Should We Have Given The Youngsters A Chance

Rotherham United Head Coach Leam Richardson says there is a time and place to bring youngsters into the team.

There are no bones about the fact that the Millers have struggled throughout much of the season and find themselves firmly at the bottom of the Championship having shipped forty-seven goals.

Also there have been more times than not that both Richardson and his predecessor Matt Taylor haven’t been able to fill the bench – which to some of us seems a bit fascicle when there are a number of younger players which, we think, are able and probably willing to sit amongst the first team regulars.

But, the Millers Boss doesn’t feel like that as he explained to Leon Wobschall of the Yorkshire Post saying, ‘You have to be mindful that they are starting their careers and you want them to start it in a really good mindset and environment.’

Yes, I can understand that and how he wants to protect them, but a very wise person I once knew said that ‘you only learn how to play chess by losing some games’ and couldn’t that be said about football too? Also some of these ‘youngsters’ have already had experience in league football and surely should now be able to step up.

We sent out a few of the younger lads out on loan – there’s JJ (Josh Kayode) at Carlisle, to be fair he is injured at present, who has already played around ten games for the Millers in various competitions, four of those being this season, and has loans with four other teams. Jake Hull has played a handful of games for Rotherham and has had loan spells with Guiseley, Hartlepool and Boston United. He’s now loaned out to Buxton.

Then there’s the likes of Tolaji Bola, not old at twenty-five, who has had experience with Rochdale and Bradford and is now on loan at Burton while twenty-six year old Jamie McCart is on loan with Barnsley and playing League One football.

I honestly don’t get sending players out on loan – however old they are – when you can’t fill your own bench.

Personally, I think some of these youngsters should have had a chance, even if only from the bench, this season – as, I think, they would have been full of enthusiasm if nothing else.