Don't get sucked in

[Campsall rover]

The day the important folk inside football clubs start listening to supporters regarding such matters as who should be the manager is the day football is over

Really? So what happens when the stadium is empty because the fans have realised how clueless the manager is?

Most football supporters don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.
Danny has been a professional footballer for 15 years, and a top level coach for 5 years
Yet people who’ve never played the game think they have the knowledge to tell the board to sack him..

Crackers

So all football fans are blind as bats.
We have just been imagining what we have been served up for the last 26 months.
It never really happened did it.

We don’t have to have Football coaching qualifications to see that DS has been telling his players to play a style of football that they are not only uncomfortable playing but actually incapable of playing.
Premier League Players are struggling to play this way.
We are in League 2. We don’t have players capable. Yet this coach persists with it after over 30 games in charge.

Dickos I don’t understand you at all. What is your agenda. Do you seriously think we have nothing or very little to moan about after watching this dross.
Are you enjoying this style of so called football. Do you think a 10 yr old football nut should be so bored to tears watching Rovers he doesn’t want to go anymore  Is that ok. They are the future supporters.

It’s not me with the agenda I’m afraid.
As SM eluded to earlier you seem to have lost the plot recently.
The last 10 games have been dreadful but before that you were defending schofield but now he’s the worst thing ever to happen to the club. Crazy really.
The guy hasn’t signed his players yet, maybe he should’ve adapted the style until he does but that doesn’t mean he’s clueless.
For me I’m excited to see where he takes us with his one players and a summer coaching them.
You may not agree, that’s fine but you seem to have this attitude with every manager we have, you’ve been trying to be more positive I’ve noticed but have now reverted to your default position.
As for the ten year old I’m really not surprised he’s bored if he has to listen to what you’re forcing on him all the time.
My 9 year old is still excited for every game and he’s absolutely buzzing regarding yesterdays announcement, and we live 40 miles away with no other doncaster fans around, he loves taking his mates from here to games and showing them his club.

You ask my grandson just how positive I am before every game.
Don’t come out with that clap trap dickos.

Do you think I travel to Crawley on a Tues because I am looking forward to a return journey which will be utterly miserable. No I go in the hope of 3 points and some entertainment.

Yes I backed DS right up to the last 6 weeks because we still had an outside chance of the play offs.
Was I convinced about the football being played. NO. Was I entertained. NO.
The performances have disintegrated completely over the last few games. DS has lost the players. The confidence has been drained from them. That’s obvious.

So if your ok with all that then good on you, but don’t criticise me and others for for being unhappy with this coach and wanting him out.
I travel all over the country supporting my football team. We deserve better than this dross we have been watching under this coach.
It has been appalling. The entertainment value is barely 1 out.of 10. 

[dickos1]

I agree over the last few weeks he’s lost many of his senior players, but he’s lost them to injuries.
No way has he lost their confidence, Anderson, hurst, olowu, would have gone elsewhere if they thought Danny was everything you’re portraying him to be.
Other players are also praising him which goes back to my point that I’d much rather take the view from people experiencing everything day in day out what Danny is all about rather than supporters who just jump to conclusions and have no real Understanding of what’s going off inside the club

[Bessie Red]

I think people are reading far too much into the pro Schofield element of the statement and I would not be surprised if he gets the heave ho soon anyway. But saying so in a public statement would only undermine morale and performances further, thats why such things are rarely said.  Watching the match last week made me realise just how poor our squad is in the skills department, not one of our players displayed any sort of first touch mastery, there was no Tomlin - like wizard who could leave a defender wondering what just happened and no vsionary passer of the ball, in fact the quality of passing was Sunday league. So I am not sure how a new coach would be able to make much difference and the majority of this forum would soon be screaming for his head after a run of defeats just the same. Having said that the addition of 3 or 4 more talented players could transforn this squad and lift the overall performances exponentially. Remember the fans wanted Alex Ferguson sacked in his first season at Man U. Just look at it this way, if Tomlin had played for us all season and we had  a John Marquis and a Ben Whiteman in the side would we be still heading down the toilet ?

