Saunders out chants + team selection

[Dare to dream!]

Right first of all a small minority in the south stand to the left of the drummer were singing Saunders out, Im not Saunders biggest fan but we need to accept we have him now and will have him next season, the chants were embarasing and isnt going to help the team.

Team slection, why was JOC playing? was Chimbonda injured? Joc is crap and can only play under SOD. Hayter? he has passed it now even though i hate to admit it. Why wasnt Bennet on the bench either? Dont think he should be starting as he fades out as the game goes on, he should be an impact sub but he wasnt even on the bench today. Barner tries hard but he isnt a CM he should be played on the wing, how long is Stock out for? We miss him desperatley Gillett and barnes try but there not upto it.

Copps my favouite ever Rovers player yet in recent games he has dissapointed me so much, we need characters to stand up with big performances yet copps has shyed away in the last 2 home games we need him he is influencial and can be key.

Diouf only seems to play good away from home.

Positives however is Tommy Spurr best player in the last few games, we are going to miss him when he has his opp on his hand.

I hope we look at ourselves the last two games and put up a fight for the rest of the season if we stay up then great but if we go down its not the end of the world lads  

[Woodhead Passer]

Chimbonda - wife ill
Bennett - tried tackling a player for once and stubbed his toe

[DonnyNoel]

I would think Pascal may be suffering from the recent spate of 2 games per week and the amount of ground he covers (also exposed a few times against Derby). Hindsight is easy but I was disappointed with us starting with a rigid 442 and not bringing in an extra midfielder to help us control the game.

I fully back Bennett not starting although him not on the bench was a bit odd. Very hard to judge him on ten minutes here and there but I still think Robert has something to offer.

For all the comings and goings under DS I'm ver surprised he hasn't addressed the CM position. Far too weak without the ball.

[RoversAlias]

Totally agree with you D2D. Hated those chants, as I've said in my Scapegoat thread I don't blame Dean Saunders, he was brought in by John Ryan when he was undoubtedly not ready to manage a struggling Championship team in a dogfight. In time I think he could be a good manager but I certainly won't mind if he goes at the end of the season. He didn't deserve to take the blame from the fans tonight.

Team selection was bad - worst decision was putting Barnes central midfield in a 4-4-2. Barnes is clearly a winger/forward, the LAST thing he is is a box-to-box tough midfielder which is what we need in that position. He was a big weak point today. Agreed on O'Connor and Hayter too (and I am a massive Hayter fan) his legs have gone, he isn't a second tier player.

[donnygreenjeans]

Totally agree with you D2D. Hated those chants, as I've said in my Scapegoat thread I don't blame Dean Saunders, he was brought in by John Ryan when he was undoubtedly not ready to manage a struggling Championship team in a dogfight. In time I think he could be a good manager but I certainly won't mind if he goes at the end of the season. He didn't deserve to take the blame from the fans tonight.

Team selection was bad - worst decision was putting Barnes central midfield in a 4-4-2. Barnes is clearly a winger/forward, the LAST thing he is is a box-to-box tough midfielder which is what we need in that position. He was a big weak point today. Agreed on O'Connor and Hayter too (and I am a massive Hayter fan) his legs have gone, he isn't a second tier player.

The buck stops with D.S. as it is he who picks the team.

[bobbymax]

What is more baffling than anything is the fact that it is general knowledge that Millwall are seriously undermanned in midfield - their best three players are out for the season and they've just drafted in a reserve from the Blunts. So what does our tactically unaware manager do? He takes out a midfielder and surrenders that area to play a has-been striker who can't hit a barn door with a banjo nowadays alongside another who looks as though he can't be bothered in front of a third who tries to think he has to win every game single-handed - very shrewd.
We simply have too many players who aren't good enough at this level overseen by a manager who is clearly out of his depth. Get rid of the sizable portion of dead wood and start again with someone who knows how to succeed in League 1. If not, I'm afraid I won't be the only one deciding I can't justify a season ticket in the current economic climate.

[Thinwhiteduke]

Totally agree with you D2D. Hated those chants, as I've said in my Scapegoat thread I don't blame Dean Saunders, he was brought in by John Ryan when he was undoubtedly not ready to manage a struggling Championship team in a dogfight. In time I think he could be a good manager but I certainly won't mind if he goes at the end of the season. He didn't deserve to take the blame from the fans tonight.

So....

- He picks the players who take the field
- He is the one who is meant to decide what to do tactically to nullify the opposition
- He is supposed to motivate the team and prepare them mentally
- He claims it is he and he alone who decides who we do and dont sign (dont believe him)

...yet he deserves no blame and it isnt his fault??

You couldnt make it up.

[RoversAlias]

Totally agree with you D2D. Hated those chants, as I've said in my Scapegoat thread I don't blame Dean Saunders, he was brought in by John Ryan when he was undoubtedly not ready to manage a struggling Championship team in a dogfight. In time I think he could be a good manager but I certainly won't mind if he goes at the end of the season. He didn't deserve to take the blame from the fans tonight.

So....

- He picks the players who take the field
- He is the one who is meant to decide what to do tactically to nullify the opposition
- He is supposed to motivate the team and prepare them mentally
- He claims it is he and he alone who decides who we do and dont sign (dont believe him)

...yet he deserves no blame and it isnt his fault??

You couldnt make it up.

If you'd read my other thread you'd know I'm not saying \"Saunders is great, what a brilliant manager\". But chanting Saunders Out isn't fair, because he is one of about 50 people who deserve a portion of the blame. It is way, way too easy to just scapegoat the manager and blame him for everything. Plenty of chairmen do it every season.

[donnyroversfc]

People pay their money and can sing what they like! (within reason).

