HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at the New York Stadium by delving into their forums.

“Woe is me. I seem to remember not so long ago that we were happy to have a football team and a nice stadium with no financial woes. Now I read that the former manager is a so-and-so, the current manager is a no-hoper, the owner is an idiot and the players are all three-legged donkeys.

“I must be the only bloke to still enjoy going to the New York Stadium”, “I still quite like it and don’t even mind going when a football match is being played sometimes”, “I can remember when we won there”, “You have a better memory than me. I can remember when we used to give it a go though.”

Tuesday was a bad night for the Millers. Defeat by a solitary goal at Middlesbrough along with wins for Bristol City, Milton Keynes and Preston left them five points from safety at the foot of the table. This third straight defeat also came off the back of a three-goal drubbing last Saturday at Derby.

The very real possibility of relegation is now crashing home. “We have taken one point from 15. Where do we go from here?”, “The club seems lost at the moment. I know we have a great stadium but everything else looks a shambles”, “I’m struggling to see a glimmer of hope at the moment.”

“All we needed to do was keep the team that won the Wembley play-off two seasons ago. Some of the players wanted more money but that team was good enough to stay up for a long time. Just ask this - would that team beat this team? There is no comparison. What a shame, we’ve done it again.”

Neil Redfearn

“We are rock bottom. Who is to blame?”, “The one person you can’t blame is Redfearn. He has only been here five minutes. It’s asking a hell of a lot from a new manager to come in and lift a squad and its performances to play-off levels from the bottom of the league in such a short space of time.”

Redfearn has only managed one draw in his first five games in charge. “You have to feel sorry for him. He’s trying to stamp his authority, getting them to play a game based on ball retention and passing. He is being let down by players who are not good enough or woefully short of confidence.”

“Neil needs to get some new people in”, “Get it done, Neil. Hit that market, get some fighters in and don’t quit.”

Even though as many as 15 of the current first team squad arrived this summer, there is unanimous agreement on the need for reinforcements and especially up front.

“It is time for Redfearn to prove his management credentials”, “The wrong man has been appointed and into a job which is too big for him.” A minority already feel that a man with more first-team and more Championship experience would have better replaced Steve Evans given the scale of the task.

Formation

“With five changes in each of the last two games, Redfearn’s selection policy is reminiscent of his predecessor. The new boss is clearly struggling to find his best or even most competent XI”, “I would happily lose half of this squad”, “Too many of the players aren’t even close to being good enough.”

Fans have highlighted an ineffective strike force, a disjointed midfield and a defence which lately has picked up the habit of making costly errors. “There has been no long-term planning and players have been brought in on an ad hoc basis. The result is that the balance of the squad is totally wrong.”

Millers agree that the new manager is struggling to identify an effective starting XI. “It is difficult to implement a passing game when you can’t keep control of the ball. On numerous occasions against Boro we gave it away when under no pressure and did it even more often when closed down.”

“A diamond formation tonight, lads and lassies”, “I’m no fan of the diamond. I have seen us play that system and we seem to get overrun in midfield.” United’s starting XI at Boro used the same system as well as nine of the players who had started two games previously at home to the Owls.

“It’s the first time I have seen the Millers hold on to a 1-0 defeat.” The team lacked fluency with a number of players working in partnership for the first time and several operating in unfamiliar roles. Some blamed a lack of passing options for Grant Ward’s error which led to the hosts’ winning goal.

Tuesday’s defeat at least was an improvement on United’s showing at Derby on Saturday. With centre-back Farrend Rawson ineligible against his parent club, the Millers’ slow central defence was given little protection from a poor-performing midfield and was ripped apart by the Rams.

The change of formation left them with was effectively was a very defensive 4-5-1 and Derby were able to attack at will, capitalising on the Millers’ lack of a counter-threat. Redfearn has been given sympathy for the problems he inherited but fans saw this game as an experiment which backfired.

