Jerry Yates' performance after he replaced the totally inept Blackstock was flawless! The latter is not fit to polish the boots of the former!! Yates' control, skill, passion and workrate were outstanding and he must start alongside Ward against Norwich.
Newell was clearly our best, and only, performer in the first half. But he still doesn't look like he has 90 minutes in his legs.
The majority of the second half was dominated by Rotherham and they played some good football coming forward. However, the defence is still a major concern. Why on earth Belaid was on the bench is beyond me. He must start with either Wood or Broadfoot alongside him. Their second goal from the smallest man on the pitch unmarked in the 6 yard box from a corner, when we had 10 men back, was appalling. Our best defensive displays this year have been when Taylor and Newell have dropped back to help out the full backs - that plan seems to have been abandoned.
The greatest problem with our team is the lack of confidence and it affects some more than others. Fisher looks like a rabbit in the headlights and Forde lacks strength and pace but I think he will come good eventually. Vaulx had a good, energetic second half and Ward is worth his place even at half throttle (which he's been at for the last couple of weeks).
Although today was really disappointing it was predictable. However, with the right leadership (someone like McCarthy who might become available soon particularly after his side's performance today against Lincoln) and with Frecklington fit, we have the core of a team which could be strong in League 1 especially when confidence returns. If we can retain Frecks, Ward, Yates, Newell, Adeyemi, Taylor, Belaid, Vaulx and possibly Forde and aim to replace or provide cover for the entire defence, we'll be fine.
It's backs to the wall stuff for the rest of the season. There's nothing to play for but some pride and the chance to put together a team, including a manager, that is going to be able to hit the ground running next season. The Board needs to make some urgent decisions on management and budget so that the process can begin. To wait until the end of the season is akin to signing away our League 1 survival chances.
Onwards and upwards, after a bit of downwards!
Oh, and if anyone has any ideas how we could offload Blackstock please write in to TS soonest. I'd suggest him as a ball-boy, which we needed desperately today, but he'd take too long retrieving the ball!!
We should have been giving JY 10 or 15 minutes every match to get his experience up and keep him sharp. We also had the other young 'un warming up and he should have had Forde off for the last 15 and thrown him on. Without game time they will never progress. In this dog of a season I'd be playing the kids every match from now on!
The inability of the board to make a good decision (im sorry i only have had one tune for the last several weeks) is amazing.
There has been no football brains of any kind it seems to me related to infrastructure. scouting, negotiating , and mapping out a future at RUFC. Its become very clear we lack real professionals behind the scenes and after the energy of the new stadium has dwindled it has gone back to its real state.
I dont have the optimism about the future as it is so unclear what is happening and next season will be here far to soon at this rate.
It would be interesting if one could do a comparison of numbers and experience of the backroom staff at RUFC compared to the personal at other clubs.
Im beginning to think KJ realised what a very poor run ship it was and how hopeless it would be to work on the playing side with so little support.
The inability of the board to make a good decision (im sorry i only have had one tune for the last several weeks) is amazing.
There has been no football brains of any kind it seems to me related to infrastructure. scouting, negotiating , and mapping out a future at RUFC. Its become very clear we lack real professionals behind the scenes and after the energy of the new stadium has dwindled it has gone back to its real state.
I dont have the optimism about the future as it is so unclear what is happening and next season will be here far to soon at this rate.
It would be interesting if one could do a comparison of numbers and experience of the backroom staff at RUFC compared to the personal at other clubs.
Im beginning to think KJ realised what a very poor run ship it was and how hopeless it would be to work on the playing side with so little support.
