A lot of wrong decision making in the final 3rd, and 2nd best first half, but pinned Burnley in more in the 2nd and deserved to level. Which begs the question, that's 3 screamers Ward he's scored this season friendlies included, so when are we gonna stop playing him out wide?
Unlucky to lose I thought, but play like that and the other 14 wins will come.
Played okay without really threatening. Took a great goal to get us back in. Grant Ward is going to be a great player when he sorts out his final ball.
Burnley kept the ball well and would have felt hard done to had they not won.
Newell is a fantastic player. I don't rate Andreu and I certainly don't rate Maguire.
Full backs now looking assured and I hope Rawson is okay.
To be honest, Grant Ward played balls he was expecting players to be in a position to collect, something he would expect from the players he normally plays with at Tottenham, if he can adjust that he's gunna be great there.
We won't play teams like Burnley every week. They're the best side I've seen this season yet we ran them close. The extra bit of guile & quality shone in the end, but the new guy certainly has a lot to work with in our squad.
Ward for me shouldn't have been on the pitch second half. Exciting at times but let us down several times in build up play and defensively he is dangerous. Had a poor game for me but yes he has potential to be a match winner this season.
Newall is utterly surprisingly awesome.
The subs were very bad indeed. In hindsight none of them improved things and criminal to take Newall off. I'm glad SE didn't do that ( just saying). And no SE for some awful decisions by the ref. Look I'm just making a rational point.
Otherwise great game and now 3 good performances on the bounce. Onwards and let's hope we get a great new manager who can pull us all together and up the league...one can hope
-- Edited by ian on Saturday 3rd of October 2015 01:05:45 AM
I'm going to disagree. I thought we were poor. Absolutely no threat going forward, when we had the ball in the final third there was no movement, no options and very rarely anybody there, the amount of balls into and around the area that was crying out for a forward or breaking midfield player were numerous. Ward a great goal but I would have taken him off at half time, Smallwood poor again, absolutely no width on the right. We were too defensive but that's blacks system I suppose. I've been away for the last 3 games but last night it was the same poor performance that I witnessed last month, perhaps the lad who has gone back to Norwich made a difference because I can't see us stopping up with that kind of performance. POOR must do better.
From an independent perspective, last night would have been a great game of football to watch. From a Burnley perspective, it's probably what they expected and they probably think they deserved the victory on quality of play. From a Rotherham perspective, it was a revelation and such a dramatic change in style and tactics from the previous regime.
The quality of Rotherham's play, against an extremely organised and competent side, was commendable and it was obvious that Black had instructed them to build patiently, not resort to the long ball, close down quickly, work hard and not be overwhelmed by the opposition. The defence was well organised apart from a couple of lapses which resulted in their goals. Camp was superb. The midfield was patient and mainly creative although I can't remember seeing so many poor crosses for a long time. Up front JCH was a real handful and Derbyshire worked as hard as ever.
Ward is a work in progress and will develop into a serious threat when he bulks up. Similarly, Newell is a fantastic prospect who needs to work on his strength and fitness. The absence of Ofoe was plain to see and until we develop or import a player of his creative ability and strength, chances are going to be hard to come by. However, the desire and work rate in the team was such that chances were created and with more luck with the run of the ball, we might have troubled their keeper more.
Black did a great job for his first game in charge. The only criticism I had was replacing an injured Rawson with Broadfoot. I would have had Thorpe ready to maintain that youth/experience in the CBs and perhaps we might have held out for a point. Big Foot was always going to find it difficult to adjust to first team football after such a long break and bringing him on was a risk.
Like others, I reckon we'll easily avoid the drop if we can maintain the work rate, composure and desire of last night and probably look hard for a midfielder who can help us unlock defences. I'm encouraged and looking forward to the new era!
A big step in the right direction. We competed against a very good side and did it playing and trying to play decent stuff. The final ball was sometimes lacking, but that will come. I thought Newell was the stand out player until he tired.
I'm going to disagree. I thought we were poor. Absolutely no threat going forward, when we had the ball in the final third there was no movement, no options and very rarely anybody there, the amount of balls into and around the area that was crying out for a forward or breaking midfield player were numerous. Ward a great goal but I would have taken him off at half time, Smallwood poor again, absolutely no width on the right. We were too defensive but that's blacks system I suppose. I've been away for the last 3 games but last night it was the same poor performance that I witnessed last month, perhaps the lad who has gone back to Norwich made a difference because I can't see us stopping up with that kind of performance. POOR must do better.
