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Keith Hill - The Good Times
at 20:26 4 Mar 2019

So he’s gone. Regardless if you think it’s the right decision or not, he leaves as without doubt the most successful manager in the club’s history.

I thought I’d start a thread for people to share their top 3’s of his tenure — Players, Games & Goals. For me…

PLAYERS:
1- Craig Dawson — Probably the best player we’ve ever had.
2- Scott Hogan — In my opinion the pick of the strikers that went on to better things. Exciting to watch and by far the most profitable.
3- Ian Henderson — Consistently brilliant for us - and will hopefully finish his career with us as the all-time top scorer.
GAMES:
1- Dale 2 Spurs 2 — Fantastic game, brilliant drama, late goal and we actually put in a great performance when the world was watching.
2- Dale 2 Darlo 1 — What’s not to love about winning our first ever playoff match on penalties?
3- Dale 2 Leeds 0 — A well deserved win against former European cup winners in front of a full Spotland. Two great goals to boot!
GOALS:
1- Steven Davies v Spurs — Justice, Lateness, Cup Magic, Spotland Erupting into pandemonium.
2- Perkins v Darlington — A great goal (even if it was deflected), incredibly important and saved our playoffs.
3- Thompson v Charlton — The story of Joe, keeping us up on the last day — just wow.

10 years is such a long time, and I’m sure we’ll all be talking for the rest of our lives about the players and moments on this thread.

Thank you for the memories Keith.
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The Season So Far
at 20:54 29 Sep 2018

So with 10 games gone, I think it’s fair to say we have a decent idea of what end of the table we’ll be competing at come May. I think we’ll have enough to stay up, but only just.

We are leaking goals at the moment, from all areas. We haven’t been able to defend crosses for years, so no change there. None of the options at full-back look particularly solid, and only Hart seems to know how to whip a good ball into the box. McGahey aside the centre halves are poor on and off the ball.

Perkins return has been an anticlimax, and camps continues to get worse with every game. Rathbone is improving, and Cannon always impresses me when he’s on the pitch with hard work and attacking intent.

Take Henderson out of the team and our striking options are the worst they have been in 20 years. It’s just a good job Henderson is so bloody good - god forbid he gets injured!

Whilst we have added to the squad in summer, for me we’ve not brought in a single player who actually makes us stronger. Now we have a squad of about 18 similar players, arguably the only two who we look weaker without are Henderson and McGahey. The rest sort of fill in the gaps, with adequate cover for all.

I think that’s why Hill is struggling to pick a consistent team, they’re all just much of a muchness.
[Post edited 29 Sep 2018 20:56]
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Bad Management and Lack of Professionalism - 2017/18
at 18:33 28 Apr 2018

Thread title is the story of our season, and the reason (despite us having a strong enough team for a mid-table finish) we will be relegated.

Baffling team selections, tactics and substitutions have been abundant throughout the season — but have come to their crescendo in the last few weeks. Can someone explain, in the most important matches of the season over the past two weeks, how Joe Thompson and Matthew Gillam have been given so much game time?

We’ve desperately needed (what should have been achievable) wins over the past 4 games, so why have we played them ALL without a striker?

We haven’t been able to hold onto a 1 goal lead all season, so why aren’t we carrying on taking the game to the opposition in search of that second goal?

The players have got a lot to answer for. Ian Henderson being sent off v Peterborough is criminal at such an important stage of the season, but there are so many examples of players making poor decisions / mistakes that have cost us points in this run in (Done v Pompey, Lillis v Bradford, Camps today).

I still believe Keith Hill is the man for the job, but this season has eroded a LOT of his goodwill. It seems to me something has changed in his mentality, and it’s playing out in the way he interviews, and the way his team is performing. Let’s hope a relegation will give him the kick up the backside he needs, and revert back to what we know is a winning formula — Disciplined, physically fit players who play positive attacking football.
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The Whole Squad - Good Enough?
at 13:29 15 Feb 2018

Instead of focusing on an individual, I’d be interested in people’s opinions on the entire squad (excluding loan signings and coaches such as BBM). In my opinion we have 7 players who I would consider ‘Good Enough’ to be regular League One starters. Forget ‘individual mistakes’, the pitch, postponements or any other excuse, the lack of quality in the team is the reason IMHO why we are bottom of the league.

