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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale 21st Nov 2025 15:48 Dale’s lunchtime kick-off at Tamworth on Saturday will be refereed by DALE BAINES.1
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 09:48 - Nov 23 with 2777 views
Off the highlights, just the type of win we need to be getting against a gritty, physical side who gave it a proper go. That sort of game got away from us at times last season. After the Boston and York games I was concerned that EEL’s new baby might be causing some sleep deprivation as he made some uncharacteristic errors, but he seems back on song. The table doesn’t lie, and after eighteen games we are the top dog. Too many people to mention as to why we have improved, but I really appreciate being able to ride this wave. The players are committed and the management are organising them really well. Keep it going lads. UTD
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 09:55 - Nov 23 with 2751 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 09:12 - Nov 23 by frenzied
I think an additional striker is vital. As much as Mani delivers id be very surprised if he doesn't get another ban or 2 before the season is out.
There’s also making him feel under a bit of pressure when his form drops a bit, and it has recently. At the moment we rightly don’t want to take him off during games because of his ability to find the net, if we had a more reliable option for goals then that would be possible. Like others, I still think Henderson could play a bigger part, and we will require someone else if Amantchi goes back.
The COG like suggestion is a good one, a player who could also contribute to the overall way we play as well. He wasn’t really brought in for his goals as he hadn’t that good a record previously, but he hit a purple patch on arriving and his own form in front of net improved along with the team.
McNulty mentioned in his interview about the necessity for calmness when we create opportunities so it looks like he’s fully aware this could become an issue that needs addressing. In the last three games we should have scored at least five more if we were more clinical: Allarakhia yesterday, Rodney and Amantchi v Aldershot, Smith and McBride at York.
There are arguably more examples too. The main thing is we are consistently creating chances with the way we play, if we were ineffective and not threatening it would be a bigger concern.
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 09:48 - Nov 23 by jonahwhereru
Off the highlights, just the type of win we need to be getting against a gritty, physical side who gave it a proper go. That sort of game got away from us at times last season. After the Boston and York games I was concerned that EEL’s new baby might be causing some sleep deprivation as he made some uncharacteristic errors, but he seems back on song. The table doesn’t lie, and after eighteen games we are the top dog. Too many people to mention as to why we have improved, but I really appreciate being able to ride this wave. The players are committed and the management are organising them really well. Keep it going lads. UTD
Watched the second half of Boston v Carlisle.....very impressed by Boston's Dylan Hill. He reminded me of Cian Haynes.....diminiitive....and all action style with low centre of gravity and tricky. Same ageat 22 yrs of age.
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 10:42 - Nov 23 with 2579 views
Are the Ogdens willing to splash the cash now we are in a brilliant position to get us over the line? Duku at Tamworth, Knowles at Altrincham, Hmami at Halifax, etc, etc can all find the net. Amantchi can go back to Wallsall in January. But we also need to work even smarter, for example, Mani D should not be working on his own upfront...he wins headers and the ball goes to no one so he needs Rodney or McBride to work alongside. I am sure that would bring even more goals.
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 07:02 - Nov 23 by D_Alien
Spot on TS
Perfect examples of the kind of strengthening you describe would be Tony Buck in the 1968/69 campaign and COG in 2009/10
These were goalscorers with pedigree. They didn't come cheap but the costs of just falling short would've been far more expensive
What's needed, up front in particular, is not another hopeful wannabee like Amantchi (or i'd argue even Smith) but a genuine finisher. I still think Hendo could play a part, but more likely at the back end of the season when winter pitches aren't a factor. We can't wait till then though
[Post edited 23 Nov 7:05]
COG didn't really have any scoring pedigree when he joined Dale.
In seven years, he had made 159 career appearances, of which 50 were from the bench. He had scored 23 goals, of which 22 were in the league. So he was averaging around one goal per seven appearances. He had also been out on five separate loan spells.
He equalled that figure of 22 league goals in his first season with Dale.
I can't comment too much on Buck as I was only two months old when he signed, but looking at his stats, he had made 93 career appearances on joining Dale, scoring 25 goals, so around a goal every four games. What did stand out for him is that in the season he signed, he had hit 13 goals in 32 outings for Newport.
[Post edited 23 Nov 10:55]
You mean you STILL haven't worked out why some posts get down-ticked?
