Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 08:07 14 Feb 2026

I haven't taken any pictures and if you don't like the ones that you've seen then ignore them. Don't tell me what to do neither, i left school over 40 years ago. Enjoy your free pint.

[Post edited 14 Feb 8:08]

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 00:58 14 Feb 2026

McNulty's job is to pick his strongest team to win a football match, not to try to make a point over how the fixtures are scheduled by changing his entire team. It's not about what makes McNulty happy or not, those who schedule the fixtures wont factor that into their thinking so his stance was only harming our own chances of winning the game, it was naive at best and reckless at worst. The games have to be played and looking at the fixtures over Xmas and New Year for example the scheduling was ok. He's been a pro footballer for a long time he knows these schedules crop up from time to time.

We gave ourselves the best chance at York with the team selection and didn't field a different starting eleven to the previous game, that's the crux of the discussion. I could mention team selection the previous season at York that i think cost us and has never been repeated but i wont. A strong line up at Brackley would have probably won the game, i don't think anybody could dispute that having witnessed the game, previous game and how this season has panned out. There is also a counter argument that his team selection and substitutions since that game have clawed back those dropped points and repaired the damage, i think that would be a fair assement. Another example of a young manager making mistakes on the job but getting better and better.

I think criticism of McNulty last season in certain games was warranted and also in respect of the Brackley game, it has to be balanced up though with the many things he's got right and he receives plenty of praise for that. We discuss everything on here good and bad, there's no doubt McNulty's stock is quickly rising and rightly so.

[Post edited 14 Feb 1:50]

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 20:33 13 Feb 2026

Making a point to the National League then and the fixture schedule? I bet that taught them a lesson 😀.Pity the other 23 clubs didn't all come out in sympathy with Jim. As you say, a ridiculous decision. We play 46 games, theres always going to be congestion, some clubs have small squads or are part time. Just get on with it.

[Post edited 13 Feb 20:34]

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 19:50 13 Feb 2026

We have a great squad and changes do have to be made to the starting eleven for various reasons. I'm expecting probably four changes tomorrow and wouldn't be surprised to see Hogan start. Apart from that Brackley game the manager has been pretty much faultless with his selections and substitutions. I mention that particular game because it serves to remind everybody that we aren't good enough to make wholesale changes, rest influential players and just rock up at places expecting to win. I watched some of the National Cup games and Trophy games, teams filled with squad players and they weren't at the same level as our perceived strongest teams that we field in league matches. McNultys biggest achievement this season is how he's managed his big squad of players, i thought it could prove his downfall but its been the opposite.

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 19:36 13 Feb 2026

What was the point? Was it worth him changing a complete team and risking losing three points to make that point? I think just like 442 you're doing the manager a disservice by suggesting that. He had been well backed over the summer by the Ogden family.

My theory is that he got a bit to cocky and over thought the game, wanted to give everybody in the squad a early chance to stake a claim in the team and instead of doing it gradually he underestimated the opposition, had a brain fart and fielded a completely different eleven than the one that had just won 4-0. I don't think there was anything more to it than that. I hope that's the case anyway, we all make mistakes.

[Post edited 13 Feb 19:50]

Forum
Reply

Fans forum
at 19:27 13 Feb 2026

Having just watched it the most interesting question for me was the first one in relation to not having a substitute goalkeeper on the bench. I listened to Jims answer but he didn't convice me with his explanation to be honest and i didn't agree with him. The goalkeeping position is a critical position and to suggest he has a few players who are mad enough or fancy themselves in goal and he's happy to go with that doesn't seem right. Others will agree with his theory though.

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 19:07 13 Feb 2026

Not sure what you mean about bringing doubt into the stadium, fans have always discussed team selections before and after every game. What happened at Brackley handed York a advantage. There's nothing wrong with disagreeing with the manager from time to time. I think you're completely barking up the wrong tree with your ' looked to be making a point' theory but if that's what you think then that's up to you. Andy Thackery once made a ridiculous decision up at Carlisle and its still talked about now. McNulty's decision at Brackley will also be talked about in decades to come, alongside us winning promotion back to the EFL hopefully. As i said, he's done a lot more right than wrong.

[Post edited 13 Feb 19:08]

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 18:33 13 Feb 2026

The decision at Brackley wasn't made by the manager to make a point, what makes you think that? That was never suggested at the time and if that was the case then it makes the decision even worse and was disrespectful to the Ogden family. We'd just put in a fantastic performance and beat Gateshead 4-0, there was no need to make any point. The majority of those players are still at the club from the Brackley game. The game is still a issue because over the context of the season those three points dropped could prove crucial and the decision to completely change the team was ridiculous at the time and it still is now. It's used as a example as to what can happen when you start making too many changes to a winning team and it's relevent to this season, if people want to refer to it then there's nothing wrong with that, even though some might not like it. He's done far more right than wrong but to not mention the Brackley game in relation to this season would be pandering to those people who find offence in any sort of criticism aimed at the manager and there are some.

[Post edited 13 Feb 18:51]

Forum
Reply

Gilmour Extends
at 12:05 13 Feb 2026

Fantastic news, that completes the three year plan set out by the Ogden family. That's real loyalty by Gilmour, he knows if not this season then next, i hope others also buy into it.

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 11:04 13 Feb 2026

I'm currently on a remote island in Cambodia, getting to Yeovil tomorrow is going to be problematic. I've been following every game on twitter though at some ungodly hour and it's been great. Thanks for the offer of the pint anyway, it's kind of you.

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 10:59 13 Feb 2026

My sentiments exactly, we have a bit of wiggle room, York don't. Let's keep our foot on the gas.

