ROVERS SIGN MANCHESTER UNITED STRIKER

Doncaster Rovers have signed Federico Macheda on an initial one-month loan from Manchester United

Doncaster Rovers have, this morning, secured a massive coup by completing the signing of Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on an initial one-month loan.

The 22-year-old who has been frozen out of the picture at Old Trafford reported to Cantley Park for training this morning and is in line to make his début in tomorrow night’s Sky Bet Championship match at Watford.

Macheda, who broke on to the scene in 2009 when he scored an injury time winner against Aston Villa, watched Rovers’ goalless draw at the weekend with Huddersfield Town from the directors box.

Paul Dickov had been linked with a move for the out of favour United striker earlier this summer but speculation went dead following the signing of fellow striker Theo Robinson.

The Italian last played for United in December during their Champions League match to FC Cluj. However, he has spent the last three years away from Old Trafford on loan spells with Sampdoria, Queens Park Rangers and Stuttgart.

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: http://www.telegraph.com

O’CONNOR SET TO REJOIN FORMER BOSS AT CITY

Former Doncaster defender James O’Connor has joined Bristol City on trial

Derby County defender James O’Connor is set to re-establish his connections with Sean O’Driscoll at Bristol City.

City, who appointed O’Driscoll as manager in January, have only picked up one point from their opening three league matches.

The Robins drew their opening Sky Bet League One match 2-2 with newly promoted Bradford City before they were edged out in a nine-goal thriller at Coventry City.

They then lost 2-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, but they did progress to the second round of the Capital One Cup after a 2-0 victory over Gillingham.

O’Connor, 28, spent six successful seasons at Doncaster before he joined Derby County in the summer of 2012 for an undisclosed fee.

This will be the third time during his career that the highly thought of right-back will join up with O’Driscoll after doing so initial at AFC Bournemouth before O’Driscoll signed him for Doncaster.

O’Connor, who started his career with Aston Villa, made 242 appearances for Doncaster before moving to the Midlands. However after a successful debut season for the Rams O’Connor has fell out of favour and it has become apparent that a move away seems certain.

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: http://www.skysports.com

WIGAN RESCUE A POINT AGAINST DONCASTER

Doncaster striker Chris Brown celebrates putting his side 2-0 up just before the break.

Wigan Athletic rescued a point against newly-promoted Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night, curtosey of a last minute goal from defender Leon Barnett.

The visitors started the better of the two sides and their work was duly rewarded on 25 minutes when new signing Theo Robinson scored his second goal in as many games.

Doncaster, who beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 on Friday night, showed now fear of their former Premier League superiors as they treatened constantly from both wings.

The combination of former Wigan winger David Cotterill and James Husband, a tactic which worked well on Friday, caused the Athletic defence some problems as did the threat of James Coppinger and Manchester City loanee Reece Wabara down the other wing.

Rovers, who won the League One title last season is dramatic circumstances, doubled their lead two minutes before the break when Chris Brown headed in from close range.

Doncaster boss Paul Dickv, who named an unchanged side from the win over Blackburn, retained Paul Keegan and Richie Wellens in the centre of the park and they controlled the opening 45 minutes at the DW Stadium – as they had done against Blackburn – but Dickov took the wise move to withdraw Wellens five minutes after the restart after he picked up a harsh booking.

After the restart the FA Cup holders, who suffered a shock loss last weekend to AFC Bournemouth, started to get back into the game and they pulled a goal back just before the hour-mark when Shaun Maloney curled a free-kick over the Rovers wall and past the diving Ross Turnbull.

The Yorkshire outfit did not threaten Scott Carson’s goal as much in the second half but when they did they came within a whisker of extending their lead.

Tottenham loanee Bongani Khumalo saw his powerful header rebound off the post to the relief of many Wigan supporters inside the DW Stadium.

The final half-an-hour saw an onslaught from Owen Coyle’s side and Doncaster weathered the storm until the final minute of normal time when they were undone.

Wigan broke past Cotterill down the right-wing before delivering a low cross into the box which was turned home by defender Leon Barnett.

The former Norwich City centre-half – who had been linked with the Rovers over the summer – created some space inside the Rovers box before firing a low shot past Turnbull.

Paul Dickov’s side came close to instantly to restoring their lead in the first minute of added time when substitute striker Billy Paynter saw his looping header cannon back off of the crossbar.

The stalemate, which was the game in hand, moved Wigan and Doncaster to 10th and 11th respectively in the Sky Bet Championship.

Wigan manager Coyle said:

“I’m disappointed because we lost two sloppy goals after starting really well. We could have, and should have, been in front but we weren’t and that allowed them to score.

“Our reaction to the first goal was not good enough for where we want to be as a team. At half-time we spoke about character and desire.

