It is inevitable if you write about a match between 2 teams within a few days that there will be a degree of repetition, but in a 2-legged contest the entire match constitutes repetition.
Apparently at least one of Crewe’s injured players will be back in this game and in the words of the manager, Crewe Alexandra players “must regroup and galvanise" ahead of Friday’s Play-Off Semi-Final second leg at Doncaster Rovers. I believe that there is a PNE loanee (Lewis Leigh) who was suspended for 4 games after his second red card of the season who will be available and dangerous one assumes, but not in a nice way.
In the course of research I also learnt the expression “cheat code" which was applied to Adelukan. Derived from the gaming world, this alludes to a player’s ability to manipulate the program in such a way that it defies normal possibilities - it is discovered within the software apparently. Perhaps there is a degree of justification in this, but really it is surely the advantage of having quick feet. Craig has it too and so do plenty of PL players. Anyway the rest of them did OK when he had an off day, so we will be hoping that he too will be more dangerous than on Monday - but in a good way!
So far I have not said much which adds knowledge to the spectator.
There are questions like “Will Biggins be back?" and “Will Miller be on the bench?" “Will Crewe commit to 100% attack?" Because they might as well, and when they did in the first 15 minutes at home, we did not look entirely comfortable. A goal or even 2 before we get going could make for a very exciting match and they've got absolutely nothing to lose. So I see that as needing a careful prevention strategy on the part of the home side.
I cannot find much material putting the Crewe viewpoint, but their fans have suffered huge disappointment, so it’s not surprising. However I cannot get that first 15 minutes out of my mind. They also racked up some good away wins earlier in the season including Barrow, Stockport, Mansfield and Notts County plus Derby County in the FA Cup!!
So I’m being pessimistic and saying we won’t win, but should draw - say 2-2 (Adelukan).
DPL v Crewe Alexandra
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
They had be better In the second half! Best we can hope for is Donaldo's 2-2
posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago
I could not watch the beginning of the match live and came home from a meeting about 20 minutes in and used “fast forward” to catch up by half time.
So Crewe did what they did in the 1st leg and this time they got 2 goals and pressured Rovers into having to try to control the ball under pressure. And they couldn’t coordinate with each other, with the passing inaccurate and no real capability to move the ball around at speed.
Crewe went into more defensive mode once they’d levelled and the pressure we applied was unsophisticated and lacked coordination.
We’d lost it morally before the penalties and it was altogether a disappointing end.
It was good to see Miller again.
I am now wondering whether the Adelukan we have seen in these last 3 games is as desirable an asset as we might have imagined 2 or 3 weeks ago.
posted 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Disappointed but it's a miracle we got this far as we spent most of the season worrying wether we'd be relegated. Time for GM to cull his squad and build for next season. No 26 didn't have the perfect game every time! It was ironic though that Adelukan missed the vital penalty after his contributions to our making the play offs.
posted 2 weeks, 4 days ago
I agree with Nookie, and we must not forget the amazing run to reach the play-offs. I'll like to keep Adelakun and hope his less than stellar performance over the last few games puts off some other clubs.
How about Crawley - and to think we did the double over them!
posted 2 weeks, 1 day ago
I won't put up the detailed DPL figures for the last game with none of us adding to the previous total. So PDXMickey is the Champion and Crazy Runner-Up. Nookie was close on Leader Crazy's heels in the early part of the season, but rather like Rovers Mickey seemed to be unassailable as the season drew to a close. Mooli, the one we usually chase and fail to catch, had a quiet season.
We shall no doubt keep an eye on close-season events and hope that we can bounce back into our Spring form come August.
We did not win the ultimate prize, but we had 3 months of great pleasure which largely banished the memories of the post-Moore years.
posted 2 weeks ago
Thanks Donaldo for all your hard work throughout the season. Your articles are always well thought through and informative - and thank you for doing the sums!
I see that 11 players have been released. The link below details the retained list and those that are leaving.
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/what-doncaster-rovers-squad-looks-like-now-after-retained-list-is-published-4629185
I see that we have made an offer to Adelakun (no surprise) and also Biggins and Molyneux, who I think we would struggle to replace). It will be interesting to see how the squad shapes up over the summer.
posted 1 week, 6 days ago
I've only just seen the list. Very sad to see Tommy Rowe depart - great messages and wishes by many in the video. Players like Tommy do so much more for the club and town (should say city now!) than just play football. I had somewhat expected it as his form has fallen off a little as he gets older, and the ambitions for next season are very high.
Also sad about Jon Taylor who has gone through so much with injuries, but it would have been a big risk to think he could stay fully fit for a whole season and be at his best.
Of course, there are some others I'd like to have been put on the transfer list....
We do need a real goalkeeper for next season!
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
Crawley won it all - who would have guessed that a few weeks ago - a team we did the double over.
Are play-offs the McCann curse - so we must go to win the league!
Why are Molyneux and Biggins not signing? I hope this is not a repeat of when McCann left the last time!
Just a little worried...
posted 1 week, 2 days ago
The obvious answer is that better deals may be available elsewhere.
posted 1 day, 4 hours ago
The DFP published a list of League One players out of contract that may be of interest to the Rovers. Really?? On the whole, if League One do not re-sign them, why should we rush in?
Surprised to see Herbie Kane on the list, but we are over-filled in midfield, especially if Biggins re-signs.
I think we need the following:
A good goalkeeper;
Cover at right back (I'll ask my cousin about what he thinks about Josh Murphy)
Wide men especially if Molyneux and Adelakun do not sign. Here I think it is the loan market as also for a goalkeeper. We need to let Hurst develop into the potential he showed last season (22-23).
With Miller back fit we have some good central strikers - we just need to feed them!
My biggest worry remains at the goalkeeper level!