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 10:54 13 Feb 2026

To be honest i think we are in a fantastic position and although winning the league would be great i am very confident we would win the Play Offs anyway, i've had a feeling this is going to be our year from the start. If York win the league we've been pipped by the better team and it cant be denied they are good. We are good also, we have players who are focused and driven, very talented and well coached. Finishing in the top three gives us a decent chance of promotion and nobody will want to play us in the play offs. I wouldn't get too fixated as a fan on just winning the league ( the manager and players will be though) , if it's meant to be it will happen. Do i think we can win it? Too right we can and if i was a betting man i'd put money on our players to deliver, they're brilliant. By the way, all the bookmakers have us as favourites to win the league now and it's rare they get it wrong. A bet on York could soften the blow of us coming second and pay for next years season card if you're that way inclined.

[Post edited 13 Feb 11:14]

Forum
Reply

The Run in
at 23:36 12 Feb 2026

More than capable of finishing top of the pile. With us having those two games in hand it gives York very little room for slip ups. Our biggest enemy is ourselves i think, we can't afford to self harm and give York a leg up which we've done in the past. Ruthless streak now needed and it has to come from the manager and the coaches. We can't predict injuries and rest players, they're part and parcel of the game and we don't have a big backlog of fixtures. Imagine Neil Warnock or Steve Evans, seriel promtion winners, resting players because data suggests they might get injured 😀. That's the ruthless streak i'm talking about.

[Post edited 13 Feb 3:09]

Forum
Reply

Refwatch - Yeovil Town v Rochdale
at 22:55 12 Feb 2026

Maybe Allarakhia, Petit, Barlow, McBride starting. I hope he leaves the goalkeeper and defence alone.

Forum
Reply

TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Forest Green Rovers
at 22:22 12 Feb 2026

I didn't rate Ferguson at all, and agree with Jim on that decision. Same with Sassy who he brought in, both slow to respond to danger, often caught flat footed and not to be trusted with the ball at their feet. We have to remember McNulty sees these players in training every week also. I think age has caught up with Hogan but i'd still prefer him to those two. If EEL picked up a injury i'd be worried though.

I know modern coaching is all about using data but i don't believe going down that route to try to predict when a player is likely to pick up a injury is the right thing to do, certainly not at our level. We don't have the luxury to start pulling players out of the team because some computer analysis says player A, B or C 'might' be ready to pick up a injury. Injuries can happen at any time irrespective of what data suggests. Let's not over think selection, Yeovil pushed a very good BW side all the way on Wednesday so we need to be ready for a tough game. We've played less games than everybody else, have a big squad and most teams are playing Saturday/ Tuesday. The repercussions of the Brackley away game are yet to play out, let's not start dramatically changing a winning team just for the sake of it. We're flying at the moment.

[Post edited 12 Feb 22:58]

Forum
Reply

TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Forest Green Rovers
at 14:27 12 Feb 2026

Yes, agree in respect of Allerakia. The position that concerns me is the centre of defence, EEL has been great this season but when it comes to resting him you're replacing him with a player of similar advancing age, i would have liked to have seen that position strengthened. Natural rotation has been taking place anyway during games. There are certain players in the team though who simply can't be replaced, we're weaker without them. That's normal in every team in the country, it's very rare you get managers resting their pivotal players in league games, especially when you are in a two horse race to win the league.

[Post edited 12 Feb 14:37]

Forum
Reply

TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Forest Green Rovers
at 11:48 12 Feb 2026

I dont agree with resting our arguably two best players. What's wrong with starting with our strongest available team, getting the game won and looking to take players off later in the game? That seems to have been the preferred method. The defence and midfield have been great, are Gilmour and Gordon really that tired that they can't play most of the game on Saturday? We need to treat Yeovil with the same respect as FGR. If players are genuinely tired then of course they can't start games but lets not start telling them they're tired and they need a rest when they don't. We have to be ruthless now because York wont be resting their best players in the upcoming games.

Forum
Reply

TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Forest Green Rovers
at 02:07 12 Feb 2026

Fully agree with that. Having a quick scout around the York social medias there are also a few concerns that their players are showing signs of weariness and look tired. The monotony of keep chasing Rochdale seems to be catching up on the players was one comment made. Also concerns about Stones and the workload he his being asked to do, he looks knackered. Our two games in hand loom large over York , we don't lose many and win most. Every time we win it intensifies the pressure on York, it's like Chinese water torture..the drip, drip, drip effect.

[Post edited 12 Feb 5:42]

Forum
Reply

TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Forest Green Rovers
at 00:29 12 Feb 2026

We've scored late goals also, that's football. Both York and ourselves are two good teams, over the season the one finishing top of the pile will have done it on merit. No point worrying about it, what will be will be. Another great win, FGR are a technically good team.

I wasn't there last night but there was a moment during the most crucial part of the game when the strength of this squad really hit home...the triple substitution made by McNulty. To withdraw three players of the quality of Mani, East and Tobi against FGR and then go on and win the game speaks volumes. The manager deserves credit for that, in fact the way he is utilising the squad is great to see because it's not easy keeping everybody happy.

He's a rapidly improving manager that has benefitted with having some help around him and owners who have supported him both on and off the pitch. That new pitch is proving something of a lucky charm for us also. We can now actually look forward to the game taking place with confidence, it's a very strange feeling.

[Post edited 12 Feb 5:45]

Forum
Reply

Refwatch - Rochdale v Carlisle United
at 20:47 11 Feb 2026

No harm in discussing different scenarios, whether that be winning the league or the play offs. That's what happens on football forums. We are more than capable of winning either but it's football and anything can happen. I'm confident we will make the play offs at the moment.

Please log in to use all the site's facilities

TalkingSutty

Site Scores

Prediction League:	0
TOTAL:	0