Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: DollyRover on December 20, 2025, 04:50:25 pm

Title: Grant mccann...
Post by: DollyRover on December 20, 2025, 04:50:25 pm
This now stands squarely at his feet. He can not arrange a team to fight. He would probably be great for a team at the top end of the table but we are so exposed at the back. Every mistake is punished because of a lack of covee
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: In the box on December 20, 2025, 04:54:57 pm
This now stands squarely at his feet. He can not arrange a team to fight. He would probably be great for a team at the top end of the table but we are so exposed at the back. Every mistake is punished because of a lack of covee
McCanns been talking bollox all season about the quality of the players .. P45 ?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: mushRTID on December 20, 2025, 04:55:13 pm
He will be looking over his shoulder now. No doubt.
Awful recruitment, awful form, awful performance.
Shocking
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on December 20, 2025, 04:59:37 pm
He’s earnt a bit more time but we shouldn’t be too loyal he wasn’t when it suited him.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: DollyRover on December 20, 2025, 05:02:43 pm
First 10 minutes we looked really good. One silly mistake, it happens  but the team should pick up where they left off. The team he assembled in the summer is largely on the bench and he has us that open against lets be honest, an awful plymouth team. Hes done now for me, could well be sucesful where he goes next but we need new leadership
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: roversdaft on December 20, 2025, 05:05:43 pm
Billy Sharp - Player Manager

Old School move, let’s do it!
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Scooter on December 20, 2025, 05:07:50 pm
We could easily lose our next three. Surely if we do he doesn’t survive that
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: normal rules on December 20, 2025, 05:09:46 pm
Rovers can’t afford to off GM. It would cost money we don’t have . And then who to replace with? He has the Jan window to turn things round .
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Prez on December 20, 2025, 05:11:53 pm
Im not advocating him being sacked, but if i was Terry or Gavin, id be asking questions now.

Simply not good enough.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on December 20, 2025, 05:15:28 pm
If your Terry why give him more money for players who will sit on the bench. That’s what he’s done so far.

It’s a hard one and I might feel different later but if you let him have Jan it’s very hard to change after
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Reg of the Rovers on December 20, 2025, 05:15:54 pm
We’re so easy to play against. Soft in the middle, lots of width but slow to get balls in the box. Everything for them was literally straight through the middle. Grant knows one formation and that’s it. His recruitment has been shocking, and he hasn’t got a clue how to change a game. Broadbent looked like his boots were on the wrong foot while they danced through us - let’s give him 75 mins!

Time to go for me. Today was inexcusable. We’re second from bottom at Christmas. Not good enough at all. I don’t care who we get in, this isn’t working in this league.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: DollyRover on December 20, 2025, 05:15:58 pm
Rovers can’t afford to off GM. It would cost money we don’t have . And then who to replace with? He has the Jan window to turn things round .

This as an alternative is not going to be cheap. For what its worth, i think mccann is a great manager...if your near the top of the league, question is, is it cheaper to give grant the squas he needs for top of the league and hope it pays off or accept our place and get a manager who can make us more solid and keep us in the league
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Bristol Red Rover on December 20, 2025, 05:17:06 pm
Billy Sharp - Player Manager

Old School move, let’s do it!
A good idea but a big risk all round for him to take the position, could knock him badly as well as the club if it failed. Has he wanted or been given extra responsibilities to date?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: grayx on December 20, 2025, 05:18:34 pm
Billy Sharp - Player Manager

Old School move, let’s do it!
Please NO. We need a proven manager.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: oggycompton on December 20, 2025, 05:20:03 pm
Why on earth would you give that team more money to spend? Pearson and Middleton on the bench and 5 loanees nowhere near the squad.

I wouldn't be giving them a penny. Time is up.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Padge_DRFC on December 20, 2025, 05:25:21 pm
Billy Sharp - Player Manager

Old School move, let’s do it!

If it gets him off the pitch. Then yes. That solely is the only reason
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ForsolongaRover on December 20, 2025, 05:36:57 pm
What is curious about team spirit and McCann’s leadership is that when we do put in a good performance (like last week at Cardiff) McCann seems to fail to use it to inspire a follow up. Building on good performances is fundamental tool in motivation and the current management has repeatedly failed to carry momentum into the next match.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: bigallan on December 20, 2025, 05:37:06 pm
He needs to be brought into that boardroom and be honest to a chairman that backed him

It wasn't long ago in an interview he said he was being to loyal to players and it has to change ????

Hes been to bloody loyal all season that bench today was stronger than on the pitch close has to start as does Pearson

Up the rovers
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: In the box on December 20, 2025, 05:40:04 pm
What is curious about team spirit and McCann’s leadership is that when we do put in a good performance (like last week at Cardiff) McCann seems to fail to use it to inspire a follow up. Building on good performances is fundamental tool in motivation and the current management has repeatedly failed to carry momentum into the next match.
I thought Cardiff was our best game but loosing is habit forming and these players addicted now !!
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: bigallan on December 20, 2025, 05:41:28 pm
Cant wait to hear is after game prognosis
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: BobG on December 20, 2025, 05:53:25 pm
Diagnosis.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 05:59:06 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 20, 2025, 06:00:27 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.

What are the financial restrictions?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 06:03:56 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.

What are the financial restrictions?

One of the lowest budgets in the league with no money to spend to bring players in. This is not L2. Players are bought and sold in the £millions.

The budget has been set where the owner agrees to set it and unless we massively outperform that budget the team will be in and around a relegation battle. Im fine with it.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 20, 2025, 06:05:18 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.

What are the financial restrictions?

One of the lowest budgets in the league with no money to spend to bring players in. This is not L2. Players are bought and sold in the £millions.

The budget has been set where the owner agrees to set it and unless we massively outperform that budget the team will be in and around a relegation battle. Im fine with it.

How do you know it’s one of the lowest?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ncRover on December 20, 2025, 06:08:27 pm
Why on earth would you give that team more money to spend? Pearson and Middleton on the bench and 5 loanees nowhere near the squad.

I wouldn't be giving them a penny. Time is up.

Add Gotts to that
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 06:09:15 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.

What are the financial restrictions?

One of the lowest budgets in the league with no money to spend to bring players in. This is not L2. Players are bought and sold in the £millions.

The budget has been set where the owner agrees to set it and unless we massively outperform that budget the team will be in and around a relegation battle. Im fine with it.

How do you know it’s one of the lowest?

What's the point in asking a question like that? None of us on here know for sure. But based on our signings in the summer and the business almost every other team did either our budget was one of the lowest or there has been a war chest saved for January.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: In the box on December 20, 2025, 06:09:26 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.
Are we to start every season in January ?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 06:10:41 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.
Are we to start every season in January ?