Josh Lillis - Good Enough
Joseph Rafferty - Good Enough
Harrison McGahey - Good Enough
Callum Camps - Good Enough
Matt Done - Good Enough
Andrew Cannon - Good Enough
Ian Henderson - Good Enough
Kgosietsile Ntlhe - Squad Player
Jimmy McNulty - Squad Player
Niall Canavan - Squad Player
Calvin Andrew - Squad Player
Scott Wiseman - Squad Player
Oliver Rathbone - Squad Player
Keith Keane - Squad Player
Brendan Moore - Squad Player
Mark Kitching - Squad Player
Reece Brown - Not Good Enough
Jordan Williams - Not Good Enough
Joseph Thompson - Not Good Enough
Steve Davies - Not Good Enough (Can’t stay fit)
Ryan Delaney - TBC
Daniel Adshead - TBC
Aaron Morley - TBC
Matthew Gillam - TBC
Bradley Wade - TBC
Isaac Ward - TBC
Keith Kearney - TBC
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Scottish Challenge Cup
at 21:17 12 Nov 2017

Semi finals to be contested by TNS (Welsh), Crusaders (Northern Irish), Dumbarton and Cally Thistle.

Got me thinking, would be great if the Checkatrade was sacked off in favour of a "British Cup". If it kept the FA happy could still include the u20 sides, chance for the fans to travel to watch their club, no doubt more marketable to TV companies.

Thoughts?
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Transfer Window Summary
at 08:24 1 Sep 2017

With the window now shut we have a chance to sit back and assess our squad for the next few months at least.

For me the biggest damage was done right at the end of last season. Losing Lund and Mendez-Laing was massive and left us with a gaping hole in front of the already shaky back 4, and our quickest and most creative attacking player. Hopefully the signings of Done and (scouse) Williams will go a long way towards replacing these two.

Elsewhere, maintaining Rafferty, and signing Camps up to longer term contracts was great business by the club. Both consistent and effective players (if played in their correct positions).

Jury still very much out on other players, although I’m really unconvinced by Brown, William’s cameo last week was promising as he worked hard and wasn’t afraid to attack.

Losing Allen right at the end of the window for me is good business for all parties. Hopefully a good bit of cash for a player who, for me, wouldn’t be in the starting XI if all were fit and well.

Overall, losing quality players is inevitable, and I’m happy with the players we’ve recurieted (and most importantly happy that Keith will get the best out of them).

Strongest XI for me over the coming months would be..

Lillis
Rafferty Keane McGahey Bunney
Williams
Camps Rathbone
Henderson Davies Done
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Signings and Selections
at 21:55 20 Aug 2016

For the first time in either of Keith's fantastic tenures of the club, his signings and team selection this season really have me scratching my head. There's always a couple of things that fans can't see that a manager does, but I can't see the justification behind so many decisions at the moment.

Noble-Lazarus. Released, re-signed, and not even seen the bench. One of the most bizarre moves ever, on a limited budget id be interested to know what this is for.

Joe Thompson. I could probably end the post here, but clearly not good enough. I'm almost starting to think there is some nepotism involved?

Jim McNulty. Consistently poor so far this season, and far from convincing last. Others have one poor game and are frozen out for months, yet Jim has played in every game since May 2015.

Ollie Rathbone. Played most pre-season games, and looked impressive, yet to feature this season despite a clear lack of creativity. An out-of-favour left back (Tanser) was even picked ahead of him midweek.

Callum Camps. The best outfield player we had last season, made only fleeting appearances so far, and again, dropped in favour of Tanser midweek.

Last minute goals, and some off form stars (Allen, Hendo, Donal) aren't helping our form, but things like that happen in football. For me there is no excuse for the things I've mentioned above.
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Just got back
at 19:18 10 Oct 2015

Bitterly disappointed, but there were some positives - so let's start with them.

Mendez-Liang was our best player today, worked hard and really ran at the Sheff Utd defence. Alessandra also looked decent, and his goal was well deserved (though the keeper should probably have done better).

On to the negatives.

Switching off. To concede within three and one minute of equalising is unacceptable. Both were the result of completely switching off, the corner that lead to the third goal was only the result of a last ditch challenge as they ran through our entire team from kick off.

