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Relegation squads compared
at 20:05 19 Apr 2021

I think to say it's a red herring is perhaps a little harsh.

I'm not saying it's a main reason for our issues this year but a contributing factor. As is the managers insistence on rigidly sticking to a tactical ethos and formation we couldn't pull off with the available players.

This year really has been a huge combination of issues some on field some off.
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Relegation squads compared
at 18:32 19 Apr 2021

Well to the managers previous point the significance is not necessarily about how many weeks they've been out but how many games they'd missed and also when we've seen the accumulative effect of it being focused in certain areas I.e centre back and attacking at key periods of the season.

I'm not absolving the club/manager of all responsibility because a decision was obviously made at some point to roll with a smaller squad with the players that were chosen.
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Relegation squads compared
at 08:00 19 Apr 2021

If you take that same list and take out anyone missing with injury for significant periods you end up with (I think):

Lynch
Keohane, Osho, Roberts, Bola, Done
Morley, Newby, Grant, O’Shaugnessy
Bit-part players: McNulty, Tavares and Brierley

Easy to see one reason why its been difficult to achieve consistency.
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Chris Dunphy "doesn't have support of major shareholders"
at 12:01 17 Apr 2021

Yeah good point.

I dont envy anyone in trying to secure honest investment in a football club at the moment.

As someone else said, I think the way forward in the immediate term is to back the club financially rather than suffocate it financially.

Change in leadership is definitely needed and opportunity beyond the EGM to make that clear will be when we re-enter the grounds we can make our views clear.

I feel what's needed though is to ensure our football club is able to operate effectively in the summer as those are transformative periods for any club, not least ours with the contract situations of a good number of players.
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Chris Dunphy "doesn't have support of major shareholders"
at 08:04 17 Apr 2021

The Accy point is nonsense.

Any interaction or interview with their chairman and he'll tell you its much the opposite, with work being done off the field to match their league one standing.

They also have a multi millionaire owner who can support the club financially when needed. We don't.

COVID was always going to hit us hard and with the lack of a cup run or player sale.

The board were on a hiding to nothing this year but certainly haven't helped themselves with recent decisions and indecision.

My major worry is with so many significant shareholders holding onto their stake, but either not being interested or not being able to take a more hands on role in the club, where is the room for new blood?

As fantastic as the likes of the Overcoat men and the like have been for us, surely they would be best served selling to a reputable newcomer?

I suppose the next question is where do we find the new people? It was a key query I had over Chris Dunphy's return.

Even if these major shareholders don't like the Dunphy return, are they in effect blockers for a lot of other options too?
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Mark Hodkinson: Inside the Boardroom
at 10:56 22 Mar 2021

Excellent points and well made.

Agree that having significant trust or supporters held shares protects the club from unscrupulous individuals but it can be clearly seen that the current model of relying on player sales and the odd cup run to plug the funding gaps cannot be sustainable long term. Investment needs to be made if we have hopes of giving ourselves the best chance of relative and sustainable success.

Wimbledon have had to get very creative to solve their financial issues and were able to fundraise through a sale of 10% shareholding, crowd funding and investment bond sales.

They've maintained their shareholding in the club and it going to be an interesting one to monitor. They were operating from a relative position of strength with £2m raised over the course of 5 years and full trust owned shareholding.

Could you imagine our fanbase being as invested? I think that's why the club is seeking outside investment. They know the reality of it is that they would be unlikely to raise those funds through our fanbase and AK's statement about not allowing Dan and Emre to hold the 51% they crave show that the fans interests are being represented at boardroom level.

Perhaps some honest discussion between board and trust under an NDA (if its not happened already) would expose some potential for fan involvement in raising investment capital.

It's a great subject to get wider views on though as it will be crucial to the direction of our club in the next decade or so.
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Mark Hodkinson: Inside the Boardroom
at 09:23 22 Mar 2021

I might be recalling it incorrectly, but didn't he say that it was a mutual feeling following discussion with the trust?

To one point I can understand it that it could feel similar to having a member of the "opposition" in the cabinet. Not that they're on opposite sides of a fence but that they are there to hold the board to account and their ability to do that effectively could be compromised by being on the inside as it were.

On the other, how can the trust do so without a more full view of the facts? Its a quandary for sure.

One thing is for sure though, the fan owned model so far has proven to get clubs only so far before significant investment is needed.

Look forward to the rest of this series.
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Altman and Marcelli not joining board?
at 21:00 28 Feb 2021

He probably read the messageboard and twitter yesterday and assumed that we'd been relegated!
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Match Thread: Rochdale vs Burton Albion
at 12:18 28 Feb 2021

Completely get what you say from a timing perspective. But it was felt then that we have a ready made replacement in house that was an economical option.

