Stickied League 1 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2023/24

[EricSabin]

Not heard the McWilliams one up this end, most of the speculation is that it's George Byers.

Evans wanted him at Stevenage and our itk is alluding to it

 

[masi51]

Maghoma just put a dear John letter out and said his Goodbyes......Decent player [Championship] but fades badly after 45 mins
Never going to hold on to him if we never got promotion but i am not sure he is going right to the top like i knew Bradley was

 

[SF_]

Maghoma just put a dear John letter out and said his Goodbyes......Decent player [Championship] but fades badly after 45 mins
Never going to hold on to him if we never got promotion but i am not sure he is going right to the top like i knew Bradley was

Looks like he'll miss all of pre-season anyway with that injury won't he? Leg brace and crutches... I'd have been happy to loan him here if he was fit, some competition for Frokjaer.

 

[masi51]

Looks like he'll miss all of pre-season anyway with that injury won't he? Leg brace and crutches... I'd have been happy to loan him here if he was fit, some competition for Frokjaer.

Brilliant for 30 mins in the first half then fades...Dont know if it is fitness or another factor
Can see him rocking up at a Luton or Watford

 

[SF_]

Brilliant for 30 mins in the first half then fades...Dont know if it is fitness or another factor
Can see him rocking up at a Luton or Watford

Yeah. Just seen he's 23, guessing Brentford will be looking to offload him permanently

 

[dan_wrexhamafc]

Another decent signing for Rotherham, Joe Rafferty. Looking strong.

 

[Millerbri]

Not heard the McWilliams one up this end, most of the speculation is that it's George Byers.

You were spot on Shaun Mc Williams just announced on the RUFC official FB page.

What can we expect, I'd like him to be as good as Matt Crooks but I can't believe we could be so lucky.

 

[EricSabin]

As first broken by me in an EXCLUSIVE Shaun McWilliams has indeed signed for Rotherham on a 2 year deal

You were spot on Shaun Mc Williams just announced on the RUFC official FB page.

What can we expect, I'd like him to be as good as Matt Crooks but I can't believe we could be so lucky.

Very sad to see him go, 10 years at the club since he signed when he was 15, 229 games, proper homegrown player in an age where we haven’t had many. He’s definitely an Evans type player, good physicality and gets around the pitch well and loves a tackle. Slightly suspect on the ball but if his role is midfield destroyer he’ll be absolutely fine. A good signing all in all and as I said someone Evans has chased for a while. Wish him all the best.

 

[EricSabin]

I enjoyed our ITK’s clue though

‘The big fat bastard has got his man’

Straight away everyone clocked Evans had signed McWilliams

 

[LordJord]

You were spot on Shaun Mc Williams just announced on the RUFC official FB page.

What can we expect, I'd like him to be as good as Matt Crooks but I can't believe we could be so lucky.

Adding to what Eric has already written, agree with that summary!

Not comparable in playing style at all to Crooks who was far more effective at the top end of the pitch. Crooks had a languid lazy style but there was no doubting his footballing ability. McWilliams I probably rate him slighly lower than others amongst our fanbase but hes come through our youth set up so a bit of bias is understandable.

He is an athletic midfielder, can play as a holding midfielder but not one that can dictate play as he is not good enough on the ball for that. Would often pass it sideways or back to the CB's. I think he is most effective as a CM that is allowed to get about the pitch, his athleticism allows him to make a ton of interceptions and tackles which he is fantastic at doing.

When he was deeper he would often pick up positions whereby he was wanting the ball... but not really wanting it if that makes sense. Benefitted massively from playing alongside Marc Leonard who would dictate play and McWilliams could just try and break it up and give it to him. He started to struggle with injury problems the last few seasons. Would pick up issues that would keep him out for quite a few weeks at a time, which would definitely be a concern.

Hes been great for us though, no hard feelings at all seeing a local lad play over 200 games for the club and earn himself a move to a side pushing for the championship. We know Evans wanted him in the past so its no surprise to see it happen now.

Do I think he is top end L1 quality? No. I think his ability on the ball means mid table L1 is his limit. But at the same time, in a Steve Evans system whereby he breaks up play and gives it to the wide men or gets it forward quickly, could see him being effective.

 

[Millerbri]

Adding to what Eric has already written, agree with that summary!

Not comparable in playing style at all to Crooks who was far more effective at the top end of the pitch. Crooks had a languid lazy style but there was no doubting his footballing ability. McWilliams I probably rate him slighly lower than others amongst our fanbase but hes come through our youth set up so a bit of bias is understandable.

