Championship

OPINION: The one change Rotherham United need to make to avoid relegation

Rotherham United have played four league games this season, with just one point and a -6 GD to show for their troubles.

Going forward isn’t the problem. Matt Derbyshire is an experienced striker, who makes up for sometimes less than clinical finishing with excellent movement off the ball and an impressive range of passing to feed in others.

Danny Ward and Jordan Bowery are good all rounders with pace to spare. Jonson Clarke-Harris, who scored a screamer, has a bit of work to do mentally but has all the physical tools required to be an extremely successful striker.

There’s nothing wrong with the midfield, either. Richie Smallwood is one of the most underrated (and, perhaps, one of the best) CDMs in the entire division, always being in the right place at the right time. Lee Frecklington and Paul Green compliment him well in that second CM spot. Chris Maguire, Aidan White and Jordan Newell can all play on the wing, and in limited time have shown the ability to be a more than adequate replacement for Ben Pringle, who left for Fulham on a free in summer.

The defence isn’t the strongest in the league, but Greg Halford and Danny Collins offer a solid veteran presence at CB, with a combined 409 Championship appearances between them. Joe Mattock and Lewis Buxton both came from Sheffield Wednesday on a free in summer but have cemented their places in the first team at LB and RB respectively with multiple strong defensive performances. That, therefore, leaves just one position at fault. Goalkeeper.

When Rotherham announced that they’d signed Kelle Roos on loan from Derby, the general reaction from the fans was disappointment that they hadn’t been able to bring Emiliano Martinez back, rather than happiness over the signing. Four games into the season, mention the name “Roos” to a Rotherham fan and expect to be met with a snarl. At the best.

Saturday 8th August 2015 saw the start of the new season, and Rotherham were set to welcome newly promoted MK Dons to the AESSEAL New York Stadium. Optimism was in abundance, as manager Steve Evans and chairman Tony Stewart had stressed that their aim was at least a midtable finish on numerous occasions.

Two minutes into the game Kelle Roos pushed a simple pass straight into the path of Sam Gallagher, leaving Rob Hall with a tap in from two yards out. Rotherham were one down, and it was – unfortunately – a sign of things to come.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M4zzKGhCTA]

Roos was at fault for two of the four goals that day, letting a deflected cross squirm through his legs. He could have done better with the other two, getting beaten at his near post for both.

It could have just been first day nerves – after all, the majority of the team played badly. Steve Evans certainly hoped so, as Roos kept his place for the game against Nottingham Forest a week later. If anything, his second league game was worse than his first. Roos didn’t move for Forest’s equalizer and then pushed a cross onto the bar and back out into open play for their winner.

Tuesday 18th August. Rotherham 0-0 Preston. Roos has luck on his side as he keeps his first clean sheet of the season, as Joe Garner’s header was cleared off the line as Roos was caught in no mans land. Steve Evans was hoping that the cleansheet would build his confidence, and help him finally start to show the ability that he truly has. That didn’t happen.

With QPR 2-0 up earlier today, a speculative shot from wanted man Charlie Austin seemed no bother. Kelle Roos dived over the ball, letting it squirm under his body. Rotherham would go on to pull it back to 3-2, but Roos’ costly mistake had put them in too deep a hole.

If mistakes got you points, Rotherham would be flying. But they don’t. They cost them. I wouldn’t be writing this piece if Rotherham didn’t have any other options available. But they do. Not only is Adam Collin a better goalkeeper than Kelle Roos, he’s up there as one of the best keepers Rotherham have ever had.

Sunday 25th May 2014. After going 2-0 down in the League One playoff final, Rotherham score twice to take it to extra time. Adam Collin would later save penalties from Matthieu Baudry and Chris Dagnell to lead Rotherham to a penalty shootout victory over Leyton Orient.

Collin continued his strong performances in Rotherham’s maiden Championship season, including making the save of the season to deny Norwich three times in quick succession.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQgnsKH5rC4]

After being caught out of position one too many times late in the season, Emiliano Martinez was bought in on loan from Arsenal to take over the #1 job. Consistency is important that late in the season, and Collin didn’t have a chance to win back the starting role.

Collin lost his job because of two or three mistakes throughout the course of the season, and unfortunately that seems to have tarnished his reputation at the club. However, Roos has made far more mistakes – and it’s been just four games. Roos is clearly lacking in confidence, but it’s not the club’s job to keep playing him and help him get it back. Rotherham need points. Now.

Please, Steve Evans. Give Adam Collin another chance. Even if he’s not the excellent shot-stopper he once was (which is unlikely), he’ll almost certainly do a better job than Kelle Roos. It’s early in the season, but the points you drop stack up. For Rotherham, Adam Collin could be all they need to start making up for the defeats they’ve already suffered.

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