v
SHRIMPERS
Hey, we're on the road again, but this is a tough one, and I'll be very happy with a point, but the team?
We haven't seen Bilel Mohsni since before Christman and we might have to wait a touch longer as Blues boss Paul Sturrock is not going to rush him right back now after he picked up an ankle injury at Cheltenham.
Anyway, I believe a fit again Matt Phillips will return to give veteran Graham Coughlan a rest.
Johnny Herd will get the chop after that second Spirerites goal and be replaced by Peter Gilbert, I'm sure of that, old Luggs has been waiting for the chance.
He may also move new signing Miguel Comminges to the bench as he believes the midfielder lacks fitness, Louie Soares could step up wide right, or even another game for Kane Ferdinand.
Upfront did Matt Paterson do enough in the defeat against Chesterfield? I hope so but I can see the boy Blair coming back.
And who knows, maybe a new signing in the squad, but probably not.
Putting my heat above logic I'm holding out for a 1-1 draw, we do play a lot better away from Roots Hall, sadly for us season card holders!
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Barker, Phillips, Gilbert, Soares, Grant, Easton, Hall, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Evans, Ferdinand, Herd, Coughlan, Comminges, Crawford, Paterson.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore will have Mark Randall available.
The 21-year-old midfielder, on loan from Arsenal, missed Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Stockport after his car broke down on the M6. Randall was supposed to be in a hotel, but returned home without the club's knowledge and he will face disciplinary action.
Moore has no fresh injury concerns and is set to name an unchanged side against the Shrimpers, having seen his men wipe out a 3-1 deficit in the final six minutes against Stockport to earn an unlikely point.
Skipper Ryan Cresswell has returned to light training following a broken collarbone, but remains four weeks away from action, while on-loan defender Danny Coid, who will have talks with Moore regarding his future, has ankle ligament damage and will miss out.
(Thanks to www.teamtalk.com for the Millers team info)
| 1 | Chesterfield | 22 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 34 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 48 | 28 | 45 | +20 | ||||
| 2 | Rotherham United | 22 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 42 | 26 | 41 | +16 | ||||
| 3 | Wycombe Wanderers | 23 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 33 | 26 | 40 | +7 | ||||
| 4 | Port Vale | 22 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 28 | 19 | 39 | +9 | ||||
Player to watch:
Striker Glenville Adam J. le Fondre is one hot property, but better known to us as Adam Le Fondre.
His personal history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_le_Fondre
The Guardian rate him!: www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2010/sep/20/adam-le-fondre-rotherham-barnet
Last time Out
Home - Rotherham United 5 Port Vale 0 (played on Saturday, January 1st, 2010);
Report: www.themillers.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10360~53225,00.html
Away - Stockport County 3 Rotherham United 3 (played on Tuesday, January 11th, 2010)
PREVIOUSLY
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GROUND
For full info go here:
www.footballgroundguide.com/rotherham_united/#Whats The Ground Like?
TICKETS
Full details here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw9/rotherham_united_tickets_619026/index.shtml
WEATHER
Light rain, 11c's, what winter?
REF
The man in the middle is Scott Mathieson from Cheshire.
A full interview with him here: http://refworld.com/referee/150/1/scott-mathieson
His assistants are Billy Khatib (Sunderland) and Lee Metcalfe (Lancashire);
The fourth official is David Plowright (Nottingham).
FIXTURES
League Two
Friday, January 21st: Southend v Bury, 19:45.
Rotherham (to win) - 11/12, Draw - 13/5, Southend (to win) - 7/2.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/rotherham_united_606037/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking around the ground and in the town go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/
catch_the_carlton_pub_crawl_for_rotherham_620196/index.shtml
SOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HAT
For an overnight stay:
HISTORY
The clubs roots go back to 1870 when the club was formed as Thornhill Football Club (later Thornhill United).
For many years the leading team in the area was Rotherham Town F.C., who spent three seasons in the Football League while Thornhill United were still playing in the Sheffield & Hallamshire League.
