Demotivation v Mediocracy

LEEDS UNITED
 - V - 
DONCASTER ROVERS

Leeds United came to the Keepmoat in October and humiliated a very poor Doncaster Rovers.  I doubt if Leeds have had an easier victory this season.  So no wonder if the Rovers faithful crossed the fixture off their list of away matches.  Its no fun having the piss taken out of you by the Leeds, especially if you've been dumb enough to pay £36 for the privilege.

But then, Ken Bates sacked Simon Grayson while Leeds were in 10th place, a mere 3 points away from the play-offs.  It's not gone quite so well since then and, paying £36 to take the piss out of the Leeds could be considered a bargain by the Donny faithfull!  The problem is that it is by no means a safe-money bet.  The way both sides are playing, it would be a very over-confident fan who put money on either side.

LEEDS UNITED

The most important thing tomorrow, other than the result, is that we put on a performance against Doncaster where we look like we care. - Neil Redfearn

The article on that link sums up the situation at Leeds at the moment.  The current manager has no idea about his or the club's future.  He's publicly stating that the situation is unsettling for players as they do not know the club's future plans.  Meanwhile, the only person who can resolve all the questions is sitting in Monaco doing a very good impression of someone who couldn't care less.  Maybe, it isn't an impression.

As a Rovers fan, I've seen it all and more when it comes to bad chairmen.  Believe me Leeds, in a pissing contest, Rovers can say our ex-chairman was far worse than your current one.  But we do say that with some sympathy.  We know what it is like when the wrong person controls your club.

Now, I tried to review the last few Leeds games on LUTV as my missus pays £52 a year for that privilege.  What a load of pants it is!  First of all, I mistakenly logged in on an expired account so couldn't play any video.  The "service" would not allow a sign-out or new sign on, so I was reduced to logging in on a current account on a netbook.   I could not find a way of getting the video to play on full screen and the video buffered to such an extent as to make it unwatchable.  So sod that!  I'll watch the games on "player" - which costs £34 a year.  Leeds fans - you really should start complaining about how you are being exploited by your club!

But THANK YOU Leeds and Coventry as watching the highlights was extremely entertaining once I got there.  Sure, comedy central would be a more appropriate channel that Coventry Player but it was great entertainment.

I should have known I was in for a treat when I heard the Coventry commentator announce the scoreline at the Doncaster Rovers match being played at the same time.  

"And they have spent a lot of money haven't they, Doncaster" he said knowingly.

"Yes" agreed the pundit. "A lot on loan players but it hasn't worked".  PMSL is the phrase I believe.

On the pitch and I was first struck by how quickly Leeds moved the ball going forwards.  I've seen this many times, so wasn't surprised though I had a feeling that Coventry's ineptitiude in defence was making it look a little better than it was.  But the ball moved quickly and chances were created.

There were clear (and how clear) chances for White and McCormack that were attrociously wasted with panache as Coventry did their damdest to help Redferan get a permanent job.

But if Leeds should have scored at least three, Coventry should have had six.  It was one of those videos that you show kid's teams with the standard phrase "that's why you shouldn't...."  Defensively, Leeds have got worse since I last saw them based on that performance.  And downwards from what I last saw wasn't easy.

Players are half-heartedly challenged at set-pieces; getting goal-side of your marker seems easy - even encouraged and a couple of offside appeals showed that the defence really do not know what one another are doing.  


But the second penalty, conceded well into injury time was the cherry that went on top a cake that was really well iced and gift-wrapped for the next oppoenents.  The Coventry player broke with pace from well within his own half.  A challenger tried a tackle, decided he couldn't make it and so pulled the lad back - still a good 40 yards from goal.  The lad was looking good so, foul him while he's a long way from goal.  You burn some more very precious time while a very innocuous free-kick is taken and leave Coventry with a point.

That's what should have happened but no, the challenger, in a rare attack of sportsmanship, let the runner's arm go.  And he ran on.  Sportsmanship spread as more and more defenders stepped back to admire the young lad's skill.  Then, in the penalty area, somebody decided that plan A - foul the kid had indeed been the correct option - wonderfull!

DONCASTER ROVERS

We are in a relegation battle and we’ve got to roll our sleeves up and on we go. If we pick up three points on Saturday it is better than two draws. - Dean Saunders

When you read the article on that link, you kind of see Saunders as a manager clutching at straws and anything else available to him.  Now he talks about Paul Keegan and Chris Brown, the forgotten Rovers frontman.  

"Not an out and out striker - that's not his game" says Dean.  Maybe not.  But Brown did score 10 goals in 22 games while on loan at Donny back in 2003/04.  Yes, it was at a lower level but Chris was also much less experienced.  Also, do we have an out and out goalscorer?  I think not.  So why not give Chris a go in a role that would give him this kind of opportunity?  There is a vacancy and I think Chris is a far better player than many people think he is.  Sean O'Driscoll certainly thought so! (damn - mentioned Sean.  Baaaaad Duck!)

Unfortunately, entertaining though it may have been, Rovers could have used Leeds beating Coventry.  As it happened, Rovers were having enough problems of their own against a good Blackpool side.  

