Small Squad Or Large Squad

Rotherham United’s second in command Richie Barker thinks that the coming seasons squad will be bigger than the season we’ve just ended.

The Millers will have to recruit new players if anyone leaves, the players that have been let go and also for the three loan players we finished the season with who are now back with their parent club.

Speaking to the Official Site Barker said, ‘A bit of a rebuild every two years is not the end of the world. I think this will be the biggest turnover in players since I arrived, in terms of players going out and coming in. Last year we ended up with relatively a similar squad, so I think this year will be the biggest.’

Actually, I’m quite happy to hear this. I can understand what Warney has said in the past about having a small squad who get to know each other which can only mean they know what each other is thinking off the pitch. I also understand that it means there won’t be players sat in the stands week after week.

But, I do think we were a couple of players short this season. We were mostly lucky with injuries and suspensions but there have been times this season when we’ve not been able to fill the substitutes bench which I find a bit unprofessional in The Championship.

I also suspect, though don’t know for certain, that we will mostly be getting in loan signings. And our loan signings last season didn’t do too badly did they – Marek Rodak played almost every game for us, Richie Towell helped with four goals in thirty-four appearances and Zak Vyner also played thirty-four games and, in my mind, got better as the season went on.  And we can’t forget the ones who went back to their parent clubs early like Sean Raggett and ‘penalty king’ Ryan Manning.

What positions do we need to fill? Definitely a goalkeeper, a defender or two, a midfielder – well, I suppose we won’t really know until we know who is staying and who is going.