I'd much rather we didn't but he has more credit in the bank than 3months for me.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: EasyforDennis on December 20, 2025, 06:14:01 pm
Diagnosis.

Prognosis.
I think we all know the problem. We need to know about the future outcome
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: big fat yorkshire pudding on December 20, 2025, 06:27:18 pm
I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Lesonthewest on December 20, 2025, 06:39:29 pm
I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.

Exactly this, he's tried to coach them into being better players in League 1  but it hasn't worked. The players are simply not good enough. More importantly than anything else, we need a far better recruitment team. Terry needs to be ruthless with this, if not, we go down.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: DD on December 20, 2025, 06:40:06 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Pintolager on December 20, 2025, 06:45:27 pm
I have always backed McCann an accepted that he will make mistakes, but maybe I have been looking through rose tinted specs too much lately. Today was awful and we can point fingers at players, but ultimately the book stops with GM. We are too lightweight, too slow and lack composure at times. I don't want him gone yet, but at what point does the club say enough is enough? January is going to be crucial now to save the season the way things are.

As for Sharp becoming the new boss if GM went, I don't think would happen, he would more likely take a coaching role at Sheffield United.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 06:46:17 pm
I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.

Exactly this. For me GM is doing the best he can with what he has been given. We had a poor transfer window.

Keeper, people say a downgrade on TSL
Defence, not as good as last yr IMO
Midfield, same but were being called out in L2
Up front, not as good as how we finished L2.

Bear in mind we didn't exactly set the league 2 alight last year.

Im not convinced this squad would have made playoffs in L2 last season and Im not sure anyone can convince me that isnt down to budget.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: mushRTID on December 20, 2025, 06:47:52 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?


When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 20, 2025, 06:48:50 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?


The manager is responsible.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 20, 2025, 06:53:04 pm
People suggesting Sharp as player manager have surely been on the Christmas ales. Surely.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 06:55:24 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?


When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Herbert Anchovy on December 20, 2025, 06:56:54 pm
I totally like and want to keep Grant as manager.

However, the signings this summer, the tactics and selections are not where they should be. He's made a fair few mistakes.  I do think and I think he should get the time and January to sort it out, to me it appears he has too many sub par players at this level and he's trying too much to make players who aren't at the right level perform.

Absolutely this.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: mushRTID on December 20, 2025, 07:01:49 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?


When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.

I’m not just talking about the loans though.

I do respect you trying to see the positives, I’m just extremely frustrated all the hard work of getting out of the basement division and we’ve made our selves weaker.

We needed some proven L1 quality.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 07:05:00 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?


When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.

I’m not just talking about the loans though.

I do respect you trying to see the positives, I’m just extremely frustrated all the hard work of getting out of the basement division and we’ve made our selves weaker.

We needed some proven L1 quality.

I agree, but this is driven by budget. We have one of the richest owners in the EFL but we were spending more money on signings to improve the team 20yrs ago.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Herbert Anchovy on December 20, 2025, 07:16:45 pm
Certain posters were wetting themselves with glee during the Summer at some of our signings. If you can be arsed go take a look, it’s not too difficult to find the posts on here. There was even talk of promotion in the air. Now we’re struggling SOME of those same posters are calling them everything from a pig to post and GM should be sacked for getting them on board. Shows what we know about football management and recruitment doesn’t it?

(By the way, if you’re going to use multiple monikers when posting on here you need to post/write in a different style too or it just makes you look odd)

Today we were shit, and have been for a while, but GM has earned the right to have longer than to Christmas to put things right. Panic sacking is just modern football, reactionary bollox. He deserves time to stop the rot.

How does the song go….I’m Rovers till we play shit?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: scawsby steve on December 20, 2025, 07:34:44 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?


When Grant joined, if you recall Copps was still involved in recruitment and Grant literally said

“I am responsible for signings as I’m the one stood on the sidelines taking the flack if they don’t work”.

This summers signings have been nothing short of disgraceful.

It is unforgivable we’ve gone into a harder league with a weaker team. Wtf!

Hanlan is fast becoming one of the better signings, and even he didn’t start contributing/given a chance until November.

I really worry that we won’t be able to do enough good business in January to save us. We’re in trouble.

IMO

Orierdan has been good, seemedly Blackburn calling him back to supplement their squad.

Crew will be a top.player and showed signs of that at the end of last season so resigning him was an absolute no brainer it just hasnt clicked.

TLT similar to Crew last time he was part of our record run so was a sensible signing and personally one I was over the moon with.

Adjai feels like a poor signing, maybe taken as part of discussions with spurs rather than someone we have scouted in any length.

Olusanya from the second it was announced felt like desperation and a strange one. I'd be intrigued to know how much if anything we are contributing to his wages.

So I would say 3 out of 5 loans were good signings, just not quite worked as planned for TLT/Crew so far.

I’m not just talking about the loans though.

I do respect you trying to see the positives, I’m just extremely frustrated all the hard work of getting out of the basement division and we’ve made our selves weaker.

We needed some proven L1 quality.

I agree, but this is driven by budget. We have one of the richest owners in the EFL but we were spending more money on signings to improve the team 20yrs ago.

We don't have one of the richest owners in the EFL. Many clubs are owned by billionaires.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: RobTheRover on December 20, 2025, 08:02:52 pm
The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: mushRTID on December 20, 2025, 08:05:58 pm
The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The problem is we haven’t strengthened the team enough. So every couple of fixtures is looking tough!
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 20, 2025, 08:12:30 pm
They haven't worked out yet obviously, but Gotts was one of the better players in League Two last season, Middleton has been performing at a good standard in the Scottish top tier which is equivalent of League One, Pearson played 39 times in Championship season before last and 29 times in League One last season and Hanlan has played his last 250 league appearances in League One. These are players who can or accurately should be able to easily compete at League One level.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: BillyStubbsTears on December 20, 2025, 08:15:46 pm
The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

Thing is, we had Heffernan to put in the team that season. Part of our underperformance was self inflicted.

We ain't got that get out this year.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: In the box on December 20, 2025, 08:25:27 pm
They haven't worked out yet obviously, but Gotts was one of the better players in League Two last season, Middleton has been performing at a good standard in the Scottish top tier which is equivalent of League One, Pearson played 39 times in Championship season before last and 29 times in League One last season and Hanlan has played his last 250 league appearances in League One. These are players who can or accurately should be able to easily compete at League One level.
On paper Gotts ,Middleton, Hanlan were seen as positive signings and Pearson who is just wanting to per-long his career as he can still compete in L1 . But ask yourself what is happening with them now , is it them as players or is our manager who’s just not getting them to improve or even play to expectations.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Bentley Bullet on December 20, 2025, 08:25:51 pm
Cant wait to hear is after game prognosis
Diagnosis.
Autopsy.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ForsolongaRover on December 20, 2025, 08:27:14 pm
The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The difference was that SOD had a squad of very able players; the quality shone through even in those early days when we were not gathering points. I believe we set a record by NOT going down that season from our relegation spot at Christmas and the final mid table league position was indisputable evidence of the fundamental quality.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Herbert Anchovy on December 20, 2025, 08:38:43 pm
The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The difference was that SOD had a squad of very able players; the quality shone through even in those early days when we were not gathering points. I believe we set a record by NOT going down that season from our relegation spot at Christmas and the final mid table league position was indisputable evidence of the fundamental quality.

