Rotherham boss Matt Hamshaw admits players ‘miles off it’ after suffering 7th defeat in a row

Rotherham United boss Matt Hamshaw admits his players were ‘miles off it’ after suffering their 7th defeat in a row.

He described their 3-0 loss away at Huddersfield Town, which saw them exit the EFL Trophy, as “well below average”, “frustrating”, “lacked belief”, “desire”, and “100% commitment”.

Hamshaw noted limited squad depth and injuries as major issues which prevented him from fielding a stronger side, adding that many players are inherited and fell short of expectations, while also contrasting it with the squad from a few years ago when Rotherham won the competition.

Interviewer: “Well, Matt, the Vertu Trophy campaign comes soon, and your overall assessment of the performance, how does it feel?”

Matt: “Well below average. I keep saying the same things. Tough night. I would have liked to have gone a lot stronger than I could have possibly done, but everybody were here tonight and we fit players. So that’s how it is at this moment in time. I’m hopeful that I can have a few back Saturday.

“It’s frustrating because, like I’ve spoke about, the importance of this competition. But when we won it here three, four years ago, squad depth were excellent. And we had people like Jamie Lindsay, Hakeem Odoffin, Freddie Ladapo.

“And I think you’ve seen the weaknesses in the area of the depth that we’ve got, unfortunately, and that’s something that we need to change.”

Interviewer: “I’m sure there’s a few that you’d like to touch upon, but what areas would you say your side could have been better tonight, where you touched on some of the challenges?”

Matt: “I think final third. I keep saying the same things. We didn’t look a threat at all. We got in some good areas, but then turned back. Just a lack of belief and a lack of desire. And they’re the things that hurt me the most. And it’s just frustrating for everybody involved.”

Interviewer: “It’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? How you can turn opportunities, when you get your foothold in games, to transition those moments into good attacks. Of course, you’ve been without figureheads at the top end of the pitch, but is there any way you can work to make that happen?”

Matt: “I just think we have to change the people. I think it’s come now to that point. We’ve given people opportunities. It’s down to them to take them. They have to impress me. They have to be 100% committed to the badge. And they have to give us their all.

“And look, as a manager, as a coach, as a fan, you want 100% commitment. And I think the Robin fans know that more than anybody.

“Look, they can face losing games of football, but it’s a certain manner of games that we’ve had that. And I just feel tonight that too many were miles off it. It’s a lot of players I’ve inherited.

“And I think that you probably saw a little bit of that tonight. It’s difficult to word it, really, but just not as there should be.”

Interviewer: “In terms of the flow of the game, you were 2-0 down at the break. I’m sure you didn’t feel that was an unfair reflection, but it seemed a bit of renewed energy after you came out of the second half. What was said, and do you agree with that?”

Matt: “I think there was a little bit of renewed energy, but nowhere near levels that I’d expect. Nowhere near the levels that I want to get.

“But again, I just think that tonight we’re always going to be a difficult challenge with the bodies that we’ve got available.

“As I keep repeating, I’m hopeful that I should have some back Saturday. There’s a couple that I didn’t want to take risks with, but also had a little small niggle.

“So, that is what it is. The players we’ve played tonight are always on show to myself, to everybody involved, other clubs.

“And look, I knew that January were going to be important, but I think that kind of reaffirms what I think going into this game.”

Interviewer: “You’ve always been a big advocate of the club’s young players, but kind of harsh but fair in your assessment. How would you say they got on tonight?”

Matt: “It’s a tough night for them, isn’t it? Their squad depth is really good. Obviously, come out the Championship, signed a lot of good players, players who don’t regularly play, but you can see difference in quality.

“And that’s where we need to get back to, which is tough and can’t happen overnight. And I’ve said that, and look, it’s another defeat.

“And I understand that questions will be asked of myself and my staff. And I understand that, but I’m sure people will understand the difficulty of the task at the minute.”

Interviewer: “You mentioned the players available to you. There was a few key omissions of senior lads tonight. Is there any good news on any of them?”

Matt: “Look, I don’t want to go into too much depth at this moment in time. We’ll be back in tomorrow. We’ll see how some of them are, and then we’ll re-evaluate going Saturday.”

