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Miller Time [FM15]


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Watching SkySports the other day from Man City's training ground it got me thinking......'what if the Millers had all that fancy dancy stuff'.

And with it, and a quick change of the club's training and youth facilities, it's junior coaching and finally it's youth recruitment it was time to see what the Millers could do - all these were changed to 20.

I doubt very much anything will happen in the first year, or at least until the first youth intake arrives on the 5th of March, once this happens I will update with relevent 'stuff'.

So with a one off boost, let's see if Rotherham United can produce any world-class players and see if they can make it into the Prem and Europe.

It's Miller Time.

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And so, we arrive at the point of 5th March 2015 and the first youth intake for the Millers - the club themselves sit in 22nd place and staring relegation down the barrel. 11 games to go and hopefully the club can do enough to stay up and hopefully give the youngsters Championship football next season.

Over the last few weeks of the season, the young men will be introduced.

First up we look at the goalkeeper coming through the ranks:

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Sean Hirst is on a £4k a year 2 year youth contract and is valued at just £2.7k, born in Sheffield Sean will start life off in the U21 team.

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One left back was reveled as Sturbridge born Colin Bishop, starting life off in the U18 squad, Colin is actually the 2nd highest valued left back at the club and may well get a sniff at the first team if injuries and suspensions go his way.

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A couple of lads who play central defense are next up.

Put in the U21 squad, a third player born in Sheffield is Mark Kittrick.

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The 2nd lad joined the Millers after being let go by Barnet, a couple of years being brought through the ranks at The Hive ended with the London born lad moving for free to the Millers. Kenny Appleyard will join his fellow centre half Mark in the U21 squad.

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Keeping with the centre half players, Kenny became the Millers youngest ever first team player coming on as sub in a 1-0 win away at Huddersfield in the Championship. At just 15 years and 264 days old Kenny will hope this will lead to big and better things. Playing just 9 minutes the young lad completed 2 of his attempted 3 passes, won both his tackles and ran 0.4 miles.

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Defensive Midfield and Hull born Alex Scott may well become the first youth player to be capped, if he decides to play for St Lucia. With his father a Saint Lucian, Alex will have a decison to make quite quickly I would imagne.

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News filtering from the New York Stadium was the fact that 4 of the 12 youngesters had signed pre-contracts with the club meaning no other clubs could snap them up. Mark Kittrick, Kenny Appleyard, Alex Scott and Brendan Overall all commiting to the club, we will be looking at Brendan's stats shortly.

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Amazingly Trovarn is the only right sided midfield player at the club, so if Steve Evans decides to change formations from attacking midfield players to standard he may well get some game time before the end of the season.

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Born in Bradford, Trovarn is currently with the U18 squad, more players signed pre-contracts as Steve Evans wasted no time in snapping up the youth that the club have brought through. The names signing up are as follows; Reis Handley, Darren Blakey, Colin Bishop, Trovarn Wright and Neil Shah.

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Central midfiled is tough at Rotherham and the 3 lads coming through the ranks will may need to go out on loan to develop. Neil Shah is training with the U21 team and was born in London, so hopefully the sights and smells of Rotherham will not put him off the 'North'.

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Reis Handley is also with the U21 team at the moment and was born in Rotherham so the pressure of him developing into a player who pulls on the red shirt is high.

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The 3rd youth player who plays in the centre of the park and with the U18 team is another lad from Rotherham called Joe Doyle.

Joe%20Doyle_zps1jv0wp68.jpg

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The final 2 players to show off are the boys up front, the future superstars, the lads what win matches, earn big bucks and have fans and chairman dreaming of them.

Rotherham's 2 lads are, Felixstowe born and snapped up from Stevenage Brendan Overall - a decent young player and one I think if Rotherham find themselves safe, may get a run out as a sub.

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David Daniels from Sheffield is the other wanna be superstar striker, a loan move may be needed for him to develop.

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On the field the Millers lost 2-0 at home to Wigan, whilst the youth team drew 0-0 away in Bradford, Darren Blakey picking up the man of the match award.

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Week commencing 15th March 2015

News from the training ground is that Colin Bishop will miss around 5 weeks of the season with a sports hernia, the 4th highest valued youth will hope this is 1 of very few injuries during his career.

