- 6 months ago
On this week’s show, we look at the loss of Yorkshire’s last remaining unbeaten record in League One after Bradford City went down 3-1 at Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers.
We reflect on a good news/bad news week for Rotherham United who ended their wait for a second win of the season only to then be hit by some cruelly-timed news on the injury front.
Thomas Tuchel’s England team took another big stride towards qualifying for USA 2026 with regulation wins over Andorra and Serbia - but how difficult is it to judge the progress and quality of his team against such cannon fodder in qualifying?
We also discuss the arrival of new York City manager Stuart Maynard and his ambitions for the National League club.
We reflect on a good news/bad news week for Rotherham United who ended their wait for a second win of the season only to then be hit by some cruelly-timed news on the injury front.
Thomas Tuchel’s England team took another big stride towards qualifying for USA 2026 with regulation wins over Andorra and Serbia - but how difficult is it to judge the progress and quality of his team against such cannon fodder in qualifying?
We also discuss the arrival of new York City manager Stuart Maynard and his ambitions for the National League club.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Football Talk, the Yorkshire Post football
00:16podcast that covers everything from Leeds United in the Premier League to Harrogate Town in League
00:212 and occasionally dipping our toe into the National League and international football.
00:25I'm your host Phil Harrison and as ever this week I'll be joined by the YP football writing team of Stuart Rayner and Liam Wobshull.
00:32On this week's show we look at the loss of Yorkshire's last remaining unbeaten record in League 1
00:36after Bradford City went down 3-1 at Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers.
00:41We reflect on a good news stroke bad news week for Rotherham United who ended their wait for a second win of the season
00:46and to then be hit by some cruelly timed news on the injury front.
00:50Thomas Tuchel's England team took another big stride towards qualifying for USA 2026
00:55and the regulation wins over Andorra and more impressively in Serbia.
00:59But how difficult is it to judge the progress and quality of his team against such cannon fodder in qualifying?
01:06We also discussed the arrival of New York City manager Stuart Maynard and his ambitions for the National League Club.
01:12You're listening to Football Talk from the Yorkshire Post.
01:14YorkshirePost.co.uk
01:16As mentioned, we're joined as ever by our football writing team, Stuart Rayner and Liam Wobshull.
01:22Flung once again to all four corners of the White Rose, on this occasion a bit beyond in Stuart's case,
01:27bringing the best football reports, interviews and analysis.
01:31With most of our teams out of action due to the first international break of the season,
01:35it was left to League 1 and League 2 to provide the action.
01:37Stuart was dispatched to Birmingham to watch Thomas Tuchel's England stutter to victory over a gallant Andorra.
01:43There was another Yorkshire Derby. How could there not be in League 1?
01:46This time featuring Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City at the Eco Power Stadium,
01:51and which we'll come on to shortly.
01:53But there were also victories for Hudsfield Town, who came from behind to win 3-2 at home to Peterborough,
01:57and Rotherham United, who ended their way for a second win of the season when edging out this is Exeter City 1-0.
02:03In League 2, Harrogate's poor form continued after themselves enjoying a good start.
02:08But it's the familiar territory of Derby Day bragging rights where we're going to start this time around.
02:12Then, Doncaster moving up to second in the League 1 standings with a deserved 3-1 win over the Bantams,
02:17their first defeat of the campaign in League and Cup.
02:20Leon, you were the man who was there at the Eco Power on Saturday.
02:24Seems like a fair and short on the day, judging by your reports and analysis.
02:28But at this stage, given the way they have started their first season back in the third tier for some time,
02:34there shouldn't be too many areas of concern from Graham Alexander and his players, should there?
02:38No, I'd agree with that, Phil.
02:40I mean, I think in some respects they were perhaps due a defeat.
02:44Ironically, the previous defeat had come at Doncaster, hadn't it, at the end of last season,
02:50Doncaster's final home game of the season.
02:52So, yeah, I mean, a lot of averages, you're going to get beat somewhere,
02:56and Bradford have had a good run, 10 unbeaten.
02:58And it was probably just the manner of it, really.
03:01Graham Alexander's big on daily standards in training, let alone on a match day.
03:07And he was quite critical, and you could see in his body language he was unhappy afterwards
03:13in terms of Bradford's a bit of a lack of intensity in the first half,
03:18and they lost a few jewels.
03:20That's the word that managers like to use these days.
03:23And they lost a few of those, and there was an element of it.
03:28Each of the goals, to be fair, even, you know, Bradford's goal as well
03:33was down to an error from the Doncaster goalkeeper.
03:36But there's elements of, you know, self-inflicted wounds, really,
03:40and poor concessions from a Bradford perspective.
03:44Obviously, 3-1 down at half-time, and Doncaster didn't have to do his little bit.
03:49In some respects, I know they had an extra man.
03:52It was a little bit similar to the Barnsley-Huddersfield game,
03:55in that obviously the hosts had got a good 3-1 lead,
03:58and they just had to really manage it in the second half.
04:00And that's what Doncaster did, Bradford huffed and puffed.
04:05I think we'll find out if it's a bad day at the office with, you know,
04:09what goes on on Saturday.
04:11It's fair to say, with respect to Doncaster, the derby for Bradford that really matters this season
04:18is the one against Huddersfield Town.
04:20They've not played in Bradford for nearly 19 years, and, you know, a really big game for both sets of supporters.
04:30And I think he'll have some interesting decisions.
04:33Graham Alexander, a few players looked off the pace, I thought, at Doncaster.
04:38It could well be a case of dear sort of go with them, because they've done, you know,
04:43up until last weekend at Doncaster, they've sort of served them well.
04:46But you look at the squad options at Bradford, and they've got some, they've got a decent squad to pick one.
04:51Does he stick with those he's been faithful with, or does he sort of mix it up a little bit?
04:56I think that'll be the interesting one.
04:59When he brought Joe Wright off at half-time, he sort of got the hook and carried the cam.
