We started the season like a house on fire and within a few weeks we were top of the league and all hopes were high. We had picked up very impressive wins at Oxford, and Plymouth which got us going. We also did very well in the League Cup beating Huddersfield at the McAlpine stadium and this was followed up by the single greatest performance i have witnessed by Rochdale when we lost on penalties to Fulham. Continuous wins at home and quite a few away from home got us to the top and we then lost a couple of games which took us down places but we still looked pretty good. We have not actually been out of the top 7 all season.
Manager Steve Parkin, Assistant Tony Ford and our chief scout then left us just before we played Bristol Rovers away in early November and so we had caretaker boss, Dave Hamilton in charge for a few games and apart from a good victory at Bristol Rovers the spell/experiment with him in charge didnt prove successful and after a few weeks of waiting, John Hollins was appointed as manager with Hamilton as assistant. He got of to the worst possible start and we were calling for his head after a few games but he has since got it together and we have a lot more confidence in him.
The early games under Hollins left us in 5th/6th for a time and teams have caught us up but we have looked stable in recent weeks despite losses to Mansfield and Scunthorpe being the most recent ones.
Just after the department of Parkin and Ford came another big set back when star player Gary Jones had a bust up with Hamilton, saying he didnt want to play for the club any more and went and joined Parkin at Barnsley for £150,000. Prior to Hollins being appointed, the fans were getting very annoyed that no news was given about the new manager and who it would be. The early rumours that Hollins was arriving didnt please most fans and there was a little unrest.
After a few matches with Hollins in charge, a fans forum was called and Hollins addressed the fans and answered questions and since then we have been better, picking up vital points.
Kevin Townson has been Dales main threat all season and has scored 15 in all competitions (i think) and represented England U17's and U19's and really does have a big future in the game. Patrick McCourt has also been a fantastic asset who has also had International experience this season, playing a friendly for Northern Ireland and representing them in the U21's recently against Germany and he has been rumoured with Manchester Utd in recent weeks.
We have made quite a few transfers this season. The include:
Gareth Griffiths - Free Transfer from Wigan. Griff has been excellent while at the club, he is a very big, strong defender who is excellent in the air and most fans love him.
Richard Green - Free Transfer from Northampton. Richard has not played for the club due to an injury just after he signed and has been forced to retire from proffessional football. A real pity as he was very highly rated.
Matthew Doughty - Free Transfer from Chester. He is a young wide left player who can defend AND attack as a winger and has been excellent for the club. He is loved by most fans.
Keiron Durkan - Free Transfer from Macclesfield. He WAS highly rated but he has been a massive disappointment to Dale fans. He is a right winger by trade but cant cross, pass, run or finish. No Dale fan i know rates him.
Alan McLoughlin - Free Transfer, last club - Wigan. He was signed in an attempt to fill the gap left by Gary Jones but has not been as effective as was hoped. Does show signs of good passing abilities and is improving.
Lee McEvilly - £15,000 from Burscough. He is a massive lad who possesses great pace and strength. Not seen a lot of him but looks excellent.
Richard Jobson - Free Transfer from Tranmere. He has been another big influence this season and has looked more than competent on a number of occasions but his lack of pace has left him in bother on a couple of occasions.
We have had many loans this season as well, meaning we cant have another. Only 2 really stand out though. Marcus Hahnemann from Fulham became an instant hit with the fans, conceding just 4 goals in his 7 appearences. Steve Banks, on loan at the moment has also been brilliant for us. He got off to a shaky start, conceding 5 in his first 2 games but has played fantastic since then pulling off some stunning saves.
I think Saturday will be an excellent match, where the spoils could go either way very easlily with both of us fighting for a playoff spot to get us out of the division. I do however think that the spoils will go our way (Sorry) and i predict the score will be 2-1 to us.
We can still definately go up this season but it does however, look like it will have to be via the playoffs.
John Hollins can do it for us.
UP THE DALE.
www.rochdaleafc.com
Manager Steve Parkin, Assistant Tony Ford and our chief scout then left us just before we played Bristol Rovers away in early November and so we had caretaker boss, Dave Hamilton in charge for a few games and apart from a good victory at Bristol Rovers the spell/experiment with him in charge didnt prove successful and after a few weeks of waiting, John Hollins was appointed as manager with Hamilton as assistant. He got of to the worst possible start and we were calling for his head after a few games but he has since got it together and we have a lot more confidence in him.
The early games under Hollins left us in 5th/6th for a time and teams have caught us up but we have looked stable in recent weeks despite losses to Mansfield and Scunthorpe being the most recent ones.
Just after the department of Parkin and Ford came another big set back when star player Gary Jones had a bust up with Hamilton, saying he didnt want to play for the club any more and went and joined Parkin at Barnsley for £150,000. Prior to Hollins being appointed, the fans were getting very annoyed that no news was given about the new manager and who it would be. The early rumours that Hollins was arriving didnt please most fans and there was a little unrest.
After a few matches with Hollins in charge, a fans forum was called and Hollins addressed the fans and answered questions and since then we have been better, picking up vital points.
Kevin Townson has been Dales main threat all season and has scored 15 in all competitions (i think) and represented England U17's and U19's and really does have a big future in the game. Patrick McCourt has also been a fantastic asset who has also had International experience this season, playing a friendly for Northern Ireland and representing them in the U21's recently against Germany and he has been rumoured with Manchester Utd in recent weeks.
We have made quite a few transfers this season. The include:
Gareth Griffiths - Free Transfer from Wigan. Griff has been excellent while at the club, he is a very big, strong defender who is excellent in the air and most fans love him.
Richard Green - Free Transfer from Northampton. Richard has not played for the club due to an injury just after he signed and has been forced to retire from proffessional football. A real pity as he was very highly rated.
Matthew Doughty - Free Transfer from Chester. He is a young wide left player who can defend AND attack as a winger and has been excellent for the club. He is loved by most fans.
Keiron Durkan - Free Transfer from Macclesfield. He WAS highly rated but he has been a massive disappointment to Dale fans. He is a right winger by trade but cant cross, pass, run or finish. No Dale fan i know rates him.
Alan McLoughlin - Free Transfer, last club - Wigan. He was signed in an attempt to fill the gap left by Gary Jones but has not been as effective as was hoped. Does show signs of good passing abilities and is improving.
Lee McEvilly - £15,000 from Burscough. He is a massive lad who possesses great pace and strength. Not seen a lot of him but looks excellent.
Richard Jobson - Free Transfer from Tranmere. He has been another big influence this season and has looked more than competent on a number of occasions but his lack of pace has left him in bother on a couple of occasions.
We have had many loans this season as well, meaning we cant have another. Only 2 really stand out though. Marcus Hahnemann from Fulham became an instant hit with the fans, conceding just 4 goals in his 7 appearences. Steve Banks, on loan at the moment has also been brilliant for us. He got off to a shaky start, conceding 5 in his first 2 games but has played fantastic since then pulling off some stunning saves.
I think Saturday will be an excellent match, where the spoils could go either way very easlily with both of us fighting for a playoff spot to get us out of the division. I do however think that the spoils will go our way (Sorry) and i predict the score will be 2-1 to us.
We can still definately go up this season but it does however, look like it will have to be via the playoffs.
John Hollins can do it for us.
UP THE DALE.
www.rochdaleafc.com