The Millers Set for Challenging Season According to Bookmakers

Rotherham United are less than two weeks away from the new season, but mid-table obscurity looks like it could be on the cards again for Matt Hamshaw’s side. Last season’s 13th-place finish gave the team a comfortable cushion against the drop, but there was also a gap to the play-off places that fans will hope to cut this season.

Rotherham kick off their season at home on August 2nd against League One new boys Port Vale, who finished second behind Doncaster to earn promotion last season. 

What the Experts Think

Bookmakers have already put some big names as the favourites to win League One this season, with Luton, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Huddersfield, and Bolton all expected to do well, with prices varying from 7/2 to 10/1 according to new online betting sites. Rotherham’s odds reflect last season’s finish, and the club is priced at between 18/1 and 33/1 to pull off a shock.

One of the other betting markets that might suit Millers fans is the top Yorkshire team in League One this season, with Rotherham priced at 6/1, with Barnsley behind the favourite Huddersfield.

While the Championship is widely regarded as one of the most competitive leagues in the world, League One is getting a similar reputation, with massive clubs that were in the Premier League just a few years ago dropping down. 

Last season’s League One winners, Birmingham City, are now the 15/2 third favourite to win the Championship and progress to the Premier League, indicating just how competitive the league is.

Pre-Season

Rotherham’s pre-season got off to a solid start with a 3-0 away victory at Parkgate on July 4th, flowing this up with a 2-1 win away at Bromley on the 11th and a 3-0 win away to Harrogate on the 15th. A 5-0 home defeat against Sheffield United on the 19th was not the ideal preparation, but there were some positives to take.

Sheffield United is a top team that was unlucky not to be promoted to the Premier League last season, and while the result might not be what Millers fans wanted, the team got valuable minutes under their belt against a good team. Just over 6,000 were at the game at the New York stadium, and the team finishes its pre-season with a match against Accrington Stanley.

Signings

Matt Hamshaw began his coaching career at Rotherham in 2012 before moving to Derby County in 2022 as first-team coach. He briefly took over as interim manager before returning to Rotherham in March of this year to take over as manager until the end of the season after Steve Evans was sacked. In April, he was given the job permanently after signing a three-year deal.

To date, he has only managed 8 games for Rotherham, winning four and drawing 2, and this will be his first full season in charge. While Hamshaw expects more new faces through the door before the season starts, he has already brought in 5 new players, all 25 and under.

Daniel Gore returns on loan from Manchester United after a successful spell last season. The 20-year-old central midfielder made 29 appearances for Rotherham last season, scoring 2 goals and 6 assists. Gore will be joined in midfield by 24-year-old Kian Spence, who joins on a free transfer from Barrow, and 25-year-old Dru Yearwood, who was unattached.

Spence started his career with Middlesbrough’s youth teams before playing 67 games for Halifax, before moving to Barrow, where he scored 14 goals and got 7 assists in 85 appearances.

Yearwood has had spells in  England and the US, playing for Southend more than 60 times, as well as making 28 appearances for Nashville, and 99 for New York Red Bulls. The midfielder began his career at Arsenal before moving on to Southend and enjoying a brief stint at Brentford. He moved to the US in 2020 before returning to sign for Rotherham this Summer.

24-year-old goalkeeper Ted Cann joins free transfer from West Brom, while 20-year-old centre back Lenny Agbaire joins on a 3-year deal from Celtic for an undisclosed fee.

Conclusion

Rotherham’s additions before the start of the season will have a bearing on their chances this season. Expert bookmakers are not completely writing the team off, and a strong start could see their odds slashed. 

The Millers will have a tough time competing against the money that teams like Luton will be able to generate, but fans will be hopeful that their new manager will hit the ground running.

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