallen
Wasn’t our keeper who most seem happy with from Hartlepool reserves-just saying!
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Signing reserve players from Burton. Wow how far we have fallen
Wasn’t our keeper who most seem happy with from Hartlepool reserves-just saying!
Ssshhh, don't mention the hartlepool keeper !
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Signing reserve players from Burton. Wow how far we have fallen
Burton are a league above Rovers
Rashford wasn’t available!
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They have just signed a 3rd keeper at Pools.
They let Mitchell go because he will have wanted 1st team football.
Far too good to be 2nd choice at League 2 level.
Killip their 1st choice is a very good keeper.
There are plenty of players who didn’t get regular starts at their club who when transferred to another club that have flourished.
I give you Alfie May. Yes him. There are a huge number of others.
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Brace yourselves for the rush when no doubt the early bird season tickets are released next month.
Club need to employ the greatest sales person in the world. They're not going to sell well at all. January statement and this window has ruined that.
The Club don't need to employ any sales person , the results over the next 3 months will determine whether ST sales are good or bad ,simple.
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Is there a website that tells you who every player has as an agent ?
Is it only certain agents we don’t deal with ?
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I really don’t understand who some people expected us to sign in this window.
The only players available are ones who are surplus at other clubs who are available either to sign permanently or on loan until the end of the season.
The only others are the Premier league U21 players on loan.
I seriously don’t know how many times I have said this. It is the same every January.
Why is that so difficult for some to understand.
The summer is the time to do most of the long term recruitment when players are out of contract.
Unless we get promoted we're going to have the same problem in the summer as we do now.
Which is that a mid table L2 side is not attractive to the better players, unless the wages are significantly higher than the going rate.
Players are competitive animals, they want to be in a winning side, they want medals, but above all else they want cash.
With our business model we are going to struggle to over any of that.
We are told that there is cash available this window. It could well be that we tried to sign some quality permie players but have been forced into the short term loan market. Unless we get promoted it'll be the same all over again next summer.
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I really don’t understand who some people expected us to sign in this window.
The only players available are ones who are surplus at other clubs who are available either to sign permanently or on loan until the end of the season.
The only others are the Premier league U21 players on loan.
I seriously don’t know how many times I have said this. It is the same every January.
Why is that so difficult for some to understand.
The summer is the time to do most of the long term recruitment when players are out of contract.
Unless we get promoted we're going to have the same problem in the summer as we do now.
Which is that a mid table L2 side is not attractive to the better players, unless the wages are significantly higher than the going rate.
Players are competitive animals, they want to be in a winning side, they want medals, but above all else they want cash.
With our business model we are going to struggle to over any of that.
We are told that there is cash available this window. It could well be that we tried to sign some quality permie players but have been forced into the short term loan market. Unless we get promoted it'll be the same all over again next summer.
But it's the same for every other L2 club. All we have to do is sign better players than them.
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We needed another central midfielder with some experience in league football.
23 is a good age. Some experience but still potential to improve.
On a (loan) contract till the end of the season so Rovers are not committing to him if he turns out not to be up to standard.
Local(ish) and out of favour at his current club so likely to be motivated to perform to earn a move.
Left footed I think so offers a bit of balance potentially.
Let's see how he performs.
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We are in reduced market at the minute for players. We can’t afford massive wages or fees. The club has to be creative in who they sign. One of these signings could turn out to be a gem of a signing. It’s not always the one who cost the most that get’s on. Sometimes players just need opportunities to play regularly to bring out their potential . Any human being does better if valued.
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Another player who shares the same agent as DS. Probably not a sustainable approach to transfer business!
If he’s an improvement on those that have left, does it really matter?
Kind of, because then when DS goes what do we do? The same as we’ve done in recent years and dismantle the squad again and rebuild it in another manager’s image?
Or would we be better off having a recruitment process and a structure that isn’t reliant on the Head Coach or manager, so that when the HC/manager changes we can find someone else to work with those players, rather than starting again every time?
In a roundabout way I’m trying to say, the reliance on the manager/HC’s own recruitment preferences rather than having a club-centric focus is partly what has got us into the position we’re in, in my opinion. And madness would be to keep repeating that and expecting different results.
