Down and Out

I'm quite confused by what I've just seen. Not just today, but this season in general.

At half-time in a match with Birmingham City in April, Rovers led 1-0 and were at that stage ten points clear of safety. From then on, Doncaster entered free-fall. The outcome of this, quite remarkably, was relegation and I'm really struggling to comprehend how it has happened.

At times this season performances have been fantastic. Doncaster announced themselves back into the second tier by outplaying FA Cup holders Wigan off the park for long spells. Then, Richie Wellens, at 2-0, suffered an injury. A capitulation followed with Wigan stealing the visitors of two crucial points.

Perhaps then we should have been wary on what was to come. When trying to disect the reasons for relegation, Doncaster won their last match of the season against Leeds United on 29th March. This was the final time Wellens played more than half an hour in a match for Doncaster and tells a clear story of how crucial he is to the club.

Football 365: League table, 1st May 2014

Doncaster are one of the poorest supported clubs by numbers in the division, coincidentally alongside fellow relegated sides Yeovil Town and Barnsley. Along with parachute payments, this means Doncaster's budget is one of the smallest in the division.The outcome of this is Doncaster can afford a competitive first team, but struggle with strength in depth.

The back up central midfielder covering for Wellens' injury during the latter part of the campaign and Paul Keegan's injury around Christmas meant that Dean Furman came in as cover. 'Deano' was one of two signings that Brian Flynn made, along with John Lundstram last season which won us the title. He was a fantastic addition to the side at the time, but this season has been largely disappointing with the gulf between him and Wellens often exploited. The most notable weakness is the lack of a 'killer pass'. Furman has made 34 appearances this season; but look at how many assists... zero!

Doncaster Rovers' Official Website: Assists Table 2013-14

However, this wasn't the only position that came under scrutiny. Doncaster were also badly hit in defense. Only Paul Quinn, who started the season as Reece Wabara's deputy, is the only Rovers player to make over thirty appearances out of a possible 46. The majority of these came at centre back after injuries most notably to Rob Jones & Bongani Khumalo; the first choice pairing at the start of the campaign.

Despite playing a defense with three players in a back four younger than twenty in a defeat at home to Ipswich in December, Rovers manager Paul Dickov has bought expertly, with Abdoulaye Meite and Gabriel Tamas coming in on short term deals, with both showing defensive qualities which has seen them make many a Premier Division appearance during their careers.

Between the sticks is another place that Dickov has shown managerial expertise; first making the unexpected signing of former Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull. Then, when he got injured, he turned to Manchester United's Sam Johnstone on loan. The latter showing qualities where he is being tipped for future international caps. Not only were both high calibre goalkeepers that 'the likes of Doncaster' typically haven't attracted, but both have improved and immense credit must go to Dickov, goalkeeping coach, Paul Gerrard and Director of Football, Brian Flynn.

However, the coaching staff and the players have made individual mistakes throughout the season. Recently in a match with Reading, Rovers - who led 1-0, refused to shut up shop as a side managed by Dickov's predecessors Dean Saunders and Sean O'Driscoll may have done. They rued that, with the scoreline ending 3-1 in favour of the Royals.

Concerns have also arisen over the performances of the Rovers strikers. Expensive summer signing Theo Robinson, who may well flourish in League One, has been largely disappointing, as has Billy Sharp. Both were brought in to score goals and both managed a goals per game ratio of around 1 in 4. Sharp has 4 goals in 16 appearances; Robinson has just 5 goals all season (though he has had to start many of his matches from the bench). Freddie Macheda too came in on loan. However, despite a promising start, suffered an injury and when he returned he seemed uninterested, subsequently slumping to the bench for a home tie against Millwall after a poor performance. Personally I find it odd that a side managed by a former prolific striker can lead to such dire striking performances.

However, the biggest stand out performer this season has been a striker, in the form of Chris Brown. The only member of the squad to win tier four and tier three title winning medals with Rovers has played fantastic all season. He's played for an entire month with a broken foot and I don't think in any match he has ever stopped working. On top of this, he is one of the best target men outside the Premier League and has formed a fantastic relationship with James Coppinger in particularly. He is a deserved winner of player of the season and Rovers have a fight on their hands to keep Browny in South Yorkshire.