A couple of days later and on the morning of Rotherham's first team's 3-1 away win at Notts Forest, Darren Blakey suffered a chest injury during a training session and will face 3 weeks out.

With 8 league games to go the Millers sit in 19th position, 4 points clear of the drop zone.

The end of a good week for the Millers saw a 2-2 draw at home to Sheff Wed and with it another point towards safty.

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Week commencing 22nd March 2015

Nothing to note apart from David Daniels picking up a thigh strain during training and will be out for around 3 weeks.

Week commencing 29th March 2015

First team lost 3-1 at Birmingham, and are now just 2 points above the drop zone with 6 games left to play.

Kenny Appleyard gashes his head during an U18 game against Gateshead and will be out for around 11 days, in the same match Mark Kittrick picks up the man of the match award, scoring in the 2-1 victory.

Week commencing 5th April 2015

Another defeat for the first team, this time 2-1 at home to Brighton and has seen the Millers fight for survival become harder, now sat in 20th position with 5 games to go. Rotherham are 4 points above bottom placed Wolves who everyone is suggesting are too good to go down.

A battling 1-1 draw away at Middlesbrough and results go the way of the Millers and it's now 4 games to go and 2 points from saftey.

Week commencing 12th April 2015

Boom, and another defeat as the Millers seem to be losing the battle to stay up, 2-0 this time away at Fulham - 3 games to go and 2 points above the drop zone and 3 off the bottom - will Blackpool, Wolves or Millwall be able to claw above the Millers.

No change at the bottom as all 4 clubs lose, the Millers making it 6 games without a win and loss 2-0 at home to Reading, 2 games to go - would it be better for the youth players if the club went down?

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Week commencing 26th April 2015

The first team seem to have pressed the self-destruction button, with yet another defeat 2-0 at home to Norwich meaning they have to win at Leeds on the final day of the season to stay up.

Young Trovarn Wright's season is over with a broken cheekbone playing for the U21s against Nuneaton, Trovarn will be out for at least 4 weeks. In the following U21 game against Worcester Colin Bishop twisted his knee and will face around 3 weeks on the sidelines.

The Millers are smashed 4-1 away at Leeds to finish in 22nd place and drop out of the Championship, Wolves managed to drag themselves out of the dropzone with a final day victory to see Rotherham, Millwall and Blackpool go down. With the news most fans were expecting finalised, attention would turn to the boardroom. Would Evans stay in charge, and would there be a massive clear out of players? If a new manager comes in will there be room for the youth?

Early indications show the likes of John Eustace, Danny Ward, Richard Smallwood, Paul Green, Richard Wood, Anthony Gardner, John Welsh, Jordan Bowery, Adam Collin, Frazer Richardson, Kirk Broadfoot, and Kari Arnason already angered at the club going down and have demanded moves away from the club.

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Week commencing 3rd May 2015

More fall out from the Millers going down with Jordan Bowery, John Welsh, and Kirk Broadfoot again saying they wanted out of the club.

Reis Handley bruised his ribs playing for the U18 team in a 1-1 away game.

Week commencing 17th May 2015

Finally some good news coming from the club, that being they have successfully applied to raise their youth category from lvl 4 to lvl 1, the cost of running this is in the region of £2.3m per year and a drop in division will hit the club hard. Some are saying this could be covered with the number of transfer fees to be brought during the summer as those players wanting to leave will be allowed.

Ben Pringle and Craig Morgan have both turned down new contract offers and could walk away on free transfers - will the club sell cheap rather than allow them to just leave?

Better news with the back-room staff though with Andy Dibble, Mike Sheron, Ollie Freeman, Paul Warne, Garreth Barker and Gee Evans all signing extensions for another year.

Week commencing 24th May 2015

Ben Pringle must have been holding out for a better deal as a week after saying he was leaving, he signed on the dotted line for 2 years. 141 league games and 18 league goals are Ben's stats for the Millers and a £145,000 a year contract see's him happy to stay at the club.

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Week commencing 21st June 2015

Want away Craig Morgan has decided to sign a new contract at the club, £200,000 per year has made him change his mind - signing a 2 year contract Craig hopes the Millers can bounce straight back up.

