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Reply | Friendly versus Man Utd U21
at 14:03 5 Aug 2025
I watched the Stockport-Bolton game on Sky at the weekend. Two teams probable to fight for promotion this season. Funny to see Morley and Camps, Dodgson and O`Keefe and Alfie commentating.
What struck me most was the totally different game to what Jim seems to prefer.
There was much quicker buildup from defence through midfield, not speed of the players but quicker passing and forward moving. There was no passing around the penalty area or keepers with their foot on the ball. The keepers cleared their lines quickly and the whole defences were happy to use the long ball. Not pretty, but effective. There was much more movement in midfield and wide. I would prefer our players to use these tactics than try to emulate the Man City possession football which at our level is dangerous if the opposition play a high press.
I was surprised at this being offered by teams two leagues ahead of us, but it reinforced my view that we must adopt a quicker more direct pattern this season if we are going to stand a chance of promotion. |
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Reply | The Fitzture List - Rochdale Rising: Inside McNulty’s push for sustainable suc
at 16:53 1 Aug 2025
I felt Jim dodged the Pete Woodhouse question re "attack being the best form of defence". I suspect it is so far removed from Jim`s tactical philosophy that it almost amused him .His response to the issue is to employ more players with the versatility and the energy to adapt to changed situations. This may well work as long as he quickly spots the problem in the dugout.
The other issues raised many times last season were the lack of pace in the squad and the lack of physical strength in midfield. With the exception of Amantchi-only here till the end of December, I can`t see the pace issue has been addressed. Again because of Jim`s obsession with possession football, I guess he doesn`t see the need for pace.
East and Gilmour looked vulnerable when occasionally put under midfield pressure and none of the new signings, except for Dieseruvwe and Tutonda have a lot of league experience. Hopefully Jim has seen something in the abilities to of the new midfielders to suggest they can toughen up the midfield. Pritchard looks an interesting signing in this respect.
Not sure Jim explained the goalkeeper issue fully, though this may be a situation where 17/19 yearold morale is important. |
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Reply | Tom Myles Signs
at 17:40 31 Jul 2025
Fair point about Lillis. How tall is Tom Myles? Anyone know? |
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Reply | Tom Myles Signs
at 17:31 31 Jul 2025
Louie Moulden conceded 39 league goals in his 28 appearances behind EEL, Nevett, John and Keohane including 6 clean sheets. He has played very little first team football since leaving us ( to higher levels).
I dont think our experience of rookie keepers is that good.
i hope Jim knows what he is doing. |
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 10:20 22 Jul 2025
The 2 players who have not featured in either match so far are McBride and Burger despite not being noted as injured. With so many midfielders in the squad I suppose this means they are likely to be on the move. If so pity because both have shown some attacking preference. |
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Reply | Joe Pritchard Signs
at 12:34 11 Jul 2025
We now have 10 midfielders in a squad of 22. None of the 10 score more than a few goals on past record. No mention of any pace on the flanks.
How is Jim going to use all these players and keep the dropouts motivated?
This time last year we had 5. These new players are all on payroll. Yet the budget is not being spent on the attack or keepers.
The only new signings who played a full season last year were Dieseruvwe and Tutonda.
Strange. |
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Reply | Signing #6 inbound...
at 11:35 9 Jul 2025
Just a little puzzled by the signings.
Why do we now have 9 midfielders signed for 1-2 years?
These 9 scored 16 league goals between them for their respective clubs- 6 Dale and 3 new signings. Out of a total of 205 league appearances. So no goalpower there.
Where is the pace in the squad that we knew we so desperately needed last season? Remember Hayes? 7 goals in 22 appearances. Opposing defences backtracked last season while we patently built our attacks..
Like the sound of Dieseruvwe. He looks exactly what we have been missing upfront. |
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Reply | Signing #6 inbound...
at 12:22 7 Jul 2025
When did Tobi sign a contract extension beyond June 2025? I must have missed that. |
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Reply | FIFA World Club Comp
at 11:57 19 Jun 2025
All I`m interested in is where the Dale are going to find a striker and a goalkeeper. |
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Reply | Incoming ..... another club teaser
at 11:48 3 Jun 2025
We will tell from Jim`s signings what he believes are the priorities next season. If he concentrates on midfield and defence like last year, then we may be in for more disappointment. Probably number 1 priority is a reliable keeper though.
He may have to wait to see if contracted players are snapped up by clubs with more "clout". 50 days to go before pre-season.
We shall see. |
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Reply | Incoming ..... another club teaser
at 13:24 2 Jun 2025
But scoring a lot more goals would even give us a chance to win the league, which is probably the only way we will get out of this league with Jim`s knockout and key match record. |
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Reply | Incoming ..... another club teaser
at 10:32 1 Jun 2025
You are dead right about the scorer priority.
In the last 5 seasons the "non-strikers" have scored the following league goals:
2020-21 45 out of 61 (Div 1)
2021-22 35 out of 51 (Div 2)
2022-23 21 out of 46 (Div 2)
2023-24 37 out of 69 (NL)
2024-25 24 out of 69 (NL)
That last statistic cost us dear this season.
Allarakia 2 goals
Gilmour 2
East 2
A/R 2
McBride 4
Barlow 4
Others 8 (incl 2 Own Goals)
The big question here is whether Jim`s tactics prevent them from contributing goals, or do we jut have a bad set of alternative goalscorers? |
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Reply | Should he stay or should he go?
at 11:02 17 May 2025
Agree with all your sentiments.
Few adds.
Jim`s recruitment 12 months ago left is woefully short of attackers. Will he do the same again? I have seen the advantage of having an experienced attack front line in several teams this season.
Surely he can see that EEL and Hogan is one too many when organising the back line?
We (almost) all see big problems with Jim`s game management, which came to a head in the debacle on Thursday. He is not improving. We (almost) all think the bulk of the squad is good.
There are about 75 days to go before we kick off again.
I for one have no confidence that Jim will take us forward next time. |
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Reply | Should he stay or should he go?
at 15:28 16 May 2025
Only 11 weeks till the new season gets under way. Over in a flash in football terms.
If anything were to happen, it would have to happen very soon. |
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Reply | Steven Phillipps
at 14:18 9 May 2025
You, a journalist. will appreciate the difference between dry statistics and a nuanced piece of writing. As a chartered accountant, I am only too familiar with statistical reports that appear to be factually precise, hiding all sorts of underlying information.
What Steven shows in his writing is deep knowledge of events and people but had delved deeper into people who maybe only briefly appeared in the Dale history, but had a significant effect on events at that time.
Please pass on my admiration for his (irreplaceable) work. |
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Reply | Steven Phillipps
at 13:35 9 May 2025
Please pass on to him my great admiration for his amazing historical research and excellent commentaries on people and events. I go back to 1955 with Dale and though now an exile, the flame still burns. |
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Thread | Steven Phillipps
at 10:11 9 May 2025
Whatever happened to Steven Phillipps, the author of "The Survivors" and the remarkable "Rochdale AFC Official History"1907-2001".
The latter to anyone who hasn`t a copy, summarises every season and has details of every player with full statistics and team photos.
What happened in 2001 when it ceases, and did anyone continue the analysis? I remember I was setting up as self-employed at the time and was a little detached from the Dale at the time, so may have missed this. |
| | samueloneils
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