Latest on Sims

[Lifelong supporter]

Does this mean we will have more chance of holding on to him, or less?

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-boss-delivers-injury-verdict-josh-sims-3071875

[scawsby steve]

Another DFP article says that he's probably played his last game for us.

[RoversAlias]

We will put our name in the hat and hope for the best. If not, we move on. He's been brilliant for us these last two months.

[drfchound]

Another DFP article says that he's probably played his last game for us.

Within a minute of him leaving the pitch on Tuesday I said on the lucky pint thread that we might have seen the last of him in our shirt and it is sadly looking very likely that we might have done.

[IDM]

Does this mean we will have more chance of holding on to him, or less?

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-boss-delivers-injury-verdict-josh-sims-3071875

I don’t think it makes much difference to be honest.. if he is likely to be fit by the end of the window, he could still be sold to a championship team as much as he could have been without the injury.

What it does mean potentially is that if we are in the running for him, he won’t be out for too long..

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yes, it's a shame for both parties but, that's football, full of uncertainties.

You wonder whether said interest in him remains serious once they learn of his injury. If it's serious enough, they'll wait on his fitness, which you would hope would be clear by mid January.

If interest cools then it may put us in a better position however, that may be clutching at straws.

Quite ironic then while he's on his way out, Tulloch's on his way back in. Maybe this cloud might have a silver lining.

[since-1969]

This has always been the luck of DRFC .. unrealised potential.

[BillyStubbsTears]

We haven't had much injury luck these past few seasons.

We're only 1/3rd of the way in this year and already we've had extended injury absences for Sims, Gomes, Tullouch, John-Jules and Taylor.

[drfchound]

We haven't had much injury luck these past few seasons.

We're only 1/3rd of the way in this year and already we've had extended injury absences for Sims, Gomes, Tullouch, John-Jules and Taylor.

Without checking, that will possibly apply to lots of clubs.
The very busy fixture list so far will be a major contributor to the injuries, two matches a week almost every week.

[SydneyRover]

but it does show good management of the players and that despite the injuries we are in a play off position.

[Padge_DRFC]

You would think from this forum Tullouch is this mighty world beater that's going to run rings around the league. Never seen so much discussion on someone who has played 1 game for us.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Ouch.

[steve@dcfd]

You would think from this forum Tullouch is this mighty world beater that's going to run rings around the league. Never seen so much discussion on someone who has played 1 game for us.

Also from today’s report from Liam Hoden he is not ready yet and we might have to call it a day with him and look elsewhere.

[Alan Southstand]

I think most of us are thinking along the same lines, Steve. We have to try and find a ‘Sims Mk 2’. The other thing is the timing, as waiting for Sims is fine, should we secure him, but we don’t want to be waiting for Tulloch as well, over such a busy period.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Having Jon Taylor back and fit isn't a bad replacement for Sims. Admittedly, it'd be better to have cover/options, but you have to make do at this time of the season.

[Filo]

Having Jon Taylor back and fit isn't a bad replacement for Sims. Admittedly, it'd be better to have cover/options, but you have to make do at this time of the season.

Copps can come in on the right as well, probably his best postion in my opinion

[Alan Southstand]

Admittedly, it'd be better to have cover/options, but you have to make do at this time of the season.

Or you go into ‘isolation’, like Peterborough!

[BillyStubbsTears]

We haven't had much injury luck these past few seasons.

We're only 1/3rd of the way in this year and already we've had extended injury absences for Sims, Gomes, Tullouch, John-Jules and Taylor.

Without checking, that will possibly apply to lots of clubs.
The very busy fixture list so far will be a major contributor to the injuries, two matches a week almost every week.

Haven't got time to check all the injury situations, but here's a quick surrogate assessment.

Look at how many players have played nearly all the games for each side. Say, how many players have missed 2 or fewer league matches.

