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Reply | Southgate resigns
at 13:19 16 Jul 2024
For all the talk of people wanting attacking football, the game on Sunday really highlighted the same failing England have always had when they reach the business end of tournaments: we can't keep the ball well enough.
We don't have a 'six' able to boss a game. Yamal and Williams were able to flourish because they had Rodri then Zubamendi mopping everything up -- the same way Pirlo played when Italy did us in 2012 or whenever it was. The same job Makelele did for France, and before him Deschamps. Declan Rice is quality but you can see he plays in a very 'English' way of always wanting to do everything -- similar to Gerrard or even Bryan Robson going back. If we had been more attacking against Spain, as many people urged, I think we would have been embarrassed to be honest. We barely had the ball all game.
For that reason alone, I reckon the FA has to look at someone with proper tactical understanding. Keep the ball first, but use it better than we did against Slovenia and Slovakia. Then find a way to go from sideways passes to much more confident risky options -- that's the level Southgate never quite took us to. Let's hope the new manager can adapt a Mainoo or a Wharton to play that 6 role better -- if they can, we will be a huge threat at any tournament. If they can't, we'll continue to fall just short while the fans all complain that we don't attack at will.
I think Potter is the strongest candidate out there -- unless someone is very persuasive towards Pep. Maybe BBM can Whatsapp him or something...!
(As an aside, it would be fascinating to see if Pep took the job whether he would over time be accused of being too timid, as GS has been...after all, Pep's style is not 'heavy metal football' as we know...) [Post edited 16 Jul 13:20]
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Reply | Maidenhead away match thread.
at 19:52 7 Oct 2023
I agree with this, the reason it doesn't feel a positive result is because, to be blunt, Maidenhead are miles off the standard you'd see in League Two and we didn't really lay a glove on them. Maybe there are some mitigating factors: the playing surface I thought was abysmal, much worse than the 3G at Dorking, and the unseasonal sunny weather gave the occasion a strange preseason feel in my opinion.
But we can't use those as excuses; we have to find a way to pose a threat consistently during games instead of allowing matches to drift.
I'm sure Big Jim will now be very conscious that we need a couple of results and ideally much better performances in the next two games, both of which will be very tricky for different reasons. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kairo and Rodney play as a traditional front two, and the lad from Fleetwood looked alright too when he came on.
The other issue for me from today was the contrast in how effectively Jimmy K and Sinclair combined down the left flank, compared to Jez and Odoruh on the right who looked frankly like they'd just met in the car park. |
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Reply | FA Cup
at 16:06 2 Oct 2023
Is this as good as guaranteed to be a 3pm Saturday KO then, or could it be moved if BBC show it online? |
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Reply | Match Thread: Kidderminster vs Dale (n/t)
at 17:57 9 Sep 2023
It's probably a point gained but it was so static at times that it was hard to watch. And I say that as someone who absolutely doesn't subscribe to the 'gerrit forward' school of thought. I thought Kairo was poor today, first half in particular he was just completely statuesque.
Agree that SAJ made a real difference, he looked like a player with a point to prove. I was also moderately impressed by Conway, he got the end of some massive diags from Ebanks-Landell. That might prove to be an 'out ball' for us in the next few weeks. But we really need Rodney back and probably a bit more besides to challenge the top sides IMHO. [Post edited 9 Sep 2023 19:29]
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Reply | Why we are where we are?
at 16:42 7 Aug 2023
I certainly agree with you that it's not a balance sheet, it's just a couple of stats from a single season. But that transfer spending bar chart nevertheless really stopped me in my tracks just because it makes us look like such outliers. I wonder if even when we had the ITV Digital money in 2000 or so to spend on Paul Connor etc we were quite such leaders for transfer spending across the whole division?
Maybe KM will provide a bit more context -- but I guess we know for sure that when the board say they backed RS, they really did. |
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Thread | Why we are where we are?
at 14:36 7 Aug 2023
From football finance guru Kieran Maguire's Twitter -- sorry, 'X' -- account. Yes, it seems Robbie really did spend a QUARTER of the entire League Two paid transfer outlay for the season 2021-22. I guess this is why Big Jim is a Head Coach.
Full thread here, well worth a read (sadly I think you'll need a Twitter/X account to see it all):
One other stat stands out: we were pretty much bang average for income among L2 clubs -- £5.1m brought in versus the £5.2m average for the division. Room for improvement for sure, but not the basket case we sometimes fear we are -- in my opinion anyway.
Food for thought! |
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Reply | Utter Rubbish I can’t stand this
at 21:39 5 Aug 2023
So relieved to read a slew of posts reflecting on the game in a similar way to me; am an exile so don't have to see us at Spotland every other week. I certainly wouldn't question the views of those who do.
The result was hugely disappointing but I thought the logic behind how we played was sound. Completely agree with those suggesting Hilly would make a monster out of Kairo Mitchell; that volley goes in and we win at a canter. I think Rodney and Mitchell will be a handful for every defence they play this year.
