In the space of 10 months the players whom we thought would be the nucleus of our play-off challenge are now regarded by some of our number, based on the performance at Portsmouth which I did not see, as no longer good enough for the Championship. Not just some of them, all of them.

Even if the observation is fuelled by emotion and disappointment, clearly they were not showing the character that I associated with every member of SOD's teams.

I wonder how much this is due to a feeling that they could be displaced by some McKay client any time. On the face of any "established" long-term contracted player could be dropped to make way for a McKay client looking for a new club. No one making a living from sport could survive, let alone thrive in that position. It is just about the worst working condition anyone could have to deal. That is not "competition for places", it is preferment; the very opposite.

If Michael Owen turned up, would Billy Sharp have to step aside?

CORRECTION 3RD PARA: On the face of it, any "established" long-term contracted player could be dropped ...

totally NEGATIVE some of you, anything is better than 10 games ago

Donaldo

The reaction to the squad is based on what we have against what other teams have. I know spending as though money is going out of circulation is not the answer. Just look at Sven and Leicester.

We have several members of our squad who are just not good enough, ie O'Connor, Hird, Coppinger ( unless he gets his head right), the midfield needs strengthening and we need a new first choice keeper, younger than Sully, but as experienced. Others have the ability and youth to improvwe and maybe will with better players around them.

I think that many of us had reservations before the season started, as it was often posted on here that we needed to strengthen the team. Even more so after the start to the season.

We now have the opportunity to bring in some quality, experienced, players who need to play well to get themselves back to where they think they belong. We are able to do this at a cost which is going to be within our reach.

Surely the club should take this opportunity. As for players coming and going, they will have to play more than one game to get a contract anywhere else. There will be time for them to gell and to pass on their experience to the rest of the squad.

I cannot see any way where will rely on a full team of interlopers, we will still need the backbone of the squad we have until those not required can be farmed out on loan or sold.

It is not the best solution to our present problems, but it is one which should, hopefully, improve the overall being of Doncaster Rovers. It is worth a try, there are several other clubs who I think would like the chance to be part of this.

Quality players who can't get a club or a game with their club though, look at Chimbonda, last year he went to QPR and didn't get 1 start (and only 3 appearances off the bench)

Look at Kirkland - one game and he's injured. Ilunga looks OK but not a million miles better than what we had

And now we have Kanga (so wanted to put roo there) Akale training with us according to sky sports news. Another player coming to the end of his career, hasn't done a lot since 2008 ish

If I saw any signs of the real quality players coming in I'd maybe be a little more positive (though I don't like the situation whatever, to me putting an agent in total charge of transfers is like putting Mr Fox in charge of the chicken coop) but all I'm seeing is Doncaster Rovers being used as the bargain bin for players approaching their sell-by date and looking for one last big paycheck

But that one big pay cheque is NOT going to come from Doncaster Rovers. We are not going to motgage the country seat to get these players. If that were so I would be dead seet against the scheme.

Are we all arguing again?

Kanga and akale? Are they boy scouts or girl guides?

No one and the same you idiot!

How do you work that out Ionly.

10 games ago we were losing games with an identity and a load of injuries. Now we are losing games with most fit and no identity.

So its fine to displace players who have given committent to the club for these players (who up to present aren't making any difference whatsoever) as long as we're not paying. However unsettling it is to the whole squad? I just see a situation in 2 years when McKay has ridden off on his white charger to 'save' some other club and make a packet in the process. We may be in Championship or League one but what self respecting player is going to choose to commit to us knowing that if that a similar situation arises the people running the club are prepared to dump on him from great heights

If the article I read during the international break is true Chimbonda has got his future sorted, he's off to play in the Canadian MLS from January, he was meeting his new teammates instead of playing friendlies and gelling with his current team - us. So he's not even here to win a contract, we're just a training camp for him

http://m.torontosun.com/2011/10/08/corner-kicks-canada-pounds-st-lucia

Towards the bottom of that article. So how does the shop window work for Donny when the players have their next deals sorted out before they've kicked a ball in the shop window?

