| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments 15:15 - Aug 11 with 11412 views | Dale_4_Life |
Last season in the National League we all had a guess at where we thought Dale would finish...
its always an interesting read back at various points in the season.
To be honest I have no idea so my prediction is more a less a guess. Middle of the pack 15th is what i will go for.
Its going to be a tough start this season, It just feels we are slightly undercooked. [Post edited 11 Aug 15:20]
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 15:34 - Aug 11 with 8062 views | jonahwhereru |
I’ll go 17th. The start of the campaign has been horrific in terms of injuries. Plus in my opinion we are a couple of players light in terms of well experienced efl players. Those combined have dampened my enthusiasm.
Anything above a “sweat inducing 20th” will be OK | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 16:10 - Aug 11 with 7986 views | Yorkshire_Dale |
I'm also going for 17th.....simple because in alphabetical order, before the season starts that's where we are....
We had a superb season last time out but I think we need to strap in for a bumpy ride, let's face it we are used to it. Just hope the new fans and kids stay loyal and Mr Watson get us playing some good stuff. | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 16:12 - Aug 11 with 7977 views | Duckegg |
An optimystic 6th for me.
After a slow start to the season the squad suddenly clicks and pushes onwards... |  | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 16:51 - Aug 11 with 7855 views | Plattyswrinklynuts |
Mid table 10th. Any higher than that I’ll be ecstatic. |  | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 17:21 - Aug 11 with 7754 views | TalkingSutty |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 15:34 - Aug 11 by jonahwhereru |
I’ll go 17th. The start of the campaign has been horrific in terms of injuries. Plus in my opinion we are a couple of players light in terms of well experienced efl players. Those combined have dampened my enthusiasm.
Anything above a “sweat inducing 20th” will be OK |
Similar. A inexperienced management team at this level, some inexperienced players at this level, a raft of players who regressed out of EFL2, loads of injuries, a change iof playing system, a worry that quite a few players wont be able to handle the physical demands put on them.This isn't Watsons squad, he's inherited most of them. McNulty built a team to get us out of the NL. Those players now have to prove themselves at a higher level. I think we'll improve as the season progresses and injuries clear up, also a bit of shape shifting in January. Final position is irrelevant really, as long as we're not in the bottom two. The start of a three year project to invade the Play Offs and possible promotion would be good, preferably with Watson still at the helm. [Post edited 11 Aug 19:24]
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 17:28 - Aug 11 with 7713 views | sxdale |
New manager, new system, difficult start but hopefully click around Christmas and finish 15th. A season of consolidating our league status and strengthening in January and steadily improving will do me just fine, I would take 22nd right now. | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 18:00 - Aug 11 with 7628 views | 49thseason |
16th -13th-ish going into Christmas and then a surge upwards to finish just in or just out of the playoff places (7th 8th, 9th, 10th ) ... a building block of a season in the 3 year plan to get to L1. The return of the injured will help particularly Maguire and Beckwith, and maybe a dip into the January sales ...A good start at Newport would be excellent .Target 65 - 80 points...ideally, 1.5 points avg. or better per game, 80+ goals for, 55 -65 against.. keep the 3 off the goals against column and try to score 2 per game.. Lets set out to score goals and presure teams more than they anticipate... |  | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 23:56 - Aug 11 with 7200 views | Sandyman |
Injuries, inexperienced manager and defensive frailties that aren't being corrected properly -
17th. |  |
| "And only as far as Casey Pettit......" |
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 12:15 - Aug 12 with 6814 views | Cedar_Room |
before McNulty left I was thinking a top half, but only just, finish - 10th to 12th region. But with him gone, several of our best players from last season gone too, new manager and new players to bed into a new system, some of last season's players looking like they might struggle with the step up to L2 - I'm going lower and in the region of 16th to 18th.
What I do think we have in our favour are owners who will do whatever is necessary to keep us in the league, given everything that went into getting us here and the huge loss in revenue if we drop out again. So I'm not concerned about a relegation fight, but also don't think we'll be amassing 106 points again.
