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Reply | Refwatch: Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 12:44 3 Apr 2024
It is. I have no issue at all with the "pi55ing about at the back" as long as it is done with purpose and at pace.
I think what you also need to look at when discussing Rodney's goal on Monday was that the opportunity for East to play that pass wouldn't have come about if their player had killed the ball down the bottom end instead of flicking it on. That is something we would be chastising our own players for had one of them done the same in that situation. |
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Reply | Refwatch: Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 13:24 2 Apr 2024
I saw it in real time exactly as DA describes it. Those on the commentary initially felt similar. ‘He could be in trouble here etc.’
With the benefit of a replay, however, you could see Mitchell was actually a lot more in control of the challenge than first appeared and that the ball wasn’t under the control of Parkes, hence why Mitchell getting to it first propelled it in his direction of travel.
The problem is, any challenge like that these days, where momentum takes you through an opponent, is leaving a player open to a poor call, because it is down to the referee’s interpretation of what constitutes endangering an opponent under the ‘serious foul play’ criteria.
I’ve seen plenty of comments saying: ‘But he won the ball’. Unfortunately, you can still win the ball and have been deemed to have endangered an opponent, meaning you can still be booked/sent off.
Personally, I think, after seeing it again, it was indeed a good old-fashioned, full-blooded challenge for a 50/50 ball. The sort that in the 90s would have been cheered and definitely not attracted the furore it did yesterday. I certainly wouldn’t have interpreted as a red on second viewing.
As has been said in another post, the FA has worded its laws in such a way that it is down to the referee’s interpretation of the incident. Similarly, any appeal would be down to someone else’s interpretation. I’m sure the club will get some sound advice before deciding what to do next. |
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 11:39 14 Mar 2024
Not at all. I am not for one second suggesting there is anything nefarious about WSH at all, I just want clarity on my interpretation of the summary provided (which may well be wrong btw). From the summary, their intent - stemming from their own beliefs - seems very noble. |
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 11:30 14 Mar 2024
I think it needs clarifying.
Even if your interpretation is correct - that ongoing investment is not yet secured or guaranteed - it is even more vital to see what other interested parties can gaurantee in that regard.
The last thing we need is to be here again when initial investment runs out, only with less say in what happens next. |
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 11:19 14 Mar 2024
Forgive me, but I always prefer to cut to the facts.
If I have read this correctly, there are, as it stands, no funds in place?
And WSH don't actually own the stake in Maastricht but other investors that they represent do?
These are important points if correct. |
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Reply | Barnet Game Being Streamed Live
at 08:27 6 Mar 2024
Just on the 'Ebbsfleet limited resources' point.
They are under the ownership of Kuwaiti investors and lost £33,000 a week in season 2021/22, paying £314 in wages for every £100 of income, so they are certainly throwing money at the 'project'.
I'm not defending last night in any way at all, by the way, and agree it was the worst I've seen us this season while in possession of a strong squad, but it's important to get the narrative right about our opponents at this level. |
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Reply | Trust statement - Resignation
at 10:19 28 Feb 2024
George, you will be a tremendous loss to the Trust. Having worked closely with you in the past few years, I know what a diligent and upstanding supporter you are, with no need for self-aggrandisement.
The Trust, a major shareholder, will be rudderless without you and needs to have a look at itself from this point of view. We need an external supporters' body that is unified and keeps the club honest.
I note your stance on the board motions and, given what you are certainly privy to, value that opinion.
Thanks for all your hard work. |
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Reply | Chesterfield Away Match Thread
at 16:06 24 Feb 2024
We’re playing a lot more direct today, but all it’s doing now is inviting pressure back on us as no one is really holding the ball up. We started the better, I felt, and we’ve had a couple of chances, and we have defended valiantly, even desperately at times, but perhaps crave a bit more possession second half?
I’ve lost count of the amount of blocks, lunges and tackles that have ensured Brooks hasn’t had much to do.