Interviewer: “You mentioned the window as well already. It’s a bit of a moving and shaking window. You’ve sent two loanees back, Martin Sherif and Thomas Holmes, back with their parent clubs. Does that perhaps give you a little bit more room for manoeuvre now to bring someone in?”

Matt: “Yes, hopefully. As I said, we had to take people out to get people in, so that’s been quite frustrating. But at the same time, we knew that was going to be the case. I’m going to have to wheel and deal and manoeuvre a little thing. But I think that when you look at where we are, what we’ve got and what we are missing, it’s quite clear to see the areas that we need to strengthen.”

Interviewer: “In terms of a timeframe, I know it’s really hard to pinpoint when somebody will walk through the door, but I imagine you’re hopeful there’s sooner rather than later.”

Matt: “Yes, well, I’ve been set with me fingers crossed for the 1st of January. So, I would have wanted them in a lot quicker than we’ve got them. But look, I’m hopeful in this next few days there’s going to be some positive news. But we need to wait and see. A lot of phone calls, a lot of enquiries, a lot of knock backs and a few positives, as there always is in January.

“So, we’ll keep fighting, we’ll keep striving. We’ll keep believing in what we’re doing. We’re missing this team at this moment in time, which is tough. But as I say, I think in one to two weeks, we’ll be a lot more positive in the numbers we’ve got and hopefully have added a bit of quality to the group.”

Huddersfield boss Lee Grant commented: “We are obviously delighted with the result and the performance. It’s hugely important that we took the next step in the competition.

“The group have set their stall out this year, and we know that playing at home to League One rivals, and having to go to Lincoln in the last round are all important games, and not easy games.

“We made tonight look and feel easy because of the speed we played at, the intensity that we played at, and the dominance and control that the group were willing to impose onto the game.

“That was really good, and a really pleasing aspect of it.”

Here’s the fan reaction as Rotherham boss Matt Hamshaw admits players were ‘miles off it’ after suffering a 7th defeat in a row…

@MightyMillers20: Fans need to protest it can’t go on any longer

@DBesley10: Disgusting. 7 defeats in a row. Another game without a goal, another game where we’ve created nothing. I hate this manager. He is personally ruining this club. Just resign and go back to the team you support, Wednesday!!! Very angry right now 😡😡😡😡😡😡

@__IrufcI__: Sorry but I absolutely can’t believe what I’ve just heard. Blaming the loss on having to play too many players he inherited? He signed 5 of the starting 11 tonight, Clarke he’s brought in from the youths so 6. He’s absolutely lost the plot. #RUFC

@Hannn_95x: A manager that’s looks down & out with no backing from the board & his hands are tied. Looks like he’s lost the dressing room as well with the current available players. Things are only going to get even worse from here #rufc

@WestStandWindy: He looks broken doesn’t he? when he says we need to improve in certain areas, i worry. We need to improve in every area. we could have Kane and Mbappe up top, they’re not getting ballwith this side.

@CraigyBoyBes: Ahhhh the old ‘in a couple of weeks we’ll be much stronger’ line that we’ve heard every week since August. If we don’t want L2 football next season we need to relieve him of his duties NOW #rufc

@TheTivoliEnd: Today we learned: (1) the manager thinks the players he inherited are lazy and/or shit. (2) those players are now also completely unmotivated and possibly actively trying to help the opposition (see McWilliams for their second). (3) we’re two weeks into January in an injury crisis. Our only transfer work so far has been to reduce the number of players we have. (4) we’re signing a 17 and 3 months old kid who’s played 4 minutes of senior football to add “that bit of quality”. He might be amazing. But it’s a big ask of him to be a key contributor at that age and with that little experience. (5) in 1-2 weeks we might have a fuller squad. In 1-2 weeks we might be 10 points shy of safety. (6) the manager looks sick of the whole thing. He’s called out deep rooted problems (usually code for the board) and they didn’t even know he’d said it. He’s called out the players. (7) the COO things everything’s basically fine. (8) the players we don’t want are so bad we literally cannot give them away.

@bgannrufc: He’s a dead man walking and he knows it. Comes out with the same waffle he has for the past month. Says he needs change but never changes the way he plays, just fucking braindead. #rufc