I'd be happy with almost anything that keeps us up though. |  | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 14:21 - Aug 12 with 6625 views | Edindale |
Difficult to predict as I don't see us in the top 7 or fighting relegation.
I think that the management team are good enough for this division and the new style of play / formation will click in sooner rather than later. We have a decent enough squad to hold our own but still hope for signings before the deadline and in January.
We have been very unlucky with injuries and may make the start of the campaign more difficult than would otherwise be the case. Other teams will also suffer during the course of the season.
Anticipate a rollercoaster season hopefully with attractive football and as many wins as losses. Agree that the Ogden's are our 12th man in all of this.
My prediction is 12th.
UTD | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 14:37 - Aug 12 with 6576 views | dingdangblue |
Going off pre season only - I can't see anything other than a long season struggling for wins. Hopefully we don't create the unwanted history of being the first ever team relegated straight after promotion from The National League. Staying up will be a good season. |  |
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 14:56 - Aug 12 with 6539 views | Dalenet |
What an optimistic thread. We haven't even played a League Two game yet. Accepting that we have a lot of new players, a new manager and a new system, I think we will take time to bed ourselves in. But I am still hopeful of a play-off place. You don't get over 100 points in the National League and struggle at the bottom of League Two. We have enough quality in the squad. | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 18:03 - Aug 12 with 6256 views | dannyuk |
Slow start, good run in Jan/Feb, finish 14th. |  | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 18:17 - Aug 12 with 6209 views | 442Dale |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 18:03 - Aug 12 by dannyuk |
Slow start, good run in Jan/Feb, finish 14th. |
Thinking much the same.
We’ve seen the changes will take time to bed in and there may need to be some tweaks to the plan if results don’t go our way. Think that if we can get the ball retention right in our own half, it’ll definitely help with the defensive issues. That’s the key issue at the moment.
Would hope there’s a lot of patience shown, because the signs are there that we’ve built a good squad with potential.
No more injuries for a while would help! |  |
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 18:22 - Aug 12 with 6198 views | davidab2202 |
Somewhere between 14th and 18th , will keep me happy
Just see the season as one of consolidation and hopefully enough points to keep us away from spending half a season looking over our shoulders dreading someone below us doesn,t get a shock win to put us under pressure.
Hope we do better than I think but a lot of years of watching Dale means that expectations are rarely high. Still having to pinch myself over the campaign we had last season | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 18:44 - Aug 12 with 6139 views | kel |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 14:37 - Aug 12 by dingdangblue |
Going off pre season only - I can't see anything other than a long season struggling for wins. Hopefully we don't create the unwanted history of being the first ever team relegated straight after promotion from The National League. Staying up will be a good season. |
Presume you thought we’d piss the league then when we beat Radcliffe 9-0 under Buckley? |  |
| Anyone seen ‘Trev’? Is he off playing golf with Duffy? |
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 19:14 - Aug 12 with 6081 views | frenzied |
Just stay up is enough for me.
Think we will have to learn fast on how to win/draw ugly at times.
We may well get some real thumpings also | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 19:42 - Aug 12 with 6015 views | D_Alien |
Just want to be entertained
Of course, that's a lot easier when we don't have position (in the table) pressure
I'd be hugely surprised if there aren't at least two/half a dozen teams not as capable as us, especially as the season evolves
That was also true under BBM in L1 but Watson is a different kettle of fish. Talks just as fast, but at least i can understand him
10th |  |
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 07:02 - Aug 13 with 5671 views | NorthernDale |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 17:21 - Aug 11 by TalkingSutty |
Similar. A inexperienced management team at this level, some inexperienced players at this level, a raft of players who regressed out of EFL2, loads of injuries, a change iof playing system, a worry that quite a few players wont be able to handle the physical demands put on them.This isn't Watsons squad, he's inherited most of them. McNulty built a team to get us out of the NL. Those players now have to prove themselves at a higher level. I think we'll improve as the season progresses and injuries clear up, also a bit of shape shifting in January. Final position is irrelevant really, as long as we're not in the bottom two. The start of a three year project to invade the Play Offs and possible promotion would be good, preferably with Watson still at the helm. [Post edited 11 Aug 19:24]
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I totally have to agree with sxdale and TalkingSutty, with an inexperience manager (whose mindset may be still NLN rather than EFL), injuries, players not being up to EFL standard and a degree of naivety, which league 2 will exploit, unlike the NL.
