Not much Pomp in Both Our Circumstances

DONCASTER ROVERS
V
PORTSMOUTH

OK - Watch this

and this

or this

Each of those incidents goes to show you that ANYTHING can happen in football!

So, Rovers are 11 points from safety with 12 still available to be won.  All that needs to happen is

• Bristol City failing to win another point this season

and...

• Coventry failing to win another 5 in their remaining games (and we can influence that as we still have to play them)

and....

• Pompey failing to win another 9 (which we can obviously influence)

So its all still to play for!

Or alternatively Rovers and Pompey could be as dead as someone in a Llanelli "spit and sawdust" pub telling jokes about fornicating with sheep.  I was once in such a pub with a Glaswegian doing just that.  We both survived without a scratch, which just goes to show you!

But anyway, let's both sets of fans get behind both clubs tomorrow.  Portsmouth have just announced that they have £58M debt, which is £10M more than the last time they were in administration so Rovers fans, stop feeling sorry for yourselves.  There are folk a lot worse off than us!

DONCASTER ROVERS

I have not put one building brick in place yet. - Dean Saunders

Well glory be and hallelujah!  Thank goodness we're not looking at the finished article!  It actually turns out that after 35 games in charge, Deano hasn't started yet!  Interesting.  Is there anyone out there who has gone 6 months in a job without doing anything and NOT been fired?

Actually, I jest (I think).  I find the quote and the article silly in the extreme.  In one breath Dean is talking about not having started anything and prior to that he's actually considering continuing the experiment?!  But as long as John Ryan and Deano decide to end the stupidity and ditch the experiment, Dean can continue.  Lets take a look at how well he does in building a team that can establish itself in League 1.  I'm not challenging him to getting us back into the championship.  I just want Rovers to stabilize, something that can never happen as long as we continue with the experiment.  Stabilize, put together a mid-table league 1 side and move on from there.  If its Dean that does it, good luck to him!

Last Saturday saw a very sad day as Donny lost their last slender hopes of maintaining championship status.   It started all Burnley with the clarets being afforded all sorts of space by the Rovers' defence as per usual.   All those things that are worked on every week in training like marking and closing down being sadly lacking.  The work they do must really sink in!

Commentator comment "Well these players haven't played together for quite a while".  There were 9 changes in the starting line up.  Dean has claimed severe injury problems in his 31-man squad.  I remember someone having 14 from 26 out injured and still being criticized from some quarters for losing!  A question.  With 14 from 26 out injured and a 16 man squad, is it possible to make 9 changes?

But lets be fair.  Fabian Robert looks like a player where Deano was right not to use his veto and Josh McQuoid's goal fo the Clarets was outstanding.  There is no tactics that plan for that.

Rovers showed a bit of character in coming back to 1:1 through Chris Brown's header and looked briefly like they could win the game.  But a penalty (thankfully, on this occasion a "stone-waller") ended Rovers' resistance.  

From then on it was whether Burnley would make it 3 :1 rather than  Rover coming back.

Sadly, season over for Donny.

 

PORTSMOUTH

We're not resigned to relegation. That would be unprofessional. It's very simple. There are four games left and we have to win all four to give ourselves a chance.  - Michael Appleton

Without looking at form and considering that without their -10, Portsmouth would be sitting in 21st place, maybe they do have enough to finish above Bristol.  But it's a long shot and I think that as long as Pompey survive their financial difficulties, Rovers will be visiting Fratton Park next season.  And that will be a pleasure.

Normally, at this point I assess Rovers' opponents.  Today I say "what's the point".   Both clubs will be in League 1 next season.  Let's assess each other next season when it matters.

For now, I just hope Rovers get a pride-winning victory against Pompey.  At the same time, I wish Pompey all the best in their recovery.  One of the best clubs in England, I hope that they will be competing next season, hopefully with us!

Enjoy the game everybody .

RTID

PUP