Lets talk about the Sunderland game

[selby]

   Does this game take on a different meaning to our manager,who is now coming in for some stick about results on the field of play.
   I stress the about results on the field of play,because the feeling I get is that the majority of supporters feel that the club is going in the right direction in nearly every other way,I must admit it is frustrating in my mind, because I do not think we are that far away from being decent at this level,and suffer because our young team lack experience at this level,and not lack of ability.
  Anyway back to Sunderland,a team who need a lift themselves,but last season had a great season in European age group football for elite clubs reaching a final,so could be a decent side.Add to the fact they can play a few over age players from their first team squad,and they could put out a good team.
  The main question for us is what team Fergie will put out,even in this competition he will be feeling the need for a good result, and may put out a stronger(on paper)team than he would if league results were better.
    I am expecting most of the subs on Saturday to get game time,and some of the younger players to come into the game as subs rather than start the game.
    I know the feelings about the competition,but Coventry seem to have turned a big corner after their success last season in this competition,and with the prize money on offer per round can build up to being well worth while for a club to do well in.

[glosterred]

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the second string and youth team players getting a chance on Tuesday night. Although I do feel that our customary end of season slump as started early this season I don't think what we've seen so far this season will have any bearing on tuesdays game. A win for the Rovers.


COYR

[VivaRovers]

I know the feelings about the competition,but Coventry seem to have turned a big corner after their success last season in this competition,and with the prize money on offer per round can build up to being well worth while for a club to do well in.

Didn't they get relegated after winning it?

[selby]

 They may well have done,but they were heading to go out of the game altogether and are now in a decent position in the league,seem to be able to attract players to  sign for them again,and are in a far better place than they were 12 months ago although still having unpopular owners.
   The catalyst for this has been winning this competition last season, and getting a proven manager who works with the players at his disposal.

[selby]

  Whether liking the competition or not,we could do with a win,any win just to buck up everyones confidence and enthusiasm.
  The fringe players should be looking for a good display,as they should have every chance  of forcing their way into the side if they play well.

[steve@dcfd]

DF said in an interview yesterday 9 of the players who started may not be in the side. Therefore from what he said Marosi and Toffolo could be in.
Add to them players who did not start and firing players.

Marosi
Alcock
Garrett
Toffolo
Blair
Whiteman
Coppinger
Ben Khemis
Mandeville
Williams

Plus youth team players.
Maybe Beestin is fit.

Don’t whether Jones, Walker and Fielding who out on loan are available.

[glosterred]

Wouldn't have thought Copps would start or be included at all. Didn't know Beestin was injured so would expect, if he is fit, for him to start in place of Copps.


COYR

[selby]

  I would guess that in the second half we had a younger team on the field than Sunderland.The first half was a non event,with hardly any action in the penalty areas of any note at all .Mandeville apart there looked to be no one with any class on the field in the attacks of either side,but Fielding and Fletcher looked good young players,and the rest of the youngsters did O.K.
   For me Mason and Khemis were sloppy in mid field,with Masons passing sideways not helping matters to give the front men an opening.Khemis got about the field but lacked confidence.
  The second half was much better with Mandeville catching the eye with runs at the Sunderland defence and combining with Fletcher.
   After Khemis had scored he then started to show how he can play when more confident.
   A decent show from a very young side,but Sunderland looked to be a team drifting into the lower leagues with no outstanding youngsters coming through on that showing.

[selby]

Crowd 1520 with 93 from Sunderland,they are 93 hardy souls,a very well done to them. It must be heart breaking to watch the rapid decline of a good club.

[VivaRovers]

Crowd 1520 with 93 from Sunderland,they are 93 hardy souls

You've spelled lunatics wrong

[selby]

  Viva,you have an opinion,obviously against the competition and respect for that,but why comment on other people and degrade them for watching their team play football.Do you really think they are bothered about your opinions?
  If this competition,the F.A. cup,and the league cup fail,and the six or seven big city clubs get their way,Doncaster Rovers and clubs like them will go to the wall.
  The new small clubs will be teams like Leeds,Villa and the Sheffield clubs if they get  their way.

[GazLaz]

Ben Kem took his goal brilliantly. Great finish.

[the vicar]

WELL SAID Selby

[NickDRFC]

  Viva,you have an opinion,obviously against the competition and respect for that,but why comment on other people and degrade them for watching their team play football.Do you really think they are bothered about your opinions?
  If this competition,the F.A. cup,and the league cup fail,and the six or seven big city clubs get their way,Doncaster Rovers and clubs like them will go to the wall.
  The new small clubs will be teams like Leeds,Villa and the Sheffield clubs if they get  their way.

