Football League talking points: Peterborough sacking, Orient thrashed, Kevin Davies retires
Thursday 10 September 2015 15:32, UK
Managerial sackings, world-class goals and shock results, it was another exciting week of action in the Football League.
With the help of Football League expert Don Goodman, we have picked out five talking points from an action-packed weekend from Leagues One and Two.
Robertson gets Posh sack
Dave Robertson became the first managerial casualty of the season when he was dismissed by Peterborough on Sunday.
The 41-year-old was appointed on a permanent basis in May but was sacked after just one win from Posh's opening six League One matches.
Robertson thanked Posh for the opportunity - but suggested pressure from fans on social media had contributed to his sacking. "I can see the pressure the chairman's under, particularly from a group of fans on Twitter," he said.
DON SAYS: "I say this with the greatest of respect, but when things don't go our way in general terms, we look for excuses. The social media angle is a little bit of an excuse in my opinion. At the end of the day, Dave won just three games out of 17 and took four points from the first six games. It's not good enough for Peterborough.
"Although it was an amazing opportunity for him, It's a very difficult transition going from academy manager to club manager. It's a very different skill-set. I don't think there are many examples of where it's been very, very successful.
"Dave was privileged and fortunate to get the job in the first place with no track record in the professional game and It's always a shame when it doesn't work out for a manager, but the bottom line is the results weren't good enough.
"Managers will always live and die by football results. It's all set up for success for Peterborough at that level and it will be an attractive job for many. I imagine there will be lots of applicants.
"It was a bit of a gamble to hire him and it's one that hasn't worked out. Darren MacAnthony has taken action and it leaves 40 league games for a recovery. League One is more wide open this year than for many a year. There aren't any obvious favourites.
"This season is a massive opportunity for many League 1 football clubs and Peterborough, with their history at this level, probably would have expected to be up and challenging."
Manager of the month curse strikes Orient
With five wins from five and a 13-3 goal differential it was no surprise that Leyton Orient's Ian Hendon was named League Two Manager of the Month for August.
A repeat win in September is unlikely, though, if Orient's month continues as it started; their perfect start to the season coming to a crashing end on Saturday with a 4-0 defeat at Exeter.
DON SAYS: "Ian Hendon will be thrilled with the start they have made. Regardless of that Exeter result. At their current ratio of results they'll guarantee promotion back to League One, which has to be their aim. Not that long ago they were just a penalty kick away from becoming a Championship club. Last season was a disaster.
"It seemed that the takeover and change of manager destabilised the club. However, they have picked themselves up, dusted themselves down and they've got off to a wonderful start.
"Losing away at Exeter is no disgrace. Paul Tisdale's men are a decent team. They'll be handful for anybody. Orient's confidence won't have been dented. They have the ability to go on another run. They were never going to go through the season unbeaten. This is just a minor blip."
Seasiders end winless streak
Blackpool gave their long-suffering fans something to celebrate on Saturday as they won away from home for the first time since April 2014.
The 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury ended a 24-match winless run for the Seasiders and might provide the spark they need to kickstart their season.
DON SAYS: "A club in turmoil is the only way to describe Blackpool. Five seasons ago they were a Premier League club and everyone wanted them to succeed as they played such brilliant attacking football. The accumulated 39 points in the Premier League, which is one of the highest points total amassed from a relegated side.
"It's been downhill ever since. They lost Ian Holloway and they've been overtaken by off-the-field problems. It's led to a massive amount of instability. You feel for the fans and Neil McDonald.
"But to get their first win under their belt is massive. It can only give them a boost. They must use the result as a bit of a springboard because if they don't it could be a club that goes from the Premier League to League Two."
Davies calls time on career
After 820 appearances, 150 goals and a professional career spanning 22 years, Kevin Davies announced that he was hanging up his boots on Friday.
The 38-year-old, who won one cap for England as a sub against Montenegro in 2010, was released by Preston at the end of last season.
DON SAYS: "Kevin's had a wonderful career but I'm a little disappointed that it ended the way it has for him. I think he felt he could have continued playing but he seemed to be a little disillusioned at not being offered a new deal at Preston and that's a shame.
"Whatever he chooses to do, he'll be a great success because he has that work ethic. You don't lose that. He achieved a lot in his career. He was a handful and he was a player that players hated playing against. He'll look back on his career at nothing but pride.
"He's managed to go on so long because of that hard work and dedication. I played for a long time too, but I was lucky as halfway through my career was when the likes of Ray Wilkins, Mark Hateley and Glenn Hoddle had played abroad and were bringing back great habits in terms of looking after their bodies and their nutrition.
"I'll never forget my first two years as a professional, where we used to pick up fish and chips on the way to the game or eat fried chicken and chips in the car! Now, it's totally different. The change in philosophy allowed me to play until I was 37 and Kevin has followed that same route in terms of looking after his body and mind. That's allowed him to have an extra few years that most players don't get to enjoy."
The Roofe is on fire
Oxford United's Kemar Roofe scored a stunning goal against Bristol Rovers in the Sky Bet League Two game at the Memorial Ground.
DON SAYS: "You could put that goal anywhere on the world stage. Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud to score a goal like that. It's a once in a lifetime goal. He's not only bent it into the top corner, he's done it on the half-volley. It was the perfect goal. If he tried it 100 times he'd probably only be able to do it once. It's a goal he'll remember.
"The fact it was live on Sky will also be an added bonus. When you do play in the lower leagues and you get a chance to play on TV, you do look forward to showing the nation what you are capable of. It's a goal that's had a lot of people talking."