Is there anyone in house who would genuinely satisfy the fans with their appointment?
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Match Thread: Rochdale vs Burton Albion
at 10:09 28 Feb 2021

Slept on it, still feel miserable, but wouldn't change the manager. I'll try and explain why I feel that way.

I feel the time to make the change was prior to the transfer window, much like it was for Burton, who's manager was allowed to add to his squad significantly and change the way they were playing.

In backing BBM in January you do feel that this board are prepared to stick with him come what may. They've allowed him to recruit with next year in mind.

He is without doubt the cheaper option, but he is also it seems aligned with the way they want to go about scouting, recruiting and developing young talent in line with the aims of our two new board members.

To sack him now would prompt the question of who you would get in that would accept the current situation, be on board with the future plans but then also not break the bank with their wage demands (don't forget the usual back room staff changes too).

I trust Brian's recruitment and I think his man management of the players is good. What he probably needs, and we might get this with the sporting director appointment, is the ear of an experienced ex-manager where other ideas may be considered.

It feels at the moment like our playing strategy has tunnel vision and is set, regardless of the opposition or the way a particular game is progressing.

It's very admirable, but it isn't going to retain our league 1 status.

Relegation to league 2 won't be the end of the football club, particularly with the adjustments made to the budgets and the outgoing wages in the summer, but it will feel like a huge step back for us after so much progress on the last 20 years.

Everyone is entitled to their view and their course of action but I really disagree with the sentiment of "withdrawing" support for this team next year based on the way this season has gone. The club like always needs it's supporters next year and I feel as though you're essentially contributing to further difficulty if you decide to pull any financial support for the club.

Ultimately, the time has probably passed for changing the manager, see the season out and see where we land. With luck we get players back in time for a huge push at the back end of March.
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Club Statement
at 09:46 25 Feb 2021

100% agree with the xenophobia. We've seen it here with the Americans and fleetingly, perhaps jokingly, with the Irish sentiment in other threads. Let's make points without resorting to stereotypes.

Regarding the investment opportunity? I'd imagine we represent the lowest cost opportunity to prove their analytical methodology.

After all, if it can work for a club like Dale, imagine what it could do when properly integrated at a larger club with an international reach on transfers?

For those who think he had his chance at Swansea. It seems as though it wasn't followed to the extent that Dan Altman wanted it to be and his system and the tactical side of it seems to have evolved since then.

It's most definitely worth exploring, but with caution.
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BBM
at 20:02 16 Jan 2021

4 games to go until the end of the transfer window.

25 left in the season. Is it not better to have the right people in for 21 games than rush into potentially getting the wrong ones for the sake of 2 or 3 games?

Whatever we do it won't be a small outlay money wise. I'd rather that time was took to get the best players in.

It may well be that some players only become available towards the end of the window?
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BBM
at 19:23 16 Jan 2021

I think an experienced Assistant would undermine BBM's authority and if I was him I'd consider it an insult.

If there is money around to potentially change the manager (and likely the need to change backroom staff too) I'd much rather that the money was used to bolster the playing options for BBM instead.

He's got an eye for a player and this team are obviously playing for him. I think with a slightly deeper squad we stay up this year.
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David Bottomley
at 18:15 18 Nov 2020

It's ok. No one corrected me on the misspelled misuse.
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David Bottomley
at 17:24 18 Nov 2020

Had a brisk read through this. Only thing that got me annoyed was the missuse of mute for moot. :D
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Fitzo's latest article
at 10:56 11 Nov 2020

Ah apologies. Accident. Wanted to see who had voted and caught the downvote button.
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Im In Shock...
at 11:10 7 Nov 2020

Saw a tweet from Andy Welsh last night (former Stockport player and current AFC Bury manager). Think he's doing it.
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Match Thread: Rochdale vs Sunderland
at 13:48 28 Oct 2020

Love the positivity but we were top half under BBM this time last year weren't we? After three straight wins?
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Match Thread: Shrewsbury vs Rochdale
at 08:22 27 Oct 2020

It was mentioned straight away.

Difficult call though in full flow was people have said. Assistant will be looking at the challenge in the air to see who the ball comes off before checking his line. They'll tend to err on the side of caution at our level.
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Match Thread: Shrewsbury vs Rochdale
at 20:50 24 Oct 2020

Think or know they were bought for the same 11?

Either way we've plenty of options to change things up when we have a fully fit squad.
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