I really like Gmacs managerial style. Realism, praise first then criticism second for the players. However Donaldo is right in that he really hasn't got enough talent available to help him achieve results. He should have his strongest squad to date on Saturday and 3 clear days to organise it so it's his best chance to prove his credentials for a permanent role. Though he's probably wise enough not to put his name forward just yet! Miracles do happen at this time of year so I'm going 3 - 1 to Rovers, Bogle, Dodoo

Massive few weeks ahead for this board, I dare say in the last couple of seasons since McCann left after not being backed, they are at a crossroads.
Never heard so much anger directed at Baldwin and Blunt since the Richardson days, if they go for the cheap option again and don't sign at least 4 players, not loans, the fans will start to walk away.
All the amazing times, brilliant days out, unforgettable results under JR, will be forgotten. It really is quite toxic in club Doncaster at the mo, meet the owners next Monday should be a laugh as some of the answers Baldwin has already given to radio De-Dar, proves they haven't got a clue how to run a football club.
Less than 3500 Rovers fans at Mansfield game tells you what most fans think about what's going on behind the scenes.

Now Cotterill is back at the club, I expect them to start to pull away from the bottom end of the table like they did last season. Another good 45mins from Rovers Vs another good 90mins from the visitors will be the usual outcome, ending up with another home defeat.
They were unlucky to lose at Wigan, cant see us putting up as bigger fight as they did, so it's another 3.1 defeat with a conciliation goal from Tommy.

I'm thinking positive like Nookie, and will say 2-1 to the Rovers. Bogle to score if he starts, otherwise Rowe.
By the way, my Oxford fan cousin had some interesting comments on the game. Like all of us, he thought Oxford should have been out of sight at halftime, but Rovers changes at halftime caused them problems, and in the end Rovers were worth a point based on the second half. Of course, he disputed the offside call for the headed "goal". It is difficult to tell on iFollow.
He thought if we played like the second half against Shrewsbury, we should win, but they will struggle against MK Dons if they play like their half against us.

Also going "cup half full" today. 2-1 to Rovers. Bogle (Anderson if Bogle not starting).

Rovers 2-1 Shrews
Horton to score
C'mon Rovers ⚽ time for a win

Nil - Nil

Hope I'm wrong

He's put his name forward now! Tough call for the board. It occurs to me they need somebody on the board with some actual football nowse to try and avoid another Wellens mistake. A director of football might not be that bad an idea. McSheffrey as manager would be a big leap of faith. It could work with McSheffrey if he had a sympathetic mentor as Director. Otherwise the more logical choice should be Michael Flynn.
Great result for Rovers. Even so our shortcomings on talent are still evident but application and effort are back. If we get a result at Lincoln and something from Sunderland it will start to be interesting. Its still a big ask to avoid the drop given our goal difference and current position. In theory we’re 3 points from safety but the reality is 5. Its going to take a month at least to have a realistic chance of making up the difference.

I’m looking forward to seeing the performance of Louis Jones on the highlights which was much praised and seemingly worthy of MoM.

As I have acknowledged, his confidence in dealing with balls into the box has certainly improved and it seems that he made some good saves as well today. If he can improve the speed of his reaction we will no longer have to rely on the expense of a GK loan in 2022. Maybe studying Dahlberg has done him more good than listening to Mr Gerrard.

The problem we have is strikers that don’t deliver. Olowu capitalises on his very limited chances, but Hiwula and Dodoo squander theirs.

All valid points but this evening, I'm just happy with the win 😊⚽

While we still have a lot of problems, I think Gary has instilled some confidence in players - lets see if it continues against better opposition.. Louis Jones is a great example as today most of the time he was really good, and he had one reaction save that is to not on the highlights.
Still, from the chances we create, we have to bury more of them into the net. eg: if Hiwula had hit the ball harder it would have been a goal.
How about hiring a good manager and having Gary as Director of Football? The Owners' Meeting on Monday is going to be interesting!
I'm beginning to have a little feeling that maybe, maybe, we can avoid relegation.

I think some credit for the resurgence should go to Frank Sinclair too. McSheffrey plus Sinclair Looks to be a good combination.

I think some credit for the resurgence should go to Frank Sinclair too. McSheffrey plus Sinclair Looks to be a good combination.

https://twitter.com/johnlesliecoyl1/status/1469986897703452673?s=21

Having seen quite a lot of the full match replay, it is clear that Shrewsbury were a team not unlike Rovers. They did not have a very good mutual understanding. Rovers were more purposeful than they have seemed previously, but they were still disjointed. Equaling Shrewsbury is not necessarily anything to get excited about because Shrewsbury look like bottom 4 material to me.

It is good to see more of a good type of aggression, but the defence was a bit haphazard and possibly lucky on occasions. When teams play well you can recognise repetitive patterns of successful attacking and there is none of that. Plans don’t really seem to exist and that is obviously something that Wellens and his two principal assistants - all now departed - were responsible for and they failed.

So far, McSheffery is more interesting to listen to than any manager since Ferguson and seems much more empathetic than Wellens who struck me as rather blunt and unsophisticated. With time and the introduction as a few more influential players, men with footballing brains, like Rowe, there could be hope.

140 applied for the job including Household names! I hope the board realise there will be a few spoof applications. 😊 What a waste of time. They should have already identified the few they might consider long ago and interviewing this week.

I'd also have McSheffrey or a senior player on the selection panel.

I thought I read that there were 800 odd applications which would be the stage when the eccentrics would need elimination.

When you consider the number of clubs from say level 6 upwards and the turnover of managers and the number who are in post or are former managers plus the aspiring assistants in leagues above L1 perhaps 100+ is not an unreasonable number of serious applicants.

Even so it shouldn't take days or a week to look at them and separate the wheat from the chaff. Far better to use a "head hunting" system or person that most companies use for a senior appointments.

In a past life as an HR manager I always had someone on any selection panel who would be working with the appointee. In this situation I would have asked Tom Anderson to sit in and take account of his views.

Based on the interviews he's done so far GM has really impressed. His lack of experience at managing at this level a big question though.. I'm sure he's also come to the attention of other clubs too. So the board need to do something for him to make sure he stays in some capacity

I agree that the football "industry" could learn a great deal from professional recruiters. Owners/Boards give the impression that they do not base their choices on interviewing and rigorously examining the actual detailed performance of those they choose. They will probably be surveying the options as the need for a replacement becomes likely and may draw up some kind of shortlist. However the usual speed of the appointment is not based on having an application process, but rather looking at the candidate's record with just hearsay evidence of his detailed working methods.

It is laudable that Rovers have a process because whatever club it is, the individual appointed has to fit into an existing management and administrative structure.

Yes I agree a rational process is absolutely necessary. In this case its unfortunate the January window is putting more time pressure on the process. It does perhaps need tweaking a little to make it more efficient and effective though.

Looks to be heading for appointing manager/ director of football with McSheffrey as head coach. No Cook, Flynn or Couchlan on short list

It seems that GM has impressed. It wouldn't surprise me to see an experienced candidate being appointed to mentor / develop GM if the board belueve that he is the best long term candidate for the role.

2 ex premier league managers on the shortlist. Wonder who? Nigel Adkins?