The January Transfer Window is well under way with Rotherham United having brought in midfielder Matt Crooks from Northampton Town.
Matt joined the Millers on Friday, although he wasn’t involved in the game at Ipswich Town, signing a deal until the summer of 2022. The now twenty-four year old had a spell as a youngster with Manchester United but came through the Youth ranks with Huddersfield Town where he had various loan spells before February 2015 saw him sign a deal with Accrington Stanley. In July 2016 Matt moved to North of the Border with Rangers but he played few games and had a loan spell with Scunthorpe before moving to Sixfields in August 2017 playing over fifty games.
But what other players do we need in?
Let’s see – we’ve scored twenty-five goals in the league which leaves just two teams (both below us) who have scored less. So, yes, we need someone who can find the net. I’m not saying Michael Smith can’t do that but while he’s chasing up the pitch helping not only in midfield but in defence as well and he gets the ball, looks up to pass and there is no Rotherham player there for him to do that too. I think we need a ‘number ten’ or let Smith be the ‘number ten’ and fetch in a goal scorer. Of course, we already have a ‘number ten’ who is currently playing for Bradford City (just saying). We know Paul Warne has been looking at a striker and is waiting for the nod.
And we need a big old fashioned defender or a pair of defenders. Now it’s great that all the players get on together, go out together, play nice together but we need someone who can get rough and tough – a bit like a Martin McIntosh, a Chris Swailes – or a centre-half in the mould of Ian Sharps.
On the other hand, of course, we might not get anyone else in.
There’s also the ‘going outs’ which could involve Jerry Yates returning to Carlisle, who were apparently watching him in our reserve game yesterday. He scored seven goals for the Cumbrians before being recalled by Rotherham due to an injury crisis and, as he came off the bench on Saturday, due to rules and regulations, he can only play for the Millers or Carlisle.
Whatever happens it will all have to happen before the window shuts on 31st of the month.