‘He’s almost a luxury player’ - Insider's Rotherham United verdict on reported Portsmouth, Charlton Athletic and Bolton Wanderers target ahead of January window

Pompey have recently been linked with a move for Rotherham United winger Kieran Sadlier in the January window.
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We spoke to New York Talk podcast presenter, Matthew Lax, who gave us an insight into the Rotherham winger who has also been linked with a move to Charlton and Bolton next month. Here's what he had to say:

‘He’s pretty versatile to be fair to him. When we signed Kieran Sadlier in the Championship we were basically playing 4-4-2 and we signed him as a right winger and he did alright.

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Paul Warne then changed to a 3-5-2 and then he didn't fit it. He’s not a wing-back so couldn’t play there and we had a very solid central midfield three so he was only left playing in the number 10 role behind the two attackers.

‘The right is his natural position and he’s definitely a right footer.

‘Technically he’s one of the best players we’ve got; he’s got everything with both feet, his set-piece ability is fantastic and if you put him on the left he would definitely be able to do a job.

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‘He wouldn't be able to fit in as a left wing back, he’s just too attacking, he’s definitely a winger because he hasn’t got that defensive mindset.

Kieran Sadlier has failed to impress at Rotherham and has been linked with a move to League One rivals in January.Kieran Sadlier has failed to impress at Rotherham and has been linked with a move to League One rivals in January.
Kieran Sadlier has failed to impress at Rotherham and has been linked with a move to League One rivals in January.

‘When he’s playing wing-back he’s constantly trying to pass his man that he’s supposed to be marking onto somebody else.

‘He’s definitely a winger because he hasn’t got that defensive mind in his head.

‘It’s a tough one with Sadlier because he’s a nice guy and technically a very very good player, but he’s missing a lot to his game.

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‘He basically has zero pace, when he loses the ball there is minimal effort to win it back and that is the problem if he would play in a wing-back because he doesn’t have that drive to get back to being defensive.

‘Could he be a long-term replacement for Curtis or Harness? No I’m not sure, I don’t think he’s the right man to do that.

‘He definitely doesn’t bring much defensive quality and that's why I think a more basic 4-4-2 would suit him, because he has a full-back to support him.

‘He’s almost a luxury player. You need somebody else with him to counteract what he doesn’t bring you but there’s that odd occasion that he can bring a lot to the team.’

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