If Danny is in charge next season...

[keith79]

I fear some people in the know are warming to him. 

[Reg of the Rovers]

I genuinely think Coppinger is the one keeping him in a job right now. He'd have gone by now. In fact he probably wouldn't be in charge at all.

Agree, Copps has completely shat the bed on this one - Legend as a player, needs his P45 as HoF - bringing in his mate and then refusing to accept the ongoing failures and keeping him in a job has ruined him for me. The 'consistency' argument only works if the HoF is credible and competent, and ours is not. 

[Canadian Rover]

We don't need or shouldn't want Copps gone. We will need (some) consistency on the football side. We can't expect for the players to be gone, manager to be gone, board to be gone, coaching staff to be gone, physio's and doctors to be gone. We've seen so much turnover in recent years it's a big part of the problem.

[ncRover]

My glass half-full crystal ball prediction:

We have a top 6 budget and have a decent transfer window for once.

We sign better players that do fit what DS is trying to do a bit better. We start reasonably strongly. We start to fade when teams work us out pre-game and in-game. We play some pretty stuff at times but come away from a lot of games saying "we didn't deserve to lose". We are then consistently hovering around 9/10/11th. Defenders of Schofield say the process is nearly there but we never seriously threaten and don't quite do poorly enough for the club to justify a change.

Repeat.

[Reg of the Rovers]

My glass half-full crystal ball prediction:

We have a top 6 budget and have a decent transfer window for once.

We sign better players that do fit what DS is trying to do a bit better. We start reasonably strongly. We start to fade when teams work us out pre-game and in-game. We play some pretty stuff at times but come away from a lot of games saying "we didn't deserve to lose". We are then consistently hovering around 9/10/11th. Defenders of Schofield say the process is nearly there but we never seriously threaten and don't quite do poorly enough for the club to justify a change.

Repeat.

Or... our inexperienced manager lacks the flexibility and tactical nous to improve a team on the slide, and with our inexperienced HoF they lack the connections to bring in players to implement his 'process', his process fails to deliver results in league 2 and we slide down the table in to a relegation dog-fight where the losing mentality of the club means we fall through the trap door in to the conference. The club continues to fail to listen to its customers and fan numbers continue to dwindle. Our aging owner / benefactor retires and no one wants to invest in a failing conference side with no fans, so we can't secure investment and continue to slide down the football league. Ask Scunny fans if you think that's fantasy.

[ForsolongaRover]

TBF, not all managers with little or no experience fail.  For instance Pep Guardiola, took his first managerial role with the Barcelona B reserve team in 2007. That was his only experience before he took charge of the Barcelona first team in 2008...... and in his first year he led them to win the treble, including La Liga, the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League.

OK, it is a weak comparison as PG and DS are managing in different solar systems, but it doesn't necessarily make managers with little experience necessarily bad...

Another good example is Steven Gerrard whose first managerial appointment was with Rangers in 2018, having only ever been in charge of the Liverpool U18 Youth team. Rangers were transformed by Gerrand, and in the 2020-2021 season, Rangers were unbeaten for the entire season and won their first Scottish Premiership title in ten years..

Has anyone advanced that as the main argument for ditching DS? I don’t think we’d be talking about inexperience if he were successful. The point is that you don’t appoint anyone to any job BECAUSE they are inexperienced.

Using the solar systems analogy emphasises the weakness of the comparators and surely that severely weakens your case. PG was known to and had demonstrated his ability within the Barcelona club. They were the ones taking the calculated risk.

Having acknowledged the weakness of the comparison, smoothly moving on to Gerrard is hardly another “good example”!
 
There is surely a direct read-across to Guardiola in that Schofield was Development Coach who was promoted to First Team Manager at Huddersfield where his tenure was cut short due to failure. So Schofield had already fallen short in identical circumstances to PG which ought to have conclusively shown that we should never have hired him.

You must question whether Copps, himself a newcomer to a managerial role, failed to look beyond the club whose structure he had studied in preparation for his own leadership role. He obviously got far too close there and his judgement was naive.  Why did the Board not examine his choice more objectively?

I like Copps, the man, but the club have become utterly insular recently and look where we are.


 

[sedwardsdrfc]

My glass half-full crystal ball prediction:

We have a top 6 budget and have a decent transfer window for once.

