Is Grant McCann The Right Man For Doncaster Rovers? – Opinion
Grant McCann joined Doncaster Rovers at the end of last season, but could his time be coming to an end already?
After finishing in 18th place last season, Doncaster brought former Hull City manager Grant McCann on board to aim for the top end of the table and in my eyes have recruited well enough to be there.
Shopping in the National League for talent, Rovers brought in the likes of recently relegated Hartlepool United’s full-back Jamie Sterry, someone who outperformed the struggling side last season, Gateshead’s midfield maestro Owen Bailey and Halifax’s Jack Senior to bolster their squad.
Along with other very clever recruitment with the signings of Joe Ironside and loanee Louie Marsh, they should be very well equipped for a decent League Two season, even with the competition being so strong this year.
However, Doncaster find themselves rock-bottom of the table with only two points from the first seven games alongside having the worst goal difference in the league with -9.
With the quality and calibre of players brought in who have proved themselves in other leagues and in other teams, the attention has to be on the manager Grant McCann.
Many, including myself, tipped Doncaster to have a great season and be in or around the play-off places come the end of the year and I fully believed McCann was the man who could make that happen for the South Yorkshire side, but currently that doesn’t seem to be the case.
We do know that statistically, they have had the hardest start to the League Two season, but even so, two points from seven games is a pitiful return for any team, in any division.
McCann is a proven manager at a higher level, most recently being sacked by Peterborough as they lingered just below the play-off places, which proves he can win football games and do so frequently enough to be challenging for promotion spots.
After their most recent defeat to League Two new-boys Wrexham, McCann was very critical of his players, claiming they lacked ‘killer instinct’ and they have an ‘arrogance’ which needs to leave the squad.
Obviously this is going to have negative effect on the players and the morale in the dressing room which is only going to hinder team performances further.
I understand it’s the players on the pitch who create the performances and it’s the players who score the goals, but the mentality has to come from the manger and in my eyes the players reflect the manager’s mentality.
McCann has also called his Doncaster squad a ‘nearly-team’, they have made a lot of signings and the squad needs to gel. However, seven games in we need to be seeing glimpses of that and so far I don’t think we are. Time will be ticking for McCann and his team to turn performances around before a new manager is brought in. Next Saturday’s trip to Forest Green Rovers provides the perfect opportunity to do just that.
