Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan 
By the way, the Doncaster line up shows seven changes from their win over Preston at the weekend. Squad rotation or disrespect? That is the big question at this stage.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VALAIRIAN
Won't be 7 changes next time  |
Seeing as I'd already registered I thought I'd better revisit. Congratulations on last night which you more than deserved, regardless of our shortcomings of which there are many and which are being disected on the Rovers board.
As for the quotes above, please don't take it as a sign of disrespect. Four of the starting eleven (Sullivan, O'Connor, Friend and Lockwood) started at Preston while Sheils, Fairhurst, Payne, Dumbaya, Hird and Brooker were on the bench at PNE. Martis and Hayter also started at Preston but started on the bench last night. Of the others a mixtures of injuries (Coppinger, Oster, Wilson), suspension (Gillet), international call ups (Stock) and resting some who either hadn't had a full pre-season or who had injuries at the end of last season and weren't ready for three games in a week (Sharp, Woods).
Last night just shows that at Championship level we can compete with our first team, but our reserves are nowhere near the level required and were rightly put to the sword by a clever, hard working and attractive league two side. The fact that our bench was full of youth teamers and an unfit Hayter just goes to show our lack strength in depth having invested in quality (Stock and Sharp being the headliners) rather than bodies for the squad.
Good luck in round two.
