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Reply | Leadership team
at 20:28 12 Feb 2025
We assume that SG wanted to be in volved in the day to day running of the club, but that might not be the case...
At any rate these changes are an essential first step to an era of change within the club, cheerful amateurism is out and replaced by competence and clear lines of responsibility.
The club has needed these changes for a long time, but at last they are building capacity prior to what I guess will be a step change in the professionalism of RAFC behind the scenes and in front of them...
it feels like the Ogdens have kicked the tyres and are are ready to start putting petrol in the tank.. Solar panels (tick) = cost reduction, and a contribution in future to the overheads. Management structure (tick) .. a summer of work on the Main Stand? Training ground? (note the RMBC mention as part of the job description) Links with the Community Trust and the Ogden Foundation strengthened, and an MD to hold it all together....
These changes should reduce the number of crises and unexplained decisions that have had such a negative effect in the past, The momentum is shifting and a good thing too. |
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Reply | Why Do Managers See Different?
at 15:57 11 Feb 2025
The problem is that you can't manage the game. I sometimes think that good players are coached to do things that do not come naturally to them instead of selecting good players who do what they do and to try and mold those attributes into a team.
The idea that you can put 11 individuals on a pitch to kick a ball against 11 other players and control the outcome with some sort of " system" is a nonsense. Especially when players cannot really carry out what you want them to do in any given situation because there is another player trying his best to stop them.
Managers of old simply put their best 11 footballers onto the pitch in their best positions and let them get in with it...
I get the impression that modern managers do exactly the opposite, they pick players to fit a system that they have seen on TV they employ players to fit that system, they coach them to play in that system at which point plan "B" becomes impossible. Brian Clough had a system and told his players what their jobs were, striker.. score goals... goalkeepers stop the opposition from scoring...defenders tackle and head the ball away from the goal...wingers stay with your heels on the line... midfielders, feed the wingers...simple... no recycling play nonsense, no mumbo jumbo, just simple instructions repeated often......
Its a simple game, the winner scores more goals than the loser...so make sure you can score goals, lots of them. Goals are what fans want to see, not endless passing. Shots not recycling for a better opportunity, not tippy tappy around their own penalty area, not fullback / wingers who are only average at both, not strikers who dont strike and can't head a ball or trap a bag of cement.. Goals and more goals thats all that counts.. if we won every home game 5-4 there would be 1000s more at every game...not scoring twice in a week at home is just pitiful, not scoring against Ebbsfleet should be illegal.
Low block, high block, false number 9s and all the rest is just trying to make something simple seem like an intellectual challenge for those who are not party to the inane nonsense of UEFA coaching manuals. Encouraged by the BBC and a whole raft of wannabee managers who want their 5 minutes of fame and half a million quid a year at a Premiership club with a 3 year contract. It even infected Keith Hill eventually and BBM relegated us with quasi intellectual BS that got him a dream
job and never mind the consequences..
I am afraid that McNulty is BBM Mk2, swap the Brogue for a hint of Scouse and the result is the same, word salad and not enough goals..No one watches football because they enjoy watching toothless 0-0 draws or 0-1 losses, Its about goals, it always was and always will be. |
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Reply | Pitch covers
at 15:26 10 Feb 2025
Probably one for the new stadium / facilities manager to sort out ... to be fair that desk is probably brimming over with stuff to do... |
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Reply | Reg Jenkins
at 22:09 9 Feb 2025
Not if he has been watching our shot-shy forwards he won't.... |
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Reply | Ebbsfleet (H) match thread
at 22:07 9 Feb 2025
I think thats about right, McN has a vision of what his team needs in each position, I suspect he isnt very flexible as each change probably means a re-think in the other 9 outfield positions...easier to find a clone to fit the system... The problems start when the system itself isnt working as he thinks it should and he hasn't got any options on board to make radical changes.. hence more of the same.. its fatally flawed, his emphasis is essentially defensive. He now needs to figure out how to win against tight defences, I would suggest 2 new forwards.... 1 big brute of a centre forward ( Cardwell at Southend last season would have been ideal) who can head the ball and a poacher. |
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Reply | Ebbsfleet (H) match thread
at 19:25 9 Feb 2025
The thing is James, its pointless building over a number of seasons, if the plans are flawed in the first place. What is being proved is that if you are a lower league club, and you want to get up the Leagues, playing like a League one club with non-league players and loanees is not a foolproof recipe for success.
