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Thread | Our defence
at 10:18 2 Sep 2024
Surely someone will correct me but is this the youngest and least experienced back line we have ever had.?
Gordon 22 39 appearances
Ferguson 24 29 appearances
Beckwith 22 94 appearances
Gordon has 6 starts for Sheff Utd but all others for all 3 are at NL level.
Considering this what a cracking performance from them as a unit over the last 2 games. |
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Reply | Into The Unknown by Chris Fitzgerald
at 18:02 28 Aug 2024
Your excellent diary and review of certainly the most critical season of the club we love was timely, if only to remind us of how long and drawn out was the gradual fall into a nightmare of uncertainty and despair. I don`t think that is dramatising the off-field events.
Having re-experienced the slide through your simple factual treatment, I have in my mind reassessed what the manager was going through particularly from December onwards. I would not expect him to admit it, but I would imagine his main concern was to avoid relegation issues at all costs and there was a point as I recall where a mere 4 points was the gap. He was a man under pressure whose job, as well as many other staff, was on the line.
How different are things now. |
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Reply | Yeovil away match thread
at 10:49 27 Aug 2024
Not being unfair at all.
Mitchell is 27 now and his learning years are probably behind him. Likewise Rodney. They have both been around the lower leagues long enough to see what works. We desperately need another genuine striker, or maybe Hendo right from the start with a view to replacing him if he runs out of steam. It was noticeable as soon as he came on yesterday that he was running his usual bent lines. But we played up to that point with just one striker.
Lets be honest. For 75 minutes yesterday we were pretty dull, no spark from midfield. Fortunately Yeovil were no better.
In the last 4 games we have scored 2 goals, both from midfield, few shots on target, and generally played the same ineffective passing game from last season.
Yes we had a general euphoria moment when the goal went in. It was a relief. And the way the players celebrated and came towards us was great.
Ferguson was very good and seemed to be sorting out things out with Gordon and Beckwith well, but the loss of EEL to what looked like a bad strain gives even more impetus for the need for team strengthening, Woking have won the last 3 games. |
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Reply | TO-DAYS GAME
at 17:53 25 Aug 2024
The Ogdens will no doubt provide finance and commercial experience which has been a problem for quite some time. They intend to run Rochdale AFC as a sound business over a period of years. They have made it clear that they do not intend to get involved in running the football team on the pitch, and that this is the job of the manager and his staff.
It`s a very good position to be in, particularly after the trauma of recent years.
The manager(coach) has by my reckoning now got a squad entirely of his own choosing with the exception of Hendo and EEL.
The manager is responsible for preparing the players, selecting the team, deciding tactics and responding to onfield events. This is as it should be.
But results are the only things that matter if we are seriously hoping for a promotion push.
For this we rely on the manager. He shouldn`t need to look at the supporters for advice if results are obviously poor. We have had 4 years of very poor home results. Nothing to do with other teams budgets. Why are Accrington, Morecambe, Barrow way ahead of us in performance over an extended period?
The manager needn`t concern himself with style of play: simply get results. Look at Northampton- they sometimes fail but always bounce back.
Maybe also JM needs to be more critical of his players (HIS players). Not suggesting another Steve Evans approach but neither should he treat them as fragile assets. Are Rodney and Mitchell performing to their best ability? Maybe they are, in which case the attack needs to be supplemented by new blood ASAP. There is apparently budget to spend.
I don`t believe any of this has anything to do with the Board of Directors. They have given the manager the job and expect him quite rightly to make a success of it.
The next few matches may well determine the outcome for us this season. |
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Reply | TVOS - Rochdale v Dagenham & Redbridge
at 09:34 18 Aug 2024
Obviously moving in the right direction.
But....
If we dont get hold of another striker, I think it might become a long season for us.
Lesson should have been learnt from last season.
Why the last 2 signings? |
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Reply | Final
at 12:39 17 Jul 2024
The midfield was where it all went wrong in each match.
Bellingham and Foden had incredible seasons at Real and City but were playing in front of incredible midfielders in each club. Mainoo will become a fine player I am sure but it is a bit much to expect him to perform a tournament level after a handful of games. Rice I thought was a big disappointment. I expected him to come through with a future captain`s performance. Instead his passing and ball retention was poor throughout.
Whoever takes over will have to get a grip on Bellingham. He is a special talent but needs to become a team player as well.
I expected the defence to be a problem, but in fact they did remarkably well- see the goals against tally. Credit to Stones and Gehi particularly. Pickford- Pickford is Pickford- I think he did incredibly well. |
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Reply | Released Players
at 12:22 17 Jul 2024
The one disaster last season and IMO the difference between reaching the play-offs and not was the absence of a second outright striker. We were unlucky with Rodney missing for almost the whole season, and we had to rely on Mitchell far too much. He is not the sort of striker to worry seasoned defenders too much.