But I can absolutely guarantee you that nobody was saying “don’t worry lads & lasses, we have a strong squad so we’ll be fine” at Christmas of that particular season. There was panic, calls for sackings and criticism of the board and players just as there is now.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: RobTheRover on December 20, 2025, 08:44:42 pm
The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

Thing is, we had Heffernan to put in the team that season. Part of our underperformance was self inflicted.

We ain't got that get out this year.

Yeah, I know.  But only as recently as last week most were saying we've not played that badly and given time the results will come.

I get that today was a massive disappointment in a game most would look at as vital we get something from, but which is it?   Sack the manager or performances are better than the results we've had?  If it's the latter then it's a fine tune, if it's the former then it's wholesale change.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 20, 2025, 08:50:31 pm
For all people criticising McCann now, he was wiping floor with all comers in this league for most of opening 10 games. He has managed to get a very good tune out of this squad, this season. He clearly isn't now but it can be done.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Pancho Regan on December 20, 2025, 08:56:33 pm
Look back in this forum last Oct/Nov/Dec.

Year before in the Feb.

Same f**king divvies calling for McCanns head then and both times we recruited well in Jan and turned the seasons around.

Playoffs one year, champions the next year and people dont think he has enough in the bank to be given more than 3months in the league he got us promoted to?

Honestly the moronic view of multiple on here blows my mind.

We won't get any better than him working within the restrictions he has financially.
Are we to start every season in January ?

I'd much rather we didn't but he has more credit in the bank than 3months for me.

Agree with you 100% Ryaldinhio.

A voice of reason in a maelstrom of shit.

Very short memories some people have.
I’m hurting badly tonight but I will not give up on this manager.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Lesonthewest on December 20, 2025, 09:10:37 pm
Who exactly is responsible for recruitment?

I was under the impression it was Lee Glover.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: knockers on December 20, 2025, 09:42:50 pm
All of these players are Grants players therefore he has to take the hit if it’s not working.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ForsolongaRover on December 20, 2025, 10:20:53 pm
The only logical conclusion I could reach is that the players were all on the piss yesterday for Mad Friday.

This league is still so tight no one is out of it. We have a tough run over the rest of the Festive period so let's see what reaction we get to that.

Who remembers our first season under SOD in the Championship, and what happened from Boxing Day onwards?  I've said that this season reminds me of that one.  Probably deserved more points than we have got on the table. Individual mistakes absolutely costing us.

The difference was that SOD had a squad of very able players; the quality shone through even in those early days when we were not gathering points. I believe we set a record by NOT going down that season from our relegation spot at Christmas and the final mid table league position was indisputable evidence of the fundamental quality.

But I can absolutely guarantee you that nobody was saying “don’t worry lads & lasses, we have a strong squad so we’ll be fine” at Christmas of that particular season. There was panic, calls for sackings and criticism of the board and players just as there is now.

I don’t suppose your contention or mine can be proved beyond doubt, but I would say that SOD had spent a lot longer than McCann in building a squad, a style of play and a reputation. And although there were detractors, his base and the style were consistent and it was clear that the team were not outclassed and in some ways superior and more attractive in their style of play. There were no glaring shortcomings and good grounds for believing that there was enough quality to succeed in the longer term.

particularly because of the “tippy-tippy” close control Based on that he carried a greater  It is not easily “performances” and there was a system, a style of play, a mutual understanding that (if not fully ) could be seen to be emerging
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: grayx on December 20, 2025, 10:21:51 pm
All of these players are Grants players therefore he has to take the hit if it’s not working.
Spot on.
I’d make him manage his budget in Jan by trimming his squad & spending it better.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 20, 2025, 11:59:24 pm
All of these players are Grants players therefore he has to take the hit if it’s not working.
Spot on.
I’d make him manage his budget in Jan by trimming his squad & spending it better.

All of these are Grants, I agree with that.

But what if we have second lowest budget.

ANY other business would expect therefore to be second bottom without luck, be that in results or finding a diamond.

IMO opinion we have a really low budget for this league and as I said at game week 1 I'd take 20th.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Pancho Regan on December 21, 2025, 12:19:07 am
I’ve just watched Grant’s post-match interview.

What I see is a man who is hurting as much as I am and he does not attempt to hide.
He is honest enough to question himself and brave enough to face up to the disappointment of today’s performance and result.

I have faith in him to turn this around.

Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: scawsby steve on December 21, 2025, 01:04:40 am
For all people criticising McCann now, he was wiping floor with all comers in this league for most of opening 10 games. He has managed to get a very good tune out of this squad, this season. He clearly isn't now but it can be done.

Sorry, CBCB, but he wasn't wiping the floor with any team in this league apart from Bradford. The wins against Exeter, Rotherham, Mansfield, and Port Vale, were scraped with mediocre performances in games that could have gone either way.

This is just not a good League 1 squad he's put together. To suggest otherwise is delusional.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 21, 2025, 08:03:05 am
All of these players are Grants players therefore he has to take the hit if it’s not working.
Spot on.
I’d make him manage his budget in Jan by trimming his squad & spending it better.

All of these are Grants, I agree with that.

But what if we have second lowest budget.

ANY other business would expect therefore to be second bottom without luck, be that in results or finding a diamond.

IMO opinion we have a really low budget for this league and as I said at game week 1 I'd take 20th.

What would your views be if we had a mid table budget?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: EasyforDennis on December 21, 2025, 08:08:32 am
But we don't have a mid table budget so it's a bit like most of our games this season.........pointless!!!!
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 21, 2025, 08:09:05 am
But we don't have a mid table budget so it's a bit like most of our games this season.........pointless!!!!

How do you know that?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: EasyforDennis on December 21, 2025, 08:10:08 am
But we don't have a mid table budget so it's a bit like most of our games this season.........pointless!!!!

How do you know that?

Like you. I don't.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 21, 2025, 08:11:31 am
But we don't have a mid table budget so it's a bit like most of our games this season.........pointless!!!!

How do you know that?

Like you. I don't.

You certainly don’t know what I know!
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: EasyforDennis on December 21, 2025, 08:16:30 am
But we don't have a mid table budget so it's a bit like most of our games this season.........pointless!!!!