I would take 22nd now, but we could end up in a relegation fight, if we don't learn and adapt quickly. | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 07:44 - Aug 13 with 5616 views | isitme |
I think it depends on injuries to key players. It will take a while to adapt and maybe a bit like Oldham a bit of shape shifting in January could see us go on a decent run but miss out on the playoffs. |  | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 08:06 - Aug 13 with 5576 views | TalkingSutty |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 07:44 - Aug 13 by isitme |
I think it depends on injuries to key players. It will take a while to adapt and maybe a bit like Oldham a bit of shape shifting in January could see us go on a decent run but miss out on the playoffs. |
There's a discussion to be had at some point in terms of sustainability and the club finding it's natural level. The wages being paid in EFL1 are ridiculous, in relation to a increase in home attendances i don't see the extra revenue bridging the gap. In fact i think sustainability is a pipe dream, probably best to target a manageable loss each season and offset that against the benefits that the football club brings to the wider community. That's all up to the Ogden family to decide though because it's their money. In the meantime i hope fans temper their expectations over the next few years, it will take that length of time to get the club fully functioning on all cylinders. I'd love a flirtation with EFL1 again but if it's EFL2 and a well run club for the next 20/30 years i would be perfectly fine with that also. It's also crossed my mind if the Ogdens will consider at some point bringing in a trusted partner to increase investment in the club, after all they are business people. Exciting times ahead. [Post edited 13 Aug 8:14]
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 11:28 - Aug 13 with 5298 views | D_Alien |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 08:06 - Aug 13 by TalkingSutty |
There's a discussion to be had at some point in terms of sustainability and the club finding it's natural level. The wages being paid in EFL1 are ridiculous, in relation to a increase in home attendances i don't see the extra revenue bridging the gap. In fact i think sustainability is a pipe dream, probably best to target a manageable loss each season and offset that against the benefits that the football club brings to the wider community. That's all up to the Ogden family to decide though because it's their money. In the meantime i hope fans temper their expectations over the next few years, it will take that length of time to get the club fully functioning on all cylinders. I'd love a flirtation with EFL1 again but if it's EFL2 and a well run club for the next 20/30 years i would be perfectly fine with that also. It's also crossed my mind if the Ogdens will consider at some point bringing in a trusted partner to increase investment in the club, after all they are business people. Exciting times ahead. [Post edited 13 Aug 8:14]
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In terms of a discussion, have the Ogdens yet defined what they mean by sustainability, other than Project 5000, or do they have something more detailed in mind (even if not yet fully worked out) than the club being financially stable via home gates?
As you say, even with a significant rise in home gates, i'm not sure that'd be sufficient of itself, although it'd certainly go a long way. In addition, i don't see how a club (any club) can be maintained without ongoing ambition; in other words, if we make it to L1, that can't be the end of ambition. The old saying that if you merely seek to stand still, you'll end up going backwards applies | |
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 11:57 - Aug 13 with 5229 views | 49thseason |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 08:06 - Aug 13 by TalkingSutty |
There's a discussion to be had at some point in terms of sustainability and the club finding it's natural level. The wages being paid in EFL1 are ridiculous, in relation to a increase in home attendances i don't see the extra revenue bridging the gap. In fact i think sustainability is a pipe dream, probably best to target a manageable loss each season and offset that against the benefits that the football club brings to the wider community. That's all up to the Ogden family to decide though because it's their money. In the meantime i hope fans temper their expectations over the next few years, it will take that length of time to get the club fully functioning on all cylinders. I'd love a flirtation with EFL1 again but if it's EFL2 and a well run club for the next 20/30 years i would be perfectly fine with that also. It's also crossed my mind if the Ogdens will consider at some point bringing in a trusted partner to increase investment in the club, after all they are business people. Exciting times ahead. [Post edited 13 Aug 8:14]
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You make an interesting point about sustainability, the question I would pose is "how many L2 clubs are actually sustainable"? My guess is that we will average around 3500 / 4000 this season, but the top 10 clubs will average 8-10,000. And those larger attendances will generate more money per fan than we will...but their squads will cost more, so probably not sustainable without financial input by their owners.
