Rotherham boss Steve Evans
raised a few eyebrows when he said last week he would only be signing six players
this summer.
He quickly upped that number
to "maybe eight" after taking into account likely exits for Scott Loach and
Connor Newton, but the mantra on recruitment over the next couple of months is
definitely ‘quality over quantity’.
Evans has not been specific
on areas of his team where he would like to strengthen, but here we assess the
likely positions the Scot will prioritise.
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| Steve Evans is looking to add quality this summer |
Goalkeeper
Having released Tony Thompson
and made Loach available for transfer, Evans will definitely sign at least one
goalkeeper, but he will be especially keen to bring in an established stopper to be his
number one. Adam Collin had a mixed time of it last season, performing well for
large chunks but also at fault for several goals against. As well as he
performed, his limitations were highlighted by Emi Martinez, who arrived from
Arsenal and put in a string of commanding performances, making the Millers
look a lot safer at the back. A return for Martinez at this stage looks
unlikely, but Evans will want to find someone who can provide similar solidity
in goal, in terms of shot-stopping, commanding of the area, handling and
kicking.
Right-back
The Millers have been blessed
in the last two seasons with two superb right-backs on loan from Premier League
clubs and they have been integral to the respective success enjoyed at New York.
James Tavernier and Jack Hunt are a similar breed, both intent on attacking and
are perhaps better going forward than they are defending. Evans has said Hunt
would be welcome back at the club while Tavernier was stopped re-joining in January due to the rivalry with Wigan so moves for those two could be possible, though both are
likely to get offers beyond what the Millers could afford. Frazer Richardson’s
injury problems, which have hampered his career, and the release of Richard
Brindley, Mark Bradley and Lawrie Wilson, means that this is a high priority
area and another target in the ilk of Hunt or Tavernier will fit the bill.
Central defender
Regardless of whether skipper
Craig Morgan pens a new deal, Evans may want to look at his options in central
defence. The Scot raved about the late-season performances of Kirk Broadfoot
and Richard Wood, so if Morgan stays, the boss could feel as if he has enough
cover at the back, especially with Kari Arnason able to drop back there if
necessary. However, one thing that all four of those players lack is pace and
at times the Millers were painfully exposed to that last season. The defence
could perhaps do with the addition of a left-sided central defender who has a
bit of zip about him which would leave them less vulnerable against pacy
strikers.
Left-back
Given Evans signed three
left-backs on loan last season, it is obvious that he saw that as a problem
area and perhaps until Daniel Lafferty found his feet none of the players that
played there were any better than Joe Skarz, who began the campaign with the
shirt. Again Evans has hinted he will try and do a permanent deal for Lafferty
and his addition would be a welcome one. By the end of the season, the Northern
Ireland international was showing his pedigree and looked solid at the back and
decent going forward. A left-sided Hunt or Tavernier is the dream, but first
and foremost Evans must recruit a solid defender who the Millers can call their
own.
Right wing
This was as much of a
problem position than left-back, if not more, and it was one that was never really cured.
Ryan Hall, John Swift, Paul Taylor, Emmanuel Ledesma and Connor Newton all had
cracks at making the position their own, with perhaps Ledesma the only one to
make a real go of it before his loan spell from Middlesbrough was cut short. By
the end of the season, Evans was relying on Lee Frecklington to fill the void
and although he performed well, his natural instinct took him inside a lot of
the time. Ledesma could be a target for the Millers, especially if Boro go up, but
even if the Argentinean isn’t on Evans’ radar, the boss has to find someone who
will be reliable for an entire season. That must involve being creative and
having an end product while also not reneging on the Millers’ famed work ethic.
Left wing
Presuming that Ben Pringle
signs his new contract offer he is likely to be Evans’ first choice on the left
and rightly so, but the Millers could do with some back up. There were
occasions last season where Pringle was ineffective and invariably the options
on the bench did little to improve the side. Adam Hammill, a loanee in the
second half of the campaign, had trickery and bluster, but with little end
product while strikers Jonson Clarke-Harris and Jordan Bowery were often
deployed in that position. Finding someone who has an end product similar to
Pringle’s, but with the ability to beat a man for pace would be a real coup for
Evans.
Striker
With Matt Derbyshire, Danny
Ward, Bowery and Clarke-Harris in their ranks, the Millers have a core of
strikers which could cause damage next season, but you can never have enough
strikers can you? With Derbyshire finding some form in the second half of the
campaign there is hope that he can be the 15-20-goal man which could help fire
the Millers up the league. But Evans’ side probably need more power there,
something which record signings Bowery and Clarke-Harris failed to provide. The
big-money duo are likely to improve next season, with late-season signs that Bowery
could be coming good, but the Millers could do with a ready-made physical
presence up front. Who could provide that, how much would he cost and would he
come to Rotherham are all questions which Evans needs to find answers to.
