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Greyfriars Bobby · 01-04-2015, 06:03 PM

A busy week at Rochdale A.F.C. began with the signing of several youth players to professional contracts:

AM(R) Matt Tinker
D(C) Sean Wynn
GK Jason Robinson
D/WB(R) Matthew McGregor
M/AM(R) Phil Yoffe
D/WB(L) Matt O'Neill

Paul Sanderson's staff considered each of these lads talented enough to play at least one level higher and, in most cases, two or three levels up. Tinker, for example, was touted as a Championship-level talent, and McGregor--if he could overcome a slightly devil-may-care attitude--was at least as promising.

One indication of Rochdale's growing reputation was the number of players who were called for duty on their national teams. In late March, the following Rochdalers would be leaving for international duty:

Under 19
Germany: Florian Schlegel
Wales: Jamie Barker
Republic of Ireland: Barry King

Under 21
Austria: Johannes Scherrer
Switzerland: Daniel Salis
Hungary: Laszlo Vass and Tibor Karacs
Wales: Robert Owen and Kevin Jones

Senior Team
Finland: Sakari Kinnunen
Lithuania: Tomas Juozaitis

Scherrer, Kinnunen, and Juozaitis were all in Rochdale's registered squad, and Barker and Schlegel were on loan. "It's wonderful to see our players represent their nations," said Sanderson. "We'll miss them when they're on international duty, but I'm confident we have the depth to cover for them without missing a beat."

21 March 2015

Rochdale vs. Hereford United

GK: Morten Pedersen
D: Ger Dykes, Tomas Juozaitis, Graham Somers, John Spendlove
M: Dean Pirie, Jack McGrath
AM: Alan Foster, Johannes Scherrer
ST: Craig Ennis, Andy Sim

Sanderson made use of some of that depth, calling on several deputies to fill out the team sheet for the Hereford United match. One of the changes was necessary rather than optional. Midfield engine Sam Dawson was diagnosed with a sports hernia that would probably sideline him until early May. Dean Pirie, loaned in from Barnsley, would now be a fixture in the first team.

Craig Ennis made his presence felt quickly, with a pass that put Foster through for a goal on 17 minutes. It was the captain's 11th goal of the season.

Ennis was in a difficult position. Nearly 22 now, Ennis was a better player right now than any striker in the team except Sim and Steven Jackson, but several younger players, such as Robert Shillito, Souleymane Kouakou, and Jack McDonald, had more promise. Ennis was somewhat unsettled, wanting more playing time and asking to go out on loan. No club wanted to take him on, so he was stuck on the Rochdale bench for now.

"It was good for Craig's morale to make that play," Sanderson pointed out. "He's got a role on the team, and I hope he will be patient and keep working hard."

Hereford equalized before the half, and the score remained level until 72', when another reserve--center back Graham Somers--scored his first goal in nearly two years with the club. It wasn't a work of art; Spendlove's corner ping-ponged around the area before Somers got a boot on it and slid it past the Hereford keeper. "They don't ask how, they ask how many," a smiling Somers quipped.

The mood in the Rochdale camp darkened somewhat when Jack McGrath limped painfully off the pitch. The physio report was gloomy--McGrath had torn his hamstring. The player/reserves manager would be concentrating on the latter duty for the remainder of the 2014-15 season.

Final score: Rochdale 2-1 Hereford United

A victory for Fleetwood Town kept them on pace with Rochdale atop Group B of the Royal First Division.

01-04-2015, 06:03 PM	#47
Greyfriars Bobby College Prospect Join Date: Sep 2013	A busy week at Rochdale A.F.C. began with the signing of several youth players to professional contracts: AM(R) Matt Tinker D(C) Sean Wynn GK Jason Robinson D/WB(R) Matthew McGregor M/AM(R) Phil Yoffe D/WB(L) Matt O'Neill Paul Sanderson's staff considered each of these lads talented enough to play at least one level higher and, in most cases, two or three levels up. Tinker, for example, was touted as a Championship-level talent, and McGregor--if he could overcome a slightly devil-may-care attitude--was at least as promising. One indication of Rochdale's growing reputation was the number of players who were called for duty on their national teams. In late March, the following Rochdalers would be leaving for international duty: Under 19 Germany: Florian Schlegel Wales: Jamie Barker Republic of Ireland: Barry King Under 21 Austria: Johannes Scherrer Switzerland: Daniel Salis Hungary: Laszlo Vass and Tibor Karacs Wales: Robert Owen and Kevin Jones Senior Team Finland: Sakari Kinnunen Lithuania: Tomas Juozaitis Scherrer, Kinnunen, and Juozaitis were all in Rochdale's registered squad, and Barker and Schlegel were on loan. "It's wonderful to see our players represent their nations," said Sanderson. "We'll miss them when they're on international duty, but I'm confident we have the depth to cover for them without missing a beat." 21 March 2015 Rochdale vs. Hereford United GK: Morten Pedersen D: Ger Dykes, Tomas Juozaitis, Graham Somers, John Spendlove M: Dean Pirie, Jack McGrath AM: Alan Foster, Johannes Scherrer ST: Craig Ennis, Andy Sim Sanderson made use of some of that depth, calling on several deputies to fill out the team sheet for the Hereford United match. One of the changes was necessary rather than optional. Midfield engine Sam Dawson was diagnosed with a sports hernia that would probably sideline him until early May. Dean Pirie, loaned in from Barnsley, would now be a fixture in the first team. Craig Ennis made his presence felt quickly, with a pass that put Foster through for a goal on 17 minutes. It was the captain's 11th goal of the season. Ennis was in a difficult position. Nearly 22 now, Ennis was a better player right now than any striker in the team except Sim and Steven Jackson, but several younger players, such as Robert Shillito, Souleymane Kouakou, and Jack McDonald, had more promise. Ennis was somewhat unsettled, wanting more playing time and asking to go out on loan. No club wanted to take him on, so he was stuck on the Rochdale bench for now. "It was good for Craig's morale to make that play," Sanderson pointed out. "He's got a role on the team, and I hope he will be patient and keep working hard." Hereford equalized before the half, and the score remained level until 72', when another reserve--center back Graham Somers--scored his first goal in nearly two years with the club. It wasn't a work of art; Spendlove's corner ping-ponged around the area before Somers got a boot on it and slid it past the Hereford keeper. "They don't ask how, they ask how many," a smiling Somers quipped. The mood in the Rochdale camp darkened somewhat when Jack McGrath limped painfully off the pitch. The physio report was gloomy--McGrath had torn his hamstring. The player/reserves manager would be concentrating on the latter duty for the remainder of the 2014-15 season. Final score: Rochdale 2-1 Hereford United A victory for Fleetwood Town kept them on pace with Rochdale atop Group B of the Royal First Division. Last edited by Greyfriars Bobby : 01-04-2015 at 06:03 PM.