it's going to be a long season!

[South West Rover]

Weve been told there will be players coming in this week. I think we will bring 3 in this week. A gk,cm,st. Also look how many other teams in our league and the champ have been beat by lower league clubs.

Alan Rovers - do you have any positive thoughts on rovers? From bits I have read lately it's all negative.

I'll be positive when there is something to be positive about.

We have a good first eleven on paper, but there's no strength and depth in this squad. Once injuries and suspensions kick in this season, it will show massively. It isn't good enough.

The fact that we have a good first eleven on paper is surely something to be positive about for a start?  Far better than a few weeks ago when we had no idea who would be going or when.  Granted, it is not ideal that the squad have had little time to gel and will have to hit the ground running but that's the way it is.  I get the impression though, that for you, nothing will be good enough.  It will be a very long season if you keep focusing on the negatives......

[DonnyOsmond]

We'll be top of the table and unbeaten and he'll still find plenty of negatives and no positives.

[Alan_Rovers]

I'll be delighted if we finish mid-table because it will exceed my expectations.

[Al4475]

You know what,
I am not Saunders biggest fan, nor am I a fan of the direction we took last season (even though I feel it was a necessity for us to try it) but I was far from disappointed yesterday.
 
We had a young team (team not chronological age of players), we were playing some old favourite rivals on a crest of a wave who played some lovely football in spots in a cup that is probably not high on our list of priorities - and we won (albeit on penalties) - as far as I can see, that's gotta be a positive - well done Rovers - it's been a tough road recently but we may well survive this crossroads coming out stronger - and although the season ahead may be hard and long - i'm quietly more confident than I'd expected!
 

[dickos1]

Great post.
Just imagine the reaction when we actually lose a game, it don't bear thinking about. If we ever lost to a side 2 leagues below us like we did the other year then god help us.
If were up near the playoffs come Xmas it still won't be good enough for some, Saunders can't win, we should just accept that now and realise some have an agenda.

[Capmeister]

Never a truer word said Dick..........Saunders can't win!!!! Unfortunately, that's the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful manager. I think you're finally getting it! ;o)

[Capmeister]

But still went on to have great seasons or last year when we played well but got relegated.
To be fair we didnt play well last season and got relegated, on paper we have a decent team but because of our manager we will struggle ive spoke to several donny players in past year or so (copps stock hird oster woods) and they all say the same hes clueless, i think that tells you something about the ability of our gaffer.

We'll see shall we DICK. I'm convinced ur living in a parallel universe. Can you fly as well?

Dick.....os...........the game gives no indication of what the season holds in store.................you really believe that don't you!!!!!! Jesus, thank Christ you werent on the Titanic, you'd av still said it would av stayed afloat when the water was up to your neck! In some ways I admire you, as long as you tip up to games week in week out, cos the team needs that level of blind faith. That faith is gonna be sorely tested over the coming months

Explain why it's important now but not important over the last 5 years when we we're getting knocked out by acc Stanley and notts county??
But still went on to have great seasons or last year when we played well but got relegated.
I think the evidence is substantial enough to show that these games give no indication of what the season holds In store.
But if you have some evidence that proves otherwise I'm sure you'll show it rather than just spouting b*llocks..

It's a competitive game you clown! We should aim to win every game especially against a club freshly returned to the league and still one step down from us and at home. And especially when we need a big confidence boost before the league games start. No doubt ur prediction for Walsall away will be a thumping 3-0 win to Donny. Though I doubt you do predictions, gambling is probably morally reprehensible to you. Will you be there? I, for some ridiculous reason will and am dreading it. As to who's spouting b*llocks, we'll see come SatD, you bell.

