| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town 10:30 - Aug 20 with 24685 views | RochdaleAFC.com |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:39 - Aug 22 with 3641 views | Trev |
Early days, isn't it, but it just looks a mess. Always had us down for a slow start but I was hoping their would be a few more positives to take at this stage. | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:42 - Aug 22 with 3624 views | NorthernDale |
I thought the formation of 3-5-2 was better suited, but agree with many of the posts, TAR should have been on the right, Moss should have been in the centre of the back three (I am still unsure about Sherring and i thought Wilson struggled) and Hannant on the left. I would have been tempted to have started with Adeeko, instead of Francis.
I thought Brown did alright, so did East in midfield, Mani struggled and I wonder, if he is up to EFL standard. Was Rodney dropped or as he an injury. But we struggled once again, we looked light weight and was bullied off the ball to easy, the players may have the technical ability, but they are not bigger enough and there was a serious lack of urgency, until we made the subs, which was far to late. As somdale highlights, there is a difference in class between the NL and league 2, which may be the case, I still that our squad is capable of getting results, but as somdale also points out Watson came from the NLN and is it, the lack of knowledge of the requirements to survive in the EFL a factor. I am also beginning to wonder if the EFL is a step to far at this stage in his career and he may be able to turn it around and I hope he does, but at the moment I have my doubts. Things may improve when we can start with Beckwith, Maguire, Adeeko, Taylor and Smith, but have we the time to wait?
The next three games, with Colchester away, which is always difficult, then we entertain Shrewsbury and Gillingham at home, both of whom have started badly, if we dpn't get anything from these games, then the board may be forced to react. | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:45 - Aug 22 with 3595 views | TVOS1907 |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:32 - Aug 22 by robshaker |
this has got to be the worst start off any newly promoted club to the efl in its history?? maybe tvos can confirm with some stats. as long as messers watkins and his assistant gives their heads a rattle im sure you will be fine. |
No idea who Watkins is, but Barnet lost their first three league games last season (and their Carabao Cup preliminary round tie), while Stockport lost their first two in 2022/23. [Post edited 22 Aug 19:47]
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| Maestro? No.
Elite? No.
Heavyweight poster? No.
Able to be rational and not over-react to individual results? Yes. |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:51 - Aug 22 with 3500 views | kel |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:10 - Aug 22 by robshaker |
what was the commentry game on radio bolton today?? |
Won’t be bury, lad. They don’t have the technology at the grounds you lot play at. |  |
| Anyone seen ‘Trev’? Is he off playing golf with Duffy? |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:53 - Aug 22 with 3503 views | James1980 |
My thought is the dedicated training ground can't come soon enough. | |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 19:56 - Aug 22 with 3459 views | EllDale |
One random thought; much was made of the support Jim McNulty received from Jason Taylor and Matty Done last season.
Does Watson need help from sources other than Carl Magnay and Ben Mangan? | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:04 - Aug 22 with 3412 views | BlueWizard |
It's easy to just blame the manager, but the team he wanted to put out in the formation he is building cannot be achieved yet. To be fair he tried without the right players last week and it was a catastrophe. He then reverts back to a 532 with players that he has fit, and to be absolutely honest that was also a catastrophe in the first half. Why ? Because the levels are much higher and the players in critical roles don't have the time or space like they did last year ...simple, the pace is faster and the space is less...
Did he make mistakes , yes, as others have said the subs were far too late on both occasions, as after we equalised tired players which were evident in the middle of the park should have been swapped ? and then he seemed to want to accept 1pt ?? Which was then blown out by the penalty !! but to go attacking on 87 minutes when your at home this should have been much earlier and hopefully he learns.
I still want to see his formation with his players he brought in to do a job, personally, the experienced players from the higher leagues we have plus the return of injured players will bring more cohesion to the team in this league and I do feel we will see a different end result.
As a side issue the staff struggled with the new POS System today and hopefully that gets better for a week on Tuesday 🤞🙏 | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:13 - Aug 22 with 3348 views | pnc4eva1 |
OK as an exile j came up for the game and went to Tranmere.
