As the current transfer window closes, it’s useful to assess the success or failure of Rotherham’s business. As a reminder, these are the movements:
OUT
Vaulks
Ajayi
Palmer
Taylor
Ball
Bray
Williams
Onariase
Dom Ball
Potter
Newell
Forde
Purrington
Proctor – loan
Yates – loan
IN
Ladapo
Thompson
Olosunde
MacDonald
Lamy
Clarke
Lindsey
Ogbene
Morris - Loan
Hastie - Loan
Barlaser - Loan
Iversen – Loan
The income from Vaulks/Ajayi was £3.6M and Ladapo cost £504K.
Of those that left, Vaulks and Ajayi were no brainers for financial reasons and apart from Williams, I don’t have any regrets about any of the other leavers. Proctor is unfortunate, but from what I’ve seen of him this season, his injury has taken its toll on both his sharpness and his fitness. Loaning him out is the right move for both him and RUFC. He may come good but it’s better he tries to re-find his mojo elsewhere.
On the face of it, the incomers look better quality than the leavers. Ajayi has been replaced by Ihiekwe and I don’t think there’s too much between them. I think we were very fortunate to get a good fee for Vaulks – as nice a kid as he was and as energetic as he was, he wasn’t a good midfield player. When Barlaser and Lindsey have settled, I think we will notice a distinct improvement in our midfield from last season.
As for wingers, Ogbene beat more defenders on Saturday than Taylor, Forde and Newell did between them last season – slight exaggeration – but you know what I mean. Importantly, his balls into the box were class. Hastie looks like he will be a threat also.
Iversen is a better keeper than Rodak. He commands his box, catches the ball under pressure and distributes it well.
The likes of Ladapo, Lamy, Olosunde, Lindsey and Ogbene are additions who will not only boost the quality in the squad, but they are also prime to develop and sell on should they reach their early potential.
On balance, I’d say that it has been a great transfer window and one which both PW and RS should be rightly proud of. Of course, with so many changes, the players will take some time to settle, get used to each other and the tactics, and the manager will need some time to work out which players work best together and in which formations. I said earlier that it would take at least 10 games before we would see the potential of our new squad, and I stick to that. Two away wins and a home draw is not a bad return from the first 4 league games but I reckon the quality in the squad will deliver a far better return as the season progresses.
Onwards and upwards!!
-- Edited by GlennMiller on Monday 2nd of September 2019 08:44:42 PM
I'd agree with most of that Glenn. We have the squad to play a number of different formations & the 4-3-3 will be withdrawn as the preferred formation.
The problem with the incomings is in midfield McDonald was to be our holding player never plays him. You can pick any system if the players are not good enough it will not work. Teams look at us rough us up we are not up for the fight we shall have to see if our manager can sort it out.
Excellent post Glenn. That squad should be well capable of going close in this division. Not sure MacDonald sees himself as a holding midfielder. Even in friendlies Barlaser was the holding midfileder and MacDonald was getting further forward. Barlaser has had a very patchy start to the season, but he is the one who was brought in to get the ball from the back four or Gk and dictate play. At the moment he has only shown glimpses of what he is capable of. Too many times he has been caught in possession or played poor passes and made wrong decisions. MacDonald has come on and filled in, in the holding role but it's not a position that he looks great at.
I was disappointed to see we didn't sign a striker to replace Proctor. The feeling around Roundwood on Friday was one was on his way. Now its's not materialised, i have a feeling Hastie might play in a front three if that's the favoured formation. We certainly have options and with Morris available again all is not lost up front even with vassell out for several weeks. We have to toughen up in midfield and not let these bullies/spoilers disrupt our flow. I am not sure which is our best formation or what combination is best in the midfield. Interesting time lay ahead. I am away this weekend so will be relying on you lads to tell me what goes on at Donny.
On paper we’ve had a good summer recruitment wise. The main thing for me is we seem to have got the targets we wanted bar Curtis Tilt, not sure we’ve had that before so Rob Scott has earned his money this summer.
I still think we really miss Will Vaulks, his football ability was underrated and he very rarely got bullied. We look a bit lightweight and ponderous central midfield wise at the moment. Barlaser just hasn’t got going and from what I’ve seen of Lindsay he needs to play because of the urgency he shows.
The two new wingers look exciting and should provide some much needed service for Ladapo and Smith because in the current formation they’ve fed from scraps.
If you put Crooks & Macdonald together you wouldn't get 20 % of the player Vaulks was. Got to go back to 4-5-1 2 in midfield playing 2 wingers we'd get overrun in midfield. Hoping 2 wingers we've signed gives us more of a outlet.
Good post but your assessment of Vaulks is ridiculous, he was the backbone of our team for 2 seasons gave everything every game. Remember Blackpool 8th December 2017 the game that saved PW job, Vaulks played in that game with flu, not a cold but flu that is very dangerous, he gave everything he could. It has been a good transfer window with a few exceptions, you know which ones I mean. Lindsey really looks a class act I hope we can get the best from him.