Haha think you need help.. You still haven't said why it's different now to back then when we were losing to accrington Stanley but still had a good season. Or last year when we battered tranmere but still had a terrible season. That's my point. Are you thick??
Gambling morally reprehensible, I wish it was just blown a fortune in Vegas

I'll spell it out for you Dick. It's called context. Last season we were in a higher division. The priority was maintaining the status of Championship football. Tranmere whilst a win demonstrated our ability to outplay the opposition. We cruised. You could see the difference. York gave me no confidence we were other than on a par and that was at home. We gave the reins to a coach.....did I say coach???.........on a par with Mark weaver midway through the season with no track record of turning things around let alone simply coaching. The man got the job through an agent displacing a man who had proved he could turn it round in our first season. There are no options we've Saunders for the long haul on a 3 year deal. I will use my pen to oppose his tenure at every opportunity in the vain hope he resigns. I have little hope but I will persist!

[RedJ]

If (and no doubt you'll refuse to accept there's any possibility of this, but take this in the hypothetical sense) he DOES succeed, will you feel the same?

[Akinfenwa]

Context? Like right now, where the main aim is to simply put a squad together to compete in the league. Getting through was a bonus. In previous years we played a lot worse against Accrington and Notts with more prepared teams than what we had against York.

This guy clearly has an entire chip shop on his shoulder and therefore cannot be reasoned with. What's the point?

[Capmeister]

If (and no doubt you'll refuse to accept there's any possibility of this, but take this in the hypothetical sense) he DOES succeed, will you feel the same?

You can happily put me in the stocks and chuck cabbages at me ;o)

[Capmeister]

Context? Like right now, where the main aim is to simply put a squad together to compete in the league. Getting through was a bonus. In previous years we played a lot worse against Accrington and Notts with more prepared teams than what we had against York.

This guy clearly has an entire chip shop on his shoulder and therefore cannot be reasoned with. What's the point?

Why post then Aky? Does it help massage your ego that others are in sympatico with you? Saunders is in an impossible position. Shackled by finance restrictions, compounded by his own limited experience and coaching ability. It's a vicious circle but one he chose to tackle. He'll fail. As a committed Rovers fan I genuinely hope he doesn't and will happily be pilloried for it. I just don't understand why he generates such loyalty for one, in my honest opinion, who is so clearly incapable. From playing the game and watching it, everything is about opinion, a large slice of luck and an ability to man manage a group of individuals into a cohesive unit. Saunders has none of the latter and the respect and belief that you have to earn that comes with it. Contacts and employing ur mates dunt win you games and will ultimately end in my despair. But hey-ho. I've been there before

[MachoMadness]

Just a thought that's been puzzling me. People rave about Liam Wakefield, because he's young and shows promise. Now, he's not actually very good at the moment, but people are willing to overlook that because he's committed to the club and has a promising future. Any mistakes he makes can be brushed aside because he's still learning his trade.

Compare this to Saunders. For a manager, he's still young. He's committed to the club, that much is clear. He makes mistakes, but shows a willingness to learn from them - just look at his signings this season. No overpaid, washed-up sorts, just players who want to run to the moon and back for Doncaster Rovers. So why aren't people willing to overlook the mistakes he makes, and instead choose to slate him at every oppourtunity? He's obviously committed to the club, a lot more than some of the fans on here, and isn't that what we want? Isn't that what we NEED right now?

Why not support a promising young manager who puts far more into our club than you or I ever will, instead of hoping we get relegated so you can say "I told you so" to a bunch of strangers on an internet messageboard? Re-evaluate your priorities and give the man a chance with his team, he deserves one.

[Chris Black come back]

Because he is not SOD and despite him leaving almost a year ago there are plenty of folk on here who refuse to believe he has moved on and are sat pining for him to return, like when a boy band member leaves. Doesn't really matter what Saunders does, all that matters is that it is not SOD doing it. Our central defence has been an absolute joke for a couple of seasons now and thank f**k that Saunders is now trying to sort it out with some big mean buggers. A problem SOD tried to solve with Martis and Souza.

[pubteam]

Whether you believe in Saunders' tactical/managerial ability or not, you can't deny that he's cut right to the chase in sorting out problem areas that the club has seemingly been blind to for several years.

Lack of solidity/aerial ability at the back - Sorted.
Lack of a real, out-and-out winger to give us width - Sorted.
Lack of an energetic midfielder who can get up and down and weigh in with some goals - Sorted.
Lack of a decent goalkeeper - Working on it.
Lack of a goalscorer (albeit only since January) - Paynter could be the man.