Mental Strength

“In possession against Derby we were cowards, afraid to carry the ball forwards. Players did not want the ball, were not prepared to show for it and would pass it square and square again.” As was the case with Bolton, supporters again have regularly highlighted an all-pervading lack of confidence.

“It’s very difficult to turn things around when you have a squad of players who are playing with fear and an extreme lack of confidence”, “We played like a team bereft of mental strength, a team which decided before kick-off that we would lose at Derby. We were absolutely, absolutely useless.”

“It is about attitude and desire to win”, “The trouble with our players is that they are not really roll-your-sleeves-up and get-some-blood-on-the-studs kind of men. Most would look good and not out of place playing in a good side. Stick them together and they look a poor to very average side.”

Middlesbrough 1 - 0 Rotherham

“Five points from safety. We competed today but gave away our trademark goal. Despite the effort we were inept going forward and fluffed our one real chance”, “Only trailing by the obligatory gifted goal”, “It sounded like we have a lot of possession but are doing nowt with it.”

“Is it damage limitation?” The game was settled when Stewart Downing scored on 16 minutes after seizing on a misplaced Grant Ward pass. Jordan Bowery had Rotherham’s one good opportunity to equalise late on but his shot into the side-netting typified what was a toothless attacking display.

“Boro seemed to have a fairly poor day by their standards.” The most that many fans felt they could take credit for was stopping their opponents from playing. “We were totally bereft of ideas and lucky to escape with a 1-0 loss, so no fans should think we displayed much at all. Boro were poor.”

Derby 3 - 0 Rotherham

“Halloween is a good day for a horror show”, “Application, commitment, work-rate and fight are non-existent”, “I saw a total lack of effort from every one of the players. You can forgive people for not playing well but it’s a disgrace when they don’t work hard and people have paid good money.”

“Derby strolled to victory. It’s not always about losing, it’s about how you lose and we were a disgrace.” The Rams coasted home to an easy win courtesy of goals from Andreas Weimann on seven minutes, Jacob Butterfield just before the half-time interval and Richard Keogh on 76 minutes.

“That was an absolutely diabolical performance, no motivation, organisation, quality or nothing”, “We contributed nothing. We just let Derby do whatever they wanted, poor marking, letting people run off you, lazy passing. We very much looked like a team going down.”

Rotherham 1 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday

“We gave Wednesday three points on a plate”, “We were the home team in a capacity crowd against local rivals but would any neutral have known that from watching the match? We were far too cautious in the first half and never took the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Goals from Lucas Joao and Fernando Forestieri just after half-time saw the visitors win this Friday evening Yorkshire derby. Tom Thorpe’s scored a late goal for the hosts finishing off a Chris Maguire cross. Fans felt that the team struggled with tiredness having played three days earlier.

“We gave Wednesday the points with two more defensive mistakes, a recurring theme this season.” One Owls fan visiting the Millers’ forum added this observation: “After our two goals Rotherham were visibly shell-shocked and their heads went down, allowing our midfield to take control.”

Defence

“Lee Camp has done well to keep it to 3-0. I wouldn’t blame him for the Derby result.” The 31-year-old ex-Forest and Bournemouth keeper is “a great acquisition”, “I worry that his confidence is being drained by the squad’s attitude. No mistakes but he just seems not as assured in recent games.”

“There is no question that Camp is absolutely the man to be in the Millers’ goal.” The Northern Ireland international “had a poor game against Sheffield Wednesday, admittedly his first since joining us [in September], but he was seriously at fault for both goals.”

Millers were scathing about 31-year-old right-back ex-Ram Lewis Buxton’s performance against his old team. “I have seen enough. He can go”, “How many times was he caught out with a ball inside him or over the top?”, “He was awful and sluggish and his commitment and distribution were dire.”

“Kirk Broadfoot performed well at the end of last season, but the combined lack of pace of him and Danny Collins must have seen Derby rubbing their hands with glee.” The 31-year-old ex-Blackpool centre-half has not featured regularly. “He was often out of position, hoofing it up field to nobody.”