Week commencing 28th June 2015

With the players back off holiday and the hard work of pre-season starting manager Steve Evans has named the players he has released on free transfers. In doing so, it will hopefully move some of last seasons youth a step closer to first team.

8 Youth team players have left the club after not being told they are good enough, along with pro's Mat Sadler, Robert Milsom and Richard Brindley. With only 1 player coming into the club at the moment we have a look at how this affects the young lads.

Keeper Sean Hirst is with the U21 team to help develop him, even with the club going down his value has risen by £100 to £2,800.

Left Back Colin Bishop is the highest valued player in his position at the club now, at £20,000 he at the moment has been left in the U18 squad.

Darren Blakey is valued at just £5,000 and is also left in the U18 squad, with 4 players of better value in front of him it's going to be a long slog for the young man.

Next up is central defensive players Kenny Appleyard who is valued at £27,500 placed in the U21, aling with fellow youth player Mark Kittrick who is valued at £17,500 and dubbed the new Sol Campbell!!

Possibly the next Nobby Stiles, U21 player Alex Scott is valued at £28,500 and could possibly get some game time if the current pro's move on.

Still only right sided player at the club Trovan Wright is with the U18 squad, and 'if' Steve Evans goes with a flat midfield he will get some game time. £4,000 value is telling me he may not get much of a chance.

Next up the 3 central midfield lads, Neil Shah and Reis Handley have been asked to start the season off training with the U21 side, whilst Joe Doyle stays with the youth lads.

Finally, both strikers are staying at youth level for the time being with Steve Evans not really seeing enough of Brendan Overall or David Daniels to have them training at a higher level.

Brendan Overall has picked up a hernia during training and will miss up to 5 weeks - a shocking blow for the young man who will have to start pre-season training when the season has already kicked off. Another injury, this time a bruised head for David Daniels - only 9 days but this is already his 2nd injury since joing the club.

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Week commencing 5th July 2015

Colin Bishop picks up his 3rd injury since joining Rotherham, this time a damaged heal and 2 weeks on the sidelines, no doubt a talent, but if as indicated this injury is for 2 weeks he will have seen a total of 10 weeks on the side-lines in 4 months.

Week commencing 12th July 2015

David Daniels picks up a nasty gashed leg in training and will miss the next 2 weeks, his 3rd injury since joining the club.

Week commencing 19th July 2015

Mark Kittrick picks up a damaged foot injury during training and misses the next 3 weeks of the season, his first injury since joing the club.

Week commencing 26th July 2015

Richard Wood leaves for Championship side West Ham for £275,000 which depending on met conditions could rise to £550,000. This transfer could, short term allow young Kenny Appleyard move closer to the bench.

Week commencing 2nd August 2015

More injury news for Colin Bishop as a groin muscle is torn during a training and will be out for 2 months, I real shame as one of the best youth players to come through the ranks last season and what should have been a great start to his career seems as though it may well be a sign of things to come, his 4th and worst injury so far.

It's all go leading up to the start of the season with a change of first team captain and players still wanting to leave!

Kenny Appleyard played the full 90 minutes in the season's opening day away win at Notts County, Alex Scott also came on with 9 minutes to go in the 1-0 win.

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Week commencing 9th August 2015

Kenny Appleyard played in the 4-2 away cup win at York mid-week, a few day's later and Joe Doyle scores and puts in a man of the match performace for the U21 team in a 2-1 defeat against Sunderland U21s, in the same match Brendan Overall fractured his ribs and will be out for around 8 weeks!

Then to round the week off Kenny plays again in a 1-0 home league win against Gillingham, meaning he is ever present this season and his value has increased to £57,000.

Week commencing 16th August 2015

Mark Kittrick will be out for 9 days with bruised ribs in a U21 game against Everton U21s.

The first team lost their first game of the season, away from home at local rivals Barnsley 1-0. Kenny Appleyard continued in the side whilst Darren Blakey came on as sub to make his debut.

Following the Barnsley defeat, the Millers lost again 2-0 at home to Millwall whilst Kenny played again.

Week commencing 23rd August 2015

Kenny Appleyard brakes his jaw in a U21 match against Newcastle U21 and will face 4 weeks on the sidelines, the young man will be gutted as he looked like he was pushing to make the first team shirt his own.

