Football Season Review

Rochdale surpassed all expectations this season but even that would be an understatement. No one really expected this side, packed with players previously unproven at League One level, to finish mid-table, let alone posting a Play-Off challenge which lasted until very late in the season. Keith Hill's side entered the season as one of the favourites to go down but made it very clear from the very start that they couldn't care less about the way they were perceived. Their fantastic early season form seeing them breaking into the top six in September, with the marquee wins being the 2-0 away win over Southampton and a 3-0 win over Huddersfield. The Dale were unable to maintain their early season form and entered a slide that saw them pushed into mid-table, only for Hill to completely change his side's style of play from a hard working approach to a more free flowing. The Dale initially struggled to adapt to the change in style, but once they did, they became a formidable force both home and away. They went on an 11-game run without a defeat early in 2011, while the two defeats that came afterwards were followed by an impressive seven-game unbeaten run. However, for all their fine form in the second half of the season and early on, the Dale eventually paid the price for the dramatic blip in form they had in November and December, and ended below Bournemouth despite overtaking the Cherries at sixth for a brief moment late in the season. The standout performers were midfielder Garry Jones and central defender Craig Dawson, with the latter being particularly impressive, not only for performances at the back, but also for the fact that he chipped in with ten league goals: an outstanding return for a central defender. Hill will be left wondering what would've happened if he had a prolific striker in his squad, as Chris O'Grady, who spent most of the season as the undisputed starter, was underwhelming, scoring only nine goals, and his frequent misses were often the difference between home wins and draws for the Dale. However, the fans should be realistic and view the season as one in which the Dale exceeded all expectations, and enter the next season hoping their side will not suffer from the second season syndrome.

Player of the Season: Craig Dawson