Rotherham match thread - the Millers' Tale
Oct 22, 2024 13:46:47 GMT
kbola, redshank, and 4 more like this
Post by gizmo56 on Oct 22, 2024 13:46:47 GMT
Tuesday night lights, anyone? Doesn't have the same ring as Firday Night Lights somehow.
Match thread title is a reference to Chaucer - a tale they don't let the kids read.
Rotherham United
A consistent yo yo club demonstrating the gap between the Championship and League 1 if you cannot buy or outsmart the problem (as in Ipswich and Kieran McKenna). Did not get anywhere in the Championship last year and have turned to “he who shall not be named” to resuscitate their fortunes as he did more than a decade ago. However, as the Greek philosopher said, “You can’t step into the same river twice.”
A consistent yo yo club demonstrating the gap between the Championship and League 1 if you cannot buy or outsmart the problem (as in Ipswich and Kieran McKenna). Did not get anywhere in the Championship last year and have turned to “he who shall not be named” to resuscitate their fortunes as he did more than a decade ago. However, as the Greek philosopher said, “You can’t step into the same river twice.”
“He who shall not be named” moved very quickly to re-shape the squad after a load of outgoings and bringing in twelve new players, almost all on free transfers. The theme has been experience, as pretty well all of them have lots of it at League 1 level. The aim is to bounce back straightaway but it is a tough ask. “He who shall not be named” performed wonders with Stevenage and with presumably a bigger wage budget, you would back him to do at least as well in a division which is stronger this year. His teams are typically direct, physical, niggly, well organised and hard to beat.
At the back, Jamie McCart and Cameron Humphreys are the centre-backs. McCart. played a few games for Orient in the second half of the 22-3 season on loan. Dillon Phillips and Cameron Dawson have alternated goalkeeping duties.
Joe Powell, brought in from Burton is ever present in midfield. He is generally partnered by Hakeem Odoffin, whose stats from last year have him as a non-passing midfielder and Christ Tiehe. Occasionally Liam Kelly, who played for Orient in the best forgotten 2016-17 season, gets a go.
They are going to need Jonson Clarke-Harris to perform as their other strikers look woeful. He has been ever present this season, along with Sam Nombe. Between them, they have scored seven of Rotherham’s twelve goals. Experienced physical forward Jordan Hugill remains at the club, but hasn’t been used much at all.
Although they recruited early, they have had a slow start and currently sit 16th. If they don’t improve by Christmas, expect the manager to come under pressure. They have changed formation a lot, although they tend to stick with four at the back. They have struggled to score goals all season although according to Footmob, they have the highest expected goals in the division, which doesn’t bode well for this evening. The stats have the creating a lot and missing a lot.
Although they recruited early, they have had a slow start and currently sit 16th. If they don’t improve by Christmas, expect the manager to come under pressure. They have changed formation a lot, although they tend to stick with four at the back. They have struggled to score goals all season although according to Footmob, they have the highest expected goals in the division, which doesn’t bode well for this evening. The stats have the creating a lot and missing a lot.
Orient will definitely be missing Sean Clare and Theo Archibald while Jordan Graham isn’t very fit, so the team more or less picks itself, given that Richie Wellens doesn’t appear to trust some players to start. One doubt might be in central midfield, where Jordan Brown is not ripping up trees, so Zech Obiero may start, although Brown is bigger. I expect Josh Keeley to continue in goal, given his distribution against Northampton was sound. There are some other injury doubts, although Wellens didn’t name them in his pre-match interview.
This is a very tricky game, as Rotherham are set up to negate everything we do. Our home record is dire and the second half performance against Northampton was toothless. Paradoxically, I think our best hope is if Rotherham try and take the game to us, as this might open up some space in behind.
Rotherham are owned since 2008 by Tony Stewart, a wealthy local businessman with a big lighting company who saved the club from administration. It’s a stable operation but not enough cash to buy success. Given Stewart is 78, the club is likely to be up for sale in the near future so getting back into the Championship and staying there would be a fitting sign-off.
Rotherham are owned since 2008 by Tony Stewart, a wealthy local businessman with a big lighting company who saved the club from administration. It’s a stable operation but not enough cash to buy success. Given Stewart is 78, the club is likely to be up for sale in the near future so getting back into the Championship and staying there would be a fitting sign-off.
In: Cameron Dawson GK (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Sean Raggett CB (Portsmouth, free), Zak Jules CB (Exeter City, free), Reece James LB (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Joe Rafferty RB (Portsmouth, free), Liam Kelly DM (Coventry, free), Shaun McWilliams (Northampton, free), Joe Powell CM (Burton Albion, free), Alex McDonald RM (Stevenage, free), Joseph Hungbo RW (FC Nuremburg, loan), Jonson Clarke-Harris CF (Peterborough United, free), Detlef Esapa-Osong Cf (Nottingham Forest, loan)
Out: Viktor Johansson GK (Stoke, £1 million), Peter Kioso RB (Oxford, £820k), Jamie Lindsay CM (Bristol Rovers, free), Tom Eaves CF (Northampton, free), Grant Hall CB (Swindon Town, free), Nathaniel Ford GK (Maltby, free), Curtis Durose RM (Matlock, free), Cafu CM, Tyler Blackett LB, Sam Clucas CM, Sean Morrison CB, Shane Ferguson LM, Tolaji Bola LB, Lee Peltier RB, Joel Holvery RW (all released), Arvin Appiah RW (Almeria, end of loan)
