| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... 16:43 - Oct 31 with 4230 views | HullDale |
... how are you feeling about the remaining 2/3?
Are we higher / lower / roughly where you expected at this point in the season?
Any individual surprises on the pitch (good or bad) compared to what you thought would be the case at the start of the season?
For me, I think we're about where I expected us to be. With a VERY young team (isn't it the 2nd youngest in the division?) I think some level of inconsistency was always to be expected... in all honesty I was expecting it to be more erratic from game to game, rather than in 3 or 4 game spells.
I'm disappointed for Lynch, as I don't think he has done much to not justify a run in the team - not to take away from Coleman... I think Lynch could consider himself unlucky though. White / Kelly both look like brilliant signings if they can get a run in the team, they could make a real difference for us in the 2nd 15 games.
O'Keeffe / Cashman could clearly be brilliant - I still think they hit a patch of enjoying the adulation on social media and started attempting the 'hollywood' stuff rather than the simple stuff well... (yesterday aside for O'Keeffe) I think they are starting to mature more into first team mens' football and will continue to grow and improve.
I said after the game yesterday that we always look to have a mistake in us - I think that's probably going to be the case for a lot of the season... but if we can reduce the number of those per match, continue to get experience into the younger lads, and build confidence in both individual performance and also the confidence to change shape / formation (maybe reliant on a couple of january signings) during a match, I think we COULD be the team to put a run together to cement a 7th or 8th place finish.
I said at the start of the season that I'd take 22nd with a club still owned by the right people and a plan to build in future, but with that war hopefully almost won and a young squad full of talent, there is no reason we can't push on for a very strong season. |  | | |  |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:02 - Oct 31 with 3135 views | boromat |
We're about where I'd expect at this stage. Lots of changes in the summer and the additional none footballing matters won't have helped. As you say lots of youngsters as well. I think we have some brilliant individual players it's whether RS can not only get the best out them but also get them all playing consistently as a team.
Before the season I think we were concerned about the defense after last season and although in this league we look good enough, we don't yet look like a confident top 10 team defensively. We seem to be more about going forwards and even without that marquee striker signing we all wanted but probably couldn't afford and with Andrews going back we have still done pretty well and maybe exceeded my expectations.
Going forward I'm hopeful we'll continue to improve as the season goes on, especially as we have so many players that are new to league football.
Biggest concern of mine could also be our biggest opportunity and that's January. We have a lot of players that we could lose in January as there was a few 6 month loans but depending on how things are going on behind the scenes maybe we might have a bit more confidence in how much we can spend on reinforcements.
This season was never going to be about the football but if we're lucky it'll be the football that we all care about most come the end of the season.
Prediction: Outside chance of play-offs as it stands. |  |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:12 - Oct 31 with 3108 views | seasidedale |
Agree with we’re we are at the moment and think we will grow as the young players develop, however I think we will be in the same position next season. Assuming all the full time players stay,the 5 loan player would have to be replaced. Chances are we would sign loan player at a similar age as now so it’s a recurring process.
Think we need a couple of experienced players into boast the squad in January to bring on the young player we have | | | |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:27 - Oct 31 with 3052 views | boromat |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:12 - Oct 31 by seasidedale |
Agree with we’re we are at the moment and think we will grow as the young players develop, however I think we will be in the same position next season. Assuming all the full time players stay,the 5 loan player would have to be replaced. Chances are we would sign loan player at a similar age as now so it’s a recurring process.
Think we need a couple of experienced players into boast the squad in January to bring on the young player we have |
It would be great if some of those loan players became our own permanent youngsters over the next couple of seasons. | |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:39 - Oct 31 with 3009 views | D_Alien |
I had no real expectations of either this stage or the season as a whole; but i'd go so far as to say i'm happy we are where we are right now, football-wise
I'd say it's better to be mid-table with the prospect of aiming higher than to have stayed in the top ten and then start falling away, which is what happened last time we dropped into L2 under Coleman. Tbh, anything could still happen... and probably will!
But there's one thing going in our favour - apart from the obvious togetherness of club & fanbase - and that's we've had a dip in form but have shown we can come out of it. Having done so, there's nothing to suggest another dip couldn't also be arrested
I'm very happy with RS, his demeanour, his views and the fact he's still very much learning as a manager. Ultimately, i see him as a winner |  |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:44 - Oct 31 with 2973 views | RAFCBLUE |
The events of the Summer from 1st June were and are unprecedented.
Two directors voted off the Board for their proposals in supporting a blind takeover of the club. Three new Directors being added before CEO leaving by "mutual consent"
We have our third Chairman of 2021 following Andrew Kilpatrick and Andrew Kelly (on an interim basis).
There then follows an immediate and considered "hostile takeover" which is off the back of the motions thwarted at the AGM and completely unwanted. Those two voted off directors (and others) sell to the hostile force.
Barry-Murphy walks out to take over the City under 23's and Robbie Stockdale is appointed with a thin squad which is hastily assembled. Humphrys and Rathbone depart for fees - which is good business but they were both first team players last season.
In football terms I still think we are about 4 weeks behind everyone else because of what happened in June to August. Everyone else is at the end of October but practically what would we give to be placed like this at the end of September?
