Port Vale Post Match Thoughts

[caytonmiller]

If we had played the first half like the second half and vice-versa we would all be a bit worried but we would be delighted!

2-1 home win to start the season is wonderful.

The preseason friendlies? I can see why people are worried about the defence. Thank god we have woody to sort it hopefully!

I don?t know if anyone else spotted how Gore ran his socks off in the first half to nullify their tactic. There was no way that they could play out past the defence.

Port Vale are a good side and will be up there at the end of the season.

Not sure vale will be up there though frog. A decent well organised big clogging side. I can see them being mid table.
I suppose if we reverse the roles and look at it from p vale fans view. To concede the 1st which was CB to RB to striker =.goal. Then. 2nd goal. free header at the back post, keeper flapping. =Goal. Then poor control from midfielder to slide in =str red. Yet they fight back and almost snatched a equaliser at the end. I'm sure their fans are happier than millers fans

[RU66]

Port Vale will finish above us this season no doubt got some scope to their side how they came back in the 2nd half. What we got in comparison?

[Pocket rocket]

When your dead your not upset because you don’t know your dead. Everyone else is upset.
It’s a bit like when you’re stupid. You don’t know your stupid but everyone else does.

[caytonmiller]

When your dead your not upset because you don’t know your dead. Everyone else is upset.
It’s a bit like when you’re stupid. You don’t know your stupid but everyone else does.

Does this mean we're all stupid or we all don't know we are?

[Pocket rocket]

Does this mean we're all stupid or we all don't know we are?

Not you pal. You are a genius 😃

[caytonmiller]

Not you pal. You are a genius 😃

Spurley hey education. Up there with Yale and Harrow

[pipppy]

Love him or hate him I think we missed Jack Holmes who with his runs on the wing would have released some of the pressure.

[Millerman_II]

Reflecting on yesterday's match, was it really that bad and indicative of a team who will struggle? I thought the first half was very positive and was pleasantly surprised how strong we looked.
The second half was influenced massively by the 'stick or twist' question. We came out with 'Don't give anything away" mentality. Vale came out with 3 fresh sets of legs and a "let's take some risks" attitude.
It reminded me of the MK Dons game in 2022 under Warne where we were leading against 10 men at half time, only to be beaten. That was a Rotherham team that could have gone 13 points clear of 3rd place that day, so were very used to seeing out games. Yet they struggled.
I've seen a few comments online criticising the standard of the players coming on in the second half. I don't agree, I think it is very hard to come on in those circumstances and change the teams mentality, especially after we conceded. I thought everyone battled well, but that was all they could do.
Benson tried to keep the ball, passing rather than looking to create a chance. It stands out because one of those extra passes led to the Jules sending off. I think in a different match situation he would be just fine in our midfield.
I watched back the last 30mins and when theres no nerves of losing you can see what players are contributing. Yearwood put himself about and got in quite a few tackles. Apart from not being alert enough for Benson's pass, I'd be happy for him to be in the starting 11.
Kaleta also thrust into a more defensive role showed flashes. He looked quite quick and got one or two good blocks in. Again I'd like to see him when the team is in a more attacking mindset.
I've seen dogs abuse for Etete, but watching back. He made a couple of tidy first time passes. He missed an opportunity to spread the attack cross field, once, when we had men wide open down the right, taking the safer option. Another time he failed to chase a ball over the top which he would have never got even if he had chased. One other time he was beyond the defender and elected to run to the corner. I think he'd have been slated if he'd crossed it and given position away. I don't think the ball over the top to run on to is why he is here though!
I'm reasonably happy with recruitment based on what I've seen, too many times over the last 2 seasons we've been bringing on youth players from the bench. I think we do need another Centre Back (as options are limited now Jules is suspended) and another Striker with pace, in case Nombe gets injured.
Whilst that second half wasn't pretty, the lads got the points against opposition that weren't too shabby. Great start to the season for me

[RU66]

Love him or hate him I think we missed Jack Holmes who with his runs on the wing would have released some of the pressure.

You avin a laugh! Never be up to this level.

[mygiddypant]

"BIGGEST LOAD OF GARBAGE I'VE EVER SEEN."

Said by the first fan to pass me on the way out. Put it in caps as it was clearly intended to be heard by everyone within a 100 metre circle.

New season; new manager; new players. Old fans. Plus ca change.

Can't add much to what has been said previously. I did think in the first half that the defence looked a bit lacking in cohesion. Typified by one move when Vale attacked with two players, resulting in a cross to the player who was unmarked who had a free header from in front of goal. A better directed header would probably have resulted in a goal.

What was the tactic with the goal kicks? Shall we tap it about? Shall we faff about? Shall we waste time deliberately or through indecision? Mostly Dawson thumped it long.

Very pleasantly surprised by the first half. Totally bewildered by the second.

I'm still more than glass half full for the time being.

[pipppy]

You avin a laugh! Never be up to this level.

No im being serious. The ball was constantly in our own half. Holmes often picks the ball up around half way and gets forward. Only Powell was doing that right at the end. Another player could have made a difference allowing the movement on both sides of the pitch.

[Old_time_miller]

Hammy is quite open about it all…..none of us really need to add anything other than to be specific in a way he can’t. What he said about the loan striker does not bode well.

[Milkyme]

A 2-1 win

[Scum-Triumphant]

Someone earlier asked for the excellent video played on the big screen before kick off.

Here it is.

https://x.com/rotherhamunited/status/1927319351645859860?s=46&t=5r63NRLDbYbdxc-r2dWIow

[Derbymiller]

Didn?t go i was sat on the plane waiting to go on holiday. My son kept texting me, he said Jules was shocking and our subs didn?t seem to help. I think beating Vale is a good result and this is a new and young team, remember a lot of these new players have not had a pre-season or worked under our fitness coach so it is as many have said in the last few weeks we will not get a real feel for the team or the players until mid to late September. The club have brought in players now we only have one or two missing, all before the season started and one month before the window closes, this is good. I still expect one or two to leave us and end up a couple light of a good squad. That is the Rotherham way to hope injuries don?t impact us, even though year after year we suffer with injuries, but we will see. We are crying out for a quality CB to take control of the defence, Jules isn?t that man. If that young lad Duncan is as good as everyone says I would like him to be brought through via the cup games to see if he can give us some cover at the back. Other clubs do not worry about age if a player is good enough. A great result and let us see how it goes over the next 5 or 6 games.