Hull - 9
Portsmouth - 9
Peterborough - 7
Lincoln - 8
Ipswich - 1 !!!
Rovers - 6

Accepted, it's a quick and dirty way of looking at it. Doesn't account for late signings or squad rotation (although even then, players rested on the bench often end up getting a run out). But it's the best I can do quickly. And it does look like most of the other top six sides bar Ipswich are keeping their core players available.

I take it as a positive. If we are competing despite a pretty bad injury roster, it augurs well for us if we have a run without problems.

[Padge_DRFC]

Having Jon Taylor back and fit isn't a bad replacement for Sims. Admittedly, it'd be better to have cover/options, but you have to make do at this time of the season.

Taylor on his day is just as good. Both can go by 3 players with ease. Stretch sides etc etc. It's almost a like for like replacement. Shame they couldn't have been on both wings in the same team.

[NickDRFC]

Having Jon Taylor back and fit isn't a bad replacement for Sims. Admittedly, it'd be better to have cover/options, but you have to make do at this time of the season.

Taylor on his day is just as good. Both can go by 3 players with ease. Stretch sides etc etc. It's almost a like for like replacement. Shame they couldn't have been on both wings in the same team.

I love Jon Taylor but he’s just not as good as Sims. It’s great to have him back and it softens the blow but Sims has been a revelation and our best player this season.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I think both have their merits.

Sims has the blistering pace, while Taylor is quick but his little legs just don't cover the same ground although he can jink one way or tother.

Both are quite unpredictable in the box and their final pass/shot can sometimes fall short of what they're capable of.

Both do put a shift in and work hard for the team and both frighten defences.

I would say Taylor has the edge in getting into good positions in the box and perhaps is more of a goal threat.

Sims has the edge being slightly stronger and less likely to be knocked off the ball.

As said, would be great with them both tearing defences apart.

[keith79]

We will take him on a free with a 40% sell on. (Just a guess)

[drfchound]

I think both have their merits.

Sims has the blistering pace, while Taylor is quick but his little legs just don't cover the same ground although he can jink one way or tother.

Both are quite unpredictable in the box and their final pass/shot can sometimes fall short of what they're capable of.

Both do put a shift in and work hard for the team and both frighten defences.

I would say Taylor has the edge in getting into good positions in the box and perhaps is more of a goal threat.

Sims has the edge being slightly stronger and less likely to be knocked off the ball.

As said, would be great with them both tearing defences apart.

To add to that, I think that Sims is better defensively.

[Padge_DRFC]

Having Jon Taylor back and fit isn't a bad replacement for Sims. Admittedly, it'd be better to have cover/options, but you have to make do at this time of the season.

Taylor on his day is just as good. Both can go by 3 players with ease. Stretch sides etc etc. It's almost a like for like replacement. Shame they couldn't have been on both wings in the same team.

I love Jon Taylor but he’s just not as good as Sims. It’s great to have him back and it softens the blow but Sims has been a revelation and our best player this season.

Anderson, Whiteman, James all before him when it comes to player of the season so far.

[Jersey Rover]

Sims has been top class for us in this league and Tullouch has been unlucky with injuries but that’s football. We’ve had a great 2 months out of Sims, 1/3 of the seasons games gone already and were in a good place. Difficult to do but like DM said he is going to have to move players out to get more in so if he can work his magic again and draft in able loan replacements for Tullouch and Sims by no means an easy task in the case of Sims, we will be getting fresh legs in which could be quite an advantage in this weird crammed season. Both of above wingers, would we want like for like ie 2 wingers on loan or a winger and a forward. Reece James seems to have filled the gap left by Tullouch quite nicely so if they both go maybe take stock of what positions we need now rather than at the start of the season. Either way Sims is big boots to fill, but with the quality of loans DM has found this season I believe we have the right man for the job.

[Alan Southstand]

Tulloch was a forward.

[Avsuptem]

Imho Simms has been the best player in league one this season so far. His absence is a massive blow.

[IDM]

Tulloch was a forward.

“Was”.??

Still is, isn’t he.?

[drfchound]

He might not be in our team though.

[Metalmicky]

Looks like others are interested in Josh....

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/53841/