Rotherham United are now seeing a return on their seven-figure investment | OneFootball

Sam Nombe is finding form at Rotherham, thriving in a new system. His work rate is key, but more goals are needed to justify his record signing.

Sam Nombe arrived at Rotherham United in the summer of 2023, shattering the previous transfer fee record paid by the Millers on Christ Tiehi only two weeks previous.

Being Rotherham’s first million-pound player, Nombe came with a lot of expectation. As a striker, Millers fans felt they were promised goals, goals that didn’t come.

In his first season with the Millers, he managed to find the back of the net three times, registering three assists along the way. For a huge signing, this was a disappointment.

Nombe works hard, has bags of energy and consistently provides the opposition defenders with a tough day in a sort of Jamie Vardy-esque approach to his play. However, what still lacked was the goals.

Fast-forward to February 2024 and the forward has notched six goals and registered fourassists in an impressive League One campaign whilst also creating the most ‘big chances’ for Rotherham this season with 10.

There is more work to do but the Millers are now seeing a return on their seven-figure investment.

The 2023/2024 season was nothing sort of disastrous for Rotherham and Nombe. Finishing on the lowest points seen in a Championship season on 27 with turmoil both on and off the pitch.

A drop in a division and a fresh start under Steve Evans was greatly welcomed by fans. Having previously scored 15 goals at this level with Exeter City in 2022/23 before his move to Rotherham, fans hoped to see the striker back to his best in the third tier.

Whether he's quite reached those heights yet is up for debate but the numbers suggest Nombe has found form in a newly built attack alongside Mallik Wilks since the New Year. An all-action forward, he has proven a formidable force against League One defenders in the league this season.

A change in Rotherham’s formation has allowed Sam Nombe to thrive

Previously in the season, Rotherham had operated with various formations. Nombe had operated on the left wing, in a position behind the two strikers and a partnership alongside Jonson Clarke-Harris. None of these seemed to work.

Coming in off the left, he was limited in his ability to get in behind and hurry defenders into making a mistake. Playing in behind two strikers proved ineffective as he lacked the technical ability to play between the lines and operate as a playmaker. Alongside Clarke-Harris proved to be less fruitful as the more direct approach taken to Clare-Harris’ target man strength rendered him passive within the phases of play.

In recent weeks, Rotherham have started to operate with a more energetic, high-pressing approach; adopting a more traditional 442 formation with the wingers tucking inside to overload the midfield areas.

This has allowed Rotherham to win the ball higher up the pitch and turnover the ball in higher areas to counter quicker, proving effective in recent weeks. In turn, this has led to an improvement in the form of Nombe and his strike partner Wilks, returning six goals and two assists in 25 games.

However, what Nombe doesn’t bring in G/A, he brings in an abundance of strengths to the team. This new style has allowed Nombe to flourish in an aggressive, dynamic position on the pitch, which has gained Rotherham traction in games they needed.

His recent performance against Birmingham typified his style - dynamic in his pressing, calm and useful in possession with an eye for goal as he notched a header from within the six-yard box to give Rotherham the lead. It was an all-round display from the combative forward.

Goals, goals and more goals. That is the only thing truly lacking from the seven-figure investment.

Although he sits at the top of Rotherham’s top scorers, for a player of his ability, he would be expected to have more.

His finishing is inconsistent at times. It can be good – look at his header against Birmingham or his curling finish against Cardiff. Or it can be poor – as his four big chances missed for Rotherham this season illustrate.

If Nombe manages to find consistency within the more consistent Millers, then he should be firing himself to the top scorer charts within the league. Being able to finish chances is the job of a striker.