How do you know that?

Like you. I don't.

You certainly don’t know what I know!

I certainly don't. Now stop playing like a schoolboy in the playground or I will set my brother on you cos he's bigger than you.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 21, 2025, 08:26:09 am
But we don't have a mid table budget so it's a bit like most of our games this season.........pointless!!!!

How do you know that?

Like you. I don't.

You certainly don’t know what I know!

I certainly don't. Now stop playing like a schoolboy in the playground or I will set my brother on you cos he's bigger than you.

I know where the budget is in relation to other teams for f**k sake. Can anyone on this forum ever accept that people can actually know stuff they may not.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Padge_DRFC on December 21, 2025, 08:50:06 am
How much can we actually spend? FFP and all that. Our crowds are crap and our STs are the cheapest in the league. Probably one of the lowest earners on match day income in this league.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: redarmi66 on December 21, 2025, 08:53:01 am
But we don't have a mid table budget so it's a bit like most of our games this season.........pointless!!!!

How do you know that?

Like you. I don't.

You certainly don’t know what I know!

I certainly don't. Now stop playing like a schoolboy in the playground or I will set my brother on you cos he's bigger than you.

I know where the budget is in relation to other teams for f**k sake. Can anyone on this forum ever accept that people can actually know stuff they may not.
ok then what is our budget in relation to other teams. If you know then please share and we can then discuss the recruitment with more insight.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 21, 2025, 08:55:30 am
How much can we actually spend? FFP and all that. Our crowds are crap and our STs are the cheapest in the league. Probably one of the lowest earners on match day income in this league.

The Club Doncaster revenue is great and is a big reason we are financially stronger than other similar sized clubs. Ever reliant on Terry to help of course but we are very well run commercially I’d say.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: pigeonhole on December 21, 2025, 09:00:33 am
Gavin Baldwin told us in August that we have a mid-table budget. That’s not much of a brag if it’s untrue. In the same interview he went on to say let’s go into League 1 and have some fun. I don’t think Gavin and I have the same definition of fun.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 21, 2025, 09:05:18 am
Gavin Baldwin told us in August that we have a mid-table budget. That’s not much of a brag if it’s untrue. In the same interview he went on to say let’s go into League 1 and have some fun. I don’t think Gavin and I have the same definition of fun.

This. Go and watch the pre season interviews.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on December 21, 2025, 09:26:20 am
I don’t find it hard to believe we have mid table budget. We’ve mid table crowds and are run commercially very well so I’m not sure where the assumption to relegation funds comes from.

We’ve a large squad that was added too by Grant without making any cuts. We went for the large squad to get out of L2 so we could deal with injuries etc but without trimming it in the summer (offering some very strange extensions) we’re stuck with a large but low quality squad.

Bad management of funds imo. Someone should really have questioned and challenged those extensions to Close, Westbrooke and Hurst (could even add Sharp to that)
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Reg of the Rovers on December 21, 2025, 09:35:32 am
Some of the recruitment and retention decisions are baffling. It isn’t suggestive of a small budget that we’re so un-ruthless with our decisions. Not cashing in on McGrath is one example of money not being too tight, and that we retained Close, Sbarra, Westbrook, Hurst and Sharp agrees. Like keeping Richard Wood last year was crazy, we’d had the one good season we could have reasonably expected and then paid him a year to be injured / poor.

Hanlan is turning in to a decent player, and could prove to be good business if he stays fit. But other than that, every other single decision is at best debatable, or generally terrible.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ncRover on December 21, 2025, 09:35:46 am
We will have a bigger budget than Exeter, Northampton and Burton for definite. All above us in the table.

Think some are forgetting the vast squad depth we have which may put our budget above some that have a stronger starting XI on paper.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on December 21, 2025, 09:40:29 am
Some of the recruitment and retention decisions are baffling. It isn’t suggestive of a small budget that we’re so un-ruthless with our decisions. Not cashing in on McGrath is one example of money not being too tight, and that we retained Close, Sbarra, Westbrook, Hurst and Sharp agrees. Like keeping Richard Wood last year was crazy, we’d had the one good season we could have reasonably expected and then paid him a year to be injured / poor.

Hanlan is turning in to a decent player, and could prove to be good business if he stays fit. But other than that, every other single decision is at best debatable, or generally terrible.

This is true if we were been ran on a shoe string McGarth would have been gone at the first sniff. Plymouth must look at it and think thank god we turned them down.

That said they didn’t ask their centre halves to play out just head it and clear it. McGarth might look a lot better if we asked him to focus on the basics not asking him to play Xabi Alonso passes
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Lazar on December 21, 2025, 09:51:15 am
My main grumble with the summer isn’t the lack of quality per se, it’s the fact they don’t appear to have been recruited to a system.

Middleton is a decent player, but Grant has favoured inverted wingers in both spells with us yet signs a byline and cross it merchant. We have no penalty box presence but allocated a chunk of budget to someone who would thrive with something to aim at.

He’s not the only profile we’ve signed that leaves you scratching your head.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Cramby10 on December 21, 2025, 10:10:06 am
Some of the recruitment and retention decisions are baffling. It isn’t suggestive of a small budget that we’re so un-ruthless with our decisions. Not cashing in on McGrath is one example of money not being too tight, and that we retained Close, Sbarra, Westbrook, Hurst and Sharp agrees. Like keeping Richard Wood last year was crazy, we’d had the one good season we could have reasonably expected and then paid him a year to be injured / poor.

Hanlan is turning in to a decent player, and could prove to be good business if he stays fit. But other than that, every other single decision is at best debatable, or generally terrible.

This is true if we were been ran on a shoe string McGarth would have been gone at the first sniff. Plymouth must look at it and think thank god we turned them down.

That said they didn’t ask their centre halves to play out just head it and clear it. McGarth might look a lot better if we asked him to focus on the basics not asking him to play Xabi Alonso passes
bit ironic really. McGrath was Plymouths best player yesterday!!
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: redarmi66 on December 21, 2025, 10:14:08 am
My main grumble with the summer isn’t the lack of quality per se, it’s the fact they don’t appear to have been recruited to a system.

Middleton is a decent player, but Grant has favoured inverted wingers in both spells with us yet signs a byline and cross it merchant. We have no penalty box presence but allocated a chunk of budget to someone who would thrive with something to aim at.

He’s not the only profile we’ve signed that leaves you scratching your head.
Middleton/Ironside would have worked
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 21, 2025, 10:17:38 am
A few seasons ago, sure it was before GM rejoined, we were told that we had one of the top budgets in L2 and going for promotion, think it was one of the worst seasons, where we brought in Schofield and the lad had no chance. In the aftermath Im sure Copps came out and said we had a mid table budget at best.