We sign better players that do fit what DS is trying to do a bit better. We start reasonably strongly. We start to fade when teams work us out pre-game and in-game. We play some pretty stuff at times but come away from a lot of games saying "we didn't deserve to lose". We are then consistently hovering around 9/10/11th. Defenders of Schofield say the process is nearly there but we never seriously threaten and don't quite do poorly enough for the club to justify a change.

Repeat.

This is how I see it if he does stay and gets backed in the market.

They’ll always be the deficiencies in how he wants us to play and his inflexibility. This will limit what can be achieved imo. We’d always be getting less than what “in theory” the budget is.

When he came in the hope was playoffs but accepted was get us playing something like a football team. Next season, for those who aren’t too dejected to care, the expectation is now minimum playoffs with a proper go at top 3. Pressure is on him and Copps.

[normal rules]

My glass half-full crystal ball prediction:

We have a top 6 budget and have a decent transfer window for once.

We sign better players that do fit what DS is trying to do a bit better. We start reasonably strongly. We start to fade when teams work us out pre-game and in-game. We play some pretty stuff at times but come away from a lot of games saying "we didn't deserve to lose". We are then consistently hovering around 9/10/11th. Defenders of Schofield say the process is nearly there but we never seriously threaten and don't quite do poorly enough for the club to justify a change.

Repeat.

Reality.
Money will be spent on players in the summer that suits DS and Copps vision. But their vision and the reality of fighting to get out of lge two, and it is a fight, will be at odds with the players they acquire. Because they simply don’t have the experience or nous to turn this around in a single close season. Or perhaps two or three close seasons.
The headache from this season will continue into next. Just like last season did . I so hope I’m wrong.
Anything other than playoffs, as a minimum, next season will be seen as abject failure. Again.

[steve@dcfd]

If DS is still in charge on Monday the 17th of May then the people in charge will have failed in their duties. If Copps doesn’t agree then he should go to. The worst thing for the club and its supporters is that DS and even Copps are still here at the start of next season. Whatever money TB is putting in extra needs to be spent wisely we have 14 contracted players including Taylor and Griffiths. We need extra quality adding to the squad players that will walk straight into the first team.
 

[ncRover]

They are mostly correct with their in the know stuff.

https://twitter.com/thenettofc/status/1648247839842082816?s=46&t=Uj9lS9cW2ksdznjWwHqrkQ

[Campsall rover]

If DS is still in charge on Monday the 17th of May then the people in charge will have failed in their duties. If Copps doesn’t agree then he should go to. The worst thing for the club and its supporters is that DS and even Copps are still here at the start of next season. Whatever money TB is putting in extra needs to be spent wisely we have 14 contracted players including Taylor and Griffiths. We need extra quality adding to the squad players that will walk straight into the first team.

17th May is a Wed Steve. It’s my birthday. 4th anniversary of that Charlton play off game. 4 yrs where has that gone?

[Metalmicky]

Has anyone advanced that as the main argument for ditching DS? I don’t think we’d be talking about inexperience if he were successful. The point is that you don’t appoint anyone to any job BECAUSE they are inexperienced.

Using the solar systems analogy emphasises the weakness of the comparators and surely that severely weakens your case. PG was known to and had demonstrated his ability within the Barcelona club. They were the ones taking the calculated risk.

Having acknowledged the weakness of the comparison, smoothly moving on to Gerrard is hardly another “good example”!
 
There is surely a direct read-across to Guardiola in that Schofield was Development Coach who was promoted to First Team Manager at Huddersfield where his tenure was cut short due to failure. So Schofield had already fallen short in identical circumstances to PG which ought to have conclusively shown that we should never have hired him.

You must question whether Copps, himself a newcomer to a managerial role, failed to look beyond the club whose structure he had studied in preparation for his own leadership role. He obviously got far too close there and his judgement was naive.  Why did the Board not examine his choice more objectively?

I like Copps, the man, but the club have become utterly insular recently and look where we are.


 

You are over analysing my post and I am not making any CASE as you put it.  I was merely pointing out that experience isn't the be all and end all to a successful manager...... and many have been pointing to this as the reason for DS's poor performance to date..

[Alan Southstand]

Not totally accurate statement, as people on here have been talking about inexperience but that it’s only one of his weaknesses. There are quite a few!

[steve@dcfd]

If DS is still in charge on Monday the 17th of May then the people in charge will have failed in their duties. If Copps doesn’t agree then he should go to. The worst thing for the club and its supporters is that DS and even Copps are still here at the start of next season. Whatever money TB is putting in extra needs to be spent wisely we have 14 contracted players including Taylor and Griffiths. We need extra quality adding to the squad players that will walk straight into the first team.