So to me, and it seems others, it is a bit of a concern that we seem to be recruiting in this way.
Edit - I’d just like to add that this hasn’t all come from me and my fantasy land of how I’d like the club to be run. Baldwin and the board themselves have talked about trying to create an identity and recruit managers and players around that.
Been thinking about this a bit more, and what epitomises the need for this to improve better than the curious case of Adam Long?
Signed in the summer for a fee by the previous manager, took him a while to get fit and up-to-speed, by which point another manager comes in and now he's seemingly somewhere around 5th/6th in the pecking order. By all accounts not injured, but not even featuring in the match day squad at Mansfield, and wouldn't be surprised to see him shipped out today if there's any interest.
If you want to be sustainable, and not make things even worse by pissing needless money away, this is exactly the kind of shit that needs to be avoided.
People push back at those of us who criticise the board and say "they provided an adequate budget, what more can they do?" .... Well one place to start would be to make sure the people making the decisions don't make glaring errors like this one!
If it was just one, it wouldn't be an issue, but look at our transfers over the past few windows and there are a lot of stories of similar wastage. Look at Agard and Griffiths as well.
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Copps would was HoF when long was brought it. It’s his job to ensure the players signed aren’t just going to end up on a scrap heap when a manager changes.
If not we might as well carry on where the manager does everything and the whole club is turned upside down when one leaves. The plan was that having a HoF does that.
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Is there a website that tells you who every player has as an agent ?
Is it only certain agents we don’t deal with ?
The board have made no secret of the fact that certain agents they would never deal with due to excessive fees.
And yes, there is a website for plAyers/ managers/ agents. It’s called Transfermarkt.
I’ve flagged this concern before. Danny Schofield now shares the same agent as Todd Miller and Charlie Larkin. Co-incidence? I think not.
This isn’t talent spotting and proper recruitment. It’s wheels within wheels. Nepotism. Helping out your agent mates. Looking no further than the end of your nose for players. DM did this and look where it ended up.
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Yeah, having principles is such a drag.
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Yeah, having principles is such a drag.
Firstly, I’m not anti board. Far from it.
But I do think they may be guilty of cutting their nose off to spite their face so to speak about being principled in regards to agents fees.
Rovers are potentially missing out on a huge pool of potential. For increased fees perhaps. I don’t know the detail around this principle. Is there a cash threshold per agent?
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I wonder if our recruitment council or whatever they are called identified a potential player for the 1st team would they rule them out because of their agent?
Certain agent fees might make a unaffordable anyway but if they can be fitted into the budget surely we wouldn’t turn our nose up.
The poor quality of players we’ve had recently does suggest their agents won’t be asking for much.
I also worry if we have a policy of staying away from certain agents that we get a reputation in the game for been tight. It’s a small industry and that reputation would make it harder to attract players for sure.
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But it is a fact that we don’t pay excessive agents fees.
Is that a bad thing? Well it might mean we miss out on some decent players so that’s not good.
It also means we are not lining the pockets of some vultures.
People who take money out of te game for their own greed.
So that’s a good thing.
Now before some of you jump on me, yes there are some very good agents who do a very good job for their clients and are not greedy.
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But it is a fact that we don’t pay excessive agents fees.
Is that a bad thing? Well it might mean we miss out on some decent players so that’s not good.
It also means we are not lining the pockets of some vultures.
People who take money out of te game for their own greed.
So that’s a good thing.
Now before some of you jump on me, yes there are some very good agents who do a very good job for their clients and are not greedy.
No I agree with not paying excessive fees. I’m more concerned that it sounds like we outright won’t speak to certain agents. At least find out the score. An excessive fee also depends on what the opportunity is, it can’t just be a set fee. Agents will know if their player has a big future and will charge accordingly.
Whatever fee we paid to sign Hiwula, Dodoo etc was excessive. Rather pay an agent a bit and end up with a competent player.
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Very much a cut throat business these days, Agents are in the game because they enable a players to get the maximum gain out of every deal they are involved in, remember its a very short career being a pro footballer and they have to make the best of their potential, it could also be that their very next game is there last one with serious injury always a big risk.
Regarding the agents we will or will not work with , i would of thought it should all be worked out in the overall price for the player, the package that it will cost the club in total.