I'll be honest, I'm struggling to see the link between Glenn calling their fans mad for travelling 100+ miles on a Tuesday night to watch their youth team in a competition that has been completely devalued with the recent changes, and the demise of the FA Cup/DRFC going to the wall.

[foxbat]

And , in addition , the only silverware that Donny are ever going to win are
League 2 , League 1 and the Johnstone's Paint/ Checkatrade whatever,
and we aint going win League 1 this season.

That day in Cardiff was absolutely brilliant ,complain about the format, by all means ,
hopefully it will be improved, but meanwhile I , for one , hope that DF goes flat out
to win this.

[bobjimwilly]

I hope DF DOESN'T go flat out to win this if it will impact performances in the League; survival should be our primary concern this season.

[selby]

  Agree b.j.w. that is the most important,but I like to think that we try to win every game,and it is quite a while since we had the romance and enthusiasm that a good cup run can bring to the area.
  The Arsenal game is early in the season,the  other cups can keep supporters interested for a large portion of the season,especially if the league form is not so good.
   Lincoln showed that a cup run can be the catalyst for success in the league,and helps to attract new players in the January window.
   Staying in the later stages of the cheka trade will help with the first team players McColough,Bawdry,and the lad from Chelsea whose name escapes me, get game time at a good standard,and should also strengthen our chances of going further.
  The prize money also goes up £10k per round in the later stages and is not insignificant to a small club like us.
   We have a lot to gain staying in this competition,The F.A. cup getting to the third round would be a bonus or even just avoiding Oldham away in November.

[VivaRovers]

  Viva,you have an opinion,obviously against the competition and respect for that,but why comment on other people and degrade them for watching their team play football.

They weren't watching their team play... they were watching their club's youth/development team play... away... in a Cup that the majority of fans are either boycotting or just generally not arsed about. Supporting a football club in any way involves a different level of madness, and that's slap bang in lunatic territory for me. A territory I'll be entering myself tomorrow, when I catch a 5 hour budget airline flight, followed by a four hour mini-bus journey to watch my national team, probably draw. Lunatics all of us.

Do you really think they are bothered about your opinions?

No, not in the slightest.

If this competition,the F.A. cup,and the league cup fail,and the six or seven big city clubs get their way,Doncaster Rovers and clubs like them will go to the wall.

I get your point on this - I think - in relation to the League and FA Cups, which offer great incentives to clubs of our stature. But the six or seven big clubs have already shown they're not bothered by this comp, and the FA have messed about with the format anyway to supposedly suit England's future stars. And the effect of that on our club has been reduced revenue from the competition, which is one of the many reasons why I, and others, are boycotting it and protesting it.

[silent majority]

Let's be clear here though, this has nothing to do with the FA, it's very much an EFL tournament.

[graingrover]

Since the Premiership seems to do little for the rest of football I feel it is time the EFL started to look after it's own so to speak . Rather than accommodate the huge crop of young Players in Premiership clubs who never get to play MENS ' football I would prefer to see non league teams and all EFL clubs

[selby]

  Graingrover,I could go along with that myself,but it is too late,just listen to talksport or five live,they have already discussed  this week,who would be bothered about a cup final between Stoke City and West Brom.
  Jason Cundy making out that the top clubs should get a bigger slice of the pie,and nobody is interested in the rest of the premier clubs,and most of the callers agreeing with him.
   The horse has bolted and the tail is wagging the horse mate,most of the supporters of the big clubs do not want their players to play for England anymore,and worse still the players are not bothered either.
  The big clubs will pull out of the television deals in the near future,and will have thousands  paying a fee to watch on their own channel,and the clubs like Southampton will just be left behind.
   I hope not,but fear for all football in this country apart from just a few very greedy clubs.

[Bessie Red]

Since the Premiership seems to do little for the rest of football I feel it is time the EFL started to look after it's own so to speak . Rather than accommodate the huge crop of young Players in Premiership clubs who never get to play MENS ' football I would prefer to see non league teams and all EFL clubs

I agree its about time we stopped pandering to the premier league. I would guess that more people attend the EFL fixtures on a weekend than go to premier league matches. Also alot of people I know dont watch prem footie on the tv anymore. I am sure the 72 would survive without the 20 prem teams. Let them go on their own I say.

[selby]

  Probably the best thing that can happen is for Sky to lose their franchise,as both Talksport and the T.V. promote only the premier league with any conviction.Or more, better, and easier pirate coverage to wreck their income streams.