Millers have had nothing to say about former Blues loan signing Frazer Richardson who replaced Buxton at right-back at Middlesbrough. Meanwhile, former Sheffield Wednesday left-back Joe Mattock “appears to be carrying weight compared to early in the season”, “He is average at best.”

“Harry Toffolo excelled on his debut against Reading at left-back. His quality shone through as he was strong defensively and excellent going forward.” The 20-year-old joined on a one-month loan from Norwich. “He showed determination playing through cramp in the last 20 minutes.”

“Toffolo had a strong game against Reading, getting up and down with determination, but he was worryingly absent both in mind and in body against Sheffield Wednesday.” He also struggled playing in a more advanced role at Derby. “He was anonymous. I did not understand his position.”

Farrend Rawson

“If Rawson doesn’t play for England one day, I will eat the New York Stadium”, “He is a terrific prospect for the future.” The 19-year-old centre-back is on a six-month loan from Derby. “What I like about him is he does the simple things well and reads the game so well for such a young lad.”

“Rawson is a class act with a great temperament, but he needs an old head playing alongside him”, “The lad is good. Like any young star he has his going-to-sleep or ball-watching moments but overall he looks class. Let’s hope he decides to choose us again when his loan deal ends in January.”

Danny Collins

“Danny looks a leader who organises and encourages others. He was excellent in the air and full of passion and commitment in our win at Birmingham.” The 35-year-old former Stoke centre-back “has not got the physical side to his game. He reads the game well but his slip-ups have cost us points”.

The one-time Town loan signing “has looked really poor at times. He is reckless in the challenge and is slow”, “Everyone loses pace as they age but normally make up for it in other areas. Collins looks spent and if I didn’t know his pedigree I would say he is League One standard at best.”

“I can’t believe Collins is our best option at centre-half”, “You can see in flashes what a terrific player he may have been and still could be. He challenges robustly, his turning is top notch and he doesn’t mind having the ball at his feet but he has not been able to dominate and close everything up.”

Centre Midfield

“Richard Smallwood offered no protection in front of the back four at Derby.” The 24-year-old ex-Middlesbrough man “can only play as a defensive midfielder”, “He is a Mr Reliable who always does his job”, “He was my player of the season last year but he is miles off his best at present.”

“Smallwood is at his best and most effective at the base of the diamond”, “Just don’t expect him to shoot”, “He has already been suspended for getting five bookings”, “It appears to me that most of his bookings are not for bringing a player down in front of him but one that is getting past him.”

Many Millers would like to see 22-year-old ex-Manchester United man Tom Thorpe feature. “He was superb in the sitting role against Reading. He put on a masterful performance doing exactly the same job as Smallwood has perfected over the last 18 months, breaking up play and distributing the ball.”

“Tony Andreu is the most creative player we have at the moment.” The 27-year-old, another loan signing from the Canaries, “does a lot of work and links up well with the strikers. He tidies up situations deep in our half and his movement is excellent”, “He shoots on sight which is refreshing to see.”

“Andreu can pull the strings at the tip of the diamond”, “He plays in the hole behind the two strikers which requires a narrow midfield”, “He is the only player who wants the ball in tight spaces and areas of the pitch that can actually hurt the other team”, “We look more inventive when he plays,”

Paul Green

“Paul Green gave the Derby midfield acres of space and was slow at closing people down. We signed him a few seasons too late because it looks like his legs have gone.” The former Town loan signing was criticised for his part in the Derby defeat. “He struggles when played on the left of midfield.”

The 32-year-old ex-Leeds man is praised for his commitment. “I like the energy he brings”, “Green gives everything and some of his passes are first rate”, “He is an unadventurous player but he is valuable in the holding midfield role”, “He is what he is, a decent lower half Championship player.”

Some don’t want him near the starting XI. “Weak, slow and negative”, “Green is well past his best. He knows only how to pass sideways and backwards and cannot last 90 minutes. His heading is substandard. I like the fellow but he is not up to first-team work, but he is a good cover player.”

