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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 14:03 27 Apr 2025
Yep, such teams who can find a way to mix two styles. In fact, Liverpool have actually made changes this year to keeping the ball more in defensive areas to under Klopp, yet retaining the ability to be direct going forward. All season long it’s when we can find a way to do similar that we’ve looked at our most effective.
Our goals yesterday being a perfect example of this. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 13:40 27 Apr 2025
Henderson’s performances as a no. 9 have been as good as any other player we’ve had over the last few decades, although it is over a very short period of time.
His movement, ability to occupy defenders and footballing intelligence to picture exactly what will happen when he makes a decision is of a level way above this one. In fact, it’s above any level the club has ever played at. |
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 13:34 27 Apr 2025
Need to go? Burger and McBride could easily cope at a higher level. Gordon? He’s as good as any of the defenders we had during our last year in L2 and an improvement on the likes of numerous players who turned out for us in L1 (Canavan, Delaney, Roberts).I personally wouldn’t keep Hogan if EEL is fully fit again, because Ferguson would offer a better back up with the potential to develop, but would understand if he does get another deal.
TAR and Allarakhia would be doubts, but may have earnt the right for a chance at a higher level. Of course this is all a best case scenario discussion. |
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 11:24 27 Apr 2025
Possibly both!
With a defensive midfielder behind two like East and Burger it would protect the defence and that player could help with how we manage games. Alternatively a two with an East/Burger behind a front two of Henderson and Rodney would play better to the strengths of someone like East who excelled in that position last season.
If nothing else, it would make the opposition think and that’s why I believe McNulty has been too formationally (?!) rigid this season. Simple changes to the formation mid-game would have won us more points, in my opinion. And the players could easily adapt to those changes. [Post edited 27 Apr 11:25]
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 11:03 27 Apr 2025
Three in midfield, two up front. |
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 09:46 27 Apr 2025
Weston is a strange one. He’s been leapfrogged by Burger, Edwards and now Barlow for the starting spot alongside Gilmour yet when he has played he’s done quite well. Certainly not looked out of his depth and contributed during that second half at Altrincham.
Would have no issue with him getting another year as an option in midfield. I’m incredibly repetitive about it, but we need to evolve with our formation to try a midfield three and that would mean having more options in there. Adding one more Peter Cavanagh type to what we have would be the preferred route. |
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 08:48 27 Apr 2025
I’d offer Ferguson a deal because he’s proven to be a reliable alternative in defence whenever he’s been called upon.
Whether he’d want to stay to play that role is another matter because he probably deserves and needs to be playing more regularly.
Oh, and a word on Kingdon. What a player that lad will be. Have actually thought he could have played a bigger role in recent weeks but we can’t argue with results. His ability across the pitch is undeniable though, he can play the wing back role with ease as well as centrally. [Post edited 27 Apr 8:50]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 08:46 27 Apr 2025
On the increasing crowds point it was good to see a significant rise in the season’s average yesterday with over 2800 home fans there. Although it would take actual analysis of who bought tickets to establish how often they attend games, a display like yesterday can only help with upcoming season ticket sales.
Obviously, a poor performance in a playoff match at home could have the opposite effect, but even if we have an off day you’d hope people will understand that can happen in football.
If we’ve spent decades being frustrated with inconsistency so can any new fans! It’s only fair. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 21:29 26 Apr 2025
Yeah and resting some would make sense. Getting players like Bird some match fitness would be good though. Plus there’s the momentum side of things in continuing this good run we are on - ten points from four games.
Certainly worth reassessing after Tuesday. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 21:27 26 Apr 2025
Yeah, it’s been a reasonable season after a lot of really tough years with little to cheer. We’ve seen some poor games and some good ones like today, I was even enjoying this afternoon after they equalised because it was cracking entertainment from both sides.
Above all it’s been good to focus at the top of a table for the first time in ages and having a competitive team to watch again. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 21:04 26 Apr 2025
That’s why I used etc. All from memory, possibly some victories forgotten too -Halifax was a good one. Though only one Ebbsfleet as it was about home games.
[Post edited 26 Apr 21:05]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 20:52 26 Apr 2025
Indeed. As also said after Woking, Wealdstone, Tamworth, Altrincham (twice), Aldershot, Eastleigh etc.
But not said, understandably so, after Southend, Solihull, Oldham, Barnet, York, Fylde etc.
Lower league team being inconsistent? Almost unheard of. Football, eh? |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 20:10 26 Apr 2025
It was following on from DAlien asking when we last scored five at home and updating a previous post which was incomplete because the season hadn’t finished.
Hadn’t really noticed the season we went down under BBM, only how good our home record has been in terms of points and goals this season. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 19:40 26 Apr 2025
On the stats front, some updated ones:
Dale home form from Keith Hill’s first full season to present:
L2
07/08 37 points (37 goals)
08/09 39 (40)
09/10 45 (45)
L1
10/11 35 (36)
11/12 26 (30)
L2
12/13 32 (33)
13/14 48 (42)
L1
14/15 36 (36)
15/16 42 (41)
16/17 46 (48)
17/18 30 (24)
18/19 28 (25)
19/20 19 (19) only 16 home games due to Covid.
20/21 21 (27)
L2
21/22 32 (28)
22/23 20 (29)
NL
23/24 35 (37)
24/25 43 (43)
Fourth best home record in that time period, third best goalscoring record. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 15:26 26 Apr 2025
Which Ayinde has. Admitting when you’re possibly wrong isn’t always too bad.
It’s only a quarter of a game, but what a great watch this has been. Both sides. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 14:09 26 Apr 2025
Barlow in midfield it seems. I reckon he can do that role with his ability and willingness to battle. Not sure on Ayinde’s inclusion but he has a lot to prove so we’ll see.
Bird’s inclusion has seen an immediate lift amongst fans. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 12:21 26 Apr 2025
Exactly. You weren’t, I was. Plenty of others were too and crowds plummeted. All about individual tolerance levels at any one time. Nerazzurri’s post and TS’s point about changes in society feed into this I believe.
I’m not totally sure what the current figures are, but I think there was a thread on here recently that indicated crowds are around the same level this season, so no the crowds aren’t growing and that needs addressing by the team on and off the pitch. If that is your view on “coming good” it makes sense. I was looking at a purely footballing perspective and the quality of performances we’ve seen across the season when we have come good on numerous occasions after plenty of tiresome performances.
If people want that “non boring” side of things to be every week, I appreciate why crowds aren’t growing. The only consistent thing is our inconsistency. |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 11:57 26 Apr 2025
It may well be true for you and others, that’s where it’s all about opinions. I saw the joy at Altrincham last week. If we reached the League again it’d be very surprising if there wasn’t similar scenes multiplied by the importance.
I’ve been bored plenty of times, I’ve also witnessed some good games and good performances. That may be the truth for others too. Whether it’s enough is up to individuals.
Reflecting on the past, there’s enough in this thread which provides info on what we saw and how perceptions can be right/wrong. Will add that I was totally bored to death watching Barrow’s teams for three years and didn’t miss a game, I can’t remember many times thinking we might come good. With the current side I don’t need to think it, because we have come good on numerous occasions.
It’s the not knowing what we’ll get that frustrates the most. Because when we are good it’s been a decent watch, and when we aren’t it really is bloody boring. Edit to add: both these are on the manager. He could and should be doing better. [Post edited 26 Apr 12:01]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 10:35 26 Apr 2025
A post that perfectly explains how I feel watching Dale and football in general.
We all want what we once had. Getting old was much better in the old days. |
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