Let's have a break from talking about pitches. A story on the OS today says Hill would like two more players one on loan and one permanent. What positions do we think we're after?
There's been quite a few changes already and I'm struggling to see the big picture squad wise. Where are we short and where do we need to strengthen.
First thought for me is another central midfielder. Someone comfortable on the ball and helps us retain possession. And then maybe a Striker?
Purely on the beach issues as the off the beach issues are getting a little boring at the moment and hopefully some of the topics will be at least mentioned in the report from the meeting with the Dale Trust.
So here goes.....
Just completed a few very complex mathematical calculations and so far this season we have averaged 0.84 points per game. In order to get to the magic 50 points of hopeful guaranteed safety we need to average 1.4 points a game for the remaining games.
I now have a headache for several reasons the first being the maths the second being the mountain of improvement that's needed in order to reach that magic number. So I went to try and find some reassurance.....
Keith's win % with us is about 43% which would give us about 26 points add a couple of draws in there and we get to the 50 points.
It's only maths but it helps show all is not lost after all. If we have an average Keith Hill half season that should be good enough to stay up. If we have a better than average Keith Hill season we'll be well clear.
All anyone really cares about is what is the record for difference between oldest and youngest person in the team and do we break it if BBM comes on while Adshead is on the pitch 😂
TEAM NEWS | STARTING XI
1⃣ Josh Lillis 2⃣ Joe Rafferty 3⃣ Kgosi Ntlhe 4⃣ Jimmy McNulty 6⃣ Harrison McGahey 9⃣ Calvin Andrew 1⃣7⃣ Bradden Inman 2⃣5⃣Daniel Adshead 2⃣7⃣ Andy Cannon 3⃣2⃣ Mark Kitching 3⃣9⃣ Joe Bunney#RAFC
1⃣0⃣ Callum Camps 1⃣1⃣ Jordan Williams 1⃣4⃣ Ollie Rathbone 2⃣0⃣ BBM 2⃣2⃣ Brendan Moore 2⃣8⃣ Aaron Morley 4⃣0⃣ Ian Henderson#RAFC
It's pointless guessing Hill but what would your team be against Stoke?
I'd be tempted to be a little experimental and play a young team for the experience similar to Forest a few seasons ago but lets put our strongest back four on.
Moore Rafferty McGahey McNulty Bunney Cannon Kitchen Morley Allen Hendo Done
Presuming Camps and Lillis are injured or not fully fit. If Hill thinks Adshead is ready I'd play him instead of Allen. Done and Bunney play to get minutes under their belts.
Just listened to the interview with Chris Brown. I didn't realise but this year's intake of first year scholars have purely come from the academy. That's great news and shows that the academy is working.
Also mentions some of the 2nd year's have gone to Tenerife along with academy player Adshead. All positive.
Hoping we'll get the same coverage as usual with someone going out there to report. Anyway here's a thread to discuss the goings on.
What we know so far. There won't be any trialists and the only youth player to go that we know of will be Danny Adshead who is 15 and not old enough for a scholarship yet. I should imagine there will be some of the youth team go as well but maybe not.
Not a fan of reduced Half's to 30 minutes and stopping the clock when it goes out of play. The main problem with time wasting at the moment isn't so much the loss of time but the slowing down of play and this rule would effectively make taking your time when the ball goes out of play acceptable.
Just seen the story that both Lund and Camps have been called up. Great news for them individually but could add more stress to our squad if Lund stays and Camps becomes a regular call up. I know it sounds a little silly as Dale don't really do international players as they usually are beyond our finances but if possible would it be worth investing in another international to potentially allow us to postpone matches?
Do we know where he is? Such an influential goalscorer when he's been fit and I thought he was getting back with a few sub appearances but seems to have disappeared again without any talk of injury, or have I missed something?
He would have been the perfect replacement for Calvin yesterday!
So all you season ticket holders with vouchers what are we all thinking?
I'm not really too bothered about VIP dining but at the same time if we reach the 2000 mark that's already a big saving on my adult main stand ticket so I wouldn't be too bothered about claiming it. However it seems a waste. I'd much rather be able to put it towards some sort of fund to help with the season tickets in some way. Maybe all voucher donations could go towards reducing the cost of 17 - 21 yr old tickets or something? Just thinking aloud. Thoughts?
With all the transfer window news we may be forgiven to forgetting we've got a match in a few days. Let's hope the players haven't been distracted. Now let's not pretend to guess what the team will be as we all know that's pointless but what would your line up be?
Wilson Raff Keane Jim Kitching Allen Camps Cannon Vincenti Hendo NML
Subs Logan Taylor Canavan RNL Owusu Redshaw Donal
That'd be my pick I'm presuming the following are injured;
Sounds like a really difficult week two players should have been playing and got injured yesterday. None of the injured will be back for next week. That's a huge blow and if McNulty doesn't mend we're going to be fielding a team of walking wounded next week, again. At least some of the returnees got some minutes in their legs today.
