New boys have battling spirit
KEITH Hill believes Rochdale’s new recruits have the fighting characteristics his side will need i n the coming months as they look to secure their League One status.
Wolves’ defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Manchester United midfielder Ethan Hamilton arrived on loan ahead of the weekend’s trip to Peterborough and both featured in a much-improved performance.
Though the home side held on for a 2-1 win, Dale contested the game keenly and were unfortunate not to return home with a share of the spoils.
Both Ebanks-Landell and Hamilton, who scored on his debut for Dale, made a positive impact and Hill feels they possess the right kind of personality traits for the battle ahead.
“I’m looking for character, personality and ability,” said Hill.
“From a technical point of view, you want the players to be comfortable in and out of possession, but in the situation we find ourselves in, attitude, personality and character are big components of what we need during the last 18 games of the season.
“Both acquisitions meet the requirements I feel we need going into the games.
“It’s 18 games, 18 battles and 18 wars, if you like.
“We have to have a fighter’s mentality.
“We need technical ability within that fight and we need clear thought going into every battle, as well as a plan. It’s 18 games and we know the points we need from those 18 games.
“There’s no panic, there’s a realisation of where we are. We are in a similar position to where
‘In our situation, attitude, personality and character are big components’
he maintains for me saying that but faith. that’s what we are. We are
“We’re working really a League One Crewe Alexandra hard on securing our without a training League One status,” he facility or the investment said. in the Academy that
“When you’re losing Crewe are putting in, but football matches, it we are doing the same doesn’t mean that you’re thing by trying to give defeated. It means that young players opportunities you should be learning to and creating players’ improve, not only as a futures for them at Rochdale manager but also the Football Club, and it players themselves. has been very successful They’ve got to learn from for us. the mistakes that they are “I’m just looking forward making as well as from the to the games that good things that they are we’ve got coming up. It doing. has been a hectic Christmas/New
“The mistakes will benefit Year period but them individually in we’ve only got one focus the long-term like we’ve now, which is retaining seen before when we have our League One status. allowed players to make “We’ll do that by being mistakes in our first team on the front foot and by and they’ve gone on to being positive. We’ll do play in the Premier League that by making sure we and the Championship deal with the ups and where they have been very downs of the remaining successful. games and we’ll get
“That’s the way we do judged after 46 games.” things – we are a League Next up for Hill’s side is One Crewe Alexandra, if a home game against Joey you like. Barton’s Fleetwood Town
“People will have a go at on Saturday, kick off 3pm. Published by MEN Media, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, OL9 8EF. Printed by Reach Printing Services (Oldham) Limited, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EB we were last season but nothing is lost yet.”
Hill said the club has reaped the rewards of patience and allowing players to learn from their mistakes in the past – and it’s a philosophy in which absolute