05:07One or two others came on as well.
05:08I thought Bobby Porter and Anthony Sarsavich had pretty low-key games.
05:15They weren't alone, to be fair.
05:16I thought Lee struggled as well in midfield.
05:20It's a case of does he mix it up?
05:21He's got options.
05:22He's got the likes of Patterson.
05:23He's got Lapsley.
05:25He's got a few others as well.
05:26So that would be interesting from a Bradford perspective.
05:30But, yeah, as you said, I wouldn't, you know, in the grander scheme of things,
05:34it's been an excellent start.
05:36Alexander and Grant McCann have both been shortlisted for the League One Manager of the Month.
05:45A little bit, I suppose, a little bit of controversy, I suppose,
05:47because Connor Hurray and Lee Grant weren't included.
05:51But in fairness, it's been a strong one for one or two other clubs.
05:55You look at, you know, Stevenage and Cardiff have done well as well.
06:00But, yeah, I think from Doncaster, it's, yeah, they're three derbies in,
06:04which Stuart and I have spoken about how they're going to have a bearing on things
06:08in terms of a fascinating League One this season.
06:11And three derbies in, they've won two back-to-back home wins,
06:14obviously backing up the Rotherham United win over Bradford.
06:19And, yeah, there was a bit of deja vu.
06:23I think they're often, they've seen a lot of derbies as well.
06:26You get little trends and, obviously, Billy Sharp scoring against Bradford,
06:31it just goes with the territory, doesn't it?
06:34I think it's now, is it?
06:35I think it's 10 in 12 now he's scored against them.
06:37I think that the joint, in terms of clubs, he's faced a lot of clubs, hasn't he?
06:41That's the joint best record.
06:44I can't remember who the other club is, but it's, I think, you know,
06:47Bradford are one of them.
06:48And, yeah, I've done a few of the games with Jordan Gibson as well,
06:51obviously facing Bradford, his whole club.
06:53And he's warned them a few times in interviews,
06:56look, if you have a go at me, I love it, carry on.
07:00That's right up my street.
07:01And, you know, he did it earlier this year, did it twice when he played for Carlisle
07:06and they were giving him a stick at the game at Doncaster
07:09and he scored in a 3-0 win and he played well in the game at Donny in April.
07:15So, yeah, he ran the taunts down the throats of the Bradford supporters
07:20and a nice, purposeful, long walk past them when he got substituted
07:26and totally ignored them in fairness.
07:28And then the Doncaster fans stood up in the main stand
07:31and he gave them a hearty clap and it was good to see.
07:35It was a bit of sport and, you know, Bradford fans were having a go at him
07:39and he answered them.
07:41So, that was a sort of familiar sort of tune for Bradford.
07:44Yeah, it was impressive from Doncaster.
07:48They showed that intensity.
07:51Stuart's probably seen a lot of sharp as well.
07:54To me, he's not just, he is a goal scorer,
07:56but he brings more to the table these days.
07:58His movement was excellent.
07:59He was dropping off.
08:00The Bradford back line really didn't know what to do with him.
08:03He was backing into them.
08:04It was a real expert lesson in leading the line.
08:10And, yeah, it was very impressive from Doncaster.
08:14You've got one or two other players that they've got off as well.
08:17Obviously, Charlie Crewe was, he was on international business
08:20and the Irish lad they've got from Grian, from Palace.
08:25He was away.
08:27Robbie got.
08:28So, yeah, all things come to the two.
08:29James Derry was missing as well, wasn't he?
08:31Yeah, yeah.
08:32I mean, two derby wins in a row.
08:35I mean, the only little bit of a downer for me was the crowd.
08:40Before the game, Grant McCann.
08:42He wasn't necessarily having a big dig at Doncaster fans,
08:46but he was a little bit, you know, to the stay-away supporters.
08:49It's a town of 300,000.
08:52He's spoken about having aspirations to get to the championship.
08:56I know there's a lot of lead supporters in the Sheffield clubs,
08:58but, you know, the crowd was, I think it was 11,400 against Rotherham.
09:06There was about 2,500 Rotherham fans.
09:08This week, the crowd was actually less,
09:11and there was probably like 400 or 500 more away supporters.
09:13There were 3,000 Bradford fans.
09:15So, that's a little bit of a concern,
09:20just trying to get those extra numbers.
09:22I mean, to be fair, Doncaster, they haven't lost at home since mid-February.
09:27So, he's probably thinking, well, what more can we actually do?
09:30You know, we've got a real winning momentum,
09:32but can we get 10,000 Doncaster fans in the stadium?
09:36But, you know, obviously the bigger thing is that
09:39Doncaster have continued their strong start to the season.
09:43Yeah, I mean, there's something worth watching there,
09:46because they play good football as well.
09:48You know, a couple of the goals were sort of almost lucky bounces off long balls,
09:54but, you know, by and large, they play some really good stuff.
09:57They've got some really good individual players to watch, you know,
10:00like some Molyneux, Owen Bailey, you know, look like they're destined to go higher.
10:05You know, and if there are people in the city who are fans of Leeds, for example,
10:13well, this is a ground they can actually get in.
10:15And, you know, we've said a few times on the podcast this season,
10:18it's a really good League One from a Yorkshire perspective.
10:23There's loads of really, you know, big derby games,
10:26top of the table games for Doncaster after the way they've started.
10:29And it's worth getting along, quite frankly, if you've got the time
10:36and you've got the money, you know, they're not the most expensive.
10:42I think the fans are around, are they, presumably?
10:44I mean, they have the potential to fill that stadium, I would guess.
10:49Yeah, well, I mean, you know, Leon mentioned the size of the city
10:52and, you know, obviously there's been, you know, games in the past
10:56where the place has been full.
10:58But, I mean, it's been, in fairness to Robo's fans,
11:02they went through probably about three really lean years
11:05of quite depressing stuff, but they are well and truly out of that now,
11:10I think, since Grant McCann's got a hold of that club.