Anyway its been fun as always but I've things to do, might be back later

This is the quote from Mick Calvin in yesterday's Mirror

"my sympathies to doncaster rovers fans.
you follow a football club that is now an investment vehicle.
agent willy mckay will bring in players from far and wide and sell them on as quickly as possible.
your team will be a collection of strangers,managed by a puppet.
SORRY BUT RELEGATION IS TOO GOOD FOR ROVERS"

and this is the article in the Mail on Sunday for those who haven't read it

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2052290/Patrick-Collins-Only-loser-crazy-scheme-Rovers-return.html

Well thats it, tell Mc Kay to shove off and lets get in League one. There are more northern games anyway

Well I am off to enjoy the real life

Over the years I have witnessed many poor Rovers' teams, and in almost every case these same accusations have been made, relating to not trying.
Obviously there will have been times when this was true, but in the majority of cases it wasn't true.
When players try too hard they go for balls they shouldn't, and don't get. This then puts them out of position, their mates grumble, and ill feeling kicks in. After a while defeatism sets in, but of course it is always the other blokes fault.
This is when the manager really does have to earn his money.
Unfortunately, this situation was attained last season, but fortunately enough points were obtained to stay up.
This season would probably have been entirely different but for the old habits kicking in at Brighton, and it is more than likely that the point of no return was reached.
We are stuck with Saunders (or not) and he is stuck with us, so we have two choices; throw in the towel or try and pull in the same direction.

Supporters don't normally know about the shady side of football finance, maybe this time it is case of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing, for us.
As I see it, we could have drifted into League One, and maybe recovered enough to be stable, or this way we have a better chance of staying up and a bigger chance of imploding.

say_lavee

only time will tell

LET' THROW THIS ONE OPEN

RELEGATION AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OR CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.

I will throw my hat in as I have done so all season. It is relegation this year but I think we have a better chance of staying up than we did. My Vote - relegation

Always look on the bright side of life.

As everyone knows I am a Sean man through and through but I have a feeling that DS can pull the team through this bad patch and he had better start very soon. Lady luck will be back in the next game, trust me. My new glasses are fantastic. The eternal optimistic that's me!

Its a disgrace fuzzy he spent the first 10 days after he signed for us in canada sorting out his future.He's obviously here to get himself fit and pick up a few quid on the way.He couldn't play then for another 10 days because he wasn't match fit so thats 3 weeks money for nothing before kicking a ball.
I cant see him putting everything in for the last month he is with us with the fear of getting injured in the back of his mind.I'm afraid this could happen with all of these short term mercenaries it looks like we're going to sign.
To me this scheme with Mr Mackay is doomed to failure they don't want to play for the rovers they just want to use us as a stepping stone to better things.There will be no continuity with players in and out constantly. What a recipe for disaster in my eyes but we shall see

Agents generally have a bad name, but if I was a player, I would have one. I know there is the bleeding football dry argument, but as I see it from a player's perspective; if my agent says he can get me 10,000 a week more I would be over the moon.
It may be win/win for Mac(what's his name), but if it does go belly up, it won't be roses he can smell.

Say-lavee,I can spell Ce'st la vie!!!Well let's hope that this is "The Life".Whisky,(The water of life!).;-}

Sorry,

ionly and Newyankee: We all can only speculate about how all this will turn out. Those of us whom you label "negative" are commenting which is what this forum exists for. Being less optimistic than you are about how it will develop does not make us wrong. I am worried and I cannot pretend to support an idea that is loaded with risk and unknown possibilities. I cannot simply "believe" in it out of loyalty.

I am not advocating demonstrations against the policy and I am not suspending my support for the club, but I do not intend to hide my misgivings. They do not amount to heresy.

Those at the club who have chosen to take this course will not have taken the decision without careful thought. They will have to manage it and we will hope that they can do it successfully.

Sorry Say_Lavee,should have been C'est.That's why I'm not a striker!!!I So play me on Saturday!!!