Weren't a bad game. Vaulks was outstanding. Posh were solid enough without making many chances. Forde should have done better 1st half when clean through. Said this before. Same today Towell & Palmer together in midfield there's no holding midfielder. I'm not a massive fan of Palmer.

That was a really good game. We played some very good football at times, mixing it up between hitting Smith (who held the ball up superbly all day) and passing the ball and getting it wide.

I haven't always been a fan of Vaulks. I don't rate him as a midfielder. He isn't athletic or composed enough and his passing lets him down. He was excellent today at centre back and has been whenever I have see him there, and for me that looks like his position (although he has no left foot which embarrassed him on that side occasionally).

Newell looked too fired up to me. I like him - he has real ability - but he was trying too much himself today and made some poor decisions in good situations.

Palmer was absolutely outstanding. He does simple things very well and also broke up a lot of their play very effectively as well as looking after the ball extremely well for us, and made us tick. Not flashy but extremely effective. He will be an excellent player for us.

Where all that time came from I have no idea. But Marriott was a threat all day (their only threat in fact) and we had a couple of warnings in the first half of how sharp he is. We should have been out of sight by then and thoroughly deserved to win the game, but if you don't capitalise when you are on top it can bite you in the backside.

I would strongly fancy us to beat them in a playoff game over two games or one match. On that showing we are much the better side.

I'm disappointed as we showed a lack of grey matter in closing out the game. They weren't in it for me and I'd like to see stats on possession and shots etc. Lavery's lackadaisical giveaway of the ball led to them scoring and he deserves a *******ing for that at least. Forde remains unconvincing to me and why we didn't unleash Taylor at his old club I'll never know. Sloppy for me at the end and until Rodak learns to catch the ball he's never gonna be top flight - his 3 yard vertical punches are harrowing.

Only saw the highlights, but it's clear our build up play was on a different level, both in movement, ideas and execution. Take out their striker (injury bans etc) and what are they?

We will play that game 9 times out of 10 and score 3 or 4, like Warney's stance in that's football, just happens sometimes. The old cliche we're creating chances and many of them, the worry comes when you can't. 1-0 is a always a dangerous scoreline no matter how one sided the game and no matter what a quality team you are.

I think if we can avoid 6th place, I think we'll be in with a good chance of Wembley I really do. 4th is the sweet spot so we can be at home for the 2nd leg? - is that how it works I can't remember, if not then 5th if we can swing it to do that. The parallels will be drawn and nobody will relish coming to NYS for a night game that means Wembley. We had a fair few experienced big game players last time, and the lack of that this time might be our undoing? but we don't know do we. You don't know how your players will deal with the big games until they're put in that situation - we're a young bunch they might relish it who knows. Certainly it's great we're even talking about this and contemplating it as I'm sure many of us were more concerned with stopping the slide further, and the thoughts of top 6 were just a pipe dream.

If we do make it, I just hope people recognise it for what it is. We have had to slash the budget big time, I bet it's nowhere near what Evans had at his disposal. The afore mentioned was also riding on an up coming wave, new ground effect and having got promotion the previous season. Warney's achievements eclipse that by far, I would even go as far as saying as it would be better than RM, for similar reasons. It's a lot harder to halt a backwards movement and achieve than it is to build on success you've already had.

These are my thoughts T71.

You rave about Vaulks but don't like Palmer because you say he has no pace. Vaulks is a good competitor but he isn't quick and not particularly athletic. He may not be as physical as Vaulks but Palmer reads the game much better. He broke play up really well yesterday by being in the right place at the right time. I also saw him get his share of tackles in. It was the best midfield display by a Miller I have seen this season. Towell was also very good. We dominated in midfield yesterday despite them having greater numbers in there for much of the game.

The history of the game is littered with class players who weren't quick. Not saying that Palmer is ever likely to be in their class, but people like Bobby Moore and poor old Ray Wilkins etc. At our level Frecklington was never quick. They all had football brains.

This isn't an attack on Vaulks by the way. He does an admirable job and I like him. I thought Vaulks was the second best player we had yesterday and would stick with him at centre back, although looking at Towell when he went off and with Potter still out we might see Vaulks and Palmer in tandem on Monday.

I don't know what is wrong with Purrington. There is clearly an issue we don't know about. Charlton away isn't the place and this isn't the time to give a kid like Hinds his league debut.

I was at the game.... I woke up this morning and still felt gutted we hadn't won.

But let's face it, this is dreamland compared to where most of us thought we would be at this stage in the season. 8 points clear, and despite Portsmouth winning today, we just need ANY sort of form to finsih in the top 6. Quite a few games are double headers... so not all the teams can get all the points they need.

As an aside, I thought Warney's interview on Radio Sheffield after game was spot-on, and he sounded like a football manager... much progress made this season in my opinion, nomatter what happens in the next few games.

But I'm still hoping for : Weebberrleeeeeeeee :)

UTM

-- Edited by Davidedin on Saturday 31st of March 2018 05:27:55 PM

T71 - let me help you out mate - you were at a different game to each and every Rotherham fan I spoke to and heard state that Palmer was MoM. The control, calmness and attacking intent generated by him and Towell were outstanding and we have not seen the likes of it for many a season - even in Frecks' day. I suspect that you secretly agree with this but your desire for controvesy precludes you from admitting it?

Cracking game, gutting result in the end as Posh did not deserve to come away with anything, they were out played for all but the last 8 minutes!
We totally dominated in all areas of the park especially mid-field, and on another day would have won by 3 or 4 goals. Not to sure what some people see but for me, Palmer was excellent, getting stuck in, never panicking (which I love in a player) and always trying to find a red shirt. Vaulks was outstanding and Forde and Newell showed superb effort and application and in Newell's case, can only be questioned for possibly 'trying too hard' (if there is such a thing?).
The silver lining for me is that if we get to the play-offs (hopefully we will), I have seen nothing from the possible play-off competition to be afraid of. On our day, I believe we can take any of them.

The one worry from Friday is the injuries to Mattock and Towel (who were both immense yesterday), I cannot see them playing Monday or in Towels case, the following week.

I know which team I would prefer to be managing if I were Warne or Evans after that game.

GlennMiller wrote:

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T71 - let me help you out mate - you were at a different game to each and every Rotherham fan I spoke to and heard state that Palmer was MoM. The control, calmness and attacking intent generated by him and Towell were outstanding and we have not seen the likes of it for many a season - even in Frecks' day. I suspect that you secretly agree with this but your desire for controvesy precludes you from admitting it?

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No desire for controversy. Just go on what I see, always have. Last week at Southend. I wasn't there, most were saying Palmer was a weal link. Vaulks should have been paired with Towell in midfield. See whose right at the end of the season. Hope we get in the play-offs then on to Wembley. Will find out then. I'll be the 1st to say if I'm wrong.