Burton post match reflections

[CAMiller]

Last year, you and others were berating SE for the performances and results. Now you are using it as a benchmark for acceptability. Last year was ****e, this year is as bad if not worse. It’s time you and others wake up to the harsh reality that TS has sold us down the river and MH is paddling hard in the same direction.

I wasn't using it as a benchmark for acceptability (although I see it might look that way) but more as a measure to show we are exactly where we were 12 months ago, an appalling loss at home to a L2 team in the FA Cup followed by a toothless performance, only rescued by a shinned OG and a 90+4 minute equaliser.

Expectations this time around are different and thus the reason why MH, so far, has generally been given more leeway than SE was. The latter conjured up some 'mini turnarounds' that saw him 'survive' through ~39 games. What will happen with MH? Time will tell.

[UlleyMiller]

After the opening game we went on a run of taking 4 points from a possible 24. After that spell we've gone 5 unbeaten, including two away wins (yes, Rotherham, away), and taken 11 points from 15. That's title winning form.

The truth is that Burton are rarely going to be an easy team to turn over, but the game was largely even. Their goals came from a corner where more experienced centre backs would have easily bossed it (we have one centre back, and he's a young lad), and a goal from a slip on a surface which was causing problems all night, which their lot celebrated (embarrassingly, in my view) like they'd won a trophy.

We've been absolutely dire when going behind in recent years, but we've yet again found our way back into a game and secured a point from two goals down. We're down to threads of a team. No centre backs with any league experience, forward line is missing fully fit depth, and the goalkeeper has zero threat of his place going if he plays badly.

Hamshaw has got some obvious problems right now getting the system to work (the wing back approach looks a mess, and having to drop full backs in the middle doesn't help), but lately we're still getting points. He's just given us a three-game win streak in the league for the second time since he came in - SE didn't do that once, and he's got over 500 league games under his belt. That's not a "who's the better manager" comment, but tells you that MH has quickly got the lads operating in the right way to get points where they can, despite him being a very junior manager and also having to navigate the legacy issues at the club.

When I sit listening to the away fans (not far away from my seat) singing "your support is f***ing s***", I often just sit and think they probably don't know the half of it. Hundreds (often thousands) don't bother coming because Sky are saving them getting a bit wet, hundreds seemingly opt out when we're not picking teams apart regularly, we've never been the noisiest fans, but of late there's barely enough background noise to risk a fart in the main stand, and in the background the bickering (and in some cases, just needless personal attacks and trolling) over anything and everything is endless. I've said before we're far from the best fans and some took offence - but if this is a club whose fans are among the best, I'd hate to see the other end of the scale.

11 points from 15, a winnable game on Saturday, then a likely break before three more we should be more than competitive in. I'll take this over some of what I've sat through in the last three seasons. UTM.

[RU66]

Douglas showed don't judge him on his 1st start in the side. Hamshaw take note with the other younger players. Still think McGuckin would offer more on the right than Martha or Keleta. Clarke is he available for league 1 games? He could be an option on the right.

[Derbymiller]

I see that another review of roundwood is being done after another load of injuries. Interesting in the advertiser article MH says he has had staff leave and still has people to recruit. I admire MH wanting to sort all this himself, but where are the leaders at the club stepping in and insisting that a more independent review takes place. Should we bring in a free agent Cb to provide cover until January ? With international break coming and the fact that could get postponed, a player like Liam Cooper could have a game behind closed doors arranged and could give us an option. I am keen on Douglas and Duncan being given a chance alongside rafferty with James back at left wing back, allowing Powell to go back into midfield but if agbaire breaks down again !!! We need some cover and a free agent could give us that. Assuming there is a slot in the squad free.

[Townerslovechild]

Fantastic advice if you don?t like it don?t go. A lot didn?t go last night though did they. Maybe genuine supporters don?t like what?s happening to the club at the moment.
Yes genuine ones not fair weather ones.

What is it you don't like ?

[UlleyMiller]

I see that another review of roundwood is being done after another load of injuries. Interesting in the advertiser article MH says he has had staff leave and still has people to recruit. I admire MH wanting to sort all this himself, but where are the leaders at the club stepping in and insisting that a more independent review takes place. Should we bring in a free agent Cb to provide cover until January ? With international break coming and the fact that could get postponed, a player like Liam Cooper could have a game behind closed doors arranged and could give us an option. I am keen on Douglas and Duncan being given a chance alongside rafferty with James back at left wing back, allowing Powell to go back into midfield but if agbaire breaks down again !!! We need some cover and a free agent could give us that. Assuming there is a slot in the squad free.