I agree and saw the statement re DS was like the old dreaded "vote of confidence" which rarely ends well for the person it is directed at.

[Cramby10]

Don’t rise to it CR. The football has been deplorable for his entire tenure barring probably 3 matches. And the law of averages would suggest that those must have been in spite of DS and not because of.
This guy dickos thought Dickov was the messiah back in the day so his opinion should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

[silent majority]

I agree over the last few weeks he’s lost many of his senior players, but he’s lost them to injuries.
No way has he lost their confidence, Anderson, hurst, olowu, would have gone elsewhere if they thought Danny was everything you’re portraying him to be.
Other players are also praising him which goes back to my point that I’d much rather take the view from people experiencing everything day in day out what Danny is all about rather than supporters who just jump to conclusions and have no real Understanding of what’s going off inside the club

I'm no fan of the football we've seen over the last few months.

But in defence of DS then dickos is right in that a) he inherited the squad when he accepted the role, b) he had a very tight January window with no cash available to bolster the squad, c) his experienced players have mostly fallen victim to injury.
Given that then it could well be argued that he deserves a summer window with a decent budget to show us what he can do. He has a very strong reputation within the football community for his work as a development coach, a description he referenced several times when he gave his presentation at the MTO. In addition I heard JC telling us that he was a coach that put the hours and commitment into the role unlike any other, something GB has also told me.

In that respect shouldn't our focus be on JC bearing in mind that he's been overseeing at least two transfer windows? DS carrying the can for something he hasn't had a part in seems tough to me.

[ravenrover]

To be fair Dickos has stood by most of our recent managers, at least he is prepared to give them a chance.

[Upton Rover]

To be fair Dickos has stood by most of our recent managers, at least he is prepared to give them a chance.

We all do, but we also know when it’s not and won’t work, maybe sooner than some

[silent majority]

Can’t understand why they would release this statement now about next season’s budget, seems to me they are trying to boost dwindling season ticket sales

Boost ST sales?

Well lets put that one to bed. If you look at DRFC accounts you will see that ST sales make up about 5% of total Club Doncaster revenue. If you look at it that way you can see how successful CD has been to DRFC.

Season tickets are vital for the club, but TB wouldn't be making a statement such as he made yesterday if his only aim was to bolster ST sales, or cover the revenue loss. His statement was much more profound than that.

[dickos1]

Don’t rise to it CR. The football has been deplorable for his entire tenure barring probably 3 matches. And the law of averages would suggest that those must have been in spite of DS and not because of.
This guy dickos thought Dickov was the messiah back in the day so his opinion should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

Certainly didn’t, just didn’t think he should’ve been sacked after relegation from the championship.
On the contrary it’s the same old folk such as yourself that want manager after manager after manager sacked.

[Cramby10]

Only 3 managers in my time of watching have I passionately wanted sacking and they all proved to be hopeless frauds. You can spot em a mile off. Wignall, Dickov and Schofield. Other poor managers like Butler and Mcsheffrey I just felt sorry for.

[BigH]

I agree over the last few weeks he’s lost many of his senior players, but he’s lost them to injuries.
No way has he lost their confidence, Anderson, hurst, olowu, would have gone elsewhere if they thought Danny was everything you’re portraying him to be.
Other players are also praising him which goes back to my point that I’d much rather take the view from people experiencing everything day in day out what Danny is all about rather than supporters who just jump to conclusions and have no real Understanding of what’s going off inside the club

I'm no fan of the football we've seen over the last few months.

But in defence of DS then dickos is right in that a) he inherited the squad when he accepted the role, b) he had a very tight January window with no cash available to bolster the squad, c) his experienced players have mostly fallen victim to injury.
Given that then it could well be argued that he deserves a summer window with a decent budget to show us what he can do. He has a very strong reputation within the football community for his work as a development coach, a description he referenced several times when he gave his presentation at the MTO. In addition I heard JC telling us that he was a coach that put the hours and commitment into the role unlike any other, something GB has also told me.

In that respect shouldn't our focus be on JC bearing in mind that he's been overseeing at least two transfer windows? DS carrying the can for something he hasn't had a part in seems tough to me.