We need to be more ruthless, it seems like our very amiable nature on the field is a taster of our business dealings, we must try to get the best players available to a club of our size, why would we reduce the options available to us?
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I really don’t understand who some people expected us to sign in this window.
The only players available are ones who are surplus at other clubs who are available either to sign permanently or on loan until the end of the season.
The only others are the Premier league U21 players on loan.
I seriously don’t know how many times I have said this. It is the same every January.
Why is that so difficult for some to understand.
The summer is the time to do most of the long term recruitment when players are out of contract.
I agree. Do we reckon the club proactively have some targets lined up for the summer based on solid scouting, squad planning and data?
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Signing reserve players from Burton. Wow how far we have fallen
Wasn’t our keeper who most seem happy with from Hartlepool reserves-just saying!
What are you saying after his performance last weekend? We are where we are because of the second rate players we sign for small fees/wages. But after all we are "sustainable" !! Happy to avoid relegation from the football league.
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I really don’t understand who some people expected us to sign in this window.
The only players available are ones who are surplus at other clubs who are available either to sign permanently or on loan until the end of the season.
The only others are the Premier league U21 players on loan.
I seriously don’t know how many times I have said this. It is the same every January.
Why is that so difficult for some to understand.
The summer is the time to do most of the long term recruitment when players are out of contract.
I agree. Do we reckon the club proactively have some targets lined up for the summer based on solid scouting, squad planning and data?
Last summer with Miller, Hurst, Maxwell, Molyenux and Biggins all fitted a similar profile. Young to mid twenties mostly played a fair bit but could push on. all on 2-3 year deals.
Don’t know what methods were used to identify but it feels like they were properly planned signings. Most of these are our better players this season.
What’s telling is we signed Maxwell and Long in defence in the summer. That’s it. After the shocking season we had we’ve got the same defence. This is what holds us back. This summer if we get similar quality to above in defence in on permanent deals we’ll be a much better side.
We were so poor in all positions last season it’s hard to prioritise signings but the reality is we had defenders on contract that no one in their right mind would take. So last summer naturally we spent the money where we had available space which wasn’t centre half
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I really don’t understand who some people expected us to sign in this window.
The only players available are ones who are surplus at other clubs who are available either to sign permanently or on loan until the end of the season.
The only others are the Premier league U21 players on loan.
I seriously don’t know how many times I have said this. It is the same every January.
Why is that so difficult for some to understand.
The summer is the time to do most of the long term recruitment when players are out of contract.
I agree. Do we reckon the club proactively have some targets lined up for the summer based on solid scouting, squad planning and data?
Last summer with Miller, Hurst, Maxwell, Molyenux and Biggins all fitted a similar profile. Young to mid twenties mostly played a fair bit but could push on. all on 2-3 year deals.
Don’t know what methods were used to identify but it feels like they were properly planned signings. Most of these are our better players this season.
What’s telling is we signed Maxwell and Long in defence in the summer. That’s it. After the shocking season we had we’ve got the same defence. This is what holds us back. This summer if we get similar quality to above in defence in on permanent deals we’ll be a much better side.
We were so poor in all positions last season it’s hard to prioritise signings but the reality is we had defenders on contract that no one in their right mind would take. So last summer naturally we spent the money where we had available space which wasn’t centre half
Yep good ages but was there any tactical foresight?
Maxwell was signed last minute when it was obvious we needed a left back all summer and all the other free agents had gone. Don’t get me wrong I like him but he is defensively weak in a back 4, which he was signed to play in.
Miller. Walsall fans themselves on Twitter said he isn’t a lone striker. Yet he was deployed there and long balls were (and still are to some degree) pumped up to him when he’s not big, strong, quick or particularly clinical.
Biggins. Has been ok, a bit inconsistent. His late runs in to the box and eye for goal were highlighted when he signed him. He was stuck next to Clayton and spent his time covering defensively.
Hurst a brilliant find.
Molyneux good on paper but isn’t working out at present. Hopefully he kicks on.
Anderson extension seemed more sentimental than logical. Can’t build a consistent defence around someone injury prone.
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It’s really difficult to avoid any conclusion than we are going to have another major turnover of players this summer. Then it’s more disruption again. Probably unavoidable though as the side is just nowhere near good enough to go up automatically next season. Defence and midfield is all over the place, and there is not any kind of numbers upfront.
