Gillingham are transformed from their 2022 selves, replete with new US major shareholder and a fresh batch of new year signings with proven footballing attributes. As a result they have been in automatic promotion form more or less ever since.
Orient fans tell me that they were fortunate to beat Carlisle last weekend, a team that Gillingham recently beat too, but with stats, including 5 Carlisle Yellow Cards, that suggest it was well deserved. So as tests go, this looks as tough as they get especially as we are 23rd in 10-game-form table, with only 1 recent win against the only team below us.
So, as a team whose style is almost a study in complicated incompetence, we stand likely to be overrun. I think I read that DS is prepared to be flexible, but I wonder whether this means a modification to the “process" or striking out in a new direction. It would be difficult now, almost dangerously worrying, to visualise him moving away from the single track which is as well ingrained on his listeners as on his allegedly faithful disciples. It would be like snails transformed into ants.
I think if we were to see a competitive performance based on a more adventurous style it might give hope, but somehow the change would be so radical that it would be almost unimaginable.
I feel sorry for the players who must dread trying to execute the process, but I envisage a thrashing, say 5-0 which I hope will hasten Schofield’s departure and enable the natural talent of the squad to be reborn.
DPL v Gillingham
posted on 6/4/23
Statement from Terry Bramall on the Rovers website
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2023/april/owner-terry-bramall-issues-statement
posted on 6/4/23
There's good news and bad news. The good news is directors are putting more money in. The bad news is they're letting DS spend it next season!
posted on 6/4/23
I suppose Mr B can't risk expressing other than unqualified support. And it would be conspicuously absent if it were qualified in any way in this case.
I think he could be on the brink. Only if he could improve results in the final games would he have a chance of being there come August. Failure is almost inevitable.
posted on 6/4/23
Yes I don't think it's really a given he'll be in charge next year. Pressure will continue to build unless he provides some signs he can improve things.
posted on 6/4/23
When I saw the heading on the DFP website about Schofield next season, I nearly threw my iPad through the window! However, look at the statement from the Florets owner - "Cooper stays as manager, but results must improve immediately" or some similar wording
I know our injury list is horrendous, but so is the draining of talent from some of our players that looked much better BS (before Schofield).
If the season continues like the last few months, he certainly should not be here in August.
I will not be watching the game tomorrow - too depressing to watch what could be a thrashing. However, I'll be optimistic and say it will "only" be Gills 3 Roves 1 with Goodman scoring if he starts or Hurst if he doesn't and Rowe if neither start.
posted on 7/4/23
Step 1: Use some of the cash injection to secure a decent/proven manager 🤔
posted on 7/4/23
3-0 to the Gills. It sounds as if TB is wanting to build a positive legacy which is hopefully good news for Rovers fans. If he is ultimately looking at selling, given that he is now 80 years old, then a club on a downward trajectory languishing in league 2 or below is not necessarily going to attract ambitious buyers with funds unless you have a wealthy, committed fan such as JR. I think it's a smart decision to invest more on a number of levels. I know that many fans are sceptical of the Club Doncaster model and the drive to make the club self-sustaining but that has to be positive too. In a situation where TB is no longer around for whatever reason and there is no-one there to fund the club then you do need to be able to fall back to a sustainable model.. so invest now, build the club back up but if the worst comes to the worst then know that you have a lower cost, workable model to fall back to.
posted on 7/4/23
Greetings fellow Ziggers.
Around here, the news has come as a bit of a " heard it all before" in regards to Mr Bramall putting his money on the table for next seasons challenge to get back to league one. 😉
The unbelievable news of him coming out and saying Schofield will still be manager has gone down like a lead balloon. Except for those with rose tinted glasses on the VSC, everyone else cannot believe he's actually on about giving him a 2mill budget to spend 😳
Its very strange how all this has just come out, since the fans were all meeting up outside the East Stand at 13:00 on Monday to express their concerns over how our club is being handled. 🤔
The other thing people are talking about in the South Stand is, the comments about only selling 57 less season tickets than the year before. Big difference between selling 3500 adult tickets, to selling 3500 under £30 kids tickets. Around 200+ for each adult to kids tickets.
Anyways, a damn good thrashing is on the cards today, had a large bet with one of those board loving VSC people in regards to when Gillingham got taken over. I said they would finish higher than us, as they have a board interested in the club, where ours, are more interested in club Doncaster.
Would love a 1 nil victory, with young Jack scoring. Alas I don't think we'll start with a striker again, just set up to give them a chance, after chance, after chance to attack us. So I'll go 4 nil to them I'm afraid.
Our only hope is we get battered every game till end of season, so the board will have to sack Schofield and the worst football I've ever seen since we came back into this league can be stopped. 👍
posted on 7/4/23
Was going2-0 Gills
Internet playing up
posted on 9/4/23
In absolute terms I thought they played better on Friday, They challenged for the ball and did not just fall back when they lost possession which seems to be the standard “Process”. The shots on goal and on target and possession stats were much improved.
It was not particularly organised, but you got the impression that they were just released from the strictures of the the unworkable Schofield plan and played naturally.
It was far better than against Crawley and Gillingham are one of the form sides having won against Carlisle by the same score only recently.
Despite what TB says let us hope that they will not keep Schofield past the end of this season. Since Copps hasn’t got the courage to admit he got it wrong, he must be responsible for persuading the Board into making such a reckless commitment. And his reputation and future do not look good.