It's a good shout. Raggett and Jules aren't consistently fit (to say the least), and Holmes may not recover and remain fit until May. I'd like to see Agbaire and Holmes in a 2 or a 3 regularly if we get them fit, with Douglas/Duncan making up the 3rd role when it's a 3. An additional CB on either a short term free or as a swap out for Baptiste would make sense.

(So many actual names to put down at CB, but scraping the barrel to get any one of them on the pitch)

[Townerslovechild]

Tuesday's game was i would say,60% decent, 40% poor,similar to a lot of games this season.
But the results have improved greatly in the last month, so we are now finding a way to get points.
It's far from perfect, but what do you expect ?
Rookie manager, half a new team of mainly young players, and many injuries, all things considered, we're doing OK.
But,lots of fans don't have the patience or the will to give Hamshaw a chance.
Maybe people were expecting another Warne scenario, but what he did was unbelievable, I doubt anyone will get 3 straight promotions from this league ever again, this season is more normal.
Many decent teams have taken years to get out of this league, it took the King 3 years to get out of the 4th division remember.

[RU66]

Warney was glad to see back of. Now Hamshaw he's got this air of arrogance about him on his interviews whose he kidding not the stay away fans. Can't have been more than 5,000 in the ground Tuesday. Only Gore Benson Spence & T Holmes when fit out of his signings bring anything to the side. Evans signings are more the backbone of the side + never replaced the likes of Wilkes & Sibley.

[Brin]

This site is becoming an echo chamber.
Sensible views only welcome.
I??ve heaped praise on MH over and over yet criticise him for a game or 2 and you are unrealistic, you don??t have perspective, you can??t see the bigger picture or you don??t understand what he??s doing.

Just because the minority have a different view doesn??t make it wrong and just because the major say something else doesn??t make it right, (sensible).
Not a dig at you Brin just saying it??s becoming a place where if you criticise MH it??s wrong but SE got pelters and that was ok.
For the record one last time I like MH and think long term he will do well but the last couple of games imo he??s got it wrong. He can??t just have a free ride and keep saying the same things when it doesn??t go well.

Pocket fella,
I totally hear and respect where you're coming from. 'Everyone' is entitled to their view. how they see things mapping out, what they agree or disagree on, which way the clubs being handled, management tactics the job lot and for that I respect your point too. Maybe my use of the word 'sensible' was an inappropriate one to use and if I caused offence, I apologise.

Matt Hamshaw is in a position that is expected to be challenged by any of our fans, his team tactics, training the works irrespective how others view things that are posted on here. Respect is the key word.

Going back to the last two games....FA Cup, did he choose the right formation, starting line up, and finally the way he introduced certain subs? Hell no he got that one absobloodylutely wrong! After all the hot air spouting how he wanted to go head on at this and at least get through to the next round, believe me Swindon WERE there for the taking but, his tactics and deliverance on the day were both an insult to those who attended and an embarrasment involving Sherrif. Thanks for blowing that one Matt.

The Burton game. Team selection completely wrong. Did he not see like I have for the past two games Martha hasn't delivered or been involved in any of them? Why did he leave him on for so long, he had to go off at half time for me.

Sherrif over Hugill? I mean come on. Jordan has in the past been blasted for his lazy falling down style and may I say, rightly so.
Of late he appears to be a different player, fully committed, 'winning' headers and with his new Centre Half role disply the other night, he delivered so, why put Sheriff in front of him? Matt, you ballsed it up again.

Sheriff of late looks like he's clapped a stone on since being out injured which, brings me nicely on to our sickness room.

Amazing how both Spence and Benson suddenly rose from their sick beds after the Swindon game? Let's throw in Rafferty and Agbaire while were at it shall we. Yes, Hamshaw chose not to use these players in the FA Cup but made them all available for the Burton game. Disrespetful to to us fans? I think so.

He had all those available on Tuesday night but chose Martha again over Benson to start? I being repetitive but Sherrif over Hugil??

Hamshaw used a very big 'get out of jail free' card the other night but, had been ballsy enough to use his full might of a team to start the game I truly believe we could have won that and be sat in 9th position not 12th.

Credit where it's due. We're currently sat 3rd in the last 5 games performance ranking only just behind Mansfield on goal difference.
Like Ulley posted earlier that's promotion form, fact. What Matt has to realise is to be totally honest to us the paying fan and not lie to us, the FA Cup game was one of deceit. The Burton game, he wasn't true to himself or us on what was an unpleasant night to even turn up.

All I ask for his honesty from Hamshaw, be brave be bold and not to treat us for fools. Finally a message to the players. Are you all truly injured or, are you being kept under wraps by Hammy and his crew? Now I'd really like to know the answer to that one as by some miracle several of you all appeared to have been doused in holy water come last Tuesday night.

[Pocket rocket]

What is it you don't like ?

