Referees

Football fans are often critical of referees. It's a fact that's become part-and-parcel of the modern game. And its not like the supporters don't have any right to moan, because it's more than an opinion that the standard of officiating in the English game is getting considerably worse.

I sit here as a fan of Doncaster Rovers, who's side has been arguably denied six points, already this season, from official's decision-makings. And to summarize it simply is not good enough.

Last season, I approximately accused an official's poor influence to deny Rovers of a 'better result' in ten games I attended - I only got to 26 all season, so its a pure disgrace.

On Saturday, Neil Warnock slammed the referee's influence in managing to disallow a goal for 'not crossing the line', when it clearly had. Sean O'Driscoll's Rovers side have had the same fury unleashed twice in the last twelve months. James Coppinger's 'goal that wasn't', in a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest in the later stages of 2008, and Dean Sheil's against Watford on the opening day of this season.

This is a possible opportunity for me to possibly go on to discuss the argument of goal-line technology - but that is for another day.

I've often wondered what would help referees. I have contemplated before whether it would be beneficial for an official to be in the stand, overlooking the pitch, with a clear and decisive view, that the fans get - when referees and their linesmanning colleagues tend to turn a blind eye.
So regularly we see the referees and other staff's views obstructed by players. This leads to the incident not being noted and the game being continued with the aggressive player with a cheeky, but relieved grin on his face.

One thing's for sure. This could be down to one of these - if not both - of the following points. Either they are not getting enough of the correct sort of training or the wrong individuals are being influenced by the idea of being on the same pitch of a set of icons.

The training speaks for itself. If money is put in the influence will be gradual. But if it's too tough potential quality refs will quit the course, and we don't want that. The Premier League gets a lot of money from revenue and television, yet it seemingly manages to avoid this referees, an area where we have been struggling for numerous years.

As for the individuals, obviously we need a good marketing plea. It can't be helped that the quality of referees at the moment is so poor, people know that if they want to become referees they can see the treatment made by the fans and this clearly puts them off.

The only people who sign up to become referees are determined people, who are very confident in their own ability who think 'I can do a better job than the man in the middle, and I want to prove it'. But I don't feel there are enough of these characters.

Cup Competitions - A Flamable Dream (Part II)

I couldn't get to sleep on the night of Wednesday 12th August 2009. It was strange. I had one of those feelings where I had failed to do something important during the course of the day and was going to regret it. But I spent what felt like hours racking my brain, but I honestly couldn't remember what it was.

Then I remembered something. But even then I wasn't sure if it was what I was apparantly missing. The Carling Cup Second Round Draw had taken place shortly before I went to bed. I knew we had been un-seeded, but I had thought we would draw one of the 'non-events' left in the competition. It was too earlier for any potential Doncaster Rovers giant killing surely?

It was approximately 1am on the morning of the 13th - sounds quite unlucky if you ask some people - that I turned on the television. I looked on teletext for the draw, and there it was - the first line - Tottenham Hotspur at home.

The memories of the 2005 Cup run, at that point came flooding back. I remembered fairly quickly that it was North London opposition that had denied us a place (see Part I)in the semi-finals of the competition, and it looked like it was time for some sort of revenge against the Cockneys.

Doncaster's fame in recent years had been a lot to thank with league form - three promotions in a five year spell - but cup runs have made way for disappointing finishes in non-knockout competition.

I remember, just before the season concluded, watching a video of Ian Snodin's Doncaster winning the Conference Cup in 1999. It was the start of something special, however Snodin's league form eventually paid the price for the pressure at Belle Vue. Unfortunately, due to my age, I did not attend that night.

For me, my love for cup competitions began in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup, a competition many will never have heard of. Basically, if your a non-league side and in the Sheffield-area, you compete in this competition.

I started watching the club in when Steve Wignall was the manager, and although league form was a concern, as we were continually tipped for promotion back to the football league, the competition meant we were always a good bet to finish each season with a trophy in a cabinet. Doncaster were victorious in finals at Hillsbrough in 00-01 and 01-02. The Vikings also reached the final in 02-03, but when the Conference play-offs took centre stage that summer, the cup final was ignored, as Rovers lost out to Frickley. Thankfully it was worthwhile as Rovers won promotion at Stoke's Brittania Stadium after a 3-2 victory over Dagenham and Redbridge.