The defence. Something is clearly going wrong here. Cannon was scapegoated and taken off by Hilly, but his replacement Rafferty was even worse at RB, at fault for their second goal and guilty of giving the ball away far too many times in good attacking positions. After a good performance midweek Ashley Eastham was dropped again and must be wondering what he has to do to get back in the team ahead of a substandard Oli Lancashire.

Set pieces. Where do I start? It's becoming a joke how embarrassingly poor we are at defending them. I listened to Radio Sheffield on the way home, and Nigel Adkins almost word for word said "we know they defend zonal from corners, and we knew we could exploit it". If every other team in the league can see it's not working (and take advantage of it), surely the management can see this too.

Josh Lillis. I've refrained from openly criticising Josh, but today I think I've finally cracked. He looks like a rabbit in the headlights from every cross (possibly to do with the above), and is costing us goals.

Played well enough today to get at least a point, but avoidable errors again mean we came away with nothing.
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Half Century
at 23:45 15 Aug 2015

According to Wikipedia (admittedly a pretty unreliable source), today was Craig Dawson's 50th premier league appearance for the Baggies. Will this involve some further payment to us? I seem to remember the original deal was stacked with clauses.
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World Cup Bid
at 08:51 3 Jun 2015

Perhaps we could team up and make a joint Rochdale / Macclesfield bid?

http://mobile.mtfc.co.uk//news/article/macclesfield-in-bid-to-host-2026-world-cu

Think Spotland is a nicer venue than Moss Rose, so let's give them the opening ceremony and we'll have the final.
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Brilliant Brilliant Season
at 17:15 25 Apr 2015

Ok, so it's finally over for us in terms of a playoff spot, but what a great season it's been. We have (at least) equalled our highest ever league position, reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, and scored a phenomenal amount of goals.

Sign a keeper, a centre half and a forward / left winger for next season and we have the chance to do even better.
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Imagine we went up
at 23:19 28 Mar 2015

That is all....




I'm still of the opinion that survival was the aim this season, and should still be applauded as an achievement.

However, we are in 6th, with 1/5th of the season to go, unbelievable.

If we go up I predict;

Brilliant away days
Marginally improved crowds
2,000 incredibly smug rochdalians
Relegation

Also, imagine what it would feel like to win at wembley.
[Post edited 28 Mar 2015 23:20]
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Square pegs in round holes
at 16:59 14 Mar 2015

Disappointed today. Unsure as to why Keith hill thinks the best way to chase a game is with 7 defenders on the pitch, when we have attacking options like Hery and Lazarus on the bench.

Decent first half but each substitution made us further from scoring and ended up going out with a whimper.
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Donnelly Watch
at 13:37 26 Sep 2014

Any news on how our old friend is doing over at Tranmere?

Whilst researching I found this article...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14402783

And noticed the following...

"Club director Tony Evans asked fans to vote on the social networking site between Fleetwood Town striker George Donnelly and Halifax Town forward Jamie Vardy ... After the fans had their say and chose Donnelly".

Proof (if it was ever needed) the Stockport County fans are completely clueless.
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Ross McCormack
at 10:37 8 Jul 2014

£11million to Fulham. Shows how ridiculous the parachute payments have got that a championship club can afford to pay that to another championship club.

Surely some of that will be earmarked for Leeds to go out and buy. Did Lund and Hogan catch anyone's eye in the FA cup game last season? Both were brilliant on the day.
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Graham Cummins Betting Scandal
at 17:01 12 Apr 2014

I think I've worked it out. Backs himself not to score and plays shite every week. Brings absolutely nothing to the team, cannot for the life of me understand why Keith Hill brought him on today.
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How many?
at 11:57 4 Mar 2014

Ok so what are the predictions for the amount of fans we'll take to gigg lane?

Do people think the attendance will be smaller due to it being on sky? Or will it be the opportunity for a people to get their faces on the telly?

Our home crowds have been disappointing this season, but surely the majority will be there tomorrow (plus a few of the usual gaggle of mongs we usually take to local away matches).

According to the OS our "total allocation" for the match is 1,400. Surely we can manage that? Would even hasten to say this may leave a couple of hundred stranded outside the ground?
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I was born in the sandy lane
at 21:19 18 Oct 2013

My dad used to sing this song (to the tune of wandering star by Lee Marvin) to me as a young lad, apparently they used to sing it at Spotland. Can anyone remember it?

I've never heard it sang at the ground and have been going for 20 years!
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