 | Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 14:07 25 Oct 2026
True, but that era has gone now and we’ve moved on as a club. It’s not to say lessons can’t be learnt around patience when developing a culture/style of play when results don’t go our way, but there’s been so much change that trying to recreate the past won’t work.
That managers can be in danger/doing well based on a few games is modern football, especially amongst fans (in the main) brought up in that era. It’s that sometimes I believe there’s a reaction to individual results that shift opinion far too quickly.
I had far more concerns back in early September when it was difficult to see how we’d develop a way of playing that would gain points. We managed to do that and it seemed everyone was positive when that was visible. Now the challenge is to find a way of discovering alternative methods when the opposition are onto us as Accy were yesterday.
We weren’t amazing when we won three on the bounce and went undefeated in five. We’re not awful after not winning in four. We’re Rochdale in Division 4 doing our best.
Of course, that’s not to say a long run of bad results that sees us adrift at the bottom shouldn’t mean Watson isn’t under pressure, he’d expect that. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 11:54 25 Oct 2026
It was. Went to three at the back ironically.
It was in the middle of about 12 games without a win. Crowds remained reasonably steady throughout and, despite some poor results at home this season, you’d hope supporters will continue to turn up this time around too. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 11:00 25 Oct 2026
We were looking good for at least a playoff spot and there was a possibility of automatic promotion when we lost 7-1 to Shrewsbury in the midst of a very poor run. Crowds had been very good, well over 3000 most of the time with a couple of 4000+ attendances.
Yesterday’s capitulation was very poor, but as has already been said, hovering around lower mid-table would have been acceptable for the season as a whole. I expect much better than what we saw yesterday, but hopefully the new fans will continue to support the side when times are tough too.
This doesn’t detract from the fact Watson and his players have to be better. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 10:31 25 Oct 2026
Fair analysis.
There remains the option to play three at the back with the wingers as wingbacks. Tutonda was playing as high as Middleton yesterday. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 08:52 25 Oct 2026
Brown has done alright but I share the concerns. He doesn’t make the opposition think enough.
He works hard but not in a clever way, is far too easy to defend against. His runs, with and without the ball, don’t create problems for defenders. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 08:50 25 Oct 2026
Not withstanding the games we’ve been without some of them, having 5 wingers is too many. As noted we already had Hannant who can play both sides, as could the others if required.
That Smith has been missing for two spells already makes the poor decision making worse. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 22:53 24 Oct 2026
I’m with you on the theme of that last line. Whether it’s because the injury situation has contributed is one thing, but the way players have been collected has not always made sense.
Why sign Silcott-Duberry if Smith and Middleton were on the radar? We could have made do with what we had.
Why sign Sherring? Even if Maguire wasn’t fit we still had enough options at CH before looking at loans before the window shut.
If we get to January and people are returning to fitness, would look to ship 4/5 out. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 22:46 24 Oct 2026
Because it has been. Fleetwood away the best example so far. The first half on Tuesday was a very open game too, get it wide as quickly as possible and get crosses in - see Brown’s goal.
Does it happen enough? Nope. But it’s obvious that is what they’re aiming for.
The alternative is a more structured, controlled approach which reduces the distances between players. Like the last three seasons. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 20:47 24 Oct 2026
The difference is results. We were getting them, now we’re not. We’re not doing anything differently, just more injuries and therefore less options when players drop off.
We’ve gone from a team that was set up to control games, to one that is designed to attack quickly and play expansively. Until that’s perfected (if it can be when hopefully players return) then games and results will fluctuate in the extreme.
Supporters need to try and stick with the team/manager until results reach a point where other routes forward have to be looked at.
None of the above excuses the lack of work put in today, as seen on those highlights. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 19:41 24 Oct 2026
That’s the biggest worry, we give up way too many chances. The football is much quicker when we go forward, but the distances between players are still too great when we lose it.
It relies too often on players making last ditch defensive blocks or saves for us to win games. That’s not saying Watson’s way can’t work but it needs individuals to be totally on it every game at the moment. The structure isn’t solid enough when a few aren’t.
There are going to be trade offs when it comes to trying to be expansive, it’s on the manager to find a way to be harder to break down though.
I feel a bit for Waller as he’s a decent enough keeper as we saw in his first spell, but he’s being exposed far too much to shots (it’s 20 conceded in his six games) That alone will knock his confidence and we have no option to replace him at present. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 18:02 24 Oct 2026
Tutonda was very good. The way he was positioned, alongside his colleague at RWB, was where Watson struggled to deal with Accrington tactically.
It was like Dale last season when the wingbacks (eg. TAR and Pritchard) would push right up on the opposition fullbacks, with our wide central defenders covering any threat out wide. That both Accy’s wingbacks also got back in quickly when we had the ball meant Hayes and Middleton had frustrating days. It was risky from Accrington too, but they got it right.
You’re right, it exposed Flint too, he’s ok in a battle with a centre forward but with a fluid attacking unit he understandably isn’t as commanding.
And yes, so many of these problems can be traced back to the midfield/no.10 set up. Those that are fit have to play at present. It doesn’t excuse Henderson not coming on at half time to give them something to think about though. Bor the decision to employ Gilmour as the one sitting when he’d already proven to be better playing ahead of Francis in that role. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 17:52 24 Oct 2026
There will and with so little options available to the manager he has to get the simple things right. Like making substitutions at half time if only to lift the crowd. Like recognising when the opposition have set up in a way that causes us problems and reacting to it.
That said, there’s been enough so far to show we can compete at this level. It would be fair to say the injuries are holding us back by 4/5 points so far.
Today, as bad as it was, wasn’t as bad as Gillingham for example. Accrington were a much better team and we had far more of our squad available that day but looked like we didn’t know what we were supposed to be.
The problem that does remain, despite illustrating how we can be effective, is that too many players look lost when the game gets away from them.
One of the biggest worries is whether Beckwith can last a significant amount of a game. If not, the options in defence are beyond limited. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 16:17 24 Oct 2026
It is but we also don’t need to get too reactionary and go all Oldham and call for the manager’s head/say we are going up depending on results.
This season will require some fortitude in the same way it was required after the setbacks when we were in non league. |
| Forum
Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Accrington Stanley
at 16:12 24 Oct 2026
It really won’t and we are better than that. But Watson should have taken him out of the firing line at half time as well as lifting the crowd with Henderson on too.
He didn’t. That’s a really poor bit of management. |
| | 442Dale
|
Site Scores| Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 0 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.