It's Going To Be A Long, Hard Run-In — Notes for Doncaster Tuesday, 24th Dec 2013 15:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of the Boxing Day fixture by delving into their forums. "We are not going to be strong this season. We're going to scrap and box our way to 48-ish points. We're currently just about on target to do that. We're not bad enough to be basket cases, but we're not good enough to stay up comfortably." "From seemingly heading for a steady mid-table finish, our eyes have moved swiftly behind us. Now many of us fear the worst." Rovers will go into Thursday's match on a poor run of form, having lost their last three games, at Bolton (0-3), at home to Leeds (0-3) and last Saturday at Derby (1-3). "We've shown little to no sign of the urgency, determination or fight required to get back into games when we have gone a goal down", "We are not set up to press teams high up the pitch. When we win the ball back, it is always in our defensive third, a long way from their goal." Paul Dickov"I pity Paul Dickov at the moment. He has a small squad with many injuries and a number of players who, frankly, aren't up to this division at the moment. However, I also believe that his tactics are a reason we are losing games." "I think Paul Dickov must just concentrate on working on the basics and not get ahead of himself by constantly changing formations", "I find his constant changes of formation difficult to fathom at times", "Paul Dickov needs to think of a system and a way of playing and stick to it." "He has shown his inexperience by starting with the wrong performance and going for the win instead of settling for a draw, and not shutting up shop to prevent a rout." The former Oldham boss was rounded on by supporters for his tactics in the home defeat against Leeds last Saturday week. The Wrong Formation"We needed width against Leeds on Saturday. We were abysmal in the first half. I agree that Dickov is tactically naïve", "We lacked width and it cost us the game. The front three were totally ineffective, all going for the same ball", "That was a shocking first half. Nobody was wide." "The only time it worked was when Leeds stopped pressing in the second half." Rovers have been playing 4-4-2 on the road, but they came unstuck when their 4-3-3 system, playing three central midfielders behind three strikers, left them completely devoid of width against Leeds. "You can play 4-3-3 at home, but not against the better teams. It won't work and your midfield will be too open", "We have more than enough wingers. He doesn't play them and it just doesn't work. There's no width and the full-backs are massively exposed." "I admire Paul Dickov in a way for being bold and sticking to the 4-3-3 where possible. The trouble is that it leaves the full-backs brutally exposed", "We should not play with three forwards when we do not have a strong defence." Injury Problems"Let's get a bit of perspective. We're not in a good place at the moment, and we've got to get through a number of fixtures by patching up the team", "Given our injury situation, being out of the bottom three at the turn of the year will be a major achievement." Rovers are missing captain and centre-back Rob Jones, central midfielder Paul Keegan, and left-back James Husband, all of whom have provided a degree of leadership and tenacity in difficult games. "We're a bit too nice without Jones and Keegan, and we are missing some bite." "We look like a team of lightweights, mentally as well as physically. No-one is looking like a leader on the pitch, no-one is making runs, no-one is making tackles and no-one is making passes. It looks bloody dreadful to be honest", "We are desperately lacking a leader on the pitch." Defence"Please let's find a big lad to put in the middle of our defence before it's too late", "We do lack ball winners", "Still dilly-dallying at the back again", "In this league we get found out. We have a limited right-back and an inexperienced left-back supported by a rookie centre-half." "It must knock the stuffing out of the players when we concede so many soft goals. It makes it an uphill struggle for the forwards. I don't mind conceding top quality goals, but some that we let in are the result of simple errors." "Without Keegan, Husband and Jones, we're clearly going to struggle to be tight at the back", "Jones would have dealt with Derby's first two goals, and Husband would have terrified them with pace down that wing", "I think the whole team would tighten up with Jones leadership on the pitch." Ross Turnbull"Turnbull just saved a penalty (against Derby)", "How many times have we said that it would have been a heavier defeat but for Turnbull", "He's prone to the odd cock-up, but I can't remember a keeper as good as him for years. He has been immense."