Sorry fliker, you're watching a different game to the rest of us, your opinion though, just can't see where you've got it from!!
On the whole, I agree with positive vibe about the performance. How JCH didn't get MOM, I don't know. Newell begining to look like a good signing. All that against a solid and hungry / relentless Burnley. They are right in your face every second & well organised without being spectacular. Best side so far at NYS.
At times though I was pulling my hair out at basic errors from all of them, of passing behind (instead of in front of) team mates, also passing to no one, passing into touch even. As the game went on and scoreline stayed close, it looked as though confidence was starting to flow a bit & that put us on front foot more and created more movement / pass options going forward. At least they kept trying trying trying. Good work Millers.
JCH still needs work on his passing also. Everything else falling into place, bit by bit. His strength is becoming a key weapon now ! He robbed the ball, brushing off defenders in tight spots, so easily it was fantastic ! (then passes it back 50 yrds into his own half....to no one ! oops. He's getting there).
We could sign Andre Grey instead ? £9.5 million should do it.
Effort 10/10
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Scratch that, clearly every sentence was nonesence !
A big step in the right direction. We competed against a very good side and did it playing and trying to play decent stuff. The final ball was sometimes lacking, but that will come. I thought Newell was the stand out player until he tired.
I was sitting just behind our dug-out when he came off, he said his groin had locked up and asked for ice. Maybe that was the reason for his fitness test before the game?
Maybe a good time to get an injury (if there is any good time?) with the International break.
A big step in the right direction. We competed against a very good side and did it playing and trying to play decent stuff. The final ball was sometimes lacking, but that will come. I thought Newell was the stand out player until he tired.
I was sitting just behind our dug-out when he came off, he said his groin had locked up and asked for ice. Maybe that was the reason for his fitness test before the game?
Maybe a good time to get an injury (if there is any good time?) with the International break.
True, Archie, but these international breaks are a right pain in the harris imo.
A tale of two halves in my opinion. First half, a case of same old, same old with poor passing and no width. Camp kept us in it. Smallwood and Grant Ward were awful and completely off the pace. Collins looked as though he was running in treacle for much of that half. On the plus side, Rawson held the defence together. JCH was a handful and Newell was impressive.
Second half we improved as the game wore on and Eric Black changed tactics to provide more width. No longer did we appear to be playing in cramped confined spaces! That first half diamond simply hadn't worked. Two full backs got forward much more and Grant Ward improved and his goal will be remembered for a very long time. Unfortunately though, on the negative side JCH ran out of steam.
Those substitutions actually made us less effective although Newell and Rawson came off through injury. Broadfoot's lack of competitive games really showed and was somewhat baffling that he'd be chosen in the squad ahead of Thorpe or Halford. Maguire is really finding life difficult to adjust in my opinion, he currently offers very little.
Burnley are a good side with lots of talent and will be there or thereabouts. had it not been for some poor defending for that second Burnley goal, we would have taken an unlikely point.
For once, I left NYS quite upbeat and not too disappointed. Our effort throughout was admirable and if we can keep that up, we should be okay although our lack of a cutting edge continues to worry me. I cannot see where the goals are going to come from other than something out of the blue like Friday or a set piece.
Smallwood is having a difficult time at the moment but perhaps we are all expecting too much given his stand out performances of last season?
Overall this was an okay display with negatives and positives.
I hope that we bring in the new manager soon as he will need time to judge the squad. A new striker is a priority for me with a ball winning box to box midfielder also a must.
Brentford away is a real opportunity to make progress up the table.
I thought Smallwood was up against it in midfield to be fair to him. Andreu is a bit of a luxury as a second man in there in a 442 - he wants to get forward and join in with the front two but that puts an extra burden on Smallwood. Newell might be an option centrally, or Frecks when fit if he can get his mojo back. I would stick with G Ward - he has some ability but lacks confidence - the goal might help him kick on. Collins has improved but nothing is going to make him quicker, and Broadfoot won't help in that department. If we are going to play out from the back a bit more Thorpe must be worth a go with Rawson. Burnley got their full backs out really well (especially the right back) because they committed people centrally first. Our full backs usually got it when they were faced up and didn't have many options. You need at least one centre back who has the confidence to come out and commit people.
