Mental strength key for Dale elite
KEITH insists his players must show more maturity and mental application if they are to make it at the top level of the game.
The Dale chief believes a number of his talented young players could go on to star in the Premier League and the Championship in years to come – providing they heed his advice.
Dale fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw against fellow play-off hopefuls Millwall at the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday. It was the third of the last four home games to end with six goals being shared.
While the spectacle was rich in entertainment, Hill wanted a degree more intelligence from his players.
“I thought some of our attacking play was superb. I just wish the players would execute the gameplans with a bit more intelligence,” he said.
“We can’t concede three goals on a regular basis and expect to win matches and the mistakes that we are making are quite individual, which is a shame. Hill
“I am hoping the players mature – and I am not just talking about defenders, I mean midfielders and strikers – because I do expect some of these players to become elite players.
“But when I look at the DNA of some of the elite players we have had here, one thing is the mental application and that’s the one thing I think some of the players have to find very quickly in order to become elite players.”
One of those players in question with the potential to play at a higher level is Jamie Allen, and Hill has been working with the midfielder to make him more effective in certain areas of the field, particularly when Dale are out of possession.
“From a coach and a manager’s point of view, I need to see more discipline in his game,” said Hill. “I need to see more structure when the opposition have the ball. He looks very good on the eye, but there’s certain things he is doing in games and from any midfield player there has to be a real structure to play from and there has to be a certain area of the pitch that you are covering in and out of possession. That is important for his development and that’s where I am encouraging him to improve, in that area.
Tuesday’s result made it 13 goals scored by Dale in their last four home matches. However, they have conceded ten at the other end!
“We always score goals,” said Hill. “Someone said to me a couple of weeks ago ‘It’s not like Keith Hill’s side not to score goal.’ We score goals, sometimes it’s just the way it goes. We have an attacking intent, we don’t play in square boxes, we have spontaneous, skilful players who play within a framework and that’s where it’s difficult for the opposition to stop us.
“I think that we score skilful goals and I think we are very charitable defensively at times in allowing the opposition to score from a half chance. That’s where we have to be better.”
‘We score skilful goals and I think we are very charitable defensively’