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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Truro City
at 22:44 24 Jan 2026
20 wins from 25 games playing the same way indicates we’ll probably not change much. Both goals today came from times when we found that right opportunity playing out from the back. With Dieseruvwe back there’s the option to go longer when teams try and do what Hartlepool did, something we saw after he came on today.
Still think if we’d started Henderson instead of Smith that night at Accrington, it might have helped too. Selection error. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Truro City
at 21:17 24 Jan 2026
McNulty mentions how the way we build attacks, waiting for the right opportunities is one of the reasons we aren’t conceding many chances or goals. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Truro City
at 17:59 24 Jan 2026
Hogan deserves so much credit. He was very good today, calm on the ball and fitted in to how we play at the back without disrupting the others around. Defensively really solid too with a great block in the first half.
Pettit came in and was solid, always looking forward for a pass. Barlow looked sharp in the first half as well, so that’s another plus.
The big thing from another professional win where we played some great stuff at times was the second half appearance from Dieseruvwe. He won every duel and held up every ball played into him. He was immaculate.
Henderson cemented his place as his stand-in though. A classic example of how to play the centre forward role.
Whatever changes are planned for Tuesday and going forward, today has shown everyone is fully inclusive and they all understand why they’re happening. We might disagree with some, but it’s hard to have doubts. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Truro City
at 15:48 24 Jan 2026
Excellent first half. Changes have worked and we could and maybe should be 4 up.
Gilmour imperious. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Truro City
at 10:13 24 Jan 2026
The justified frustration around that game was responded to with the 16 wins since. That positive focus has been the most impressive part of this season for me - the recognition that any sign of a negative outlook will affect us.
It’s played out too, as every time we have a setback, negativity doesn’t linger and impact the overall goal to succeed. It can’t be allowed to. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Truro City
at 09:27 24 Jan 2026
Alongside the two promotion winning teams, this is the most ruthlessly win-obsessed squad I’ve seen at Dale. The mentality is relentless, as discussed on the podcast.
What impresses the most is their commitment to calmness across the pitch. They play their game at all times.
Would hope Henderson starts today ahead of Duku if Dieseruvwe isn’t fit. Sure there’s a planned structure for the upcoming games though, so there might be others. Some of it may depend on how other teams play, I don’t know enough about Truro so not sure. |
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Reply | The RochdaleAFC.com Podcast Episode 92
at 09:10 24 Jan 2026
Pettit came in at Tamworth and played excellently, probably man of the match, then was left out again. With the sheer volume of games we’ll have to make changes to ensure we don’t lose people to injury.
I trust the management team and other staff to make those decisions based on the info they have available through all the sports science stuff they use these days. There may be the odd game Hogan plays at CH too, and while I’d prefer to have recruited there, he’s done ok when he’s come in previously. Of course, it’s a shift from the end of last season when there was an argument it was wrong EEL took his place!
Not sure about playing East as one of the 10s, have long wanted us to try him, Gilmour and Pettit in a midfield three with two up front. But can see the merits of his consistency in the current formation. In fact he’s often utilised wider anyway mid-game, as he shifts to the right. He did that at Solihull too. It was a good discussion on the podcast around that, the points about all the 10s being on a similar level without standing out is valid. Would hope Barlow can reproduce his form at the back end of last season to solve the problem.
Suppose it’s just about having that total trust the whole squad and staff look to have in each other, fans will always rightly debate what could be better and sometimes we’ll probably be right! In the main though, those who are making the choices are getting it right.
In fact, 19 wins in 25 games is getting it spectacularly right! [Post edited 24 Jan 9:34]
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Reply | Solihull Wednesday
at 18:22 23 Jan 2026
Don’t think there’s anyone on here who would argue they enjoyed football more in the past. It’s a totally different game now. Fans have changed too, there’s a different market now who look at the game on an ‘xG’ level as that’s what they’ve been brought up knowing.
The articles on the game, the insights tactically contain so much detail and analysis has moved towards something that’s alien to the ‘traditional fan’.
It’s interesting how the game works in cycles though. Much has been made this season about things like the importance of set pieces and the return of long throws. To the point that now it’s being seen as making the game about percentages and spoiling the chances of winning in open play. The irony of Arsenal becoming the modern day equivalent of the George Graham ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ is quite amusing.
On Dale, it’s been a good time to be a fan over the last couple of years, if only to see the ongoing improvement and how we’ve evolved as a side. There’s been a lot of tough watches, some times when it’s been hard to see whether we’d become a real success, but that’s never been any different as a fan of this club. It’s been about sticking with them and hoping our day will come. That loyalty has been rewarded as it was in the past.
