Steve Evans talks to www.themillers.co.uk in his Gaffer on a Sunday feature...
There was no resting on the Millers 4 - 0 thrashing over Bradford City for manager Steve Evans as he arrived at the training ground early this morning to start the preparations for Tuesday night's JPT match with York City.
As we continue with our exclusive 'Gaffer on a Sunday' feature, the official website, www.themillers.co.uk, again asked a number of key questions.
What are your thoughts this morning on yesterday's 4 - 0 thrashing of Bradford City?
First let me say it was a great result and we got that because the lads delivered a fantastic performance.
However, I would not go as far as saying it was a thrashing. Bradford City have got some outstanding players and I really do believe they will challenge for automatic promotion but not many teams will cope with us when we play like we did yesterday.
We got the perfect start with Michael O' Connor scoring a great goal inside a minute but it was our passing and movement coupled with our energy levels that pleased me the most. We scored four times and we all know it could have been much more than that.
We have to continue to work at improving and I really do believe there is much more to come from this squad of players. Some may forget that this is a new team we have put together and it will take time and a lot of work to get them playing as we want them to. Yesterday we had eight players starting the match who only joined us in July but the signs are very encouraging at such an early part of the season.
Yesterday we had a very strong bench with the likes of Ainsworth, Mullins, Taylor, Revell and Agard amongst the substitutes but you have stated you want to add to the squad?
If we are going to be successful then the reality is we will need a strong squad. We need to ensure we have a real competition for a place in the starting XI and when we have everyone fit it should be the same for a place on the bench.
Transfer deadline day proved to be stressful but despite being so very near to signing a couple of new players we ended the day as we started. However, I am very hopeful that by Monday night we will have a player in. The lad concerned watched our match yesterday and let us see how we get on with him today and tomorrow.
I am hopeful we can get a quality striker on loan but I know who I want from a list of three so we are not just going to go and sign anyone. I will say again whoever we sign they have to be adding something to what we already have within the group.
It was also important that we did not sell any players and the Chairman was true to what he assured me prior to joining that I would not have my best players sold from under me. We had offers for four of our players and every time he just said if you want those lads here Steve turn them all down, I did.
Millers supporters seem to be really loving the New York Stadium, another attendance of over 11,000 yesterday, your thoughts?
I said when I joined Rotherham United the support here was a major reason I came and they have been incredible both home and away. The noise they create at the New York Stadium is incredible and the supporters are more than playing their part, we just need to make sure we give them the type of performances that will see them continue to turn up in huge numbers.
The players are really enjoying playing here and believe me that is essential. We encourage our players and staff smiling, we want everyone of them coming to work every day wanting to improve.
On Tuesday we host York City in the JP Trophy, can we expect you to make many changes to the team for this match?
The first thing we will need to check is that everyone has come through yesterday with no knocks.
We also know that Kari Arnason is away on International duty, he really is a top player, so he will be missing. I would think as I sit here this morning I would be looking at four or five changes to the starting XI but those lads coming in are experienced first team players who might in fact play at Port Vale too.
The lads will all want to play and there is a great enthusiasm to work hard in our camp so I will talk to my staff and take my time before I decide on who will start the match.
Finally for now, a great win and performance yesterday, how would you describe the start to the new season?
I would say we have made a steady start results wise but an excellent start performance wise. We will continue to work hard on the training ground, these lads are still learning how to play with each other.
Training here is very competitive and we have a lot of lads who came here to be part of something very special. Rotherham United has a fantastic stadium, incredible supporters and a Chairman who gives us all a chance plus we have a super squad of players, the ingredients are in place and now we need to make the cake!