My analysis is quite simple really. Square pegs round holes.
TAR and Moss are the first problems. TAR has no left foot, why play him on the left. Moss played the left win back role last year but was on the right. Both were therefore ineffective.
Wilson, looked as though he wanted to play left back but didn't seem to know if he 2as left back or left sided central defender of three.
Ebanks looked nowhere near as composed as last year, he's missing Gordon etc.
Sperring, basically lloked like a journeyman footballer with little talent.
Francis, has an eye for a pass but slowed down too many chances of a break by taking too long.
Gilmour look willing but was on his own.
East was out wide and is not a winger.
Mani, won quite a lot in the air a d on the deck but had no one to pass to or flick it on to.
Brown looked a handful but drifted in and out of the game.
Substitutes, no point as they were too late. Moss and TAR should have been replaced shortly after our equaliser as they were knackered and had been ineffective.
Ramming, better than at Tranmere but still struggling to adapt to being a commanding goalkeeper.
Manager - feels like he's a cross between Steve Eyre and Stockdale. He doesn't seem to have command of the dressing room and needs someone to enforce his views on the pitch like Done and Taylor |  |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:16 - Aug 22 with 3337 views | James1980 |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:04 - Aug 22 by BlueWizard |
It's easy to just blame the manager, but the team he wanted to put out in the formation he is building cannot be achieved yet. To be fair he tried without the right players last week and it was a catastrophe. He then reverts back to a 532 with players that he has fit, and to be absolutely honest that was also a catastrophe in the first half. Why ? Because the levels are much higher and the players in critical roles don't have the time or space like they did last year ...simple, the pace is faster and the space is less...
Did he make mistakes , yes, as others have said the subs were far too late on both occasions, as after we equalised tired players which were evident in the middle of the park should have been swapped ? and then he seemed to want to accept 1pt ?? Which was then blown out by the penalty !! but to go attacking on 87 minutes when your at home this should have been much earlier and hopefully he learns.
I still want to see his formation with his players he brought in to do a job, personally, the experienced players from the higher leagues we have plus the return of injured players will bring more cohesion to the team in this league and I do feel we will see a different end result.
As a side issue the staff struggled with the new POS System today and hopefully that gets better for a week on Tuesday 🤞🙏 |
He has said he doesn't buy squad players so those at his disposal should be good enough to perform to a level fans leave the ground happy with regardless of the result. | |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:19 - Aug 22 with 3318 views | D_Alien |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:04 - Aug 22 by BlueWizard |
It's easy to just blame the manager, but the team he wanted to put out in the formation he is building cannot be achieved yet. To be fair he tried without the right players last week and it was a catastrophe. He then reverts back to a 532 with players that he has fit, and to be absolutely honest that was also a catastrophe in the first half. Why ? Because the levels are much higher and the players in critical roles don't have the time or space like they did last year ...simple, the pace is faster and the space is less...
Did he make mistakes , yes, as others have said the subs were far too late on both occasions, as after we equalised tired players which were evident in the middle of the park should have been swapped ? and then he seemed to want to accept 1pt ?? Which was then blown out by the penalty !! but to go attacking on 87 minutes when your at home this should have been much earlier and hopefully he learns.
I still want to see his formation with his players he brought in to do a job, personally, the experienced players from the higher leagues we have plus the return of injured players will bring more cohesion to the team in this league and I do feel we will see a different end result.
