The Accrington Stanley boss could be unveiled as new manager of the relegation threatened outfit as early as this afternoon having agreed terms with Dale over the weekend.
His arrival can’t come quickly enough. Coleman will have 19 fixtures to stave off relegation, but if that sounds ample time to turn things around, consider the sizeable challenge he has accepted.
Demoralised Dale have won just one of their last 16 league games, scoring a measly four goals in their last 11 matches.
Youth team coach Chris Beech took over from Steve Eyre just before Christmas, but his attempt to arrest the slide has failed. Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Wycombe made it three points from his six games in charge and provided further justification for the board’s decision to move for Coleman.
Beech recruited two strikers with Premier League experience in Daniel Bogdanovic and Brett Ormerod in a bid to sharpen up shot-shy Dale. But the duo’s failure to make an impact is just one of the reasons why Beech will not be handed the role on a permanent basis.
Bogdanovic made a promising start, scoring on a dazzling debut gainst Preston. But his contribution since then has been minimal.
Ormerod, a scorching volley in the 5-1 defeat by Stevenage aside, has been even more peripheral. He managed Dale’s one effort on target at Adams Park, a turn and shot in the 80th minute which Nikki Bull pushed around his post.
However, by that stage the game was over as a contest. In fact, once Stuart Beavon had fired the first of his two goals, defeat was inevitable, for this Dale team has an inability to muster a spirited fightback.
“For teams down near the bottom of the table, it’s crucial to score the first goal and they drew first blood,” said Beech.
“If you are down there and you do score first against a team also low down in the table, you find the opposition crumbles. It’s easier to give in than fight back when you’re having crises of confidence.
“When you are down there and you get hit first it’s how you respond that counts. It’s been too easy and acceptable throughout the whole season and we’re trying to change that mentality.
“It’s the boxer on the canvas – is he getting up or is he staying down? I’ve always been the kind of person to get straight back up and we have got to get that into the players.
“We have good players in the changing room, but who is ticking the box right now? We have goalscorers, strong defenders – but you have got to do what you are good at, and you’ve got to do it consistently.”
A miserable afternoon for the visitors was compounded by Beavon’s second and a close-range finish from Mark Winfield, lifting the Chairboys one place above Dale down among the dead men.
The hope now is that Coleman can breathe some life into the club’s flagging hopes of survival.
Rochdale: Kurucz 5, Darby 5, Holden 5, Amankwaah 5, Jordan 5, Jones 6, Barry-Murphy 6 (Grimes, 66, 6), Kennedy 6, Bogdanovic 4 (Adams, 66, 6), Ormerod 4, Akpa-Akpro 4 (Abadaki, 84). Subs not used: Lucas, Holness
Read our other Rochdale Stories here. Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Shameful Dale....Need a proper manager in ASAP and new players!
So Accrington gave him permission so speak to rochdale Sunday night, he took training of Stanley Monday morning, yet he had agreeded terms?? Shocking reporting
Stop using words like 'shameful'. You don't actually attend games do you? We don't need new players, we need the players we have, to play to their abilities and with confidence.
Good players, don't become bad players overnight. They have already serve several different 'masters' already this season and it's been a torrid 7 months.
IF John Coleman comes to Spotland, he will have taken on a tough job, but one which he is eminently capable of doing.
Get the players doing things they are comfortable with, and playing in positions they are used to. After that it's watch and wait for the results to come, and this squad is capable of getting us out of this desperate situation.