January

[Draytonian III]

  Two in Faulkner and Flint should be in the house to start with, Grehan was toast today and shown up for lack of pace.

Their player, number 11 was a very very good player, if he had played the full game Peterborough would have got at least a point if not more.

[colincramb]

Just a thought, but is it inconceivable that if we sign a number 9, or a couple of other striking options that Billy packs it all in and retires? He’s looking increasingly more frustrated to me and now he isn’t starting. Wouldn’t be surprised

[Usher wide.]

Never thought of Billy as a candidate for spitting a dummy out.

He’ll see his contract out.

[moses]

If we sign a first choice striker and everyone shuffles down the pecking order and Billy got the chance of a league club who were promising he would start every week he might be tempted in January.
He knows father time is ticking and his chances of goals would drop considerably if we sign another striker.

[GazLaz]

If we sign a first choice striker and everyone shuffles down the pecking order and Billy got the chance of a league club who were promising he would start every week he might be tempted in January.
He knows father time is ticking and his chances of goals would drop considerably if we sign another striker.

I’m not sure a 39 year old striker would start every week at any club.

[steve@dcfd]

Just a thought, but is it inconceivable that if we sign a number 9, or a couple of other striking options that Billy packs it all in and retires? He’s looking increasingly more frustrated to me and now he isn’t starting. Wouldn’t be surprised

Well he should start on Tuesday night in the Vertu trophy at least plus it’s only two games that he’s not started mountain out of a mole hill.

[ncRover]

Olusanya still injured.

Hopefully Grant doesn’t extend his loan with the justification that he hasn’t had a chance.

He is nowhere near the technical standard to play as a lone centre forward in this system.

Billy should be a 3rd choice option. Saturday demonstrated that.

[colincramb]

Just a thought, but is it inconceivable that if we sign a number 9, or a couple of other striking options that Billy packs it all in and retires? He’s looking increasingly more frustrated to me and now he isn’t starting. Wouldn’t be surprised

Well he should start on Tuesday night in the Vertu trophy at least plus it’s only two games that he’s not started mountain out of a mole hill.

Just touting the question around, that’s all. He isn’t doing it for the money anymore so if he falls down the pecking order in January, it could be an option

[graingrover]

I dontthink Billy would ever change his character from battler to coward .I also do not agree we have flotsam and jetsam .Our average crowd is 9509 which is 12th in the division .TB puts in an extra million or so to keep us going and Grant has only ever paid a minor transfer fee during his two seasons here ( on Grehan  )
I don’t think  we will ever find anyone to replace TB as a benefactor and will have to grow our own youngsters over the next decade .If GB stays as CEO to keep the community strategy growing we will need a minor shareholder to finance that part of our budget  that  exceeds Club Doncaster’s three club revenues and the money from attendances and TV .I don’t dream beyond  and my realistic outlook is a long term consolidation as a League one club .
Wrexham we are not and hopefully do not even dream of searching for such a profile .Grant may stay two or  three more seasons if he sees his development strategy is paying off but a lot will depend on his relationship with the fans in that time .

[DearneValleyRover]

I can see Billy finishing at S*unny if they make it back up.

[Usher wide.]

Just a thought, but is it inconceivable that if we sign a number 9, or a couple of other striking options that Billy packs it all in and retires? He’s looking increasingly more frustrated to me and now he isn’t starting. Wouldn’t be surprised

Stand up & be counted colincramb.

[drfchound]

I can see Billy finishing at S*unny if they make it back up.

They offered him the player/manager job in the summer.

[Sammy Chung was King]

Josh Onomah for the midfielder, free agent.

[Barmby Rover]

He’s clearly happy with Broadbent, Bailey and Clifton. Can’t see him laying out for wages of another senior midfielder, when we have about a thousand on the books and he likes his three.

That midfield lacks the quality we need at this level, lot of heart but a lack of quality.

Lots of talk like this, but if you remember how Crewe came strong later in the season last year I think he may well provide the "quality" we need, as a young player the Wales set-up has been difficult to transition from, give him time.

[Prez]

Going to be a very important window for us. Grant has to get it right otherwise we may well go down. Mistakes from the summer can’t be repeated.

Gotts, not been good enough, Middleton not fancied, Hanlon in and out of team, Grehan, Pearson struggling for starts. None of them you can argue have improved us.

Then the loan signings, Crew and Adaji need sending back for me. TLT been shaky.

Recruitment overall has been poor.

[Move DRFC]

Going to be a very important window for us. Grant has to get it right otherwise we may well go down. Mistakes from the summer can’t be repeated.

Gotts, not been good enough, Middleton not fancied, Hanlon in and out of team, Grehan, Pearson struggling for starts. None of them you can argue have improved us.

Then the loan signings, Crew and Adaji need sending back for me. TLT been shaky.