11:14As I say, to me, I enjoy, you know, as a neutral,
11:17I enjoy going down and watching games there
11:21because, as I say, they play decent stuff.
11:23It's not, you know, it's not sort of pass-you-to-death stuff.
11:28It's not, you know, brainless long ball stuff.
11:31It's good, intelligent football played to a high standard
11:36by some good players.
11:38So, yeah, it's well worth getting behind.
11:40And it does make your heart sink a little bit when you, you know,
11:44if you've been to places like Bradford,
11:46which is selling out at the moment,
11:48to go to the Eco Power and see blocks of empty seats
11:51because, frankly, they deserve a bit more than that
11:54in terms of what they're putting on.
11:56And they are trying to do more generally for the fan experience as well
12:00in terms of, I know, they're sort of developing fan zones
12:04and that sort of thing.
12:05So, yeah, I'd recommend it for people in the area who fancy a good game of football
12:12on a Saturday.
12:13I think in some of the big games, I'm not sure of the exact figures,
12:17but when they played at Wembley and when they won the trophy at Cardiff,
12:23there was something like 20,000 sort of Doncaster fans.
12:26And if they can just sort of get half that really.
12:28And, you know, in terms of the geography of the place as well,
12:30it is in South Yorkshire, but there's a lot of,
12:33you know, borders on quite a lot of other counties
12:35where there's not sort of much going on,
12:37whether, you know, North Lincolnshire,
12:38sort of parts of North Nottinghamshire,
12:40maybe drawing into a bit of those.
12:42I know they've got a,
12:43they've had a supporters club in Redford for a lot of years,
12:46Doncaster, and they're really loyal
12:47and they've stuck by,
12:49they stuck with Rovers when it was really,
12:52you know, really grim.
12:53So there are some loyal supporters out there,
12:55maybe hopefully tapping into a bit more of those
12:58or just the stay a ways in the town, really,
13:02because as Stuart said,
13:03it's a pretty good product.
13:05And, you know, they've got their mojo back
13:07in a really sort of pretty much short period of time
13:09under Grant McCann,
13:10and they're certainly worth watching.
13:13Yeah.
13:14You just said last week,
13:15oh, go on Stuart.
13:16No, I was just going to say in terms of Bradford,
13:18I think we'll learn a lot of them,
13:20about them in the next few weeks.
13:21I mean, the next four games,
13:24they've got Huddersfield at home,
13:26Cardiff and Newcastle away,
13:27obviously Newcastle in the cup,
13:29and then at home to a Blackpool team
13:30who've started the season badly,
13:32but there's a lot of talent there.
13:33So, yeah, we'll learn a lot.
13:35I mean, Huddersfield haven't won away
13:37since the first weekend of the,
13:39sorry, their first away weekend of the season.
13:41They obviously knocked Sunderland out of the League Cup
13:43at Sunderland,
13:44but that was on penalties after a draw.
13:47So that should be a good game.
13:49That should be a good test.
13:50And just to see what they're made of,
13:52what the confidence is made of.
13:53You know, as Leon says,
13:54they've got the options to mix things up.
13:57They did very well in the back half of last season,
14:00rotating the squad and making full use of it.
14:04I see no reason why they can't bounce back,
14:06but always when you've suffered the first defeat
14:09in a while,
14:10it's always a test of your,
14:11I say, your mentality and your confidence
14:13as much as anything else.
14:14So, I think we'll learn a lot about them
14:17in the next few weeks.
14:19Yeah, I mean, it's pretty much good size.
14:20You know, you lose games,
14:21but don't lose two, is it?
14:23Good sides don't lose two in a row.
14:25And, you know, I think Huddersfield
14:26will obviously start the season pretty well,
14:29obviously.
14:30And they'll have a few little incentives as well.
14:32I mean, I did the game a few weeks ago at Barnsley
14:35and there was a, you know,
14:37massive away support there,
14:38nearly 5,000.
14:39And I know, speaking to the manager and the players,
14:42they were sort of taken aback by the support,
14:45particularly in the second half
14:46when they were, you know,
14:47they were 3-1 down.
14:49All the sets of supporters
14:50might have sort of sacked it off
14:51and gone home early
14:52and certainly the decibels had gone down,
14:54but the support was really good
14:56in the losing calls that day.
14:58Huddersfield punters
14:58and the players will,
15:01you know, a lot of the new players
15:02who were coming into the club,
15:04they were struck with that
15:05and they'll be wanting to provide
15:08a bit of payback, I would have thought.
15:10Just lastly,
15:11just before we move on,
15:12perhaps chat about the Millers in a minute,
15:14but I think you mentioned
15:15either last week
15:15or the week before, Leon,
15:16that the one sort of area concern
15:19you maybe had over Doncaster
15:20was goals,
15:22whether they'll be able to score enough goals.
15:23Did you see more encouraging signs of that?
15:26Only one game, I know.
15:27But did you see more encouraging signs
15:28of that at the weekend?
15:30I think it was...
15:31Yeah, it was, to be fair,
15:33it was helped a little bit
15:35by the defence at Bradford.
15:39There were poor goals,
15:40obviously, I spoke about,
15:41you know, poor Joe Ryter.
15:43He used to play for Rovers.
15:45Obviously, his last game there,
15:47he did his knee
15:48and was out for about nine months
15:49and he was out of contract as well.
15:51So, I don't think he'll be wanting
15:53to go back to the Eco Power Stadium
15:56in a hurry.
15:58Yeah, they were sort of self-inflicted,
16:02really.
16:02Obviously, the goal,
16:03the first goal,
16:04the sort of defence,
16:05just ball-watched and that
16:06allowed Molyneux to come inside.
16:09It was striking to see him come in,
16:11you know,
16:11see more of that, really.
16:12I mean, he's a...
