Rochdale - hows THIS for ambition ?

[Easy 10]

Dale manager Keith Hill, team sitting 9th in the league, 6 points off the Playoffs with a game in hand:

"When you consider we're unbeaten since the turn of the year it does egg you on in respect of a play-off place but it's unrealistic. We're nowhere near safe yet and we've got to make sure we get the points that will enable us to be a League One side this time next season."

I'm all for tempering expectations and not getting carried away, but christ up a stick, if this is the mentality at that club then no WONDER they've spend their entire existance at the arse-end of the football league.

 

[crasher]

Dale manager Keith Hill, team sitting 9th in the league, 6 points off the Playoffs with a game in hand:

"When you consider we're unbeaten since the turn of the year it does egg you on in respect of a play-off place but it's unrealistic. We're nowhere near safe yet and we've got to make sure we get the points that will enable us to be a League One side this time next season."

I'm all for tempering expectations and not getting carried away, but christ up a stick, if this is the mentality at that club then no WONDER they've spend their entire existance at the arse-end of the football league.

Maybe he's just trying to keep his players focused though - it's easy to get carried away with a few good results so psychologically perhaps it makes sense? Seems to be a manager who generally knows what's he's doing.

 

[severnside gull]

hmmm. There's keeping focussed and then there is being plain bloody silly.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

What?!

Southampton talk about winning the league and they are arrogant tossers. Rochdale DON'T talk about it, and they lack ambition.

Brilliant.

(He's spot on, by the way. Rochdale for the play offs? Calm down, stay up first, that's the reality. Keep people grounded).

 

[Acker79]

Wasn't gus talking about a top ten finish back when we started our run to the top of the table, possibly even after we reached the top?

 

[sam86]

Oh Easy, stick to watching, don't ever become a manager

 

[Spider]

Oh. My. Days.

We're very lucky to be in a position where not only can we consider challenging at the top, but also we have the financial backing to do so. The idea of having a go at a club which recenty got promoted for the first time in years literally laughable. Obviously every club goes in to win every game, but reality says that's not going to happen. Let's not act like big time Charlies and criticise clubs who haven't had the recent fortune we have until we at least prove our status by getting out of the league.

 

[Easy 10]

Who's criticising ? I'm not having a go at all.

Rochdale are doing superb. Look at the table, they are in with a damn good shout of making the playoffs, and I'd be happy to see them make it. With more than half the season gone, and them within striking distance, how is it apparently "unrealistic" ?

Just seems a somewhat defeatist attitude from their gaffer to be talking about just beating the drop, when they're actually on the fringe of the chasing pack.

 

[Spider]

Who's criticising ? I'm not having a go at all.

Rochdale are doing superb. Look at the table, they are in with a damn good shout of making the playoffs, and I'd be happy to see them make it. With more than half the season gone, and them within striking distance, how is it apparently "unrealistic" ?

Just seems a somewhat defeatist attitude from their gaffer to be talking about just beating the drop, when they're actually on the fringe of the chasing pack.

Nice backtracking...

 

[Easy 10]

Whatever.

Just glad we don't have a manager with such a jaundiced view of whats achievable this season.

 

[Comedy Steve]

Who's criticising ? I'm not having a go at all.

Rochdale are doing superb. Look at the table, they are in with a damn good shout of making the playoffs, and I'd be happy to see them make it. With more than half the season gone, and them within striking distance, how is it apparently "unrealistic" ?

Just seems a somewhat defeatist attitude from their gaffer to be talking about just beating the drop, when they're actually on the fringe of the chasing pack.

Seems a fair observation, but even though they're 6 points off the play-offs; they are 7 points off relegation. Maybe he feels his players are better motivated to be pulling away from the bottom rather than challenging the big boys and feels his fight is better taken to the clubs they are currently rubbing shoulders with.

 

[Robot Chicken]

It's always better to understate than overstate, shirley?

 

[Brovion]

Dale manager Keith Hill, team sitting 9th in the league, 6 points off the Playoffs with a game in hand:

"When you consider we're unbeaten since the turn of the year it does egg you on in respect of a play-off place but it's unrealistic. We're nowhere near safe yet and we've got to make sure we get the points that will enable us to be a League One side this time next season."

I'm all for tempering expectations and not getting carried away, but christ up a stick, if this is the mentality at that club then no WONDER they've spend their entire existance at the arse-end of the football league.

Must admit I feel exactly the same about us when I read all the pragmatic posts on here about how the 5th round of the Cup "isn't important" and how we must "concentrate on the League".

 

[KneeOn]

My best friend is a Rochdale fan as his second team (his dad was a Dale fan and he is named accordingly).

He'd take a top half finish right now, its a long season and we've just come out of christmas/new year. Promotion this year was something he was never going to consider, he'd love it but Keith Hill knows what he's doing. He's taken the team around and turned them in to a team that could get promoted and nearly did on more than on occasion. Now he's finally done it he's making sure the club don't trip up again by saying we are only 6pts off playoffs but also only 7pts off relegation. Keep on going, reach the magical 50 point mark.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Perhaps Rochdale are such a club that if they got promotion via the playoffs they know it would be followed by back to back relegations and another 40 years in the wilderness.

 

[Acker79]

Poyet plays down promotion chances From The Argus)

In seventh place, one win away from the top of the table, just re-signed lualua, and have almost the whole season ahead of us. Gus was only looking for a top ten finish.

 

[GT49er]

Seems to me that Keith Hill has got his head screwed on. When it comes to sorting out 'Big Clubs' and little clubs, Rochdale are minnows. Difficult for them to build a fan base too - there are, what, ten or so other clubs in Lancashire, all of whom have had moe success than Rochdale (although Bury are on a low right now). Good luck to Rochale - but I think if they did go up they would be certain candidates for the drop. No reasons why their fans shouldn't dream about it though.