He is an athletic midfielder, can play as a holding midfielder but not one that can dictate play as he is not good enough on the ball for that. Would often pass it sideways or back to the CB's. I think he is most effective as a CM that is allowed to get about the pitch, his athleticism allows him to make a ton of interceptions and tackles which he is fantastic at doing.

When he was deeper he would often pick up positions whereby he was wanting the ball... but not really wanting it if that makes sense. Benefitted massively from playing alongside Marc Leonard who would dictate play and McWilliams could just try and break it up and give it to him. He started to struggle with injury problems the last few seasons. Would pick up issues that would keep him out for quite a few weeks at a time, which would definitely be a concern.

Hes been great for us though, no hard feelings at all seeing a local lad play over 200 games for the club and earn himself a move to a side pushing for the championship. We know Evans wanted him in the past so its no surprise to see it happen now.

Do I think he is top end L1 quality? No. I think his ability on the ball means mid table L1 is his limit. But at the same time, in a Steve Evans system whereby he breaks up play and gives it to the wide men or gets it forward quickly, could see him being effective.

Sounds like a replacement for Jamie Lindsay, Wrexham were after him in Jan but it didn't go through.

 

[Conker]

This is all very Steve Evans, offer so much money in wages to get his business done nice and early, within a month he’ll have assembled a massive squad asking the Rotherham chairman to be ambitious and fund another 10.

 

[LordJord]

Suggestions we are getting close ish on signing Dan Kemp. Seems to be great at places that are not MK Dons which is understandable.

 

[Claret Forever]

McWilliams has very obvious holes in his game where his not up to League 1 standard, particularly in terms of passing and decisions around keeping the ball, shooting from anywhere... but he makes up with it with the bit's he strong at, particularly slide tackling, work rate, and winning the ball. I think he'd actually really suit a Steve Evans type gameplan because it would play very well to his stengths and make him a better player than the sum of his parts.

 

[SVH]

We are being linked with Zac Ashworth who was on loan at Bolton last season. We are in the market for a left back and will probably be able to offer him more first team football over Bolton who seem to have plenty of them.

 

[masi51]

We are being linked with Zac Ashworth who was on loan at Bolton last season. We are in the market for a left back and will probably be able to offer him more first team football over Bolton who seem to have plenty of them.

As are we, i hope you win the race he is decent but like you say we have more than enough in that position
Same with ogberta hope he gets fixed up soon but again not with us

 

[Millerbri]

This is all very Steve Evans, offer so much money in wages to get his business done nice and early, within a month he’ll have assembled a massive squad asking the Rotherham chairman to be ambitious and fund another 10.

Last time he was manager here, from memory, he allegedly signed 87 players in three and a half years.

Some of those were crap and lasted a few months, assessed and were quickly moved on.
Some were decent players and helped us attaining back to back promotions.

He brought in some brilliant players like Lee Frecklington, Kari Arnason, Michael O'connor, Craig Morgan, Ben Pringle, Wes Morgan, Ritchie Smallwood, Kieren Agar, James Tavernier etc etc.

In the end it wasn't sustainable and the Chairman decided it was time to part ways and go a different route.
That worked out so well with Neil Redfearn that we had to pay Neil Warnock a fortune to rescue us from relegation.

When Warnock predictably decided to move on, the Chairman picked Alan Stubbs who was a disaster, followed by Kenny Jackett who took a look at the squad and left after about 6 weeks, another disaster.

In desperation the Chairmen gave the job to Paul Warne and finally dropped lucky.
Warne didn't just create a winning team and an immediate promotion
he actually created a club culture. Yes he couldn't keep us winning in the Championship but because of the culture, we bounced back twice.

When he left for Derby, the Chairman had to pick a new manager again'
He picked Matt Taylor who did keep us up but largely because of the points we had on the board before Warne departed.

Taylor then bought some better players with really good Championship pedigrees. The trouble was, they were the wrong side of 30 and were always injured.
Worse than that, he lost the culture, the respect for the badge, he has sent us back to pre-Warne days.

So Taylor goes and Leam Richardson comes in when it's too late and practically impossible to survive (unless you are Neil Warnock).

We didn't bother trying in the January window so Richardson had no chance.

He was a nice bloke but so boring with his coach speak, he couldn't inspire the fans to give a flluck anymore, so God help what the players thought.

So the Chairman bit the bullet, and went back to what he knows.
It's probably going to cost him a small fortune but he thinks it's worth it.
He has said in the local press that he had lost all motivation and was ready to sell up in January, now he's got his mojo back and enjoying it again.

Steve Evans is a very divisive character even among our fanbase, a couple who sit behind me will probably not renew their tickets and I'm sure there will be others that stay away.
Winning matches will change that no doubt, football fans are a fickle breed.