Another reason Doncaster went down were a series of individual errors. The club has needed all the points they could get as the season drew to a close; yet in the last two games conceded two penalties. Highly rated full-back James Husband has been the main culprit of a few key goals we have conceded. In defeat to Birmingham City for example, he was tackled in his own box:

Doncaster Rovers' Youtube: Rovers 1-3 Birmingham City

That said, Husband has only had one full season in his career as a regular. He has a lot of potential and will undoubtedly play in the Premiership, just like Johnstone, however he has quite clear development goals to set himself. In the short term he should flourish in League One and be able to iron out these mishaps.

Along with the above factors, I think another thing which has happened, since the Birmingham turnaround is complacency. How, as one of the smallest teams in the division and one that won last year's League One title through being the side with the most desire, could change to being complacent I have no answer. It should not have happened and the manager should be held responsible for this.

However, are we entirely right to blame ourselves? No, I don't think that's true either. Referees in the Premier League get a high level of criticism on Match of the Day, but believe me, the Championship is far worse. Below is an image of Andy D'Urso in Doncaster's match with Barnsley, which they drew 2-2, gazing into the East Stand at the Keepmoat as Husband is wrestled to the ground.

BBC Football League Show Screenshot: 15/2/2014

Perhaps the most notable refereeing of the season came at an away game at The Valley, Charlton in 2013. In the pouring rain, Doncaster took a 3 goal lead. However with surface water beginning to appear, the game paused. The rain stopped, Charlton pulled one back and Paul Keegan was sent off for Doncaster. At half-time however, match official Lee Collins opted to abandon the match. A "shambolic" decision according to Doncaster boss, Dickov. Three points pulled out of The Vikings' fingertips, and to add salt into the wounds, Paul Keegan's suspension stood.

Youtube: Charlton 1-3 Doncaster

Another shocking refereeing decision came across London at The Den, Millwall. Meite didn't even foul a Lions player yet was shown the red card. In a match with Ipswich, Gabriel Tamas was flattened by a Town player and even Mick McCarthy said it was a foul. Yet play continued & Suffolk's finest secured three points.

So with all factors combined, Doncaster's feat in the Championship was sealed. Relegation, despite keeping out of the bottom three until the last thirty seconds of the final day, when Birmingham snatched a draw at the death at Bolton. 

So instead of Sunderland it's Scunthorpe for the Rovers next campaign. However, I believe had Rovers not been quite so unlucky this season things could have ended very differently indeed. This provides me with great optimism for the year ahead. We have players who have proved themselves in the Championship this campaign & I believe we have offered clear warning sides to League One that next season we will be the team to beat.

It wasn't too bad last time after all.

Doncaster Rovers' Youtube: Brentford 0-1 Doncaster

January at the Rovers

It was a horrendous December for Doncaster. The club picked up just two points from a possible 18 as the Rovers, hampered by a severe injury crisis, slumped into the bottom three.

 

League table, December 31st 2012, football365

Rovers were missing a series of influential players. Skipper Rob Jones, in demand James Husband, Man City loanee Reece Wabara and defensive midfielder Paul Keegan and a wash of centre forwards were all ruled out. 

December-only league table, football365

The outcome of this was that Rovers entertained Ipswich on Boxing Day with a back four with three of four defenders under the age of 20 (Yun Suk-Young, Luke McCullough and Liam Wakefield). By this stage Rovers had conceded nine goals in the previous three matches, and things were looking desperate. 

 The outcome of the Ipswich match was another defeat in which three were conceded. But it proved a slight turning point.  The inexperience at centre back was corrected by Dickov, who swapped Paul Quinn and Liam Wakefield, allowing for the ex-Cardiff man to organise the back four from a central position. It pulled off trumps, Millwall were held to a 0-0 draw, and Rovers entered the January transfer window.

