Thread by @HCfootball01

A thread on #DRFC early start to the window and what I feel is needed to return to League One. (🧵)

After relegation to L2 in 2022 they had another very poor season last year finishing 18th and not ever putting a run of games together.

I think they big thing I struggled to see was what direction the club was heading in and what sort of team they was. They wasn’t necessarily a possession based team and they lacked the quality to be a counter attacking team, so I did struggle to see what way the club was going.

For Doncaster to progress as a football club something had to change at the club, they had to identify a philosophy and recruitment had to be so much better than last season

Early doors they brought Grant McCann in, already showing the ambition to have a real style of play and a man who knows what players he wants and who works in what way.

League Two is already shaping up to be a very difficult division with so many teams expecting to be in and around the play offs. Getting the recruitment right early on was exactly what Doncaster needed to do and exactly what Doncaster have done

𝗝𝗼𝗲 𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆, 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿, 𝗜𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗼𝗿, 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗯𝗲𝗻𝘁 and 𝗧𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 have all joined #DRFC.

That’s eight signings already, a mixture of youth and experience but all share hunger and qualities that McCann admires.

𝗝𝗼𝗲 𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 who has played in a struggling Cambridge side in L1 over the last 2 seasons also getting 20 goals all together is impressive considering.

I have no doubts he will score goals in League Two and provide McCann an alternative option up front, depth is key next season and I’ll discuss that later in the thread.

𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 he may be a veteran defender at 37 but his leadership qualities will certainly be appreciated. He featured in 28 championship games last season so dropping down to L2 certainly won’t be an issue for him.

He is another source of goals that Doncaster can… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 may have suffered relegation with Hartlepool but he certainly showed when he did play he’s more than capable at playing at L2 level.

𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 obviously a lot of biased here, but I have no doubt he will become a fan favourite.

His technical ability was far too good for NL and his passion, dedication and work rate is honestly one of the most impressive I’ve seen, and his attitude to slot into… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

𝗜𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗼𝗿 a signing which isn’t actually unknown as he’s played a lot of games for #DRFC it provides good completion and he will be fighting for number one.

𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆 another exciting signing, versatility will be key throughout the season, his ability to operate in the centre of midfield and in the defence is vital.

𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗯𝗲𝗻𝘁 the NL signings have impressed me the most, because they’re all so excellent. His late bursts into the box which often leaves him the free man will get him numerous goals next season and his high energy and determination will be another favourite.

𝗧𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 a young prospect rated very highly at Wolves, is best on either wing. I did expect a League One loan, so for #DRFC to pull it off I’m excited to see how he settles in.

Now that’s the signings so far, what do I thinks needed next, and where do I think #DRFC could finish

In terms of new signings, I do believe it would be for depth more than anything, I’ve been that impressed so far I don’t believe many more are needed, however I know McCann will be keeping tabs on youngsters.

So I will go through a couple of players I believe would fit the McCann system and would make sense.

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 has recently been released by Huddersfield after a loan spell at Harrogate. Although his stats aren’t impressive at Harrogate - after watching him for a while I believe he would suit a 4-2-3-1.

He’s a tricky, direct winger who in my opinion… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗺 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 a 20 year old striker recently released from Blackburn. Had some good season in the U23 PL and I like his play style.

Wouldn’t be the first choice striker but would develop under McCann into what I believe could be a first choice striker.

𝗧𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗕 a very good ball playing CB, who i believe could play L1 and if Doncaster were to pull this off would be a massive signing. He scored 8 goals in the NL last season from CB and possesses a lot of traits that make a brilliant modern day CB.

Now Doncaster have a manager who knows what he wants player wise and football wise and his demands will transfer on to the pitch I think they’ll have a positive season.

There’s still a while till it starts with the transfer window still yet to be utilised by every club.

I do believe this will be the toughest L2 in a while so if you are to progress to L1 you will have to be more consistent than ever.

For now I have Doncaster targeting the top three, that could change - but everything from the manager to the early recruitment shows me #DRFC are a team who will be there or they’re about next season.

Thanks for the read.