Form:
Not the best. We seem to being doing just enough, but no more. That`s meant only 1 win in the last 10.
We`re out of both cups, so missed out on any cash, but as long as we stay out of the relegation places come the end of the season, I`ll be happy.
Manager:
This is Steve Eyre`s first job as a manager, having previously been a senior youth coach at Manchester City. That`s meant he`s got great contacts for younger players. We beat a group of clubs to the loan signing of David Ball and Harry Bunn. He`s finally started to realise that holding midfielder isn`t a dirty term.
Some fans are moaning because we`re not in the top half like last season. As far as I`m concerned that was a glory season. Over the summer we lost key players, the manager and nearly all the backroom staff. With an average gate of just below 3,000 replacing all that was never going to be easy.
With that in mind I`ve been reasonably impressed by his positivity and willingness to change his coaching emphasis if things aren`t working.
Team:
Young and small, like an artichoke. Takes a lot of effort to get anything decent out of us, but when you do it can be excellent, but you wonder if it was worth all the hassle.
At the start of the season our games saw more goals than any other team in the football league, but that meant too many against.
Now we`re tighter, and a lot of the credit must go to the manager`s coaching skills.
We`ve just signed Dean Holden and Stephen Jordan at right and left back, and their experience has been vital to the younger guys.
Overall, we`re in a work in progress, but one that`s looking more and more like good work.
Star Player:
Mr Rochdale. Gary Jones. Record appearance maker and all round great guy. It`s a wonder nobody else has ever spotted his talents, because he has the lot; tackling, passing, vision, timing and finishing.
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