I have to take my hat off to Sean O'Driscoll and his management team for the standard of the team's passing and their general play, both last season and this.

However, there are several things which have bothered me, and, I think I speak for the rest of the die-hards in the Rovers crowd

1 - I am mystified by the attacking players selected by the manager in recent matches. Out of the front three, Gareth Taylor is excellent at heading the ball on and chesting it down to lay off. He has done really well, but was amazingly kept out of the team all last season by Mark McCammon, who was inferior to say the least.

Lewis Guy began well and scored two important goals, but has since been ineffective.

James Hayter has looked completely out of his depth this season against much more accomplished defenders, but has still been selected to start every match.

2 - I am totally baffled by the manager's substitution system. He brings players on when there is only two, three or four minutes to go.

In the last home match against Charlton, it was obvious Guy and Hayter were struggling all the game and yet he brought on Byfield with 17 minutes to go, Elliott with 10 minutes to go and, the most ludicrous of all, Heffernan with three minutes to go.

How on earth could these players be expected to contribute in such a short period of time.

We cannot score goals, which is obvious to everyone, yet he still perseveres with Guy and Hayter up front.

Now that Taylor is injured, I think that Byfield, Elliott and Heffernanall deserve a chance to start the next match.

3 - There is no doubt that Sean O'Driscoll is a first class coach, but it really puzzles me that, from set pieces, he never has had a player arriving late from out wide at the far post. All the crowd around my area shout it from the "rooftops", but it never, ever happens, except when the opposition has a free kick or a corner.

Then it occurs every single time. The Birmingham goal was a prime example.

As I said earlier, I am a former Rovers player and a fully qualified FA Coach so the things I have mentioned seem to stand out.

Having said all that, I will be attending every home game, through thick and thin, in fair weather or foul, hoping that the manager and the Rovers team succeed in everything they try this season,

Pete Sanderson

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