Hill keeps faith in foundations
ROCHDALE boss Keith Hill still believes his side are on the cusp of something special despite their recent tough run of results in League One.
Hill’s side came up short on Saturday as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers, meaning the team is in 16th place in the League One table and are is now five league games without a win.
The Rochdale boss admits there are improvements that his team need to make, but he still has faith in his players to succeed.
“There’s a great foundation at this football club and I’m really excited and I feel as though we’re on the cusp of something that could be quite special when I look at the team I played on Tuesday night,” he said.
“I feel as though the plan is coming together. That’s hard to see when you lose a football match, but I have felt really good this week about what’s coming together behind the scenes, the players that we’ve got and the youth team players that we’re introducing into the first team training environment.
“With respect to what we’re trying to achieve, I’m really pleased with a lot of the foundation work, it’s just that everything we’re perceived to be doing is supposed to be showcased on the first team pitch on a match day. Two thirds of what we’re doing and the way we want to be play is there, but that responsibility to defend, attack, to make sure we score goals and that our midfield players regain the ball and play simple, is just simple football.
“It’s good when it comes off, and I thought the performance against Doncaster was worth more than losing 3-2.
“It’s difficult to accept, but, again, you’ve got to roll your sleeves up and carry on and stick to the plan.
“I think the way we play, 99 per cent of everything we’re trying to achieve is being achieved.”
The game against Doncaster also saw Kgosi Ntlhe get the captain’s armband after regular skipper Ian Henderson chose to give it to him, and Hill has no problem with the players sharing the responsibly.
“Ian Henderson is the club skipper and the team skipper, and on a matchday it’s over to Ian Henderson,” he said.
“If he wants to reward a player by giving him the armband to lead us out and I don’t object to it, then I have full trust in that decision. And I thought it was a good choice.
“It’s something I’ve had a conversation with Henderson about and it’s something I’ve expressed a desire with him to do if he wants to, knowing that he has my full trust.”