As a side issue the staff struggled with the new POS System today and hopefully that gets better for a week on Tuesday 🤞🙏 |
That's pretty much where i'm at, and wouidn't be surprised if that's how the board see it too
The likelihood of them giving Watson his P45 at this stage is close to zero and would amount to an admission that their succession planning wasn't good enough; so what makes anyone think they'd get it right next time? Yes, good managers may be available (Maynard has been mentioned) but what terms would he be likely to demand, in addition to a payout for Watson and Magnay. No, it just won't happen... at least not yet
Of course it's a results business. There were periods of the game where we started to look competitive before tiredness crept in - that's something the manager should've handled better - and our physicality just isn't good enough, but again, he very much emphasised that in his midweek interview, and has brought in players to try to address that
He's had nowhere near a starting eleven he'd have wanted. Once he has, and only if the results don't improve from there, should the board consider their options [Post edited 22 Aug 20:24]
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:38 - Aug 22 with 3216 views | beat_the_bishop |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 20:16 - Aug 22 by James1980 |
He has said he doesn't buy squad players so those at his disposal should be good enough to perform to a level fans leave the ground happy with regardless of the result. |
Spot on. He made that point a couple of times. And what it actually feels like is Sherring and Wilson are squad players. They needed to hit the ground running and it just looks too much for them. You can get away with it with a winger or a striker. But in the backline in there’s no hiding and neither of them should be starting but this situation has forced it.
Sherring has no real attributes. Not strong in the tackle, not good on the ball, slow and doesn’t look dominant in the air? That aside, good signing.
Wilson looks lightweight, scatty and like he’s never played men’s football - which he hasn’t.
He set us up to be be more defensive today - still shipped a goal in first 15 minutes. The penalty was just reckless and a product of being caught flat footed and desperately trying to recover.
Beckwith and Maguire surely are straight in when fit. Desperate for Maguire to be a solid player.
We just look lightweight all over the pitch. Mani weak, Brown tried, Gilmour out of his depth and on the deck majority of the game, East and Francis tidy but not skillful enough to find the pockets of space that allow them to avoid the physical requirement by outfoxing them, not sure on Moss and his preferred position, TAR steady but predictable.
Ebanks falling over the ball after it looked like we were getting to grips with it sort of summed it up and we then redacted again. 60mins it was the time to bring new wingbacks. It was the chance to go for it and run harder and faster. But instead, IW didn’t have the courage to change it or know what to do. He would’ve took the point after the hour it appeared. |  | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 21:07 - Aug 22 with 3046 views | AndyH |
Watson isn't our man..... don't leave it as late this time, Simon. | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 21:17 - Aug 22 with 3010 views | Hebdale |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 21:07 - Aug 22 by AndyH |
Watson isn't our man..... don't leave it as late this time, Simon. |
Agree looks like we have gone backwards with the recruitment of this management team, they need either help or replacement. At this rate we are nailed on for relegation, reminds me of a former manager who got a huge budget but just brought in bodies. Sick to death already of the word salad he is coming out with. Athleticism, they all should have that, not impressed at all so far, he has a lot to do, quickly | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 21:35 - Aug 22 with 2919 views | borodale |
Thoughts.
The players are playing for the manager, no lack of commitment or effort.
Tar/ Moss are fine at right back /wingback.
Bilongo is best at wingback. When available!
Wilson should play on the right side instead of Sherring .
Dejaune Brown with Silcot-Duberry and Smith as a front three looks good to me.
Ebanks got better as the game went on.
Sam Beckwith left centre back.
Midfield. No lack of effort or commitment but we just seem second best . Taylor looked to have some quality when he came on.
Mani D not effecting the game , can see him having more effect of the bench.
Keeper learning on the job, needs to be more commanding.
Think we have the players in the building to play 3-4-3 competitively as per last season.
Like the manager and hope he rides the storm and succeeds.
Hope he brings it altogether when injures permit. | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 22:02 - Aug 22 with 2787 views | mikehunt |
Can we wait that long for the players to get fit, though? Then what? They have to have time to bed themselves in to the style of play IW wants (Which is what, exactly)? Which might not work anyway - as proved by his change from last weeks game. And we might already be cut adrift by then.
So, until then, we will have to watch shape-shifting formations and square pegs in round holes until he stumbles upon a formation that might work? Very Eyre-esque.
I am very concerned by what looks like all our hard graft unravelling. Sorry, but to me, IW does appear to be out of his depth. [Post edited 22 Aug 22:04]
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| The worm of time turns not for the cuckoo of circumstance. |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 23:05 - Aug 22 with 2575 views | James1980 |
WUM'S a plenty | |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 02:59 - Aug 23 with 2242 views | sweetcorn |
Alarm bells are ringing.
