3-1 Rovers marquis if starts Butler if not, crowd 7456

2 nil victory .
26 to score cos he always scores this time of year.
If no 26 then whiteman.
Come on Rovers a win for the fans

Can remember the game at their place, not a good day out. Think they'll want it more than our players so going for a 2 nil defeat as per end of season under Fergie. Crowd around 6456. Without the 100 virgin season tickets 😀

Interesting team selection (must be saving Copps for Wigan) - if they cannot score with Marquis, Beestin, May, Khemis and Whiteman starting we do have a real problem! It looks a little weak defensively, especially down the left side. It smells like another draw, but I'll go with Rovers 2 Wimbledon 1 with Whiteman scoring. Crowd 7677.

Rovers 2-1 Wombles
Marquis to score
Crowd 7,250

Pdx no goals .....problema ?

I only counted two on target - yes, we have a problem that is worse than I imagined. Marquis should have scored from the header, and Whiteman's shot had little power.
One positive was Blair playing a little like his old self, but his shooting was not exactly on target.
On Saturday there will probably be more Wigan supporters at the game than those supporting the Rovers!

Nice to see Ben Khemis get a game. He looks a bit bulkier than the last time he played and less likely to be bundled off the ball. He played one blinding pass that a defender just managed to head away. The only time we looked comfortable was with Rodders and Blair playing together down the right. No sooner had they developed an understanding than the manager moved Rodders out on the left. Hey-ho! Just shows you how much we rely on Rowe and Copps to make the team tick.

Albi, I agree with you comments on Rowe and Copps. I had hoped that Beestin could come another Copps, but he has really faded over the last couple of months. Kongolo's first few minutes were the best I've seen of him for a few months, but as you say, he went left! C'est la vie.

Why did DF start with Khemis down the middle and Beestin on the left of a diamond?
Both players were clearly uncomfortable there, particularly Beestin.
After half an hour he swapped them round.
Why does DF do this?
The game was more like a pre season friendly which suited Wimbledon and 27 minutes had passed before we even had a shot!
May once again didn’t contribute anything to the cause and I can see him on a season long loan somewhere next season.
He clearly is struggling to make an impact at L1 level.
Kongolo did well afte4 he came on but I would like to see him take a bit more responsibility when he gets into a one on one position.
As has been said, no Copps and Rowe equals no creativity.
We often only have one player in the box when we are attacking, Whiteman never gets in there.
There is no wonder we are not scoring enough.
Ferguson really needs to show his mettle in the summer and bring some quality players in because too many of what we have right now won’t be good enough to get us in better than mid table next season.

Thanks lads.

In the interview shown on the Free Press website (really part of the iFollow interview) DF seemed very depressed. A week ago he was saying he would know this week what he could do for next season, but now he did not seem to know when he would meet with the powers-that-be.
His comment about "many leaving" was interesting as only five are out of contract. Obviously Edvina will be gone, and after his poor performance at Oldham, so will Williams. With spare money, Alcock could be worth keeping, but it seems he will also disappear. I cannot see Copps not being offered a contract, but it may not be good enough for Copps. I'm guessing Baudry will also be gone (especially if we go for Anderson) - I'd mentioned DF's not too subtle comment earlier in the week. I like Baudry, and I thought in his interview he was suggesting he would take a 2-3 year elsewhere rather than say one year at the Rovers, even though he would like to stay.
Obviously budget is the problem - I think DF would like to have Butler, Wright, Baudry and Anderson available next year!

Congratulations to Liverpool - I was a fan of them in the past after ManU when Harry Gregg went there and the Spurs with Greaves, but with all this I was still RTID!

We need to spend the budget carefully and not bring in too many players but rather bring in 2 or 3 quality players

It's seemed a work in progress all season. Experimenting with formations and players positions. The only positive has been the strengthened defence. It's make your mind up time I think for next season. Beestin has potential but not May I'm afraid . We need an addition in the mould of Rowe and Copps.

Personally I think DF will be leaving for pastures new. Why you may ask, well up until Tuesday morning he was full of beans but he had a meeting with some of the staff from boardroom level to discuss the coming budget. Since then his head has dropped, then there's all the rumours other clubs in championship are looking at him. Then he talks about having to let a fair few go. Then he came out and said I'm not a league one manager, I need to be in the championship. He looks dejected to be truthful. Could all be a ploy to get more funds, who knows.
Or is that just me.

