Looks like we are about to sign another prolific lower league striker - Alfie May. http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/doncaster-rovers-alfie-may-set-to-sign-according-to-current-club-1-8307973

I think that Fergie has both the charisma and the professionalism that never came though in his predecessor (if it were there in the first place) which is persuasive. As with his namesake Beestin he cannot promise immediate first team football, but there is obviously more money and full time employment. With London relatively close though DF must have presented DRFC very skilfully and attractively.

It is difficult to know how well Beestin is coming on, but you would imagine that both would expect to get a few more appearances in during 2017 and it would be good if one or both really made it at 1st team level.

Fergie must be a smooth talker to convince a Southerner to move up North, hoping that Alfie May fulfils his potential and proves to be a diamond from the non-league pyramid.
On to Mansfield, another 3 points to be had from Nottinghamshire.
Williams to score
2-0 Rovers
Crowd 4,750.
Will be celebrating another Rovers win with a Grolsch in the Netherlands.
Cheers all and a Happy New Year. 🍺

2 nil Victory to the mighty Ziggers. Marquis first goal. Crowd of 5007. ( was going to say 4-1 but I'll save that for next year )

2-1 to Rovers
Williams with the first
4275 crowd

BTW -Interesting article in Daily Telegraph today about Ernie Moss who's suffering from dementia.

2-0 to the Rovers. Crowd 4444. Rowe to score

Despite the results and my desire to see the team successful, I still find it difficult to be confident about results. We hope for a solid performance in every "next match", but it has not materialised.

However, one of the most convincing victories with everything about it really impressive was that win against Southend about this time last year which I saw and was suitably encouraged. After that the play-offs seemed certain and look what happened. If that bred "confidence" it carried us nowhere but downwards, so perhaps it led to a feeling of invincibility which did us no good at all.

So as things stand the team will hardly feel that they cannot lose; more likely they will worry somewhat about every match and consequently will not be complacent which perhaps is a more realistic mind-set.

So dare I forecast another win? No, I think I'll go for a 1-1 with Blair to score against his old club, Mandeville, if absent. 5000 to see it.

Donaldo, being a little negative during this holiday season are we??? While I agree after Southend things were looking up last season, my main concern this season is that getting clean sheets seems to have stopped our free-flowing game and goals. However, I remember winning the old Division Four by grinding out many 1-0 and 2-1 wines, and the recent season where we became champions with Brentford's penalty miss, was somewhat similar. Mansfield do not seem to ship many goals at home, but I'm going for the Rovers to win 2-1 with Rowe scoring. Crowd 4403.

i will settle for another 1-0 win ,williams to score and crowd 4863

Micky: I meant to register my agreement with what you said about Derek and the Commemoration that the club are planning re 2016. As the club published a tribute to him when he died it would follow that his inclusion on the list of departed supporters would be more or less automatic, but perhaps someone like you, who knew him personally should be the one to ensure it is done.

Negativity is Realism in one sense; I simply elaborate my thinking which I see as one of the objectives of 606. I could say every week without fail "I hope they win" and that's what I want, every game.

I suppose it brings us back to Newyankee who had opinions and whose threads provided more of a vehicle for a range of thoughts.

The DPL is does provide an opportunity to be more objective with a meagre consolation as a reward in the case of a draw or a loss. We do try to be as realistic as possible, after all, when it comes to crowd forecasting. I expect all of us would like there to be 10,000 at each home match, but failing to put in that prediction does not make us collectively negative.

Mansfield 1-2 Rovers
Williams to score, if not playing Rowe.
Crowd 4,600

Best wishes for 2017 to all

2-1 rovers Mandeville to score if Williams isn't playing. 4525 crowd

Rovers to win 2-1,marquis to score if starts ,Mandeville if not in front of 4599.Happy new year to you all

Rovers 3-1 Williams to score if not playing then Mandy crowd of 4611

3-1 to Rovers. Williams with the first goal. Crowd of 4853.

Another shocking first half.

Well all I can say is a point gained. Terrible performance.

Agreed we were poor first half but it has to be remembered that there are always two teams on the pitch and Mansfield worked their socks off, pressing us up the field at every opportunity.
They prevented us from being able to play our usual fluent passing style.
We didn't really begin to get it together until they scored but then we were very good.
Rowe had a nightmare first half but a very good last half hour.
Although we only had one shot on target (hitting the post doesn't count as on target) the opposition only had three.
Two decent saves by Marco and he had no chance when their player deflected a miss hit shot in for their goal.
Credit to Liam for putting the pen away in a pressure situation and after that I thought we would go on to win and probably should have done.
I thought it was Rowe that hit the post but the BBC says Houghton.
Overall four points from two away games is very good.
In my opinion Fergie has to bring Copps back into the team on Tuesday because we really are missing his ability and quality.
Who to leave out?
It has to be either Williams or Marquis to avoid upsetting the balance of the team.
The next two home games in three days will be hard for us but that applies to Portsmouth too so perhaps we will see more than the usual one or no changes to the starting eleven next week.

He really has to drop Williams hound. I don't think he offered much at all today and we kept seeing that little jump and thrusting his arms throwing about rather than concentrating on getting the ball. Since his injury marquis and mandeville struck up a great partnership and should continue to do so.

Also heard today Connor Grants coming back. To be mentioned tomorrow supposedly and one other coming in.

Could be either of the front two IMO azza.
Marquis looks a bit jaded and could benefit from missing mondays game then playing apart, refreshed, against Pompey.
To be fair to Williams he did give 100% today but not much came off for him.
It is a toss up though.
I read about Grant on the vsc forum, he would be a good signing as long as he doesn't dodge under near post corners.

Sounds as tho baby lanza was at the same game as you hound

Thanks for the reports. This tendency to only get going after the other side score has been seen before. It says something for character, but it's not a good long term strategy.