Have to agree that JC bears some culpability in all this.

However, I'm also wondering whether the Board are culpable of some unconscious bias in their HoF/Manager appointments since McCann:

Moore - former player
Butler - player
Wellens - former player
McSheffrey - youth team coach/former player
Schofield - Donny lad
Coppinger - former player

Maybe it's time to appoint someone with no previous links to the club or area who can bring a proper external perspective together with a track record of managerial achievement.

[silent majority]

I agree over the last few weeks he’s lost many of his senior players, but he’s lost them to injuries.
No way has he lost their confidence, Anderson, hurst, olowu, would have gone elsewhere if they thought Danny was everything you’re portraying him to be.
Other players are also praising him which goes back to my point that I’d much rather take the view from people experiencing everything day in day out what Danny is all about rather than supporters who just jump to conclusions and have no real Understanding of what’s going off inside the club

I'm no fan of the football we've seen over the last few months.

But in defence of DS then dickos is right in that a) he inherited the squad when he accepted the role, b) he had a very tight January window with no cash available to bolster the squad, c) his experienced players have mostly fallen victim to injury.
Given that then it could well be argued that he deserves a summer window with a decent budget to show us what he can do. He has a very strong reputation within the football community for his work as a development coach, a description he referenced several times when he gave his presentation at the MTO. In addition I heard JC telling us that he was a coach that put the hours and commitment into the role unlike any other, something GB has also told me.

In that respect shouldn't our focus be on JC bearing in mind that he's been overseeing at least two transfer windows? DS carrying the can for something he hasn't had a part in seems tough to me.

Have to agree that JC bears some culpability in all this.

However, I'm also wondering whether the Board are culpable of some unconscious bias in their HoF/Manager appointments since McCann:

Moore - former player
Butler - player
Wellens - former player
McSheffrey - youth team coach/former player
Schofield - Donny lad
Coppinger - former player

Maybe it's time to appoint someone with no previous links to the club or area who can bring a proper external perspective together with a track record of managerial achievement.

I can agree with some of that, but not all.

Moore was never a player when this Board have been in control of this club. None of them knew him at all, and it could also be said that he was a successful appointment in some ways.

Butler was only ever a temporary appointment, a position the club were forced into, in some ways, because of the rapid departure of DM

I still don't understand the appointment of RW, I said at the time I didn't think he'd even get an interview, how wrong was I.

McSheffrey, yep, have to agree.

Schofiled, a Donny lad maybe but that had no bearing on his appointment.

Coppinger, I think the juries still out on that one.

[BigH]

Come off it SM, I'd wager that at some point in the recruitment process either a member of the Board (not all I grant you) or the individual in question will have mentioned that they bring an integral understanding/knowledge of the club or the area.

If not unconscious bias then maybe sub-conscious bias.

[Alan Southstand]

It’s strange, SM, that you didn’t understand the appointment of RW, yet the same guy is sitting pretty at the top of L2. Perhaps there were other problems within the Club (which the latest announcement has supported) that restricted what RW could do? Don’t forget, he was faced with a major re-build!

Water under the bridge now, but it’s taken 2 more manager appointments for the  penny to drop.

[Donny Exile in York]

'the focus of our approach has been to run the club more sustainably - a process accelerated following the Covid-19 pandemic'. So whilst the statement and intent for future much needed investment from TB is welcomed, one thing is confirmed from the statement yesterday, we have been in a self inflicted strategy of Austerity for 3 seasons!

There are many on here who have for over two years argued otherwise, during transfer windows, transfer deadline days, arguments about the budget, quality of the squad, blaming it on the manager, blaming it on poor manager recruitment (which has also been evident i hasten to add) but it is clear now, that we have what can only be described as a strategy of Austerity called 'Sustainability' since the Covid pandemic started. I mentioned a few weeks ago that myself and a fellow supporter said at the time of the pandemic this was the perfect excuse for our board to reign in any ambitions of promotion (to the Championship i add). And so it comes to pass, and has been confirmed, so for all you happy clappers who've been defending the indefensible for the last two to three years whilst others have argued there has been deminishing investment and a lack of quality due to the playing budget, well it was confirmed yesterday, we've been living in a post Covid period of Board Austerity. No more spin, no more conjecture. FACT.

