Club New Year Statement

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I can see something about no eye deer that he can't see.

Have to go now. Up early tomorrow, off to Leyton. Up the Rovers

And that's the bottom line. We're going into tomorrow's game at Orient with just the same enthusiasm, hope, anxiety  excitement as the same opening fixture in 2005.

If only all fans could feel that same underdog mentality and throw ourselves into supporting those XI players as we did back then, we would be in a better place.

If we win tomorrow, I guarantee the feeling of satisfaction will be just the same and even more so for those who make the journey. I made that journey back then because I was excited to see Greg Blundell, Leo Fortune West, Michael McIndoe, John Doolan etc pit their wits at League Two level.  George Miller, Luke Molyneaux, Kyle Hurst, Harrison Biggins etc all deserve that same support.

Why have we become so superior to believe the game tomorrow is somehow below where we should be?

[no eyed deer]

I can see something about no eye deer that he can't see.

Have to go now. Up early tomorrow, off to Leyton. Up the Rovers

And that's the bottom line. We're going into tomorrow's game at Orient with just the same enthusiasm, hope, anxiety  excitement as the same opening fixture in 2005.

If only all fans could feel that same underdog mentality and throw ourselves into supporting those XI players as we did back then, we would be in a better place.

If we win tomorrow, I guarantee the feeling of satisfaction will be just the same and even more so for those who make the journey. I made that journey back then because I was excited to see Greg Blundell, Leo Fortune West, Michael McIndoe, John Doolan etc pit their wits at League Two level.  George Miller, Luke Molyneaux, Kyle Hurst, Harrison Biggins etc all deserve that same support.

Why have we become so superior to believe the game tomorrow is somehow below where we should be?

Supported this club since 1980 lincoln at home.

So seen more lows than highs, and loved the conference days.

My biggest problem is the PR machine on here goes into overdrive wherever anybody dare question the running of the club or the direction they are taking us.

Its not what league we are in, its fashion we got here.

Just wish the owners had your passion.

[Campsall rover]

I can see something about no eye deer that he can't see.

Have to go now. Up early tomorrow, off to Leyton. Up the Rovers

And that's the bottom line. We're going into tomorrow's game at Orient with just the same enthusiasm, hope, anxiety  excitement as the same opening fixture in 2005.

If only all fans could feel that same underdog mentality and throw ourselves into supporting those XI players as we did back then, we would be in a better place.

If we win tomorrow, I guarantee the feeling of satisfaction will be just the same and even more so for those who make the journey. I made that journey back then because I was excited to see Greg Blundell, Leo Fortune West, Michael McIndoe, John Doolan etc pit their wits at League Two level.  George Miller, Luke Molyneaux, Kyle Hurst, Harrison Biggins etc all deserve that same support.

Why have we become so superior to believe the game tomorrow is somehow below where we should be?

2003 DBR   

[grayx]

Nice speech ,now lets see some encouraging signings in this transfer window to show they mean business.

[Canadian Rover]

It was a good statement with solid information to the fans from a finance point of view. I mentioned in another post of things I'd like to see from the club in 2023 and beyond;

I'd update weekly via social media and website; interviews with HOF, CEO, Chairman and Physio. Information to the fan base is key. This ranges from commercial partnerships, community involvement to injuries, details of our players out on loan and contracts. A weekly update from each of these would be great.

I get that we don't need a weekly financial statement from Gavin and what he placed was excellent (despite some of our disappointment in terms of league position and what division we are in).

We DO still need regular updates from physio department and HOF. The statement was good but didn't really relate to the football side of things (which is our passion).

How are the youth team doing? What's the vision there long term. What is Green doing in his role as "first team transition coach?" Let's understand what the club is doing and what progress is being made.

[vaya]

It was a good statement with solid information to the fans from a finance point of view. I mentioned in another post of things I'd like to see from the club in 2023 and beyond;

I'd update weekly via social media and website; interviews with HOF, CEO, Chairman and Physio. Information to the fan base is key. This ranges from commercial partnerships, community involvement to injuries, details of our players out on loan and contracts. A weekly update from each of these would be great.

I get that we don't need a weekly financial statement from Gavin and what he placed was excellent (despite some of our disappointment in terms of league position and what division we are in).

We DO still need regular updates from physio department and HOF. The statement was good but didn't really relate to the football side of things (which is our passion).

How are the youth team doing? What's the vision there long term. What is Green doing in his role as "first team transition coach?" Let's understand what the club is doing and what progress is being made.

The Youth team has a dedicated Twitter account which provides updates on a regular basis. There are also updates on the official site.

[Campsall rover]

I can see something about no eye deer that he can't see.

Have to go now. Up early tomorrow, off to Leyton. Up the Rovers

And that's the bottom line. We're going into tomorrow's game at Orient with just the same enthusiasm, hope, anxiety  excitement as the same opening fixture in 2005.

If only all fans could feel that same underdog mentality and throw ourselves into supporting those XI players as we did back then, we would be in a better place.