Wide Midfield

“Joe Newell likes to get forward when possible.” The 22-year-old ex-Peterborough man “is the new Ben Pringle but with the added bonus of pace”, “Our best signing”, “I can see him developing into a really good left-sided midfielder”, “He used the ball intelligently and his distribution is good.”

“If Mattock underperforms, Newell could be used defensively”, “I’m not sure about him being a full-back other than in an emergency. He gets caught out of position a few times”, “It is still great to have wingers who can cover back for the reason that they understand what is needed when defending.”

“Get rid of Danny Ward. He has bricks for feet”, “He looked clueless and not interested until the end.” The 24-year-old ex-Terrier was heavily criticised after the Derby game. “He is one of many players who aren’t specialists in any position, not a striker and more of a nearly man for us so far.”

“It looks like Danny is carrying a bit too much weight”, “I forgot he was quite young. I think of him as an old geezer. Is there any way for him to capture is obvious ability on a regular basis? There doesn’t seem to be”, “Danny said ‘I felt alright against Derby’. Of course you did. You didn’t do anything.”

Grant Ward

“Spurs fans say that Grant Ward will go on to be a Spurs legend in the future.” The 20-year-old right-sided player is with the Millers on a six-month loan. “His pass that led to Boro’s goal would have been brilliant had he played for them but there was no incisiveness from him going forward.”

“Ward plays far better out wide”, “I don’t think he is suited to the wing. I think he would do well as an attacking midfielder.” Millers are divided over his best position but several noted his lack of comfort on the right of the diamond. “He definitely should be playing closer to the forwards.”

“Grant defends well when called for but is better going forward.” He is at his best when attacking. “What I like about him is that he always looks to get forward at every opportunity. If there is a space for him to run into, he is not afraid to take the risk, take his man on and create good opportunities.”

Strikers

“We had Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe for our two wins and he made a huge difference and was the main reason we won those games.” The striker or right winger played on loan with the Millers from Norwich for a month in September and his quality is greatly missed by many fans.

“Hands up who didn’t get excited when Jordan Bowery was through on goal against Boro. I knew he would bottle it. He’s useless.” The 24-year-old ex-Aston Villa man “is nowhere near Championship standard with poor decision-making and ball control”, “If he’s a Championship striker, I’m the Pope.”

“Bowery is a big lad who should be scaring the daylights out of Championship defences but he simply can’t judge a high ball to head it”, “He doesn’t compete with any aggression or use his pace”, “He is tall and has genuine pace but he plays like a wuss and hasn’t a clue how to win a header.”

Former Owl Chris Maguire has regularly featured off the bench. The 26-year-old “is too selfish, a bit like Paul Taylor although twice as skilful”, “His attitude, work-rate and decision making have been appalling so far. His only saving grace is that he hasn’t played in his preferred position yet.”

Maguire has usually been played on the right flank. “I’m not convinced Redfearn sees Maguire as a striker. The only attribute he has shown so far are his set-pieces where he does put some quality deliveries in”, “He creates chances with his freekicks but flatters to deceive”, “A prima donna.”

Matt Derbyshire

“Is Derbyshire injured or has he just run out of chances?”, “The law of averages says that Derbyshire will score from three yards instead of missing and falling on his backside”, “Someone needs to tell him that you don’t play football on your backside”, “Derbyshire isn’t quite cutting it up front.”

The 29-year-old ex-Nottingham Forest man “has had many chances”, “and missed the vast majority of them”, “He’s stuck in a real rut and is looking a shadow of the man that finished last season so well”, “He spent more time bickering with Brentford defenders than concentrating in that match.”

“Some have been calling for him to be dropped because of his lack of goals. Maybe he offers more. Even with Clarke-Harris alongside him, he is the one who does three-quarters of the closing down”, “He chases terrifically hard but most defenders do what they want without interference from him.”