The Millers lost 3-0 away at Stoke in the 2nd round of the Capital Cup, however they got back to winning ways in the league picking up a 2-0 win away from home at Coventry. Sat in 5th place in the play offs after 5 games, it seems the Millers may be able to bounce back to the Championship at the 1st attempt.

Darren Blakey picked up the man of the match award after setting a goal up in the U21s cup defeat against Barnsley.

Trovarn Wright will be sidelined for around 4 weeks after picking up a back strain in training.

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Week commencing 30th August 2015

The transfer window has seen a few movements out of the club with Paul Green leaving for Swindon in a deal that could be worth £125,000. Crystal Palace have signed Jordon Bowery for what could be £875,000 and Scott Loach leaves for Brentford meaning since the start of the season £837,000 worth of inital transfer money has come in with nothing being spent.

On the field the Millers lost 1-0 away at Grimsby in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with youngsters Alex Scott and Reis Handley getting starting slots, however in the league the Millers beat Fleetwood Town 2-1 at home.

Week commencing 6th September 2015

Neil Shah will be out for just over a week as he picks up a flu bug.

The first team lose 2-1 away at Portsmouth

Week commencing 13th September 2015

Alex Scott played the full 90 minutes in the home league 3-2 against Peterborough, and then again as a sub in the 2-2 away draw against Crewe. Meanwhile Darren Blakey gets himself sent off playing for the U18s.

Week commencing 20th September 2015

David Daniels picks up his 4th injury of his short career and his 2nd thigh strain and will be out for around 3 weeks.

Alex Scott again came on as sub as the Millers lost 1-0 at home to Scunthorpe and sit 1 point outside the play off places in 7th place after 10 games.

Week commencing 27th September 2015

Alex Scott signs his first professional contract, agreeing to a 3 year deal worth £15,000 a year. Alex has made 5 apperances so far this season and is delighted to have signed on the dotted line.

Darren Blakey picks up the man of the match award, scoring a goal and setting one up in a 3-0 U21 win against Derby U21s. Bad news filtered through that Kenny Appleyard picked up a torn hamstring and will be out for 3 months, Kenny was on the comeback following a broken jaw.

The first team won 1-0 against Shrewsbury and Alex Scott again came on as sub.

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Week commencing 4th September 2015

Torvarn Wright picks twists his knee in a U18s match against Wolves and will be out for around 3 weeks.

The first team lose 1-0 away at AFC Wimbledon.

Week commencing 11th September 2015

The U18s won in the youth cup on pens against Bury with Darren Blakey setting a goal up and winning the man of the match award.

The Millers beat local rivals Chesterfield 2-0 at home.

Week commencing 18th September 2015

The first team lose at local lads Sheff Utd, going down to a 2-0 defeat and then later in the week draw 1-1 at home to MK Dons. The apperances of the young lads seem to have dried up and maybe some loan moves will be needed in the January transfer window?

Trovarn Wright signs a 3 year professional deal with the club worth £4,800 a year to himself, a perm deal it may be - but at such a low salary the chances of him going on to make any type of career seem slim.

Week commencing 25th September 2015

Sean Hirst will see around 12 days out of action after straining his wrist in training.

The first team play out a 0-0 bore draw at Burton.

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Week commencing 1st November 2015

David Daniels is on form for the U18s, picking up the man of the match award in a 2-0 3rd round cup victory against Oldham U18s, setting up 1 goal.

Week commencing 8th November 2015

The FA Cup saw the Millers win 1-0 away at Boreham Wood with a couple of the youth players named in the squad, but didn't reach the pitch.

Brendan Overall picks up the flu bug and will be out for 8 days or so, whilst Neil Shah picks up a groin strain in a match against Sunderland U18s and will be on the sidelines for around 3 weeks, Shah is known to be unhappy at the Millers and a move away from the club seems likely.

Finishing the week off, the first team beat Blackpool 2-1 at home.

Week commencing 15th November 2015

Another injury for Colin Bishop as he breaks his collarbone, tipped as a future star - he may need wrapping in cotton wool.

A great 1-0 away win at local rivals Doncaster was the order of the day Mark Kittrick played 81 minutes of the match, which was also his debut.

Sean Hirst has been listed for loan by manager Steve Evans, no intrest yet but a move away and some 1st team football may just be what is required for this lad.

