DM Hope this link works to the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/doncasterrugbyleague/

DM Hope this link works to the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/doncasterrugbyleague/

It's funny how stats are great with no context when it fits their personal narrative but are no good when they dont

In nearly every walk of life Steve its the same, media, politicians, agenda pushers.

Thanks for the update, Steve.

Toronto, York, Whitehaven, Barrow and Keighley didn't hit financial troubles when in League One, their problems came about when they were playing the 'bigger fish'. This is when they over-stretched themselves.

There's no doubt a direct link between a club's finishing position and the amount they invest in players/coaches. The fifth best funded team is unlikely to finish top. The best funded team is unlikely to finish fifth. Unfortunately, we don't know the League One pecking order.

My best guess would be that the promoted teams over the last five seasons are likely to have had budgets in the top three, although with the lottery of the play-offs a worse funded team might sneak up.

Again trying to keep things in context, if we've been the top funded club over the last five seasons, Richard Horne has used the budget poorly. If we're the fifth best funded team, he's done well, achieving more than he should. We can't answer that question as we don't know about the finances.

Of course, a team needs to work within a sustainable budget as 'any club' is better than 'no club' but there needs to be ambition as well. The 'five year plan' to get us to Super League implied we do have the necessary resources to play at a higher level. Perhaps we don't?

Super League was probably a pipe dream but being a financially stable mid-table team in the Championship ought to be a realistic ambition. Sheffield have been able to do it. Why can't we?

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:DM Hope this link works to the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/doncasterrugbyleague/ Thanks Wilf. I get a message that says I must log in to continue. I can see a few comments that are on the landing screen but I can't scroll or click on anything. I've always resisted selling my soul to Facebook so I don't feel inclined to sign up. I prefer to have proper chats on here where different views and opinions are accepted and discussed in detail.

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:DM Hope this link works to the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/doncasterrugbyleague/ Thanks Wilf. I get a message that says I must log in to continue. I can see a few comments that are on the landing screen but I can't scroll or click on anything. I've always resisted selling my soul to Facebook so I don't feel inclined to sign up. I prefer to have proper chats on here where different views and opinions are accepted and discussed in detail.

Appreciate that, Its not everyone's cup of tea.

This the post from Rob Terrace ( Rob Clayton?) that started the thread rolling

Something that someone messaged me about, which, I managed to do, as I've been doing some work on the stats stuff recently.
Its not meant to prove a point, moreover, just provide something for discussion.
Since 17th June 2017, when Richard Horne took charge, 140 matches, 88 victories, 48 defeats and 4 draws. 1 Victory was a "Walkover", when West Wales forfeited.
7 of his first 12 matches (the remainder of his first 'season') were defeats, with 1 draw in that time.
Thats a win rate of 62.8%, which, would put him at being one of the most successful Dons coaches in the clubs history.

Don't forget 'influencers', Wilf. You know, that bunch of people who have no talent but persuade people what they ought to be thinking. Turd polishing is the skill that is in most demand these days!

Rob Terrace is the photographer & statistician. Rob Clayton used to be the game day announcer.

Thanks, Wilf. Most Dons' coaches haven't been lucky enough to work in a league that has at least 50% 'also rans'. Measuring success solely by win rates is interesting but I'm not sure it's a very good way of assessing 'skill'.

I was in awe of what John Sheridan did but I suspect his win rate probably isn't anywhere near as good as Richard Horne's.

I'd guess the man with the best ever win rate is Ellery Hanley.

Nice stats from Rob Terrace though.

Thanks Gary, Rob (Notts Forest) Terrace. Glad I put in the question mark.