17th May is a Wed Steve. It’s my birthday. 4th anniversary of that Charlton play off game. 4 yrs where has that gone?

Many happy returns for then he’s got two extra days then.

[Spilsby Red]

Me and my son spoke over the weekend. Hopefully he will be sacked today. If he is in charge next season, we will watch local non league teams. It is a round journey of 4 hours. Sad to say this but not watching rubbish like that. At least local non league players try. Might not have great skill but will give it a go.  Our team doesn’t under this idiot. Unfortunately Copps who has been a legend is tarnishing his legend icon as well

[Pside]

I know of 7 that aren’t not renewing if he’s still here next season. Cash injection or not the football is just awful.

[Campsall rover]

I know it’s only Football and no one has died.

Far worse things have happened.
I have lost 3 of my Rovers mates in the last 17 months.
2 others also who I would describe as acquaintances.

So perspective is needed I know.

But I am absolutely distraught this morning at what is happening or should I say not happening at the Football club am passionate about.

DRFC is not my family I know but it’s almost like a second family.
It is a huge part of my life and has been for 47 years and 5 months since my 1st visit to Belle Vue in Nov 75

To see the Playing side of the Club on such a downward spiral and nothing being done to arrest this slide is quite staggeringly negligent from the Clubs Chairman.

Throwing extra money at the playing budget is not going to change anything at all while we have a Head Coach who is so incompetent.

Stubborn, Blinkered, inflexible and yes he must also be extremely arrogant to do what he does with the playing formation and tactical plan game after game after game with the same outcome of failure.

He has shown last night once again he is incapable of changing anything or at least making some attempt to change things which just might bring about a positive outcome.

How on earth is this man still in the job after 1 win,3 draws, 9 defeats in 13 games.
His record before this 13 games was mediocre at best in a desperately average to very poor league.

If he had taken over at the beginning of this season we may now be looking at playing in the NL next season. 

Yet this morning he is still in his job.
What the F.CK is going on at our Football Club.

We must be and I have now said this 4 times, the only EFL club that would not have sacked the Manager or in our case Head Coach with such an alarmingly dire set of results and also appalling statistics ref chances created, shots attempted, shots on target and goals scored.

I am taking my season ticket for next season and my Grandsons ticket back to the ticket office for a refund, unless he is sacked by the day after our last game at Walsall.

I am now going to write a letter to David Blunt explaining why I am going to do this.
I suggest every single one of us who have purchased a season ticket does likewise.

No one is listening to the fans but believe me if they don’t start listening then the consequences for our Football Club are catastrophic.

Are we going to allow the demise to continue or are we going to do something about it.
We all have to act as one. It is the only way.

[Reg of the Rovers]

I know it’s only Football and no one has died.

Far worse things have happened.
I have lost 3 of my Rovers mates in the last 17 months.
2 others also who I would describe as acquaintances.

So perspective is needed I know.

But I am absolutely distraught this morning at what is happening or should I say not happening at the Football club am passionate about.

DRFC is not my family I know but it’s almost like a second family.
It is a huge part of my life and has been for 47 years and 5 months since my 1st visit to Belle Vue in Nov 75

To see the Playing side of the Club on such a downward spiral and nothing being done to arrest this slide is quite staggeringly negligent from the Clubs Chairman.

Throwing extra money at the playing budget is not going to change anything at all while we have a Head Coach who is so incompetent.

Stubborn, Blinkered, inflexible and yes he must also be extremely arrogant to do what he does with the playing formation and tactical plan game after game after game with the same outcome of failure.

He has shown last night once again he is incapable of changing anything or at least making some attempt to change things which just might bring about a positive outcome.

How on earth is this man still in the job after 1 win,3 draws, 9 defeats in 13 games.
His record before this 13 games was mediocre at best in a desperately average to very poor league.

If he had taken over at the beginning of this season we may now be looking at playing in the NL next season. 

Yet this morning he is still in his job.
What the F.CK is going on at our Football Club.

We must be and I have now said this 4 times, the only EFL club that would not have sacked the Manager or in our case Head Coach with such an alarmingly dire set of results and also appalling statistics ref chances created, shots attempted, shots on target and goals scored.

I am taking my season ticket for next season and my Grandsons ticket back to the ticket office for a refund, unless he is sacked by the day after our last game at Walsall.

I am now going to write a letter to David Blunt explaining why I am going to do this.
I suggest every single one of us who have purchased a season ticket does likewise.