16:14You know about Molyneux's creative skills
16:15and, you know,
16:17he can turn a full-back on a sixpence,
16:19but, you know,
16:20getting in the box a little bit more as well
16:21and nicking goals,
16:22it was a great finish with his head
16:25to open it up
16:27and I would have thought
16:29on the quiet Grant McCann,
16:31he's got high standards.
16:32He'll be pushing his wingers
16:34to, you know,
16:34chip in, you know,
16:36with a few more goals
16:37and an assist shot.
16:40But, yeah,
16:42I suppose,
16:43longer term,
16:44it'd be interesting to see
16:45how they actually get through
16:46to January
16:47because you'd imagine that
16:48bringing in another striker
16:49will be towards the top
16:51of the thoughts in January,
16:53how they manage until then.
16:55But, you know,
16:56you'd take three goals
16:57whether they're sort of gifted to you
16:59or not.
17:01And there was some good,
17:02in terms of general play,
17:03they're very good, Doncaster.
17:04They do sort of create openings
17:06and they're clever in their
17:07build-up work
17:08and they're smart.
17:10So, yeah,
17:11there was some good forward play there
17:13and I know Stuart's commented
17:15on that aspect of it as well
17:17when he's done Doncaster this season.
17:20Yeah, I mean,
17:20I think, you know,
17:21as Liam alluded to,
17:22you can always rely on,
17:24you can rely on Billy Sharp
17:25over the course of a season
17:26but, you know,
17:28inevitably,
17:30they're going to get
17:30fewer and fewer minutes
17:31out of him
17:32as age creeps up.
17:33So, it's just up to,
17:35up to other people
17:36to step up to the plate
17:37and that's not just centre forwards.
17:39The good thing...
17:39Well, Bailey is, isn't it?
17:40Bailey's.
17:40Exactly.
17:42Exactly.
17:42That's been the good thing
17:43about Doncaster this season.
17:45Other positions
17:46have stepped up to the plate.
17:47You just want a bit more
17:49from the centre forwards.
17:51You know,
17:51it's great for Billy Sharp.
17:54It's a tribute to his,
17:55you know,
17:56fitness
17:56and his dedication
17:57and everything
17:58that he is still
17:59such a key member
17:59of that side
18:00but if you're
18:01one of the other centre forwards
18:02in that group,
18:03you should be looking at that
18:04thinking,
18:05I should be making his life
18:06more difficult.
18:07You know,
18:07he should be struggling more
18:09to get his place
18:09as Rob Street did,
18:11you know,
18:11when he came in
18:11on loan last season.
18:13I think the big,
18:14I think the cup game,
18:15obviously Donnie
18:16is still in the EFL Cup,
18:19you know,
18:19for the likes of Hanlon
18:20and Ajayi,
18:21they're going to assume
18:22a fair bit of importance.
18:23Can they put a bit of pressure
18:24on Sharp
18:26in terms of
18:27getting the nod
18:27in the league matches
18:28because Stuart said
18:30he's going to have to be
18:31McCann,
18:31he's going to have to be
18:32mindful of Sharp's
18:33workload,
18:33isn't he,
18:34in those cup competitions
18:35and at the minute
18:36he probably sees him
18:37as his number nine
18:38in the league
18:39and he might give him
18:41the odd evening off
18:42in terms of the cup.
18:43And the good thing
18:44that you hear about
18:45Doncaster Rovers generally
18:46is that Sharp
18:47will help those players.
18:49There's no selfishness
18:50in terms of,
18:50you know,
18:51this is my place,
18:51I'm not letting you near it.
18:53He's always pulling players
18:54aside apparently,
18:55giving them little tips
18:55about doing this and that.
18:57So there's the right
18:58environment to do it
18:59and he will want
19:01players to be,
19:02although he wants
19:03players to be,
19:03but he wants players
19:04pushing them
19:05because he wants
19:06what's best
19:07for Doncaster Rovers.
19:09Yeah.
19:10It was a good day
19:11generally on Saturday
19:11down in South Yorkshire.
19:13Rotherham
19:14picked up their
19:16first win of the season
19:17since the opening day,
19:18but as soon as
19:19they were celebrating that,
19:20then a couple of days later
19:21they were hit by
19:22some bad injury news.
19:24Lone Centre
19:25half,
19:25Thomas Holmes
19:25was by all accounts,
19:27outstanding on his debut
19:28and played a huge role
19:29in that 1-0 win
19:30at home to Exeter
19:31at the weekend,
19:32but it emerged on Monday
19:33I think that the defender
19:34is going to be out
19:35for some time
19:36after he picked up
19:37quite a serious knee injury.
19:38Leon,
19:38you covered the story
19:39I think on the Monday
19:40earlier this week,
19:42given the tough start
19:43the Millers have had,
19:44not tough,
19:45but it's not been
19:46a bed of roses obviously,
19:48it's probably the last thing
19:49that Matt Amshaw
19:50probably needed,
19:50wasn't it?
19:51Yeah,
19:52I mean,
19:52I just think it's symptomatic
19:53of the way it's going really.
19:56I don't think any club
19:57have had a more luckless
19:58and rotten time
19:59at the start of the season
20:00than Rotherham United.
20:02You know,
20:02even the one
20:03on the first day
20:03of the season
20:04and Sam Nunbay
20:05got a hamstring injury
20:07and
20:07yeah,
20:09Amshaw's probably thinking
20:11just what's coming next really.
20:12You know,
20:13they can get a win
20:14and then obviously
20:14massively tempered
20:16by what happened
20:17with Holmes.
20:19It doesn't sound,
20:20I mean,
20:20don't get me wrong,
20:21it's serious enough
20:22and it looks like
20:23he'll be out
20:24for a couple of months.
20:26It's an issue
20:27with the outside
20:28of his knee
20:29and by all accounts
20:31he was okay
20:32on a Saturday
20:33but he woke up
20:34on the Sunday morning
20:35and it stiffened up
20:37so they got a
20:38specialist
20:40to have a look at it
20:40and he's out
20:42for eight weeks.