[Akinfenwa]

Why post then Aky?

Why not? It's an easy point to disagree with. I notice that there was no reply to the point in question.

Does it help massage your ego that others are in sympatico with you?

Just a little bit. Nah, but it's funny that you should mention ego, because the only thing to be gained from your "mark my words" style posts is a boost to yours.

Saunders is in an impossible position. Shackled by finance restrictions, compounded by his own limited experience and coaching ability.

Time will tell once he's had a fair go at the job.

It's a vicious circle but one he chose to tackle. He'll fail.

Again, time will tell once he's had a fair go at the job. Impossible to know whether he will for sure right now.

As a committed Rovers fan I genuinely hope he doesn't and will happily be pilloried for it.

Why put yourself in that position? I guess that you are so confident that your ego will be massaged when you are right.

I just don't understand why he generates such loyalty for one, in my honest opinion, who is so clearly incapable.

Yet again, time will tell once he's had a fair go at the job. Others may prefer to reserve judgement until then. Some may even have an unswerving loyalty to the manager of their football team, football fans are an odd bunch afterall.

From playing the game and watching it, everything is about opinion, a large slice of luck and an ability to man manage a group of individuals into a cohesive unit. Saunders has none of the latter and the respect and belief that you have to earn that comes with it.

How can anyone possibly know that yet? He took over a lost cause of a season under 'perculiar' circumstances shall we say.

Contacts and employing ur mates dunt win you games and will ultimately end in my despair. But hey-ho. I've been there before

Not on its own no (btw who are these mates?). Time will tell whether Saunders has more in his locker than that. Until then what's the point in speculating on the ability of a bloke based on his performance in what would have been a difficult situation for anyone? The board have stuck with him, the chances are that if he had proven already to be all the things you say he is/isn't then they wouldn't have given him a chance this season. And these guys know from the past that less than one season is not a good indicator of a manager's ability to get results from a squad of players.

[Red wizard]

There's no point trying to tell them otherwise. There minds are made up. They was the same when penny left. What will be funny is if there the same if Deano moves on to better things.

[jonnydog]

... Bet that took a while to write/edit

[dickos1]

But still went on to have great seasons or last year when we played well but got relegated.
To be fair we didnt play well last season and got relegated, on paper we have a decent team but because of our manager we will struggle ive spoke to several donny players in past year or so (copps stock hird oster woods) and they all say the same hes clueless, i think that tells you something about the ability of our gaffer.

We'll see shall we DICK. I'm convinced ur living in a parallel universe. Can you fly as well?

Dick.....os...........the game gives no indication of what the season holds in store.................you really believe that don't you!!!!!! Jesus, thank Christ you werent on the Titanic, you'd av still said it would av stayed afloat when the water was up to your neck! In some ways I admire you, as long as you tip up to games week in week out, cos the team needs that level of blind faith. That faith is gonna be sorely tested over the coming months

Explain why it's important now but not important over the last 5 years when we we're getting knocked out by acc Stanley and notts county??
But still went on to have great seasons or last year when we played well but got relegated.
I think the evidence is substantial enough to show that these games give no indication of what the season holds In store.
But if you have some evidence that proves otherwise I'm sure you'll show it rather than just spouting b*llocks..

It's a competitive game you clown! We should aim to win every game especially against a club freshly returned to the league and still one step down from us and at home. And especially when we need a big confidence boost before the league games start. No doubt ur prediction for Walsall away will be a thumping 3-0 win to Donny. Though I doubt you do predictions, gambling is probably morally reprehensible to you. Will you be there? I, for some ridiculous reason will and am dreading it. As to who's spouting b*llocks, we'll see come SatD, you bell.