Blunt out. Time to get a Rovers fan back in as Chairman with passion and true love for the club who does understand football and has a honours board to support it (i.e. JR back).

[Upton Rover]

Can’t understand why they would release this statement now about next season’s budget, seems to me they are trying to boost dwindling season ticket sales

Boost ST sales?

Well lets put that one to bed. If you look at DRFC accounts you will see that ST sales make up about 5% of total Club Doncaster revenue. If you look at it that way you can see how successful CD has been to DRFC.

Season tickets are vital for the club, but TB wouldn't be making a statement such as he made yesterday if his only aim was to bolster ST sales, or cover the revenue loss. His statement was much more profound than that.

Is that correct SM 5%? I’m not into looking at Club Doncaster’s accounts, but if season tickets account for 5% then the overall revenue must be 30 million or there about

[Alan Southstand]

I think JR’s time has been and gone, DEiY. The pre-experiment JR was a breath of fresh air when compared with the current Chairman, but I don’t think TB is going to be removing him anytime soon.

[ravenrover]

It’s strange, SM, that you didn’t understand the appointment of RW, yet the same guy is sitting pretty at the top of L2. Perhaps there were other problems within the Club (which the latest announcement has supported) that restricted what RW could do? Don’t forget, he was faced with a major re-build!

Water under the bridge now, but it’s taken 2 more manager appointments for the  penny to drop.

Alan that was the whole point of appointing him build a team from scratch on a limited budget which he failed magnificently to do blew most of it on 4 players, left shopping in bargain basement
Goes to Swindon settled team goes to Orient settled team does the penny drop?

[Alan Southstand]

So, go on then, tell me what budget was available to him for a major re-build. We know now, following TB’s announcement, that there’s been insufficient funds gone into the playing budget. Not all RW’s fault, imho.

[Donny Exile in York]

I think JR’s time has been and gone, DEiY. The pre-experiment JR was a breath of fresh air when compared with the current Chairman, but I don’t think TB is going to be removing him anytime soon.

Maybe so i would take him in the short term, the positve vibe would be terrific and season ticket sales would be great too but longer term I accept we do need a younger model , a true Rovers fan who is outwouldly passionate  and  charismatic that can lead the club and the fans can truly believe in and leads to success on the pitch where it matters most.

[In the box]

I agree over the last few weeks he’s lost many of his senior players, but he’s lost them to injuries.
No way has he lost their confidence, Anderson, hurst, olowu, would have gone elsewhere if they thought Danny was everything you’re portraying him to be.
Other players are also praising him which goes back to my point that I’d much rather take the view from people experiencing everything day in day out what Danny is all about rather than supporters who just jump to conclusions and have no real Understanding of what’s going off inside the club

I'm no fan of the football we've seen over the last few months.

But in defence of DS then dickos is right in that a) he inherited the squad when he accepted the role, b) he had a very tight January window with no cash available to bolster the squad, c) his experienced players have mostly fallen victim to injury.
Given that then it could well be argued that he deserves a summer window with a decent budget to show us what he can do. He has a very strong reputation within the football community for his work as a development coach, a description he referenced several times when he gave his presentation at the MTO. In addition I heard JC telling us that he was a coach that put the hours and commitment into the role unlike any other, something GB has also told me.

In that respect shouldn't our focus be on JC bearing in mind that he's been overseeing at least two transfer windows? DS carrying the can for something he hasn't had a part in seems tough to me.

Have to agree that JC bears some culpability in all this.

However, I'm also wondering whether the Board are culpable of some unconscious bias in their HoF/Manager appointments since McCann:

Moore - former player
Butler - player
Wellens - former player
McSheffrey - youth team coach/former player
Schofield - Donny lad
Coppinger - former player

Maybe it's time to appoint someone with no previous links to the club or area who can bring a proper external perspective together with a track record of managerial achievement.

