DPL vs Gillingham

We are likely to go into Saturday’s game without a great deal of assurance or idea of what to expect; the players are still getting used to what Darren Moore expects of them and two or three, possibly more, may still be involved in only their first or second match for a team and a squad which is not yet fully formed and which is still in the process of evolving a style of play.

Despite there being a week left of the transfer window DM seems resigned to the possibility of not having time to complete all the business that he would ideally have like to do. (His very frank style in interviews is decidedly refreshing.)

There are concerns over both experience and the strength in numbers. It looks as though Baptiste may be signed to strengthen and provide cover in the centre of defence and Ward could well join too to add to the options up front. The reported fee for Marquis seems somewhat lower than what has been paid for good League 1 goal-scorers in the past and whilst he lacks the finesse of some I do wonder why we could not get more than £2m for him.

Alfie May appears to have been “promoted" to more regular starting along with Sadlier and it seems a rather fantastic hope that at this stage in the shopping season that we will be able to bring in some prolific scorer to fulfil Marquis’s previous role. Someone who we might hope to develop and who is likely to be more costly than anyone else has been prepared to pay would seem to be the best hope. Maybe Gomes, who seems to be able to position himself well to score will improve his conversion rate.

As to the prospects for success it is perhaps fortunate that our first two games are not against the more fancied teams in League 1. Gillingham have Steve Evans in charge now and you imagine that they will play a fairly adventurous sort of game, but they will be without two of their best players, big Tom Eaves an impressive footballer and goal-scorer who has gone to Hull and Holy, their goal-keeper last season who I think has gone to Ipswich. They never seem easy to beat in Doncaster, so despite everything we might well have to be satisfied if we avoid defeat.

It is not easy to get a good idea of how we have played pre-season from the rather poor quality, often long-range video coverage, but I have seen some impressive fast-moving build-up play, but a lot of the finishing has been poor and some of the defending has looked shaky.

As a football club we may not immediately be seen as having anything in common with what is going on in Government, but McCann’s strategy on player contracts had certain similarities with that of Boris Johnson’s approach to the EU… except that GM has left others to pick up the pieces.

I fear a draw or worse, but I hope for better, so I’ll go for 2-1 to us (Anderson)

As for the DPL scoring system, I will firm up when everyone has had a few more days to contribute, but I am stiil in favour of more than 3 points for the scorer and the actual score because they are more difficult predictions. Nil goals for Rovers will not score in themselves but will not disqaulify you from the bonus for all-correct forecasts. Perhaps 5 points as a bonus is more proportionate than 10, but I await further comment. The attendance figure will be ditched.