We have been underinvested since the club was founded. The Ogden family are the first owners with genuinely deep pockets, and they see the football club as an extension of their philanthropy, giving a base to advancing their educational aspirations for Rochdale Children. As Jimmy Hill observed when he took over as Manager at Coventry, production went up in the local car factories when Coventry won on Saturdays. A winning team helps to create a winning town...
Sir Peters wealth continues to increase, his children are involved in what seem to be successful businesses, there comes a. point where a hugely wealthy person simply has little to spend their money on, certainly little that gets the blood pumping a bit faster. They are natural mitigated risk-takers, don't get me wrong, they will be circumspect, they will expect results, and it will be carefully calculated step by step, An average crowd of 5000 will help, better use of bars will help , the solar panels help, a new Academy will help, but we will still need the Ogden's input long term.
Perhaps the bigger question in all this is around how much influence on the Town they will have? The historic underinvestment in the club is a symptom of decades of underinvestment in the town since the violent decline in local cotton industry in the late 70s and 80s. Even now the town is in dire circumstances, crippled by historic decline and incapable of creating a thriving economic future. Poor health, poor people, poor prospects, on almost every measure Rochdale is in the lowest percentiles nationally, we die earlier, we are less well educated, we are underpaid and cannot attract high quality jobs as a result. Our brightest and best leave for better pastures, we stuggle to attract talent or industry that needs talent. Even the attempt to turn this into a dormitory town for Manchester has had no obvious benefit here, young people have moved into the centre of Manchester instead. The world now knows Rochdale for the recent appalling events, why would anyone move here? The escape to Lytham, or "Rochdale on Sea" as it has become known continues apace...
If I am absolutely honest, playing at the top of the National League was a strangely enjoyable experience, the expectation of 3 points and lots of goals, looking at the top of the table rather than the bottom was one I would cheerfully accept again rather than repeat an experience like our last season in the EFL . If we can make a decent fist of this division, great, if we can't, so be it, the alternative is much better than I expected it to be.
As always, we start with enthusiasm and hope, but so do football fans everywhere..its why we watch...even if sometimes we end up watching through our fingers... | | | |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 11:58 - Aug 13 with 5227 views | TVOS1907 |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 07:02 - Aug 13 by NorthernDale |
I totally have to agree with sxdale and TalkingSutty, with an inexperience manager (whose mindset may be still NLN rather than EFL), injuries, players not being up to EFL standard and a degree of naivety, which league 2 will exploit, unlike the NL.
I would take 22nd now, but we could end up in a relegation fight, if we don't learn and adapt quickly. |
"whose mindset may be still NLN rather than EFL"
What's that based on? |  |
| Maestro? No.
Elite? No.
Heavyweight poster? No.
Able to be rational and not over-react to individual results? Yes. |
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| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 12:02 - Aug 13 with 5213 views | TVOS1907 |
| Rochdale Lg 2 Finish position - board predictions and comments on 11:28 - Aug 13 by D_Alien |
In terms of a discussion, have the Ogdens yet defined what they mean by sustainability, other than Project 5000, or do they have something more detailed in mind (even if not yet fully worked out) than the club being financially stable via home gates?
As you say, even with a significant rise in home gates, i'm not sure that'd be sufficient of itself, although it'd certainly go a long way. In addition, i don't see how a club (any club) can be maintained without ongoing ambition; in other words, if we make it to L1, that can't be the end of ambition. The old saying that if you merely seek to stand still, you'll end up going backwards applies |
I think developing and selling on our own players (and doing the same with the 'broken toys'), as well as widening the use of the ground, are other parts of the sustainability. | |
| Maestro? No.
Elite? No.
Heavyweight poster? No.
Able to be rational and not over-react to individual results? Yes. |
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