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Thread | The Bigger Picture
at 08:30 17 Nov 2024
For me, McNulty is just a symptom of the problem. On the pitch, he’s doing alright, not bad but not great, and the jury is out, as anyone who attends games at the COA knows. Is he getting the best out of what appears to be a decent group of players? Not sure. After yesterdays poor performance and defeat at third from bottom of the table Wealdstone, he blamed the pitch and the referee for a ‘low level’ ’rubbish game’ - well I don’t want to come across all Roy Keane, but isn’t it his job to plan for the park pitch, select a team from a fairly large squad to cope with the erm, non league pitch, with a non league referee? (Who aside from the thrice taken corner incident, did a good job of letting the game flow) Surely a manager with aspirations to be a League One manager would have? But I think, for the board, McNulty is doing ok, punching above his budget, and they’re turning a blind eye to growing fan discontent at fluctuating levels of performance and his often nonsensical post match interviews.
In my view the real problem is we have a dysfunctional leadership structure at the club. With the Ogden family, driving forward a new agenda, a push to regain our league status, rebuild the clubs off the field activities to become a community asset which is financially viable. Then the old Board in Rochdale, dominated by Simon Gauge, ostensibly running the day to day operations while the long term plan is being put together.
The Ogden part of the operation is clearly articulated; a visionary statement early in the season, followed by last weeks Radio Manchester interview. Feedback from those who have met the family report they are a personable bunch, wanting to engage with fans.
Meanwhile, back at the Crown Oil, little has changed since the dark days of last season. Season tickets were put on sale, with little promotion, despite a stated desire to grow attendances at the COA. Merchandise wasn’t available until the season had started. There was the stickers on seats debacle, resolved by intervention of the trust and posters on this messageboard volunteering to assist. Despite the sterling efforts of Anthony and his hospitality team, the Matchday experience remains limited, with ageing facilities hampering improvements and an air of ‘well it’s all going to take some time’. Anthony continues to perform miracles, but it feels to be despite the club hierarchy. Then there was the away travel episode, with the trust having to step in, at the time I was told “There is a propensity for the existing leadership to make things difficult for supporters - away travel being a case in point, such that the Ogdens have asked the Trust to run it with subsidy direct from their Trust funds.” Then the match day ticketing system which is by many accounts semi functional.
More concerning, the recent ‘minor’ changes to the AGM with the removal of the shareholders forum. Put together with the removal of the requirement for audited accounts, transparency it seems is something the Board aren’t keen on. This brings into focus the role and function of the Trust, whose influence feels to have been seriously depleted by the standing down of the Chair, who was instrumental in the process leading to the Ogdens introduction to the club. The Trust member on the board, frankly isn’t working, in the current Board. If it was effective, then the issues I mention wouldn’t be happening. A strong fan voice organisation is critical for any club with intentions to become more relevant in its community; likewise if attendances are to grow. In other sectors, businesses actively support and build capacity in their customer voice, which seen as a resource (not a hindrance) this includes funding for training and paid roles. Something, if the Ogdens are to succeed, we will need to adopt here. Asking fans to step up taking time out of their lives without support, isn’t going to move us forward, we can carry on as we are, burning out passionate individuals- Col - George, but long term, to grow a Trust which advises the Board on the paying customers perspective- it will need the club to invest in it. We grow together.
So my conclusion is we have a lack of cohesion at the top of our club, one going fast, focussed on the future; the other going slow, stuck in the past, holding onto their historic status. The sense is we are paying a heavy price for saving faces, and in my experience those arrangements are time limited anyway; and in healthy businesses, difficult decisions are taken early, otherwise progress is stifled.
To my mind, we need to completely overhaul the leadership and management of the club. With a clear single message from Cameron Ogden as sole chairman, supported by a CEO who works closely and crucially locally, answerable to a revamped board and a properly resourced management team responsible for delivery of the business plan and including a Director of Football type role to assist the Head coach. Alignment of purpose is critical to our success on and off the pitch and we don’t have that at the moment.