Currently looks a missed opportunity from the board, brilliant season last year, genuine interest in the town and we've hired someone without football league experience when for the first time since I've followed dale we could have probably been more ambitious.
Hope Watson finds his feet, but the jury is out. |  |
| Leader of the little gang of immature cretins. |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 07:53 - Aug 23 with 1958 views | Newbury_Dale |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 21:35 - Aug 22 by borodale |
Thoughts.
The players are playing for the manager, no lack of commitment or effort.
Tar/ Moss are fine at right back /wingback.
Bilongo is best at wingback. When available!
Wilson should play on the right side instead of Sherring .
Dejaune Brown with Silcot-Duberry and Smith as a front three looks good to me.
Ebanks got better as the game went on.
Sam Beckwith left centre back.
Midfield. No lack of effort or commitment but we just seem second best . Taylor looked to have some quality when he came on.
Mani D not effecting the game , can see him having more effect of the bench.
Keeper learning on the job, needs to be more commanding.
Think we have the players in the building to play 3-4-3 competitively as per last season.
Like the manager and hope he rides the storm and succeeds.
Hope he brings it altogether when injures permit. |
Wilson looks nowhere near ready for mens football at this level. Was an absolute calamity in the second half. No instinct to defend. Looks a very poor signing indeed to me. | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 08:15 - Aug 23 with 1888 views | Daley_Lama |
So, a return to last season’s formation after one league game. Made sense and my personal view was that the new manager had tried to change too much too soon.
Even so, quite a lot of personnel change.
East in Rodney’s position
Brown in Barlow’s position
Francis in East’s position
New LCH and RCH and Keeper.
First half i thought we were getting battered on our right and goal came from there. We did well to get back into the game but naivity cost us.
Eels into Mani tap back to Gilmour and through ball to Brown looked on the cards. Gilmour instead ran into 3, lost the ball and they broke for the penalty straight from it.
That was one of the things i saw yesterday, Gilmour trying to do a bit too much occasionally. Fully understandable, same as with East, they are both wholehearted players who would run through treacle for the team.
We’ve gone from signing lots of wingers to being 5-2-3 formation which means the likes of S-D and Hannant bench warming for now.
Thought we played it out from the back better than Newport and thought Francis distribution was good. Brown showed glimpses of his ability.
No idea how long Beckwith and Maguire are out for, but hopefully not too long to aide the struggling back line. |  |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 08:25 - Aug 23 with 1856 views | beat_the_bishop |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 07:53 - Aug 23 by Newbury_Dale |
Wilson looks nowhere near ready for mens football at this level. Was an absolute calamity in the second half. No instinct to defend. Looks a very poor signing indeed to me. |
I know Callum Perry came into a side that was doing well and obviously the level below but with these these academy players you can usually see/tell straight away whether or not they are going to do well and make it in the game. It feels like 1 in 10 loans from a similar calibre end up truly successful and make a meaningful impact. The rest just here to tick boxes on their ‘development path’.
Obviously, I sit here happy to be proved wrong and hoping he grows with games but at the age of 20 I don’t really have much patience for them. They are young but not ‘kids’. They need to come in and make a difference. Particularly in our situation where we are just seeking stability.
On the other hand, the senior pro’s are hardly inspiring at the minute either. Casey Petit gets in this team instantly. He’s a leader and not one to hide. He’d get the armband too if it was left to me. [Post edited 23 Aug 8:34]
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 08:27 - Aug 23 with 1851 views | frenzied |
Two games in and two defeats against sides pre season would be considered bottom half at best.
Well at least the players will be all too much aware of what is expected of them at this level to stay up.
There may be some more heading out the door next January if they are found not up to speed.
I would not Change the manager under any circumstances I think he will come good ..it’s the players that need to step up or move on | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 08:53 - Aug 23 with 1759 views | SJE_Dale |
Ramming - not the commanding presence we need.
