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Reply | Dale Released List Confirmed
at 19:14 24 May 2025
if we're looking to build a more combative squad and if Ferguson isn't deemed good enough all 3 need to be moved on for me. |
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 21:39 22 May 2025
Agree with much of that but the key difference is about a mandate. As far as I understand it, the CAB are a group of individuals selected by the Club and whilst they are from different fan demographics they aren't elected by that demographic nor are they accountable to anyone. The Trust has elections or surveys to decide representation and policies - we can at least propose a meeting of the Trust to discuss and decide on issues (as in this thread); we can't do that with the CAB. |
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Reply | Should he stay or should he go?
at 16:51 19 May 2025
what types of players are you looking to recruit?
what alternative formations will be needed next season and in what situations?
what alternative tactics/personnel are you planning to use to overcome low block opponents?
What are you looking for in your choice of captain?
What sort of improvement will you look for in the PR about team selections, performances and ambitions?
and for the Board - what annual criteria are you using to measure the success of the 3 year plan to achieve EFL status? |
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Reply | Should he stay or should he go?
at 12:05 18 May 2025
I've no idea what our playing budget was this season or how that ranks in the league or who McNulty tried to sign or who was or wasn't available but he's delivered 4th place, a historically good goal tally and home record, and a cup semi final.... so he starts next season.
But, yes the Board should have set him criteria for progression over the 3 year plan including squad make-up and style of football and as Fitz argues some of those criteria should be made public. That would include an improvement of in-game tactical & personnel flexibility or at least a reflective explanation of choices made.
The interviews are a problem - both lack of challenging questions and his answers; indeed that reflective explanation might attract fans, but as others have pointed out other managers (eg Hill) weren't immune from poor PR. Certainly comments like not being ready for the EFL whilst no doubt intended to take pressure off players send the wrong message to fans - good PR can be learnt.
I've also no idea if there are any experienced proven National League Managers available if he was sacked. How do you guarantee that the strengths of McNulty's leadership (Daley Lama's post) won't be lost with a new manager? As to the belief he can't change - wasn't the acquisition of Bird proof that he did know some of what the squad lacked - maybe he tried and there weren't such players available earlier?
Certainly he will have to deliver continual improvement and if Cedar Room is right that he is more Southgate than Ferguson the Board will need options in 9 months time.
Indeed I've no idea how you guarantee success in any part of life - not doing the same thing that doesn't work sounds so insightful but several thousand years of wars & famine suggest we humans aren't brilliant at that. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United (Playoffs)
at 10:54 16 May 2025
Agree. Pre match I'd predicted 1-1 & pens on the same assumption about Southend but I also said that key would be whether McNulty had a plan B and sadly he didn't. Has Kingdon gone back - if not he could have been the plan B left wing back which might have stopped many of Southend's crosses from the right.
I was also surprised (pleasantly) at Rodney's work rate all night. Gordon was brilliant as ever - my player of the season (despite the lay off). And whilst it is frustrating I think your view on the substitutions isn't far off though I would have gone for 2 up top (without Mitchell) and 3 in midfield - probably would have replaced Barlow with Ayinde earlier. Certainly the Hogan substitution was key but I'd have put money on Beckwith being able to do the left wing back role.. how wrong we were. Equally I agree it sent the wrong signal, we needed an extra goal as their physicality was always going to be a threat.
So no tippy tappy, we scored 2 good goals, hit the bar and had several other real chances but we were beaten by a side with better tactics and ruthlessness at the death. Gutted, yes, it's the hope that kills but I'll be there again in August. Hope we get a new stronger spine to the team come then. [Post edited 16 May 10:56]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United (Playoffs)
at 00:11 16 May 2025
Agree the Hogan change didn 't work although many managers would have done likewise but Beckwith played as a left wing back for Maidenhead... though you wouldn't have known from his performance tonight after the Hogan substitution. Southend's threat down the right had been in evidence for the first 20 mins before Tobi was swopped with Allarakhia and the threat returned even greater after the substitution. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United (Playoffs)
at 00:02 16 May 2025
Agree Gilmour was immense, so too Gordon, Rodney and EEBL but I fear Allarakia has been a defensive liability all season and tonight we had to swop Tobi with him to stop Southend's No 22 running us ragged down the right... which thus lost the highly effective Gordon/Tobi combination.
The game seemed to pass East by too and agree the substitutions were pivotal in our handing momentum to Southend, I also agree there's a lack of ruthless winning at all costs mentality in the squad. |
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Reply | For generations to come
at 22:31 7 May 2025
Agreed the past isn't always best and I don't share 49th's pessimism that all about the town is bleak, but I do have to agree about the innovative drive and fantastic arts scene in Rochdale in the 70s - visual arts as he cites including a town artist, Cartwheel, M6 Theatre, Tractor, Deeply Vale, RAP - it attracted me to make Rochdale my home |
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Reply | Refwatch - Solihull Moors v Rochdale
at 22:01 29 Apr 2025
It's easy this prediction lark and the strong bench was needed - not just for the goal but to stop Solihull's momentum in the last 15 minutes.
That was a thoroughly professional performance though one or two weren't as sharp first half as on Saturday but as a team we had a stronger 2nd half.
Just to stir up the style of play debate - I doubt the match would have excited many neutrals and there was certainly plenty of tippy tappy and slow patient build up; indeed it didn't grab me as an entertainment.....but who cares.
We won and there's another great Play-Off night ahead! |
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Reply | Fanbase
at 11:49 29 Apr 2025
Thanks isitime & Dale69er - logged in again on my mobile after purchasing on desktop & it's in the wallet
ps - thanks TVOS but no thanks |
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Reply | Fanbase
at 19:43 28 Apr 2025
I want to purchase using the web option from my desktop rather than from my mobile but then want to install the resulting digital ticket on my mobile (which doesn't have Google wallet etc) - any advice please |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 13:45 27 Apr 2025
I understand your frustrations as a football fan (being also of a certain age) and as a Dale fan this season but perhaps your criticisms need to be sent to FIFA, the FA, Guardiolo etc - it's hardly McNulty's fault that tippy tappy has won everything for the last decade and thus underpins the coaching bible.. along with countering defensive blocks.
And good luck asking our opponents to help entertain and grow our crowds by playing expansive football like Hartlepool so we can 'muller' them!! |
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 13:16 27 Apr 2025
I agree it would be useful to have the option of 3 in midfield - whether with a 3rd holding player or a more attacking option.
In fact when we play well with Hendo in the No 9 slot the other 2 strikers often find space in a midfield position to receive the ball as with Rodney yesterday for the Ayinde goal; in fact they both played with more positional flexibility - as with Ayinde on the left wing for the Hendo goal.
If playing with wing backs 2 wide strikers can block their space so having the other 2 players finding space centrally can be a lethal combination as Hartlepool discovered yesterday. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 22:14 26 Apr 2025
But it was Hartlepool's willingness to play an open expansive style which allowed Dale to do likewise - it was no more down to a sudden change of pre-match instruction from the manager than the putatative instruction to play boringly against Spennymoor etc as some on here perceive.
McNulty can be criticised, as others have done, for weaknesses in the squad cover in certain positions, in formation flexibility and in some selections but I agree with fitzochris - finishing in a play off position and the 3rd best Home goals tally in 18 years is success. |
| | tony_roch975
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 338 | | Comment Votes: | 0 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 338 |
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