BVZ - I had not seen DF's comment about not wanting to be a League One manager and the rumoured interest of other clubs, but my wife and I had discussed the possibility of him leaving if he could not get a decent budget, or having some other bust-up with the board.

At the end of last season the Timbers' coach/football manager walked away after the team had finished top of the Western Conference of the MLS. The reason has never been made public, and he has not appeared as a manager elsewhere. Of course, there are lots of rumours about friction between him, the owner, and the general manager as to who is really responsible for picking players to join the club and picking the team to play.

Houghton.
Do we need him.
Would you sign him up.
Kongolo I think we know the answer.

Lanza,
In thoughts, I get up and down whether I really want Houghton. At times he shows real class, but to me he has not really developed the potential he showed before his injury.
If Luke could stay fit I think he would do. He is somewhat tougher, and does not commit so many of the niggling fouls Jordan does.
Ideally, with a good budget, I'd keep them both.
With the obvious tight budget, it will be interesting who of those under contract will be on the transfer list - or be offered out on loan.

I don’t see enough live games to be sure of most of the squad. I would commit to Marosi, Rowe, Copps, Marquis and Blair too on the same grounds as I like Marquis – for his effort.

I admit seeing Mason play well now, but not always, and I really do believe that Beestin has a good future as well as top marks for work-rate. McCullough would be OK if he could combine his defensive skills with Wellens or Stock-like attacking spirit. My impression of Anderson is based on seeing him play 2 games in full and if I had to decide one way or the other I’d say he is a good risk. Wright is a definite.

I won’t commit on Boyle and although I have seen Alcock play well against some opposition, I believe he is a trier, but I don’t think he is dependable enough.

Houghton is not a player who has ever stood out for me; he doesn’t make serious mistakes, but probably doesn’t take risks and I wonder whether that is the right mindset for a midfield player.

I haven’t seen enough of Whiteman to know what I would do with him, although like the majority of the team he can develop, but will he?

May is likeable and bursting with enthusiasm and effort; perhaps if he were slightly more measured he would finish better; I would keep him because of his attitude and determination to learn and improve.

Ben Khemis has not had much of a chance and I’ve said what I think of Kiwomya who perhaps needs the Mandeville treatment, speaking of whom, surely cannot just be abandoned.

As for DF, I doubt whether he would go for Sunderland who, like Leeds, want instant success and which would mean he would be a League 1 manager for another 2 seasons at least after a double relegation. Ipswich is a risk; they give managers time and East Anglia is not too much more journey time from his home than Rovers.

The context of the press report (https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-league-one-manager-darren-ferguson-sends-out-timely-message-as-doncaster-rovers-draw-up-plans-for-next-season-1-9148499) is clearly his ambition to see the Board give him the money to invest in some real quality because we need more thrust in midfield and chance-conversion in attack as well as consolidating the defence which has been truly transformed compared with last season especially since Marosi took over the goal. Credit to Ferguson and Strachen for that.


The fact is that we would all agree that we do not deserve to be any higher than we are. The combined midfield effort and possibly team selection is a factor, but ultimately the necessary skill has been present.

I will add the Wigan DPL to this thread. They will not want to risk injury or simply play safe surely, so it could be an open game and we may even score a goal or two. So 2--2 and Beestin or Marquis or May depending on who starts. 10,000 crowd.

Rumour has it fergies budget will be on par with Accrington next season. So much for an ambitious club!

Can't see Fergie being here come start of season now he's been told that the purse is staying shut.
The best CB we've got has said he's leaving after Wigan game for pastures new.
Who next? Let's hope nobody comes a sniffing for Marquis cos this board would sell him tomorrow.
Dark days ahead if the rumours are correct about the budget. Can't see there being a meet the board A&Q this summer.

BVZ

I'm a little more optimistic as I think DF had made the decision (wrong for me) about Frenchie before he knew his budget. It was his comments about injuries and the importance of pre-season that made me think that way.

What happened to Plan X, Plan Y and Plan Z? If we really are on Plan Z DF has not been as good as his word.

I doubt whether all is settled money-wise. Negotiation occurs in every situation.

Can't see us spoiling Wigan's party today or satisfying DF's ambitions. Maybe Warnock will leave Cardiff. He's brilliant with poor budgets and likes a challenge!
1-2 to Wigan today, Marquis, 10260
Hope to here from you all next season. Good Moaning from Here in Greece.