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Reply | I play with wingers, not wing backs (n/t)
at 22:21 10 Jul 2026
As others have said, I think we currently would line up with:
GK
TAR (Moss) Maguire EEL Beckwith (Bilongo)
Petit
Gilmour (Jenkins) East (Francis)
Rodney(Henderson) Hayes (Hannant)
Mani
Which, obviously goalkeeping issues aside, only really leave us short depth-wise in a few places. I think there will be an expectation within the squad for players such as Francis, Bilongo and to some extent Hannant, to really step up this season and offer meaningful competition for places. A strong Francis could enable East to play in the 'Barlow' role or Bilongo performing could free Beckwith to play more centrally, suppose we'll get far more clarity over the next few weeks.
I suspect he'll try and tie up at least one keeper before we fly off, whilst also presume a centre back and centre forward will be the other two he tries to bring in before we go. Other than that, wouldn't be surpised to see the management team hold out until later in the window in the hope an NML/ Dawson style player becomes availbable. [Post edited 10 Jul 22:36]
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Reply | Cian Hayes
at 15:03 3 Jul 2026
Really exciting signing, and it reinforces Cameron Ogden's comments on the podcast about the club continuing to be ambitious. In his previous spell for us he had that Abdulmalik quality of exciting every time he got the ball. Huge credit to everyone involved in getting this one over the line! |
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Reply | Tyler Smith leaves.
at 14:58 3 Jul 2026
Agreed. He chipped in with some important goals-Wembley being the standout-but he never quite looked as effective when starting games for us. With Hayes signing, I can only imagine he's gone in search of more regular minutes. Wishing him all the best for the future. |
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Reply | I know things take time....
at 18:52 30 Jun 2026
Think our fingers have been burnt previously with agents pushing forward players to new managers who were never the right fit or just fit for the club (Twaddle, Hackney, Aidy White). Glad the management team are being patient and doing their due diligence. |
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Reply | Ian Watson Set To Become New Rochdale Manager?
at 17:51 12 Jun 2026
The departure of Gordon I think gives Watson a real opportunity to consider whether he wants to stick with a back 5 or revert to a back 4 with Beckwith moving back out to full back. Would then enable a midfield 3 of Petit, Gilmour and East. |
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Reply | Ian Watson Set To Become New Rochdale Manager?
at 19:33 10 Jun 2026
I could be wrong but I’d hope that the reason for a slight delay in announcing backroom staff departing/ arriving has been to enable some sort of a hand-over period from one management team to another. |
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Reply | He has gone
at 18:48 5 Jun 2026
No reference to them leaving as of yet. A part of me wonders whether some of the team are on the list of potential Jim replacements. |
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Reply | Jim leaves
at 19:20 4 Jun 2026
Congrats to him. Wish him all the best in the future- what he’s done to help turn the club around from its lowest ebb won’t be forgotten. |
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Reply | Dale Retained List
at 17:59 1 Jun 2026
My gut says if Stockport want him, he’ll go. Their chairman’s farewell message to Challinor and his family shows that it would be a club where McNulty could stay and settle for a good few years. Taylor will also be a familiar face to their fans. I think it would be a better move than other clubs he’s been previously linked with.
The only slight surprise is that Stockport aren’t going for someone with experience of promotion from League 1/ management experience in the championship. |
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Reply | Dale Retained List
at 11:10 29 May 2026
GSM will be a great January signing for us after Oldham struggle to utilise him effectively  |
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Reply | Cheating Saints?
at 18:55 19 May 2026
Thrown out of the Play-offs. Wow! |
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Reply | Dale Retained List
at 19:53 18 May 2026
I’m only slightly surprised by Burger’s departure. With the EFL regulations around squad sizes, I thought he could have been a decent squad player while still not counting towards the 22.
I’m sure many of those released will find clubs at National League level, and a huge thanks goes to all of them for the role they played this season.
I think Smith has made a decent impact coming off the bench, although you could argue his skill set is a bit too similar to Hendo’s in what is already a limited squad. As others have said, it’ll be easier to judge him after a full pre-season. His inclusion in the starting XI away at York suggests McNulty rates him highly as a slightly different option.
The squad looks lean, but it’s full of quality, and if KG stays then we’ll have kept the nucleus of the side intact. I’m also hopeful we’ll see improved versions of Bilongo and Francis — as well as Smith — after a full pre-season.
Edit- also suspect Humbles will join Alty for a nominal undisclosed fee over the summer. [Post edited 18 May 19:54]
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Reply | Looking forward to next season
at 19:20 13 May 2026
Will also be interesting to see how much more players such as Francis and Bilongo feature with a preseason with us under their belt. Think it's fair to say that neither have hit the heights we'd have hoped for yet.
I always felt we were impacted after the loan market was restricted to transfer windows in the football league- we never quite seemed to get the right quality throughout the squad. I'm sure McNulty and the team will have a plan for this (probably keeping strong utility players like Pritchard tbf!) |
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Reply | Looking forward to next season
at 18:42 13 May 2026
For goalkeeper I was really impressed with Desbois from Gateshead- but the game I saw him in was against York so reckon they were probably too!
Could see contracts being offered to Gordon, Myles, Burger, Hendo and Smith (also agree with Tutonda as he seems very popular as an obvious back up)
As an outside punt could see Pritchard leaving- mainly due to increased competition for places and the signing of Hannant pushes him a bit further down the pecking order.
Could also see us potentially going in for Ayinde on a permanent deal. |
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Reply | Hows this week been for you all?
at 21:17 24 Apr 2026
Strangely I think I’d be almost more confident at 1-1 with 70 minutes gone than 2-0 up. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, it’s been such an enjoyable season. |
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Reply | Spare ticket
at 16:30 22 Apr 2026
Also looking for a ticket for Saturday, though I’d happily take it joining the list of great games I’ve missed—Leeds and Charlton—if it ended the same way. |
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