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The manager mentioned in a post-match interview that Whatmuff was going to play at Brackley, but reported ill on the morning of the game. If some choose not to believe that, that's on them.
It was clearly implied by McNulty, and documented in print, that he wasn't happy at having to play three games between Wednesday evening and Monday afternoon (Gateshead, Brackley and Sutton). His team selection was trying to make a point to the National League.
He also referenced last season when Dale played at York (Tuesday) and at home to Forest Green (Saturday) before having to make the long trip to Yeovil on Bank Holiday Monday, when EEL picked-up an injury early in the game.
Was that injury a result of three matches in such a short time? Only the manager and his staff know, but no doubt that formed part of his thinking this time around, especially with the Gateshead game being 24 hours later than the York game a year earlier.
In 2023/24, Dale played at York on August Bank Holiday Monday, but had moved their previous game (Bromley at home) to the Friday night in order to give more time before the Monday. There wasn't a midweek game before the Bromley match on that occasion.
I know that Dale asked the National League to move the Gateshead game back 24 hours, but they were told it wasn't possible because of the DAZN agreement.
And before anyone says it, I also know there were 23 other clubs affected by this schedule, but we should only be concerned for ourselves.
I thought it was poor of the National League to schedule that midweek of the Gateshead match how they did. They should have put a full midweek programme after the opening day (w/c 11th Aug) and moved the National League Cup games to the following midweek (w/c 18th Aug) before Bank Holiday weekend, as clubs wouldn't be fielding full strength teams in those matches.
Or, at least allowed all 24 teams to play on the same night (Tuesday), with two games in three days to follow.
Regardless of all this, the team we put out at Brackley should still have been good enough to avoid defeat, but if you mess with the Footballing Gods, you're on thin ice. However, there is no guarantee the team that beat Gateshead so convincingly would have a won at Brackley. If football was so linear, we'd all be millionaires (Rodney).
Do I agree with what McNulty did? No, not one bit, but if he's being accused of disrespect to Brackley by thinking we 'could just rock up expecting to win', then isn't it also disrespectful to Brackley assuming the Dale team which beat Gateshead would themselves 'just rock up' and win?
I am also guessing that he realises it backfired on him and he won't do anything like that ever again. His intentions were honourable, but perhaps the process was way too radical.
Despite that defeat, we have since picked up 64 points out of 75 available, which nobody would have expected. And in the bigger picture, the loss at York is arguably the most important of the season to date, given they are our nearest challengers.
[Post edited 13 Feb 21:14]
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.
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]
Read my post again.
I didn’t disagree with what you were saying about the team selection; I was just giving some factual context.
The Football League hasn’t had August Bank Holiday Monday fixtures since 2005 and McNulty made his league debut 12 months later, so that sort of scheduling is something he won’t have experienced as a player.
As you say, though, Christmas and New Year was fine, with the longer gaps between games. If we get back into the EFL, that’s likely to not be the case so he will have to adjust.
Anyway, I’m off to Somerset (I’ll get your pint off samueloneills); you get back to your island. There must be more pictures to be taken…
[Post edited 14 Feb 7:29]
I'm not a maestro, far from it, but I just engage my brain before posting.
I didn’t disagree with what you were saying about the team selection; I was just giving some factual context.
The Football League hasn’t had August Bank Holiday Monday fixtures since 2005 and McNulty made his league debut 12 months later, so that sort of scheduling is something he won’t have experienced as a player.
As you say, though, Christmas and New Year was fine, with the longer gaps between games. If we get back into the EFL, that’s likely to not be the case so he will have to adjust.
Anyway, I’m off to Somerset (I’ll get your pint off samueloneills); you get back to your island. There must be more pictures to be taken…
[Post edited 14 Feb 7:29]
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.
I didn’t disagree with what you were saying about the team selection; I was just giving some factual context.
The Football League hasn’t had August Bank Holiday Monday fixtures since 2005 and McNulty made his league debut 12 months later, so that sort of scheduling is something he won’t have experienced as a player.
As you say, though, Christmas and New Year was fine, with the longer gaps between games. If we get back into the EFL, that’s likely to not be the case so he will have to adjust.
Anyway, I’m off to Somerset (I’ll get your pint off samueloneills); you get back to your island. There must be more pictures to be taken…
[Post edited 14 Feb 7:29]
Look me up when you get there. I`ll be the one with the big smile when the winning goal goes in.
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