Post by JamesB on Sept 11, 2013 22:10:55 GMT
It's funny that the first thread I'm starting here this season is for a match against the same team as the first thread I started here last season - torquayfansforum.co.uk/thread/10549/rochdale-torquay-united-february-2013
But that does leave room for some comparisons. At that point (mid-February), Martin Ling was off sick with no return date in sight, we had lost 3 in a row under Shaun Taylor, and Rochdale were also in terrible form, having not won a game in 2013. However, it was Rochdale who won 1-0 with a goal from Rhys Bennett in the first half. It would be the penultimate match under Taylor, with Knill being appointed the following Wednesday (after a defeat to Aldershot)
Since the Rochdale game, our league record is P21 W4 D7 L10, and Rochdale's is P20 W7 D7 L6. That form pretty much fits both teams' league positions at the moment - Rochdale are exactly mid-table, lying 13th with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, while we are 19th. Who said there's no continuity between seasons?
Rochdale will take heart from having beaten local rivals Bury 1-0 last week, having been on a 4-game run without a win, but captain Peter Cavanagh has been ruled out for 6 weeks with an Achilles injury. Cavanagh, for those (like me) who had forgotten, was one of five Accrington Stanley players banned for betting against their own team (the others being Jay Harris, Robert Williams, David Mannix and Andrew Mangan), before heading to Fleetwood with Mangan until he was released last year. Dale will also be without former Aldershot midfielder Peter Vincenti, who was sent off against Bury. There is talk that Keith Hill could sign an out-of-contract midfielder to step in. Either way, they are going to need to do a bit of rearranging
Line-up against Bury:
GK Josh Lillis
Def Rhys Bennett
Def Olly Lancashire
Def Jack O'Connell
Def Michael Rose
Mid Brian Barry-Murphy
Mid Peter Vincenti
Mid Scott Hogan
Mid Matthew Lund
For George Donnelly
For Ian Henderson
Bench: Robbie Thomson (GK), Ashley Eastham (Def), Javan Vidal (Def), Bastien Hery (Mid), Matt Done (Mid), Graham Cummins (For), Joe Bunney (For)
Not too many stellar names there but plenty of experience with players like Barry-Murphy and Rose, mixed in with some younger players. A typical League Two side, in that respect - and quite different from the side that we faced in February (and having seen their squad, I'm suddenly reconsidering my prediction that they'll be in play-off contention this season). Donnelly and Henderson aren't particularly prolific goalscorers, with Hogan the top scorer so far
They seem to be much better at home than on the road - both of their wins have come at Spotland, along with a 2-2 draw against league leaders Chesterfield. Could be a tough one for us
And finally, former Torquay goalkeeper (well, briefly) Steve Collis is currently Rochdale's third choice keeper. He's only 32, but hasn't played in the Football League since April 2011, when he was at Northampton
But that does leave room for some comparisons. At that point (mid-February), Martin Ling was off sick with no return date in sight, we had lost 3 in a row under Shaun Taylor, and Rochdale were also in terrible form, having not won a game in 2013. However, it was Rochdale who won 1-0 with a goal from Rhys Bennett in the first half. It would be the penultimate match under Taylor, with Knill being appointed the following Wednesday (after a defeat to Aldershot)
Since the Rochdale game, our league record is P21 W4 D7 L10, and Rochdale's is P20 W7 D7 L6. That form pretty much fits both teams' league positions at the moment - Rochdale are exactly mid-table, lying 13th with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, while we are 19th. Who said there's no continuity between seasons?
Rochdale will take heart from having beaten local rivals Bury 1-0 last week, having been on a 4-game run without a win, but captain Peter Cavanagh has been ruled out for 6 weeks with an Achilles injury. Cavanagh, for those (like me) who had forgotten, was one of five Accrington Stanley players banned for betting against their own team (the others being Jay Harris, Robert Williams, David Mannix and Andrew Mangan), before heading to Fleetwood with Mangan until he was released last year. Dale will also be without former Aldershot midfielder Peter Vincenti, who was sent off against Bury. There is talk that Keith Hill could sign an out-of-contract midfielder to step in. Either way, they are going to need to do a bit of rearranging
Line-up against Bury:
GK Josh Lillis
Def Rhys Bennett
Def Olly Lancashire
Def Jack O'Connell
Def Michael Rose
Mid Brian Barry-Murphy
Mid Peter Vincenti
Mid Scott Hogan
Mid Matthew Lund
For George Donnelly
For Ian Henderson
Bench: Robbie Thomson (GK), Ashley Eastham (Def), Javan Vidal (Def), Bastien Hery (Mid), Matt Done (Mid), Graham Cummins (For), Joe Bunney (For)
Not too many stellar names there but plenty of experience with players like Barry-Murphy and Rose, mixed in with some younger players. A typical League Two side, in that respect - and quite different from the side that we faced in February (and having seen their squad, I'm suddenly reconsidering my prediction that they'll be in play-off contention this season). Donnelly and Henderson aren't particularly prolific goalscorers, with Hogan the top scorer so far
They seem to be much better at home than on the road - both of their wins have come at Spotland, along with a 2-2 draw against league leaders Chesterfield. Could be a tough one for us
And finally, former Torquay goalkeeper (well, briefly) Steve Collis is currently Rochdale's third choice keeper. He's only 32, but hasn't played in the Football League since April 2011, when he was at Northampton