Wasn’t Ferguson a former player and bigger loss to the club than most of the aforementioned ? 

[Chris Black come back]

I think it fairest to say that the jury is out on him and he should from the 90th minute of the final game be looked at with a fresh pair of eyes given the restrictions he has had to date and his ability to have a proper window and resources.

However, it’s also fair to say that he has shown absolutely nothing to date to suggest he can be anything like a success. The football started off just about ok and very rapidly deteriorated in both quality and results. Every single player has got worse under his tenure, with maybe the exception of Nelson, a loan player. Terrible football, terrible results and terrible record of tactical and player development.

Mitigating factors maybe, but he really needs to be working overtime this summer on recruitment and tactics because what we have seen so far has been an abject failure.

[mpc123]

The day the important folk inside football clubs start listening to supporters regarding such matters as who should be the manager is the day football is over

Really? So what happens when the stadium is empty because the fans have realised how clueless the manager is?

Most football supporters don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.
Danny has been a professional footballer for 15 years, and a top level coach for 5 years
Yet people who’ve never played the game think they have the knowledge to tell the board to sack him..

Crackers

It is about what the result of that coaching is and it is terrible.

[ravenrover]

So, go on then, tell me what budget was available to him for a major re-build. We know now, following TB’s announcement, that there’s been insufficient funds gone into the playing budget. Not all RW’s fault, imho.
[/quote
You know as well as me that we don't know the budget exceot that it was limited.
What we do know is that he had nothing left after splashing it all on those few players. My point is he's done well managing 2 settled teams, he didn't have a settled team at Rovers and wasn't up to the challenge.
Was it a case of please sir I want some more?
MORE! MORE! not a chance

[Ronnie Dovers]

I agree over the last few weeks he’s lost many of his senior players, but he’s lost them to injuries.
No way has he lost their confidence, Anderson, hurst, olowu, would have gone elsewhere if they thought Danny was everything you’re portraying him to be.
Other players are also praising him which goes back to my point that I’d much rather take the view from people experiencing everything day in day out what Danny is all about rather than supporters who just jump to conclusions and have no real Understanding of what’s going off inside the club

I'm no fan of the football we've seen over the last few months.

But in defence of DS then dickos is right in that a) he inherited the squad when he accepted the role, b) he had a very tight January window with no cash available to bolster the squad, c) his experienced players have mostly fallen victim to injury.
Given that then it could well be argued that he deserves a summer window with a decent budget to show us what he can do. He has a very strong reputation within the football community for his work as a development coach, a description he referenced several times when he gave his presentation at the MTO. In addition I heard JC telling us that he was a coach that put the hours and commitment into the role unlike any other, something GB has also told me.

In that respect shouldn't our focus be on JC bearing in mind that he's been overseeing at least two transfer windows? DS carrying the can for something he hasn't had a part in seems tough to me.

How come DS had no cash available in January? We'd lost Tomlin, Knoyle and Clayton's wages, got a small fee for Knoyle, and lost of couple of pointless loans. Added to the funds we were told were held back specifically for January, how did DS end up with nothing to spend?

Our attitude to the January window, considering we were just outside the playoffs, lost several players and had a new manager and style of play to support, is simply baffling. If those at the top believed in DS and his process, why did they show him the least amount of support in that window that any manager in our recent history has had? Particularly when a playoff spot was still massively achievable?

This isn't an attack on you SM, I appreciate the insight you provide us on here, but I just wonder if you've asked that question? And what the response was?

[silent majority]

It’s strange, SM, that you didn’t understand the appointment of RW, yet the same guy is sitting pretty at the top of L2. Perhaps there were other problems within the Club (which the latest announcement has supported) that restricted what RW could do? Don’t forget, he was faced with a major re-build!

Water under the bridge now, but it’s taken 2 more manager appointments for the  penny to drop.

No it's not strange, I wasn't referring to him and his qualities as a manager, just that his personality wouldn't suit.

The fact he's gone on to other success is irrelevant.

[silent majority]

Come off it SM, I'd wager that at some point in the recruitment process either a member of the Board (not all I grant you) or the individual in question will have mentioned that they bring an integral understanding/knowledge of the club or the area.

