Dale have the desire and the determination

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Keith Hill

Rochdale welcome Hartlepool United to Spotland this weekend for the league opener and manager Keith Hill is looking forward to the start of the new season.

As Dale get ready to embark on another 46 game plus journey, Hill talks us through the emotions he’ll be going through over the next 24 hours.

He said: “Manager’s will be going through different mind sets based on how they consider the squad shape to be, whether all the players have bought in, whether they need new players in and whether or not they’ve got injuries, but we’re organised and we’re set.

“We’ve worked on strategies, we’ve worked on plans for whoever the opposition is, so we’ve done a lot of work.

"The majority of our squad have been in the building from the get go so we’ve got that little bit of continuity, that hunger, that desire and determination, and we’re all really looking forward to the season.

"I’m relatively pleased, I’m pretty calm, I can see things without even having to look and I’m in a comfortable position.”

Dale kick-off the new season against Hartlepool, and Hill is looking forward to the journey.

“The season isn’t all about one game, it’s a 46 league games season, but it’s a great curtain opener for us.

"I’m looking forward to the progress throughout the course of the season, I’m looking forward to developing the squad even more and making sure that we maintain our identity.

"If we’re strong enough and determined enough, we will retain our identity and our philosophy, and we’ll be successful.

“There will be days when it will be superb and there will be days when it won’t be great, but we’ve got to maintain our focus on our goal and continue to re-brand Rochdale AFC.”