[FM24] Doncaster Rovers - Can the Vikings reign?

[William1379]

After struggling to stick with a save so far this FM, I’ve decided on two things, one to try documenting a save and two, to take charge of my hometown club - Doncaster Rovers.

Since regaining their Football League status in 2003 there’s been a new 15,000 seater stadium built replacing the old Belle Rue, with the next 20 years spent bouncing around the EFL divisions with flighting spells in the Championship and League One, Doncaster now find themselves in League Two following relegation in 21/22 and finishing 18th last year.

 

Can we get them back to their lofty heights of the Championship or even further?!

 

Pre-Sesaon

Naturally pre-season began with a thumping of our second string, 7-1, it’d be rude not to eh!

Signing wise because I’d set the game up with ‘real-world’ transfers already scheduled I hadn’t  planned to make any additional signings at all. However, as a Newcastle fan myself, when I saw Matty Longstaff available on a free transfer my eyes lit up! Granted he’s out for the first month but what a signing!

The season preview has us predicted 10th with new boys Wrexham and Notts County tipped for automatic playoff contention just behind Stockport

 

August 2023

We’d start the season away at Swindon, never has a fixture screamed ‘League two football’ more in it’s life than Doncaster vs Swindon at 3pm on a Saturday!

Turns out we were actually pretty decent, set up in a 4-2-4  we dominated them, 58% possession, 22 shots, 15 on target and a xG of 3.97 we ran out 3-1 winners with Joe Ironside netting a brace. Is it too soon so say we’rve got a chance at the playoffs here?!?

Yes… yes it was because we then went to loose 3 on the bounce. A 2-1 defat at home to Shrewsbury in the EFL Cup first round ended our cup dreams nice and early, followed by a 3-2 defeat to Morecambe and a 2-0 loss to Gillingham had me back to the tactics drawing board.

So I thought, we need to go back to basics… back to 4-4 -f***king-2. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of atactic novice, I like to think I have a good understanding of football but translating that into FM has always been a struggle. Thankfully we have experts like Rashidi who gives amazing advice so I thought I’d give that a try!

On the face of it.. get the ball up the pitch quick and get it in the net, can’t be much more straight forward can it?

 

Wether it was the tactic (probably not), the FM gods or just plain luck, we rounded off August with a 2-0 win at home to Forest green with our backup striker pairing of Reo Griffiths and Mo Faal on the scoresheet.

All that being said our start of the season has been okay in reflection, 2 wins, 2 defeats and a cup exit leaves us in 8th place. What is a concern though is our injury list, 7 players out, including our two starting strikers George Miller and Joe Ironside both out for the next 4-6 weeks is not ideal.

Edited December 8, 2023 by William1379
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