Rovers must opt for substance over style

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Optimism appears to be in short supply at Doncaster Rovers, even though the start of the season is usually the time where some of the biggest moaners often find reasons to be cheerful.

Following a desperately unlucky Championship relegation in injury time on the last day of the 2013-14 campaign, Rovers have since seen an attempted takeover by John Ryan and Louis Tomlinson fall through. My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that it is ridiculous that the Football League wouldn’t allow two genuine fans to take control of their club.

That has meant Paul Dickov’s initial list of transfer targets and contract renewals was put to one side, and the manager has probably been ringing around to see if the ‘Dean Saunders guide to League One preparation’ ever went to print.

Saunders saw key players leave and signings arrive at the very last minute following the last drop to League One, and although the takeover was meant to ensure that Dickov was not in a similar position, Rovers have ended up following exactly the same script.

So what to make of it all? To predict that the same process will end with the same outcome is foolish but it is equally daft to suggest, as it has been in some quarters, that Rovers now face a battle to stay up based on the arrivals and departures.

Honestly? League One may be a horrible division to play in but that is based on its competitiveness, not quality. We know full well that you don’t need to play free-flowing football or have a 20-goal striker to prosper. Saunders formed a hard-working, no-nonsense side that developed a winning mentality – nothing more, nothing less.

Rob Jones headed most things away, David Cotterill provided plenty of assists and either Chris Brown or Billy Paynter stuck the odd chance away. Iain Hume scored just six times yet stood out because he gave 100 per cent every game.

Dave Syers was a good player but he became a bit of a cult figure based largely on the fact that he was better than James Harper and Lee Fowler. Gary Woods never looked totally comfortable in goal but I could have played and not conceded many because most teams lacked the ability to get near our goal, let alone shoot at it.

I am exaggerating slightly there (we’d only have been runners-up with me in goal) but if you want a team that is going to be competitive, who better to have in charge than Dickov? He had that trait as a player and installs that in his sides. If Saunders taught us one useful thing, it was that genius in League One was at least 90 per cent perspiration.

Dickov knows the division and what type of players he needs. People have criticised his signings but without a huge fanbase, big transfer kitty or an Academy that has lots of resources, what players do we realistically expect to attract, produce or keep? James Coppinger and Paul Keegan have only agreed deals based on sheer loyalty. All in all, I think Dickov has managed to assemble a pretty good squad given the restrictions.

I saw a tweet moaning that we haven’t signed a ‘permanent’ goalkeeper but why pick up an average lower league stopper when you get a Premier League loanee in? (look at Sam Johnstone last season). Reece Wabara struggled at times in the Championship but we have now stepped down a division. Would he have been on Manchester City’s books if he couldn’t play? Cedric Evina is another pacy full-back who Dickov knows well.

Main’s career to date has largely been as a sub at a big club at the level above, so can we really judge his scoring record? Nathan Tyson has got something about him. Players like Mark de Val Fernandez, Harry Forrester and Kyle Bennett will be like new signings given they barely played a game between them for us last season. There’s not a lot of depth, but there is talent. There is also desire and leaders with Jones and Keegan as part of the spine of the side.

I can’t argue that it wouldn’t have been better if we had Paul Quinn and Richie Wellens available, or if Ross Turnbull had re-signed and Peter Clarke and James Bailey had come in. The reality after relegation though – if you don’t get investment from outside – is that you have to cut your cloth.

The major problem we have at the minute is establishing an identity. In the early 90s, when I started watching, we were a club that struggled to win a game at times but one that had a strong community feel. Under Sean O’Driscoll we tried to play the right way, and we backed ourselves to win on any given Saturday. What are we now?

We can’t claim to be a Sheffield United or Bristol City in this division as they are big clubs from big cities with big support. They really ought to be the top two this year. We can’t realistically have sustained Championship football based on our current finances and style of play. We can’t say that we’re ‘building for the future’ given Brian Flynn, who had a big part in player development, has just left, while young players are only being offered short contracts.

The whole situation is far from ideal but the great thing about football is that we can dream, because it is largely an illogical game. There is a theory in economics termed ‘Rational Expectations’, with the idea that market prices are partly determined by what people expect to happen based on their knowledge of the economy. So if a company is widely perceived to be successful and expanding, then the share price is expected to rise and the logical thing to do is to invest now.

But what if behind the scenes, that company isn’t as great as everyone thinks? What if a competitor, who people don’t rate, see their share price plummet just at the point they are actually about to take off? The rational thought process would be ‘if nobody is investing in them, why would I touch them with a bargepole?’ The opportunist would look beyond expectations and sense an opportunity.

Such is the nature of football that from expecting promotion, some are now anticipating the polar opposite after the takeover collapse. The reality is that opinions and expectations won’t determine the success of Doncaster Rovers. Providing the squad can stay fit and if Dickov continues to work the loan market, we can have an enjoyable year.

By Daniel Nice, FanZone’s Doncaster Rovers blogger. Follow him on Twitter at @daniel_nice7 – and don’t forget to follow @FanZone too!