20:45So yeah,
20:45I mean,
20:47go a penny
20:47for Hamshaw's thoughts
20:49really.
20:49It wasn't just that.
20:50The lad who scored
20:51as well,
20:52Denzel Hall,
20:52he got an injury
20:53as well
20:53and
20:54Keyon Ette
20:55who they brought in
20:57who's
20:57one of those players
20:59when he's at his best
21:00when he's fit
21:00and firing
21:01he's a
21:02significant weapon
21:04at this level
21:04I'd say
21:05but it's getting him
21:05on the pitch
21:06often enough really
21:07and
21:07he obviously
21:09had an issue
21:10as well
21:10and yeah,
21:11it's just
21:11a desperate
21:12look for
21:14for Hamshaw
21:16really
21:16and it's
21:16obviously
21:16taken the gloss
21:17off
21:18an important
21:19win for them
21:19I thought
21:20it was an
21:20important game
21:21before Saturday
21:23and they managed
21:24to get over
21:25the line
21:25and
21:25just cruel
21:27look
21:27I know
21:27a lot's
21:28made about
21:29the training
21:30but I think
21:31this is more
21:31just down
21:32with bad luck
21:32really isn't it
21:33obviously the defender
21:34plays
21:34he seems to be
21:36fine
21:36and then he wakes
21:37up and his knees
21:38stiffened up
21:39on the
21:39on the Sunday
21:40morning
21:40he just can't
21:41sort of
21:42legislate
21:42for that
21:43as a
21:44as a manager
21:45really can he
21:45and he's
21:46probably
21:46you know
21:47if Hamshaw
21:48was playing
21:49Monopoly
21:49and every time
21:50he's pulling
21:51a community
21:51chess
21:52or a chance
21:53card
21:53he's waiting
21:53for the
21:54he's not going
21:55to get a
21:55favourable one
21:56is he
21:56he's not going
21:56to get his
21:57premium bonds
21:58coming in
21:58so it'll
21:59certainly be
22:01a bad one
22:02so
22:03he's just
22:05having to touch
22:05on Wood all
22:06the time
22:06so your game
22:07this week
22:08one or two
22:08are coming back
22:09Josh Benson
22:10he's been out
22:11he was
22:12playing a
22:14sort of
22:15training game
22:15this week
22:16and
22:16Kian Spence
22:18as well
22:18getting some
22:18more minutes
22:19and
22:19you just
22:20desperately
22:21hope that
22:21they can
22:21sort of
22:22pull through
22:22because it's
22:23just
22:23it's just
22:24one thing
22:24after another
22:24at the minute
22:25for
22:25for Rotherham
22:26United
22:27and
22:27you know
22:28it's not
22:28just been
22:29a baptism
22:29of fire
22:30for
22:30for Hamshaw
22:31it's been
22:31an inferno
22:32really
22:33hasn't it
22:33yeah I mean
22:34Leo's dead
22:35right about
22:35you can't
22:36blame the
22:36training ground
22:36Thomas Holmes
22:37has only been
22:38on it
22:38about two
22:38three times
22:39because he
22:39only signed
22:40on the
22:40Monday
22:40so
22:41yeah you know
22:43Leon touched on it
22:44last week
22:45they're just not
22:45having any look
22:46at the moment
22:47and all teams
22:48go through
22:49these spells
22:49but to go
22:50through it
22:51at the start
22:51of a season
22:52and at the start
22:53of your first
22:53full season
22:54as manager
22:54is just
22:55it's just
22:55not what you
22:56want
22:56there's not
22:57that sort
22:57of resilience
22:58to ride it
23:00to ride it
23:00out
23:01and get
23:03through it
23:04so you do
23:04really feel
23:05for Rotherham
23:06at the moment
23:06but it is
23:07just the nature
23:08of it
23:08they've got
23:09to grit
23:10the teeth
23:10but from my
23:12perspective
23:12I spoke to
23:14Holmes
23:14on Thursday
23:16before the game
23:17and he came
23:18across as
23:19exactly what
23:20Hamshaw wanted
23:22in terms of
23:22his off the field
23:23quality
23:24he spoke
23:24just like
23:26a captain
23:26in everything
23:28they said
23:28and Hamshaw
23:29had said
23:30the previous
23:31weekend
23:32I need to
23:32sign another
23:33defensive leader
23:34forget the
23:37football side
23:38which by all
23:39accounts was
23:39excellent on
23:40Saturday
23:40those sort
23:41of extra
23:42qualities
23:42look like
23:43just the sort
23:44of thing
23:44that you need
23:45in a squad
23:46that's trying
23:46to battle
23:46through these
23:47injuries
23:47so to have
23:49him not
23:50on the pitch
23:51is just
23:53as Leon
23:53says
23:54it's just
23:54cruel
23:55frankly
23:55on Roseran
23:57but they've
23:58no choice
23:59but to get
23:59on with it
24:00there is
24:00enough
24:00again it's
24:03something that
24:04Leon's alluded
24:04to in the past
24:05there's enough
24:05experience in
24:06that squad
24:06it's kind of
24:07a mix
24:07between the
24:08very inexperienced
24:09and the very
24:09experienced
24:10and whether
24:11those players
24:11are on the
24:12field or not
24:13they've got
24:13a part to
24:15play to
24:15pull this
24:16group through
24:17and get
24:19to the other
24:19end
24:19because it
24:20can't all
24:21be on the
24:21manager
24:21just it
24:22can't be on
24:22any one
24:23player
24:23as a
24:24collective
24:24they've
24:25really got
24:25to rally
24:26around
24:26and get
24:27through this
24:27and build
24:28on what
24:28as we said
24:30was actually
24:30a really
24:31good weekend
24:32for them
24:32in terms
24:33of the
24:33result
24:33they've
24:35just got
24:35to hang
24:35in there
24:36haven't
24:36they really
24:37the only
24:38real
24:38comparable
24:40injury
24:40crash
24:40is probably
24:41what you
24:42sort of
24:42saw at
24:42Huddersfield
24:43last season
24:44there was
24:45a spell
24:45sort of
24:47autumn winter
24:47where Michael
24:48Duff just had
24:48no look
24:49whatsoever
24:49but in
24:50fairness
24:50his options
24:51were still
24:51probably better
24:52than what
24:53Hampshire's
24:54are now
24:56and yeah
24:58he's just
24:58having to
24:58think week
24:59probably week
25:00to week
25:00at the
25:00minute
25:01isn't he
25:01really
25:01and it's
25:02probably
25:02you know
25:02you look
25:03at his
25:03forwards
25:03at the
25:06minute he can
