Text rumour

[JonWallsend]

If Talksport, amongst others, are to be believed then SOD learned of his fate at 6am on Friday morning via a text from Diamond Dave. Diamond had been tasked with the job of getting in touch with SOD but on failing to do so decided to leave him a message.

Can Gartom or anyone shed anylight on this? It sounds dubious but given the people involved ,and the way the whole charade has been handled, it could well be a fact. If true, it is utterly reprehensible and yet symptomatic of DRFC the organisation.

With regards to the game, The first half was as poor as I've seen. On only 4 occasions did we string 3 or more consecutive passes together- maximum reached was 6. Infact in the whole game we only totalled 7 sequences of 3 or more. As others have alluded to the players appeared to be playing to instructions of aimlesly launching the ball in the box- when a simple option was on.  You'd think professional footballers could take responsibility      (sorry- old habits) for keeping the ball. This isn't a criticism of Saunders per se because I haven't seen us pass the ball well since Christmas and as he acknowledged afterwards \"we were terrible.\" Billy and Milan coming on gave us a huge lift.

They were poor and we got a break- upwards and onwards.

[keyser_soze]

Not quite what I'd heard, that they tried to ring him on the night and got no response. Dave then sent SO'D a text asking him to ring him/JR as a matter of urgency, SO'D then found out when he called in at 6am.

[VikingJames]

Not quite what I'd heard, that they tried to ring him on the night and got no response. Dave then sent SO'D a text asking him to ring him/JR as a matter of urgency, SO'D then found out when he called in at 6am.

That's what I've heard too.

And even if SOD was told by text, it's not very likely that anyone from the club will publicly admit it.

[Standanista]

Not quite what I'd heard, that they tried to ring him on the night and got no response. Dave then sent SO'D a text asking him to ring him/JR as a matter of urgency, SO'D then found out when he called in at 6am.

That's what JR confirmed in his interview, yes.

[donnyguy61]

Radio Sheff interview confirms

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/9598763.stm

[keyser_soze]

Why let the truth get in the way of a good rumour though eh?

[JonWallsend]

Clears that up. Might get in touch with Talksport and tell them that.

[Superspy]

 As others have alluded to the players appeared to be playing to instructions of aimlesly launching the ball in the box- when a simple option was on.  You'd think professional footballers could take responsibility      (sorry- old habits) for keeping the ball. This isn't a criticism of Saunders per se because I haven't seen us pass the ball well since Christmas and as he acknowledged afterwards \"we were terrible.\" Billy and Milan coming on gave us a huge lift.

Saunders said in his post-match interview that they were NOT instructed to play the ball long, and that in fact we did it too much for his liking, but that the players were nervous due to the crap run we were on and the ball was very much like a hot potato, and nobody wanted it. Half time he told them to calm down and try and have a bit of belief in their ability to play.

[JonWallsend]

I know what he said, and that he wasn't happy with the way we were playing and I applaud him for his refreshing post match honest assessment
 But I  can't quite concur with his opinion that nobody wanted it as to the reason we weren't passing it- As time and again a simple ball was on, players, notably Gillet and O'Connor were asking for it, but they were ignored in favour of an aimless punt. Whether that was a misinterpretation of his philosophy of getting more balls into the box- a ball into the box doesn't have to be a punt- or just poor play I don't know. It just looked like that was the instruction.
Not a criticism of Saunders- as I said we haven't been passing it well (Tranmere excepted by all accounts) for some time.