DPL v Fleetwood Town

It is telling that the team Rovers beat so convincingly at the beginning of the season, Charlton, are top of the form table and we are second bottom; how we have fallen and how shameful. Of course Charlton (with whom we were more or less level with when we last played them) have Adkins in charge and if you play for a manager like him, you would be expected to play with the enthusiasm he puts into talking about his team. In contrast...

There is little hope and responsibility must rest somewhere, but no one admits it. No one seems to feel that they have any part of it.

I was going to say we can see who fails to put effort in on the pitch but perhaps it is easier to see those who WILL run into space, look for a forward pass, take on an opponent and make a tackle. A significant number pass it back to someone else to take the risk often gesturing to him to make the attacking move. I expect the pattern will be repeated tomorrow. You can’t have only some of the team really wanting the win and the rest not wanting to risk losing.

I go along with most of Micky’s opinions about who we want to keep. I’m not sure whether Copps is just being his normal self or whether it is just the indolence of some of the rest that makes him look the best player on the pitch some of the time. It could be that the absence of a proper game plan his play sets up the occasional good bits in what we do. I feel quite strongly that Jones is no good, but I’ve gone on enough about him.

As for managers, clearly Adkins might have been good and it is apparent that there are several who are 50+ and experienced who always seem to be able to perform well. Hodgson, Alladyce, Warnock, Ferguson, Ancelotti, McCarthy, Moyes and Redknapp are some that come to mind, not as likely candidates, but as examples of people who have the management expertise which comes with age. Equally there will be equivalent people that are more mature and content with the security that would come with a club that are not trigger-happy. You see managers like John Sheridan who have a history of taking over struggling clubs having to make what he can of a disastrous situation and probably doing pretty well in the circumstances. If such people were able to operate in a stable environment they would probably do well. Look at Coleman at Accrington. He must have had offers to move and will have declined them because of his loyalty.


Of course Simon Grayson is in the experienced bracket, relatively successful and has restored our opponents on Saturday. His team’s task should be relatively straightforward assuming they exert themselves moderately. When we fail again, I think it is time that the manager removed his rose-tinted spectacles. It is his job to get them winning, not to make failure look as though no one could do better in his position. The club do not want a manager who can secure relegation in 24th position for 2021/22 and manufacture suitable excuses.

I’ll say 0-3.