SpillBlood

First Leg That was so so so close, both teams should have scored more. Hugills finishing was the difference. Moraes did score in the 88th minute for Stoke but he was JUST offside. Adams and Viktor were solid at the back. Look how good Viktor has developed . Adams was actually a signing in early Feb. He's been solid as for us. 13 apps, 3 goals, 1 assist, 7.18 rated. Has experience for Hoffenheim and Basel. Right, a proper Merry Xmas to anyone who has read, sadly I can't get the second time game played today as I need to go visit family .

Last Day of the Season Stoke will be a very tough game for us, which all in all is not a bad thing. If we did win the play offs, it'd be because we're beaten the teams that could play in the Prem. At the other end of the table. I wonder how much I can get Rudoni for .

April Brilliant month with a bad ending but it's probably for the best. We were 1 - 0 down to Millwall, they'd only had one shot on target and did all game, I went down and made changes or it looked like we'd lost. Sam Nombe came on and got himself a hat-trick, two of them in stoppage time. Huge win. A cracking goal from Rathbone was the different at Plymouth. It came in the 75th minute and ended though we had chances, we couldn't put them away. West Brom were awful, no wonder they're struggling. Nombe, Adams and Rathbone all on the scoresheet in an easy game. Swansea weren't much better. Nombe got himself a brace and Adams headed home as went 3 - 0 in at half time. Kelly scored late on to make it 4. Viktor was out for the Huddersfield game and Phillips started. Daferner opened up the scoring after 10 minutes, Kelly doubled after 27. Thomas pulled one back for Huddersfield from the penalty spot. Fiorini after assisting two got himself on the scoresheet in the 61st minute. Wharton got his first Rotherham goal after 68 and Fiorini assisted another goal as Hugill scored our 5th in the 89th minute. Firoini is class. In a way, I may have sabotaged our game against Birmingham to make sure we didn't get play offs but regardless we still should of won, Nombe missed a sitter late on that should have scured all 3 puts. Daferner put us ahead after 14 but Stansfield equalised after 31. An ex Rotherham loanee Tariqe Fosu put Birmingham ahead after 70 minutes but Lembikisi equalised after 81. We were terrible against Bristol City, I mean, I did rotate but we were poor, Bristol have beaten both us and Norwich in recent games. Benarous scored after 42 minutes and Sam Bell doubled after 56. I made alot of changes and Krafth pulled one back after 84 minutes but that's our first loss in 16 league games. Thanks to the FA Cup run we did beat our unbeaten record though. We play Cardiff in the last game of the season. In an ideal world, we beat them, Leciester take 6th and we have to play them in the play offs. Player and Young player of the month . I'm hoping we can keep Fiorini next season. . FA Cup Super sub Georgie Kelly. Another 10 men story! Leeds couldn't hit a barn door!!! Haaland to get 10? Youth intake Nothing to see here . None of them will make the cut. Next Month Play offs and an FA Cup Final. MASSIVE season. I really hope we don't win the play offs though, City can gift me the cup .

March Incredible month!!! Especially since Clucas has been injured for the month and his replacement Ferguson is injured for 5 months. It's been a bad month for injuries. We weren't at our best against Sheffield Wednesday with some tired players but Emil Krafth was the difference. A low drive from outside the box on 57 minutes gave us the win. We had the better xG against Coventry but in reality we cancelled each other out. A draw it was. A fantastic result against Norwich, away, down to 10 men after 12 minutes after Cameron Humphreys was sent off but they didn't create any good chances. I went more attacking later on, changing my Mezzala pair from support to attack, Linsday found Georgie Kelly in the 75th minute to take home 3 points. We weren't even at our best against Preston but they offered nothing. We finally got our first goal after Kelly headed in Krafths cross and Krafth himself doubled after 70 minutes after he hit in Bramalls cross. Another player of the week There's a small chance we can sneak a promotion spot, which we do not want. FA Cup Aston Villa were awful at the back! I didn't expect a win at all but they were poor. We made it to the semi final of the FA Cup! Tough game but the easiest draw since the other two were the Manchester clubs . Senior Affliate Talking of Manchester Our finances are shocking, I'm looking to sell a few players in the summer and if we can bring in some of the City youngsters with no wages, that'll be a huge help. We have one currently in Lewis Fiorini who I wouldn't mind keeping, so to have him for free would be great. Next Month So many games, we have injuries, suspensions and tired players. I wouldn't even say we have any hard games left now apart from the FA Cup so this could be a good month. I can honestly see us finishing 2nd, heck if we do finish 3rd, I might even somehow throw it. I can't get promoted, I'll just finish rock bottom of the Prem with the players I have, I think two players are honestly capable of playing in the Prem, two. Just depends on who can stay fit through an 8 game month. We'll see. Merry Xmas everyone!