So now I've just watched James Hayter miss two very presentable chances, the very kind that have to go in the net if you want to get out of the relegation zone.  I also saw Gary Taylor-Fletcher getting between two centre-backs for one goal and looking like Ronaldo to bag a second.  No disrespect to GTF but he is not Ronaldo so why did he suddenly look like him?  Would the guilty party who flattered him so much please step forward - all three of you!

But Matt Gilks made some very good saves from Brian Stock and unbelievably from Martin Woods and Diouf scored the cheekiest of penalties and then made gobby gestures to Gilks.  No wonder Rovers' fans are loving Dioufy!

All in all typical Rovers and more so since the loss of our finest.  Chances created - tick the box.  Chances converted.....ahhhhh, hmmmmm, well.....

And that's that really.  A wonderfully generous defence awaits an attack who wouldn't know a good thing if it laid in front of them with it's legs in the air.  At the other end, legs are also being waved in the air, but will memory serve the Leeds strikers?  I wouldn't bet on it!

No More Teeslide, Boro' on the up!

DONCASTER ROVERS
V
MIDDLESBROUGH

'Boro' are sitting very pretty amongst the 4 teams occupying the play-off places, all of whom have 24 points. They have a fearsome away record showing 4 away wins in the bag already.  Not a team, who a side struggling to find their way at the minute want to be meeting.

But hang on a minute Fuzz mate, take a look at those teams and you see Crystal Palace who were beaten at the Keepmoat by a gluteus deflection; Hull, from whom we took a point and Derby, well all good runs must come to an end!  Anyway, the point remains.  All is not lost!  Do we need an omen?  OK, its another 1st of the month fixture and the last time Rovers failed to win one of those was exactly 3 years ago when we drew 0:0 with Swansea!

Last season saw Rovers swept aside 3:0 at the Riverside on the final day.  Well, we were safe, nothing more to play for and were pretty rubbish too!  At the Keepmoat Rovers beat Middlesbrough 2:1 in our last fixture of 2010.  That was a night when the temperature at the Keepmoat dropped to well below casual fan endurance levels.  In fact, probably uniquely, at half time, a local cup final that was to be played the next day, was called off due to a frozen pitch after a pitch inspection.  Rovers' winner came four minutes into injury time too so it wasn't just the cold that sent Boro' fans home bitter that evening!

Rovers also won their next fixture, on New Years' day against Scunthorpe, the last time they have managed two successive wins.

DONCASTER ROVERS

I’m going to do everything I can to help the team be successful. I love challenges. I went to Bolton and Rangers when people would not have expected me to do so. - El Hadji Diouf

Well Donny appear to have signed someone since the last game.  Love him or loath him,  El Hadji Diouf certainly seems big news, actually having Doncaster Rovers trending on twitter on the day he signed.

I can't see Diouf starting tomorrow.  Looking at the film of him taken at his first Cantley Park training session, there's a pound or two still to be lost, a point that was confirmed by "Big Sam", when West Ham decided against signing the controversial striker.

Well fitness, or lack of it should be a temporary condition for a footballer and there is no doubt about it, lacklustre performances against Portsmouth and Coventry show Donny need something or someone.  Let's hope Mr. Diouf can bring what is needed.

Other news,  Rovers are determined to keep hold of Billy Sharp.  Well that's what the headline says make of it what you will.  Whatever we make of it, a future partnership of Dioufy and Sharpy could be tasty.  Sadly, we won't be seeing Billy tomorrow as he is on leave with personal problems.  

MIDDLESBROUGH

Going to Doncaster is never easy, I remember going there last year and losing late on so I’m expecting a very tough game and I’m sure we’ll get one. - Tony Mowbray

The downward slide on Teeside looks now to have been abated as, since appointing Tony Mowbray at this time last season Boro have been generally upwardly mobile.  I don't think the success can be totally down to Mowbray, but he's a good manager with an affinity with the club.  Such things don't hurt.

Looking at the highlights and the first thing I'll do is give a shout-out for Southampton.  They do not look like a flash in the pan as they played Middlesbrough off the park on Saturday.

I can be critical of the Boro' defence.  The marking was very loose and very loose became non-existent when faced with the movement they were being subjected to.  The other sin was standing off in midfield against a Southampton side who are very capable of being patient as well as direct as this 27-pass move demonstrates.

Flash stuff.  Southampton were also brilliant off the ball, never allowing Boro' chance to settle.

So we've established the loss on Staurday was as much to do with very good opponents as it was with defensive frailty.

Moving on to the 2:0 victory gained by Boro' over Derby and it has to be said that Boro' got away with that one.  That frailty against movement was there to be seen again as Derby hit the woodwork a number of times  and had Luke Steele performing at his best.

Still, a long range effort from Hoyt that was deflected in off Willaims showed Rovers can't rest around their penalty area tomorrow evening.  The second goal was a Marvin Emnes header.  He's obviously one to watch, with 6 league goals already in this campaign.

So move them about and don't let them settle Donny and there's a win.  But work like you have in the last two and the omens will not be good.

Enjoy the game everyone!