My next memory of cup football, and how special these occasions can be, was the 05-06 Carling Cup. Doncaster took out Wrexham in the first round in August 2005; fans didn't realise it at the time but it was the start of something very special. The draw shook up a potential upset, Manchester City at Belle Vue. Certainly a difficult tie, but Doncaster's ambitious club nature gave them the advantage. Dave Penney started with an attacking side, and it did exceptionally well. Despite losing goalkeeper Andy Warrington to injury midway through extra time, while trailing 1-0, Doncaster managed to grab an equaliser and send it to penalties.

It was that shootout when Jan Budtz made his name. Three fantastic saves meant Rovers took a place in the third round, but perhaps just as importantly, City were out. It was a short-lived fame for Budtz, who was released by Hartlepool United at the end of last season.

Doncaster were hoping for another potential giant killing in the next round. Tragically, or perhaps fortunately, the draw provided a dissapointing home tie with Gillingham. Rovers were victorious in a low-key fixture. It finished 2-0 in favour of the South Yorkshire side.

Doncaster were, however, rewarded for their efforts in the next round, as Midlanders Aston Villa ventured into the scary prospect of meeting a Doncaster side in a rich vein of form. The Reds had won all three of their league games in November, and any Villa fans expecting a whitewash, were hughly mistaken. David O'Leary's side had managed to find themselves in the middle of a relegation battle in the Premier League, and a match that looked to prove a starting point for a good run that would propell the Villians from safety, wasn't to happen.

It's amongst the finist performances I have witnessed as a follower of the Hooped Warriors, and there are very few performances capable of matching that night in 2005. Over 10,000 people witnessed that night at Belle Vue, whoever didn't go, as they will understand now, missed out on a great night.

Twenty minutes in Villa fans should have realised it was not going to be their night, when Liam Ridgewell used his hands to control the ball in his own penalty area, and a spot kick was the result. Michael McIndoe, from it, opened the scoring.

Villa didn't give up immediately, Gareth Barry and co. kept the score low and managed to reach half time with just the one goal seperating the sides, and it was over to the former Arsenal defender, O'Leary to inspire his visiting side to victory.

It clearly didn't. Doncaster, just eight minutes after the restart, doubled their lead. Lewis Guy's through ball found Paul Heffernan, and the Irishman calmly sidefooted the ball into the back of the net.

Doncaster had seen just glipses of Irishman Sean Thornton's potential prior to that game, but it was his first, and only, ninety minutes of brilliance in the Rovers shirt. He rounded off the rout with a spectacular goal, with just twelve minutes to do. It was a fantastic strike from the bottom corner, that found the top corner with an unstoppable shot. It was a beauty.

Tragically that was the last of the big guns taken out under the Doncaster floodlights, despite adding the Johnstone's Paint Trophy to their cabinet in 2007, Doncaster have met Bolton and Aston Villa in FA Cup matches in recent years, but are yet to capture their form from that spectacular run in 2005.

Bring on the Spurs.

Rovers Vs PNE (home) - my view

It was a lovely August afternoon, the sun was out above Doncaster but there was also a relaxing, gentle breeze which cooled the suns rays, resulting in perfect conditions for a game of football.

It was the third game of the season for the Rovers, but unfortunately just my third after away trips to Watford in the league on the opening Saturday, and progressing past a difficult Notts County test in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Rovers fielded a, pretty much, expected team for the visit of Preston. Bryon Webster and Sam Hird, both centre backs, picked up knocks on Tuesday and the previous Saturday's matches respectively, vice-captain Adam Lockwood was partnered by debutant Jason Shackall. Midweek's goalscoring hero James Coppinger, came in for Dean Sheil's after the Northern Ireland international was disappointing at Vicarige Road.

Shackall's appearance came most of a surprise. The defender was only signed just a few hours before kick-off and concequently had never changed with the team.

Despite Rovers edging the first half, they went behind at the break. It was Shackall who was at fault for the opener. The man from Wolves, let ex-Rovers' loanee Chris Brown, take the ball through the centre of the Doncaster defence and slot the ball beyond veteran Neil Sullivan.

Rovers had chances to take the lead before the goal, but similarly to last season, the final through ball wasn't good enough, or the shot's weren't particularly challenging.

Doncaster's ex-Bournemouth manager Sean O'Driscoll clearly made the more impressive of the half time teamtalks. It was close to a full forty-five minutes of second half domination however, the Vikings, didn't take any of their presented chances.

Attacking full-backs, James Chambers on the right and Gareth Roberts on left were inspiring during the second half. At one end they were able to make an inch-perfect challenge, while at the other they both made promising crosses and many short passes.

Doncaster then had a moment of 'how could he miss?'. It was Chambers again cutting inside before sending a shot from the edge of the area towards the top left hand corner. Preston's Andrew Lonergan could only parry, so it fell to James Hayter, who with half the net at his mercy, could only strike his half-volley at the post.

