Attitude over arrogance as we bring in right kind of players ... the David Rawson Rotherham United Fan Column

It feels nice to say that. It's been a long time since I could.

I've no idea if the players we've signed are any good, but I like that we’ve signed some players.

And I like the first impressions they've made.

I like that they know the league.

I like that they seem okay with being fourth-division footballers, at least for now.

We've had too many players of late who’ve given the impression of temporarily loaning themselves to us, a necessary inconvenience for them, before they float away again, out of our orbit. They've shown flashes of brilliance, but have gone missing spectacularly as soon as the going got tough. We need to move away from that.

I like that most of them have had some time in non-league. They've seen that a career in EFL football isn't a given. They've had to build again from dashed hopes and disappointments.

This matters.

They're playing in front of people who, no matter how old or jaded or cynical they are, still give meaning to the wearing of that shirt on that pitch. They're literally living out our dream before our eyes.

You have to care about that, understand that, embrace that to succeed with us. At times, it's felt like our team has played with a sneer of contempt for us, laughing at us for being stuck with this club that they're too good for.

The new arrivals at least seem to get it, which will help.

There's a Jack-Holmes-like quality about them.

As a footballer, Holmes’ limitations were obvious. But also obvious was his enthusiasm for playing, his delight at being a league footballer, his sense that playing for us was an achievement, something to be proud of.

Surrounded by teammates who seemed indifferent, if not vaguely embarrassed to have our badge on their chest, he stood out.

Eleven Jack Holmeses would not have won promotion. 11 Jack Holmeses would very likely have got relegated. But 11Jack Holmeses would have the crowd behind them come what may, because in truth we can accept failure, so long as it's honest.

It felt like that honesty, that authenticity, joined us this week.

These players aren't looking beyond where they are. And they aren't dismissive, either. They’re looking forward to it, enthusiastic about it. It makes a change.

We need it. We need a squad all in on the here-and-now challenge. Last year's mix was toxic: players who were getting what they needed personally however the team did and so didn't care, players who were here because we were their last of all last resorts, and players who we'd promised something that we couldn't deliver.

We need more - plenty more - to be competitive.

But we've made a start.

And that's something positive, at last.