By the turn of the century, however, Rotherham Town had resigned from the Football League and gone out of business; a new club of the same name later joined the Midland League.
Meanwhile, Thornhill's fortunes were on the rise to the extent that in 1905 they laid claim to being the pre-eminent club in the town and changed their name to Rotherham County For a period both clubs competed in the Midland League, finishing first and second in 1911-12.
Over time it became clear that to have two professional clubs in the town was not sustainable. Talks had begun in February 1925 and in early May the two clubs merged to form Rotherham United. Days later the reformed club was formally re-elected under its new name.
The now familiar red and white was adopted around 1928 after playing in amber and black. but there was no improvement in the club's fortunes: in 1931 they again had to apply for re-election. Immediately after the Second World War things looked up.
After adopting Arsenal-style white sleeved shirts, United finished as runners-up three time in succession between 1947 and 1949 and then were champions of Division Three (North) in 1951.
Rotherham reached their highest ever league position of third in the Football League Second Division in 1955, when only goal average denied them a place in the top flight after they finished level on points with champions Birmingham City and runners-up Luton Town.
In 1997, just after relegation to Division Three, one of the clubs greatest ever players Ronnie Moore took charge of Rotherham United and became the clubs greatest and most successful manager.
His first season ended in a mid-table finish and then his second in a play-off semi final defeat on penalties to Leyton Orient.
It was third time lucky in 1999-2000 as Rotherham finished as Division Three runners-up and gained promotion to Division Two. They were favourites to be relegated in 2000-01 season, but surprised many by finishing runners-up in Division Two and gaining a second successive promotion to Division One.
Rotherham managed to remained in Division One for four seasons, their most successful of which was the 2002-03 campaign. The Millers were in contention for a play-off place, but dropped off near the season's end to finish 15th, their lowest position all season.
During The 2004-05 season, the club struggled and spent most of the seaon bottom of the league and the club was bought by a consortium called millers 05 who caused many problems to the club including relegation, and Ronnie Moore resigned during the campaign.
Mick Harford took over as Millers manager but was sacked after a run of 17 games without a win, to be replaced by Alan Knill. Early in 2006 it was announced that the club faced an uncertain future unless a funding gap in the region of £140,000 per month could be plugged. An eleventh hour intervention by a consortium of local businessmen kept them in business.
The final match of the 2005-06 season, home to MK Dons, was a winner-take-all relegation showdown where a scoreless draw kept Rotherham up.
Rotherham United began their second successive year in League One with a 10-point deficit as a result of the CVA which saved the club from liquidation. the club pulled the points back but by the end of February, the Millers sat 13 points adrift of safety, making the threat of relegation almost inevitable.
This resulted in Knill being sacked on March 1, with Mark Robins becoming caretaker manager. Robins's position was made permanent on 6 April 2007, but he was not able to save Rotherham from relegation. The Millers spent the majority of the 2007-08 season in the automatic promotion places but in mid-March 2008 it was revealed that Rotherham had again entered administration and would be deducted 10 points.
Local businessman Tony Stewart then took over as Chairman for the 2008/09 season and took the club out of administration which resulted in a 17-point deduction and been forced to leave Millmoor for the Don Valley Stadium, their home of over 100 years, after disputes with the landlords.
The Millers had an impressive season under the new regime, quickly wiping out the point deficit and being in contention for a play-off place.
Manager Mark Robins departed to rivals Barnsely with John Breckin at the start of the 2009/10 season. To the fans delight club ledgend Ronnie Moore, who had been dismissed from Tranmere Rovers, was reappointed manager on Friday 25 September 2009. Jimmy Mullen was later confirmed as his assistant.
In January 2010 it was announced that the Guest And Chrimes site had been purchased and would be the new home of the club within two years with a new 12,000 seat stadium. Ronnie led the club to their first ever play off final and first trip to the new Wembley stadium. This game ended in a 3-2 loss to Dagenham & Redbridge in what was a thrilling final. Despite the loss it was a very memorable day in the clubs history.
(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Rotherham_United_F.C.)