We have neighbours from down the 627 visiting on Saturday, a fixture where last season there were some fairly unpleasant scenes in the away end, resulting in part, from downright bad behaviour, but handled poorly by weak stewarding, who as is often the case, when larger away followings arrive at the COA, fans were allowed to congregate on concourses close to the pitch. I understand the Ogden family will be attending the game on Saturday, wouldn’t it be a shame if poor stewarding marred their experience with a repeat of last seasons scenes. I hope that the board are all over this, and measures put in place to prevent a repeat, but, well I think you know where I’m going with this…..
Up the Dale
[Post edited 17 Nov 8:43]
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Thread | Eng v Den
at 18:40 20 Jun 2024
A beautiful illustration of how walking football, even with talented players, is dull to watch and how it stifles what talent you have. Probably the worst performance so far in the entire tournament with arguably the most talented group. |
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Thread | Ex Dale / Still Playing 11
at 15:59 30 Dec 2023
With a free weekend and seeing a few ex Dale players popping up on Sky, I was musing what a decent team we could have had with currently playing ex Dale players….
Bobby Sanchez - Chelsea
Scott Tanzer - St Mirren
Craig Dawson - Wolves
Gabriel Osho - Luton
Joe Rafferty - Portsmouth
Ethan Brierley - Brentford
Jamie Allen - Coventry
Aaron Morley - Bolton
Nathaniel Mendez Laing - Derby
Steven Humphries - Wigan
Jake Beesley / Blackpool
Not a bad side….might be a few goals!! |
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Thread | Wealdstone - Club Statement
at 07:57 11 Nov 2023
Seems they have big plans, working in partnership with their local council:
“Commenting on the plans Wealdstone’s Chairman, Rory Fitzgerald, said: “London Borough of Hillingdon's decision to allocate the club this land follows a long period of discussion and negotiation and will play an important role in safeguarding the future of the club and supporting its growth. On behalf of the Board, I would like to personally thank London Borough of Hillingdon for their support and we look forward to working closely with them as we take the project forward, subject to planning.
The new stadium is fantastic news not only for our fans and players but the whole local community. As we progress, we will ensure that we optimise the benefits for local residents while also working to minimise and mitigate any potential environmental impacts associated with a construction project of this size.
In addition, we are confident that the security and growth potential offered by the new stadium will help us attract the investment we need to realise our ambition of one day playing in the EFL.”
The Board is currently involved in a number of preliminary discussions regarding funding and remain open to approaches from those considering investment in what is set to be an exciting period of growth for the club. Funding for the construction of the stadium is also expected to be generated through the development of new residential units and associated commercial floorspace on an area of the site allocated by London Borough of Hillingdon. These modern and much needed properties will benefit from the same outstanding location and transport links associated with the new stadium.
The club is actively working with its partners to establish a feasible timeline in which to be playing in the new stadium. Separately the Board is continuing its discussions with the landlords of The Vale which remains firmly in the club's plans as a facility to support its ambition to progress into the English Football League (EFL).”
I recall Gauge told TS that councils don’t do this sort of thing… [Post edited 11 Nov 2023 8:11]
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Thread | Fixture Board
at 07:05 14 Aug 2023
Does anyone know where it’s gone? I noticed it’s been removed from the Wilbutts Sandy Lane junction and replaced by a poster. It deals with he issue of having to update it regularly during the season, but the poster covers just the next few games and will need to be replaced itself.
Hopefully the old board wasn’t just scrapped? It’s a small piece of heritage which could have been repurposed….. |
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Thread | Congratulations to Steve Parkin
at 20:34 22 Apr 2023
One of Dales best managers and started the change to make Dale a club and team on the rise.
What we’d give for him now. 😠|
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Thread | Seventies songs
at 18:29 20 Apr 2022
Does anyone else remember the song involving a ‘yellow ribbon’ in the seventies. I remember it from my early visits at Dale but can’t remember much more or what year (s) it was…. |
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Thread | The Pitch - over the summer
at 07:01 12 Apr 2022
Just a thought as the season draws to a close. The usual practice recently at COA has been to clear the pitch and start from scratch with new seed. My thought is that given the short window we have to do that due to Hornets and other events. Is that the right approach? Aside from one occasion this season we appear to have solved the drainage problems, raising the pitch seems to have done the trick - but we continue to suffer from threadbare surfaces since January and now we have the usual late season bobbly pitch. Given the short Rochdale growing season with relatively low temperatures, rain and shade from stands - wouldn’t it be better to just let the grass grow this summer? We might have grass on the pitch come Jan 23…. |
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Thread | Main stand volume
at 18:47 22 Jan 2022
Ridiculous either turn it down or get speakers than can deal with the volume. But why does Sweetmore shout, absolutely impossible to have a conversation before the game or at half time. It’s not a nightclub Dave!!
