How do I see the season going for Rotherham? Well, after 6/7 years of crap I'm hoping that we're going to have at least a half decent season. What I am happy about is the way Robins has built up a squad early enough to go pre-season and touch wood gel together before the season gets underway for real.
Again, its another big year for the youngsters, Newsham & Taylor are looking sharp in the friendly games, but these really tell us nothing, will they be big and strong enough to be effective against the big lumps in league 2? Time will tell but this is the time for them to start bulking up along with the other youngsters. I realise that everybody's body is different and others mature faster than others. But any injury to big Del Holmes leaves Taylor to do his job. Has he got the physical strength? Especially after his illness of last year. I hope he has.
So, If all goes well, what can we expect this season? Promotion? Play-offs? or god forbid another season of struggle and strife? Well I'm going to be positive (sorry gino ;-}) and say we'll be alright. Promotion - probably not, Play-off's - chance, upper mid-table - probably and any lower than that for me would be a failure. BUT whatever happens we HAVE to maintain some stability at the club! Any more upset will not help us!
The summer has been in the main a good one despite the ongoing court case and the inital furore over the pay on day ticket prices, although the family tickets are a move in the right direction.
So, after nearly packing it all in last season, I've had the batteries re-charged, recieved a Millers injection and I'm looking forward to the start of the season, but a plea to the team, please dont let us down!! Us Millers are weary, a lot are fed up and some have even given up the fight.. Do your part on the pitch and give us our pride back! (and bring those stay-away fans back!) I'll be doing my bit, I've got the season ticket, I'll be travelling away too, whether it be to watch the Millers or get a ground off the list to finish my 92 remains to be seen...
Dean (Deano) Hall (site editor)
So here we are back in the thick of the action, and judging on the pre-season campaign, I'm quietly confident - a steady improvement from the shambles of a defensive display at Altrincham to what is looking like a solid unit with the capture of our best buy Graham Coughlan seems to have erased a lot of my initial fears we'd be shipping goals like the sinking Titanic.
Graham's partnership with Ian Sharps is evidently improving with each game and a talker along with a 'keeper the defence has a little faith in with Andy Warrington seems to set us up nicely. Midfield - Andy Todd (as you've all seen a lot of my bleating on the messageboard) is wasted out on the wing, and with the unfortunate injury to Hudson should be moved inside where he can have a major influence on ball distribution. A replacement you ask? Joseph - steady and compact at right back and Tonge - not a natural defender but better going forward on the right. Obviously Robbo has made known his desire to make use of the loan market though which you can't fault him for.
Peter Holmes has impressed me out on the left, those who thought he was a right winger might take some notice now! ;-) Up front, goals I must hold my hands up and admit, are my major worry at the moment. For me Newsham or Taylor would get a start and their partner would be a choice between Derek Holmes and Chris O'Grady.
Holmes is what I expected, holds the ball up well and takes up good areas, but O'Grady offers a touch more with a bit of pace to pull out wide and is more mobile.
Barring a minor miracle I'll be at each of our 46 league games and the cup games as usual, season ticket holder on the Tivoli End. A realistic finishing position would be around top 10, but bring on an instant return to League One and booze filled 10 months! UTM
Jonathan Veal (site editor)
There seems to be a lot of positivity coming from the club at the minute and although everyone is always bubbling and optimistic ahead of a new season, I think it shows what a good job Mark Robins has done over the summer for it to be so upbeat considering what the fans have had to endure over the last three years.
I've not seen any of the pre season games so can only comment on the team by reputation and what others have said but it looks as if the manager has brought in the right sort of players. I am sure that Warrington, Coughlan, Todd and Holmes will create a solid spine of a team.
It's easy to get carried away and say that promotion is on the cards but I am a little more wary than that. I still believe that we have to be careful to avoid a trend set by the likes of Stockport and Grimsby who have flirted with non league after a good spell in Division One.
The team will take a while to gel and whilst worrying about the pattern set by other clubs deep down I believe the club will have enough for a top half finish and I think that is a respectable aim. A top half finish will see the team win more than they lose and after four or five years of a losing culture that has to be all we can ask for.
As for me, well I had a break from the club for a while. I hardly saw any games last season but I'm hoping to get to see the team a lot more this year and hopefully see some wins.
Steve Burns (site moderator)
I think realistically this year we are looking at finishing around 11th place. I've seen enough of the league to know that some of the sides are terrible and even our new side will pick up points home and away. I can see us going on another good run and flirting with the play offs but some back down to earth with a bump when injuries and suspensions cost us and expose the size of the squad.
It reminds me a little of Ronnie's first season when we finished 9th after some encouraging performances but fell away around Easter. The physical size of the squad also worries me, I hope Robbo isn't using the tried and tested Mick Harford style of football that works until October and then the pitches get heavy. We need to be able to compete against sides and I am yet to be convinced we can do that.
Personally I'll be a once every so often supporter. Commitments to my football side who kick off at 2:30pm on a Saturday means I'll be watching midweek games mainly. I am hoping to make one or two Saturday games and am already looking at some of the trips around Christmas, especially as we have family in the North East for the Boxing Day game.
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