Is Rodney fit-missing the first preseason is not a good sign?
Even a young inexperienced striker would be a good investment to avoid last season`s experience. |
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Reply | Aidan Barlow
at 14:20 3 Jul 2024
I believe Kyron Gordon has an extended contract taking him to January 2005.
Is this correct? |
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Reply | Rodney Signs New Deal
at 15:22 21 Jun 2024
With the offer of a 2 year deal this presumably puts to bed any doubts about the illness/fitness doubts from last season. |
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Reply | Eng v Den
at 11:11 21 Jun 2024
What is even more remarkable and I am sure is unique is that Kane, Bellingham and Foden have scored 95 goals between them this season.
Kane 44 for Bayern Munich
Bellingham 26 for Real Madrid
and Foden 25 for Man City
Yet their shots on goal in matches against secondary opposition over 2 games has been pathetic.
Defence has been OK so far-better than expected. Midfield woeful. |
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Reply | EEL Stays
at 11:09 8 Jun 2024
As a number 2, I agree.
But we need 3 strikers if promotion is a serious ambition.
Ideally a few years younger ( and cheaper). |
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Reply | EEL Stays
at 10:13 8 Jun 2024
Agree about Mitchell. But the crazy thing about the sta of last season was a squad with only 2 strikers. Losing Rodney in the first game was bad luck, but after that there was no option but to stick with Mitchell through. A player with low confidence and little previous success. Hendon had to cover as a makeweight striker, which is not his strength.
Rodney finished the season6 on fire, a revelation, buy is he still with us. And has he overcome what was the issue through most of the season.
This Imo is the biggest weakness for Jim |
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Reply | EEL Stays
at 10:47 7 Jun 2024
Another thing about EEL which may not have been so obvious is he has played 82 league games the last 2 seasons and in his first season he never had a settled partner in defence, which I think contributed to the poor results. The nearest he got to a partner was Sam Graham, and he was very limited IMO.
This time he has had George Nevett who has come on leaps and bounds, but was a 17 year-old learning his trade.
To play that many games in itself was quite an achievement with only 1 suspension, but without some experienced help was remarkable. |
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Reply | Retained list
at 15:10 25 Apr 2024
EEL is only 31 so good for another 2 years maybe as long as he keeps fit.
Hayes is valued at £400k by one of the sources. Even with Fleetwoods problems, a bit out of our reach if accurate. |
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Reply | Retained list
at 13:49 25 Apr 2024
OK but after all the support we felt for Joe Thompson I would have thought a but more respect was due to Max Taylor. So it hasn't worked out fir his career after a bright start at Old Trafford. But to overcome testicular cancer as a teenager deserves a bit more appreciation don't you think.
Good luck Max. |
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Reply | Galloway speech. Football related
at 12:54 24 Apr 2024
Wow
Whatever you think of Galloway, that is some powerful speech. Nice little plug for the Dale, but he really stuck the knife into the Premier League and the FA, but annihilated the Glazers- Robber Barons. |
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Reply | Retained list
at 15:48 22 Apr 2024
Come what may with the retained list.
One unsung hero.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell'
Played 45 of 46 league games- only missed 1 through suspension.
The 2 games he didn`t play were the Oldham home game and the Gateshead Cup game - when we conceded 9 goals. (Nine).
Nuff said |
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Reply | Refwatch: Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 12:33 3 Apr 2024
Kidderminster beat Chesterfield with 3 goals scored from 2 long throws and a long ball over the top, very similar to Rodney's equaliser. Could someone say to Jim he may be overthrowing football at this level. |
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Reply | Another Interested Party..
at 10:32 8 Mar 2024
It sounds as if at least two parties, both the LOI people, will be at tomorrows match.
It would be nice if the noisy chanters against the board shut up this once and concentrate on supporting the team, as noisily as they like.
Imagine the image it would give to new investors if, possibly the most important match in our history where there is no excuse for not winning against the bottom team, is overshadowed by peevishness in the crowd. If the result is wrong, then we are in a relegation battle for sure.
Which is the priority?
Also we constantly hear from the players how much the noise from the fans encourages them. Remember until yesterday they will have been fearing they may lose their jobs this month.
Which is the priority?
Also whilst you are piling up this hate against SG and the board, who do you think will have to go on paying the bills and even the payroll, which is only two weeks away, while we go on considering alternative investors , working through due diligence and making sure we don`t infringe any league rules.
Time is critical now both on and off the pitch. Think Jim McNulty as well.
Lets put all energy tomorrow into supporting the players and impressing the investors by our presence, Recriminations can wait. |
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Reply | World Soccer Holdings
at 11:06 4 Mar 2024
For the life of me I can`t understand why any true fan would vote to shut down our club.
Is the statement that the March payroll will not be met not clear enough?
Get over it and vote for continued existence. |
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