Paul Goodwin on Rovers

Will the new name for the ground be the Stadium of dark? There definitely seems to be more cohesion in the team but I'm not convinced we are strong or skilled enough to survive just yet. We'll probably grind out a few more wins and draws but the fact remains our midfield is very weak, defence shaky and attack ineffective. The enforced break should mean we are fit and ready to go but, as usually happens, the long break leads to rusty match fitness for the first game back. It's touch and go if we avoid the drop to League 2. The next 5 games should be a good guide.

As Donaldo said, I agree with most of the comments, and as Nookie said, the next five games will give a bigger picture. Isn't the rule "If you are bottom at New Year, you go down".
I've been slightly encouraged of late; at Plymouth the ref gave them at least two points, if not all three, and the MKDons game showed a fighting spirit and willing to work for a win. So how do you explain the Ipswich debacle - I just do not know.
I live on a "Adult Resort Community" and my wife today took part in a "Welcome to new residents" event, and guess what, met a guy who is a Donny Supporter. What a small world this is! I've yet to meet him, but have emailed him details of ja606 and iFollow, and have invited him to join me watching iFollow.

We probably need a minimum of 7 points from the next 5 games and at least that for every 5 games remaining to avoid being in the bottom 4.

There is certainly a case to be made around the facts which Goodwin uses. Unfortunately, he does not weigh all the evidence.

The thing that distinguishes Wellens from all his permanent predecessors is that he is an ex-player who so many of the longer-term supporters regard as one of the best in our most successful recent era.
Quite a few unfavourable facts have been omitted which detract from Wellen’s progress. I do not think that either McCann or Moore had more financial resources and both had less time between appointment and the start of the season. Their mandate was promotion/play-offs asap; McC did it and DM did not fall far short. Remember too that Moore had to contend with Covid as has every club. The adulation which some have for Wellens can be sharply contrasted with the entirely opposite feelings which they harbour for his two predecessors who both sustained the club in far more respectable positions in League 1 than we now occupy. They deny the old cliché “The Table does not lie”.

After 3 seasons of rapid player turnover, short-termism which was not unsuccessful, Wellens’ objectives, set by the Board, may be more explicitly long-term. In practice though, are they significantly different from those of his predecessors? Avoiding relegation has become a necessity, rather than an anticipated consequence of the re-build yet there is now an established view that this was to be expected when that is not true. Furthermore, the ultra-loyal hero-worshipping supporters seem now to have set that as a symbol of the manager’s success; some even believe that dropping to League 2 would be an acceptable stepping stone to long-term success.

I do not subscribe to this. Wellens could be expected to consolidate on a base of players who would form the bedrock of a team based around a permanent quality core. If this were truly established, we would be seeing better players – Tommy Rowes, Tom Andersons playing alongside youngsters signed for their potential (who might make costly mistakes, but would also be showing touches of class).

Instead, we have signed players, admittedly with good CVs from fellow lower league clubs who only occasionally reveal noteworthy ability. The stated new policy of non reliance on loanees fell down when at long last, management recognised what was obvious about Jones. And rather late in the day he saw the need for a bit more flair in midfield – why did Wellens, the midfield specialist not see this much earlier? Without Rowe we would be in an even worse plight up front with only 2 goals scored and Cukur worse than any number of 4th Division front men of yesteryear, who were at least fit.

So, able to put out a full strength squad, minus only Okenabirhie, removes Wellens last excuse and for me the avoidance of relegation will not be any sort of success, rather an avoidance of an even more miserable failure.

Mickey - could the man your wife met be the PDX_Rover of the VSC site?

Donaldo, I'll ask him - we are just communicating. by email at the moment.
Of course it could be me - and my old brain can't remember singing up!

I believe Liam has got "to friendly" with the board to be asking them questions that need asking, not the pre ordered ones that seem to be asked year in year out. It was nice to read a report from a "reporter" rather than the usual stuff that gets printed.

I agree with most of what Paul Goodwin says.
I may be over optimistic but I still stand by what I said weeks ago - that we'll have a very tough first half of the season and then sort ourselves out in the second half to finish up mid-table. It's based on a "gut feel" more than a scientific evaluation but let's see.