Rochdale... In Focus

Last updated : 07 December 2006 By Gary Moss

After finishing fourteenth last season, many fans thought this was the year Dale would push themselves into the play-off places and escape the fourth tier of football after a 32-year spell.

But no, its been a poor season so far for Rochdale. Steve Parkin's men have won just five of their opening twenty games and sit in a lowly 21st place.

Perhaps too good to go down but with the current state of the team it seems justified that League Two is becoming known as ‘Rochdale Division'.

For the neutral, Rochdale's struggle isn't much of surprise considering at one point over the summer they had just 15 professionals signed on the books.

Also, the loss of last season's top scorer Rickie Lambert has done little to turn the fortunes of the side from Greater Manchester.

Dagnall... The only bright spark for The Dale
The teams problem has without doubt been their in-consistency. They have won only 2 home games and then on their travels they have beat Darlington 5-0 but lost 7-1 at Lincoln. This highlights exactly why Rochdale are so far away from where they want to be.

Manager: Steve Parkin

League Position (on December 7th 2006): 21st

Top Goalscorer: Chris Dagnall (9)

Goals Scored: 21

Goals Conceded: 27

Against Notts: A 1-0 win for Notts on their travels thanks to an Alan White goal, back in August. The sides meet again at Meadow Lane in February.

Player of the season so far: Chris Dagnall, without his nine goals, imagine where Rochdale would be.

Drapes' Prediction: Drapes doesn't think things are going to get much better: 20th