Personally, I like his style of football, players scrap for every ball, he always looks to attack, get the ball forward quickly, pressure the opposition and try to win.
I know it's not pretty passing patterns around the back and midfield that certain people like but it's all action and usually exciting, I like that.

He has a lot to do to get us into the position of being a promotion winning team but he had a lot to do when he first rocked up at the Don Valley Stadium all those years ago.

If anyone can do it SE can, he's signed 3 players before the cup final is played and got the excitement back into the club. He might be a Twwat, but he's our Twaat.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Can't see Evans signing 87 players again though tbf. The emergency loan market that he benefited heavily from back in the day was scrapped in 2016.

 

[Luke Imp]

Evans loves an older pro as well, no long term thinking when he's around!

 

[Luke Imp]

This is all very Steve Evans, offer so much money in wages to get his business done nice and early, within a month he’ll have assembled a massive squad asking the Rotherham chairman to be ambitious and fund another 10.

Rumour has it he has access to David Holdsworth's little black book of players.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Apparently close to signing Joe Whitworth from Crystal Palace on loan.

Remember watching Brighton vs Crystal Palace on TNT last year and the commentators talking about him being the youngest ever keeper to play in the Premier League. This would suggest Marosi is off but on paper I would be happy if this is his replacement.

 

[ForzaCounty]

This is all very Steve Evans, offer so much money in wages to get his business done nice and early, within a month he’ll have assembled a massive squad asking the Rotherham chairman to be ambitious and fund another 10.

It's only truly Evans territory if they're getting paid most of it under the table

 

[Millerbri]

It's only truly Evans territory if they're getting paid most of it under the table

Its over twenty years ago but is always fresh in football fans minds.
When he was first announced all those years ago in 2012 I was devastated he was going to be our manager.

I thought Tony Stewart was off his rocker and so did most other Rotherham fans and there was a fair bit of outrage with many fans saying they would stop going to games.

TBF to TS he called a public meeting and asked fans to attend and meet the new manager.
It must have been a daunting experience but SE addressed the meeting, fronted up and answered any questions asked.

I don't know him personally but have spoken to him an a few occasions and he is polite, respectful and knowledgeable.

Like I've said before he did the crime, served his time and paid the fine.

I suspect he learned his lesson and though it's reprehensible what he did (especially if you're a Daggers fan) everybody deserves a second chance in my book.

Tony Stewart is as straight as a die, keeps us in the black and runs a football club way better than 95% of clubs.
Even if he wanted to, he would not get away with dodgy dealing here.

 

[Casey]

With Evans, before Rovrum there was Crawley. Match made in hell. We were up diarrhoea river using our tongues as paddles when he rolled in . Settled it down, took the knocks and dabbled in the freebie zone and did really well. I still say his best achievement was finishing 8th in the conference with the side he had at the time. Then, when Bruce Winfield emptied his bank account for him he brought in some great players. A mixture of old and young. Smashed his way out of the conference and was going great guns until the January when his strike force was sold out from under him. That's when he upped sticks for the North.

He did some horrible things but he is a wholehearted man and whenever he comes back we give him friendly grief but he is always welcome.

Casey

 

[Conker]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1792925849013907640

Feel like this one makes sense for neither Mansfield or Lincoln, could be agent talk to help get a deal with a L2 side like County.

 

[thewwfc]

The Gas, us, and seemingly a bunch of others are sniffing around current Sheff Utd CB Miguel Freckleton.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/exclusive-bristol-rovers-keen-bring-9297172

 

[Richard Cranium]

Keanu Baccus. Played for St Mirren, and an Aussie international

 

[Richard Cranium]

.

 

[Richard Cranium]

With Evans, before Rovrum there was Crawley. Match made in hell. We were up diarrhoea river using our tongues as paddles when he rolled in . Settled it down, took the knocks and dabbled in the freebie zone and did really well. I still say his best achievement was finishing 8th in the conference with the side he had at the time. Then, when Bruce Winfield emptied his bank account for him he brought in some great players. A mixture of old and young. Smashed his way out of the conference and was going great guns until the January when his strike force was sold out from under him. That's when he upped sticks for the North.

He did some horrible things but he is a wholehearted man and whenever he comes back we give him friendly grief but he is always welcome.

Casey

Same can’t be said when he comes back here. Even tried to get in the camera gantry above our ‘4th’ stand last time but wasn’t allowed so sat in the directors box.

Wouldn’t have fit through the access hole in the stand roof and that’s even if the ladder took his weight. Cnut

 

[Hudders]

Main rumours for ourselves so far are Jordan Williams from Barnsley who is out of contract.
Also apparently ourselves and Stoke are in for Jay Rodriguez, location, length of contract and links with Duff mean we might have a chance.