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The 33rd and final year for Rochdale?
By Nathan Jackson July 6 2006
In the second pre-season prediction, we look at our personal 2nd favourites for relegation, Rochdale. They've been in this division since 1974 but if they continue their form of the second half of last season, they are expected by many to struggle, especially if they don't keep Lambert.

Manager : Steve Parkin

Key Player : Ricky Lambert

Most Interesting Stat from Last Season : Only managed a run of back to back wins once and that came at the beginning October when they won their first 3 league games of the month and the LDV match against Stockport

Tipped by many for : Lower mid-table, likely relegation battle..

Last Season : Rochdale got off to a great start and were challenging at the right end of the table for the first few months of the season and despite faltering before Christmas, they still looked like possible candidates for the playoffs but then they sold Grant Holt to Nottingham Forest and their season collapsed and the playoff challenge that seemed likely quickly wilted away and the finished a disappointing 14th. One reason for optimism was Ricky Lambert who effectively replaced Holt as the main goal threat but you always got the feeling that they would rarely score if he wasn’t in the team.

This season : Rochdale’s chairman has left the club and now the people in charge at Spotland are claiming that they’ll only be able to afford a squad of around 20 players and given that one of their signings was Adam Rundle (with no disrespect intended) could be used as evidence that their wage limit isn’t very high at all. Even some of their own fans are doubting that they’ll survive and their single sign of hope that Rochdale fans seem to be clinging onto is the unlikelihood that they will be able to keep Lambert for the whole season.

They’ll avoid this fate if : Ricky Lambert remains a Rochdale player until next year because he is worth at least 20 goals every season. Consistent form will also be vital if Rochdale are to avoid the drop, it’s ironic in a way that they lack consistency considering they’ve been in this division since 1974, easily the longest in the division.

Prediction : 23rd, With several reported off the field problems, inconsistency and most importantly, the likely sale of Lambert, it’s going to be a LONG hard season for Rochdale and although I hate to say it, they will finally get out of this division, but not the way they want.

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