Jonson Clarke-Harris

“Jonson has all the attributes, pace, power, strength, a decent shot and he is great in the air. The only thing he needs to work on is his movement, especially around the box. He doesn’t score many traditional strikers goals. If he can add that we really will have some player.”

The 21-year-old ex-Oldham man “is a spirit playing with lost souls”, “His physical strength and power in attack give us an added dimension”, “He is a menace with his surging runs and ability to get into dangerous positions with his strength”, “He’s stronger, better in the air and holds the ball up well.”

“The only thing I would like Jonson to improve is his runs into the channels and his attacking the box when crosses come in. He always looks to hold the ball up instead of making the run”, “Most teams know not to let him get the ball on his left foot and he is up against better centre-backs every week.”

Millers’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Roll on Ipswich”, “Five points adrift from safety and back on home soil, our clash with Ipswich on Saturday now becomes a massive game and one we have to take something from”, “We desperately need to win against what is a ‘beatable’ team but to be honest I’m not that confident.”

“Saturday is a must-win game.” Having had a series of tough games against the Owls and at Derby and Middlesbrough, Millers are viewing Saturday’s game as the most winnable in the current run. There is an now added sense of urgency given that relegation rivals picked up points in midweek.

“Easy then, you know. It’s only Ipswich, play-off semi-finalists last season and with an impressive strike force. Although they appear to be a far cry from the side that made the top six last term they are three games unbeaten. Our targeting of three points in this game shows how bad our plight is.”

Many Millers expect a difficult game and have voiced concerns over both crowd anxiety and a lack of atmosphere. “I think the crowd will be a bit sparse on Saturday and those of us who are there will be apprehensive about what we are to witness. I doubt if much atmosphere will be created.”

Websites

The busiest Millers forum is the friendly and informative Millers Mad , although it comes with a small warning over its very long advertisement scripts.

Millers Banter is a quieter but equally friendly forum and quicker to navigate, while some worthwhile blogs and opinion pieces can be found on It’s Millers Time.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

TR11BLU added 12:27 - Nov 6 A 'must win' for all concerned then..... Thanks Harry
2

Seasider added 13:22 - Nov 6 Looking at the games above,Rotherham look there for the taking;once going behind seem to lose momentum. With several players reaching the end of their careers,and loanees,and bearing in mind Tuesdays performance,should win this one. Would however like to see Ipswich attack more than they often do away from home,and this should be another win.
3

HarryfromBath added 14:05 - Nov 6 I agree completely Seasider and I really hope we can capitalise. There were so many similarities with Bolton, a lack of confidence, a toothless strike force and a manager trying to get the blend right. I think that they have regressed in the last year and haven't adequately upgraded to cope with the rigours of what is a more difficult division this time around. Several were wondering if the appointment of Redfearn, a man good with youngsters and little practiced in the transfer market, was a signal for accepting relegation and a regroup. We will have a better idea of this when we play them next year at Portman Road.

3

ArnieM added 15:39 - Nov 6 We need to be totally ruthless and put teams like this to the sword. But hey ho, we are Ipswich!!
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scooterblue added 19:24 - Nov 6 If we don't win I can hear another Mick "they are a good team" quote.
1

DerryfromBury added 19:25 - Nov 6 Thanks Harry, excellent report as usual. Lets hope a Mr P Green doesn't spoil the party....
2

carsey added 19:43 - Nov 6 Fans tell it like it is and clearly Rotherham are a very poor side with a couple of exceptions. There is no way McCarthy can possibly claim they are a good squad in a false position or that a point will be satisfactory. He must attack and aim to win this by a decent margin. Here's hoping Gerkin and Co don't produce a howler to give them something to hang on to. Sears down the middle through balls on the deck for him to run on to and everyone to shoot on sight especially Murphy. COYB

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ericclacton added 19:59 - Nov 6 Bottom of the pile, never a good fixture!!!! well done Harry
1

KiwiTractor added 21:55 - Nov 6 I don't care about a decent margin, I'll take a 1-0 win. Good luck lads.
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