The 28-year-old former Middlesbrough and Chelsea keeper "has been the player of the season for me. I think his contribution alone is what has kept us from the murky depths", "The sheer amount of shots he has had to face is remarkable", "We'll be lucky to keep him come January." At right-back, former Cardiff player Paul Quinn "is showing that he is an out-and-out defender, no more and no less. His touch and distribution are just not good enough. He's being left exposed by the formation, but it doesn't excuse some of his passing", "He gives the ball away too often." "Enda Stevens gives us balance on the left of the defence. This is important with our lack of natural left footers since Husband was injured", "He looks very assured and plays some wonderful balls out to midfield on the deck." The 23-year-old left-back joined Rovers on loan from Aston Villa in November, and featured in Shamrock Rovers Europa League run in 2011. "Being left exposed by front men playing as wingers isn't going to help Stevens", "He is the one player we have who can put some good balls in the box." There was little comment about South African centre-back Bongani Khumalo, who Mick McCarthy considered signing on loan from Spurs this summer. The 26-year-old was subsequently loaned to Rovers, and is "a great signing, but he stands no chance with the players that are around him in defence." Manchester United youth product Luke McCullough has replaced the injured Rob Jones. "Let's face it, McCullough is hopeless at defending. He's decent on the ball, but can't defend for toffee", "He'll become a cracking player given time to improve." "McCullough is great on the ball. He's calm and composed, but not very big and not very mobile", "This is his first run in the side and he's going to struggle because this is a strong league", "He looks a classy footballer, but he's never a centre-half, especially when faced with a physical striker." Former Ipswich loan signing Reece Wabara is "our non-playing full-back who we have to play", He's never been close enough to get a tackle in for a month", "Wabara's truly awful. He can't do the simple things. This level is too good for him", "This guy is having a very torrid time." The Manchester City loanee has not featured since having a very poor game at Charlton in November, and is out with a foot injury. "Wabara looked excellent going forward earlier in the season, but he has looked less comfortable out of possession back-pedalling against wingers". Central Midfield"We are a side without a plan. We try to play football, but end up hitting and hoping once we cross the halfway line", "Being sharper on releasing the ball is key", "Maybe Dickov needs to get back to basics and use the midfield to take pressure off the back four, which are average at best." "When we play 4-4-2, we are outnumbered in midfield", "We took Dean Furman off against Leeds and surrendered midfield." Many Rovers criticised the removal of the 25-year-old former Oldham player when Paul Dickov changed formation to 4-4-2 against Leeds. "When Furman went off, we had no-one to protect the back four, and we were picked off twice on the counter", "Once he gets booked, he is an accident waiting to happen", "He's got to stop flying into challenges like Hong Kong Phooey." "When Dean Furman presses high up the field, he is a real asset and can cause real damage. When he plays as a defensive midfielder, he can become a crab-like player that will only pass sideways and back to the keeper." Martin Woods has rejoined Rovers until January, having turned down the chance to join the Blues. The ex-Sunderland and Rotherham man "plays too safe. He doesn't run at defences or take shots on. He looks timid and often indecisive", "He worked with the centre-halves to snuff out Matt Smith against Leeds." "What has James Coppinger done to warrant a starting place?", "He's looking slow and is struggling to beat a man. I think he has it upstairs but his legs at this level aren't up to it anymore." The 32-year-old "is going through the motions, and is a pale shadow of the man he used to be." Richie Wellens"We simply cannot afford to lose Wellens if we want to remain in the Championship", "He makes our side tick with his ability, strength of character and instructions on the pitch." The 33-year-old former Blackpool, Leicester (and Ipswich loan) player is seen as Rovers' pivotal midfielder.