Whilst not disagreeing in missing aspects of the game, the bit about a marauding fullback is one which we can actually top now with respect to how attacking our defenders are. Where we had Wiseman on the right, we now have a right wingback who plays so high up the pitch that they’re often in the same position a winger would be. Whilst on the right of the back three Kyron Gordon not only gets forward, he’s a vital part of how we attack and assists many goals.
We have less ‘proper defenders’ than in all my time watching the club. Yet have conceded less goals than ever in that time too! I don’t necessarily like the way football has changed, but as it stands we are one of the more attacking sides that you’ll see in how we set up. |
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Reply | Rochdale v Carlisle
at 20:32 22 Jan 2026
It may not indeed…
They’d probably have sold more before the last few days. Now we’ve probably maximised the demand.
As long as going forward we are able to provide room for 2000-3000 away fans, then all is good. When we start getting 5000 home fans regularly, it can be looked at again. |
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Reply | Rochdale v Carlisle
at 20:10 22 Jan 2026
No, that’s why I said they didn’t detail it and so it doesn’t make much sense. Costs or police/safety advice would be the only reasons that would justify reducing a capacity.
It’s a strange choice to make. |
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Reply | Rochdale v Carlisle
at 19:52 22 Jan 2026
Thanks for the update.
Can’t say I agree with that decision. We weren’t ever going to sell out at Carlisle and don’t recall any issues about the size of the allocation (though there were some concerns about the lack of seating).
When we are talking about becoming sustainable, one of the stated aims, it includes growing our fanbase. We all acknowledge that. To make a choice that actually reduces matchday income doesn’t seem to tally with that.
If there are other incurred costs that support reducing the away capacity, fair enough. They have yet to be detailed though. |
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Reply | Solihull Wednesday
at 18:49 22 Jan 2026
Would agree with most of that. Last season we were going for the playoffs, we took points off the teams who had similar aims. In Oct 24 we beat Halifax at home in a closely contested game and they were an immediate rival for a top seven spot. This time around we played them in October again and lost in another closely contested game. This time around we brush off defeats and get back to winning.
Last night we stuck to our game plan, kept the ball as best we could at the back whilst looking for openings. It might have been conditions and how Solihull played but we weren’t as effective as we can be. But they all believed in how they want to play. It won’t change now. The difference is the mentality is such that they believe they will get a goal and they won’t deviate away from the game plan to achieve that.
There is no reason to look at anything negatively during this campaign, because the players and management don’t. It’s showing with the results. We’ve got to trust that when we do lose a home game, or any game, that we’ll respond. |
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Reply | Injury Time winners
at 07:53 22 Jan 2026
There were two at Wycombe. The penalty winner in the last minute was by Tom Kennedy. The Le Fondre one was the season after, not a pen, assist by Gary Madine.
Andy Flounders at York on Boxing Day 91/92
Edit: the Reeves goal was in a 2-1 win [Post edited 22 Jan 7:56]
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Reply | Solihull Wednesday
at 23:30 21 Jan 2026
Very true. Don’t care how it goes in as long as it does.
That’s part of the culture that’s been created at the club, one where any small bump in the road isn’t focused on because they know they’ll find a way to get back on track.
There are zero doubts within the Spotland walls. |
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Reply | Rochdale v Carlisle
at 22:29 21 Jan 2026
Wouldn’t be surprised to see a sudden amount of spares being available in the away end if the current mood prevails up the M6. |
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Reply | Solihull Wednesday
at 22:02 21 Jan 2026
Could be wrong but don’t think he meant it and it was ably assisted by the wind. |
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Reply | Solihull Wednesday
at 21:57 21 Jan 2026
The last few days have started to sort out the top a bit too. It might not totally show looking at the points, but Carlisle and Forest Green are beginning to play themselves out of contention. It could all change again of course.
But probably not with their current managers. |
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Reply | Solihull Wednesday
at 21:48 21 Jan 2026
Possibly our best three points of the season. Didn’t play that well but never looked in danger, but if luck for the goal but the mentality and determination to keep getting as many players forward as possible paid dividends.
Henderson has to start if Dieseruvwe isn’t fit on Saturday. He was a real threat after coming on. We could do with Barlow returning if there isn’t an injury too.
Whoever plays though, you can’t argue with this current Rochdale side. Up there with the best we’ve seen when it comes to belief in themselves. |
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