Sherring - arguably one of the worst home debuts I've ever seen. Set the tone from his first touch
Gilmour and to a lesser degree East - starting to look out of their depth
Mani D - needs to get more involved or we find a system that works without him. I was critical of him for this last season. He's great when on the ball but won't even challenge for something 2 yards away
The football overall was awful. It looks disjointed and the players don't seem convinced themselves at the moment. We're not creating any chances for a supposedly progressive manager.
The one saving grace is the subs looked decent and I expect to see more of them. But I'll get frustrated if we hear more about them needing to bed in. We'll quickly be over the first month and we need to start picking up points quickly otherwise this will turn very toxic. | | | |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 09:12 - Aug 23 with 1641 views | NorthernDale |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 02:59 - Aug 23 by sweetcorn |
Alarm bells are ringing.
Currently looks a missed opportunity from the board, brilliant season last year, genuine interest in the town and we've hired someone without football league experience when for the first time since I've followed dale we could have probably been more ambitious.
Hope Watson finds his feet, but the jury is out. |
As I have previously, I feel the next three games could define Watson's future. EllDale may be right, when he says 'Does Watson need help from sources other than Carl Magnay and Ben Mangan?'. Magnay as played professional football in the EFL, but Mangan seems to have coached at Stockport Georgians and Skelmersdale, but I am unsure, if he played professionally in the EFL. However as EllDale implies, the lack of EFL experience that Watson may need to address the step up from the NL to the EFL , may be lacking. I thought Francis post match interview, was more interesting and honest, then Watson's post match response.
However Watson, tactical decisions and decision making are worrying, playing TAR at left back, Moss at right back seemed baffling and only introducing the subs, when we are getting beat.
Hopefully, we can get Beckwith and Maguire back next week (they have in training forthe last two weeks), and Bilongo will also be available after his 1 match suspension.
So we can possibly go with a team of
Ramming
TAR Moss EEL Beckwith Bilongo
Gilmour Adeeko Francis
East
Brown
East
Brown [Post edited 23 Aug 9:15]
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 09:30 - Aug 23 with 1567 views | 442Dale |
| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 09:12 - Aug 23 by NorthernDale |
As I have previously, I feel the next three games could define Watson's future. EllDale may be right, when he says 'Does Watson need help from sources other than Carl Magnay and Ben Mangan?'. Magnay as played professional football in the EFL, but Mangan seems to have coached at Stockport Georgians and Skelmersdale, but I am unsure, if he played professionally in the EFL. However as EllDale implies, the lack of EFL experience that Watson may need to address the step up from the NL to the EFL , may be lacking. I thought Francis post match interview, was more interesting and honest, then Watson's post match response.
However Watson, tactical decisions and decision making are worrying, playing TAR at left back, Moss at right back seemed baffling and only introducing the subs, when we are getting beat.
Hopefully, we can get Beckwith and Maguire back next week (they have in training forthe last two weeks), and Bilongo will also be available after his 1 match suspension.
So we can possibly go with a team of
Ramming
TAR Moss EEL Beckwith Bilongo
Gilmour Adeeko Francis
East
Brown
East
Brown [Post edited 23 Aug 9:15]
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Watson made it clear in his interview that Beckwith is further away than Maguire from being ready to play again.
Retaining the same midfield three only to add Adeeko rather that some pace out wide wouldn’t help much. It’s possible to play wingers with or at wingback. Get Hannant back at LWB for a start.
Questions remain about the coaching staff’s experience elsewhere. |  |
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| Refwatch - Rochdale v Crawley Town on 10:00 - Aug 23 with 1453 views | isitme |
In the medium term, until Heyes is back we could go with the following.
Ramming
Wilson, Ebanks-Landell, Beckwith
Hannant, Adeeko, East, Bilongo
Smith, Silcott-Duberry
Brown
Physically a bit more athletic, than other selectionsm but also includes a bit more creativity in the 10 roles. East could be a horses for courses with Gilmour/Francis. I just feel he offers more with the ball than Gilmour, but can get about the pitch a bit better than Francis. I would not be suprised if we end up with Taylor and Adeeko in central midfield. |  | | |
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