The Ipswich game however had prompted problems at the opposite end of the field. Despite recognised strikers in the form of Theo Robinson and Frederico Macheda, the pair never truly looked like scoring, and at times showed little desire. Both were correctly dropped for the Millwall game and youngster Alex Peterson made his first Championship start. The Ipswich game I believe was what discouraged Dickov from extending Macheda's loan, though he returned to the side at Queens Park Rangers on New Years Day. 

The solid defensive display at Millwall had returned Rovers confidence. The visitors had already beaten Rangers once this season and looked like doing so again when a recalled Robinson slotted a low finish, but alas, Rangers responded with two second half goals.

 

QPR 2-1 Doncaster, Doncaster Rovers Youtube

Richie Wellens - seen in the first highlight traveling through the Queens Park Rangers defence as if they weren't there - was an outstanding performer. His contract expired following the Loftus Road fixture and he came close to joining the London side.

Rovers opted to prioritise league survival so fielded a weakened time for an FA Cup fixture against League One bottom side Stevenage. David Syers was recalled from a loan move at Scunthorpe whilst Martin Woods, released at the end of last season only to be re-signed featured in midfield. 

Rovers were awful. They struggled in defence, conceding three goals, and in midfield and up front, not creating many clear opportunities. Rovers somehow scored twice. Substitute Harry Forrester scored a superb effort from the edge of the box, and Liam Wakefield hit a cross which somehow sneaked in, but in truth we didn't deserve such a narrow scoreline.

Paul Dickov's interview following Stevenage's 3-2 win, Doncaster Rovers' Youtube

Dickov wasn't happy, calling it the final straw for some of his players as message boards were swapped with doom and gloom. But perhaps, in hindsight what had happened that early January afternoon that I felt I had wasted at the time was the best thing that could have happened? It inspired the manager and the board to react incredibly positively.

Various transfers were made in the week that followed. Wellens, desperately missed against Stevenage, signed a new contract. It is believed the player had a host of Championship clubs to chose from, but the players passion for the club along with other factors kept the player in South Yorkshire.

Wellens for me has been Doncaster's best player this season, to the extent that I've proclaimed us a one-man team a few times in 2013/14. This for me was symbolised back in August in an away match at FA Cup holders Wigan Athletic. Rovers led 2-0 at the hour and were comfortable when Wellens was lost to injury. From then on the performance was disjointed, with the tie eventually finishing 2-2. It was devastating one player's absence could make such a difference. His new contract was only the start. 

The following week at Blackburn prompted a fresh defence. Luke McCullough switched to right back as Bongani Khumalo returned from injury, alongside a new signing in the form of Abdoulaye Méïté. The defence was generally excellent, but were denied a clean sheet when Khumalo's attempted clearance ended up behind him and was latched on to by Jordan Rhodes. One cross and finish later and Blackburn had the points. Rovers rallied for a reply but to no avail, despite the best efforts of James Coppinger, who was back to his best form.

Still Rovers sought to improve and with Paul Quinn's injury sustained prior to Blackburn a new right back was required. Like Méïté, it was to a former West Brom defender whom Dickov had eyes for as Gabriel Tamaș was signed on a free transfer. Both Meite and Tamas have proved excellent arrivals and have solidified the defence. Since the half-time whistle at Blackburn, Doncaster have conceded just one goal in four and a half matches as opposition attackers struggled for an answer for the new backline.

The Blackburn trip also noted a return for injury for James Husband, who featured in midfield before returning to his preferred left back following the fixture. Husband is now regarded as one of the best young English defenders outside the Premier League and has showed attacking intent as well as defensive dominance since he re-entered the team.

However, Rovers were still lacking up front. Macheda had long since returned to Manchester United and Theo Robinson was injured. Thus it appeared very strange that Billy Paynter was able to leave on loan and join League One strugglers Sheffield United to the end of the season with just Chris Brown and Peterson as the only strikers at the club.

However, with fans getting anxious still no striker arrived. By this stage Rovers were being heavily linked with a few strikers in the press; Ishmael Miller, Matty Derbyshire, Matty Waghorn and Nick Proschwitz especially were believed to the main contenders but by the time of the Wigan home tie no such addition was complete. 