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:01 - Nov 23 with 2499 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 10:42 - Nov 23 by YouTubeDale
Are the Ogdens willing to splash the cash now we are in a brilliant position to get us over the line? Duku at Tamworth, Knowles at Altrincham, Hmami at Halifax, etc, etc can all find the net. Amantchi can go back to Wallsall in January. But we also need to work even smarter, for example, Mani D should not be working on his own upfront...he wins headers and the ball goes to no one so he needs Rodney or McBride to work alongside. I am sure that would bring even more goals.
"Are the Ogdens willing to splash the cash now we are in a brilliant position to get us over the line?"
That might depend on how much it costs to fix the pitch.
You mean you STILL haven't worked out why some posts get down-ticked?
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:01 - Nov 23 with 2500 views
TS, you mention perhaps finding a diamond in the rough from a league below is an option to strengthen but none of our main opponents have done that. We have tried that in the past with mixed success. Our rivals have gone for the best available in this league or above. FRG signed Southend’s star man at the time Cardwell, then a seventeen goal scorer from us, Carlisle went Linney and Conn Clarke, and York to many to mention. A permanent signing of a decent striker in this league is almost impossible now. Adom would be the best opportunity. Although we aren’t broken I do agree with your premise that it’s a reasonable potential issue is correct. So the loan market would be my preferred course. Once the transfer window opens and the league teams shuffle their packs there will be some decent players available to loan if we show the ambition. Although the real ambitious move would be to do a permanent deal, because the record of Dev and Mani in the EFL is no more than fair.
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:09 - Nov 23 with 2440 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:01 - Nov 23 by jonahwhereru
TS, you mention perhaps finding a diamond in the rough from a league below is an option to strengthen but none of our main opponents have done that. We have tried that in the past with mixed success. Our rivals have gone for the best available in this league or above. FRG signed Southend’s star man at the time Cardwell, then a seventeen goal scorer from us, Carlisle went Linney and Conn Clarke, and York to many to mention. A permanent signing of a decent striker in this league is almost impossible now. Adom would be the best opportunity. Although we aren’t broken I do agree with your premise that it’s a reasonable potential issue is correct. So the loan market would be my preferred course. Once the transfer window opens and the league teams shuffle their packs there will be some decent players available to loan if we show the ambition. Although the real ambitious move would be to do a permanent deal, because the record of Dev and Mani in the EFL is no more than fair.
To be fair, we had released Mitchell.
You mean you STILL haven't worked out why some posts get down-ticked?
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:01 - Nov 23 by jonahwhereru
TS, you mention perhaps finding a diamond in the rough from a league below is an option to strengthen but none of our main opponents have done that. We have tried that in the past with mixed success. Our rivals have gone for the best available in this league or above. FRG signed Southend’s star man at the time Cardwell, then a seventeen goal scorer from us, Carlisle went Linney and Conn Clarke, and York to many to mention. A permanent signing of a decent striker in this league is almost impossible now. Adom would be the best opportunity. Although we aren’t broken I do agree with your premise that it’s a reasonable potential issue is correct. So the loan market would be my preferred course. Once the transfer window opens and the league teams shuffle their packs there will be some decent players available to loan if we show the ambition. Although the real ambitious move would be to do a permanent deal, because the record of Dev and Mani in the EFL is no more than fair.
I'm just posting as a fan. I have no idea who is available to sign or if anybody from the leagues below would be suitable. I don't even know if the Ogden family have exhausted the playing budget this season and don't want to increase it. We're all jist fans chewing the fat with no insight. The manager and his staff are paid a wage to explore all options though and i'm sure they will be doing. There is currently no other club in this league out performing us in respect of points per games played, continual improvement for the remainder of the seaaon rather than resting on our laurels is going to take us veyy close to where we want to be. Improving our striking prowess could be the key but that's only my opinion. Scott Hogan has only started six games at MK Dons and is warming the bench, a loan move for him could be worth exploring..
[Post edited 23 Nov 11:23]
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:55 - Nov 23 with 2310 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:12 - Nov 23 by TalkingSutty
I'm just posting as a fan. I have no idea who is available to sign or if anybody from the leagues below would be suitable. I don't even know if the Ogden family have exhausted the playing budget this season and don't want to increase it. We're all jist fans chewing the fat with no insight. The manager and his staff are paid a wage to explore all options though and i'm sure they will be doing. There is currently no other club in this league out performing us in respect of points per games played, continual improvement for the remainder of the seaaon rather than resting on our laurels is going to take us veyy close to where we want to be. Improving our striking prowess could be the key but that's only my opinion. Scott Hogan has only started six games at MK Dons and is warming the bench, a loan move for him could be worth exploring..