TS has backed his manager, given him everything he wanted. It will take a while for them to gel so if we are in top 10 on 1st Nov that will be ok as long as the points gap to 2nd is not too big. It is all on Warne now, there are no excuses time to deliver, all we can do is turn up and support during the games and comment after.
Not winding you up Derby but I'm with GlennMiller on Vaulks. I liked him and agree with you that he gave everything every week and for that he always deserved respect, but giving everything isn't enough of itself. For me he lacked composure and his passing was below par. We played some of our best football last season when he wasnt in the side. I would be happy enough if he was still with us and in the team and I'm not here to have a pop at a player who always gave his best, but I do think we got more for him than he was probably worth. I hope I'm proved wrong and hope he has a good time of it with Cardiff but I personally dont see him as a Championship quality footballer. Iin any case it's up to the various midfielders we have got now to man up a bit and get on the ball and dictate play. I think we have some good players in there who at the moment look a bit nervous/uncertain and think they can and will be better than they have shown so far.
I think now might be the time to play 4.2.3.1. with the new players we have signed.
I admit it's my favoured formation as it gives an insurance policy of two midfielders in front of the back four and also gives an option for three men to get forward. There are lots of permutations but i would just prefer this one.
Iversen
Olosunde Ihiekwe Robertson Mattock
Barlaser Crooks.
Ogbene Wiles Hastie.
Ladapo
You could go with Wood instead of Mattock with Robertson playing left back. You could also go with Smith up front, or even Morris on the left and bring Hastie on as an impact. Lindsay could replace Wiles. The permutations are many. I am sure people will come in with a 4.4.2. with the two new lads (Ogbene and Hastie) as the wide men. I still feel that would mean we got over run and over powered. Of course they might continue with 4.3.3. which has got us seven points from four matches. The point i am making is there is now options, not just the odd positional change, but several players in contention and certainly plan A.B,Cand D.
whiston01 that's basically what I've said 4-5-1. More or less go with side you've gone for apart from Lindsay for Crooks & Smith for Ladapo but feel Crooks is like quite a few players before him one of Warney's boys. Glen Miller & smiler your posts are perfectly written but you both I don't know what games you have been to if you think our midfield is better without Vaulks. We haven't now got a player like him who can get the tackles in. Take long throws. Score goals incl' free kicks that go were they are meant to be going enough of the time.
Not that its a competition and not that this necessarily makes my opinion any more valuable than yours gwru, but since you ask, the answer is a 'lot more games than you'.
Vaulks always did divide opinion. His 'up and at 'em' style was always likely to make him a crowd favourite with many, but there were plenty of supporters who thought he was an overrated albeit very worthy player.
Since he was the mainstay in our midfield that got overrun regularly during two relegation seasons, I'm surprised he is as popular on here as seems to be the case to be honest.
I think that's a bit harsh Smiler. We all know that in the championship it was the quality that the other sides had that made the difference. We competed in just about every game but just didn't have that player that could turn a draw into a win or could provide that piece of magic that got fans off their seats and scored individual goals. . We had battlers, relied a lot on set pieces. We had no striker who could score 15-20 goals but in Ajayi and Vaulks we had midfield players who scored. Add to this Vaulks' ability to win the ball in the air(something we haven't got now) in the middle of the park, get up and down the pitch, tackle , a good weapon in a long throw and his ability to influence others around him. He lacked composure of that there is no doubt, but he made up for it in other areas. His time will come for Cardiff to see if he is the championship player i believe he is.
smiler no point trying to beat me I'm like Vaulks I'll just come back for more. I don't need to go to more games I'm trained to think on my feet from my working in engineering factory's days & especially in the bookies were if you don't work it out your gone. I don't sit behind a computer saying I'm working. Vaulks for his attitude & ability for the enjoyment he gave me he's be in my top players at club from 1965 when I started going to the present day. So get that in your calculator & work out how many more games you've been to more than me taking into account I did used to go to quite a few away games before the lunatic's took over the asylum!
smiler no point trying to beat me I'm like Vaulks I'll just come back for more. I don't need to go to more games I'm trained to think on my feet from my working in engineering factory's days & especially in the bookies were if you don't work it out your gone. I don't sit behind a computer saying I'm working. Vaulks for his attitude & ability for the enjoyment he gave me he's be in my top players at club from 1965 when I started going to the present day. So get that in your calculator & work out how many more games you've been to more than me taking into account I did used to go to quite a few away games before the lunatic's took over the asylum!
What a stupid response.
You said you don't know which games I've been watching. You say yourself you don't go to away games. It follows (because I go to every home game and most away) that I've seen a lot more of Vaulks than you have. That doesn't necessarily make my opinion more valid than yours,although I suppose that could be argued, but there it is. You asked.
I couldn't give a flying wotsit what you do or did for a living. It is of zero relevance. Nor do I care about your alleged mental agility that you keep banging on about. If you believe all that nonsense good luck to you.
