Who will want to come to Rovers in the close season?

[ForsolongaRover]

A simple question. Any player wanting to advance his career would surely not be attracted to either the club or working with the present Head Coach. Have they considered how all this looks from the outside?

[ChrisBx]

It will depend what we're offering financially.

[karldew]

It will depend what we're offering financially.

3x Freddos and a pack of Quavers

[aidanstu]

Any team that’s wanting a morale boost?

[Little Wolf]

I take it thats the extra money from the chairman that we are offering 3 freddo’s now not the usual 2 

[grayx]

Depends which manager we get in. I cant accept Schofield will still be here.

[ForsolongaRover]

The situation would change radically if we got a new manager in. However I am speculating based on the awful prospect of there being no change.

In that context, for DS to have any chance of turning things round, he needs good players, players who will want to develop their own careers as well as being part of a successful progressive club. The atmosphere in and around the club due to everything that is going on does not look good from the outside. So where are the quality players coming from and what will they think they are coming to?

[Upton Rover]

DS is so experienced I’m sure he will have many contacts & and many players wanting to come to Rovers with the exciting style of football that he’s installed at The Eco Power Stadium.

[ravenrover]

A simple question. Any player wanting to advance his career would surely not be attracted to either the club or working with the present Head Coach. Have they considered how all this looks from the outside?

Wht would we be signing players who want to advance their careers?
We need a team filled with experience and leadership with a few, as BST likes to put it, Mesters

[Avsuptem]

I switched to the away commentary for a while on Iplayer yesterday and even when Newport were a goal down they.were saying Doncaster were 'there for the taking'. They knew, we knew, everyone knows. A big part of that is because we have a coach who does not know how to manage a game and is easily outwitted by any counterpart with a bit of experience. Until that changes attracting any player to DRFC on the basis of the football being played will be an awfully hard.sell.

[EasyforDennis]

I take it thats the extra money from the chairman that we are offering 3 freddo’s now not the usual 2 

I think you will be lucky to buy ONE freddo with the chairman's contribution

[ForsolongaRover]

A simple question. Any player wanting to advance his career would surely not be attracted to either the club or working with the present Head Coach. Have they considered how all this looks from the outside?

Wht would we be signing players who want to advance their careers?
We need a team filled with experience and leadership with a few, as BST likes to put it, Mesters

That type of player might be a short term fix, but our ambition is surely to compete well in League 1, so players who are good and have potential to improve further would be the aim in recruiting. Quite apart from that I wonder how many seasoned pros would even want or be able to work within Schofield’s Process.

[Campsall rover]

I take it thats the extra money from the chairman that we are offering 3 freddo’s now not the usual 2 

The money isn’t coming from the Chairman. It is TB’s money. Blunt is putting in nothing.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Football is a small world and the word will be out on us. We’ve already, wrongly or rightly, got a reputation for been tight now we are a soft touch club in a perpetual downward slide.

It would be daft to think players and agents don’t think about that when they have a few offers on the table. Ultimately money matters but if we are offering similar amounts to others you wouldn’t blame a player for thinking I’ll swerve that.

Every chance you’ll be signed by a manager who will be gone in a matter of months. It’s not a good sell. It’s already been noted the quality of loanees we attract has dropped off a cliff. Our reputation as a development club will be shot to pieces.

[Chris Black come back]

I’m going to guess that he will sign both Charlie Lakin and Zain Westbrooke. Of the out of contract players I suspect he will sign Aidan Barlow, Liam Ravenhill and one of either Mitchell or Jones.

If he does, we are missing a full time right back, a centre midfielder with some proper bite and energy, a central striker, and two wide players to challenge Hurst and if he comes back, Taylor. Depending on where he lands with Mitchell or Jones, we will need a full time keeper.

This would mean Ro-Shaun, Younger, Agard, Seaman, Jones or Mitchell leaving.

[Spilsby Red]

I thought you meant supporters when I saw the post. Not me or my son.

[adamtherover]

The days of a Herbie kane or Malik wills loan seem a million miles away...

[normal rules]

I’m going to guess that he will sign both Charlie Lakin and Zain Westbrooke. Of the out of contract players I suspect he will sign Aidan Barlow, Liam Ravenhill and one of either Mitchell or Jones.

If he does, we are missing a full time right back, a centre midfielder with some proper bite and energy, a central striker, and two wide players to challenge Hurst and if he comes back, Taylor. Depending on where he lands with Mitchell or Jones, we will need a full time keeper.

This would mean Ro-Shaun, Younger, Agard, Seaman, Jones or Mitchell leaving.

Someone on another thread reckons ds wants 10/11 gone

[Chris Black come back]

Well, if he wants to move on that many it would involve some contracted players I think. Easier said than done if the case.

[sedwardsdrfc]

I’m going to guess that he will sign both Charlie Lakin and Zain Westbrooke. Of the out of contract players I suspect he will sign Aidan Barlow, Liam Ravenhill and one of either Mitchell or Jones.

If he does, we are missing a full time right back, a centre midfielder with some proper bite and energy, a central striker, and two wide players to challenge Hurst and if he comes back, Taylor. Depending on where he lands with Mitchell or Jones, we will need a full time keeper.

This would mean Ro-Shaun, Younger, Agard, Seaman, Jones or Mitchell leaving.

That’s a lot of the players still at the club who we aren’t supposed to judge his results on. I’d expect he’s going to make bigger changes if he really thinks he’s going to improve us.