If we win tomorrow, I guarantee the feeling of satisfaction will be just the same and even more so for those who make the journey. I made that journey back then because I was excited to see Greg Blundell, Leo Fortune West, Michael McIndoe, John Doolan etc pit their wits at League Two level.  George Miller, Luke Molyneaux, Kyle Hurst, Harrison Biggins etc all deserve that same support.

Why have we become so superior to believe the game tomorrow is somehow below where we should be?

Supported this club since 1980 lincoln at home.

So seen more lows than highs, and loved the conference days.

My biggest problem is the PR machine on here goes into overdrive wherever anybody dare question the running of the club or the direction they are taking us.

Its not what league we are in, its fashion we got here.

Just wish the owners had your passion.

Please tell us what the owners should be doing. No good whinging all the time. Tell us how they should be running the club. 

The fact is mistakes have been made in the management appointments. Moore, Butler, Wellens and McSheffrey.
The recruitment of players has been flawed. Moore was obsessed with loan signings and then left us high and dry.
Butler was a mistake no question especially with a squad made up of so many loans who simply downed tools once DM left us.

Wellens seemed like a good appointment as he had some previous success as a manager.  His recruitment though was nothing short of awful. He had a budget from what I understand that should have been good enough to obtain a comfortable mid table place in League 1.  So sorry was that the boards fault or Wellens?

GM was in hindsight a mistake, it could have worked as he is a good coach, but it didn’t.

In the summer the board changed the way they run the football operation by appointing a HoF in Copps.
He was then very instrumental in identifying DS as our next manager after GM was sacked in October.
He did his homework and hopefully this appointment will set us on the right track.

It’s early days and the team performances have been very inconsistent. DS though is working with a playing squad he inherited. Time is needed. We need to give him 2 windows to bring in the players we need to become a  team that can compete in League 1.  We need a squad that can compete in the league above.
It’s no good going up and then coming straight back down again.

The board have provided a budget that will be in top 4/5 in League 2 this season. 
We are on a sound financial footing and now in a position to move the club forward on the playing side.

Mistakes have been made, of course they have. The board know that. Changes have been made. Now let’s see where we go from here.
Promotion is still a possibility this season but if it’s not achieved then it’s not a disaster.
Given some really good recruitment in the summer we should have a squad next season that gets a top 3 place minimum. Maybe even Champions.

We have in Mitchell, Knoyle, Anderson, yes even Williams ( based on his performance v Carlisle ) so jury out on him i think. Olowu, Faulkner, Maxwell, Rowe, Close, Biggins, Molyneux, Hurst & Miller, the nucleus of a squad that can imo compete at the top of this league and probably hold their own in League 1 imo.
Many of the above players are young and will only improve with game time and good coaching.

We need to clear out the rest. Jones ( not sure he will be happy to be no 2 for ever ) Seaman, Long, Ravenhill, Clayton, Taylor, Agard & Griffiths. Also Woltman loan player who is imo not good enough imo.
Ollie Younger I am not sure about. We need to see him when he is fit again.

Recruitment is the key. Get it right in the next 2 windows and Rovers will be a team that we can be all proud of once again.

If the owners had no ambition for the club, why do they bother. What’s the point. Seriously, surely you can see that.
Be very thankful for what we have got because the alternative could possibly be very unpalatable. We have been there in the 90’s and I never want to see that again.

[Glyn_Wigley]

If showing passion meant anything Kevin Keegan would still be England manager.

[IDM]

If showing passion meant anything Kevin Keegan would still be England manager.

Or Smithy..?

[Ronnie Dovers]

My worry is that there seems to be a constant reduction in our on pitch goals. In the last 18 months we've gone from a goal of consistently challenging for Lg1 playoffs, down to Lg1 consolidation, down to bouncing back decisively to Lg1, to now, in the statement, seemingly being happy with our current position challenging (just about) for the Lg2 playoffs. We're better than that, aren't we?

To be clear, I think every other aspect of that statement is extremely positive, and as fans we should be genuinely proud of the club we support and how we operate off the pitch.

[ctay]

I took a bit of time to think about the statement before posting. My initial thought was it seemed very 'back slapping, well done boys'. To a point it should be as well, to make us self sufficient is a terrific effort, and one that shouldnt be ignored. I never understood why Gavin has always been the one picked out for stick from the Yellow and black guys, I did ask them at one point and I questioned why Blunt didnt ,  I don't think I got an answer.

This is a massive moment for us now. Without a shadow of doubt they have made some awful decisions in recent times, mainly the manager role and the recruitment. Also, when we had the opportunity to invest a small fee (on a player) when money came in, we didnt.  My feelings has always been we needed someone who had experience. An experienced manager could have kept us up last year. My worry has always been lack of football knowledge on the board, we have a inexperienced manager and now we have Copps in the role which is a massive gamble. When they picked DS I hoped they would go for an experienced assistant. It didnt happen.

A big January, a big year for us in general. As self sufficient could we make it back to the championship one day, yes why not. It would be a big ask, but it could happen. The board needed to take the well done, but then look at what they could have done a lot better.