February Brilliant month. Considering how complimentary I'd been about Southampton last time we played, they were awful. It easy and they had one shot on target all game. Cluclas, Rathbone and Tiethi all on the scoresheet with Tiehis strike netting his goal of the month . We had a lucky escape against Leeds! Gnonto found a loose ball and space and put Leeds ahead after 3 minutes. We couldn't deal with them, they were too quick and good for us. Out of nothing, Fiorini squares the ball to Kelly who slots in after 73 minutes to equalise, our only shot on target. Leeds had the better chances but it was a draw. We may have fouled them a little to stop play aswell Roles reserved against Hull. Our xG was 3.03, we had so many chances with Cohen Bramall heading over when he basically had an open net to head in. Nombe put us ahead after 63 minutes and I'm thinking I know Daferner isn't doing that well but we're holding our shape. A bad decision later as I subbed him off for Hugill, Hugill gives away a silly freekick and Morton hits the freekick in after 90 minutes! Frusrtration! Another easy game against Watford. They didn't have a shot on target. Hugill put us ahead after 27 minutes and Rathcome came off the bench to be set up by another sub in Bramall to make sure all 3 points belonged to Rotherham after 85 minutes. A quickfire double put us two ahead against QPR. Hugill scoring in the 13th and 18th minute. Duke-McKenna scored a good effort to pull one back for QPR after 19 minutes. Bramall made sure the game was sealed after making in 3 in the 90th minute. Looks like we're play-off bound. FA Cup Look at the xG difference, we FM'd them . A mistake at the back, Daferner pressed and got his first Rotherham goal by hitting into an empty net, it was brilliant to watch . We either have West Ham, Bournemouth, Villa, Palace, Leeds or Man Utd in the next round. Next Month Should be atleast 6 points, I'd say 9 but I don't know where they're going to move the Huddersfield game too. Need to make sure we actually beat Sheff Weds in the league! Just got a few tired legs out there after ET vs Forest.

January Awful in the league, brilliant in the cup. I made a huge error, I cancelled alot of loans before the Blackburn game, so my players were still absolutely knackered from the Sunderland match or injured. We had no chance. Blackburn battered us for 90 minutes. We were dire against Stoke, we looked like we'd never played a game together though we'd just scored 5 in the cup. Moraes scored in the 40th minute and Burger in the 43rd and the points went to Stoke. 'Boro was frustrating. Poor again but we came out trying in the second half, problem is we were offside for two goals that was just poor to be offside. Freekick is hit, goalkeeper saves, Tiehi hits in and he's offside, poor. Kelly pulled one back in the 97th minute through a pen but it wasn't enough. Ipswich was even worse, they went ahead after 4 minutes through Khadra, Hugill equalised and then Morsy was sent off for a terrible tackle. We struggled against 10 men, Clucas put us ahead but Broadhead equalised in the 93rd minute as their GK headed the ball to him as our new loan striker missed the ball, two games he's made two mistakes, I'd have been better off with Eaves. We've dropped down, probably for the better though. FA Cup New players/loans came in and battered Sheffield Weds, was brilliant. We're either against Wolves or Nottingham Forest next. Deadline Day Krafth is a huge signing, Fiorini has been alright before he picked up an injury and Daferner has been awful. He's a huge signing for us. Why I needed to get rid of bad loans, to have wages to bring in this sort of player. In Kioso has also been recalled from his loan Out Green didn't get played, Cafu wasn't my sort of player and I wanted to cash in and get his wage off the books. Bola wasn't playing. I sent Appiah, Revan, Fred back to their parent club to save wage. They weren't needed and it was alot of wage. Eaves may be going to Ireland and we may be getting in a CB for free. We're still bottom of the wage table. Next Month We need to get our form back and win a league game. I can't see why we can't get 6 points in Feb.

I think I'll be alright, some key injuries so I can see results dropping off and Norwich have picked up form. If I get Southampton in the play offs I've lost anyway .