25:06only really
25:06probably play
25:07one up front
25:07can't he
25:08as well
25:08with the
25:08injuries
25:09he's got
25:09and it's
25:10probably
25:10stymie and
25:11what he'd
25:11like to do
25:13ideally
25:14but at the end
25:15of the day
25:16that's management
25:16you just
25:17hope that
25:17people
25:17can
25:18support us
25:19and they
25:19have shown
25:20that they
25:20will do
25:21in fairness
25:22but they're
25:22going to have
25:22to carry
25:23on
25:23they've
25:23just
25:23really
25:23got to
25:24stick with
25:25the team
25:26and the
25:27manager
25:27really
25:28because
25:28there's not
25:29much more
25:29he can do
25:30no I mean
25:31it's even
25:31little things
25:32like in the
25:33game against
25:33Doncaster
25:34Marta who
25:35was signed
25:35more as a
25:36wing back
25:36played about
25:3725 minutes
25:38as a centre
25:39forward
25:39looked really
25:40good there
25:40that option
25:41was taken
25:42away from
25:42him at the
25:42weekend
25:43because he
25:43was on
25:43international
25:44duty
25:44it's just
25:45one little
25:46thing after
25:46another
25:47adding up
25:48and you've
25:48just got
25:48to
25:49say if
25:50you're a
25:50team in
25:51confident
25:52and informed
25:53you can kind
25:54of brush
25:55these things
25:55off a little
25:56bit more
25:56easily
25:57if you're
25:57a manager
25:58who's well
25:58established
25:59you can
25:59but in
26:00Rotherham's
26:00situation
26:01new manager
26:02no sort
26:03of back
26:05catalogue
26:06of form
26:07as a team
26:07to fall
26:08back on
26:09it's just
26:09that much
26:10harder
26:10and you
26:10need those
26:11leaders to
26:11really stand
26:12up put
26:13things in
26:13perspective
26:14and get
26:15people to
26:16knuckle down
26:16and not feel
26:17sorry for
26:18themselves
26:18yeah exactly
26:20he doesn't
26:21strike you as
26:22that kind of
26:22a person
26:23does he
26:23does it
26:23also
26:24do you also
26:26think that he
26:26will be given
26:27the time
26:27there's a lot
26:28of good grace
26:28for him
26:29given his
26:30background
26:30his connection
26:31to the club
26:31in the past
26:32and how things
26:33went last season
26:34before he came
26:34in towards the
26:35end
26:35Stuart
26:36yeah
26:37I say he's
26:38got a lot in
26:39his favour
26:39in that respect
26:40but
26:41Rosarind got used
26:43to getting out
26:44of League One
26:45very quickly
26:45so you know
26:46every season
26:47that they don't
26:48there is
26:48pressure
26:49and yeah
26:50you hope people
26:51will see things
26:51in perspective
26:52and be patient
26:54but we all know
26:55what football's like
26:56in reality
26:57I think you've
26:58just got to
26:58chip away
26:59if you can
26:59just
26:59I think it's
27:01one of those
27:01transitional seasons
27:02where they're
27:03going to have
27:03spells where
27:03they're going to
27:04be four or
27:04five potentially
27:05without a win
27:06they might have
27:06a few of those
27:07just chipping away
27:08getting those
27:09wins and just
27:10having that
27:11resilience to
27:12dig a few
27:13results out at
27:14times and then
27:15hopefully
27:15touch wood
27:16things might
27:17settle down a
27:18little bit
27:18for the second
27:19half of the
27:20season
27:20yeah hopefully
27:21well I mentioned
27:24earlier Stuart
27:24you found yourself
27:26down at Villa
27:27Park on Saturday
27:27let you claim a
27:29bit more on your
27:30mileage hopefully
27:31you've added some
27:33hospitality as well
27:34maybe that Nick
27:35Westfield will
27:36kindly sign
27:37but England
27:38against Andorra
27:39not one to sort
27:40of wet the lips
27:41necessarily but
27:42they managed to
27:43get through that
27:432-0 and then
27:44followed it up on
27:45Tuesday with a
27:45more impressive
27:465-0 win in
27:47Serbia
27:47spent in the
27:49place at the
27:49top of that
27:50World Cup
27:51qualifying group
27:52and I think
27:52they're 7 points
27:53ahead now of
27:53second place
27:54Albania
27:55given Andorra
27:56hadn't scored
27:56in international
27:57football forever
27:5820 hours I think
28:00you wrote somewhere
28:00going into
28:01Saturday's encounter
28:02in the West
28:03Midlands it was
28:04probably never
28:04going to be the
28:04most inspiring
28:05games so was
28:06it just it was
28:06probably just a
28:07case of getting
28:07the job done
28:08given the lack
28:09of competition
28:10in this qualifying
28:11group I know
28:11it's been an
28:12accusation leveled
28:13England teams in
28:14the past but
28:15does that
28:15situation or does
28:16that set a
28:17certain or the
28:18teams that they
28:18face make it
28:19more difficult to
28:20judge how well
28:20this team of
28:22Thomas Tuchel's is
28:23actually progressing
28:23under it
28:24well it does
28:25really because
28:25you know you
28:27can be good at
28:28beating Andorra and
28:30Serbia and the
28:31likes of that and
28:31it's very different
28:32to beating you know
28:34Argentina and Spain
28:35in the knockouts of
28:37a tournament
28:37that's it's almost
28:39at times it's
28:40almost two different
28:41types of football
28:42but I mean that
28:43said with a 48
28:44game World Cup
28:45there's going to be
28:46there won't be
28:47poorer teams in Andorra
28:48in it but there'll
28:49be poorer teams in
28:49Serbia in it
28:50you know in
28:52England's group so
28:53they will have to
28:53they will have to
28:55show they can deal
28:55with those sort of
28:56games and even the
28:57I thought the Andorra
28:58game I thought some
28:59of the criticism was
29:00a little bit
29:01excessive really
29:02because I thought it
29:03was that we're
29:04talking about a
29:04very low bar here
29:05but I thought it
29:05was a step up from
29:06June I thought they
29:07showed that they'd
29:08learned some of the
29:09lessons and although
29:10the numbers in terms
29:12of you know things
