LEAM RICHARDSON is relieved to finally be on the training pitch with his new Rotherham United players after a hectic 48-hour period. If Monday was all about seeing them quickly and chatting with the media about his job, Tuesday was all about learning firsthand how difficult it will be to lift the Millers off the bottom of the Championship table.
West Bromwich Albion came into the game fifth in the table, played far too passively in the first half as they dared an ineffective Rotherham to attack them, but had enough quality to respond well to manager Carlos Corberan’s scolding and glide to victory.
Grady Diangana and Jed Wallace scored in a 2-0 win, but Richardson will be most concerned by the fact that the Baggies scarcely had to shift out of second gear to up the intensity. So the chance to finally get on the training field with his players on Wednesday will be welcomed.
The Wednesday following a Tuesday night game is typically a day off for players, but Richardson knows there is no time to waste with the Millers only eight points away from safety.
“Aren’t we working every day at the moment?” So it’s critical that we’re there,” said the 44-year-old, who spent as much time talking to the media as he did with his players during his first two days at New York Stadium.
“Aren’t we working every day at the moment?” asked the 44-year-old, who spent as much time with the media as he did with his players during his first two days at New York Stadium.
Richardson has only been in place for “minutes,” according to him.
He didn’t pick the team for the West Brom game, but he did have an impact on the second-half changes as the coaching staff attempted to instill some urgency in the Millers.
“With the substitutions it’s always a collective with the information you’ve been given,” he went on to say.
“It is critical that you listen, not just talk, that you listen to opinions, and that you give everyone a fair account.”
“You can only applaud the effort and perseverance out there.” Can we improve in specific areas? We certainly can.”
When asked if the outcome demonstrated the magnitude of the challenge, Richardson replied, “We are where we are, we won’t look at the past, we’ll look at the future, and we’ll work every day tirelessly to be better individually and collectively.”
“You need transfer windows, you need to improve and educate every day – we’re not going to do it in minutes.”
“It’s going to take months and a couple of windows to ideally get where we want to be.”
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