Match Thread Rotherham United v. Sheffield United - 25th July 2026 - Preseason Friendly

[Ron_Justice]

With what I've heard is incoming and what we have already, we will easily be top 6 this season , keep the faith UTBs

Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us

 

[S40BLADE]

Not sure what Baptiste has done, other than block anything and put through 2 or 3 thirty meter slide rule passes direct to strikers feet. Was thinking how tidy he looked overall.

Exactly, this kid is a great prospect and great ball player for the position to.

 

[ATL Recs]

Exactly, this kid is a great prospect and great ball player for the position to.

Kids playing against a trialist not a championship level striker

 

[Ginger Gnome]

For the most part we looked about Rotherham's level, which isn't great when half their team seemed to be trialists. Central midfield was awful except when Hamer drifted in there, we know Peck and Arblaster never works and Rothwell and Riedewald are both too slow and ponderous to work well together, not sure why we went with the two worst pairings of the four of them.

Bits of quality shone through with some long balls and O'Hare's goal. Donovan has something about him, the other attacking subs were poor, particularly Matondo who was worse than most of the numberless Rotherham folk.

Going 4-4-2 with two proper wingers and two strikers, then not really playing it up either wing to get crosses in was odd tactically, as if he just puts bodies on the pitch and expects them to work it out for themselves. Doherty was neat and tidy and can cross the ball, so already an upgrade on Hoever.

 

[ATL Recs]

I fully agree. A squad that was miles off it last season, add to that a young unproven kid from Brentford and an OAP from Wolves……. I do worry we’re in for a bleak soul destroying season

Just left same old same old can’t see a structure or identity just like last preseason and the season that followed

 

[BangorBlade]

Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us Tell Us

No dont cos we'll only be disappointed lol

 

[coolasanidiot]

These pre- season matches against hopeless opposition, really tell us nothing . Rotherham sadly looked little better than a Sunday League team. 2-0 against these was poor.
Rothwell embarrassed himself shocking display, Matondo = No thanks. All the players we know are decent are OK but the peripheral players are not good enough so Chris has to stand firm and say 'no sales'. Gus, Peck,Burrows,OHare need to be staying.

 

[ATL Recs]

I'd like to see some power in all 3 parts of team -not these perhaps but similar

Souttar/ Souza/ Moore

At moment we are weak as piss and so so pedestrian -it all needs speeding up x 1.5, Chris isn't daft he has to see this is not OK.

Maybe he is daft

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I'd like to see some power in all 3 parts of team -not these perhaps but similar

Souttar/ Souza/ Moore

At moment we are weak as piss and so so pedestrian -it all needs speeding up x 1.5, Chris isn't daft he has to see this is not OK.

It sounds like last season how long does Wilder need ?

 

[coolasanidiot]

It sounds like last season how long does Wilder need ?

I know you are one that can't stand Wilder, but even you must realise that he is totally hampered with owners that don't want to spend any money.

 

[Nedski]

At moment we are weak as piss and so so pedestrian -it all needs speeding up x 1.5, Chris isn't daft he has to see this is not OK.

The sad thing is he sees that and thinks that it is ok.

 

[Blademan89]

These pre- season matches against hopeless opposition, really tell us nothing . Rotherham sadly looked little better than a Sunday League team. 2-0 against these was poor.
Rothwell embarrassed himself shocking display, Matondo = No thanks. All the players we know are decent are OK but the peripheral players are not good enough so Chris has to stand firm and say 'no sales'. Gus, Peck,Burrows,OHare need to be staying.

Mentioned this... what do we actually get out of playing these types of opposition?

I get it if hes working on new patterns of play/formations/tactics bur were not. Its same football sadly as last season.

We dont even get fitness out of these games as players take it easy beacuse its against dross... what is the point.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Chong OHare.

 

[Nedski]

as if he just puts bodies on the pitch and expects them to work it out for themselves.

Just left same old same old can’t see a structure or identity just like last preseason and the season that followed

These two sentences sum Wilder up. Our tactics extend to "hit it down the channels" and "hope it drops to one of ours".

Brooks' interview when Selles took over spoke volumes "The new manager likes to coach a lot, so that's always good, for us as players to know what we need to do every day in training. I feel like it's been good. It's a lot different to last season. For example, he's coming and telling me what need to do. What his morals are, on the pitch and off the pitch. It's always good to have that as well"

 

[DeanLearner'sCat]

Brooks' interview when Selles took over spoke volumes "The new manager likes to coach a lot, so that's always good, for us as players to know what we need to do every day in training. I feel like it's been good. It's a lot different to last season. For example, he's coming and telling me what need to do. What his morals are, on the pitch and off the pitch. It's always good to have that as well"

And then we lost every week while Brooks played worse under Selles than he did under Wilder.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[bakeblade]

I've not seen Cal hit a shot that far ever

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

With what I've heard is incoming and what we have already, we will easily be top 6 this season , keep the faith UTBs

Fkin hope so cos this lot will be bottom 6

 

[Bladesman]

 

[FTPE]

With what I've heard is incoming and what we have already, we will easily be top 6 this season , keep the faith UTBs

Lemme guess...
You cant name no names?

 

[Nedski]

I've not seen Cal hit a shot that far ever

I had no idea he could kick it that far

 

[Pintor75]

Is playing Rotherham really going to help/test us, not seen the game, bar our goals, but they've been awful the last few years and can't imagine what they're like in friendlies

 

[Blademan89]

Is playing Rotherham really going to help/test us, not seen the game, bar our goals, but they've been awful the last few years and can't imagine what they're like in friendlies

Get absolutely nothing out of playing rotherham, Halifax, chesterfield & Huddersfield reserves.

But I suppose its cheaper for the club when we have no money.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

We were decidedly in second gear first half. CW got into their ribs obviously and we stepped it up a bit. When their subs came on through the second half a number were pretty robust in the challenge. A few of ours weren’t keen on that , Oli especially.

Still to see any change in system or shoots of advancement from last season. Would be great to see additions before Germany but not expectant!

 

[ATL Recs]

Is playing Rotherham really going to help/test us, not seen the game, bar our goals, but they've been awful the last few years and can't imagine what they're like in friendlies

They were piss poor with a few trialists
We were just a little better

 

[ATL Recs]

Fkin hope so cos this lot will be bottom 6

Absolutely

 

[coolasanidiot]

Is playing Rotherham really going to help/test us, not seen the game, bar our goals, but they've been awful the last few years and can't imagine what they're like in friendlies

They were worse than you can imagine, sadly we were only slightly better. We learnt that we need 3 players in - ideally over 6ft 4" - the team lacks pace and power, we looked extremely soft. You'd have to be insane to think this squad can compete with West Ham/ Wolves/ Burnley etc.

 

[Snowflake]

Poor quality opposition but you can only beat whats in front of you. Hamer looking sharp and dropping deep to hit long passes. Rothwell and Reidewald pedestrian in midfield.

Chong took his goal well but should have had another as should Ohare. Cannon anonymous. That team had no height up front or at the back meaning we were lacking at set pieces. Baptiste tidy but his lack of inches alongside an equally small Tanganga means we will struggle at the back. We have to bring in 2 tall dominant centre backs as a bare minimum.

2 as a minimum ? So possibly 3 ! I don’t think there is any chance of that.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Shawy24]

That is a fat arse