Ranger linked with Dale deal
MANAGER Keith Hill is hopeful of recruiting more players before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
The January transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday 31st January and the Dale boss says he needs reinforcements for the final 16 games of the season.
Dale put in a plucky performance at Oakwell on Saturday where they were unfortunate to lose 2-1 against Barnsley.
Performances have improved in recent weeks since the arrival of loan signings Ethan Hamilton,
‘I need more reinforcements to make us better for the last 16 games of the season’
Ethan Ebanks Landell and Ryan McLoughlin. But Hill hopes the recruitment doesn’t end there.
Hill has made no secret of the fact he wants a leftback and over the weekend Dale were heavily linked with former Newcastle United frontman Niall Ranger.
National newspapers claimed the striker had been on trial at the club and was poised to sign a deal in a bid to resurrect his career following disciplinary issues blighted spells with Swindon, Blackpool and Southend.
“The position we’re in is precarious – our League One status is threatened,” said Hill.
“We need more players. I need more reinforcements to make us better for the last 16 games of the season.
“It’s going to be difficult but I think the players that we’ve got in at this moment in time, I’m really pleased with them.
“I just need, probably, three more similar characters to see us through the remainder of the sea- son. If not, we just deal bringing players in, we’re had to work hard for their are a very good side. But deal from Blackpool with it. in a queue system. victory,” said Hill. I’m looking into the last Wednesday, made his
“I do want a left-back. “Say, for example, if you “The first half is the future at our performance, debut in the fixture, No disrespect to Ryan phone Sky up and they say fight. That’s the early not the result, playing 75 minutes Delaney, who I thought you’re in a queue system, rounds of a boxing match, and think that we can against the Tykes, securing was excellent for 75 minutes it’ll be 30 minutes until we almost, and it was good play like that and win his first game time [against Barnsley], accept your call! for us to be competitive. games, we can play like since November. but I do need a left-back. “We’re probably 21st in “I love the way the that and not lose games, “Ryan ran out of steam. And we would like line for recruiting players opposition play and I love and we can play like that He hasn’t played for a another striker with some in League One. Hopefully the way that they take the and improve against long while, so he’s got to old-fashioned speed. I can get players in before ball – the centre halves are some of the opposition get fitter.
“I have to go with good Thursday. happy in a 2v2 or a 3v2. that are not as good as “His energy levels characters and good “If not, we’ll run with “They are always on the Barnsley. were down and we personalities, more than the players that we’ve got front foot and we had to “I’m disappointed with didn’t want to run him talented football players. and the Youth Team stand up against that. I the result but I’m not disappointed into an injury. That will hopefully give us because we’ve got a good think that that’s the jostle with the performance. “We have Luke Matheson the results that we need in structure for the future where you are working I believe that who is an excellent the last 16 games of the and we might have to use each other out. we’re turning the corner player and he came on. season to secure our them right here, right “We then took the lead into being a better side I’m really impressed with League One status now.” but it’s a great finish from which will give us a him and I’m really because it’s going to be a Hill praised the performance Kieffer Moore for their chance of surviving relegation. impressed with his mentality. difficult call.” levels of his players, first goal. We probably I’ve got no concerns
Whist Hill is pleased following their display should have done better “I think the players will playing him because of his with the players he has at against Barnsley at the on the turn over in that get some belief from that mentality. this moment in time, he weekend. situation and again with performance. The result is “He’s more than a explained it has been a “I thought the performance the second goal, but a difficult one to accept football player, he has difficult window for levels were decent. Barnsley are going to do but we will do because we a rounded personality and recruiting. We took an excellent side, what they’ve done to us have to move on.” a street-wise character
“It’s been a difficult one of the best in the on a regular basis in McLaughlin, who who just loves playing window. With respect to league, all the way. They League One because they joined Dale on a permanent football.”
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