Rotherham United must have Matt Hamshaw blueprint in mind amid transfer focus | OneFootball

Rotherham fans will be hoping for a busy but targeted summer with transfers

With a new manager, comes a new style of play for Rotherham United. Matt Hamshaw has adapted a style previously used, successfully, by Paul Warne in his time with the Millers.

Hamshaw is partial to a 3-5-2 formation, an aggressive, front-footed approach focused on balls into the box and set plays. And with this style comes players specific to their given roles.

The previous transfer window was a tough one for Steve Evans to contend with. He was left with a thin squad and, as a result, had a huge task of bringing in players to fill up the 25-man roster. 11 players were released at the end of their current contracts with the Millers.

Due to this, the approach was incredibly “scatter gun” from Evans and Head of Recruitment Rob Scott.

11 players were brought in for Evans and, ultimately, he could not find the right formula to push forward towards the playoffs. These 11 players were brought in to replace those who had departed the club under Taylor and then Richardson’s reign.

Consequently, this didn't happen for Evans. The men brought in couldn’t adhere to the roles for which Evans needed them to provide – partly causing the poor season that Rotherham have endured this season.

Hamshaw’s task along with Scott should be to ensure they structure their transfer strategy to suit players in Hamshaw’s system. The need for athletic wide players, a strong back line and creative midfielders is essential on this list of transfer targets.

Players already suited to the Rotherham system

Hamshaw has a squad of 12 to work with before the transfer business begins, and as there are few squad members, it is key to identify which players already fit the mould of a Hamshaw team.

The first name on the team sheet for Hamshaw will, of course, be the spearhead of Rotherham in Sam Nombe. A quintessential Rotherham player – direct, aggressive, quick, strong and energetic are all aspects of what a Millers fan looks for in a striker. With 20 G/A in all competitions in a below-par season, there is only more to come from the Millers’ number eight.

A second essential is Joe Powell – a midfield maestro with a wonderful work ethic and as much technical ability as defensive awareness. He is the essence for what Hamshaw is looking for in a midfield man. All action, versatile and tenacious with a wicked crossing ability.

Powell racked up the most big chances created in the league with 21 whilst simultaneously achieving 102 chances created throughout the season, which made him the top assister at the club.

Again, a player with a lot more potential will be looking to increase his output this season with a lot more assists to come.

Other names to be sure to be on the team sheet are goalkeeper Cameron Dawson and centre-half Zak Jules. Dawson solidified his place in the side after his stellar performance against Bolton Wanderers, proving his ability as a good League One goalkeeper.

Whilst Jules provided the pace and physicality that is necessary to perform on the left side of the back three.

Composed, aggressive and progressive on the ball are all aspects that scream a quality centre back in a back three.

Of those also at the squad – Shaun McWilliams is a box-to-box bulldozer of a footballer who ticks certain boxes but not all as his technical ability lacks in the creative department and his goalscoring knack is left to be desired.

Sean Raggett embodies the brutish centre-half that will solidify the back line and attack balls in the opposition box, but his lack of fitness would be a major concern for Hamshaw as he will look to replace Raggett with a player more reliable at the back.

Of the others, Liam Kelly, Joe Rafferty, Reece James, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jordan Hugill and Jack Holmes are all useful players to be brought into the squad, but are tough to find a direct place within the squad due to not fitting the roles specified for a Hamshaw system.

Rotherham’s summer recruitment strategy

Consequently, with the players available to Hamshaw, himself and Scott should be looking for anywhere between eight first-team players and another three to four to bulk the squad, ultimately an 11-to-12-person transfer window with loans included.

Athletic wing-backs are a must for Hamshaw to enable his system of balls into the box is a priority and this is something Rotherham have lacked in his eight games in charge.

An aggressive, tall centre-half to combat physical strikers whilst attacking balls into the box and an athletic right centre-half beside them and Jules is next on the list as Rotherham have faltered defensively with balls into the box.

A holding midfielder alongside a box-to-box midfielder to facilitate Powell’s creative spark and a striker to partner Nombe’s style should finish off the recruitment for Scott and Hamshaw.

Hakeem Odoffin and Cameron Humphreys are two players who Hamshaw has offered deals to that would fit the style that he is looking for. Odoffin would fit perfectly as another athletic centre-half with Humphreys filling in as a holding midfielder or a centre-half in the back three. Whether either player takes the deal is yet to be seen.

Rotherham fans will be hoping for a busy, but well-thought-out summer – the hope is that these players gel well enough to attack the play-offs next season.