Has anyone on the site got any hope left?

[CTMilller]

Many clubs have been in this position before and survived. I dare say we've been here before ourselves and avoided the drop.

For me the answer is yes we can make it but, of course, if we keep doing what we are doing at the moment, then the chances will fade rapidly. Something needs to change. I don't actually want it to be the manager but, if he doesn't start to do things better ie get the players organized and performing, it may well be him.

[leedsmiller]

Given the Chairman (on football matters), the Board, the Manager, the management team, the tactics (do we have any), the (entrenched) formation, half the players (being generous), training facilities etc etc are all poor to mediocre I'd say we've little to no chance of salvation, this season or the next. But we live in hope!

[Townerslovechild]

Of course there`s hope,lots of points left to get,but we need to go on another run of 5 or 6 games unbeaten,starting with a win tomorrow.
Lots are saying he should go if we lose tomorrow,I understand this,but unless we`ve got someone else already lined up,I`m not sure this would help the situation,sack him,advertise for another manager,this process will take 2-3 weeks at least,and that would be another 6 or 7 games gone,then the new boss would have no chance of keeping us up.
So lets get behind the team tomorrow from the start,as it obviously does affect the players if the crowd gets on their backs,especially the younger players,if you`re gunna boo,don`t do it during the game,wait until the end if it`s sh*t.

[Shark27]

Win tomorrow, we have a chance. Lose tomorrow, we're done.

Bradford away, Plymouth (in form) at home, look like very tough games. Mansfield is only winnable if we're fighting. Huddersfield and Bolton will be very hard to take anything from. If we're not giving 100%, if we're plodding on with an interim manager, if we're juggling minor strains, these next few games which come Saturday/Tuesday with little rest, will see us too far adrift. If we win tomorrow there's hope.

I find it slightly worrying that Rafferty and Hamshaw both seem to point at fans as a problem in their interviews. "Cat and mouse" with who lifts who, according to Rafferty. I think it'll get pretty toxic if they don't take the game to Donny tomorrow.

In answer to IBS, I still think there?s a chance but I think MH is stubbornly leading us to L2.

Regarding the point above, I think there?s a little truth to what Rafferty and Hamshaw say about the fans. While away fans can make quite a lot of noise, us home fans generally haven?t acted like a 12th man for a good few seasons now. The lack of atmosphere at NYS makes the game much less enjoyable and certainly won?t give the players that extra push (they shouldn?t need it but I think it helps).

For the record, the only away match I?ve been to this season is Donny. Rotherham fans sang a bit but we were out sang by the Donny fans. If we were at home and the roles were reversed i.e. we were winning 1-0 in a pretty boring game I still think the Donny fans would have out sang us.

[millavanilla]

Don't think I'll ever see a settled Rotherham team again, the way it's going..every time we get good players, they move on..probably for money, some for not getting contracts renewed...how can they expect loan players and young unproven players to get us out of this mess?

[the_idiotb_stardson]

Of I`m not sure this would help the situation,sack him,advertise for another manager,this process will take 2-3 weeks at least,and that would be another 6 or 7 games gone,then the new boss would have no chance of keeping us up.
.

If our chairman and board have not tapped up at least 3 potential managers during this dismal season, it will be astounding. They should be charged with neglect if they havent made any progress.

Surely they are not that incompetent and short- sighted?

[Jocksgloves1]

Tomorrows result won't define anything for either team, there's too many games left. What we do need to be, is on top of our game.
That includes the crowd too. Get behind the side for the full game, even if the match starts badly. I know it's asking a lot, but the players have enough self-inflicted pressure on them without our own support turning on them. After all, we'll be here when the present squad have long gone.

[ragingpup]

I am full of hope.

[Townerslovechild]

Well said Jocks,if ever the team needed some support,it's today.

[Brin]

Never throw the towel in until it's mathematically impossible.

Yes it's been a bad season for may reasons as we all well know. One that will live long in the memory.

We thought the Burton game had to be won, this one HAS to be won at all costs no ifs buts or any excuse that will be reported on come full time.

Time for the players, not just Hamshaw, to stand up and be counted and to play like their life depended on it. If they turn in a shower of s.hite like they did at Burton then the wrath of the fans will descend down on them and they will have no one to blame but themselves.

Come on you Feckers! Pull your finger out and show you mean business today!

[Derbymiller]

As stated elsewhere we need 5 or 6 wins and it has to start today, if we don't beat teams in the bottom half we are down. I will carry hope into this game because the board have let themselves and the fans down, MH should not be manager he has no idea, makes the same mistakes week I. And week out, and by his own admission has no idea why we perform like we do. Should have gone around the new year if not before, now him going is unlikely to keep us up. I feel the club, manager, players and fans are in no mans land. Still feel we will win today, one of the 5 perhaps.

[mellowmiller]

I have a modicum of hope but not much confidence that we can survive.
After the impressive win at Exeter I went to the home game against Cardiff with a degree of optimism that we would put up a proper battle against them but it didn't happen and we were dreadful.
Unbelievably we were even worse against Burton in a game where we had to get something, at least a draw, but all we got was a meek surrender.
I hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling that all the other teams in the relegation battle have more spirit and desire than our lot and that's not acceptable and not what we expect from a Rotherham United team.
Get them fired up today Hamshaw or you're gone.

[sawmiller]

How possible is it that we?ll lose our L1 status before March is out?

I just don?t think we are equipped in so many ways to stay up. Quite possible an equally tough season ahead next year. Saw York play a short while ago - they?d wipe the floor with us

[UlleyMiller]

Win tomorrow, we have a chance. Lose tomorrow, we're done.

Bradford away, Plymouth (in form) at home, look like very tough games. Mansfield is only winnable if we're fighting. Huddersfield and Bolton will be very hard to take anything from. If we're not giving 100%, if we're plodding on with an interim manager, if we're juggling minor strains, these next few games which come Saturday/Tuesday with little rest, will see us too far adrift. If we win tomorrow there's hope.

I find it slightly worrying that Rafferty and Hamshaw both seem to point at fans as a problem in their interviews. "Cat and mouse" with who lifts who, according to Rafferty. I think it'll get pretty toxic if they don't take the game to Donny tomorrow.

I'll stand by this. We're done. Too many difficult games, and if we couldn't get fired up to stick it to Donny after leading at half time, we'll not find that fire in a library against Plymouth or do anything when we're at the likes of Lincoln (especially with the last game in their heads).

Some away days I've not done for a while next season, and the possibility of being competitive for the first time since going to Gillingham... every cloud....

[UlleyMiller]

In answer to IBS, I still think there?s a chance but I think MH is stubbornly leading us to L2.

Regarding the point above, I think there?s a little truth to what Rafferty and Hamshaw say about the fans. While away fans can make quite a lot of noise, us home fans generally haven?t acted like a 12th man for a good few seasons now. The lack of atmosphere at NYS makes the game much less enjoyable and certainly won?t give the players that extra push (they shouldn?t need it but I think it helps).

For the record, the only away match I?ve been to this season is Donny. Rotherham fans sang a bit but we were out sang by the Donny fans. If we were at home and the roles were reversed i.e. we were winning 1-0 in a pretty boring game I still think the Donny fans would have out sang us.

I've commented on our fans before. Some are brilliant, some just too comfortable to spend their time noisily bitching at our players. Appreciate Rafferty's view (and voicing it) but you have to be prepared at this level to motivate yourselves in quiet environments. The ones having a go at players is another issue though, and it can't be good for players to be slightly nervous around fans who are going to whinge every time a pass goes astray.

Fans were good today, in the main, but the team in the second half didn't respond to it.