Manager Keith Hill has been reflecting on 2013, as well as looking ahead to a busy Christmas period in his latest Dale Player interview…
“If you look at the 39 league games played since I’ve been back at the Football Club then I think there has been an enormous amount of progress made and I feel as though we’ve made massive strides,” said Hill.
“When I look at the squad I am really pleased with the foundations that we have built. Yes we need to tweak, yes we need to improve, but that improvement doesn’t need to happen overnight. And it can’t happen overnight with the development that we’re trying to achieve.
"Are we where I think we should be? I think we’re right on point. I feel as though we’re going through an educational blip at the moment which we’ll come out of better as a squad, better as a individuals and better prepared for the second half of the season. But I believe we’re right on point and nobody should be disappointed.
"For me, we’re going into the New Year, after the two Christmas fixtures, in real good financial shape and with the squad in real good shape.”
Mansfield Town are the visitors to Spotland on Boxing Day and Hill says it is business as usual over the festive period.
“We’re training, we’re going to be energetic and we’re looking forward to the upcoming games.
"Mansfield will be well respected, they came up in the summer and they had a magnificent season last season. They’re acclimatising and I think they’ll acclimatise quite comfortably to the league.
"It’s going to be a difficult period for all teams in our league, but we’re looking forward to it. We need the supporters to fill us with an energy of confidence again and I believe that we’re up to the task.
You can listen to the full 13 minute HERE.