Recruitment overall has been poor.

On the basis of what we've seen so far, the summer recruitment was a disaster. Gotts, Pearson and Middleton couldn't even get in the squad tonight. Ajayi been so poor in the league. Hanlan should have started tonight but he's barely played for the majority. Huge Jan ahead.

[mushRTID]

Agreed some serious work to be done.

Everywhere needs strengthening, we have no pace or muscle anywhere other than Hanlon.

Ajayi, Crew, Olusanya to go. 3 established league one quality players required to replace them. It’s going to cost some money this window.

Then the defense needs work, especially if O’Riordan goes back.

I could see Grehan going out on loan.

[GazLaz]

Would you trust this lot with any money? Non of the summer signings have made us better, that’s the crux of the issue.

[Prez]

Agreed some serious work to be done.

Everywhere needs strengthening, we have no pace or muscle anywhere other than Hanlon.

Ajayi, Crew, Olusanya to go. 3 established league one quality players required to replace them. It’s going to cost some money this window.

Then the defense needs work, especially if O’Riordan goes back.

I could see Grehan going out on loan.

I’d completely forgot about lasagna. Yet another poor signing. Don’t think we see him again.

[mushRTID]

Would you trust this lot with any money? Non of the summer signings have made us better, that’s the crux of the issue.

Agreed but we need to try something or we will go down with a whimper.

[Move DRFC]

Rejecting 500k for McGrath was probably the biggest disaster of a decision in the summer. A bang average head it and kick it centre half who's overrated by our fan base because he's a local lad and kisses the badge.

His work on the ball and general distribution is an absolute car crash. Looks an ok player against poor teams when they lump it forward but struggles against any quality.

Can someone get on the phone to Plymouth. Getting half of that would be a steal.

[Chris Black come back]

Is Lasagne still injured? Never hear a word about the lad. Think McCann is hoping we all forget.

[GazLaz]

Rejecting 500k for McGrath was probably the biggest disaster of a decision in the summer. A bang average head it and kick it centre half who's overrated by our fan base because he's a local lad and kisses the badge.

His work on the ball and general distribution is an absolute car crash. Looks an ok player against poor teams when they lump it forward but struggles against any quality.

Can someone get on the phone to Plymouth. Getting half of that would be a steal.

Who is accountable?

Who is accountable for making signings that don’t improve the XI?

Who is accountable for employing a disastrous head of recruitment?

Who is accountable for turning down large offers for players that were probably value to accept?

Who is accountable for dropping a bollock not tying Olowu up to a deal early enough and letting a big asset leave for free?

Who is accountable for giving contracts to players that are well past their best?

The only accountability comes when the manager gets the sack. Nobody wants that to happen, but if you have a structure where the manager takes all the accountability, that’s the only option you leave yourself with. That can’t be the right structure can it.

[Chris Black come back]

Our woeful record of monetising talent ultimately means Terry has to pay out millions from his own pocket. Cannot believe he tolerates this. Every poor signing or fee lost on talent means more cash from his wallet. Very strange.

[Blue Green Algae]

McGrath needs a couple of seasons in League Two (he might well get them with us at this rate). He drops a clanger almost every game. Yes he's decent in the air, but that doesn't justify the loyalty Grant keeps showing him. If O'Riordan goes back we're in huge trouble.

[GazLaz]

Our woeful record of monetising talent ultimately means Terry has to pay out millions from his own pocket. Cannot believe he tolerates this. Every poor signing or fee lost on talent means more cash from his wallet. Very strange.

We one way we are extremely lucky to have an owner like Terry who gives the manager so much control and trust. In another way I thinks that’s a suboptimal strategy. He’s the chairman, it’s his money, and he has to make the decisions as he sees fit.

[BobG]

Yes Gaz. And one day that structure will land us very, very deeply in the doodoo.

Any replacement Terrys around?

Bob

[GazLaz]

Yes Gaz. And one day that structure will land us very, very deeply in the doodoo.

Any replacement Terrys around?

Bob

Terry must be a dream chairman for a manager to work under. That goes a very long way and can’t be overlooked.

[Pliskin]

The summer transfer window is looking like a complete dud.

10 players brought in, and the only one who's actually improved us is O'Riordan who may be about to go back to Blackburn in January.

Whose idea was it to go into the season with Sharp, Hanlan and a complete punt from the MLS as our forward options? It seemed mad at the time, even more so now.

[Petche]

Rejecting 500k for McGrath was probably the biggest disaster of a decision in the summer. A bang average head it and kick it centre half who's overrated by our fan base because he's a local lad and kisses the badge.

His work on the ball and general distribution is an absolute car crash. Looks an ok player against poor teams when they lump it forward but struggles against any quality.

Can someone get on the phone to Plymouth. Getting half of that would be a steal.

Responsible for both goals tonight - dreadful!