What the f*** is going on?

[blader]

This thread is two fold:

1) How poor is this division that the team we just saw are placed 3rd in the table?

2) What were we playing at under Weir that our squad was next to bottom? We have put out our reserves and kids and equalled the team currently sat 3rd in our division? (I know we won, but it was a fairly even match)

Seriously, next season had better be our last in this God-forsaken League. If we can beat the 3rd best side in this league with our kids and reserves in a 5-3-2 formation, then next season HAS to be our season. Surely?

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

Best manager since Jimmy Squirrel. And from before him too, obviously.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Seriously, next season had better be our last in this God-forsaken League. If we can beat the 3rd best side in this league with our kids and reserves in a 5-3-2 formation, then next season HAS to be our season. Surely?

The Footballing Gods will be quietly chuckling to themselves as they sit in in their armchairs in the sky sipping on brandy.

 

[Roygbiv]

Am I right in thinking we have only conceded 6 goals in the last 17 matches? Considering the defence has changed numerous times in the past few months that is staggering. We can't score but my God can we defend

 

[Bladesman]

This thread is two fold:

1) How poor is this division that the team we just saw are placed 3rd in the table?

2) What were we playing at under Weir that our squad was next to bottom? We have put out our reserves and kids and equalled the team currently sat 3rd in our division? (I know we won, but it was a fairly even match)

Seriously, next season had better be our last in this God-forsaken League. If we can beat the 3rd best side in this league with our kids and reserves in a 5-3-2 formation, then next season HAS to be our season. Surely?

True says a lot about the league and Rotherham.

Not often you can genuinely say we have mostly been in a false position in the league. I do think that this is true in our case though. Our side does have enough about it to compete at the right end of the table and that is after losing some key players over the years.

 

[Pinchy]

True says a lot about the league and Rotherham.

Not often you can genuinely say we have mostly been in a false position in the league. I do think that this is true in our case though. Our side does have enough about it to compete at the right end of the table and that is after losing some key players over the years.

I would sum up Rotherham tonight in one word - Hoof!

Our kids showed them how to play the game properly.

 

[Bladesman]

They be like....

 

[Esablade]

Super, super Bladesmen from the Lane!

 

[yuley82]

This thread is two fold:

1) How poor is this division that the team we just saw are placed 3rd in the table?

2) What were we playing at under Weir that our squad was next to bottom? We have put out our reserves and kids and equalled the team currently sat 3rd in our division? (I know we won, but it was a fairly even match)

Seriously, next season had better be our last in this God-forsaken League. If we can beat the 3rd best side in this league with our kids and reserves in a 5-3-2 formation, then next season HAS to be our season. Surely?

It will be, won't it? But play offs or automatic? I sure as shit don't want play offs no thank you!

 

[pommpey]

Playoffs needn't be an option next season. Let's face it, if we manage to keep the set of loanees we have (and Brayford is the least likely but here's hoping) and the Prince bloke shells out for at least two decent strikers, possibly a good utility midfielder and another decent central defender then we should not be underconfident of automatic promotion. If we anchor ourselves in the top two by the new year and steal at least four to six points lead by the end of March, we will be home free.

Injuries, suspensions and jailings however may shite all over that ambition.

pommpey

 

[blader]

Playoffs needn't be an option next season. Let's face it, if we manage to keep the set of loanees we have (and Brayford is the least likely but here's hoping) and the Prince bloke shells out for at least two decent strikers, possibly a good utility midfielder and another decent central defender then we should not be underconfident of automatic promotion. If we anchor ourselves in the top two by the new year and steal at least four to six points lead by the end of March, we will be home free.

Injuries, suspensions and jailings however may shite all over that ambition.

pommpey

So we just need: 2 strikers, a CM and a CB plus Coady, Brayford, Davies and Freeman. to 'not be underconfident of automiatic promotion'?

It sounds so easy when you put it like that!

 

[pommpey]

So we just need: 2 strikers, a CM and a CB plus Coady, Brayford, Davies and Freeman. to 'not be underconfident of automiatic promotion'?

It sounds so easy when you put it like that!

Yep. And given the pledges by McCabe and the Saudi bloke post transfer-close last year, we should expect nothing less, to be honest.

pommpey

 

[Balham]

Given what we saw last night, I'm not sure that we do need to sign any central midfielders or centre halves. Dimaio and Reed will be pushing for places in the middle of the park with Cuvelier to come back; at the back Kennedy is proving that he's a class act. Going foward we've got an abundance of talent in the attacking midfield roles (Khan, Calvert-Lewin, De Girolamo) but are still desperately short of a goalscorer.