I'm not trying to 'beat' you. I realise by now that you are relentless and as stubborn as a mule. Congratulations for that.
You're a big fan of Vaulks. I'm not. That's it really.
Interesting that some forum members who appear to like Vaulks (the good, hard-working kid, loved the club, ran around cones more than anyone else and emphatically a good human-being) seem to dislike the manager who they accuse of putting such qualities above anything else. Like anything, it's a matter of opinion but only if you agree with my opinion.
I think that's a bit harsh Smiler. We all know that in the championship it was the quality that the other sides had that made the difference. We competed in just about every game but just didn't have that player that could turn a draw into a win or could provide that piece of magic that got fans off their seats and scored individual goals. . We had battlers, relied a lot on set pieces. We had no striker who could score 15-20 goals but in Ajayi and Vaulks we had midfield players who scored. Add to this Vaulks' ability to win the ball in the air(something we haven't got now) in the middle of the park, get up and down the pitch, tackle , a good weapon in a long throw and his ability to influence others around him. He lacked composure of that there is no doubt, but he made up for it in other areas. His time will come for Cardiff to see if he is the championship player i believe he is.
That's very fair Whiston. I didn't rate him as highly as you apparently did but lest there be any misunderstanding, I saw some admirable qualities. Some clearly loved him which I didn't really get.
The relegation comment was a bit tongue in cheek on my part. Some of the people who loved Vaulks are the same people who hate Warne and would have him sacked for being at the helm when we went down twice. GlennMiller has sort of alluded to the same point. Sometimes our starting point as individuals is that we have decided that we like or don't like someone and we arrive at conclusions that suit that narrative.
Im still far from convinced about the credibility of the wholesale statement that the ins are far better than the outs. I don't see it clearly at all.
Valuks for me was outstanding in our team and since he adopted a similar zone to Frecks and has his build and stature then it is a likely comparison and one I think would be difficult to separate. There are things in both players games that give them an edge and here I am talking about a younger Frecks. I realise of course I have opened another debate. Is Vaulks a Championship player? Well goodness, gracious me. Neil Warnock thinks he is and as much as my unflinching ego wants its way I know the facts.
As for Ajayi I think he is certainly very good and definitely a championship player. I'm not confident enough to say that about any of the Ins thus far.
On the OP I do agree that we seem to have a better striker than last season and there is an excellent point made in the comparison down the wing. Of the others, I really rated Purrington and so for me, he is a loss. Newall had become so leggy (and since its not women's football) that I was pleased to see him go. Taylor, I liked but the point made about our new winger's debut trumps that doubt.
What is running around my mind is a comparison with the promotion-winning team of Steve Evans. I find that a much easier comparison to make than either the relegated championship team or indeed the last playoff winning team. For me, its no contest and that worries me. Id be very happy for someone to quell my anxieties
Im still far from convinced about the credibility of the wholesale statement that the ins are far better than the outs. I don't see it clearly at all.
Valuks for me was outstanding in our team and since he adopted a similar zone to Frecks and has his build and stature then it is a likely comparison and one I think would be difficult to separate. There are things in both players games that give them an edge and here I am talking about a younger Frecks. I realise of course I have opened another debate. Is Vaulks a Championship player? Well goodness, gracious me. Neil Warnock thinks he is and as much as my unflinching ego wants its way I know the facts.
As for Ajayi I think he is certainly very good and definitely a championship player. I'm not confident enough to say that about any of the Ins thus far.
On the OP I do agree that we seem to have a better striker than last season and there is an excellent point made in the comparison down the wing. Of the others, I really rated Purrington and so for me, he is a loss. Newall had become so leggy (and since its not women's football) that I was pleased to see him go. Taylor, I liked but the point made about our new winger's debut trumps that doubt.
What is running around my mind is a comparison with the promotion-winning team of Steve Evans. I find that a much easier comparison to make than either the relegated championship team or indeed the last playoff winning team. For me, its no contest and that worries me. Id be very happy for someone to quell my anxieties
If anyone in that league was going to buy Vaulks it was going to be Warnock. In my most humble opinion the teams in there who like to get the ball down and pass it wouldn't have been interested in him. He is a Warnock-type player. He doesn't yet like him enough though to start him in a meaningful game. That may well change. Time will tell. I genuinely hope the lad does well - he deserves to.
Whether someone is a good player or not is definitely a matter of opinion rather than fact. For what its worth, in my opinion Vaulks is not half the player now that Frecklington was in his prime.
As for your final point, I can't quell your anxieties of course but can give another opinion. I think the current group prove to be or certainly has the potential to become strongest side we have taken up to the Championship during our NYS years. Again, only time will tell.
-- Edited by smiler on Tuesday 3rd of September 2019 08:14:46 PM
So Vaulks was one of the reasons we went down. He must be to some on here they don't rate him. I watched 4 away games on the red button last season as well as all the home games. No way. Whoever was to blame transfer windows took us down. Tell me different.