"No doubt about it. This fella can see a pass and deliver it", "He's miles better than anyone else in the side", "He seems to be everywhere", and "is constantly looking to be creative, but is hampered by a lack of support around him." "Wellens plays well with three in the middle. Woods presence allows him to play more freely", "He grabbed the QPR game (an unlikely 2-1 Rovers win) by the scruff of the neck after he clattered Joey Barton", "It was a great contest to watch. Welcome back the real Richie." Harry ForresterFormer Brentford attacking midfielder Harry Forrester made his first appearance since recovering from a thigh injury coming off the bench against Derby on Saturday. "Hopefully he's now fit, and he looked a class above anyone else against Derby."
The 22-year-old, with whom Ipswich were linked this summer, has been hugely missed. "Forrester getting injured scuppered the plan to go 4-2-3-1. He could play the free role behind Brown, with Macheda and Duffy on the wings. This is what we did in the first game of the season." "He's a direct, forward-thinking player and threaded some good balls through to the strikers", "Hopefully his injuries are behind him and he's a must start player on Boxing Day", "He's a good player who adds good quality and likes to run at players. He's unpredictable to play against." Wide Midfield"I have to say that the ability of the opposition to get behind us down the wings is now a real concern. I think that teams see that as our weakness and go for it from the off", "We never get behind teams and get them facing their own goal." "The wingers need to be most consistently because they need to be able to build up form. Duffy and Cotterill should start. Cotterill is a good player and he will get assists from set pieces", "If we get Cotterill on form, he's a really brilliant player for us. He's a match winner." The 26-year-old former Barnsley left-winger David Cotterill netted a "screamer" against Birmingham. "Dickov needs to play him on the left and allow him to cut in and attack the defence that way", "He won't go into a tackle, but his game is about set-pieces, a perfect pass and brilliant goals." Former Scunthorpe right-winger Mark Duffy "looks a threat when he drifts inside", "He has been getting into good positions, but he needs to go for the jugular", "He's in danger of becoming a bit like John Oster where he loves to pass it around, but is afraid to have a shot now and again." Strikers"We are absolutely toothless up front. Sorry, Paul Dickov, you can't play Brown, Macheda and Robinson together", "Macheda and Robinson are not wingers. Playing them out wide leaves our full-backs exposed. They are struggling as it is, never mind without hardly any protection." Former Derby striker Theo Robinson did score against his old team last Saturday. The 24-year-old "is rightly criticised for his finishing, but he runs the channels well. He has a good deal of pace for the opponents back four when he gets the right ball to run on to". "Robinson is just not up to scratch", "He has moments when he gives a passable impression of being a pub team player", "Robinson has the potential to be a top player, but just hasn't shown it." The Jamaican international's inconsistency has been criticised as often as his pace has been praised. Former Preston striker Chris Brown "can hold up the ball well and knock it down for players with pace such as Robinson and a finisher like Macheda", "He might not score a bucket load of goals, but there is a weakness in the team when he is not there." "One positive is that Brown is back and is getting fitter." The 29-year-old former Budgie "does a lot of unselfish work for the team and at the moment he is a very important player for us." "Macheda has a great touch, and always looks like he might make something happen in the final third. We don't have enough possession in the danger area to get the best out of him", "Someone has to take the lead in the final third, and no-one else appears capable." The 22-year-old striker has been signed on loan from Manchester United. "He's a penalty box player and struggles when moved out wide", "We don't create enough for him. We need Robinson's pace which helps create space for Macheda." Doncaster Supporters' Views on ITFC and the Game"I don't think we'll get anything from Ipswich. McCarthy has turned Ipswich around and they are now a team capable of pushing for the play-offs." Rovers' supporters have had little specifically to say about Thursday's game: "I think Ipswich is winnable. They've only won two away games this season and our home form is good", "Yes, but their recent away form isn't that bad." Rovers play Millwall at home on Sunday and many supporters have expressed a hope that they can pick up four points from the two games, with the victory most likely coming against the Lions. WebsitesThe busiest Doncaster Rovers message board is Viking Chat.
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