Rest and refresh plan for Rochdale
WHILE most of their National League rivals take part in today’s FA Cup first round action, Rochdale will temper the blow of missing out by making the most of their fixture-free weekend.
Jimmy Mcnulty says his squad must try to regroup and rest, with a fortnight’s break between last Saturday’s 3-2 win at Hartlepool and next weekend’s trip to Wealdstone.
Head coach Mcnulty is operating with a small squad and has had a number of injuries to contend with in recent weeks. He said the break gives his players time to rest, but also an opportunity to get the injured players closer to a return.
“It’s a very welcome break,” said Mcnulty.
“I saw Mikel Arteta [Arsenal manager] was talking recently about it’s inevitable they’ll have to increase their squad size and be allowed more subs, because of how many games they’ve got. I think they’ve played nine games – we’ve played 18 [league], with a tiny squad.
“We’re very light on depth per position and we’ve had to be creative with playing players in different positions.”
Mcnulty gave the example of Jimmy Keohane against Hartlepool last weekend, rotating and ending up as a nine getting on the end of Kairo Mitchell’s flick on to score Dale’s second goal of the game.
“We have to do these things, but they won’t always work out,” admitted Mcnulty. “Sometimes we need a squad that’s equipped enough to cope with all that demand that they’re put under.
“The boys have played loads of games already. They’ve been a credit to the club and it’s a welcome break. Some time to hopefully get our injured players nearer to coming back and time to regroup and rest.”
A few weeks ago it seemed Devante Rodney wouldn’t be appearing for the team any time soon following a viral infection, but he appeared as a late substitute in Saturday’s win. The striker has been missing for almost all of the campaign due to illness, but is now on a new programme that brings more of a positive sign.
“He was with us, but I’m trying not to get our hopes up. We’ve got to see how the next two weeks go with Dev,” said Mcnulty.
“He saw another specialist in London, we went another way with it, and the new specialist gave us some hope. Dev is on a new programme now with some things that can help him.
“Dev wanted to help the team and he did, even though he was only on two minutes, but his block in front of the dugout meant the whole team could move forward 40 metres. He then closed the goalkeeper down and almost stole it off him.
“I’ve just got to stay calm about the potential of having Dev with us for the next two weeks, watch this space, and hope that he reacts to the new things he’s doing in the right way, so that he can be out there helping his teammates because he desperately wants to.”
Mcnulty was particularly pleased with the manner in which his players dug in when Hartlepool improved after the break.
“While the fight’s there, I’ll aways laud that because it’s something to be proud of,” he said. “The fans feel represented by this team for that alone. Lots of things will come and go, form, quality - but fight can’t ever go. It didn’t go at Hartlepool and we had to fight and dig in and stick together in that second half.”
And the head coach had a special word for Cian Hayes, who netted his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Fleetwood Town.
“I want Cian to stay calm about the chances he’s getting and if he keeps getting them and he’s calm, then the goals will come,” said Mcnulty.
“He wants to be the best he can be, he wants the Rochdale fans and his team-mates to love him and he feels the weight of the earth upon him when those moments don’t go in. One went in for him at Hartlepool. Knowing Cian he was probably disappointed about the chance in the second half, but he shouldn’t be. He’s got brilliant talent, he helps us a lot and he suits our team, the way that we play. We try to get exciting moments to our one v one guys and Cian is one of them. He scored a great goal on the counter attack for us and I’m really pleased to have him.”