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How much of that would you put down to McSheffery. There has to be a plan in the 1st place. any combination of player wouldn’t have looked great.
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We miss a core of good solid experience to go alongside those young players. That would help bring out the best in them. To develop properly the team needs to have the right balance, it hasn’t at the minute.
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Frankly it seems like this season is being written off, which is probably the right decision in the long term. No point lumbering us with overpriced mediocre players for 18 months to achieve possibly slightly better results, but still end the season in failure. There is no way we spent the extra funds promised, in fact I imagine the wage bill is a bit lower than it was when the window opened, so hopefully they're rolled over to the summer.
We'll just have to get used to mediocrity for a bit longer, the occasional hiding mixed in with the occasional good performance and win, and hope that next season they finally get it right.
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Start of this season Bounce Back Decisively now the season is being written off. That can’t be the case GMC said top 3 were in 15th.
Either the Chairman and manager must have had expectations above the reality. We can only hope that the players we’ve brought in are better than perceived. We’ve heard nothing from Copps is he still at the club.
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In league 2 if you get a good solid, well drilled, no nonsense defence you have a great chance of promotion. Defence is crucial at this level. If the defence is right the positive results should take care of themselves. DS & JC need to identify good solid defenders who know what they are doing and have experience at this level to recruit in the summer and a good CDM, then attacking wise we shouldn't need to many additions to what we already have.
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Frankly it seems like this season is being written off, which is probably the right decision in the long term. No point lumbering us with overpriced mediocre players for 18 months to achieve possibly slightly better results, but still end the season in failure. There is no way we spent the extra funds promised, in fact I imagine the wage bill is a bit lower than it was when the window opened, so hopefully they're rolled over to the summer.
We'll just have to get used to mediocrity for a bit longer, the occasional hiding mixed in with the occasional good performance and win, and hope that next season they finally get it right.
I make that 3 seasons in a row "written off" now. Fantastic planning.
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Start of this season Bounce Back Decisively now the season is being written off. That can’t be the case GMC said top 3 were in 15th.
Either the Chairman and manager must have had expectations above the reality. We can only hope that the players we’ve brought in are better than perceived. We’ve heard nothing from Copps is he still at the club.
Win our 2 games in hand we have over some above us and we are back in the play off positions. This season has alot of twists & turns left. Most teams in this league are really inconsistent so it will be April until you can accurately predict the final position of teams. If we or any other teams around us can get consistently good results from now on then they will have a great chance of playoffs or even the third auto place.
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In league 2 if you get a good solid, well drilled, no nonsense defence you have a great chance of promotion. Defence is crucial at this level. If the defence is right the positive results should take care of themselves. DS & JC need to identify good solid defenders who know what they are doing and have experience at this level to recruit in the summer and a good CDM, then attacking wise we shouldn't need to many additions to what we already have.
This sounds good to me. Add in a striker to hold it up or even raw pace to compliment the others as I can see us having 2 up top going forwards. That’s the basics covered.
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The bounce back decisively comment was nonsense the moment we kept the manager who took us down. One thing to do it with Fergie completely different to do it with the manager we had.
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Start of this season Bounce Back Decisively now the season is being written off. That can’t be the case GMC said top 3 were in 15th.
Either the Chairman and manager must have had expectations above the reality. We can only hope that the players we’ve brought in are better than perceived. We’ve heard nothing from Copps is he still at the club.
We were 8th no more than a few weeks ago, and have fallen due to not playing games.
We need to go on a little bit of a run, but we were next to Carlisle on New Year’s Day and now look at them.
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Dickos we were 8th but two teams had games in hand and went passed us yes we’ve now got 1 game in hand and couple two games but we have to win those. But even if we win both we still won’t get back in the playoffs as other teams have the same games as us.
We’ve got start winning consistently that will be a start.
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I really don’t understand who some people expected us to sign in this window.
The only players available are ones who are surplus at other clubs who are available either to sign permanently or on loan until the end of the season.
The only others are the Premier league U21 players on loan.
I seriously don’t know how many times I have said this. It is the same every January.
Why is that so difficult for some to understand.