[Post edited 23 Nov 11:23]
What about trying to get Bird back on loan from Salford. He wasn’t in their squad at all yesterday. He would be a perfect partner for Mani
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 12:02 - Nov 23 with 2273 views
Kingdon was an impactful loan signing last season. Do United or City have a young striker in need of experience of men's football?
I would agree that Amantchi, whilst a unit is not really the answer to who backs up Mani. York have Pearce and Stones who are both scoring for fun. I do think we need to speculate in January. We have had a great start but there are lots of games to go and this league is so difficult to get out of.
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 12:34 - Nov 23 with 2143 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 12:21 - Nov 23 by isitme
Kingdon was an impactful loan signing last season. Do United or City have a young striker in need of experience of men's football?
I would agree that Amantchi, whilst a unit is not really the answer to who backs up Mani. York have Pearce and Stones who are both scoring for fun. I do think we need to speculate in January. We have had a great start but there are lots of games to go and this league is so difficult to get out of.
I listed Hendo, Smith, Amantci who are not contributing much for various reasons but you could also put Mancini alongside those. Four forward players and all four have hardly started a game...two league goals in total from all four. All of them being paid a wage. I know i'm banging on about this but we are carrying too many passengrrs in the forward line and it's the one area of the pitch that nreds improving. If Mani picks up a injury we are reliant on Rodney. It's not a good situation.
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 13:11 - Nov 23 with 2043 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 12:34 - Nov 23 by TalkingSutty
I listed Hendo, Smith, Amantci who are not contributing much for various reasons but you could also put Mancini alongside those. Four forward players and all four have hardly started a game...two league goals in total from all four. All of them being paid a wage. I know i'm banging on about this but we are carrying too many passengrrs in the forward line and it's the one area of the pitch that nreds improving. If Mani picks up a injury we are reliant on Rodney. It's not a good situation.
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 10:42 - Nov 23 by YouTubeDale
Are the Ogdens willing to splash the cash now we are in a brilliant position to get us over the line? Duku at Tamworth, Knowles at Altrincham, Hmami at Halifax, etc, etc can all find the net. Amantchi can go back to Wallsall in January. But we also need to work even smarter, for example, Mani D should not be working on his own upfront...he wins headers and the ball goes to no one so he needs Rodney or McBride to work alongside. I am sure that would bring even more goals.
We will not be changing our formation all of a sudden to play Mani in a front two. We don’t play for flick ons, when it does get played into Dieseruvwe it’s to hold it up and bring the wider forwards into play. The winner against Aldershot is the best example of this. Can we do it mid-game or for a particular match where a midfield three is required? Possibly, but the success we are seeing now is on the back of a lot of hard work over the last two years to make this formation as effective as possible. And it is, the league table illustrates that.
Duku is 32 and never scored prolifically throughout his career. Knowles plays wider and we’ve enough wide forwards, Hmani is an attacking midfielder and we’ve enough players who can play that role as well. He also hasn’t scored since his brace at Spotland nearly two months ago.
Not sure we can expect the owners to spend any more money on the squad especially, as TS points out, we need to be managing the current playing staff better and possibly moving some out to use the wage savings on bringing someone in. It’s also been noted about pitch costs, the owners have spent and will spend more than enough on the club this season. Any recruits should come within the current playing budget.
Wanting them to continue to spend is not something I feel comfortable with. It’s very Bury/Oldham.
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 13:41 - Nov 23 by 442Dale
We will not be changing our formation all of a sudden to play Mani in a front two. We don’t play for flick ons, when it does get played into Dieseruvwe it’s to hold it up and bring the wider forwards into play. The winner against Aldershot is the best example of this. Can we do it mid-game or for a particular match where a midfield three is required? Possibly, but the success we are seeing now is on the back of a lot of hard work over the last two years to make this formation as effective as possible. And it is, the league table illustrates that.
Duku is 32 and never scored prolifically throughout his career. Knowles plays wider and we’ve enough wide forwards, Hmani is an attacking midfielder and we’ve enough players who can play that role as well. He also hasn’t scored since his brace at Spotland nearly two months ago.