Haha think you need help.. You still haven't said why it's different now to back then when we were losing to accrington Stanley but still had a good season. Or last year when we battered tranmere but still had a terrible season. That's my point. Are you thick??
Gambling morally reprehensible, I wish it was just blown a fortune in Vegas

I'll spell it out for you Dick. It's called context. Last season we were in a higher division. The priority was maintaining the status of Championship football. Tranmere whilst a win demonstrated our ability to outplay the opposition. We cruised. You could see the difference. York gave me no confidence we were other than on a par and that was at home. We gave the reins to a coach.....did I say coach???.........on a par with Mark weaver midway through the season with no track record of turning things around let alone simply coaching. The man got the job through an agent displacing a man who had proved he could turn it round in our first season. There are no options we've Saunders for the long haul on a 3 year deal. I will use my pen to oppose his tenure at every opportunity in the vain hope he resigns. I have little hope but I will persist!

Throwing insults about during a debate is the greatest sign of a severe lack of intelligence although I think you proved that was the case a long time ago.
You still haven't mentioned what the difference is between York and accrington Stanley. I'll tell you the difference we won the tie were in the hat for the next round that's the difference.

[Scooter]

Come on give Deano some credit! Don't compare him to Mark Weaver ffs!!

[ArmthorpeRover]

Just a thought that's been puzzling me. People rave about Liam Wakefield, because he's young and shows promise. Now, he's not actually very good at the moment, but people are willing to overlook that because he's committed to the club and has a promising future. Any mistakes he makes can be brushed aside because he's still learning his trade.

Compare this to Saunders. For a manager, he's still young. He's committed to the club, that much is clear. He makes mistakes, but shows a willingness to learn from them - just look at his signings this season. No overpaid, washed-up sorts, just players who want to run to the moon and back for Doncaster Rovers. So why aren't people willing to overlook the mistakes he makes, and instead choose to slate him at every oppourtunity? He's obviously committed to the club, a lot more than some of the fans on here, and isn't that what we want? Isn't that what we NEED right now?

Why not support a promising young manager who puts far more into our club than you or I ever will, instead of hoping we get relegated so you can say "I told you so" to a bunch of strangers on an internet messageboard? Re-evaluate your priorities and give the man a chance with his team, he deserves one.

You and your common sense have no place here!! Be gone! You forgot to be really immature, call someone a name or verbally slit your wrists.

This season we will win ugly, we will be outplayed and win and we will scrape by and win......likewise we will most likely play the other team off the park and lose....that's football but at the end of the day a win is a win...there is no other way to spin it. Sorry. I often wonder how some of these severe negative f***ers got on in life. I truly do.

[Mike_F]

Al4475, Scooter, MachoMadness & Armthorpe Rover:

Nice to see some common sense with a balanced, rational and reasonable outlook from you lot. We are where we are and we're doing a lot of things right. Let's all see where that takes us and pass judgement when we see a few more of the facts and stats rather than speculate like lunatics!

[RobTheRover]

Hear, hear.

I just dont get the mentality of supporters who have already decided that we arent good enough.

I'll pass judgement at Christmas on how I think we are doing, I think.

[CusworthRovers]

In fairness Rob, we are not just talking about the here and now gang, who in fairness also have every right to form an opinion at this stage that we aren't good enough. You only have to look at last season and judging by pre-season and York, there is still a case that at this moment in time all the evidence suggests we still aren't good enough.

Until we start winning or putting in some type of consistent performances that are decent (win, lose or draw may I add), then people will naturally have that opinion.

They can still support the team vehemently and hope that we string these results and performances together............starting in the Midlands on Saturday. Roll on and bring it on.

[Dutch Uncle]

I'm with Rob on this one. We seem to be assembling a collection of good individual players for this league, and the challenge for any manager is to make them into a good team. We are behind the curve with so many players only just now joining (and leaving) so I do not necessarily expect a strong start. However I would certainly hope to see improvements and a solid team by Xmas.

My only slight worry is we have quite a few players who played very little football last season (Blake, Quinn, Paynter, M.Woods, Keegan, Brown and to a lesser extent Cotterill, Syers, Sullivan, Martis and Spurr). Let's hope they get and stay match-fit.

[Capmeister]

Aky, let's just agree to disagree. As to your reserving judgement comment..................that's called sitting on the fence and usually includes the phrase "With hindsight........

[RedJ]

I'm by no means suggesting this is what we'll end up doing (and my memory may be a little lacking here) but weren't we 10th at Christmas in the promotion season?