The summer is the time to do most of the long term recruitment when players are out of contract.
Why though? Kyle Knoyle was hardly surplus to requirements here and another club at our level signed him.
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Knoyle made it clear that he wouldn’t sign another contract so we got money for him and then signed Brown (although on loan) who’s stats compared to Knoyle’s are better in every department (which showed on Saturday) I know the clubs got a lot wrong including this window in my opinion but I believe they got this right, money for someone who would have left for free.
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I think it's a bit of a stretch to say Brown proved he's better in every department than Knoyle on the basis of a 45 minute performance. Don't get me wrong he looked tidy on the ball and put in one or two good crosses, but we'd need to see more of him to say with confidence that it's an upgrade.
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In league 2 if you get a good solid, well drilled, no nonsense defence you have a great chance of promotion. Defence is crucial at this level. If the defence is right the positive results should take care of themselves. DS & JC need to identify good solid defenders who know what they are doing and have experience at this level to recruit in the summer and a good CDM, then attacking wise we shouldn't need to many additions to what we already have.
Being saying this all season to my son,everyone keeps bemoaning lack of threat upfront,more recently lack of goals,But it is better to get the defence sorted first,and it should'nt be too hard too sort in league two,we've only had 3 clean sheets this season so far,Cut down the goals conceded and we would have a few more points on the board.If you get a clean sheet and you don't score,you get a point,if you get a clean sheet and you score you get 3pts.
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It's obviously a poor defence but not quite that poor. We have (somehow) managed four clean sheets in the league this season - Bradford City away (30 July), Northampton Town away (27 August), Gillingham home (29 October) and Newport County away (10 December). Two of those clean sheets were against very poor sides in Gillingham (second bottom) and Newport County (19th).
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Dickos we were 8th but two teams had games in hand and went passed us yes we’ve now got 1 game in hand and couple two games but we have to win those. But even if we win both we still won’t get back in the playoffs as other teams have the same games as us.
We’ve got start winning consistently that will be a start.
haven't had a good tun for over two years what makes you think we will have one between now a d the end of the season
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Back to OP.... Lakin scored twice in a friendly yesterday....
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/new-doncaster-rovers-signing-scores-twice-in-friendly-win-over-bolton-wanderers-4010455
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The good thing in the article is that we are trying to establish more friendlies to give fringe and U18 players game time which is a good thing hope they can do it.
Lakin scoring two is a good thing now DS play 352 and have three in midfield two up front.
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The good thing in the article is that we are trying to establish more friendlies to give fringe and U18 players game time which is a good thing hope they can do it.
Lakin scoring two is a good thing now DS play 352 and have three in midfield two up front.
Problem with a 352 is we’d struggle to fit Hurst into it who is probably our best attacking player. Time to drop 3/5 at the back imo to get the best chance of winning games.
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Back to OP.... Lakin scored twice in a friendly yesterday....
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/new-doncaster-rovers-signing-scores-twice-in-friendly-win-over-bolton-wanderers-4010455
Also good they were playing on the Eco pitch rather than at Cantley. Hopefully Lakin has now got his range and he and others are refamiliarised with the pitch and surroundings.
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The good thing in the article is that we are trying to establish more friendlies to give fringe and U18 players game time which is a good thing hope they can do it.
Lakin scoring two is a good thing now DS play 352 and have three in midfield two up front.
Problem with a 352 is we’d struggle to fit Hurst into it who is probably our best attacking player. Time to drop 3/5 at the back imo to get the best chance of winning games.
I’m not the manager but he could fit in the middle three but with more scope to attack. Or be one of the front two playing behind and with the main striker. Or at home he could play left wing back there are different options.
But DS won’t change from his 343 anyway unless he has to like second half last week.
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The good thing in the article is that we are trying to establish more friendlies to give fringe and U18 players game time which is a good thing hope they can do it.
Lakin scoring two is a good thing now DS play 352 and have three in midfield two up front.
Problem with a 352 is we’d struggle to fit Hurst into it who is probably our best attacking player. Time to drop 3/5 at the back imo to get the best chance of winning games.
I think Hurst has the attributes to play central attacking. Was very composed for his goal at the weekend.
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From the latest DFP Schofield is looking to play two up front
So he could be changing