Put simply , teams that have spent a while at this level relish the opportunity to put a spoke in our plans. They beat you with grit, determination and sheer bloodymindedness and a reasonable amount of skill.... we have probably more skill, but not enough of the rest of the equation and thats why we need more experience, power and athleticism particularly in the forwards. Defensively we are fine , we just need better attacking options, we cannot afford not to score a goal or more in every game. |
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Reply | Ebbsfleet (H) match thread
at 19:37 8 Feb 2025
Once again, we have failed to achieve the essential point of the whole game, putting the ball in the oppositions net. The attack is simply clueless, there were 3 or 4 presentable opportunities for an instictive goalscorer to net, unfortunately we have no such person in the team. The cluelessness was exemplified during the 1st half when a punt from our keeper was dropping on the head of their centre half , Mitchell and Burger were stood either side of him and both ran off in different directions each expecting the other to make a challenge and knock the ball on... quite how Mitchell thought the smallest man on the pitch was going to win the header I have no idea but it was proof positive that he will never be a target man as long as he has a hole in his *rse. Indeed when Rodney came on he actually looked more like a centre forward, taking a ball on his chest and laying it off on one occasion, but we need someone who contributes much much more.
McNulty is a defender, we have a competent defence at this level, but it seems that he simply knows nothing about forward play and winning games . The ball comes into the box from the wings too slowly. No one is playing the percentages, gambling on the cross beating the defenders and midfielders are not shooting from decent positions ... goals win games.. we are set up not to concede..fine playing away, but not at home, a smart manager would have a different plan for playing at home |
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Reply | Investment in solar energy
at 14:55 7 Feb 2025
Sorting out the electricity situation must have been high on the agenda for a while now, maybe they are also thinking of bringing gas in too so that we can set up the Dark Kitchen and improve the kitchens inside the COA at the same time.
Someone mentioned the other stands which are less suitable for solar, but which might be suitable for these wind turbines....
https://alpha-311.com/blog/our-turbines-are-and-spinning-londons-o2-arena
Putting 10 around the ground would give power when the solar isn't available ( at night) and reduce bills even further (they would generatd enough power to run 20+ houses.) |
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Reply | Oldham game
at 14:43 5 Feb 2025
I have said many times, we don't score enough goals, too many no scoring draws draws and losses by 1 goal , there is no partnership between Mitchell and Rodney, the latter goes missing in action for long periods of the game, Mitchell has the physical attributes but simply doesnt have an ounce of fire or aggression, put simply, they are easy too defend against, too " nice" . This is professional sport, not a Sunday League game, you expect them to be giving defenders a hard time, physically and mentally, picking up a few yellow cards in the process and using every trick in the book including the dirty tricks to score a goal or create an opportunity for someone else.. Given the chances being provided we should have scored at least 2 goals last night but once again a single goal was enough to see us off. |
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Reply | Oldham game
at 23:16 4 Feb 2025
Predictably tame in front of a decent crowd, we need a leader on nights like this but didnt seem to have one. Defensively we weren't bad, tidy in midfield, but Mitchell and Rodney are too easy to play against at this level of opposition, I am astonished Rodney lastes 87 minutes before getting the hook, his lack of pace is shocking and his decision making was embarrassing....
We got exactly what we deserved in the end , no fight, no guile and physically out gunned. Essentially men against boys. I have no doubt "lessons will be learned" but we have a lot to learn about digging out points and scoring scruffy goals. Two early missed chances cost us dearly, again as so many times we are a goal short of turning defeat into a draw. We need a genuine goalscorer. |
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Reply | The voice of the fan in the boardroom
at 10:38 31 Jan 2025
Thought it was an interesting evening, the pitch debacle was explained and steps taken to ameliorate the situation going forwards and which will help in the future.
I am also pleased that there has been a recognition that they need a stronger management team and intend to add a manager for matters connected to the stadium including the pitch...
The Ogdens seem to be getting a grip on what is needed and their representative on the night, Jamie Willoughby, presented a professional and measured view of the next steps. Clearly they will not simply throw money around but equally it feels as if they will not allow a downwards spiral to start again for the sake of a few quid either. They have a long term plan and the occasional hiccup will be sorted out.
Whilst the Trust is still very much in their thoughts, they have recognised that they need to embrace the wider fanbase and userbase too and the creation of a new vehicle to do that is to be welcomed.