So anyone who believes what is said publicly regards the budget is bonkers. I take my view on who we have brought in and my thoughts on money spent. I dont base it on any more or less.

IMO with the business we have done in the transfer window we have a bottom end of L1 budget.......and we are bottom end of L1.

Gaz, if you know our numbers, and every other club in L1s numbers, let us all know.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Lazar on December 21, 2025, 10:22:51 am
My main grumble with the summer isn’t the lack of quality per se, it’s the fact they don’t appear to have been recruited to a system.

Middleton is a decent player, but Grant has favoured inverted wingers in both spells with us yet signs a byline and cross it merchant. We have no penalty box presence but allocated a chunk of budget to someone who would thrive with something to aim at.

He’s not the only profile we’ve signed that leaves you scratching your head.
Middleton/Ironside would have worked

Yet he was marginalised to bring in a bloke who somehow performed worse than his Wikipedia page.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 21, 2025, 10:31:22 am
Lasagne has been absolutely baffling. I can only assume that they only watched him online. He will surely go back next month, having played a total of 121 league minutes with no goals and no league minutes since 25 October.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Donnyjim on December 21, 2025, 10:41:48 am
One win in 14 is very sackable. However, the reality is, that probably we are now that yo-yo side between the 1st and 2nd Div. Very similar to the mid 80’s. Our ground always suggests we are more than that. Sadly our budget never does. Gavin’s understated ‘mid table budget’ indicates this. After all, mid table is a couple of defeats from bottom four. So, I would stick with Grant for now. After his interview yesterday he may actually walk before pushed anyway.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: BillyStubbsTears on December 21, 2025, 11:40:08 am
We will have a bigger budget than Exeter, Northampton and Burton for definite. All above us in the table.

Think some are forgetting the vast squad depth we have which may put our budget above some that have a stronger starting XI on paper.

This.

We do probably have the best second XI in the division though, so I fancy our chances in the Tin Pot Cup
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Padge_DRFC on December 21, 2025, 12:47:43 pm
People mocking midtable budgets. Some clubs get double nearly triple out gates some week Cardiff Bolton Huddersfield Bradford etc. Club Doncaster won't be making up that amount. Then there's half the remaining teams that get more in at higher prices.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: big fat yorkshire pudding on December 21, 2025, 02:20:58 pm
What other teams budget is isn't that relevant. There's plenty of clubs using their budget better than us. We're subsidising Sbarra, Westbrook, Hurst, Olusanya, Faulkner, Nixon, Close, Gotts, Middleton, Ajayi, Tutala and Crew who are offering us nothing this season, there's the problem.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 21, 2025, 02:33:55 pm
What other teams budget is isn't that relevant. There's plenty of clubs using their budget better than us. We're subsidising Sbarra, Westbrook, Hurst, Olusanya, Faulkner, Nixon, Close, Gotts, Middleton, Ajayi, Tutala and Crew who are offering us nothing this season, there's the problem.


Poor decisions compound in football. We’ve made mistakes with contract offers, non contract offers, signings, even staff recruitment.

Is there enough diversity of opinion within the football department? The handling of Copps has been unusual at best. Glover and Cliff are very close to Grant, are there enough voices within the group that are prepared to question decisions.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: i_ateallthepies on December 21, 2025, 02:52:04 pm
None of us knows with any certainty what the playing budget is but the decisions made regarding players retained, signed, re-signed and the resulting size of the squad says to me we don't have a bottom-four budget.  But for the squad do be so bloated with lots of nearly good enough players and very few good enough it seems to me there must be some other factor at play.

Grant re-signed Close and Westbrook and we were unable to get the signature of Olowu, he signed a heap of players (who by now mostly appear to be below the standard required) and explained it as being to give squad depth.  So, what if the club does indeed have a mid-table budget but implements a salary-cap policy to limit what any individual player can be paid (perhaps) in order to prevent disharmony amongst the squad?  Grant decides his best option to give him a chance of competing is to have squad depth to give him options when injuries strike.

Other than incompetence amongst the recruitment decision-makers I can see no other way to explain where we now find ourselves with this group of players.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ForsolongaRover on December 21, 2025, 08:48:28 pm
His post match interview was frank and you could say that if you wanted a rationale to terminate his employment, you simply needed to quote it back at him.

He identified shortcomings in so many aspects of the team’s performance yesterday, some of them somewhat intangible, that you might ask “Where does he start?”

The fact that he did not offer any immediate solution was sensible on a rational level, but it will be a question to which TB and GB will be needing an answer and he will be expected to set out solutions. There are posters on here that retain faith in his ability, and the integrity that comes across when he is interviewed makes such faith justifiable, but if you were the senior management team you might ask yourself whether there is tangible evidence to extend the trust.

I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: RoversInSpain on December 22, 2025, 02:42:31 am
I have total faith in GM. It’s not long ago we were struggling in Lg2, as GM tried to get the balance right. The board trusted him, we got a very lucky draw at Sutton, and then had a remarkable run aided by a January loan or two. We now find ourselves in a similar situation but a league higher. GM will fathom it out and we will build a good team over the next 2/3 years to attack a promotion to a place in the championship. Patience folks! Got to support the boys now.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Donnyjim on December 22, 2025, 03:45:04 pm
I have total faith in GM. It’s not long ago we were struggling in Lg2, as GM tried to get the balance right. The board trusted him, we got a very lucky draw at Sutton, and then had a remarkable run aided by a January loan or two. We now find ourselves in a similar situation but a league higher. GM will fathom it out and we will build a good team over the next 2/3 years to attack a promotion to a place in the championship. Patience folks! Got to support the boys now.

We need that guy to phone Radio Dee Dar again and say that he's off to the Sal for a pint. :-D
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Reg of the Rovers on December 22, 2025, 04:50:07 pm
I have total faith in GM. It’s not long ago we were struggling in Lg2, as GM tried to get the balance right. The board trusted him, we got a very lucky draw at Sutton, and then had a remarkable run aided by a January loan or two. We now find ourselves in a similar situation but a league higher. GM will fathom it out and we will build a good team over the next 2/3 years to attack a promotion to a place in the championship. Patience folks! Got to support the boys now.

We need that guy to phone Radio Dee Dar again and say that he's off to the Sal for a pint. :-D
https://fanbanter.co.uk/phone-call-from-doncaster-fan-has-listeners-in-stitches-and-bbc-sheffield-presenter-baffled/# (https://fanbanter.co.uk/phone-call-from-doncaster-fan-has-listeners-in-stitches-and-bbc-sheffield-presenter-baffled/#)

It's still one of the greatest things I've ever heard. Have we ever identified Paul the genius / mad-man behind the call?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: drfcsteve on December 22, 2025, 05:11:05 pm
The budget debate on here is interesting given as far as I’m aware it isn’t something that Grant has blamed for our position in the league.

