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Yes we did, yes we were. Simpson, Barrow times. We've been there.
Tonight, after a slow start, Dale showed their best qualities. Against a struggling side, yes, but we did the perfect professional away performance. Our team looked like one and played as a unit. Ferguson in the key CB position makes us so much better at defending, regardless of the sideways tippy tappy rituals we have to go through.
As v Aldershot, Dale fans were well served by screening the game in Ratcliffes. Happy punters again!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ One area of the club where we can all acknowledge the club has progressed massively since June 2021 and brought football related revenue in is The Ratcliffe / Dale Bar. The right product, and the right person is most definitely in charge. Admission TV's need sorting out in there and an explanation, unlike the response to TV enquiries in the 1907 by those paying much more.
We need a similar keen eye on "upstairs" hospitality to make the necessary changes, sort out the "exec" seats in the stand that are only fit for persons of restricted growth, and the sponsorship product on offer. Jim is currently improving the football side of things. "Rats" is sorted. Appreciate some things take time to change but action IS required on the corporate side. We need that extra income and, if done well, show off the club in the best light. We need all these parts working together to become a stand-alone sustainable club, the aim of the Ogden Trust investment.
Not knocking Jim or any other manager, but this from last Tuesday night is different. His team is doing well so I guess he's justified. Remember the last manager at Dale who was ranting and inviting people in for a brew and chat. It didn't end well, relegation from League One after taking over FRMSE's chaos.
Two class finishes by Kairo and a sublime move for our first goal. Yes, we got twitchy@r$€ after they scored as a result of becoming over-confident at the back, but it wouldn't be Dale if we weren't worrying! Mitchell obviously got MOTM, but Robson and Gordon were also outstanding, to mention just two. Robson reads the game really well and reacts accordingly. Gives us confidence. Gordon is such a grafter and skilful with it. He has taken on the captain's role brilliantly. The TEAM won through, again.
Credit to Maidenhead - they have a team of capable battlers who are worthy of a much higher position in this league. You have to admire their fans for making that journey on a Tuesday night.
On the subject of league position, with us being a very welcome 2nd, a mate of mine was looking at the league table on his phone after the game. "Where are the team that are too big for this league?", I asked. "Hang on, I'm still scrolling down" came the reply.
Dale have won 4 in 4. "We are too big for this league" have won 3 in 19.
Any benefit from the state should be means tested. If you meet the criteria, you get it. If you don't, you don't. Simples. Handing out a Winter fuel allowance to millionaires, pensioners able to afford spending Winter abroad in warmer climes and those with ample wealth regardless is economic folly.
As mentioned above, those able to make provision for the pension years should do so. If they haven't, don't blame the government. The "Triple Lock" should aid ALL state pensioners to the tune of £460 in the next financial year, irrespective of wealth, with no means testing.
Well supported by enthusiastic Dale fans in Ratcliffes. That will have earnt the club a few quid.
Sassi worried me too much but Robson, though rarely challenged, looked solid.
Yet another clean sheet and I think we need to give due credit to Gordon and Beckwith (and Jim) for the way the defence is so much better than we've seen for a while. Best attack in the division V best defence, and the best defence won. Amazing, considering a few weeks back, "too big for this division" Oldham conceded 4 at Shots, where we conceded, erm, 0.
The past couple of games have been very encouraging, we look really good. More of the same, please.
Little to add to the above superlatives. What a great day to be a Dale fan. After all the $h!t€ we've endured on and off the pitch over the years, to see that performance in front of our brilliant benefactors was a delight. Jim had the team organised perfectly, and the players ran themselves into the ground for each other. All of them excelled. They deserve all the praise they get. Thank you.
Jim has rightly mentioned the difficulties he had to deal with regarding off field issues 2023-24 and how the new ownership has changed things so much for the better. What do we see on the pitch? We look livelier than last season but equally as ineffective, which is frustrating to watch, especially after two encouraging home wins in friendlies.
We had a great attacking spell in the second half today, as we did v D&R in the first half, but not one goal has accrued from those particular spells of pressure. Jim talking about others budgets does not mask our own inadequacies.
One goal from the last three games. The last five home league games have resulted in 0 defeats, 0 wins, and FIVE draws. Does that enthuse what support we have? It's a results business, not an academic exercise in "performance" which you feel takes priority given some of the managers remarks.
A niggly argument on the terraces as mentioned above and a few boos at full time indicate some restlessness. Yes, we try to go forward more now, which is to be applauded, but wasting time faffing around with the ball between keeper and defence so often, particularly in time added on when we need to go for a win, indicates an easy willingness to lapse into last season's Chuckle Brothers mode and little desire for victory. Let's see what's changed by this time next week.
Tarryn Allarakhia's endeavour has been the highlight of the season so far.