30-07-2017, 11:20
I didn't see that coming!
Our useless website produces a report that gives me no idea of Doncaster's own strength or weakness, so I didn't know whether to be blown away or assume it was a resumption of the childhood friendship between Ferguson and GC.
Robbie Weir would not be a player I'd have wanted or one I'd expect to run our midfield! But the past is not always the best measure of the future. I'm so old I can remember Dan Archer completely running our midfield, mostly at walking pace. He was a poor man's Gerson, but what I can't remember is anyone saying on his arrival, "We'll be fine, we've got that Dan Archer!" So I won't pre-judge.
Whether Dennis is the addition needed to make the Gozie CO'G combo work is another issue. I think everyone knows CO'G can play, but if you want to be near the top of Division 2 you need to average between 1.5 and 2 goals a game. Our recent binary returns of 1 and 0 haven't given me any confidence in our ability to do anything but struggle. No Chesterfield fan expects 4 goals a week, but the capacity for that occasionally to happen is cheering. For me, as I said on another thread, the choice WAS either to find ways to score as a result of CO'G's undoubted effort, OR find ways to score without him in the team. Scoring is a necessity. CO'G doesn't have to do it, but the team does.
I was surprised to see Mitchell looking like a first choice, but most decent teams do seem to field a player of his type.
I didn't like the fact that Maguire seems to be behind Hird and Evatt in the manager's mind. He could well be right, but Maguire is at a stage where he NEEDS to take that big stride forward AND at the same time the club needs him to do it. Evatt and Hird are both good players and will occasionally still succeed together, but as a combination they are wide-open to exploitation by the division's quicker attacks.
Starting the season with Anyon in goal is another worry, but pushing Tommy before he is ready is a bigger one.
I'll end on a suggestion. Binnom-Williams is out for months apparently. If we do want a left-sided defender/midfielder I'd give Matthew Briggs a chance to resurrect a dying career. He's only 26. Colchester released him after he was out following a hip operation last season, but he did finish the season playing and managed into the teens of games! He played for England at every level from U-16 to U-21. He was the youngest player ever to appear in the Premiership. He took advantage of his Guyanan nationality to play internationally. Class isn't temporary and he could be far better than our level if someone had the sense to give him a last go.
It is nice to feel cheerful after a result.
Our useless website produces a report that gives me no idea of Doncaster's own strength or weakness, so I didn't know whether to be blown away or assume it was a resumption of the childhood friendship between Ferguson and GC.
Robbie Weir would not be a player I'd have wanted or one I'd expect to run our midfield! But the past is not always the best measure of the future. I'm so old I can remember Dan Archer completely running our midfield, mostly at walking pace. He was a poor man's Gerson, but what I can't remember is anyone saying on his arrival, "We'll be fine, we've got that Dan Archer!" So I won't pre-judge.
Whether Dennis is the addition needed to make the Gozie CO'G combo work is another issue. I think everyone knows CO'G can play, but if you want to be near the top of Division 2 you need to average between 1.5 and 2 goals a game. Our recent binary returns of 1 and 0 haven't given me any confidence in our ability to do anything but struggle. No Chesterfield fan expects 4 goals a week, but the capacity for that occasionally to happen is cheering. For me, as I said on another thread, the choice WAS either to find ways to score as a result of CO'G's undoubted effort, OR find ways to score without him in the team. Scoring is a necessity. CO'G doesn't have to do it, but the team does.
I was surprised to see Mitchell looking like a first choice, but most decent teams do seem to field a player of his type.
I didn't like the fact that Maguire seems to be behind Hird and Evatt in the manager's mind. He could well be right, but Maguire is at a stage where he NEEDS to take that big stride forward AND at the same time the club needs him to do it. Evatt and Hird are both good players and will occasionally still succeed together, but as a combination they are wide-open to exploitation by the division's quicker attacks.
Starting the season with Anyon in goal is another worry, but pushing Tommy before he is ready is a bigger one.
I'll end on a suggestion. Binnom-Williams is out for months apparently. If we do want a left-sided defender/midfielder I'd give Matthew Briggs a chance to resurrect a dying career. He's only 26. Colchester released him after he was out following a hip operation last season, but he did finish the season playing and managed into the teens of games! He played for England at every level from U-16 to U-21. He was the youngest player ever to appear in the Premiership. He took advantage of his Guyanan nationality to play internationally. Class isn't temporary and he could be far better than our level if someone had the sense to give him a last go.
It is nice to feel cheerful after a result.