29:12like shots and
29:13touches in the box
29:15weren't dramatically
29:16improved they did feel
29:18it did feel like a
29:19better performance
29:20more energetic more
29:21what they needed
29:22say when you when
29:23you add in the
29:24Serbia game it's
29:25it's been a really
29:26good it's been a
29:27really good window
29:29for for for Thomas
29:32Tuchel you know he
29:32said at the start of
29:33it he sort of talked
29:34about how things were
29:35going to step up and
29:37and he's been as good
29:38as his word and I
29:39think I think the
29:40thing is as I sort of
29:41wrote in the Yorkshire
29:42Post on Monday yes
29:43the competition to
29:45qualify is pre pretty
29:47mundane although you
29:49know so you look at
29:50you look at how
29:50Italy and Germany and
29:52teams like that have
29:52had the scares at the
29:53moment that kind of
29:54puts it in perspective
29:55but nevertheless it's
29:57pretty pretty
29:57straightforward for
29:58England so the
29:59fascinating thing for
30:00me is the the
30:02competition for places
30:03and I think there's
30:03some players you know
30:05the likes of Morgan
30:06Rogers the likes of
30:07Nani Madweki who to
30:09be quite frank aren't
30:10quite as talented as
30:11some of the people
30:12that they are
30:13competing with are
30:14making very good
30:15cases at the moment
30:16and there's you know
30:17there's some big there's
30:18some big names with a
30:19with a lot of work to
30:20do to get into that
30:21squad as far as I'm
30:23concerned the likes of
30:25those players they
30:26they've done the job
30:27and it's up to other
30:28people to to respond
30:30and you know I was just
30:31looking before we
30:33talked at how much
30:35some of the big
30:36players in the squad
30:37have played for
30:38Tuchel Palmer's only
30:39played 64 minutes so
30:41far Foden's only
30:42played 97 Alexander
30:44Alexander Arnold's
30:45only played 26
30:47Saka's only played
30:4871 minutes all in a
30:50friendly yeah
30:50Stones Shaw
30:51Wharton obviously
30:54Grealish haven't
30:55haven't played at all
30:56if these players want
30:57to force their way in
30:58they're going to have
30:59to show that they're
31:00performing better for
31:01England not not just
31:02for their clubs than
31:03than these individuals
31:04and I think it could be
31:06Thomas Tuchel's the kind
31:07of and I mean this in a
31:08complimentary way the
31:09kind of stubborn strong
31:13minded manager who will
31:15pick the players he
31:17thinks are going to do a
31:18job for him not not on
31:19reputations and that's
31:20really what this squad
31:21needs because it's it's
31:22absolutely overflowing
31:24with reputations when it
31:25comes to international
31:27medals on the table you
31:28haven't got any so if
31:30somebody if somebody like
31:32Nani Madweki or Morgan
31:35Rogers or whoever
31:36Elliot Anderson wants to
31:37put their hands up and
31:38say I'm going to do a
31:39job for you then yeah by
31:41all means you should get
31:42the nod not some of
31:43these some of these
31:44superstar names yeah I
31:46think Stuart's spot on
31:47I think England's
31:49strength is the strength
31:50don't get me wrong
31:50they've got one or two
31:51special players the
31:52Bellingham's and the
31:54Saka's but you know
31:55overall it's just what
31:56they've got in there what
31:58they've got in the squad
31:58and Stuart said the likes
32:00of the likes of
32:01Palmer and Foderman
32:02would be thinking oh
32:03hey you know I've got
32:03to sort of keep on on
32:05my toes here because
32:06there's some serious you
32:09know depth and options
32:10and and Tuchel as well
32:11obviously he's he's a
32:13continental manager very
32:17experienced and you know
32:18he's managed at some
32:19massive clubs and he's
32:20managed you know he's
32:21worked with some major
32:22league players so he's
32:24not going to be bothered
32:24about personality and
32:25ego he's he's worked
32:27with all those sort of
32:28players so that doesn't
32:30sort of bother him one
32:32iota it was I think it
32:33was just good
32:34psychologically wasn't
32:35it I mean I don't
32:36think I didn't think
32:38the Serbis tactics were
32:39particularly good but yeah
32:40it was still a tremendous
32:42result wasn't it I can't
32:43remember the figure but
32:44they'd only been beaten
32:45once at home in a
32:46qualifier for for God
32:48knows how long so it
32:49was you know it was a
32:50serious sort of standout
32:52result wasn't it I'd
32:53imagine some of the other
32:54countries around thinking
32:55what um you know across
32:57Europe the big countries
32:58thinking you know that's
33:00a statement when that's
33:01that sort of England
33:02England announcing the
33:04sales again I was probably
33:06pleased for one or two of
33:07the sort of player that
33:09you know the likes of the
33:10likes of concert we made a
33:11good impression but being
33:12part of a really big
33:13England result you know
33:15it's got to be good good
33:16for him hasn't it really
33:17and uh I was pleased for
33:19Gaye as well obviously
33:20we there's a lot of a lot of
33:22stuff about him at the
33:23end of the deadline how
33:24he conducted himself you
33:26know impeccably really
33:27unlike some of the other
33:28big names who who force
33:30through moves by being
33:33pretty pretty selfish and
33:34reprehensible in the
33:36behaviour he did everything
33:37right didn't get his move
33:38so I thought it was a nice
33:40moment when him when he
33:41scored you know for
33:43England in Serbia you know
33:44a genuine smile on his
33:46face and uh that was nice
33:48to see obviously won't make
33:50up for what happened a bit
33:51earlier but yeah that was I
33:53thought that was a good
33:53moment yeah and you know
33:56it felt you know it's only
