How Rochdale helped develop top-class Prem ‘keepers – and now Man City have the key

Any manager in the EFL will tell you know that finding talented Premier League youngsters willing to join your club is difficult – let alone when you’re predicted to struggle in the third tier.

But tell that to Rochdale who, in back-to-back seasons, managed to lure two goalkeepers to the club who are set to star as no.1s in the top-flight next season.

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The League Two club first signed Spanish ‘keeper Robert Sanchez on loan from Brighton in 2019, before bringing Manchester City youngster Gavin Bazunu to the club a season later.

Since then, Sanchez has established himself as the Seagulls’ first choice, whilst Bazunu signed for Southampton earlier in the transfer window.

Despite now being Premier League shot-stoppers, the duo – who will both be playing on the south coast this season – had to pick the ball out of the back of their nets on a fair few occasions during their time at Spotland.

During the 2019/20 campaign, Sanchez conceded 57 goals in 34 games as Dale finished 18th before the season was prematurely ended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While Bazunu shipped 78 in 46 matches a year later, which resulted in the club being relegated to League Two where they currently reside.

But Matty Lund, who played with both players during their time at the club, says things could have been even worse without the on-loan duo.

When asked if he ever thought that a more senior goalkeeper would be better off in goal, Lund told talkSPORT: “No, never. They were outstanding goalkeepers and they made some incredible saves.

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“There were times where the scoreline could have been completely different if it wasn’t for them.”

So, clearly, the club’s disappointing finishes were nothing to do with the ability of the goalkeepers, hence why they are now heading into the new season as top-flight players.

Lund admits that then-manager Brian Barry-Murphy’s style of play ‘did cost them goals’ – but that genre of football is unarguably responsible for his loan goalkeepers’ rise to becoming Premier League players.

“He wanted to play it on the floor, he wanted to pass the ball around and be comfortable with it,” Lund explained.

“He liked players who were comfortable on the ball and could handle it under pressure, which was what he did with the goalkeeper situation.

“Gavin and Robert are both very good with their feet and he expected that from his keepers.

“He always referred back to the Pep Guardiola-way, in the way he wanted us passing but also doing the right thing at the right time as well, not just trying to overplay it all the time.”

He added: “When we were doing shape or doing some sort of pattern play, [the goalkeepers] were always involved. We would usually start off with the ‘keeper having the ball and work it that way. 

“The ‘keeper would clip the ball into me rather than the centre-forward and he expected the ‘keeper to be able to drive that pass into midfield.

“It might have been quite a tricky pass but, with Robert and Gavin, they were both comfortable enough to try it. And Brian gave them the confidence to just do it.”

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Manchester City boss Guardiola was mentioned by Lund and, after being inspired by one of the game’s most successful bosses, Barry-Murphy is now a colleague of the Spaniard.

After leaving Rochdale following their relegation to League Two, the former Republic of Ireland international was announced as the new manager of Man City’s Elite Development Squad.

He is helping to develop the next batch of youngsters at the Etihad Stadium, including the likes of CJ Egan-Riley, Cole Palmer, and Liam Delap.

The latter has since gone on to make multiple appearances under Guardiola – but Lund reveals he was almost signed by Barry-Murphy’s Rochdale, which would have been a huge coup for the EFL side.

And his former boss’ ability to find young talent makes him a brilliant addition to the City staff, says Lund: “With Brian, he’s unbelievable at spotting talent.

“He knows a good player when he sees one and he’s very intelligent in that aspect.

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“He’s the type of person who seems to be able to pick up these gems and has got that knack of being able to pick up a good youngster.”

Sanchez and Bazunu were two of those and Barry-Murphy will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on his former players in the Premier League next season.

Sanchez has starred for Graham Potter’s side on a regular basis over the last two seasons, after displacing ex-Brighton ‘keeper Maty Ryan during the 2020-21 season.

Since establishing himself as one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in the division, Spain boss Luis Enrique has called him up to the national team and a spot in their Qatar World squad looks likely.

But Lund says this wouldn’t have come as much of a surprise to Sanchez himself, who always knew he would make it to the top.

“He was just so confident that he was going to be the next best goalkeeper in the world. That’s the mentality he had,” Lund said.

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“I think you’ve got to have that type of arrogance and you’ve got to be able to back it up if you want to be a top player. And he’s now showing that he is.

“I think if it was somebody who we didn’t think that was going to be able to do that, we would probably have taken him down a couple of pegs, but he was performing at an incredible level at times during that season.

“He made a few mistakes but that’s part of his learning. I think, over the last season, I’ve watched him at Brighton, and he’s learning to cut out the mistakes.”

As for Bazunu, a spell at League One side Portsmouth followed his time at Rochdale, before Ralph Hassenhuttl decided to bring him to the club this summer.

talkSPORT understands the Saints have promised him the no.1 jersey at the club, which would see him go from third-tier relegation to top-tier starter in just two years.

Bazunu’s rise to the top, however, comes less from self-belief and more from hard work.

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When asked about the difference between the two, Lund added: “I wouldn’t say as confident – Gavin wouldn’t have said something like he’s going to be the next best goalkeeper in the world!

“But he was always with the goalkeeping coach or with the manager, trying to learn about what he could do to be better.

“He was little bit hesitant with the ball at times, but he improved massively and tried to be more confident on the ball.

“Obviously coming from Manchester City, you need that confidence if you’re going to play in the Premier League so he knew that he needed to try and do that.

“Rochdale was the right club to give him that freedom, be brave, and take the ball and try and play out from the back.”

Rather than Rochdale being the right club, it sounds like Barry-Murphy was the right manager.

And, despite his first spell in senior management ending in relegation, don’t be surprised to see him, along with the players he has developed over the years, one day, in the Premier League.