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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 11:12 14 Nov 2026
Your analysis is correct |
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 10:06 14 Nov 2026
From last week's starting XI, ZSD
He's not doing badly, but just the obvious replacement with a role from the bench, if needed
And yes, the point i made a couple of days ago, echoed by Fitz this morning, about large squad management and IW's newness to this, adds to his learning curve. Not that i doubt many others recognise the same thing [Post edited 14 Nov 10:09]
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 17:43 13 Nov 2026
In a different thread i alluded to the fixtures between now and the new year. Having Allen conducting the midfield during this tense period, with players returning from injury competing (and learning) with others alongside him is indeed as big a picture as anyone who isn't determined to quibble could wish for |
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 16:33 13 Nov 2026
It's not even a contest |
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Reply | LANCS
at 12:10 12 Nov 2026
Anderson gone to Surrey
Best of luck to him, looks like he'll have a respected role there, filling in when others are on international duty whilst managing his playing time
https://www.cricinfo.com/story [Post edited 12 Nov 12:10]
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Reply | FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity
at 12:02 12 Nov 2026
You're absolutely right, this is going to be a very testing period
The cup win may have helped restore a bit of morale, but the fundamentals haven't really changed and even with players returning from lengthy injury layoffs, it'll take time to get them up to speed (they won't be at their best) and even then, we're some distance from what might be called a settled first XI, a team that's fully tuned up
It took JM three seasons to get there
With all the other issues IW has to contend with, keeping everyone reasonably happy is pretty major. Players who might be shipped out in January aren't going to be busting a gut (there will be a glut for other clubs to choose from, with the "shop window" being a bit of a false hope, and if they were performing well, why are we looking to ship them out, etc.). All this is something he's unlikely to have experience of; he's admitted the squad size doesn't help when most of them are fit to play
So... gaining points will be a struggle, but essential. Hang on to your seats, it's going to be a (continuing) bumpy ride, starting Saturday [Post edited 12 Nov 12:03]
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Reply | FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity
at 11:43 11 Nov 2026
If we played with three at the back, EEL and Flint could be supplemented by Wilson, who has pace (if not yet the experience to anticipate quite so well) or perhaps Bilongo
I too would like to see Paterson and Hendo spending time on the pitch together, although it's more likely they'd play in a similar role. Keeping the ball on the floor might even benefit Mani D on his return since it's his aerial prowess that's been lacking (except when directly in on goal)
It may still take a while, as players out injured return to fitness, to establish a settled team but the key has got to be quality and allowing those with the better skillsets to knit together |
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Reply | Magic Mick
at 10:58 9 Nov 2026
It remains to be seen, tr
Note my "I'd like to think we could..." caveat
Should Watson have to be removed, what i was questioning was the process, at the point where it looked likely to have failed. I remain an eternal optimist however
In fact, i'd still question it, in the longer term; i've already alluded to the potential problem within the joint chairmanship in terms of ultimate responsibility, in that Cameron Ogden might've had to (and still might have to) over-ride Simon Gauge in order to protect his family's finances
[Post edited 9 Nov 10:59]
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Reply | Magic Mick
at 22:39 8 Nov 2026
Interesting that he found a good culture here
It's something that can't be faked, across a multitude of people
I'd really, really like to think we could all look back on this period and thank the board for sticking to their guns
But... obviously, it's results that'll determine that [Post edited 8 Nov 22:40]
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Reply | Jim McNulty
at 16:09 8 Nov 2026
Still snatching those late goals |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 11:38 8 Nov 2026
This is clearly what the club are trying to do
I don't think the Ogdens need lessons in how to grow a business, but the bottom line (to follow your example) is that Japanese cars didn't have their exhausts falling off or doors not fitting properly |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 11:23 8 Nov 2026
I think we can all agree it'd be 'nice' if everyone shared the same level of interest and commitment. It's merely a truism to say we live in a different era to when you or i started supporting Dale
One example: we can have a laugh at how rubbish some of our players were back then (my own 'favourite' was Brian Hart) but don't recall anything like the kind of vilification being dished out to Sherring, who's far more accomplished. Probably due to the way in which young.minds are being formed online these days
This is every bit as disloyal as people deciding they've got better things to do than turn up at Dale. Some of those booing might even claim to be "Dale till i die"
Your point about not trying to second guess the motivation of others is trivial; all you have to do is take note of them on their way out, or see them disappearing into the bar for half the game, as bizarre a phenomenon as can be witnessed at a live football match, as if they can hardly bear to sit and watch for 90 minutes [Post edited 8 Nov 11:27]
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 21:09 7 Nov 2026
"...will require some resilience..."
Once again... well meaning platitudes, but the actuality of resilience revolves around building on the playing side. Most realistic fans would've settled for consolidation this year, even with JM still in charge
What most of the new fans won't settle for is a nosedive. Gauge will likely have had experience during his pilot training of how to deal with a nosedive; let's see if he can deal with one in an environment that's even more complex, from the human point of view
[Post edited 7 Nov 21:09]
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 19:47 7 Nov 2026
Again, don't disagree with the sentiment, but that's all it is
What does "building resilience" even look like? Fans either have it, or they don'i
Towards the end of the Accy drubbing, as the fourth and fifth goals went in, the noises coming from those leaving early were along the lines of "won't be wasting my time and money again"
Of course, if we turn it around, they'll be back
If not, they won't. You can't "build resilience" when many have no internal resilience/resources of their own. They're there to feel good, not to feel even more shit about themselves
That's the reality |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 18:55 7 Nov 2026
I don't disagree with the sentiment, but a good 1000 of those 3500 weren't regulars at the start of last season. Many may have been encouraged into buying a season ticket on the back of our triumphant ending. Tbeir loyalty will be rather less secure than the 2000 or so diehards
The extra 1000 or so, if lost, will not be back until they're given a damn good reason, even if they've paid up front for their seat, especially in midwinter (excepting the Xmas/NY fixtures) [Post edited 7 Nov 18:55]
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 18:17 7 Nov 2026
I think it unlikely that players returning from lengthy spells out will be starting, but Watson must find ways of bringing them on to full fitness, most likely as second half subs
The York fixture is one that most of us probably looked for when the list came out, and will be a significant test of our resolve
Last chance, possibly, to retain the loyalty of the 3500 ahead of the more severe weather
[Post edited 7 Nov 18:18]
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Reply | Rochdale must act on Ian Watson either way
at 17:45 7 Nov 2026
A very much needed morale booster today
I'm guessing the board are giving Watson till the end of the month, with key players starting to become available again but three tough fixtures York(h), Northampton(a) and Barnet(h) to negotiate
Any improvement has to start now, Full weeks of training ahead and the merest glimmer of optimism that must be sparked into life in deepest November |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 15:42 7 Nov 2026
Even with familiar faces returning to the bench and the starting line-up, we're still in a stage of the players getting to know each other (Paterson, Silcott-Duberry)
It's difficult to control games in these circumstances, although hopefully that will start to happen (whoever's in charge) |
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