33:59a couple of games since
34:00England lost to Senegal and
34:01and you know we were all
34:03sort of fretting about how
34:04bad things were they were
34:05dreadful in Andorra but
34:07best to have them in June
34:09Stuart though best to have
34:10them in June and England
34:11normally do well I do I
34:15remember the one at
34:15Wolverhampton the other year
34:17Craig yeah it was
34:174-0 with Hungary yeah but
34:20it felt like this camp there
34:21was a real spirit emerging
34:23you know a real uh way of
34:26doing things identities the
34:27buzzword isn't it it really
34:29did feel like that was coming
34:30to the surface and as I say
34:32it's it's up to some of these
34:33bigger names who ought to be
34:35in that team on on ability to
34:37show that they can fit in with
34:38that now and uh and they can
34:40be part of it and and you
34:42know as as Leon says took a
34:45one bat an eyelid about
34:47leaving any any one of them at
34:48home if he if he if he doesn't
34:50think they're the best man for
34:51the job um so yeah it was it
34:53was refreshing to see some of
34:54these some of these guys really
34:56uh really push themselves
34:58forward do you think that's what
34:59this England team needed after
35:01the Southgate era a guy like to
35:03shall who who doesn't take any
35:05prisoners as it were and
35:06doesn't suffer fools gladly well
35:07well I think in fairness I mean I
35:10think it probably did need a
35:12little bit of that but but let's
35:13not forget it's not that long
35:15ago Southgate was dropping Jack
35:17Grealish from a a championship
35:19dropping Harry Maguire who you
35:21know was seen as a bit of a
35:22teacher's pet and all this sort of
35:23thing he made some big he made
35:25some big calls himself before the
35:26before the last tournament so it
35:28wasn't it wasn't like uh Southgate
35:31was one of these people who was
35:32just wowed by names and and just
35:33bent over backwards you know he
35:35ended Raheem Sterling's international
35:36career uh and things like that he
35:39wasn't afraid to make tough
35:40decisions but you feel like Tuchel
35:42almost relishes them it's he's got
35:44that sort of abrasive personality and
35:46and yeah that's probably that's
35:48probably no bad thing you know
35:49sometimes he's he's he's the most
35:53talented player in England's team but
35:54sometimes Duke Bellingham you know
35:57particularly in the in the in the uh
36:00in the last Euros just seem to be
36:02fighting the world and particularly
36:04referees and just losing his focus
36:05you know if if he gets a a shot of
36:08his backside to say look your place
36:10isn't guaranteed anymore you've got
36:12to you've got to really fit into this
36:14team ethic and start playing for the
36:16team and not for yourself that that is
36:18no bad thing and that will make him
36:20a better player as well yeah exactly
36:22it's it's all about it's got to be all
36:24about the team no matter how many great
36:28individual players you you have within
36:30definitely definitely just lastly before
36:35we go but Stuart you've got a chance to
36:36meet the New York City boss earlier this
36:38week Stuart Maynard he had to wait a
36:40while to get on the touchline with his
36:41players but he uh he managed to get a
36:433-1 win at the weekend at Yeovil and
36:45then followed that up on Tuesday with a
36:474-0 hammering of visitors Tamworth um
36:49which took him into the playoff positions
36:51or seventh in the National League
36:53standings he's got a decent pedigree as
36:55Maynard he's coached at Knott's County
36:57previously but he's got a tough actor
36:59following Adam Hinshelwood what were your
37:01first impressions of him on Monday when
37:02he went to the uh to the Minster
37:04Men's presser
37:04um very very impressed to be honest he
37:09talked to he talked a very good game
37:10he's seen um you know very confident
37:13very pleased with his um with how his
37:16team had performed and how they'd sort
37:18of reacted to a setback at Yeovil but
37:20much more impressed with with the results
37:22either side of it you could talk the talk
37:24all you like but two wins out of two
37:26that's the real currency and uh yeah
37:29he's made an excellent start I think
37:30um I think he's been fortunate I don't
37:34mean this in a critical way or anything
37:35but just the the way he's come into the
37:38job he had a long lead into that to that
37:40Yeovil um Yeovil game with with York
37:43hosting fixtures in the Women's World
37:46Cup they're they're playing catch up on
37:48the rest but it's given him time on the
37:50training ground to sort of um get his
37:52ideas into into place and it's just as
37:55well really because you know there's a
37:56few tough tests on the on the horizon
37:59um they play Carlisle at the end of
38:01September then the following Saturday
38:04they've got Forest Green then on the
38:06Wednesday they've got Scunthorpe then
38:07they've got Hartlepool so there's
38:09there's some tough tests coming but he we
38:11know he's got a very good squad um you
38:14know we saw that last year and they've
38:16added to it um he seems again he seems
38:19as though he's going to be quite ruthless
38:21in terms of whittling it down a little
38:24bit by loaning players out that they
38:25don't have the same transfer window
38:27restrictions that uh that the league
38:29clubs have and and I'm working with a
38:31smaller group but um yeah he clearly he
38:34clearly knows what he's doing he clearly
38:36knows what he wants and uh it would
38:38appear from those first couple of results
38:40as though he's got got those ideas
38:42across pretty quickly as well to the to
38:44the players which is obviously the most
38:45important thing YorkshirePost.co.uk
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