If not unconscious bias then maybe sub-conscious bias.

What do you mean come of it? I'm entitled to a personal opinion aren't I?

If we're relying on sub conscious bias to prove your point then I would suggest its a bit of a flimsy argument you've got there. The game of football isn't that big that you could 100% rule out anybody with some kind of connection to your club, look at the managers in the EPL for instance!

Grant McCann and DF and their connections with Peterborough is another, the list is endless.

[silent majority]

I agree over the last few weeks he’s lost many of his senior players, but he’s lost them to injuries.
No way has he lost their confidence, Anderson, hurst, olowu, would have gone elsewhere if they thought Danny was everything you’re portraying him to be.
Other players are also praising him which goes back to my point that I’d much rather take the view from people experiencing everything day in day out what Danny is all about rather than supporters who just jump to conclusions and have no real Understanding of what’s going off inside the club

I'm no fan of the football we've seen over the last few months.

But in defence of DS then dickos is right in that a) he inherited the squad when he accepted the role, b) he had a very tight January window with no cash available to bolster the squad, c) his experienced players have mostly fallen victim to injury.
Given that then it could well be argued that he deserves a summer window with a decent budget to show us what he can do. He has a very strong reputation within the football community for his work as a development coach, a description he referenced several times when he gave his presentation at the MTO. In addition I heard JC telling us that he was a coach that put the hours and commitment into the role unlike any other, something GB has also told me.

In that respect shouldn't our focus be on JC bearing in mind that he's been overseeing at least two transfer windows? DS carrying the can for something he hasn't had a part in seems tough to me.

How come DS had no cash available in January? We'd lost Tomlin, Knoyle and Clayton's wages, got a small fee for Knoyle, and lost of couple of pointless loans. Added to the funds we were told were held back specifically for January, how did DS end up with nothing to spend?

Our attitude to the January window, considering we were just outside the playoffs, lost several players and had a new manager and style of play to support, is simply baffling. If those at the top believed in DS and his process, why did they show him the least amount of support in that window that any manager in our recent history has had? Particularly when a playoff spot was still massively achievable?

This isn't an attack on you SM, I appreciate the insight you provide us on here, but I just wonder if you've asked that question? And what the response was?

My understanding is that it was a bit of both, a lack of players that were available in the areas we needed and a reluctance to invest in those players that didn't meet the standard. A change in the financial demands of the club didn't help and, as I've pointed out earlier our budget suffered accordingly. We went from a decent budget at the start of the season to one that ended up about 10th. 

That's why I have some sympathy with DS.

[silent majority]

So, go on then, tell me what budget was available to him for a major re-build. We know now, following TB’s announcement, that there’s been insufficient funds gone into the playing budget. Not all RW’s fault, imho.

Not all RW's fault, but he had a major hand in it.

[BigH]

Come off it SM, I'd wager that at some point in the recruitment process either a member of the Board (not all I grant you) or the individual in question will have mentioned that they bring an integral understanding/knowledge of the club or the area.

If not unconscious bias then maybe sub-conscious bias.

What do you mean come of it? I'm entitled to a personal opinion aren't I?

If we're relying on sub conscious bias to prove your point then I would suggest its a bit of a flimsy argument you've got there. The game of football isn't that big that you could 100% rule out anybody with some kind of connection to your club, look at the managers in the EPL for instance!

Grant McCann and DF and their connections with Peterborough is another, the list is endless.

Of course you are SM and sorry if I've come across as unduly provocative; not the intention.

Perhaps there's a wider point in that, since TB assumed sole ownership, there do seem to have been some commonalities of approach on the footballing side that have coincided with the vicious spiral that the club now seems to be in; e.g. the appointment of inexperienced personnel, unduly lengthy recruitment processes, a lack of leadership both on and off the pitch, a nod to historical associations with the club. It feels like an element of groupthink has been allowed to take hold.

I've written elsewhere that I don't know what the answer is but a suggested starting point would be for TB to try and break this cycle by widening his circle of trusted advisors and consulting beyond the current 'inner sanctum'.