“No manager wants to be 2-0 down and ordinarily you would be happy with a point. But in the second half we created enough chances to win.”

Meanwhile Rovers boss Dickov wanted to focus on the positives of holding the FA Cup holders to a draw on their home patch.

“I’ve got mixed emotions. I’m disappointed not to come away with all three points, but I’m very proud of the performance. To come here, against what I think is one of the best squads in the division, and play like that is excellent,” he said.

“We didn’t want to come here and sit back. At 2-0 we hit the post and that was a massive turning point because at 3-0 it would have been hard for them to come back – even with the quality they have got.

“Then at 2-2 we hit the bar with a fantastic header from Billy Paynter, so it was certainly exciting for the neutral.”

 

Wigan Athletic: Carson, Crainey, Boyce, Perch, Barnett, McCarthy, McCann (Gomez, 81), Watson (Fortune, 46), Holt, Maloney, McClean (Beausejour, 61)

Substitutes: Nicholls, Gomez, McArthur, Espinoza, Beausejour, Dicko, Fortune

Doncaster Rovers: Turnbull, Wabara (Paynter, 90), Jones, Khumalo, Husband, Cotterill, Keegan, Wellens (Furman, 51), Coppinger (Quinn, 77), Brown, Robinson

Substitutes: Maxted, Quinn, McCullough, Furman, Syers, Duffy, Paynter

Attendance: 14,304

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: Press Association

VETERAN ‘KEEPER SULLIVAN LEAVES ROVERS

Former Scotland goalkeeper Neil Sullivan has left Doncaster Rovers after a six-year stay in South Yokshire

Veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan has left newly-promoted Championship side Doncaster Rovers after he accepted another deal from an unnamed club.

The 43-year-old who made his name at Wimbledon during the late 1980s and 1990s before he moved on to Chelsea and Tottenham.

Sullivan, who signed for Rovers from Yorskhire rivals Leeds United in 2007, became the oldest player to play in the Football League last season.

New Rovers boss Paul Dickov told BBC Radio Sheffield: “He’s gone with everyone’s best wishes.

“We wanted him to stay on as a keeper and in an ambassadorial role but he has had an offer from elsewhere he felt he couldn’t turn down.

“I told him I was looking to bring in a number one goalkeeper and he totally respected that.

Dickov added: “He’s been a fantastic servant to the club and a brilliant professional.”

During his six-year stay with the club Sullivan made over 180 appearances and he helped guide them to two promotions, most notably last season’s dramatic victory at Brentford on the final day of the season.

The former Scotland shot-stopper went on loan last season to League Two side AFC Wimbledon and he had reportedly said that was a club where he’d like to end his playing career, so a return to them could be on the cards.

Meanwhile winger Kyle Bennett and striker Chris Brown have signed new two-year deals with the club whilst the signing of Scunthorpe’s Mark Duffy could be completed before Saturday’s match at home to Motherwell.

The ex-Morecambe midfielder cleaned up at the Iron’s end of season awards last season and it is rumoured that he has already passed his medical after he watched Rovers record a 3-0 win over Rossington on Tuesday evening.

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: Empics

DICKOV GETS OFF TO A WINNING START WITH ROVERS

Doncaster manage Paul Dickov saw his side run out 4-0 winners in his first game in charge after they beat Frickley Athletic in their opening pre-season match.

Doncaster Rovers got off to the perfect start under new manager Paul Dickov after they beat Evo-Stick League Northern Premier side Frickley Athletic 4-0 at Westfield Lane.

Rovers fielded two sides that included a combination of last season’s first team regulars, youth team graduates and trialists – both of which played 45 minutes.

Midfielder Paul Keegan opened the scoring for the Rovers with a delightful chip over former Armthorpe goalkeeper Jamie Green, before a Chris Brown brace rounded off a convincing first 45 minutes for the new manager.

Into the second half and the Rovers could only add one further goal to their tally when David Syers’ fluke found its way into the back of the net. His initial effort from inside the six-yard box was well saved by Green with his legs but the Rovers midfielder saw the ball hit his face before crossing the line.

Striker Billy Paynter took some stick from the whole crowd after he saw several of his chances escape the goal. He initially shuffled his way around the stricken ‘keeper before seeing his shot cleared off the line and just minutes from time his sliding effort from four-yards out went over the bar.

The home side rarely threatened all evening and it took until the 43 minute of the match until veteran shot-stopper Neil Sullivan touched the ball with his hands.

In the second half a new trialist ‘keeper, understood to be Bolton’s Rob Lainton, had a rather quiet night for the South Yorkshire outfit and the most he had to do was punch a cross away from his goal.