December A month with injuries and rotation but a very good month. A mad game against Birmingham, they were 2 - 0 up within 27 minutes and I thought to myself, we might lose this one, to Rooney, really? Odoffin pulled one back just before the half time whistle and then Clucas equalise just after half time. Ex-Rotherham loanee Conor Coventry put Birmingham back ahead but Kelly set up Appiah for his first Rotherham goal in the 78th minute and Kelly stepped up himself to give us the win after 93 minutes . Nombe put us ahead againt Swansea but Jamal Lowe pulled it back in the 37th minute to enter the half even. Tiehi scored a real belter for his first Rotherham goal and then Oli Rathbone was sent off in the 62nd minute for a secone yellow! It didn't matter though, we were still in control against managerless Swansea and Kelly scored our 3rd in the 83rd minute to seal all 3 points. Close game against West Brom to start with. Blackett headed home after 40 minutes and Kelly scored our 2nd from the penalty spot after 48 minutes. Ex-Rotherham player (I swear in the last two posts I've had so many ex-Rotherham players score against me) Semi Ajayi pulled one back through an assist from... another Ex-Rotherham loanee! All 3 points belonged to Rotherham! Clucas set up Hugill in the 23rd minute against Plymouth to give us a win, a scrappy game. A good draw against Leicester, we lost Bramall early on through injury and had to play scrappy. A draw away is a very good result. 'Boro just got the better of us. Nothing to separate the teams. Howson put Middlesbrough ahead after 7 minutes and Lindsay equalised in the 63rd. Greenwood found a winner from outside the box in the 93rd minute to take all 3 points back to the Riverside. Considering we had to sub Blackett, Rathbone and Hugill against Sunderland through injuries. Nombe scoring the winner in the 69th minute and us keeping a clean sheet is a big win. We may have an injury crisis incoming and January we will need reinforcements. We're without some key players. I really don't want to get promoted this season we'd finish bottom if we did. G'wan Kelly. FA Cup Draw A game we really need to win! Youth intake Excellent intake shows how bad our youth level is. Next Month We have tough games and injuries, it could be a bleak month.

November Another brilliant month! Nombe gave us the lead against APQR after 20 minutes. Rathbone put us two up at the stroke of half time. It was that man Rathbone against scoring in the 55th to give us all 3 points. QPR had 2 shots, none on target. Dykes headed over their only good chance of the game. What a game against Watford!!! Oli Rathbone goal, Oli Rathbone assist from Lembikisa, Oli Rathbone goal and then in the 96th minute, Oli Rathbone goal. This is a new feature for me and the first time one of my players has won it. Oh yeah, they did win a penalty in the first half but they tried a panenka and Viktor laughed at it as he caught the ball. The Leeds game was looking to be a bore draw before Cresswell headed in after Kelly misjudged the flight of the ball in the 82nd minute. Nombe equalised in the 83rd after a huge mistake in the Leeds defense left an open net and a pass to Nombe to hit home, I was buzzing . Sadly, Shackleton hit a long range shot in after 92 minutes for Leeds to take home all 3 points. The Hull match was a great spectactle for the neutral. Seri put Hull ahead after 2 minutes, Rathbone equalised after 11, Hugill put us ahead but Slater pulled one back after 30 minutes and we went in level at the break. Odoffin was robbed of goal of the month after he scored a 30 yarder, I event shouted out loud wtf . Incredible hit. Rathbone again scored to give us our fourth in the 84th minute and Connolly scored a consolation in the 90th. And he here is again. What a month. Rathbone was rightly Player of the Month. Nice guy. Still think Odoffin was robbed . After seeing the replay of Grays goal, both of my players were absolutely robbed! Next Month Alot of games, going to need to rotate. Leicester and Boro have both got new managers, could be an interesting but difficult month.

Right now I'm hoping the same, we're floating in the play offs because some of the other big teams are struggling and alot of managers are being replaced where we're flying high.

