Match Day Thread Doncaster Rovers v Hull City

2 EFL cup finals in 2 days .
Ffs please dont let Salford win

 

Shows what I know. Bugger all. :-(

 

Where to start with that game? Firstly, our thoughts should be with George and hope his injury isn't as bad as it looked.

Secondly, a brilliant first half from us, and we should have been out of sight by half time.

The second half, in the beginning, was down to our manager not being able to react to the change they made and Bostock's influence on the game. They took over control of the midfield and we did nothing to react to that.

The ref was extremely poor, and his constant stopping of the game in favour of Donny didn't help us. IMO none of the penalty shouts were penalties. and the one given was the ref bowing to pressure from their side.

KLP's miss in the second half turned out to be pivotal, he must score from that, and not doing so was very costly.

No doubt George's and Greg's injuries didn't help us see the game out, but frankly, all second half we were 2nd best and in fairness, Donny deserved something from the game in the end.

All that being said, losing those 2 points has been damaging, and as I have said before, we have very little room for error in the run-in if we are to get automatic promotion, and that result is a huge blow to those aspirations now.

 

KLP needed to pass not lob, but I'm not gonna criticise a strikers instinct.

Manager did change things after doc went off, but up to then they weren't really hurting us, despite posessiion we'd had the best chances in the the second half.

Changes didn't work, but he put whyte and emmanuel on with the idea of making a midfield 5. It just couldn't stem the flow.

One thing I will criticise... When the ref lost it, grant did too, and the team needed a steady head at that point.

Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall after that Honeyman stoppage. They needed a leader and they had none.

 

Opposition view. Mostly about Coppinger.

 

This morning I’m still hugely disappointed and still have that gut wrenching feeling of a loss, even though we drew. For me though that it wasn’t the loss of two valuable points that were the main issue, it’s potentially losing George and Doc for a number of games, that could easily see us slip out of even the play off places, and I just don’t see any replacements for either of those two.

 

Might have been an idea to try to stop Bostock playing. He was literally running the show (I remember his 2 stunners for us, but didn't realise he was that good a footballer).

We had a suppossed leader on. Coyle, our nominated captain was still there. I don't see him on the field nor McCann off it doing anything much. Burke maybe comes nearest, at least you can see him trying to rouse and organise. We are desperately missing experience and that touch of class that one or two quality experienced players can bring to an otherwise young side.

KLP continues to get cut a lot of slack. And I can't understand why McCann doesn't leave him up front instead of everyone back which means the ball just comes back constantly. He should be our version of Vardy.

McCann, out thought yet again by a manager capable of using what he has at his disposal to turn a game on it's head. He really is a ****e manager.

Frustrated and disappointed as hell to have thrown that away, and now really fearing we will miss out on this golden opportunity to bounce straight back. If we don't do it this season, next season will be harder as I'm convinced a few of our better players will be gone (as in they'll want progression and Rehab will want the money).

 

Deluded. (Not you GLP, McCann.) He doesn’t get it! He says he can’t explain why our intensity wasn’t there 2nd half, why we didn’t get on the ball/play the ball? He will look over and analyse Monday! Why doesn’t he see what most of us can see, Donny Manager won battle of the subs, their subs changed the game, Bostock ran that 2nd half. McCann & his side kick are paid to adapt and react in real time to counteract, not two days later. Once again, mis management of subs, down to him. Losing his head also not good at a time the players needed strong leadership.

That said, once again we were guilty of not putting our chances away, could have/should have been out of sight earlier before their come back.

Fingers crossed the Honeymonster injury not too severe, wish him well. Best wishes GLP also for your recovery.

 

That result although a draw and most would have probably taken that before kick off, it feels a little bit like a defeat. Such was our supremacy for 30 minutes in the first half, Doncaster couldn’t have had any complaints had they come in at half time 1-6 or 1-5 down.

Still, it was an entertaining game and 4 points from 2 away games is ok. McCann should have made more tactical changes once Bostock came on - he had a real influence and for most of the second half Doncaster played in the final third. History demonstrates we’re never defensively secure enough to keep a team out when we have our backs to the wall.

Hopefully Doc and Honeyman aren’t badly injured as they are our two most influential players. A huge loss if they are out for any length of time.

 

With the criticism to the ref, I don’t think he was biased to either side, but the first half, we were given a lot of soft free kicks, it lead to at least 2 of the goals, second half, Donny were given the soft decisions.
Honeyman should have been off before the injury, he looked knackered when we got a corner, the last subs, should have been whoever came on, along with Crowley for him, also should have used the other sub for KLP who was also knackered.

 

If Honeyman's to be out for a while it could give Crowley the chance to show what he's made of, him and Honeyman together didn't seem to work too well. If Doc's out for a bit too a midfield 3 of Crowley, Jones and Slater looks likely?

 

I’d rather play someone else instead of Slater. He hasn’t added anything really since his arrival.

 

Know what you mean but who else?

 

It’s just a bizarre signing.
Maybe he’s got some potential but I’ve seen nothing from him. I don’t know whether he’s an attacking mid. A defensive mid, not great in the air not a strong tackler
I just haven’t seen a thing
At least that cock shark sports has stopped with his bullshit

 

We know Grant won’t but I’d be sorely tempted to play 4-4-2. Negates the need to use Slater.

 

If their manager out thought McCann by bringing on Bostock, why didn't he play him from the start?

 

If Doc is out, then hopefully we finally get to see why he brought Slater in and let Batty go. So far I haven't seen why, but fingers crossed it becomes evident next week ( ...... he says clutching at straws)

 

Probably not match fit to play the full 90 minutes.

 

Play him from the start if he's that good then the game is yours to lose.