Even if we decided that Ipswich were after all a good side which had been underachieving, MK Dons are almost certainly better and come with the established confidence of a long unbeaten run.
A good performance has so far has been elusive and even though the win against Morecambe and the narrower of our losses against good teams have been lauded by some, they have been more of an effective resistance than actual good football.
It is difficult to expel the application of the silk purses and sow's ears analogy to the individuals supposedly carefully chosen by our uncompromising leader. And perhaps that is the key. Maybe Wellens chooses players who he believes could conform with his characteristics as a player. He was not silky smooth, more Whiteman-like and strong, yet skilful, and actually better than Whiteman. At present you could say that his protegees are keeping their skills hidden or still developing them and have yet to make their strength count. We perhaps expect a degree of elegance and we will just not get it. Success will come in a more robust form if it comes at all.
Paul Green is now on board, a very hard working player and one Wellens had at Oldham, so perhaps further evidence of the above proposition.
So in the space of a few paragraphs, my latest theory on The Wellens Era and How Success will be Achieved is made public.
So far it has lacked much success and time is running out for the man and his/our team.
Coming back to the specifics, we always have trouble with MK Dons when all things are equal, so how can we be optimistic of more than a good showing, which even so, could be just an outside chance?
I'll say 0-2 which saves me from choosing a scorer.
DPL v MK Dons
posted on 2/10/21
Was it a dream?
posted on 2/10/21
Sounds like the players gave the needed response after the humiliation against Ipswich. Thank goodness for that!
posted on 2/10/21
https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/october/press-conference-liam-mannings-doncaster-rovers-reaction/
is how a post match interview is handled by a good manager.
Liam Manning gave Rovers credit for application and pressure in the first half and did not rise to the interviewer's suggestion that they should have got a penalty in the second half.
In the second half, despite seemingly not getting into the MKD penalty box until the 75th minute, Rovers made their chances count despite only 25-30% possession. It is shots and EFFECTIVE possession that counts as we have seen with successful performances in previous seasons. Undoubtedly they worked hard today which made a change from what we saw at Ipswich.
Cameron John is a good summariser, intelligent and fair - "100%"!
I'm actually looking forward to seeing the playbacks of the action.
posted on 2/10/21
Donaldo, Thanks for that link - MK Dons have a classy manager. I agree - if Cameron is not playing, have him in the commentary box!
As far as the game is concerned, I thought Rovers passing was as bad as on Tuesday night, but the difference was the energy and fighting spirit to win the ball back. I'm still worried about the ease teams have in passing through our defence, but the recovery fightback was good, and then we have Dahlberg. Watters had a couple of good timed runs to create good chances, but did not score, so is he that good?
After 12 minutes when we had hit the woodwork twice with their GK beaten, I thought "Is it going to be another of those games?" Heads did not drop, nor did they after MKDons' goal.
I thought Smith was like a tenacious terrier - maybe he has learned from the Plymouth game, or was not up against as "professional" an opponent.
Also, at last, a referee that let the teams play and not stop the game for little niggling incidents.
posted on 3/10/21
The extended highlights confirm greater application than previously on show, but there is room for improvement in the organisation. There was more movement from the Rovers players even if it was not always well coordinated, so MKD could not just relax and play their football. We successfully disrupted them and given the limitations of the present players that is something we must do regularly if we are to survive.
Of the outfield players Rowe again impressed me with his energy; what would we do without him?
I would have to see the whole match to know who of the rest looks encouraging, but there was some impressive individual play. What is missing is coordinated play; we rarely seem to put together more than 2 or 3 passes; whether there is still time for mutual understanding to develop I do not know. If the players are as good individually as Wellens claims it is surprising that we have not seen it yet.
Coming back to my praise for Cameron John in the commentary box, based on what he said about the action, he has a football brain and seems to understand the game better than some of his team mates. He may not be perfect, but we could do with his wisdom on the pitch. Whereas we have had people who can work the ball up the wings in the past that has gone for the time being and we need someone like him to bring it back.
posted on 3/10/21
It was never wracking at the end, but if they had equalised, I would have had the small consolation of predicting everything. THREE POINTS for the team is more important than points on DPL!
RW says he will arrange a "friendly" during the break to get minutes into Taylor and John. Hope this does not add more injuries!
Cameron, besides his understanding and knowledge of the game, comes over as just a great person. Despite his back problem, I though he was way improved over a disappointing last season.
Maybe my comparison with the Timbers may come true...!!!
posted on 3/10/21
It is a good job this prediction business is not done for money because collectively we are not doing too well - only 19 points over 3 games. Selby is still out in front, but Mooli got the best points haul from these 3 matches to make up ground.
Plymouth A 2 : Rovers 1 (Hiwula)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 12
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 12
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>>> 13
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 21 >>>>>> 24
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 21 >>>>>> 24
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 34 >>>>>> 34
LixmKing>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 6 >>>>>> 9
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>> 119 >>>>> 131
Ipswich T 6 : Rovers 0
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 12
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 12
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>>> 13
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 24 >>>>>> 27
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 24 >>>>>> 24
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 34 >>>>>> 34
LixmKing>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 9
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 131 >>>>> 134
Rovers 2 (Rowe) : MK Dons 1
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 12
PDXMickey> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 16
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>>> 13
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 27 >>>>>> 27
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 24 >>>>>> 24
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 34 >>>>>> 34
LixmKing>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 9
>>>>>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>> 134 >>>>> 138
posted on 4/10/21
Donaldo, if you look back at Plymouth predictions you should find:
"Despite this, I'm going to be crazy and say Argyle 1 Rovers 2, with Hiwula scoring if he starts, otherwise Anderson".
However, thanks for doing this, I couldn't do it.
I thought the last two times we scored, I named the scorer - hopefully if I keep this up, it means we are scoring goals.
posted on 4/10/21
Hi Donaldo
I got the Plymouth score correct👍
posted on 4/10/21
Much as I enjoy the success of your forecasts, presenting the results using my primitive Excel skills is no great pleasure, but it is not Microsoft's fault that I get an F in comprehension of simple statements. So let's hope I have got it right now and please excuse the drunken columns.
Plymouth A 2 : Rovers 1 (Hiwula)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 12
PDXMickey> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 16
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>>> 13
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 21 >>>>>> 28
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 21 >>>>>> 24
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 34 >>>>>> 34
LixmKing>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 6 >>>>>> 9
>>>>>>>>> 4 >>>>> 4 >>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>>>> 20 >>>>> 119 >>>>> 139
Ipswich T 6 : Rovers 0
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 12
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 16 >>>>>> 16
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>>> 13
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 28 >>>>>> 31
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 24 >>>>>> 24
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 34 >>>>>> 34
LixmKing>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 9
>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 139 >>>>> 142
Rovers 2 (Rowe) : MK Dons 1
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>>>> 12
PDXMickey> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 16 >>>>>> 20
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>>> 13
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 31 >>>>>> 31
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 24 >>>>>> 24
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 34 >>>>>> 34
LixmKing>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 9
>>>>>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 142 >>>>> 146