I think most people left the meeting with a more optimistic outlook than perhaps they had on arrival. |
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Reply | Boston Match Thread
at 16:39 29 Jan 2025
Your post reflects some of my views SX. I don't think what has gone on with the pitch was predictable given the money spent in the summer, but its the aftermath that worries me. The pitch needs work, but the fixture list says that there is now little time to undertake that work , I believe that the Dryjecting need 5 rain-free days so it seems that is not about to happen... And obviously there is little point in digging up the pitch if the drains are simply not taking any water away.
I have wondered if we need a Stadium Manager to be installed with a brief covering matchdays, pitch and infrastructure? I think probably George Delves does some of this but he also has the footballing contracts etc. to worry about plus probably, a load of other stuff, he can hardly be expected to be a groundsman as well, and postponements must be the bane of everyone's lives.
The Directors are unpaid and indeed have paid to be Directors so they can't be held responsible for every cold pie and warm pint, but clearly the pitch issue is now in front of them and needs decisions to be made. So, on what basis can they make a decision when the root cause of the problem is almost impossible to cure even assuming the money to do so is available? Do they find an alternative venue for a few games and rebuild the pitch now? Do they hope for fine weather and that Dryjecting will work? Do they try and do a partial fix which may or may not work and then spend even more money over the summer? There is no obvious simple solution.
Maybe they need to dig up some of the running track in front of the main stand a see if there really is a drain there that runs out to the Sandy Lane main drain and test to see if it is blocked, beyond that, I don't envy the position the Board are in. Damned if they do, damned if they don't....Such a shame when recent results have been what we have been crying out for... |
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Reply | Boston Match Thread
at 21:17 28 Jan 2025
Im pretty sure it hasnt been called off because it looked untidy. Its uplayable because it is saturated...i.e. not draining as it should, full of water, waterlogged... the drains are farked...of course its about drainage, there clearly is none, or none that is working as it should do, they could hardly dig it up in the space of 3 days could they? We have been told they need 5 dry days before they can Dryject it and that hasn't happened so here we are.
You might question the referees decision but my guess would be that it failed the FIFA ball-bounce test and was properly called off as a result of failing the test.
You could legitimately ask if the groundstaff did the bounce test after lunch and deemed it OK
"According to FIFA, a ball dropped from two meters should bounce 70–100 centimeters. The difference between the ball's highest and lowest bounce should not exceed 10 centimeters.
Other tests for football pitches
In addition to the ball bounce test, other tests for football pitches include:
Vertical deformation: Measures how well the surface absorbs shock and cushions impact
Rotational resistance: Measures how well the surface allows players to rotate and pivot
Lisport test: Measures how durable the surface is and how well it resists wear and tear
UV stability: Measures how well the surface resists fading and degradation from the sun" |
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Reply | Boston Match Thread
at 20:03 28 Jan 2025
Just done a 30 minute round trip past the ground and home again, it never occured to me that the game might be off, the weather hasn't been that bad by any means, nothing that a park pitch would have a problem with, so there is something dramatically wrong with the Spotland drainage system, particularly in that corner of the ground.
Now, unless I have dreamed this, wasn't a big drain run from there, down past the main stand, behind the Sandy Lane end goal and out to the main drains on Sandy Lane itself some years ago? Has this drain now become blocked? Has it been rodded recently? Is there even a drawing of where the drain is and how to get into it? Or, did the last make-over just plough over it? How many of the current ground staff were here when that big drain was put in and remember where it is? |
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Reply | Leon Ayinde doing great
at 19:51 26 Jan 2025
The form stats are getting interesting....
Last12 games .. Rochdale 7th
Last 10 games Rochdale 4th
Last 8 games Rochdale 2nd
Last 6 games Rochdale 1st
Last 4 games Rochdale 1st |
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Reply | Former Dale players on the move
at 16:07 24 Jan 2025
He is only 31 according to Wiki.. got years left in him yet.....but hes had more clubs than hot dinners since his last appearance for Dale |
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Reply | Pitch update
at 19:27 20 Jan 2025
The company that bought the land were into remediation of toxic sites, so I guess they thought there was a way to do something, the obvious thing being to offer free dumping of soil and organic material to a depth of a metre or so and then in time putting concrete rafts down to build on. Or at least thats what was recommended by RMBC when they found asbestos on the site of the old High Birch school in Marland. Advice that the builder ignored and built houses on anyway ( just in case anyone was thinking of moving there)..... |
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Reply | Pitch update
at 17:02 15 Jan 2025
We do have a ground to sell... potentially worth £5-6m ? |
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