Which Doncaster Rovers players SHOULD have been in the club writers' team of the year

Full disclosure - I had the same reaction as you.

On Friday we published the League One team of the year, as selected by club writers in the division, including yours truly.

The criteria was for each of us to pick an XI based on performances against our team as well as having the restriction of being unable to select any of our own players.

In short, the lack of Rovers players had nothing to do with me.

I am, of course, not seeking to throw my counterparts across the country under the bus.

But I will gladly admit that I was shocked to see Ben Whiteman picking up only five votes.

And even more stunned that the only other nods for Rovers were solitary votes for Kieran Sadlier and Jacob Ramsey.

Rovers have put in some bloody good performances this season. Surely they were worthy of greater representation in this far reaching survey?

It is difficult. Myself and my colleagues were asked to select players from a pool of 30-odd performances, judging individuals on one or two viewings.

You’re always unlikely to get full agreement. I could not put Ivan Toney in my team because he was poor in both games against Rovers, yet few would doubt the Peterborough man’s status as the division’s top striker.

Do Rovers’ players not stand out enough? Are good performances more a collective concern than individual?

From the perspective of someone who sees the group week in, week out, it is hard to fully answer that question. In my opinion, there have certainly been stand out performances throughout this season.

This whole exercise did get me thinking about who from Rovers I would have put into my XI had I been permitted to do so.

While trying my best to remain balanced in my thinking, I believe I could have been justified in fitting in three.

SENY DIENG

I opted for Marko Marosi in my XI and while the former Rovers keeper has enjoyed an excellent campaign, keeping a tremendous amount of clean sheets, I would have to go for Dieng if permitted.

His command of his area is supreme, particularly in the air where he rarely drops anything, even when not favourite to claim the ball in the first place.

He is not a keeper where there are goals and you feel he could have done better in keeping them out. And his ability on the ball - a key attribute for modern keepers - is frighteningly good.

What I think has harmed Dieng’s chances of selection is the fact he is rarely overworked in goal. There have been very few games this season where he has been kept busy in shot stopping terms.

That is where I think one of his major strengths lie however - his concentration levels to pull off saves in which he has hardly been required to be on his toes. It is something that top level keepers need.

One moment in the season stands out. Rovers were 3-0 up at Peterborough United and cruising with only a couple of minutes left. Ivan Toney found space for a header only for Dieng to produce a brilliant reaction save.

TOM ANDERSON

Like with Dieng, I have attempted to come up with a reason why Anderson did not receive a single vote.

Unlike with Dieng, I cannot think of one.

Anderson has rarely been unduly troubled by an opposition forward this season - and there are some good strikers in this division.

Aerially, he has few equals in League One and wins that battle week in, week out, against any opposition.

This has been a breakout season for Anderson, who has also shown himself to be sufficiently comfortable on the ball to handle Darren Moore’s determination to play out from the back.

His positioning has improved greatly also, meaning he can cope with quick opposition players who look to spring off him.

I would have selected Anderson in my XI over Jack Tucker of Gillingham.

BEN WHITEMAN

I must admit, I expected Whiteman to be in this team of the year once the votes had been calculated - and he was not a million miles off.

I thought last year that he was the best in his position in the division and I think he has only cemented that over the last seven months.

Whiteman is essential to the way Rovers play. Whether it be receiving passes out from defence and sparking attacking play or relieving pressure with movement into space to take the ball, the 23-year-old has all the qualities to play at a higher level.

If you look at the stats too, he comfortably has played the most passes in the division and his passing accuracy is superb.

He is perhaps another one who is not too flashy, and his goal threat is not particularly high but I do not believe either of those things hide his excellent ability.

Whiteman would have been in my team over James Henry at Oxford United.

NOTABLE MENTIONS

Had Jacob Ramsey played a full season with Rovers, I could easily imagine him picking up more than a single vote. His impact in such a short space of time has been excellent with his aggressive, forward-minded play, as well as his goal return.

And there is Kieran Sadlier too, whose own goals haul has been excellent from out wide. He may not take games by the scruff of the neck too often but he is always a threat.