We can’t carry on like that though. They will score at some point. We need to hold onto the ball better and do what we were good at before Christmas - mix it up and pick the gap. [Post edited 24 Feb 16:06]
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Reply | Trust statement
at 09:35 24 Feb 2024
A lot is going on right now, with the chairman embarking on something of a media tour to put the listening football world in the frame as he sees it.
My understanding, given the various sources and statements flying around, is as follows:
On Tuesday night, the chairman delivered a sobering statement, warning that unless the club secures an investor by the end of March, liquidation looms as a very real threat.
He pointed to our share model, established a couple of years ago with his support, as being a deterrent to current potential investors. Initially championed as a fan-owned model, where supporters were encouraged to buy shares in various amounts, it now appears that this fragmented approach is deterring investors who prefer direct acquisition from the club.
The proposed solution involves issuing millions of new shares for direct purchase from the club, albeit at the expense of diluting the shares held by thousands (when considering the Trust) of fans who invested in the fan-owned model. An EGM has been convened, where fan shareholders must vote on this proposal under the chairman's ominous warning of liquidation if not approved.
Supporters are grappling with the stark contrast between past assurances and the current crisis. Just the season before last, for example, after the current board took over, we were assured of a stable financial footing and healthy cash reserves, enabling a significant increase in the playing budget.
Yet, barely two years later, we find ourselves on the brink.
The inconsistency naturally raises questions and I applaud the Trust for hosting a meeting to at least attempt to address these.
The Trust, having conducted due diligence on a potential investor that seems to have returned positive results, is cautiously optimistic but caveats its assessment with concerns about complacency that anything is certain.
So, as uncertainty grips the club, clarity and accountability from the leadership become paramount for the sake of our beloved institution and us devoted fans.
I agree it is probably the most important decision shareholders have had to make in the history of this club - and there may well be no viable alternative at this stage.
I just hope that whatever is decided upon results in what is best for our football club. I feel all we can do now is hope. [Post edited 24 Feb 9:36]
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Reply | Match thread v Solihull
at 17:39 17 Feb 2024
Have to agree with this. Much slack has been cut due to the off-field situation but form is now a concern given how condensed the table is below us.
Forget the top seven and just focus on picking up points. |
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Reply | Style of play - Players interaction
at 11:21 16 Feb 2024
McNulty also said after that game that he would have rested more of his regular XI had he the squad depth to do so, but felt he had to "expose players" he wouldn't have otherwise. Rest or no rest, some players played that night who were carrying knocks and McNulty was clearly anxious as he wanted to prioritise the league game on the Saturday due to this perceived lack of squad depth.
I'm not completely condoning the defeat, as it was hard to justify whatever the mitigation, but McNulty's points do need consideration.
"I don't agree that speculative investment in the squad is the way to go as if you are knocked out early (as we have been) then how does that gap get funded?"
If only this had been considered last season, or the one before, no? Two well-backed managers who still failed - and with naught of a dissenting voice from certain people, I might add.
I'll say again, I'm prepared to cut McNulty more slack than previous managers precisely for this reason - and reiterate, he isn't the reason we are in the National League. He is carrying the consequence, budget-wise, of the failure of others.
The fact we are in the top half of the league, still with an outside chance of a top-seven finish, is overachievement.
Chesterfield's squad of 24 includes players such as Will Grigg also, so we are not on a financial pegging with them or a lot of other full-time teams at this level. [Post edited 16 Feb 11:31]
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Reply | Style of play - Players interaction
at 23:14 15 Feb 2024
On the cup competitions, I agree. I was looking forward to a debut in the FA Trophy and seeing where that took us. As it transpired, it was an embarrassingly heavy home defeat and no more.
This prompted the head coach to say, publicly, that the budget was such at the start of the season that he knew he wouldn’t be able to compete on three fronts, only one, that being the league.
If he’s being up front, and I’ve no reason to doubt he is, how do we overcome this catch 22 situation? We need the cups in order to be profitable, but that requires investment in the squad.