Radio Sheffield's Andy Giddings tweets of a potential new arrival, Twitter

There were two/three noticeable key changes for the Wigan match however. The first was quite a subtle tweak to the formation, with Rovers switching from 4-4-1-1 against Blackburn to 4-2-3-1, with Mark Duffy (who had replaced Enda Stevens in the side) and James Coppinger moving into a more attacking role alongside Harry Forrester just behind Chris Brown. The other change was in personnel. Marc De Val Fernandez was denied valuable match time but it marked the return to fitness of Paul Keegan, who came in.

Keegan's role at Rovers is one which for a long time was undervalued by Rovers fans. He players a massive role sat just in front of the back four. He probably is unnoticeable to many, but he is excellent at winning the ball, and then he has a fantastic understanding with Wellens who is one of the best passes of the ball (if not the best) I have seen in Rovers colours. Wigan certainly had no reply and were outplayed 3-0.

Doncaster Rovers 3-0 Wigan Athletic, Doncaster Rovers' Youtube

However, some Rovers fans stated this was the best performance of the season, however I disagree. Yes it was on paper the best result, but there were still things which I think needed working on. In terms of individual performances I think at least half the players had played better in other games, such as QPR at home, the aforementioned Wigan away and Blackburn at home.

Thus Rovers striker search continued and January 22nd was reached. Were Rovers, despite the constant speculation actually going to sign a striker during the window. Anxiety had lowered slightly following the Wigan performance on Saturday, but we surely couldn't go without one? Then came this tweet from a local newspaper journalist and great speculation followed.

The Doncaster Free Press' Sports Reporter Liam Hoden confirms a new striker is imminent, Twitter

What happened next was completely unexpected to most Rovers fans who were generally expecting a hit and miss Championship striker similar to Robinson and Macheda who'd been inconsistent in previous spells. 

They couldn't be further wrong as Billy Sharp signed on loan.

Billy's case is a interesting one. Sean O'Driscoll spent the best part of five years trying to sign a striker with only Paul Heffernan, signed by previous boss Dave Penney, notching the goal per game ratio you'd like from the key centre forward. However Billy arrived in September 2009 and proved the be the final piece of the SO'D jigsaw. For a club that struggled in the Championship whilst Sharp was with the club, Billy netted:

•  16 goals in 36 appearances in 2009/10
• 16 goals in 31 appearances in 2010/11
• 10 goals in 17 appearances up to December 31st in 2011/12

Billy's record gained hero status in a short space of time with Rovers receiving a believed £2.5m from Southampton within one and a half seasons of signing him for £1.2m. 

Despite helping Southampton to the Premier League, Sharp admitted to being disillusioned on the South Coast. Following Nigel Adkins sacking, Sharp was loaned to Nottingham Forest (where O'Driscoll was then manager) last season before joining Adkins' Reading in the latter stages of 2013. Billy's arrival further boosted Rovers, who demolished Charlton on his home debut buoyed by his return, he also netted at Blackpool on his debut four days earlier.  

Doncaster Rovers 3-0 Charlton Athletic, Doncaster Rovers' Youtube

However, it is quite clear that Sharp is lacking in true match fitness and form, but Rovers fans are hopeful that the striker can quickly return to the striker seen in past seasons in South Yorkshire. If he does, there is no doubt, the R-word (relegation), won't be mutted much at the Keepmoat Stadium between now and the end of the season.

Transfer Round Up:

In:

Richie Wellens - Free Transfer - Unattached

Gabriel Tamas - Free Transfer - Unattached

Abdoulaye Méïté - Free Transfer - Unattached
Billy Sharp - Loan (to end of the season) - Southampton
Sam Johnstone - Loan (to end of February) - Manchester United

Out:
David Syers - Undisclosed - Scunthorpe United
Martin Woods - Free Transfer - Released
Billy Paynter - Loan (to end of the season) - Sheffield United
Kyle Bennett - Loan (to end of the season) - Bradford City
Frederico Macheda - Loan expired - Manchester United