Copps and DS

[scawsby steve]

Now is the time for them to stand up and be counted. It sounds like we put up a decent performance today against the top of the league, but still came up well short of beating them, with no clean sheet for the umpteenth time this season, and not one single shot on target.

Add to the fact that the bench looked very weak, and it becomes obvious the need for some serious recruitment if we are intent on making the play-offs.

Some people on here continually blame the board, but it's a known fact that they always back the manager in January, and this season will be no different.

It's now up to Copps and DS to bring in the right players to get us into that top 7, and to get them producing the football to achieve that.

[Thorney]

Fair post. We really do need to strengthen.  Can say though that we wasn't well short. Was much the better side in the first half but in the 2nd half they made changes which changed the game and unfortunately our bench wasn't very inspiring. And with the conditions which was atrocious it just killed any chance we had.

Actually don't feel down about this defeat and feel that they players did put everything into that. And on the basis of 90 mins a draw would of been fair.

Apart from the goal. They never looked like scoring either. 

Playing Knoyle as a centre back is killing him

[andyst79]

Think when Olowu is fit Knoyle will revert to full back.

[Canadian Rover]

Do you think Knoyle will be more likely to turn down a contract with us if we keep playing him at CB?

[Thorney]

Do you think Knoyle will be more likely to turn down a contract with us if we keep playing him at CB?

Without doubt he will. To me with his assists this season he has shown how good he is getting forward. If I was Knoyle I would be asking the question whether ds thinks that seamen is better in that position

[sedwardsdrfc]

If Long isn’t good enough to play in a back 3 to let Knoyle play where he needs to be then what’s the point of him been here. Same goes for a lot of our back ups who I don’t think the manager would trust to play.

Need to bring players in but also need to get rid of the players that will never play

[steve@dcfd]

Getting rid of contracted players will be harder than bringing players in.
Long can’t play right side of a three he’s predominantly left footed he also doesn’t have a lot of pace. The right side CBS are injured and could be out 4/5 weeks more. Moving RoS W will not help our defence.
I would like to see Copps and DS to bring in at least two players this week if the funds that are available are large enough to get the level of player we require.

[Padge_DRFC]

If Long isn’t good enough to play in a back 3 to let Knoyle play where he needs to be then what’s the point of him been here. Same goes for a lot of our back ups who I don’t think the manager would trust to play.

Need to bring players in but also need to get rid of the players that will never play

That's the thing I agree with Schofield on Long. He's not been good.

[andyst79]

Can't believe we spent money on long, nothing against the lad but we need better. He looks a bit weighty to me , his legs and knees are massive.

[mushRTID]

Taylor out for the season. Couldn’t make it up.

[Padge_DRFC]

Taylor out for the season. Couldn’t make it up.

Is his contract up this year?

[mushRTID]

No free press says schofield is hoping he’s back for pre season for his final year.

[BiargeBob]

Taylor out for the season. Couldn’t make it up.

Is his contract up this year?

Still got another year.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Faulkner would be better than Long from what I’ve seen. He did play a few games earlier and looked ok. And in theory as a left footer should give balance in a back 3. But if we’d rather play a fullback in defence then he’s not rated.

Taylor I think has another year. Didn’t he get 3 year deal just before Wellens joined. I bet he’s on good money too so it’s a painful one to play so few games. We could have 2 top young L2 players for his wage

[Rovers91]

With Long Wigan fans thought he would be a good signing.
I dont like how slow we are acting in the window, its obvious we need players but we never act aggressive, its time Copps starts showing his value off the pitch. Teams like Stockport acting already.

[steve@dcfd]

Faulkner would be better than Long from what I’ve seen. He did play a few games earlier and looked ok. And in theory as a left footer should give balance in a back 3. But if we’d rather play a fullback in defence then he’s not rated.

Taylor I think has another year. Didn’t he get 3 year deal just before Wellens joined. I bet he’s on good money too so it’s a painful one to play so few games. We could have 2 top young L2 players for his wage

Sheffield Wednesday have just played a back three which they’ve done most of the season and our ex left full back James played left of a back three. So they can do it to give attacking qualities from the back.

[grayx]

Taylor out for the season. Couldn’t make it up.

Stealing a living or what?

[steve@dcfd]

Taylor out for the season. Couldn’t make it up.