The FA Youth Cup Final squad might have failed to live up to expectations but I'm excited about this latest U18s squad. I'm also absolutely convinced that Clough is the right man to assimilate them in the right way too.

 

[grafikhaus]

Not often you can genuinely say we have mostly been in a false position in the league. I do think that this is true in our case though.

Well, we've recently seen Wolves, Peterborough, Brentford, Orient and Toytown at the Lane.

If anybody's in a false position, it's Rotherham.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Well, we've recently seen Wolves, Peterborough, Brentford, Orient and Toytown at the Lane.

If anybody's in a false position, it's Rotherham.

If anybody's in a false position, it's Sheffield United, thanks to Weir.

The three clubs that go up this season owe Davie boy a case of champagne each.

 

[Grecian2000]

The FA Youth Cup Final squad might have failed to live up to expectations

Did it?

We got £1m+ (maybe) for Slew and 3 of the team (27%) were playing last night. I would say that's a really good conversion rate from youth to 1st team squad.

 

[JohnDenver]

Did it?

We got £1m+ (maybe) for Slew and 3 of the team (27%) were playing last night. I would say that's a really good conversion rate from youth to 1st team squad.

The tragedy is we've dropped to this level in the time since that night.

But without my cynical face on, it was great to see Harry and Tel looking as rock solid at professional level as they did in the youth team. Kennedy's Tweet saying he and Harry have waited for that moment since they were 14 was wonderful to read.

 

[Balham]

Did it?

We got £1m+ (maybe) for Slew and 3 of the team (27%) were playing last night. I would say that's a really good conversion rate from youth to 1st team squad.

It's a very good conversion but don't forget that final was three years ago now. There was a lot of optimism about that team but my point was more about those who haven't made it than those who have. Let's not forget - there were three members of this year's U18 squad on the pitch too (plus Willis on the bench) but there hasn't been the same level of expectation on them. Yet.

I don't think any of the FA Youth Cup final team who weren't involved last night have much of a future at the Lane; I'd not be at all surprised if Ironside, Whitehouse and McFadzean leave in the summer.

Team from the home leg (current club in brackets)
Long (United)
Montgomery (no longer playing??)
Maguire (United) (sub Pomares - Hurácan CF)
Kennedy (United)
Barry (Derry City)
Gregory (Matlock Town) (sub Wilkinson -??)
Harriot (Northampton)
Whitehouse (Alfreton, on loan from United)
McFadzean (Burton, on loan from United)
Ironside (Harrogate, on loan from United) (sub Martin - ??)
Slew (Ross County, on loan from Blackburn)

 

[mattbianco1]

This league is totally wank.

Rotherham have done well but my god is it a poor league. We took 4 points from the first 33 available and in the process shared 29pts out against the other toss teams in this league. To now be finishing the season a few points off the play offs just points out how shit the league really is. We should have been relegated come February with a start like that.

Looking at the progress made and what is coming up and down into this division i can't see anything other than a top 2 finish next season. Maybe even a league title. Now that would be nice.

So in summary. This league is toss!

 

[blade too long]

it is in the football gods gift to let us be the first 3rd division team to win the FA cup and be the first to win the Europa Cup in the same season as winning League One

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

We took 4 points from the first 33 available and in the process shared 29pts out against the other toss teams in this league.

28 points actually - In the game we drew our opponents only took one point too ;-)

 

[UnitedBlade]

I don't think any of the FA Youth Cup final team who weren't involved last night have much of a future at the Lane; I'd not be at all surprised if Ironside, Whitehouse and McFadzean leave in the summer.

I think you are right and the key reason is that next season the following go into the SCMP wage calculation whereas none of these players are currently included (unless they've changed the rules you have to be 20 on September 1)

Long
Kennedy
Whitehouse,
McFadzean
Ironside.

I would keep Long and Kennedy and release the other three.

Also Cloughie continually says he would prefer to work with a smaller squad with higher quality and if the up and coming youngsters want it enough they will get a chance - ie Dimaio, Khan, Diego, Reed, Calvert-Lewin, George Willis, there's more than enough from that batch.

Harry, George and Tel have won their spurs, there isn't much room for Whitehouse, McF and Ironside.

 

[Blade56]

Playoffs needn't be an option next season. Let's face it, if we manage to keep the set of loanees we have (and Brayford is the least likely but here's hoping) and the Prince bloke shells out for at least two decent strikers, possibly a good utility midfielder and another decent central defender then we should not be underconfident of automatic promotion. If we anchor ourselves in the top two by the new year and steal at least four to six points lead by the end of March, we will be home free.

Injuries, suspensions and jailings however may shite all over that ambition.

pommpey

When rovvrruuummmm fail to get promoted we could have our pick of their loanees