Tonight was impressive

We looked bang at it from the start, even if Rotherham themselves did too. But we won early battles and just took over. As good as I’ve seen at Oakwell in a long while. Dominated so much that I don’t recall them threatening us first half.

But I’ll admit, in between the pride in seeing us so effective, as the game wore on I feared a sucker punch. And to be fair to the opposition, they improved second half and had one decent chance that Killip did well to save with his legs. They had clearly changed things up and were going for it, which does end up with you looking at your own team and wondering what we need to change.

Great substitution from DC. The one I hoped he’d make with 15 to go. Gave them something else to think about, and Stevie went left (Max had been more right sided). Worked a treat. And what a delightful finish to seal a welcome home win and a clean sheet.

I think every player did well to varying degrees. Not an average or bad performance out there. Rare that you get that. And it’s hard to single anyone out. But, I thought Roberts, Earl, Connell and Phillips were on top form. I think I’d give Phillo the nod for man of the match. Can’t be ar**d with a debate tonight but struggle to understand the naysayers with him.

I am checking myself though to a point. I don’t rate Rotherham at all. When others were going silly in the summer as they signed a raft of has-beens, I wasn’t seeing the fuss. They signed some bad eggs too. A couple are key players and are injured. I’m not sure Evans weighed that job up properly at all. Gone against everything he had achieved at Stevenage. Silly.

Happy bunny tonight. I f****** enjoyed watching us. It was like watching us away from home on the regular. Good signs.

Enjoy your weekend, Reds.

 

Can’t disagree with any of that. You reds.

 

Agree pretty much totally, but are there many Phillips naysayers? Great passer of the ball, top scorer (still, I think?) and we basically look clueless when he's out.

Granted I've pretty much given up all social media over the past couple of months so might have missed it, but what's not to like?

 

Georgie Genty looks like being a great signing.

 

Apparently Phillips has been absolutely ***** this season.

https://barnsleyfc.org.uk/threads/darrell-clarke-says.333721/page-3#post-3372425

 

Rotherham look a side to me that have signed loads of solid pros but without any creative spark.

 

There are enough on here, without social media. It’s been the case from day one that he debuted. It’s not a majority, but it’s mentioned enough.

It’s a running joke between my circle of mates.

“Apart from 20 goal contributions a season, and only costing a hundred grand, and him signing an extension on league one wages, what’s he ever done for us?”

Maybe the Wembley red card clouds folks’ view?

Big credit too - while I’m here - to DC for doing as I and others had hoped and dropping Slonina. He’s miles off it. And it’s great to see Ben doing well. Done nothing wrong while he’s been here and deserves this run.

And, he’s seen the light that Duff and Collins ignored. Jon Russell was a success as a forward thinking midfielder with Huddersfield who lacked graft going backwards. It’s why our recruitment team signed him. Dynamic, but physical, they felt he offered something else going forward in midfield. Yet we’ve suffered them playing him as a holding midfielder for 18 months or whatever. The lad is proper talented. Let him play. And here we are.

I was one of many questioning DC decisions a few weeks ago so only right to credit him now. He, his staff and players have turned the tide since the international break. Kudos.

 

Earl MoM for me. Solid partnership with Roberts. Keep these two fit at the back and we'll do well IMHO.

 

And yet Russell played deeper second half or is it my aging eyesight .
Not complaining like as he was still a class act .

 

I think we dropped deeper as a unit. I put that down to the opposition though. Takes two to tango!

 

My mate who I watch football with doesn't rate Phillips. Not 'doesn't rate' but the whole 'what have the Romans ever done for us'. I never stop ripping the piss out of him when Phillips scores another. He didn't rate Ivan Toney or Jacob Brown either... I've had a lot of fun with those too.

He did, however, in November 2015, after the York game, after that run of defeats when everyone wanted Johnson sacked, place a bet that we would win the Football League Trophy and win promotion. We'd been to every game. We knew how good we were and that, for whatever reason, it wasn't quite clicking but it damn well would. And after the Millwall final he bought all 30 of us all our drinks and all our food all night from that bet.

 

To counter the introduction of Hungpo in the 46 minute then .
Fairy snuff .

 

Got to say I'm happy with our transfer window. Gent, DKD, Robbo and Humphrys are all solid players at this level, and Russell and Watters are contributing much more. The loans are a bit disappointing but I think we're starting to see a coherent gameplan.

 

Home performance of the season. They couldn't have moaned had we won four or five nill. We dominated nearly the whole game.

 

Stay classy Jay

 

I got 100/1 on us getting promoted at some point that winter and by the time the playoff final rolled around I wasn't even nervous. We were absolutely firing by the end of the season and I've never been more sure of us winning a big game.

 

As we walked towards Wembley the possibility that we may lose never entered our heads. I have never felt like that before and probably never will again. No nerves. We were going to win because we were so much better than anyone else in that division.

 

In my opinion we played well against a very very poor side .
Big lad is going to get sacked.
They were woeful against a side who had only won 1 game at home.
Our boys were good for the win.
But let us not get ahead of ourselves

 

Be surprised if that isn't Evans last game, didn't look like a happy camp, body language of some of their players particularly Nombe carrying that of a dressing room that's chalked **** on the manager.

 

Yeah the fat Scotch man Evans could be done soon, he's definitely a real sacktastic option right now for Rotherham Fc.