Interesting to see if that is rectified next season with so many players out of contract. |
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Reply | Groundhog day ... again
at 22:57 14 Feb 2024
I see what I see. True. It doesn’t make me right. True. But my opinion is never to placate anyone else other than myself, so you can hoist that assumption back into the rafters. I stand by everything I’ve said.
I’ve said before that I can put entertainment secondary to winning. I appreciate not everyone feels that way. We were, until recently, in a play-off position, though. That’ll have done for me, entertaining or not. The evidence, game by game, with the goals we’ve scored, illustrates we do not play just one way. It is notable that when we win, this criticism is conspicuous by its absence.
If our form and performances become interlinked in a consistently negative fashion, I’ll have concerns about it, and I’ll vocalise them, as I’ve done every season I’ve supported Dale. However, if we start winning again and hang around the play-offs, I can’t see how that’s an issue, given the financial plight of the club and everything else going on. It would be massive overachievement as far as I’m concerned. |
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Reply | Style of play - Players interaction
at 19:57 12 Feb 2024
I hear what you’re saying, but if you read the post again, I do say that McNulty is not entirely blameless in terms of personnel selection. I’ve also said he’s a novice manager who is sticking to his principles. That may well be admirable, it may well be a flaw. Regardless, McNulty is doing it his way.
As I also said, if he had even a fraction more freedom in the transfer market, he may well have been able to bring in adequate players to keep his system going effectively in the face of injuries or suspensions.
Instead he’s having to beg favours from clubs who need to incur the vast majority, if not all, of the cost of any loans. This severely limits the field of quality available.
I’m prepared to cut him more slack than previous Dale managers due to the circumstances under which he is operating. Same with many of the players (many of whom didn’t even know if they were getting paid in November). It’s also not his fault we are currently playing in the National League in the first place. [Post edited 12 Feb 19:59]
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Reply | Style of play - Players interaction
at 13:33 12 Feb 2024
I've read numerous comments on this forum and on social media regarding our "style of play" and I'm perplexed.
There is nothing wrong with our style of play when it is implemented correctly. That is, quite obviously, to retain possession until a gap presents itself and then to exploit that gap by any means necessary. This has been highlighted via missile-like long balls from the keeper/defence to the front men, needle like through balls, or even wide players seizing the initiative and having a pop. Total options, as McNulty calls it.
The issue with our "style of play" is the ability, or inability, to execute it effectively. We have not done that for the past three games, and there are other examples dotted between our success pre-Christmas too.
This is down to selection issues/injuries/lack of quality augmentation.
Jim McNulty is responsible for some of this, but not all. Some of his selection and in-game decisions have baffled, for sure.
Remember, though, the vast majority of us were praising his success in the face of massive adversity around December time. Yes, three points from 15 since then focuses minds and sharpens criticism, but he is a novice manager trying to stick to his principles in very difficult circumstances. We are not a team that is going to sit deep and hit on the counter - that's how most teams are setting up against us.
I'm sure he'd love the budget of some of the other full-time teams at our level, but, in my opinion, he cannot even put together a squad that can compete over the course of an entire season. That is the issue, as is everything that is happening behind the scenes at our club. That, in my opinion, is where minds should be focused. [Post edited 12 Feb 15:06]
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Reply | Supporters meeting 6th Jan
at 13:50 5 Jan 2024
I think Judd has done an excellent job compiling that presentation and, if read thoroughly, you will see it does offer many different ways of fundraising to be discussed.
Personally, I am a fan of being able to buy 25 shares, as I find the minimum of £230, as stipulated by the club, outside my financial capability this soon after Christmas. I would happily pay £60 for 25 though.
The monthly standing order is also a good option to raise funds. I could commit £20 a month to help fund the squad. Naturally it would rely on many doing the same to make it meaningful, but what else is there right now?
The wider point about the overall health of the club cannot be ignored, however. McNulty having to get his boots back on underlines how parlous our situation is. |
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