October Brilliant month. We were so close to a full green month! Former Rotherham loanee Zak Vyner put Bristol City ahead after 27 minutes but Rathbone again got himself on the scoresheet and equalised in the 40th minute so we went in at the break equal. Second half we were so much better, Nombe getting a brace in the 47th and 48th win and sub Grant Hall scoring his first Rotherham goal in the 89th minute to seal the victory. We were 3 - 1 up against Southampton and we threw it away! Nombe put us ahead after 6 minutes, Rathbone doubled our lead after 25 but they pulleed one back through Che Adams but that man Nombe gave us the two goal lead back. Kyle Walker-Peters scored in the 44th and Adam Armstrong in the 45+1 to equalise. That flank with those two was too good, it was so hard to stop. The second half could have gone either way, we both hit the woodwork but Carlos Alcaraz put Soton ahead in the 82nd minute. They just had too much class but what an attempt. Georgie Kelly replaced Nombe who had picked up a knock the day before the match. Kelly broke his duck and put us ahead against Ipswich Town after 19 minutes and the points looked pretty much done until former loanee George Hirst equalised in the 83rd minute. I was a bit annoyed with myself as I'd make some questionable subs just for fitness as we have three games in the space of a week. Thankfully Captain Sean Morrison headed home in the 88th minute to the points were ours. It was a similiar script against Coventry City. Hugill put us ahead through a penalty after 30 minutes, they scored the next minute but a huge call from the liner to give offside. After that it was all us, I made subs as we had Sheff Weds just days after and Josh Eccles headed home in the 79th minute to equalise, Coventrys first shot on target! Georgie Kelly got his second of the month after 85 minutes, headed in Shane Fergusons freekick. It took 10 minutes for that man Nombe to put us ahead against Sheffield Wednesday but then we just let them attack. Gassama pulling one back for Wednesday after 24 minutes. They got a scolding at half time and after the break we were the better team, we just didn't put our chances away and it ended up in a bitter draw. Huge month though, more points than I expected and a healthy looking table. We're in a play off spot just 2/3s of the season left . Viktor loses his top three spot in clean sheets. Next Month I'd be happy with 4 points. QPR are 23rd and we're at home so I really hope we can win that one. The others are tough games.

September We were 2 - 0 down to Norwich and it was looking bleak. I changed my CM roles to both Mezzala, a couple of instruction tweaks and wow, what a difference it made. Hugill pulled one back and Rathbone equalised in the 80th minute, we were unlucky not to go on and win. I changed to the same tactic in the away game at Huddersfield and even though we had less possession than normal, we hammered them 4 - 0! What a result! Blackett opened with a header, Hugill scored a pen, Nombe got our 4th and Super Sam Clucas got our 4th just after the break. We took our form into the away game at The Den. Rathbone opened the scoring after 5 minutes and Hugill doubled our lead after 20. Millwall tried to point a come back in the second half with Zian Flemming pulling one back but we managed to take all three points back to Rotherham. The Preston game was close, so so close. It could have got either way, we had the possession but both teams had chances, Clucas set up Hugill in the 14th minute for an all important three points. We'd just suffered a heavy defeat to Manchester United, morale wasn't what it had been and we had some players out. Hugill had been sent off against Manchester United, Morrison got injured and is out for a few weeks and Clucas needed a rest. Hall came in and nearly gifted Cardiff a goal within minute, Cafu did his best impression of being a footballer and Kelly can't hit a barn door. Both teams were awful but Perry NG scored a freekick for Cardiff to take all 3 points. I'm hoping we can pick up morale in our next game. We're 9th after 9, that's brilliant. Carabao Cup Yes, we lost 5 - 1 but we played well with 10 men and I would have loved to see our efforts with 11. I can't fault the players, I can fault Hugill. It was strange with fans leaving early and telling the team after that atleast they gave it all they had and they seem to switch off. 5 - 1 against Manchester United with 10 men isn't that bad, it could have been so much worse on another day. Next Month I'm hoping we can get 6, if not 9 points here. I'd be happy with 7. Just need us to get back to winning ways after losing the last two games of September.

August I reckon we just edged the opening game of the season, Odoffin hit the post and Ben Wilmot was sent off in the 83rd minute but the end result was a draw. We just needed a little bit more class. The Blackburn game hurt, Odoffin did put us up and I thought we were getting the three points until Lewis Travis equalised in the 88th minute and Dominic Hyam charged in to head the ball home in the 94th to give Blackburn all 3 points. It was the Clucas show at The Stadium Of Light. Two goals and an assist, he was the difference in a very close game. Leicester were probably the better side but we did hit the woodwork three times! We were so close to edging the game but a draw at home to Leicester is a big result! We're 15th and I don't mind that, we're keeping it tight, three clean sheets but I do need to figure a way to get more from my strikers. I'm thinking maybe a mezalla instead of an advanced playmaker may help. We'll see. Carabao Cup We managed to get a home win against Stoke after Hugill headed home after our draw earlier in the week. Nombe got his first Rotherham goal and I was really happy with this, we played players for fitness, I had Revan at LWB, Bola at CB, Onyedinma at RWB etc, it wasn't a first 11 or players in their natural position. Hopefully it brings in some money 'cause that's a big ask . End of Transfer Window It's actually bad news, I checked the clauses on my loan players, those I thought we could replace in January will be here for the rest of the season. Some of them are taking up wages I could really spend on better players. Bola stayed as I need him for cover. The squad we started with will be the squad until the end of the season. There may be a couple of changes in January but there would need to be interest first. This shows the battle we have this season. Here's the top half. And then us. Staff We've made good improvements to our coaching team, we've brought in some better scouts but I don't feel the need to bring in recruitment analysts etc. New Record Considering he still makes a good rotation player for us, we'll no doubt see Peltier finish the record at 37 years old. Next Month I'm hoping we can get a Huddersfield win and a Cardiff draw, anything else is a good result. Some tough games but then again this is a very tough league this year.