Marc De Val Fernandez, the former Real Madrid midfielder, made a solid start to his Rovers career as he played the second half as a holding midfielder, this allowed Syers, Cotterill and a trialist, thought to be Sanchez Payne formerly of Leeds United, the opportunity to show their class and prove to Dickov why they deserve to be at the club.

Doncaster’s next pre-season friendly is on Saturday when they travel to Retford before another away match at Rossington the following Tuesday.

Dickov’s first match at the Keepmoat Stadium will be on July 13 when Rovers entertain Scottish side Motherwell in a pre-season friendly.

Rovers first half XI: Sullivan, Binns, Jones, trialist, Husband, trialist, Harper, Keegan, Bennett, trailist, Brown.

Rovers second half XI: Trialist, Quinn, trialist, Wakefield, Spurr, trialist, Fernandez, Middleton, Cotterill, Syers, Paynter

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: South Yorkshire Times

SHOULD BRITISH SPORTS ADOPT THE AMERICAN DRAFT SYSTEM?

Both England under 21s and England under 20s failed to make it out of their group stages in their respective tournament’s this summer.

It is no secret that in recent years sport in United Kingdom, primarily England, has not been to a standard where we can compete against a number of other nations.

We have seen our national football side knocked out either at the quarter-final stage or before in four of the last five World Cups that England have qualified for.

Likewise this summer both our under 21s and under 20s succumbed to the pressure of playing for themselves and not the country in a major tournament as both were knocked out in the group stage.

It is fair to say that the Football Association have tried to develop the new prospects of the game, but their measures just have not gone far enough. Many of them are having one or two good games lower down the leagues before being snapped up by top Premier League clubs, who do not utilise their potential.

One name that stands out is former Crystal Palace midfielder John Bostock, who signed a lucrative deal with Tottenham Hotspur when he was 16-years-old.

Where is he now?

Nowhere. In fact he was released by Spurs this summer after his contract with the club came to an end.

More recently he has been plying his trade with MLS side Toronto after spending time on loan at Swindon Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City and Brentford.

In fact Bostock has never played a competitive match for the White Hart Lane side.

There are, however, many more players in the English game that have disappeared from the face of the earth after securing that dream move to a top Premier League club.

Now. I believe that if English sport’s wanted to develop their youth players and give them and future nations’ success in future tournaments could be aided by the introduction of a draft system, which is similarly used in a wide array of American sports – most notably for me hockey.

The NHL draft has been taking place since 1967 and has produced some quality players over the years that have gone on to achieve great success in the sport.

The Pittsburgh Penguins currently have four players in their team that they picked via the draft system in the past 13 years.

Captain Sydney Crosby was the number one pick in 2005, whilst Evgeni Malkin was the second choice pick the year before.

In 2003, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was the first choice pick whilst defender Brooks Orpik also came through the system in 2000.

Likewise the Philadelphia Flyers, the main rivals of the Penguins, have also utilised the draft system to their advantage in recent years with captain Claude Giroux being the number 22 pick in 2006.

The system works by allowing the teams that have not  been that successful the previous season getting the first pick of the best upcoming young players who have a bright future in the sport.

The 2013 draft took place earlier this week and watching it made me think that allowing teams to pick the best upcoming players rather than having to battle it out with cash like they currently do.

This alternative way could provide more competition in the lower English leagues and if team’s utilise the system correctly they could climb the ladder without the outside investment of foreign billionaires.

Transfer fees should still apply for the more established players that have played the game professional for one club or another, otherwise it would mean Jim White would be surplus to requirements on Sky Sports News.

With money being such an influence in the sport it cannot be completely ripped out of the game but if transfer fees for these foreign imports continue to escalate like they are then the grass roots football development in England is never going to improve any time soon.

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: Getty Images

 

 

ROVERS SIGN EX-MADRID MIDFIELDER

League One champions Doncaster Rovers have reportedly completed the signing of former Real Madrid midfielder  Marc De Val Fernandez on a two-year-deal

Championship new boys Doncaster Rovers have made their first signing of the summer according to local newspaper, the Doncaster Free Press.

The local weekly paper are reporting that new manager Paul Dickov announced the signing of former Real Madrid B star Marc De Val Fernandez on a two-year-deal, prior to training this morning.

Rovers, who open up their campaign on August 3 at home to Blackpool, have signed the 23-year-old defensive midfielder who had reportedly interested Hull City several years ago.

Meanwhile, Doncaster saw their initial written bid for Scunthorpe United midfielder Mark Duffy rejected by the League Two club.

Last week, Iron boss Brian Laws confirmed in his press conference that the club had rejected the bid as it was much lower than their estimate of the player that cleaned up at the end of season awards in May.

“It was a derisory offer which we have turned down and I think they would have expected us to,” Laws said.

“However, the interest is very much there.