Doncaster did manage to get a deserve equaliser. The two centre backs, Shackall and potential Man of the Match, Adam Lockwood, up for a corner. Shackall's origional header was saved, but Lockwood powerfully blasted in the equaliser and rescue the points at the death for the hosts.

Next up for Doncaster is Coventry City. It promises to be an entertaining tie, with Chris Coleman's 'Sky Blue Army' top of the table. They are starting to gather momentum, both sides remain unbeaten, but will one of them lose that on Tuesday.

Same old England

Sat at my computer until half time last night, I was slating England's performance left right and centre. From what I saw, every time I glanced at my television was a moment that made me want to sigh in disbelief. How we managed to go in at half time at 2-0 was a miracle.

There was no motivation in the each team member's face, no commitment to the cause. We have another team of individuals, like we had under Sven, some of the best in the world at club level, but in national competition we don't blend enough to get beyond the quarter finals, and although this isn't the world cup, and we have another ten months to prepare, I don't feel like we have a realistic chance of winning the competition, like I did in 2006.

It's only the naivest of supporters that continually play up our chances on the verge of the competition. I consider myself an optimist, yes, but not naive. I see the semi-finals as a realistic target, I just hope that too much hype which has turned into expectation over the years, hasn't cost us a tournament triumph.

At the moment it doesn't look like it will. In fact based on the first half of last night's performance if anything the people in the media will play down there chances. Yes, Holland are probably Quarter-Final quality, but they were far from their total footballing best and we should have capitalised, not thrown two goals away like we did.

I was always of the belief we had the best centre back pairing in international football. But Terry, or Ferdinand, looked comfortable in their own ability. Ashley Young and Gareth Barry spent the first half being unnoticeable, and Frank Lampard had another below par, performance for his national side. Emile Heskey may have presence in the England front two, but what his strengths are, Peter Crouch has but better. Heskey has done nothing at Aston Villa since his arrival in January, and should not have started based on a prior England result.

The second half brought about change. The team-talk was clearly impressive and the substitutions were inspired. Defoe came on, and within 3 minutes made an impact. He scored twice, leaving the fans in joy, perhaps Michael Owen isn't the best natural finisher we have?

The second half, in that respect showed plenty of promise. Based on the second half performance, I would say that if we draw the Dutch we can feel confident in ourselves that we can beat them. But the annoying factor for me is, before kick-off Capello said he wanted a '90 minutes' team, he got a 45 minutes team and we've taken several steps back.

Cup Competitions - A Flamable Dream (Part I)

Usually stable, perhaps unnoticeable at times, but runs in the cup can be so easily ignited that it could spark you imminent success. But of course you have to be on your guard, it could so easily be put out, this beautiful, magnificent spectacle.

Picture the scene. It is December 2005. The crowd full of pre-Christmas cheer and joy. More passionate that usual, not just because of the the Christmas spirit, but because this is the cup and a miracle could be about to conclude in front of your very eyes.

Re-enforced with extras, a capacity crowd Belle Vue, expected, prior to kick-off, that they would be premièring yet another smash hit, Carling Cup blockbuster. It was to be the third instalment, and in the Quarter-Finals you could potentially have two great pieces of Spielberg-type cinema clashes on viewing in the future. But that's not for tonight, tonight is about Part III.

If Spielberg had used Doncaster's 05-06 Carling Cup run as an incentive for a film then it wouldn't disappoint. It was scripted to perfection, particularly for a fan.

The clock slowly ticked away on your watch on your freezing right hand. Your side leads 2-1 and you have a beaming smile on your face. There is just one minute to go and your striker, Paul Heffernan, has the ball. It is within your grasp. Surely it can't be thrown away now?

You stare eagily to your right, looking at Heffs, your fingers in your mouth inpersonating the referee's whistle like the rest of the home supporters. Your side, average in the third tier, was destined for the back pages again. Arsenal surely couldn't equalise now? There was the problem. You weren't just playing anyone, you were facing Arsenal, a side who later that season were participating in the Champions League final.

Paul Heffernan's spell on the ball seemed to last an eternity, close to the corner flag between the Rossington End and the Popular Terrace. I don't think even the Irish goal-machine knew quite what to do with it. You saw the corner of his eye glance at the goal - almost like Geoff Hurst did to scoring England's forth in the 1966 World Cup final - then down at the ball it went.