In terms of getting a promotion team though I kind of agree. A physical centre midfielder, another winger, goalkeeper, right back and a good striker and we probably have a squad.

I’d also like a centre half leader. Anderson and Olowu tend to miss a lot of games. I’d offer Seaman a contract as backup too. He’s can cover both sides of the pitch at full back or winger.

[idler]

I'm amazed that people moan that getting players coming here will almost impossible but also moaning that we get beat by teams with lower budgets.
If we identify the right players and pay the right wages they will come. Recently we certainly haven't identified the right players needed for certain positions. The obvious one being a midfield ball winner.

[adamtherover]

I’m going to guess that he will sign both Charlie Lakin and Zain Westbrooke. Of the out of contract players I suspect he will sign Aidan Barlow, Liam Ravenhill and one of either Mitchell or Jones.

If he does, we are missing a full time right back, a centre midfielder with some proper bite and energy, a central striker, and two wide players to challenge Hurst and if he comes back, Taylor. Depending on where he lands with Mitchell or Jones, we will need a full time keeper.

This would mean Ro-Shaun, Younger, Agard, Seaman, Jones or Mitchell leaving.

Someone on another thread reckons ds wants 10/11 gone

can he add himself to that number?

[Chris Black come back]

As much as a mass clear out is difficult to make real in one window and can cause huge disruption, there is a culture in the club of accepting mediocrity at best and failure at worse. At the very least the last two seasons have had a major psychological impact. The more we can move on and make room for new players with a winning mentality the better.

I’m not sure keeping Tom as captain is a wise idea either. He’s been given a long deal now but he struggles in recent seasons to get through anything like a full season. In fact the last two seasons it has been around half of league games he has managed. At that kind of fitness levels he can’t realistically be captain, so we need to think about that, which with a new player might help develop some backbone for once.

League appearances only:

2022/23 - 25 appearances
2021/22 - 19 appearances
2020/21 - 44 appearances
2019/20 - 32 appearances (COVID season)
2018/19 - 23 appearances

[ravenrover]

A simple question. Any player wanting to advance his career would surely not be attracted to either the club or working with the present Head Coach. Have they considered how all this looks from the outside?

Wht would we be signing players who want to advance their careers?
We need a team filled with experience and leadership with a few, as BST likes to put it, Mesters

That type of player might be a short term fix, but our ambition is surely to compete well in League 1, so players who are good and have potential to improve further would be the aim in recruiting. Quite apart from that I wonder how many seasoned pros would even want or be able to work within Schofield’s Process.

Short term fix yes, exactly what is needed to get out of this league in the right direction

[sedwardsdrfc]

A simple question. Any player wanting to advance his career would surely not be attracted to either the club or working with the present Head Coach. Have they considered how all this looks from the outside?

Wht would we be signing players who want to advance their careers?
We need a team filled with experience and leadership with a few, as BST likes to put it, Mesters

That type of player might be a short term fix, but our ambition is surely to compete well in League 1, so players who are good and have potential to improve further would be the aim in recruiting. Quite apart from that I wonder how many seasoned pros would even want or be able to work within Schofield’s Process.

Short term fix yes, exactly what is needed to get out of this league in the right direction

Don’t think our current manager does short term fixes.

[ncRover]

If the balance is right in the squad between youth and experience, that will better allow the younger players to reach their potential. That and good coaching.

Signing mesters stabilises us and allows a foundation for longer term growth.

Signings made in the summer will probably outlast DS so it is important to nail this window and tick all the boxes that are missing.

[In the box]

A simple question. Any player wanting to advance his career would surely not be attracted to either the club or working with the present Head Coach. Have they considered how all this looks from the outside?

It’s not a easy as just selecting who you want , unless the whole ethos of the club changes and it puts promotion as it’s No1 priority and players coming in buy into what is expected of them along with the full financial backing to build a solid squad of contracted players and less reliance on loan signings . I can not see TB committing  to several seasons of high expenditure if results on the pitch don’t improve .

[danumdon]

Does anyone else get the impression that DS does not do "mesters" the only one we had he let go.

I'd imagine that this type of player scares the hell out of our HC and would not kowtow to the process we are having to endure under this regime.

More and deeper frustration if this is the case, time will tell.

[BillyStubbsTears]

"Mester" doesn't square to blunt brick shithouse.


It's not about physicality or lack of ability. It is a mental trait - a refusal to accept second best, and a preparedness to give everything and set standards.

JJ Price was a mester.

Richie Wellens was a mester (until late in his career with us, when he went totally off the rails).

Colin Douglass was a mester.

Ian Snodin was a mester.

I'd give my left arm for us signing 4 players with their attitude this summer.

[danumdon]

"Mester" doesn't square to blunt brick shithouse.


It's not about physicality or lack of ability. It is a mental trait - a refusal to accept second best, and a preparedness to give everything and set standards.

JJ Price was a mester.

Richie Wellens was a mester (until late in his career with us, when he went totally off the rails).

Colin Douglass was a mester.

Ian Snodin was a mester.

I'd give my left arm for us signing 4 players with their attitude this summer.

Exactly, its why i said DS would have no truck with this type of player, they would never accept this pathetic system we are managing to mess up.

All the management team would be rocked out of their comfort zone with these type of individuals.

Their mental fortitude would scare the pants off this lot.