Rovers must opt for substance over style

admin

Optimism appears to be in short supply at Doncaster Rovers, even though the start of the season is usually the time where some of the biggest moaners often find reasons to be cheerful.

Following a desperately unlucky Championship relegation in injury time on the last day of the 2013-14 campaign, Rovers have since seen an attempted takeover by John Ryan and Louis Tomlinson fall through. My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that it is ridiculous that the Football League wouldn’t allow two genuine fans to take control of their club.

That has meant Paul Dickov’s initial list of transfer targets and contract renewals was put to one side, and the manager has probably been ringing around to see if the ‘Dean Saunders guide to League One preparation’ ever went to print.

Saunders saw key players leave and signings arrive at the very last minute following the last drop to League One, and although the takeover was meant to ensure that Dickov was not in a similar position, Rovers have ended up following exactly the same script.

So what to make of it all? To predict that the same process will end with the same outcome is foolish but it is equally daft to suggest, as it has been in some quarters, that Rovers now face a battle to stay up based on the arrivals and departures.

Honestly? League One may be a horrible division to play in but that is based on its competitiveness, not quality. We know full well that you don’t need to play free-flowing football or have a 20-goal striker to prosper. Saunders formed a hard-working, no-nonsense side that developed a winning mentality – nothing more, nothing less.

Rob Jones headed most things away, David Cotterill provided plenty of assists and either Chris Brown or Billy Paynter stuck the odd chance away. Iain Hume scored just six times yet stood out because he gave 100 per cent every game.

Dave Syers was a good player but he became a bit of a cult figure based largely on the fact that he was better than James Harper and Lee Fowler. Gary Woods never looked totally comfortable in goal but I could have played and not conceded many because most teams lacked the ability to get near our goal, let alone shoot at it.

I am exaggerating slightly there (we’d only have been runners-up with me in goal) but if you want a team that is going to be competitive, who better to have in charge than Dickov? He had that trait as a player and installs that in his sides. If Saunders taught us one useful thing, it was that genius in League One was at least 90 per cent perspiration.

Dickov knows the division and what type of players he needs. People have criticised his signings but without a huge fanbase, big transfer kitty or an Academy that has lots of resources, what players do we realistically expect to attract, produce or keep? James Coppinger and Paul Keegan have only agreed deals based on sheer loyalty. All in all, I think Dickov has managed to assemble a pretty good squad given the restrictions.

I saw a tweet moaning that we haven’t signed a ‘permanent’ goalkeeper but why pick up an average lower league stopper when you get a Premier League loanee in? (look at Sam Johnstone last season). Reece Wabara struggled at times in the Championship but we have now stepped down a division. Would he have been on Manchester City’s books if he couldn’t play? Cedric Evina is another pacy full-back who Dickov knows well.

Main’s career to date has largely been as a sub at a big club at the level above, so can we really judge his scoring record? Nathan Tyson has got something about him. Players like Mark de Val Fernandez, Harry Forrester and Kyle Bennett will be like new signings given they barely played a game between them for us last season. There’s not a lot of depth, but there is talent. There is also desire and leaders with Jones and Keegan as part of the spine of the side.

I can’t argue that it wouldn’t have been better if we had Paul Quinn and Richie Wellens available, or if Ross Turnbull had re-signed and Peter Clarke and James Bailey had come in. The reality after relegation though – if you don’t get investment from outside – is that you have to cut your cloth.

The major problem we have at the minute is establishing an identity. In the early 90s, when I started watching, we were a club that struggled to win a game at times but one that had a strong community feel. Under Sean O’Driscoll we tried to play the right way, and we backed ourselves to win on any given Saturday. What are we now?

We can’t claim to be a Sheffield United or Bristol City in this division as they are big clubs from big cities with big support. They really ought to be the top two this year. We can’t realistically have sustained Championship football based on our current finances and style of play. We can’t say that we’re ‘building for the future’ given Brian Flynn, who had a big part in player development, has just left, while young players are only being offered short contracts.

The whole situation is far from ideal but the great thing about football is that we can dream, because it is largely an illogical game. There is a theory in economics termed ‘Rational Expectations’, with the idea that market prices are partly determined by what people expect to happen based on their knowledge of the economy. So if a company is widely perceived to be successful and expanding, then the share price is expected to rise and the logical thing to do is to invest now.

But what if behind the scenes, that company isn’t as great as everyone thinks? What if a competitor, who people don’t rate, see their share price plummet just at the point they are actually about to take off? The rational thought process would be ‘if nobody is investing in them, why would I touch them with a bargepole?’ The opportunist would look beyond expectations and sense an opportunity.

Such is the nature of football that from expecting promotion, some are now anticipating the polar opposite after the takeover collapse. The reality is that opinions and expectations won’t determine the success of Doncaster Rovers. Providing the squad can stay fit and if Dickov continues to work the loan market, we can have an enjoyable year.

By Daniel Nice, FanZone’s Doncaster Rovers blogger. Follow him on Twitter at @daniel_nice7 – and don’t forget to follow @FanZone too!