Spread the love

Rotherham are one of those teams you never know what you are going to get when you play them. Sometimes we win. Sometimes they give us a good hiding. This season, the writing is on the cards for a Brentford victory. However, things never go according to the form book as Chris Saxon (@AxholmeMiller) will tell you as he chats Billy Grant. 

The Season is Over before it has started for both of us. Well according to Ian Holloway anyway. Have you given up and taken up fishing for the year then?

Do you know, I actually quite like Ian Holloway, he’s quite amusing at times. Let’s face it – at least in his opinion of the Millers, he’s only agreeing with virtually every known pundit in predicting our relegation. He predicted the same last season and if my memory serves me correct, I think it was only after Mr Warnock decided to abandon his tractor and come to our aid that he actually predicted us to win a game!

Early season results have hardly served to offer any alternative view of our prospects. Not sure why he’s predicted your demise? Has he had a bad pint in one of those pubs of yours (Actually I think he’s peeved he didn’t get the managers gig – Ed)?

It’s early days though and we have a new manager and some new younger additions to our squad. They’re finding life tough at the moment and successive away trips to Aston Villa and Brighton in front of massive crowds must have been daunting, to say the least, for several of our new recruits.Everyone’s favourites to win the league – Newcastle – and other fancied sides like Derby and the Fowls (get it? .. the birds from across the way in Yorkshire) have all lost games they probably expected to win.

I bet Newcastle fans aren’t abandoning their team for the ancient art of Origami or other such wild pursuits? Not yet anyway!


A season devoid of struggle please. Alan Stubbs has left what looked a great job at Hibs for the New York Stadium so he must think we can achieve that? Mustn’t he?  Fifth from bottom as opposed to fourth bottom last time would be good.

Saying that, it’s not been the best of starts for you guys with one draw, two losses and a loss in the cup – albeit only three league matches. Have you seen signs of hope for this season in the early performances.

I think that we are paying the price at the moment for dithering around in the close season waiting for Neil Warnock to make up his mind. We didn’t sign anyone for several weeks due to having to find a new manager. When Alan Stubbs arrived he decided that he needed younger, hungrier, quicker players in all areas of the pitch. We’ve signed a few. Jon Taylor cost us around £500,000 from Posh and Will Vaulks looks a snip at a lot less from Falkirk.

Our playing style has changed too,from our traditional long ball game to a shorter snappier passing game that will take time to master. I honestly believe that with further promised recruitment, we shall do rather better than predicted, but these changes take time and we need to start picking up a few points at least very soon otherwise we might bt cut adrift before Christmas.

. How are the team attitude shaping up this campaign?

That lack of effort I mentioned related mostly to several loan players who came and went without so much as a bead of sweat being discharged. Against Wolves then at Villa Park, we more than matched the opposition for the first half hour but heads are dropping when we concede a goal.

I hear the same happened the other night at Brighton. Football is a confidence game and if and when we finally start to win, I think the current crop of younger players will find that extra gear to last a full ninety minutes which we seem to lack at present.

Ledesma is one of your old boys – we signed him on a non-contract basis. Haven’t really seen much of him. Any good?

He was on loan from Middlesbrough two seasons back and did okay – scoring the odd goal but so often went missing when we were under the cosh. Despite that, he was signed on a permanent transfer last season, had very few opportunities and disappeared almost without trace. He has a powerful shot but not a lot else in my opinion.

Rotherham undoubtedly have the second smallest playing budget in the division (£5m in 2015) just above Burton. Do you not feel last season proved that it’s not all about the money?

It’s become something of a cliche but look at Leicester. Miracles do happen still even in this monied climate that we attend our games in. Having said that, in the vast majority of situations the one with the most money wins the game. Last Saturday at Villa demonstrated this. Over £65 million in their starting eleven and their undoubted class told. I expect the clubs with the riches to succeed this season with only the odd exception.

We have Leo Sayer. You have Chuckle Brothers. Discuss

leo sayer the bee

I’ve met the Chuckle Brothers and they really are Millers through and through. We also have Howard Webb who lives in the town and still can be seen at the NYS as and when his time allows. Two completely different “acts” if you class the CB’s as one but they love the Millers their local team. Not sure why Leo Sayer is a Bee though? Enlighten me (Listen the the podcast above .. we’re not quite sure either .. but absolutely delighted to have him on board – Ed)?

Leeds United are my choice as surprise packets. They have a shrewd manager in Gary Monk and have made a few good signings. Of course, that all depends on their Chairman keeping clear of team affairs

Brentford come up to Rotherham on the back of a two-game mini-streak. Scott Hogan will be desperate to put the ‘ghost of Rotherham’ behind him where he got injured not even half way through his Brentford league debut exactly two years ago. Are you expecting to get your first three points.

Our game at home to you lot last time around proved a real turning point in our season. Described as a must-win game, it was indeed just that and the three points set us off on a run of results which ultimately turned around our fortunes, so thanks for that.

All I remember was a full on ninety minutes of non-stop effort from both teams which actually provided an entertaining game. Oh and that man Bidwell – who’s now moved on – trying to swap shirts at every opportunity with our players during play. Despite it coming around so early on, our fans are saying that once again it is a must win game for us.

Shades of last season? For me, it’s not quite that but three points and our first win would be a great boost  – given we play neighbours Barnsley the week after. We have one new recruit chomping at the bit. Izzy Brown – on a season long loan from Chelsea – will play so watch out!

Rotherham United .. Heart says we will finish 11th but head says lack of quality investment will finally tell and we will finish 23rd (well one consolation … that’s one place above Villa in 24th place anyway – Ed)

Hope I’m wrong on that final prediction.

Score prediction
A definite first win for us! Millers 3 Brentford 1

.

Billy Grant
@BillyTheBee99