Not sure we can expect the owners to spend any more money on the squad especially, as TS points out, we need to be managing the current playing staff better and possibly moving some out to use the wage savings on bringing someone in. It’s also been noted about pitch costs, the owners have spent and will spend more than enough on the club this season. Any recruits should come within the current playing budget.
Wanting them to continue to spend is not something I feel comfortable with. It’s very Bury/Oldham.
[Post edited 23 Nov 13:42]
That Duku was dreadful yesterday, leading to him being subbed just past the hour.
You mean you STILL haven't worked out why some posts get down-ticked?
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 14:08 - Nov 23 with 1881 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 13:41 - Nov 23 by 442Dale
We will not be changing our formation all of a sudden to play Mani in a front two. We don’t play for flick ons, when it does get played into Dieseruvwe it’s to hold it up and bring the wider forwards into play. The winner against Aldershot is the best example of this. Can we do it mid-game or for a particular match where a midfield three is required? Possibly, but the success we are seeing now is on the back of a lot of hard work over the last two years to make this formation as effective as possible. And it is, the league table illustrates that.
Duku is 32 and never scored prolifically throughout his career. Knowles plays wider and we’ve enough wide forwards, Hmani is an attacking midfielder and we’ve enough players who can play that role as well. He also hasn’t scored since his brace at Spotland nearly two months ago.
Not sure we can expect the owners to spend any more money on the squad especially, as TS points out, we need to be managing the current playing staff better and possibly moving some out to use the wage savings on bringing someone in. It’s also been noted about pitch costs, the owners have spent and will spend more than enough on the club this season. Any recruits should come within the current playing budget.
Wanting them to continue to spend is not something I feel comfortable with. It’s very Bury/Oldham.
[Post edited 23 Nov 13:42]
McNulty does have some scope to do some shape shifting soon. We have a few players who could benefit from playing regular games and Amantchi will be returning to Walsall. Petit's inclusion yesterday was a big positive, the midfield can now be rotated, players rested. Pritchards return from injury is like signing a new player also. Its going to be a interesting couple of month both on and off the pitch i think but we're going into it in a strong position.
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 14:58 - Nov 23 with 1760 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 05:30 - Nov 23 by TalkingSutty
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that McNulty has a conundrum to solve when it comes to the make up of the squad, it's still there. i don't think we are good enough in the final third and our back up options are very limited. Yesterday we had one available recognised goalscoring threat in the squad. Henderson has been put out to grass, it's not fair to suddenly expect him to start popping in goals. McNulty clearly doesn't want to play him anyway and prefers Amantchi as a better option. Amantchi provides no goal threat, he's not good enough and hasn't scored this season. Smith could be out until mid January, with a hamstring it might be longer. How long will it then take him to get up to speed? So that's three forwards in Smith, Amantchi, Hendo who for different reasons aren't contributing to the cause. Rodney couldn't play yesterday in a very important game because his body isn't up to it, he's fragile and could break down at any time. I like Rodney but he also blows hot and cold as we know.
So when you analyse that forward line it's a right mish mash and there's only Mani you can rely on. It was highlighted yesterday, we were toothless in the final third. So it's great that McNulty is managing Rodney because he can't play on plastic pitches but in effect he has to field a weakened team because of it. We can get away with it against the weaker teams but to get out of this league i think we need to carry more of an attacking threat, forwards who strike fear into our opponents and know where the net is. The amount of clear cut chances we fluff, shooting opportunities we decline is criminal and it undermines all the great approach play, we should have been 5-0 up at Carlisle in the first half. If the coaches can improve us in that department we will go up another level...i'm not sure Jim will even identify it as a problem though but you would like to think he does if he's big on analysis. Regularly missing chances will come back to bite us if it carries on, especially in the tight games against better opposition. You can't teach the natural instinct of a goalscorer and we are short in that department now that Hendo is more or less retired and not starting games
I think we need reinforcements up front to provide more goal threat and as the lads alluded to on the podcast we also need another central defender. I'm assuming we are strengthening again in the Summer as part of the three year plan, if targets become available over the next month or two i wonder if there will be leeway to sign them earlier in the hope of turning the three year plan into two. It's not my money but strengthening a few months earlier for the league run in could prove very cost effective and promotion would soften the cost implications of repairing the pitch. I think we're only two decent forwards and one defender away from being the finished article now. The teams carrying the biggest threat in the final third wil probably go up this year and at the moment i think we're lacking in comparison to York and Carlisle. I appreciate signing the right players is easier said than done, maybe there's a rough diamond in the league below who would fit the bill. In the next eighteen months i think four of the current top six clubs will probably be promoted and strengthening our attack will be the key to us being one of those clubs.