We know the club have said we have a mid-table budget and we know Grant said he was happy with what he was given. Seems a bit odd to try and turn the narrative around now and say we have a second from bottom budget and that’s why we are where we are.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Ryaldinhio on December 22, 2025, 11:30:48 pm
The budget debate on here is interesting given as far as I’m aware it isn’t something that Grant has blamed for our position in the league.

We know the club have said we have a mid-table budget and we know Grant said he was happy with what he was given. Seems a bit odd to try and turn the narrative around now and say we have a second from bottom budget and that’s why we are where we are.

If the club dont know other teams figures they cant possibly know if it is mid table budget or not. The same as we cant.

Im basing my assumption on the business done and we are down toward the bottom end IMO.

And if GM wasn't happy about budget, is he guna come out and say it? Really? That's the type of stuff that comes out afterwards as it did post schofield......when we were told top end budget then revealed mid L2 at best.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Canadian Rover on December 25, 2025, 09:17:57 am
It’s easy, as football fans, to focus on numbers and form. Results, tables, trends. What we often forget are the people behind them the families, the friendships, and the personal battles that never make the match report.

For the first time in a long while, we’re on a difficult run. With that, a small but growing number of voices are calling for Grant to be sacked. That’s worth pausing on.
Only a few short months ago, this same man led us to promotion as Champions!

This year, he has also lost his beloved mother, and it’s clear his family has been under immense strain. Through all of that, he has shown nothing but commitment, care, and integrity towards the Rovers and the wider community.

He has raised funds through sheer effort, to help  fight prostate Cancer.

In doing this he's helped people around him including staff and supporters become fitter and more together, and worked closely with the owners to improve the gym and facilities for the long-term benefit of the club.

That is leadership. That is investment. That is belief beyond ninety minutes.

So this Christmas, and as we head into the New Year, let’s make sure Grant feels the support he has not only earned, but genuinely deserves.

I’m sure he’d appreciate it.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on December 25, 2025, 11:38:08 am
Grant has for the most part done a fantastic job, we have hit a run of form that has tarnished that slightly, but I can’t think of anybody better to be our manager. Yes we are second bottom but I don’t see that as a reflection of where we will finish. I see us signing a few players in January and shooting up the table. There is no way the side we have is league two quality, we are more than good enough to be in this league. We need additions to what we have, there are a few weak links that need blocking.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: scawsby steve on December 25, 2025, 12:08:42 pm
It’s easy, as football fans, to focus on numbers and form. Results, tables, trends. What we often forget are the people behind them the families, the friendships, and the personal battles that never make the match report.

For the first time in a long while, we’re on a difficult run. With that, a small but growing number of voices are calling for Grant to be sacked. That’s worth pausing on.
Only a few short months ago, this same man led us to promotion as Champions!

This year, he has also lost his beloved mother, and it’s clear his family has been under immense strain. Through all of that, he has shown nothing but commitment, care, and integrity towards the Rovers and the wider community.

He has raised funds through sheer effort, to help  fight prostate Cancer.

In doing this he's helped people around him including staff and supporters become fitter and more together, and worked closely with the owners to improve the gym and facilities for the long-term benefit of the club.

That is leadership. That is investment. That is belief beyond ninety minutes.

So this Christmas, and as we head into the New Year, let’s make sure Grant feels the support he has not only earned, but genuinely deserves.

I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

A very well written and heartfelt post, CR, and I agree with the core of what you are saying.

Football can be very cruel, as life itself can. Let's hope that Grant can pull it round, for his sake, and all our sakes, because if he doesn't, the inevitable will happen, and I don't think any of us want that.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: mpc123 on December 25, 2025, 12:24:17 pm
Its its real life. Just support them all, its the right thing to do. Personally I think there are only tweaks to make like previous years.

Grant derserves it, he loves the club you can tel and wants to do the best by the fans, who quickly turn on him.

Its as sad as life is nowadays.

Keep supporting the players, keep supporting Grant, we have our own job as supporters to do and we are failing, many need to look in the mirror.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: roversdude on December 25, 2025, 06:33:03 pm
It’s easy, as football fans, to focus on numbers and form. Results, tables, trends. What we often forget are the people behind them the families, the friendships, and the personal battles that never make the match report.

For the first time in a long while, we’re on a difficult run. With that, a small but growing number of voices are calling for Grant to be sacked. That’s worth pausing on.
Only a few short months ago, this same man led us to promotion as Champions!

This year, he has also lost his beloved mother, and it’s clear his family has been under immense strain. Through all of that, he has shown nothing but commitment, care, and integrity towards the Rovers and the wider community.

He has raised funds through sheer effort, to help  fight prostate Cancer.

In doing this he's helped people around him including staff and supporters become fitter and more together, and worked closely with the owners to improve the gym and facilities for the long-term benefit of the club.

That is leadership. That is investment. That is belief beyond ninety minutes.

So this Christmas, and as we head into the New Year, let’s make sure Grant feels the support he has not only earned, but genuinely deserves.

I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Absolutely brilliant post CR, unfortunately we have (as do other clubs) very fickle fans
I still believe that we will have a decent season
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ncRover on December 25, 2025, 07:55:58 pm
It’s easy, as football fans, to focus on numbers and form. Results, tables, trends. What we often forget are the people behind them the families, the friendships, and the personal battles that never make the match report.

For the first time in a long while, we’re on a difficult run. With that, a small but growing number of voices are calling for Grant to be sacked. That’s worth pausing on.
Only a few short months ago, this same man led us to promotion as Champions!

This year, he has also lost his beloved mother, and it’s clear his family has been under immense strain. Through all of that, he has shown nothing but commitment, care, and integrity towards the Rovers and the wider community.

He has raised funds through sheer effort, to help  fight prostate Cancer.

In doing this he's helped people around him including staff and supporters become fitter and more together, and worked closely with the owners to improve the gym and facilities for the long-term benefit of the club.

That is leadership. That is investment. That is belief beyond ninety minutes.

So this Christmas, and as we head into the New Year, let’s make sure Grant feels the support he has not only earned, but genuinely deserves.

I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Absolutely brilliant post CR, unfortunately we have (as do other clubs) very fickle fans
I still believe that we will have a decent season

This isn’t me saying he should go, but our fans have been incredibly supportive to the manager during his time here! In that respect we have far less fickle fans than most clubs.

Most fanbases of other clubs would have been in meltdown long before the form got as bad as 1 win in 14. Most others would have wanted him sacked in the first half of the 23/24 season. Our fans didn’t.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Fal on December 26, 2025, 08:45:45 am
It’s easy, as football fans, to focus on numbers and form. Results, tables, trends. What we often forget are the people behind them the families, the friendships, and the personal battles that never make the match report.