On the flip side, Clayton and Gilmour look capable if possibly one paced. Thought Sinclair did OK, a lot of effort and commitment albeit without end product.
But let's face facts: we urgently, desperately need a couple of garbage 1-0 home wins from somewhere because this squad is battling against 5+ years of loss upon loss at Spotland. That's BJ's challenge for the first eight to 10 weeks of the season, defeat the psychological burden the players are carrying every time they walk out at home. |
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Reply | Rethink on going to away games.
at 21:02 30 Jul 2023
I've lived in London since 2006 and I have never heard about cruise liners making it as far as Tower Bridge either -- Google suggests there is a terminal, but I imagine the Thames Barrier makes this difficult for the largest vessels anyway.
Coming back to Khan, I do find it a bit alarming how differently he's perceived in London compared to outside. I should stress I'm not a natural Labour voter at all, but I can see that he's made two big commitments to make the lives of Londoners better, one by trying to reduce air pollution and two by building a lot more social housing.
I really want to stress that, while the outer London boroughs are maybe a bit more traditional in their views than inner London, the vast majority of Londoners are deeply upset by the inequality of wealth in the city. After all, millions of us are from other parts of the country and don't want to live in some mad bubble for the super rich. So it's no surprise the capital is becoming more left wing; frankly, Sadiq is as good as nailed on to win a third term and ULEZ won't change that. This is probably why the backlash on the right has been so vitriolic.
People complaining about loss of 'freedom' from not driving: are you really saying the c25% of British adults who don't have a driving licence are effectively prisoners?
I think the ULEZ expansion was nailed on from the moment in 2020 that a coroner ruled that nine year-old Ella Kissa-Debrah died from pollution-related asthma. Once legal precedent was set, serious action was always going to follow. |
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Reply | Rethink on going to away games.
at 11:49 28 Jul 2023
It's really worth checking if your car isn't compliant --- more than 90% of vehicles will be. You also wouldn't be charged anyway if you go to Woking, Dorking, Maidenhead etc, as the M25 isn't in the zone. I think the venues affected in the NL are Bromley, Borehamwood, Barnet and Dagenham.
I live in London and the general consensus is that, much like the original congestion charge and things like the pub smoking ban, there's been a moral panic about ULEZ but once it's implemented, people will be surprised how little they notice it. This is a rare example of political courage from Sadiq, given it has obviously caused him a lot of grief (despite most of the arguments against ULEZ being contradicted by actual data -- the poorest social groups in London are the least likely either to drive or own cars, for example). Burnham is too much of a political opportunist to follow suit, but his successor will probably have to address the air pollution problem. It's a basic public health issue at the end of the day. |
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Reply | Chorley (A) Match Thread - Pre-Season Friendly
at 13:19 18 Jul 2023
One word I haven't seen mentioned too often with regard to the style of play debate is confidence. I think Dale's win ratio, particularly at home, over the past five seasons or so was among the worst in the top four tiers, so is it surprising the idea of knocking it around at the back -- or indeed anywhere on the pitch -- looks to be nerve wracking as hell for the players? I am not sure that clubs have a DNA per se, but even if the playing squad changes, the pressure of being generally unsuccessful for several years on the spin must weigh heavy. This might also explain why the players are so reticent to attack teams.
All of which means that we as fans, like it or not, are going to have to try our best to keep backing the team even if, as I suspect will happen, we lose a couple of goals through our own errors in the first few games. A dream scenario for me is not that we start the new campaign flying and scoring hatfuls, but rather that we grind out a couple of results, winning by almost any means necessary. Especially at home, because we won't get far as a club until we find a way to win at Spotland more often than we have in the post-Hilly era.
Being more direct might be part of the answer to getting a few of those ugly wins -- but I'm with those worried about some kind of John Beck style reincarnated when the whole ethos and approach to football has changed beyond recognition. We don't need a target man in my opinion (when have we had one? Andy Morris in the 90s? COG in 2010? Vincenti on the wing?), but maybe we do need to hope the raw youngsters we've brought in like Shubbar are less afraid than their predecessors to run at teams and have a dip from distance when the opportunity arises. This point was made by the lads on the podcast and it's very relevant. A 1-0 win over Ebbsfleet via a 30 yard punt that takes two deflections on the way in? I'll take that right now. UTD. |
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Reply | The RochdaleAFC.com Podcast Episode 76
at 22:24 14 Jul 2023
Delighted that this is back. Any chance that it could be uploaded via Google Podcasts as it was before the break? I can't see the new episode there. |
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Reply | Morecambe for sale
at 13:00 13 Jun 2023
There have been some reports linking the market research entrepreneur Mike Danson with buying Wigan Athletic. I think he's already involved as an investor with Wigan RLFC. He's something of a recluse -- many years ago I worked for his company Datamonitor in Manchester; nevertheless, you have to think compared to the folk we've had snuffing around Dale, he'd be a good 'local lad done well' owner at Latics, if that happens. |
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Reply | Colchester United (h) Match Thread
at 13:29 16 Jan 2023
I would be the first to admit my eyesight isn't the best, but from my view behind the goal in the Sandy, I thought Eastwood made an error on the first goal too? It was a great hit by their lad, but Jake appeared to me and others nearby to get the fingers of both hands on the ball, and the shot bursts through them. If a keeper gets both hands on the ball, surely it shouldn't go in? His body language after the goal suggested he thought it was an error.