Pre-season We didn't even play bad against Villa, we had a couple of good chances and they didn't exactly hold back unleashing Moussa Diaby against us but supposedly fans were leaving early and I was to tell my players I wasn't happy with the performance, alright then. I totally messed up against Shrewsbury, cruising, Cafu injured so I brought on another striker, lost our shape and yeah, my bad. The rest I've been messing around between two tactics, both are working, I think I prefer 3 5 2 which will be interesting as I've never played with a formation like that before. I've always prefered 4 - 4 - 2 or 4 - 3 - 3. So I've been working with this formation. It's also the first time if I recall correctly I've had two uptop on attack duty but it's been working so far. I've been liking the match engine and watching the play from our midfield. This isn't our first 11, just who started against Worksop. Clucas has been brilliant as an AP-S, covering for the injured Cafu. We haven't got Cafu or Bramall for the opening game against Stoke so Bola is still at the club and I reckon he'll still be here until January as I plan to have a bit of a rejig in January when it comes to players, returning players, loans etc. At the end of August I will have a staff update, I've sacked my assistant and coaches and have started to bring in much better quality, two of them I just need to wait on work permits. Matches in August I'm hoping to get 4 points out of this, I'd love to go to Stoke and bring back 3 points. I can't see why we can't get a home result against Blackburn and maybe a point against Sunderland. I don't expect to do much against Leicester but we can try our best. It's time for my first competitive game of the save! Will us building morale against lower opposition in friendlies helped? Only one way to find out!

Another thing about Rotherham United, something that is an issue in real life and even more so when we enter the game. The lack of backroom staff! I'm getting suggestions who to bring in! Can I afford anyone? No . This will be on hold until next season unless I can find some very cheap coaches.

After a year break from Football Manager. My "yearly" Rotherham United save is back and my word, it's going to be the biggest job yet! The database. The normal introduction. Is the squad good enough to be stay up? Possibly. We do have squad issues though. We have an amazing GK in Viktor Johansson who'll be key for us this season. Our best right back is out on loan at Peterborough and I'll be bringing him back in January. Peltier is our best fulllback and Dexter Lembikisa, a 19 year old on loan from Wolves is our best WB. I would not like to see him playing at RB for us, he isn't good enough defensively. Blackett is a better CB and should make a brilliant partnership with Humphreys. Bramall has blistering pace at LB but not alot else. Our cover at LB is Seb Revan, a 19 year old from Aston Villa, is he good enough? In real life, he's looked decent enough, on the game? Absolutely not. Our strength should come in the middle of our midfield. The first summer record singing in Christ Tiehi, he's a solid ball winning midfielder, we have Cafu who is more creative and Rathbone who is our box to box. Lindsday when fit can cover the midfield. Odoffin can cover DM/CM and RB and Sam Clucas will be a good sub. Our wide players are interesting. Fred Onyedima has buckets of pace and should be one of our best players, it depends if I can get him firing. Arvin Appiah is still young, has potential and has good pace aswell. They'll be the main players out wide. Andre Green can cover both flanks. Uptop we have our record signing Sam Nombe, Jordan Hugill, Georgie Kelly and Tom Eaves. Grant Hall, Shane Ferguson and Jamie Lindsay are all injured for 3 - 4 months. I need to figure out what formation we want to play. It's either 4 - 3 - 3 or 5 - 3 - 2. Probably both as we don't have enough depth out wide and we actually have some alright bottom championship defenders. I would like to make a Nombe + Kelly/Hugill parternship aswell. We'll see how pre-season goes, if we need to add any depth to our team, I say that when we have no finances to play with. Matt Taylor did bring alot of players in the summer, breaking our record signing twice. An out of favour Rotherham player Tolaji Bola is wanted, he'll only save 2k wages but he can bring in 100k. I don't mind Bola in real life but he isn't even registered in the team so selling him doesn't seem too bad. Maybe we'll look at what free players are out there or what the loan market can bring.

Hahahahahaha.