For the first time in a long while, we’re on a difficult run. With that, a small but growing number of voices are calling for Grant to be sacked. That’s worth pausing on.
Only a few short months ago, this same man led us to promotion as Champions!

This year, he has also lost his beloved mother, and it’s clear his family has been under immense strain. Through all of that, he has shown nothing but commitment, care, and integrity towards the Rovers and the wider community.

He has raised funds through sheer effort, to help  fight prostate Cancer.

In doing this he's helped people around him including staff and supporters become fitter and more together, and worked closely with the owners to improve the gym and facilities for the long-term benefit of the club.

That is leadership. That is investment. That is belief beyond ninety minutes.

So this Christmas, and as we head into the New Year, let’s make sure Grant feels the support he has not only earned, but genuinely deserves.

I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Yes this is why im basically against the McCann out brigade, even if we went down he would be the best person to get us back up and would've learned a lot about this season. However, i still believe we will stay up this year and finish in the bottom half.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: NormAl on December 26, 2025, 09:00:44 am
It’s easy, as football fans, to focus on numbers and form. Results, tables, trends. What we often forget are the people behind them the families, the friendships, and the personal battles that never make the match report.

For the first time in a long while, we’re on a difficult run. With that, a small but growing number of voices are calling for Grant to be sacked. That’s worth pausing on.
Only a few short months ago, this same man led us to promotion as Champions!

This year, he has also lost his beloved mother, and it’s clear his family has been under immense strain. Through all of that, he has shown nothing but commitment, care, and integrity towards the Rovers and the wider community.

He has raised funds through sheer effort, to help  fight prostate Cancer.

In doing this he's helped people around him including staff and supporters become fitter and more together, and worked closely with the owners to improve the gym and facilities for the long-term benefit of the club.

That is leadership. That is investment. That is belief beyond ninety minutes.

So this Christmas, and as we head into the New Year, let’s make sure Grant feels the support he has not only earned, but genuinely deserves.

I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

Very well said.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Usher wide. on December 26, 2025, 09:38:41 am
More of a ‘Squad’ than a ‘Brigade’ despite what some posters (Bob…forget the letter) would have you believe.

He’ll be here next season & the season after that as he leads us to the Championship.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Padge_DRFC on December 26, 2025, 10:36:17 am
He's the one. Short memories of 2 seasons ago. Even in his first spell we had a really horrid period under him. Always turns it around. Recruitment needs to be better in summers.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: drfchound on December 26, 2025, 12:29:00 pm
He's the one. Short memories of 2 seasons ago. Even in his first spell we had a really horrid period under him. Always turns it around. Recruitment needs to be better in summers.

If we ever have a good first half to a season again we will have clinched promotion by the middle of March.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Lesonthewest on December 26, 2025, 02:00:32 pm
I'm just happy listening to his interview he's up for the fight & has the determination to turn us into a Championship side. He's very honest & says in so many words we were an absolute car crash when he took over. He's done really well turning our club around, obviously making mistakes along the way. He must not lose the fact that the frustrations are from true supporters who back him, while those murmurings from others are in the minority of our fan base in my opinion. I still back him 110%.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: DollyRover on December 26, 2025, 02:16:59 pm
Feel like i should comment again after starting this thread after witnessing one of the most abject performances i've ever seen. I love grant mccann for all hes done for the club but i do feel that the board need to have a plan b should the next few results not go our way. I would love it to work out and grant turn things around, i would buy the fanciest hat i can find (in the sales of course) and eat it for his pleasure. My concern is the always needing january to fix mistakes in the squad is not a sustainable model and grant needs a top end of the table team to compete. With a top end squad we know he consistently delivers but if we don't have a top end of league one squad, which i feel will cost far too much for us to achieve in january (just my opinion) and a relegation dogfight in the second half of the season is uncharted territory and so far the evidence is not there that he can make a rovers team competitive at the bottom end of the league.
Anyway, couldn't get there today but will be listening in with hopeless optimism. RTID
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: In the box on December 26, 2025, 03:37:34 pm
Too much attention has been given to none squad effects is PA system , Food Hall , New Training facilities . All very much required sorting but has the budget for players had to take a hit to balance the books , lets face facts we have gone into the last three January windows desperately need a strikers , defenders and a goal keeper . Getty g promotion has not meant a thing to the club as pushing on or consolidating has not shown its face ( Budget iffy?) . Grant Is the manager we needed ( so they say) yet he’s the common denominator throughout !! IRMC .
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: In the box on December 26, 2025, 05:00:43 pm
We are in a state of free fall because we don’t see what other  teams had to play with and taking  into L2 aside nowhere near competitive .This season has just not been thought-out with anything like promotion in mind ..
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 26, 2025, 05:03:20 pm
Some positives today but we only improved after the set up and personnel was changed from that curious selection that McCann started with. Interested to hear why he did that. We were not good in the first half.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: roversdaft on December 26, 2025, 05:14:01 pm
We are so predictable, nothing changes week in week out. McCann to go for me. I’m sick of it
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 26, 2025, 05:22:57 pm
I think if you want to offer some constructive criticism to McCann it would be to stick with what he knows. Almost all of his tactical changes never work out, likewise his personnel shifts. He's got one set up. Try and make that work better rather than fiddling and messing around every game.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: TonySoprano on December 26, 2025, 05:27:07 pm
Anyone wanting mcann gone needs to give their heads a wobble.

We've just played 2 other relegation threatened teams, and lost them both.

BUT, look at their summer recruitment, then look at ours.

Mcann has got his hands tied.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 26, 2025, 05:29:40 pm
I think if you want to offer some constructive criticism to McCann it would be to stick with what he knows. Almost all of his tactical changes never work out, likewise his personnel shifts. He's got one set up. Try and make that work better rather than fiddling and messing around every game.

I said the same earlier. Shoehorning Mols and Sterry in to that formation was just wrong toddy and he rectified it at HT. another tactical mistake killing a half of football.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: andyst79 on December 26, 2025, 05:31:31 pm
How's he got his hands tied?! We've fielded a team today that's worse than we fielded this time last year but we're in a division higher. Yes admittedly he may not have the resources of other clubs but he knew full well what he was walking into and he has to front the blame as his recruitment has been nothing short of scandalous. Not 1 player brought in that's improved the starting 11 from last season. Said this on another post but he has to rely on the January transfer window to kickstart every season.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: mushRTID on December 26, 2025, 05:33:58 pm
Just not good enough now.
With our clear lack of quality, we can’t just start playing on 70 minutes.
Ffs
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 26, 2025, 05:36:21 pm
I assume the priorities for the window are going to be a centre back, centre forward and wide right option. That could go some way to addressing the problem.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Draytonian III on December 26, 2025, 05:50:23 pm
A question I’ve asked before is , why has Lee Glover gone from being a coach to a scout, and Barry Richardson brought in as coach, not goalkeeping coach ?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ncRover on December 26, 2025, 05:58:47 pm
Anyone wanting mcann gone needs to give their heads a wobble.