While I concur that he did a good job coming for crosses and commanding his area, I remember being concerned about his confidence when he shanked two kicks straight out of play during the second half before the error for their second goal. I'm glad EBJ acknowledged some responsibility for the decisions he made on selection, but he didn't even utter the word 'goalkeeper' so it was pretty mealy mouthed.
I admit that as an exile fan I've not seen many of ROD's recent performances in real time, but it still looks like a huge clanger by the gaffer.
I also agree with those concerned by the fact that this was not raised in the post match interview. It absolutely should have been, whether this interview was conducted by a BBC Radio Bolton person or by our in-house team. |
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Reply | 1-11, squad numbers not allowed thread
at 22:00 9 Aug 2022
According to the Beeb, young Kelly on the bench tonight wore squad number 99?! Please tell me that wasn't true. Game has *literally* gone... 😆 |
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Reply | Next Season's Kit
at 17:13 18 May 2022
Pretty sure I've said this year in year out, but the thing I loved about the Nike kits was the option to buy a long sleeved replica shirt. For reasons I can't pinpoint, I just don't get on with short sleeved replicas.
I have got an Errea navy blue training shirt that I go running in and I have been quite pleased with the quality of that product to be fair. But I am overall still firmly in the 'template kit from a top brand' camp when push comes to shove. Who makes Internazionale's kit these days? ;) |
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Reply | Exeter City (a) Match Thread
at 18:04 23 Apr 2022
I thought the substitutions were alarmingly baffling today. Charman urgently needs a goal from somewhere, and it's not like we had a compelling replacement on the bench. In the five minutes after the changes, we had Corey at left wing, Swiss Army Jimmy on the 9 role closing down their keeper, and Grant sitting in front of the back four. None of the players seemed to know where to be, and the confusion yielded an Exeter goal. Yet another dismal half after a reasonable first 45 min, and another game that begs questions about RS's tactical acumen going forward. |
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Reply | 2022-2023 Squad
at 13:23 21 Apr 2022
I think there are some very valid points being made here about the summer's upcoming shape-shifting. I don't see us realistically signing 11-12 new players and forming a play-off challenging squad off the back of it tbh, it's just too ambitious and risks instability (especially if 4-5 of the signings are duds). On that basis I think the 'least worst' option will mean we could offer another year to the likes of Dooley, Done and Clark.
The real area of worry for me is the goalkeeper and defence. From the games I've seen lately as an exile, Lynch has found some solidity, but he still doesn't look like a top six League 2 keeper. And a defence shorn of Dorsett, Downing and EOC means RS is going to have to pull some rabbits out of hats given the doubts over the quality of Max Taylor and Sam Graham. The focus has to be at the back primarily in my opinion. Add in the emerging trend to very established league clubs to be dragged into the relegation mire in the past two seasons, and the clear financial (financially doped?) muscle of the teams likely to come up from the National League, and I won't lie: I am a bit anxious about next year.
However, one antidote to this could be the forward line. I reckon it's really important that Charman continues to develop, and while our remaining games this season could be classed as dead rubbers, wouldn't it be fantastic if Luke got a goal or two? If we can establish a more attacking mindset from the off next season with Charman, Tav and Grant/Ball, plus some new lads, then we could take some of the pressure off a possibly totally new back three or four. And we would be more entertaining to watch. That's my cause for optimism! #UTDNFS |
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Reply | Rathbone joins Rotherham
at 21:05 3 Apr 2022
I work in Sutton and my work kindly funded an office outing to the Papa John's today. You have to say Sutton were robbed, but equally Rotherham are presumably top of League One because they know how to play awfully and win. Rathbone was disappointing and was subbed after an hour. But their fans were raving about him overall, his professional attitude especially.
Even more positive were the conversations I had about Dale and the UTDNFS campaign throughout the day with fans from other clubs ranging from Mansfield to West Ham. Five separate people told me Dale was their favourite away day in the league. |
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Reply | Crawley Town (a) Match Thread
at 17:12 26 Mar 2022
There can't have been many Dale performances so lacking in confidence than today's since the worst of the Steve Eyre era...which was a division higher. No belief that we can create viable chances let alone score from them. Newby is justifiably getting pelters but personally I thought O'Keeffe, despite his one shot on target, was just hopeless today as well. He's fairly tall and mobile, and yet seems to do nowt with it. Still, someone will take him in the summer so perhaps it doesn't matter... |
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