That was his mistake, he took too long considering his decision, and like a flash he had lost the ball. Following the second he lost the ball, it wasn't as if the time was slowed and simply had been resumed that moment, it was almost like someone 'up there' had pressed fast-forward. On reflection it was it was probably one of the best counter-attacks I have ever witnessed. Won by the left back, the ball was played down the left, to the winger, who centred a low cross into the penalty area. There was only one result at that point when the ball was struck into the back of Jan Budtz's net... penalties. Again.

The home fans were left deflated. And, looking back, we were never going to win that shoot out. 10,000 dreams had been shattered, but of course, tragically, so had the eleven players. Arsenal won, not because they were the better team over 120 minutes, but because they had better penalty takers, a better shot-stopping goal-keeper, and were a lot more confident and motivated. Within a few moments, Doncaster had gone from the verge of the last four, to out of the competition. The Gunners were through.

You could see the confidence disappear in each performance, and it didn't come back before it was too late. The result, single-handedly cost the Yorkshire outfit promotion that season, but not only that but lead to the departure of the ambitious Michael McIndoe, and indirectly, to September's resignation of Dave Penney.

Of course, I didn't know that then, but I remember saying bemused and bewildered, as words of comfort to the long walk up Bennethorpe (a road from Belle Vue to the centre of town), that 'there is always next year'...

Now, approaching 2010, I am still waiting...

Three Weeks of Concern

I remember wondering half way through my warm holiday in the Algarve, what to do my next blog on. The day after Sir Bobby Robson tragically passed away so I thought I'd be sat here dwelling on that and the poor state of English football managers, following the conclusion of Stuart Peace's book. Instead I am here writing about another great loss. This person hasn't ascended upon the stairway to heaved, but has descended - not to hell - but to Reading; his name Matthew Mills.

The Football League season is upon us. A tasty prospect during the previous week for the majority of supporters but not particularly for me. As a supporter of championship side Doncaster Rovers, I have witnessed, four poor quality incomes, and have seen the loss of, in my opinion, our two best players.

When Richie Wellens left the South Yorkshire outfit last month, I paid tribute to a player of the 'class above'. A man signed on a free transfer, sold for £1.2million just about tells it's own story. I thought that deal was too low but conceded that now there is obviously nothing we can do about it. I was very disappointed that we accepted the first incoming offer, as a club showing fear that they wouldn't get any more for their ageing playmaker.

Mills doesn't fit into that category. We declined bid, after bid, after bid, for quite simply one of the best players I have ever seen (on his day), certainly appearing in the red and white of the Rovers he definitely charts in the top three and is potentially at number one. Agile on the ball, a 'right place at the right time', Bobby Moore-type centre back, we broke our transfer record for Mills last summer. I was away in Cornwall for a crucial week last summer and I remember looking at Teletext every day, when I was in, to see if he had signed. It was a long, drawn-out signature, with new Manchester City boss Mark Hughes, wanting to have a look at him before he was sold. But the deal then was always imminent, as perhaps the same could be said for his sale this week. Being this close to the season we believed we could hold on to our star defender but it clearly wasn't to be.

For the last 18 months (he came on loan before his full time deal) I would have compared Mills to the former Rovers defender David Wheater, who is now seen playing regularly for Middlesbrough and the England Under-21 side. Perhaps that's an ambitious statement, but I have seen both play and based on the amount of errors both make, and their general defensive qualities, I'd go as far as saying Mills is the more talented of the duo!

It came of no surprise when promotion-wanting Birmingham City, hotly tipped for the Championship crown, came knocking in January. They were told the £1.5m bid wasn't enough on deadline day, and never came back, despite continued newspaper speculation. Then came Nottingham Forest, the former European Champions, still living on memories of the Clough era, with two bids one of £1.75m, the second of "in the region of £2m". Both were rejected. This created a feud between sets of the supporters of Rovers and Forest, originating on 606 when Forest fans claimed the deal was 'done', obviously they have been proved wrong.

Reading's interest, to my knowledge, was out-of-the-blue. I was reading the Daily Mirror on Tuesday when I noticed a piece on the 'football spy' page. I thought little of it. To me it was a club on the lookout for a defender, and a talked about Championship player of that position. Surely it was just the media doing the sum 2+2 and equalling 5? Obviously it wasn't.

On the face of it both probably have a good deal. In my opinion we need to sweep the markets looking for a quality defender, because we only have a maximum of three centre halves 'up to the standard', but we have enough money to compete with clubs at the top end of the division, particularly with Newcastle in a stalement with no manager and the club up for sale. Having said that we also need a new midfielder to replace Wellens. Reading have got, I believe, the best centre back in the division.

Is everyone happy with that? I will be when we see what the squad looks like in early September.