We've just played 2 other relegation threatened teams, and lost them both.

BUT, look at their summer recruitment, then look at ours.

Mcann has got his hands tied.

Neither were expected to be down there.

Look at Burton, Northampton, Wimbledon, Stevenage, Lincoln and Bradford.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Chris Black come back on December 26, 2025, 05:59:59 pm
A question I’ve asked before is , why has Lee Glover gone from being a coach to a scout, and Barry Richardson brought in as coach, not goalkeeping coach ?
.

Same reason Copps went from Director of Football to being chief scout.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: mushRTID on December 26, 2025, 06:58:10 pm
The thing that I remember about today, we got a corner on around 80min I think and we had 3 of 4 players all looking at each other for a good 20 seconds as they didn’t have a f**king clue who was taking it.

Middleton then took it and obviously hit the first man.

It’s piss poor.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Padge_DRFC on December 26, 2025, 07:09:42 pm
The thing that I remember about today, we got a corner on around 80min I think and we had 3 of 4 players all looking at each other for a good 20 seconds as they didn’t have a f**king clue who was taking it.

Middleton then took it and obviously hit the first man.

It’s piss poor.

His crossing has been terrible. Literally the one thing he made a name for himself on. Weird signing in our style for sure.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: andyst79 on December 26, 2025, 07:12:55 pm
The thing that I remember about today, we got a corner on around 80min I think and we had 3 of 4 players all looking at each other for a good 20 seconds as they didn’t have a f**king clue who was taking it.

Middleton then took it and obviously hit the first man.

It’s piss poor.
It makes a change from Molly & Gibson holding hands at every set piece. Can't fault our managers man management but he seems tactically inept & devoid of ideas to me
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on December 26, 2025, 07:13:20 pm
The thing that I remember about today, we got a corner on around 80min I think and we had 3 of 4 players all looking at each other for a good 20 seconds as they didn’t have a f**king clue who was taking it.

Middleton then took it and obviously hit the first man.

It’s piss poor.

I think that's very frustrating for us all when we don't see much evidence of set piece routines being deployed in games, appearing to be more off the cuff.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: ChrisBx on December 26, 2025, 07:16:23 pm
A question I’ve asked before is , why has Lee Glover gone from being a coach to a scout, and Barry Richardson brought in as coach, not goalkeeping coach ?
.

Same reason Copps went from Director of Football to being chief scout.

Making it up as we go?
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Filo on December 26, 2025, 07:17:51 pm
Can I mention our piss poor throw ins, twice today Molly pulled up for a foul throw
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: grayx on December 26, 2025, 07:18:29 pm
The thing that I remember about today, we got a corner on around 80min I think and we had 3 of 4 players all looking at each other for a good 20 seconds as they didn’t have a f**king clue who was taking it.

Middleton then took it and obviously hit the first man.

It’s piss poor.
It makes a change from Molly & Gibson holding hands at every set piece. Can't fault our managers man management but he seems tactically inept & devoid of ideas to me
Afraid im beginning to agree.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: TonySoprano on December 26, 2025, 07:19:25 pm
My only worry regarding our manager is if he walks over the budget, just like ferguson did.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Rovers91 on December 26, 2025, 07:37:04 pm
Time to change, we owe him nothing with how he f**ked off to Hull.
His recruitment this summer shite and he has players constantly picked even though they aren't good enough and performances reflect that yet some dont get a chance. I dont trust him to recruit and he is so stubborn with his formation/selection.
Time for a change.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Prez on December 26, 2025, 07:38:33 pm
My only worry regarding our manager is if he walks over the budget, just like ferguson did.

Was that not one of the reasons he went to Hull? There were rumours he wanted money for Kane and Wilkes to stay, and was refused.

He possibly jumped whilst his stock was high.

 
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: TonySoprano on December 26, 2025, 07:43:06 pm
My only worry regarding our manager is if he walks over the budget, just like ferguson did.

Was that not one of the reasons he went to Hull? There were rumours he wanted money for Kane and Wilkes to stay, and was refused.

He possibly jumped whilst his stock was high.

Probably a factor i imagine.



Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: drfchound on December 27, 2025, 10:30:44 am
Can I mention our piss poor throw ins, twice today Molly pulled up for a foul throw

Foul throws are so commonplace in football right now.
It isn’t unusual to see a dozen per game.
I saw two in a minute by Blackpool players yesterday as well.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: StocksArmy on December 27, 2025, 11:57:20 am
Not on the McCann out brigade just yet but, if he did get the boot I’d fully understand the decision and part of me would be glad the owners aren’t accepting what’s happening.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: DRFCSouth on December 27, 2025, 12:11:43 pm
There seems no idea on set piece routines. We're hardly the most physical team. Yet time after time it just gets pumped high into the box.

The Plymouth game proved this when we had numerous corners. They end up being an attacking opportunity for the opposition.

Have to wonder who controls the corner routines/set piece training.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: Prez on December 27, 2025, 12:36:39 pm
We had 3 free kicks yesterday and each time Ben close put a belter of a ball in.

All 3 chances were wasted.

The corner routine though which has been discussed before needs changing asap.

We just don’t look a threat.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: LondonRover1 on December 27, 2025, 12:40:15 pm
In his three seasons with us he has finished twice in the playoffs and once as champions. There is no way we will get a better manager than him.

Yes, the recruitment this year has been poor and the loans haven't worked out. But he clearly recognises that as they are all going back and I'm sure the replacements will be an improvement.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: GazLaz on December 27, 2025, 12:46:15 pm
We had 3 free kicks yesterday and each time Ben close put a belter of a ball in.

All 3 chances were wasted.

The corner routine though which has been discussed before needs changing asap.

We just don’t look a threat.

You never really see repeat patterns of play do you. I could tell you more about how Blackpool want to find a route to goal after watching them once than I can us after to going to every game.
Title: Re: Grant mccann...
Post by: DonnyOsmond on December 27, 2025, 12:55:20 pm
There is definitely a lot currently going wrong, and a lot gone wrong in the summer... However, Grant has managed us for 3 season, 2 we've finished in this play offs, 1 we've won the title... So we're going to struggle to find a better manager, with a better record. He definitely needs to evaluate himself, his staff and his players now, not later... And any signings need to be ready to compete in League One, we signed too many players this summer that weren't any better than what we had last season, and very unlikely but we'll need to spend money to find players who will truly take us to another level in January.