No one is listening to the fans but believe me if they don’t start listening then the consequences for our Football Club are catastrophic.

Are we going to allow the demise to continue or are we going to do something about it.
We all have to act as one. It is the only way.

Excellent post, my thoughts entirely. We've been as clear as we can in our messages to the club and that falls on deaf ears. We have 3 STs, my two lads both have all three of this years kits, plus training tops, jackets etc, we travel home and away and it seems now the only way to express how we feel is to stop this financial and emotional support until something changes. 

[Alan Southstand]

I am now going to write a letter to David Blunt explaining why I am going to do this.
I suggest every single one of us who have purchased a season ticket does likewise.

The guy you’re writing to, Camps, is part of the problem. I’m no different to you, mate, I went to my first game, aged 10, and now my 71st birthday is looming! I can’t put up with this circus much longer and I’m starting to wonder whether writing on here is a waste of time, never mind going to games (which I’m doing less and less as it’s too depressing).

[drfchound]

I think DS dropped a major bollick when he had a sly pop at the fans in one of his interviews a while back.

[Canadian Rover]

I think DS dropped a major bollick when he had a sly pop at the fans in one of his interviews a while back.

The whole Tom Anderson thing wasn't exactly handled well by the club either.

[Lesonthewest]

Another here that's had enough, 56 years of going to games but will attend not one more until he's gone.

[normal rules]

Don’t Ruin our Football Club
DRFC

[Upton Rover]

Another here that's had enough, 56 years of going to games but will attend not one more until he's gone.

Ditto

[normal rules]

Someone’s inbox needs filling with all those who are now refusing to attend . And why.

[Upton Rover]

I know it’s only Football and no one has died.

Far worse things have happened.
I have lost 3 of my Rovers mates in the last 17 months.
2 others also who I would describe as acquaintances.

So perspective is needed I know.

But I am absolutely distraught this morning at what is happening or should I say not happening at the Football club am passionate about.

DRFC is not my family I know but it’s almost like a second family.
It is a huge part of my life and has been for 47 years and 5 months since my 1st visit to Belle Vue in Nov 75

To see the Playing side of the Club on such a downward spiral and nothing being done to arrest this slide is quite staggeringly negligent from the Clubs Chairman.

Throwing extra money at the playing budget is not going to change anything at all while we have a Head Coach who is so incompetent.

Stubborn, Blinkered, inflexible and yes he must also be extremely arrogant to do what he does with the playing formation and tactical plan game after game after game with the same outcome of failure.

He has shown last night once again he is incapable of changing anything or at least making some attempt to change things which just might bring about a positive outcome.

How on earth is this man still in the job after 1 win,3 draws, 9 defeats in 13 games.
His record before this 13 games was mediocre at best in a desperately average to very poor league.

If he had taken over at the beginning of this season we may now be looking at playing in the NL next season. 

Yet this morning he is still in his job.
What the F.CK is going on at our Football Club.

We must be and I have now said this 4 times, the only EFL club that would not have sacked the Manager or in our case Head Coach with such an alarmingly dire set of results and also appalling statistics ref chances created, shots attempted, shots on target and goals scored.

I am taking my season ticket for next season and my Grandsons ticket back to the ticket office for a refund, unless he is sacked by the day after our last game at Walsall.

I am now going to write a letter to David Blunt explaining why I am going to do this.
I suggest every single one of us who have purchased a season ticket does likewise.

No one is listening to the fans but believe me if they don’t start listening then the consequences for our Football Club are catastrophic.

Are we going to allow the demise to continue or are we going to do something about it.
We all have to act as one. It is the only way.

Well put Campsall, however do you think Mr Blunt would even bother opening the letter(s) even if he does I doubt he would do anything. There’s so much stubbornness and stupidity going on at the club that it’s become normal to them running the club, and the loyal fans are simply not listened too, I like yourself will write that letter, shame one can’t be wrote on here and digitally signed by them that want to.

[Padge_DRFC]

Everyone I know isn't renewing. People I know aren't even going now with STs it's so boring. All I would say is if they remove him from the role. The morning after I will be there buying regardless of early bird price. Please please please just end this nightmare

[sedwardsdrfc]

Club is neglecting the need of fans to 1 feel part of something they believe in and 2 been entertained.

While the phrase “customers” doesn’t belong in football fans also aren’t just a money tree for the club that will fruit every year come what may. There is a give and take even if it’s weighted massively in favour of the club.