Stealing a living or what?

No he’d rather be fit than the amount of injuries he’s had.
The person to blame is the one ?? that gave him a three year contract when he was injured.

[roversdude]

Taylor out for the season. Couldn’t make it up.

Where’s this from please

[mushRTID]

Taylor out for the season. Couldn’t make it up.

Where’s this from please

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/luckless-doncaster-rovers-winger-ruled-out-for-remainder-of-the-season-3978246

[Barmby Rover]

Why are people assuming that JC and DS will have money to spend on players? That isn't in the "we have a solvent club" playbook is it? At best we might get a couple of youngsters on loan, or someone ending their career, but nothing more than that.

[roversdude]

Cheers mush

[Canadian Rover]

For all the pro JR anti JR, pro Bramall anti Bramall, Pro Wellens, Anti Bogle... We should all together and unite on something. And that's recognize that Taylor has been really unlucky. Misdiagnosed, mistreated, bad timing during COVID. But he's a Rover and was dreadfully unlucky to be badly injured again.

Whatever the contract, whatever the term we should offer him messages of support.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Faulkner would be better than Long from what I’ve seen. He did play a few games earlier and looked ok. And in theory as a left footer should give balance in a back 3. But if we’d rather play a fullback in defence then he’s not rated.

Taylor I think has another year. Didn’t he get 3 year deal just before Wellens joined. I bet he’s on good money too so it’s a painful one to play so few games. We could have 2 top young L2 players for his wage

Sheffield Wednesday have just played a back three which they’ve done most of the season and our ex left full back James played left of a back three. So they can do it to give attacking qualities from the back.

Aye if we had 2 full backs as good as Knoyle it’d be sound playing one as a centre half. But one of our best attacking threats isn’t getting to attack at the moment because he’s playing centre half.

Meanwhile we’ve a centre half on the bench we signed to play centre half. Simple solutions to simply problems like

[Sammy Chung was King]

Long is a good defender if you are playing compact and deep, we don’t play that way. On the transfer market, it is tough to do good business in this window. Patience is needed to get the right ones. We don’t need bodies in, each one has to be brought in to fit into a system the manager wants to play.

If you can’t get the right ones then you have to muddle through with what you have. If that was the case we wouldn’t get promoted, we are just short in areas.

[Avsuptem]

For all the pro JR anti JR, pro Bramall anti Bramall, Pro Wellens, Anti Bogle... We should all together and unite on something. And that's recognize that Taylor has been really unlucky. Misdiagnosed, mistreated, bad timing during COVID. But he's a Rover and was dreadfully unlucky to be badly injured again.

Whatever the contract, whatever the term we should offer him messages of support.

This does not alter the fact that, in hindsight, giving him a 3 year contract was  a terrible decision.
All future DRFC managers should have hindsight as a pre requisite for the job.

[Rovers91]

Long is a good defender if you are playing compact and deep, we don’t play that way. On the transfer market, it is tough to do good business in this window. Patience is needed to get the right ones. We don’t need bodies in, each one has to be brought in to fit into a system the manager wants to play.

If you can’t get the right ones then you have to muddle through with what you have. If that was the case we wouldn’t get promoted, we are just short in areas.

Teams around us are bringing in players that would get into our team and strengthen us.

[Chris Black come back]

Since signing that contract Taylor has had an absolute nightmare. Feel for the guy especially as after two serious long term injuries in succession at his age you do wonder what level and intensity he is going to play at again.

[roversdude]

Who actually gave him the contract, I seem to think it was before Wellens came in.
It was a bit of a strange decision as he would not have really been a saleable asset. On the flip side we needed to get away from having a full squad out of contract every year.
Back to the humanity side, wish him a full and speedy recovery, it sounds like Rovers are doing their best for his mental health too. Did he ever set down roots locally btw

[NickDRFC]

Who actually gave him the contract, I seem to think it was before Wellens came in.
It was a bit of a strange decision as he would not have really been a saleable asset. On the flip side we needed to get away from having a full squad out of contract every year.
Back to the humanity side, wish him a full and speedy recovery, it sounds like Rovers are doing their best for his mental health too. Did he ever set down roots locally btw

He got the contract when Butler was in interim charge. I doubt Butler gave him the contract so think it must have come from the boardroom.