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Here's a look at the Rochdale club, position by position. It will be our first introduction to a number of new players who came on board during the summer.
GOALKEEPERS
Senior Team
Father Time has begun poking 39-year-old Stavros Molloy with his sickle, robbing him of his athleticism and, almost overnight, making him seem like a shadow of the player who saved so many points for Rochdale in 2013-14. He is still around, but he's been dropped from the registered squad for the fall. Sanderson is hoping Stav, with whom he has a very good friendship and who has a desire to become a coach, will stick around and join the back room staff when he puts away his boots.
Two new keepers will be sharing the position, at least for the time being. Sakari Kinnunen (age 21) is on a three-month loan from Fulham. He is 6'6", and controls the air as well as you'd expect a man his size to do. Kinnunen, a Finn, is also surprisingly athletic.
Kinnunen might never have arrived at Spotland had Morten Pedersen (age 25) and his agent not taken so long before they agreed to a contract with Rochdale. Pederson is from Denmark, and he is the same kind of keeper as Kinnunen--tall (6'5"), agile, and smart. He is now the club's best-paid player, on a two-year contract that pays him £2,500/week.
Some of Sanderson's staff think Kinnunen is the better player, while some prefer Pedersen. Since Pedersen is in the team permanently, it's fair to say he'll have an edge.
Adam Kearney (age 21) is the third keeper. When he's been given a chance to solidify himself in the first team, he's been maddeningly inconsistent. He has potential, however, so he'll enjoy more grooming with the reserves. Molloy will also see time in the reserves' goal, which will give that youthful team a steadying veteran presence.
Reserves/Youth
Paul Flitcroft (age 16) is the goalkeeper of the future. The staff believe he's talented enough to keep goal in the Championship one day.
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