Telling people not to go if they don?t like it. Attendance on Tuesday was already poor but because you don?t like someone else?s opinion you tell them not to come.
Fantastic mature attitude because you don?t like an opinion. Yeah let?s tell fans to stop coming great business sense

[Pocket rocket]

Pocket fella,
I totally hear and respect where you're coming from. 'Everyone' is entitled to their view. how they see things mapping out, what they agree or disagree on, which way the clubs being handled, management tactics the job lot and for that I respect your point too. Maybe my use of the word 'sensible' was an inappropriate one to use and if I caused offence, I apologise.

Matt Hamshaw is in a position that is expected to be challenged by any of our fans, his team tactics, training the works irrespective how others view things that are posted on here. Respect is the key word.

Going back to the last two games....FA Cup, did he choose the right formation, starting line up, and finally the way he introduced certain subs? Hell no he got that one absobloodylutely wrong! After all the hot air spouting how he wanted to go head on at this and at least get through to the next round, believe me Swindon WERE there for the taking but, his tactics and deliverance on the day were both an insult to those who attended and an embarrasment involving Sherrif. Thanks for blowing that one Matt.

The Burton game. Team selection completely wrong. Did he not see like I have for the past two games Martha hasn't delivered or been involved in any of them? Why did he leave him on for so long, he had to go off at half time for me.

Sherrif over Hugill? I mean come on. Jordan has in the past been blasted for his lazy falling down style and may I say, rightly so.
Of late he appears to be a different player, fully committed, 'winning' headers and with his new Centre Half role disply the other night, he delivered so, why put Sheriff in front of him? Matt, you ballsed it up again.

Sheriff of late looks like he's clapped a stone on since being out injured which, brings me nicely on to our sickness room.

Amazing how both Spence and Benson suddenly rose from their sick beds after the Swindon game? Let's throw in Rafferty and Agbaire while were at it shall we. Yes, Hamshaw chose not to use these players in the FA Cup but made them all available for the Burton game. Disrespetful to to us fans? I think so.

He had all those available on Tuesday night but chose Martha again over Benson to start? I being repetitive but Sherrif over Hugil??

Hamshaw used a very big 'get out of jail free' card the other night but, had been ballsy enough to use his full might of a team to start the game I truly believe we could have won that and be sat in 9th position not 12th.

Credit where it's due. We're currently sat 3rd in the last 5 games performance ranking only just behind Mansfield on goal difference.
Like Ulley posted earlier that's promotion form, fact. What Matt has to realise is to be totally honest to us the paying fan and not lie to us, the FA Cup game was one of deceit. The Burton game, he wasn't true to himself or us on what was an unpleasant night to even turn up.

All I ask for his honesty from Hamshaw, be brave be bold and not to treat us for fools. Finally a message to the players. Are you all truly injured or, are you being kept under wraps by Hammy and his crew? Now I'd really like to know the answer to that one as by some miracle several of you all appeared to have been doused in holy water come last Tuesday night.

Fair points Brin 👏🏻👍

[Townerslovechild]

Telling people not to go if they don?t like it. Attendance on Tuesday was already poor but because you don?t like someone else?s opinion you tell them not to come.
Fantastic mature attitude because you don?t like an opinion. Yeah let?s tell fans to stop coming great business sense

Pocket,not really sure what you`re on about,you said something about "Genuine" supporters not going just wondered why that would be?
It`s obvious some don`t like the situation we`re in,the manager,the players,or all of the above,nothing to do with an "Opinion",rather if you don`t like it,find something else to do with your time that will give you more pleasure.

[Heliosphan78]

I thought I'd respond to the promotion form comment. Yes, that may well be the case in terms of points won (and I accept that football is about winning games) but the reality is that we haven't played well. If you're a neutral watching our games against Barnsley, Leyton Orient and Bradford, you're wondering how on earth Rotherham have come out of those games with 7 points. The only recent league game we deserved to win was Northampton. Even Man City U21s should have been out of sight by halftime.

Results like the Burton game are going to happen regularly because performance levels just aren't there and we rarely dominate teams. It's frustrating to watch and the latest raft of injuries are adding to that frustration. How many more times are we going to see this team limp through games with issues in central defence?

I'm hoping Benson is fit to start on Saturday and either Agbaire or one of the others to start alongside Douglas in that defence. We'll get beat on Saturday if we use the same line up.

[Heliosphan78]

Just read the latest tweet from Paul Davis:

"Rotherham will be without Jules (hamstring) and Baptiste (hamstring tendon) for at least a month"

You couldn't make this **** up.

[Lolmorgan]

The whole club needs a kick up the @rse. The feeling, the atmosphere it’s dead. It’s our centenary year, no razzmatazz, nothing.It’s flat.