Week commencing 22nd November 2015

Reis Handley picks up a nasty injury in the U21 game against Colchester and will be out for around 7 weeks.

Alex Scott plays well and picks up the man of the match award in a 1-1 U18 draw against Newcastle, Alex set the goal up.

The first team got smashed 3-0 at home to Yeovil in the league.

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Week commencing 29th November 2015

Darren Blakey will face a 1 match U18 ban after picking up 5 yellow cards so far this season, fellow youth intake player Mark Kittrick will miss the next 2 weeks of the season after gashing his leg in an U21 game against dirty Leeds.

The first team win in the 2nd round of the F.A.Cup, beating Havent & Waterlooville 2-0 and dreams of a big money tie in the 3rd round.

Still no news on a loan move for Sean Hirst, but the scouts have started to sniff round Mark Kittrick with Burnley and Q.P.R. scouts keeping tabs on him - could either club be close to putting a bid in during the January transfer window? Would a move be good for him, or would he be better staying with the Millers for another few seasons?

Week commencing 6th December 2015

The first team let a 2 goal lead slip in a 2-2 home draw against Walsall, no youth were involved.

Week commencing 13th December 2015

Thigh strain time for Neil Shah and upto 3 weeks on the sidelines after a training injury, meanwhile Mark Kittrick smashed in 2 goals and picked the man of the match award up in a 3-0 U18 match against Derby.

First team action and a 1-0 win against Bradford in the league, Alex Scott getting 18 minutes of the 2nd half under his belt.

Week commencing 20th December 2015

Brendan Overall has been struck down with a mystery virus and will be out for 2 weeks - Merry Xmas young man!! In better news Kenny Appleyard is back from injury and straight into a man of the match performance for the U18s against Man City, Joe Doyle picked up his 5th yellow card of the season in the same match and will miss a game.

First team drew 0-0 away at Rochdale, Alex Scott again got on for the last 23 minutes.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Week commencing 27th December 2015

Cracking 4-0 home win over Colchester for the first team, no youth involved. The Millers lose 2-0 at home to Blackburn in the 3rd round of the F.A.Cup.

Intrest in Mark Kittrick has cooled off and Sean Hirst still can't get a loan move.

Week commencing 3rd January 2016

Mark Kittrick damages his elbow in a match against Sunderland U21s and will be out for 2 weeks, in the same match Kenny Appleyard was man of the match.

The first team continued their good form with a 2-1 win at home to Notts County, and the following day the youth team were training and keeper Sean Hirst injured his elbow and will be out for 2 weeks.

The week ended with a 3-0 defeat for the first team away at Gillingham.

Week commencing 10th January 2016

Brenden Overall is out injured again, 6 weeks this time straining ankle ligaments during training. And then during an U18 game Trovarn Wright cuts his head and will be out for 11 days, Joe Doyle picked the man of the match award up in the 3-2 U18 match against Wolves - setting 2 goals up.

Barnsley visited the New York Stadium and left with a 2-0 win, leaving the Millers 1 place and 1 point outside the play offs with 26 games played.

Week commencing 17th January 2016

The Millers draw 2-2 away at Millwall.

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Week commencing 24th January 2016

Young Colin Bishop will miss 10 days after picking up a facial injury against Newcastle U21s.

The Millers grind out a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry.

Week commencing 31st January 2016

Reis Handley is out for 6 weeks after breaking his arm against Liverpool U21s.

Neil Shah will miss 1 game after being sent off in a U18s match against Leeds, in the same game Sean Hirst picks up the man of the match award.

The first team draw 1-1 away at Fleetwood.

Burnley have started to sniff round Kenny Appleyard, whilst Joe Doyle and Sean Hirst are looking for loan moves.

Week commencing 7th February 2016

The first team have now gone 7 game without a win and draw 1-1 at home to Portsmouth to drop out the play off's and heap pressure on boss Evans.

Colin Bishop brakes a wrist in an U18s match against Stoke and will be out for 4 weeks, in the same game Mark Kittrick picks up the man of the match award.

Neil Shah's 1 match ban has been increased to 2 matches.

First team action ended in a 2-1 defeat away at Peterborough - how long will it be before a change of manager comes about.

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