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Thread | Crown Oil
at 22:20 13 Nov 2021
So, with all eyes on Glasgow and COP26. How comfortable a position is it ethically for us to be sponsored by a fossil fuel company? My view is we should be asking them what their stance is in relation to reducing their businesses carbon footprint. |
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Thread | McShane
at 20:52 3 Jan 2020
Just interviewed on five live, said he’d had talks today re contract extension, mentioned the board and implied their concerns around his fitness. He said he’s fit, but we’d have to see what happened after tomorrow..... |
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Thread | Toy Salesman
at 20:13 23 Nov 2019
Looks like he’s been found out.
Running a football club is more complicated than selling toys.
Worrying times.
Up the Dale |
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Thread | Tomorrow
at 16:58 26 Apr 2019
It’s going to absolutely p1ss it down... |
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Thread | “Rochdale are an awful side”
at 16:31 4 Apr 2019
From the Geordies messageboard.
“Rochdale are an awful side, and one who we should definitely play 442 against, possibly against Burton at home too.
However, I think against Coventry, Ross will revert back to 4231 and have the extra man in midfield.
We will put 4 past Rochdale”
One for the dressing room wall.
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Thread | Hills last game.....??
at 15:43 1 Jan 2019
Seriously think this could be Hills last game, apart from our precarious league position and Hill being PR disaster; for five specific reasons which are relevant now:
1. New Board - Hill and Dunphy were a team, now Dunphy out of the way - much easier for a new board to make a change.
2. Constant tinkering- would be ok if it worked. But it hasn’t, for over two years now.
3. Home form. If it weren’t for some big away supports, our gates would be v low.
4. It’s 1st January. Time for a new manager to ship out deadwood and bring in some new players.
5. Gary Jones is available......
We will see......
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Thread | Individual error
at 21:42 27 Nov 2018
Keith’s team selection, formation and tactics
Again. |
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Thread | Message to Keith Hill
at 22:15 23 Oct 2018
Stop messing around and do your job properly- have a plan, stick to it and take responsibility when it goes wrong.
Picking a consistent 11, starting with goalkeeper then defence - would be a good start.
Rant over.
Up the dale. |
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Thread | Context
at 08:17 22 Aug 2018
I think the reason for the frustration in the main stand last night runs quite deep and we have a recurring scepticism of Hills continual chopping and changing of personnel and formations. The key issue isn't the changes in themselves, although the results on the pitch don't look like they work so far this season, in fact for many seasons. I've seen Calvin and Hendo play in almost every
position in the last three years, sometimes it looks like the players are confused themselves.
No - the issue is,why can't Hill
a. Explain want he's trying to achieve with his selections and
b. Admit it when he gets it wrong.
It's being going on for years now and people are getting fed up of it.
When Lillis gets taken off - unless you noticed he's injured it just looks like anther unfathomable change.
Combine that with back to back home hammerings - you will get frustrated people venting after they've looked forward to a game AND we usually have such a hard-to-beat-at-home reputation which seems to have given way to a "well, their budget is more than ours, what can you expect". When did we have a worse home start to the season? People are going to get upset, that's what a lot of people go to football for!!
The final point I'd make is back to the fans forum before the start of the season. Hill was asked why we seem to start slowly. He was quite defensive and ended up denying we did make slow starts. The guy is clearly in a very very powerful position in the club, the way the acting CEO was deferential to KH particularly around the training facilities, indicates to me where the power lies.
But this has to be team Rochdale, not team Rochdale when it suits Keith.
I do wonder how it would go if Hill had a stronger Chairman and a less acquiescent board? Oh but we know how that went.........
Everyone needs to be careful what they wish for.
Walsall in good form........but similar budget.......chin up......
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