[pubteam]

People pay their money and can sing what they like! (within reason).

Yes, they can. But if they really want the best for DRFC, calling for the manager's head will only ever be counter productive.

[DonnyNoel]

People pay their money and can sing what they like! (within reason).

Not true, as proved by my singing \"you're shit ahhhhhhhhhhh\" when the lad in tesco couldn't tell me what aisle the baked beans were on.

[jonnydog]

People pay their money and can sing what they like! (within reason).

Not true, as proved by my singing \"you're shit ahhhhhhhhhhh\" when the lad in tesco couldn't tell me what aisle the baked beans were on.

 Excellent!

[donnyroversfc]

People pay their money and can sing what they like! (within reason).

Not true, as proved by my singing \"you're shit ahhhhhhhhhhh\" when the lad in tesco couldn't tell me what aisle the baked beans were on.

[TheFunk]

Totally agree with you D2D. Hated those chants, as I've said in my Scapegoat thread I don't blame Dean Saunders, he was brought in by John Ryan when he was undoubtedly not ready to manage a struggling Championship team in a dogfight. In time I think he could be a good manager but I certainly won't mind if he goes at the end of the season. He didn't deserve to take the blame from the fans tonight.

So....

- He picks the players who take the field
- He is the one who is meant to decide what to do tactically to nullify the opposition
- He is supposed to motivate the team and prepare them mentally
- He claims it is he and he alone who decides who we do and dont sign (dont believe him)

...yet he deserves no blame and it isnt his fault??

You couldnt make it up.

As SOD used to say, it isn't the managers job to motivate the players.

[cmonyoureds]

whoever thinks joc is crap can you figure out that he has been getting stabbed in the back and not played in ages!!!!:suicide: im not saunders biggest fan but gettin a new manager will not work now the club is a mess no one could come in and sort it out we just need to prepare for league one and hope stocky gets back fit quick you can name diouf whoever you want stock is the name that keeps the team rolling for me:rtid:

[dickos1]

O Connor is having a terrible season, he's had decent runs in the side and  not performed. He wasn't performing before Saunders arrived either

[One_Matty_Lucas]

I wonder if those fans were the w**kers who were singing DS out when we lost to a very good Blackpool side....seemed like your proper Rovers fans, all brand new DRFC merchandise, to replace their old Leeds/Manure kit....

[sedwardsdrfc]

yes because they bought expensive club merchandise instead of wearing a scabby shitty looking kit from 20 years ago so they look like d*ck's means they aint supporters

[dickos1]

The players that have played in the last 2 games are the same players that should of won at west ham, beat forest and drew with reading. Baring a couple of changes on Tuesday.
So do you think Saunders said, \" right play well against west ham, but play shit against derby please\"
No he didn't, he set up the team exactly the same, once they're on the pitch it's upto the players to perform which they failed to do in the last 2 matches..

[Donny_Ipstone]

Saunders is clueless and tactically inept but shouts calling for his dismissal are not constructive.  The shouts should be \"Saunders out\" followed by \"[Name of new manager] in\".

[DonnyNoel]

The players that have played in the last 2 games are the same players that should of won at west ham, beat forest and drew with reading. Baring a couple of changes on Tuesday.
So do you think Saunders said, \" right play well against west ham, but play shit against derby please\"
No he didn't, he set up the team exactly the same, once they're on the pitch it's upto the players to perform which they failed to do in the last 2 matches..

You're right of course about the players responsibility and individual performances but what I've highlighted was certainly an error by Saunders. An extra CM (most likely Oster) would have held us in better stead.

[timdrfc]

He can only pick the players  in the squad , most are inherited,  injury prone & seem unable to pass to our players, shoot with any venom, battle  hard or show an winning mentality!
Wheres Bouhenna , Keegan , Woods [ M ], Stock, Martis etc
We have to face facts we have a small fan base , some who don't even go to games but think their opinions count on here, others who think their entrance fee entitles them to slag the clubs every effort off. The squad needs trimming  to get the under performers out but DS can't do it over night. We should just get behind the team win lose or draw.

[dickos1]

But we never had the extra midfielder in against forest, west ham, reading. 3 excellent performances

[DonnyNoel]

But we never had the extra midfielder in against forest, west ham, reading. 3 excellent performances

And?

I'm going back to the match preparation here. Derby have played the same way under Clough for years - high energy closing down, midfielders and full backs covering ground and bombing on. Not to mention the cumulative effects of all those games.

I'm not completely blaming DS by the way, just think its a greyer area than you're making out. Part of us not performing against Derby and Millwall was down to the tactics IMO.

[dickos1]

Reading are the hardest working side in the league, and we coped with them.. The line up against derby was spot on in my opinion, consistency.

[DonnyNoel]

Reading are the hardest working side in the league, and we coped with them.. The line up against derby was spot on in my opinion, consistency.

Have to agree to disagree on that one then. And certainly the subsequent Millwall game after Oster coming on to good effect vs Derby emphasised that.

[dickos1]

The millwall team wasn't what I would have done, but injuries scuppered him and the amount of games were currently playing is definitely hindering us..

[DonnyNoel]

The millwall team wasn't what I would have done, but injuries scuppered him and the amount of games were currently playing is definitely hindering us..

All teams are different and a lot are better than us. I don't think we can keep sending the same tactics and players out each week and expect to achieve the same success. IMO the Reading tactics were spot on as Reading kept the ball wide meaning we were matched up to close them down and there was more space in the middle for Diouf to drop deep. I think against the more compact teams we're losing the midfield territory battle causing us to pump it long and leaving Diouf too much to do when he drops into a busier midfield.