Let's talk about the season we have just had

[selby]

  The  last post of the season  in the series and a couple more than I ever envisaged in January. First of all thank you to those that read the threads and comment on the matches, there are some very important informative contributions, and the numbers and hits many more than I ever thought possible, whether criticism or gushing praise most are constructive and honest.
  The season how do you explain it, from the enthusiasm of Grants appointment and the promise of things at least getting better, to things looking to get seriously worse in January with relegation form and it fast becoming a reality, to a full house an unbelievable finish to get in the play offs, and then looking for all the the world the favourites to get to a final at Wembley only to do a Donny and slip up against the odds.
   Only at Doncaster, nowhere else can you have a ride like that.
  So why? is the big question.
  Well one big reason was our benefactor was otherwise engaged and put faith in his partner who was unsympathetic to the football club having more interest in Horse racing and probably unintentionally became something of a problem to circumnavigate to get anything done and complicated things at management level.  Since Terry Bramall has taken control of the club personally the difference is for all to see.
  On the playing side we brought a lot of players in, mostly young  with various experiences in academy and non league football alongside Wood a veteran  quality player, Ironside a known war horse with a long non league and lower league record being the name players, and being added to the players left here by Schofield who must have been brain washed after playing the style of play thrust on them to the end of the previous season.
   We set off in the league as if we had no idea of a game plan and one that the players were incapable of playing successfully. it resulted in us setting off just above relegation spots something that as the season got going was looking like we would struggle all season and more and more players joined the sick lame and lazy brigade, the only flicker of light when we introduced other players and did ok in cup games, only to revert back to the losing line up for league games and humiliation at the hands of Newport, Notts County, and especially Morecambe when relegation stared everyone in the face, and a not so merry Christmas was had by all.  And so it went on looking worse every week a draw at Mansfield the last game in 2023 and new year present of a 3-0 win v MK Dons giving any chink of light.
  The change came with a lucky penalty at Sutton away in the last few minutes billed a relegation battle at the time if we lost the trap door would have been slightly open but was followed by a winning run not seen since 1946 here.
  Coupled with teams above us getting nose bleed  near the playoffs we managed against the odds to achieve that position, only to self distruct against Crewe and back to typical Doncaster when everyone thought a game at Wembley would be the end game.
   What a season, what other teams supporters are put through the ringer like us over the years, given a pick of teams would I have it any differently? not on your life, how boring are the machines in the Premier League, rotating Man U, Man City, Chelsea and bought success, the only joy is when they lose and the woh is me on the airwaves later.
   Is their joy or despair the same as ours, I don't think so, we hurt more and we enjoy better, we are not a club with hangers on to success, we don't get a lot of it so can't be.
  We are what we are, this last season encompasses everything I have watched since 4 years old 73 years ago, all those ups and downs in one season, that's entertainment, and I know they will put me and others through the ringer next season, it will not be easy, and I and you will loan our shirts out to a new team of players just like we have always done for better or worse, and the ride will go on.
   Thanks for the support of the thread over this and past seasons,
 thanks for all your insightful comments, hopefully we will do it all again next season.

[West Stand Willy]

Thanks for all your input this season Brian it’s very much appreciated. I agree. What a ride. These last two games have been a bonus. A defeat in any of the last 11 games and last night wouldn’t have happened so let’s not forget that. A better start to the season and maybe an automatic place could have been on the cards. You’re right again about the shirts, whoever stays and whoever comes in will get our undying support. The club is bigger than individual players. Let’s be thankful that there will be another season and with that fresh hope and dreams. Onwards and upwards. Here’s to next season. Come on you REDS.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Thanks for providing these detailed write ups week in week out. Much appreciated.

Gutted it ended like it did last night. Was sat with my head in my hands for a good 10 minutes at the end of the game.

Feeling pretty downbeat about it all still. Can’t say I’m overly excited for next season given the calibre of opponent and amount of bigger players who aren’t likely to be here.

Last 2 months were a blast though and I’ll take the 3rd goal at home to Barrow to the grave with me.

[selby]

We  still have and are likely to carry into next season the weakness that both Barrow and Crewe exposed once again and was the problem in the season up to Christmas.
  They both marked Craig tightly in fact No21 for Crewe man marked him with success especially in the first half, and both sides set up to defend as much as possible the half way line keeping us penned in our own half.
  So they kept us in our own half where we played across their defence who were always facing the ball, and kept bodies as high up the field as possible but had men between their goal and the ball as much as they could, and made us play narrow, and mostly kept Craig our most creative player quiet.
  We have very rarely all season overcome these tactics where we have no room to open play up and are on the back foot in our own half with their players on top of us.