“The ball is in their court, they know where we are coming from. There is still room for scope and movement and if nothing comes off there are still a number of other interested parties.”

In the coaching department at the Keepmoat Stadium, Dickov has confirmed former Manchester City manager Brian Horton as his number two, whilst former Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard has joined the South Yorkshire outfit as their new goalkeeper coach, replacing the departing Lee Butler.

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: Getty Images

CARROLL SIGNS SIX-YEAR DEAL WITH WEST HAM

Andy Carroll has joined West Ham United on a six-year-deal for £15m

England striker Andy Carroll has completed his move to West Ham United bringing an unsettled two-and-a-half year stay with Liverpool to an end.

The 24-year-old had been on loan at Upton Park last season after struggling to make his mark at the Anfield club following his £35 million move from Newcastle in January 2011.

Carroll, who scored seven goals in 24 appearances for the Hammers last season, has signed an initial six-year deal with the option of a further two years.

“It’s fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent,” Carroll said.

The England striker was keen to end his troubled stay at Liverpool after he replaced Fernando Torres who moved to Chelsea, however, he felt a move away from Anfield could jeopardise his international career, despite a transfer fee between the two club’s being agreed in May.

Carroll added: “The fans, the lads and the club itself have been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.

“Since the end of the season I’ve had a lot of time to think, I’ve missed it and that’s why I’m back.

“Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did – we did great, and it can only get better for us.

“The way the club’s being run, obviously getting the new stadium and everything like that, it’s only going up.”

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: http://www.blog.football rascal.com

BLADES APPOINT WEIR

Former Everton and Rangers defender David Weir has signed a three-year deal to become the new manager of League One Sheffield United

Sheffield United have confirmed the appointment of former Everton defender David Weir as their new manager.

The 43-year-old has agreed a three-year deal at Bramall Lane in what will be his first managerial post since retiring from the game in 2012.

Amid speculation that the former Blades defender Robert Page was in line for the job, Weir emerged the favourite over the weekend with many bookmakers.

Weir told the club’s website: “My first thoughts about the job are of excitement. I understand how privileged I am to be named manager here.

“I realise what a great opportunity is in front of me now and my message to the supporters is that I will work hard and give everything to be successful at Bramall Lane.”

He added: “I honestly can’t wait to get started and get a real feel for the club, then obviously I am eager to get organised for when the players return for pre-season training later this month.”

The former Scottish international ended his playing career with Rangers in 2012, following lengthy spells with Falkirk, Hearts, Everton and the Ibrox based club.

Weir has previous connections with the League One outfit, as he trained with the club in January prior to returning to Goodison Park in a coaching role.

It was later confirmed that the Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright had interviewed Weir about succeeding David Moyes as Everton boss, after he ended his decade-long affinity with the club last season.

Weir steps into his first managerial job in the third tier of English football with a side that have had two promotion failures.

In that old saying of ‘third time lucky’ the South Yorkshire based outfit will be hoping for exactly that after both Danny Wilson and Chris Morgan failed to get the club promoted back to the Championship.

Former Blade and current Motherwell boss Stuart McCall turned down the chance to manages the Blades last month as did Graham Arnold – the manager of Australian side Central Coast Mariners – who labelled the club “prehistoric”.

Other names that were in contention for the League One job included the much travelled Michael Appleton, Notts County’s former manager Keith Curle and Page – who is a coach at now League One side Port Vale following their promotion last season.

Blades chief executive Julian Winter feels the club have appointed the right man as their new boss: “We are thrilled to appoint David and the three-year contract emphasises the fact that he will assist in a change in club culture.

“I have stated before that the club needs to act differently and David is young, has a great pedigree and will bring a new vision and leadership to the club.”

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: The Telegraph

MCCALL REJECTS BLADES

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has opted to stay in Scotland to manage Motherwell despite interest from Sheffield United

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has rejected the opportunity to manage League One side Sheffield United, according to the Press Association.

McCall, 48, ended his playing career at Bramall Lane in 2005 after previously representing Bradford City, Rangers and Everton.

The Motherwell boss has opted to remain with the Scottish Premier League side following talks that he was in pole position to take over as manager at the South Yorkshire club, who have been without a permanent manager since Danny Wilson left the club in April.

United were unsuccessful for the second successive season in the League One play-offs under the managerial stewardship of former captain Chris Morgan.

The Blades lost 2-1 on aggregate to Yeovil Town, who were subsequently promoted to the Championship, despite leading the tie after the first leg.

McCall’s side ended last season 16 points behind SPL winners Celtic. That second place finish was enough to secure The Steelmen’s place in the Europa League qualifying rounds – which is something that seems to have influenced his stay north of the border.

Words: Adam Grice

Photo: BBC Sport