[Post edited 23 Nov 6:52]
Really can't see any reinforcements coming in unless Amantchi goes back. Personally think Rodney is having a very good season - to back up his end of season last time. I think him and Dieseruvwe have hit it off very well. Yes he was 'rested' yesterday due to the pitch but I don't think that's a issue - how many other plastic pitches are we to play on? He will start most of our games and is in our strongest starting X1 if fit. A bit more practicing shooting from the edge of box is required in training - we all know most of them can finish when our wide man crosses it into the 6 yard box.
Its a BRILLIANT goal to cap a BRILLIANT start by Rochdale - Don Goodman 26/08/10
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 10:43 - Nov 24 by dingdangblue
Really can't see any reinforcements coming in unless Amantchi goes back. Personally think Rodney is having a very good season - to back up his end of season last time. I think him and Dieseruvwe have hit it off very well. Yes he was 'rested' yesterday due to the pitch but I don't think that's a issue - how many other plastic pitches are we to play on? He will start most of our games and is in our strongest starting X1 if fit. A bit more practicing shooting from the edge of box is required in training - we all know most of them can finish when our wide man crosses it into the 6 yard box.
Agree Rodney and Mani are up there with the best in this league, it's the other options we currently have available that concern me as i alluded to in my post. There's no desire from the manager to play the goat, Smith and Mancini are injured and Amantchi is more of a nuisance than a goal threat.His loan period is up soon. Rodney has a history of mssing games, his body is fragile and he needs managing. That leaves us with Mani as the only real goal threat up front if Rodney can't play . Mancini is a waste of a wage and if Hendo is only fit to make cameo appearances from the subs bench ( if he's lucky) then we are two players down straight away there. Wages that could be used elsewhere. I just think to go up another level we need to have better options in the final third, i've no problem with Mani and Rodney.
[Post edited 24 Nov 11:34]
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 14:19 - Nov 24 with 615 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 11:16 - Nov 24 by TalkingSutty
Agree Rodney and Mani are up there with the best in this league, it's the other options we currently have available that concern me as i alluded to in my post. There's no desire from the manager to play the goat, Smith and Mancini are injured and Amantchi is more of a nuisance than a goal threat.His loan period is up soon. Rodney has a history of mssing games, his body is fragile and he needs managing. That leaves us with Mani as the only real goal threat up front if Rodney can't play . Mancini is a waste of a wage and if Hendo is only fit to make cameo appearances from the subs bench ( if he's lucky) then we are two players down straight away there. Wages that could be used elsewhere. I just think to go up another level we need to have better options in the final third, i've no problem with Mani and Rodney.
[Post edited 24 Nov 11:34]
I thought the result at Tamworth was good in the circumstances- weather, pitch, absence of Rodney and ignoring Hendo. Plenty of effort.
The fact is that we don`t have any other real goalscorers.
East, Gilmour, Allarakhia, Tobi, McBride have no record or suggestion of scoring more than a handful of goals between them. Certainly not in the mould of Lund, Sinclair or Keohane. The loss of Tyler Smith is unfortunate, but we really need more power backup up front.
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 14:41 - Nov 24 with 586 views
Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale on 14:19 - Nov 24 by samueloneils
I thought the result at Tamworth was good in the circumstances- weather, pitch, absence of Rodney and ignoring Hendo. Plenty of effort.
The fact is that we don`t have any other real goalscorers.
East, Gilmour, Allarakhia, Tobi, McBride have no record or suggestion of scoring more than a handful of goals between them. Certainly not in the mould of Lund, Sinclair or Keohane. The loss of Tyler Smith is unfortunate, but we really need more power backup up front.
If Hendo was featuring more and popping the odd goal in we would probably be ok but at 41 years of age we should now have better options really, maybe Smith could be that man but he might not be fully match fit for another two months. Amantchi will probably go back to Walsall in January but he's not done much anyway. If McNulty thought Hendo was up to it he would have featured more. I look at our forward line and i think we lack a McEvilly/ Stones type player, a rampaging bull with a desire to run at defenders and score goals. Something a bit different. There will probably be some shape shifting anyway in January. I just think we have a lot of forwards and most of them haven't made much of a contribition for one reason or another, not sure we can afford that.
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