The squad is good but very young and needs time to mature; those who are here are doing brilliantly and are appreciated for doing so.
https://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england4
Away performances - 5th in the league
Home performances - 19th in the league
Hopes for the next 1/3rd of the season:
1. A good November - 5 home games out of 6 fixtures
2. Progression in the FA Cup
3. More goals at home and build a bit of momentum going into the final third of the season.
4. A good January transfer window.
I still think we can have a good tilt at a playoff place. All is very much to play for. |  |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:26 - Oct 31 with 2796 views | R17ALE |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:44 - Oct 31 by RAFCBLUE |
The events of the Summer from 1st June were and are unprecedented.
Two directors voted off the Board for their proposals in supporting a blind takeover of the club. Three new Directors being added before CEO leaving by "mutual consent"
We have our third Chairman of 2021 following Andrew Kilpatrick and Andrew Kelly (on an interim basis).
There then follows an immediate and considered "hostile takeover" which is off the back of the motions thwarted at the AGM and completely unwanted. Those two voted off directors (and others) sell to the hostile force.
Barry-Murphy walks out to take over the City under 23's and Robbie Stockdale is appointed with a thin squad which is hastily assembled. Humphrys and Rathbone depart for fees - which is good business but they were both first team players last season.
In football terms I still think we are about 4 weeks behind everyone else because of what happened in June to August. Everyone else is at the end of October but practically what would we give to be placed like this at the end of September?
The squad is good but very young and needs time to mature; those who are here are doing brilliantly and are appreciated for doing so.
https://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england4
Away performances - 5th in the league
Home performances - 19th in the league
Hopes for the next 1/3rd of the season:
1. A good November - 5 home games out of 6 fixtures
2. Progression in the FA Cup
3. More goals at home and build a bit of momentum going into the final third of the season.
4. A good January transfer window.
I still think we can have a good tilt at a playoff place. All is very much to play for. |
Agree with all of that except this bit.
"Barry-Murphy walks out to take over the City under 23's".
It should read....
Barry Murphy tried to stiff the club for £50,000 to pay him up. We said no. He then tried again for £25,000. We again said no. Then, Barry-Murphy walks out to take over the City under 23's. |  |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:30 - Oct 31 with 2773 views | isitme |
As others have alluded to we were always playing catch up due to the events over the summer. I am happy with the appointment of Stockdale and he has done well with the hand he has been dealt. His recruitment has generally been good, considering what players would have been available and the players he was saddled with. I wonder how many of the likes of Done, McNulty and Lynch would have been offered deals if Stockdale was appointed earlier?
Kelly is good on the ball and now that he is getting his match fitness his class is evident. I still think White has a big role to play, although he has clearly suffered from a lack of preseason. With some canny recruitment in January I feel that we could challenge for the playoffs. We have played some good football at times, but need to be more consistent in both boxes. I would like to see O'Keefe sign a permanent deal and maybe bring in another striker to take the pressure off Beesley, although Andrews could possibly be that man. I wonder when he will be back fit?
I am more happy that things off the field seem to have settled down and that people in key positions are making decisions for the good of the club and not to further their own agendas. |  | | |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:35 - Oct 31 with 2734 views | wozzrafc |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:26 - Oct 31 by R17ALE |
Agree with all of that except this bit.
"Barry-Murphy walks out to take over the City under 23's".
It should read....
Barry Murphy tried to stiff the club for £50,000 to pay him up. We said no. He then tried again for £25,000. We again said no. Then, Barry-Murphy walks out to take over the City under 23's. |
If you would have said at the start of the season when BBM walked, after 15 games we will mid table with the battle for the club looking increasingly successful, Morton House pulled out and Curran charged by the FA you would have been dancing in the street!!
The team will take time to settle and we will still have a mix of great, average anc poor performances.
But victory off the pitch is still very much the priority but as that becomes reality I’m sure we will see that reflected with performances on the pitch | | | |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:45 - Oct 31 with 2652 views | HullDale |
We were talking on the way home about Stockdale - he really has impressed so far.. his honesty, integrity and enthusiasm have been much appreciated since he joined. Although he was always onto a winner with post-match interviews etc after the previous couple of years, he still gets honest and relevant points across (when he mentioned Bees, for example, we said how nice it is to have a manager who sees what we see how we see it!) without ever dissing individual players etc.
We also agreed that we hope to get 3yrs+ out of him... if we were to get rid during difficult spells at this point there would be no point in ever recruiting a 'newbie' manager ever again. RS has raw potential, he cares, and if he wants it he could be as vital to the rebuilding of this club as the new BOD are.
On the pre and post match interviews, I'd really like to see more & different questions being asked. I absolutely don't want this to be a 'club bashing' post (as the output / communication / even the social imagery recently has been a real step forward), but the repetition of the questions (previous result / training / attitude / injuries / fans) is clear to see, and at that point I'm not convinced a video interview adds any more nuance than the text versions. I don't know if the answer is fan submitted questions during the week, whether its a 'over to you Robbie - what do you want to say?' with relevant follow on questions, or whether its something different. We have an exciting manager with an exciting squad with a hopefully exciting future for the club - it would be good if what we hear from the manager mirrors that excitement and insight. | | | |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:53 - Oct 31 with 2596 views | 49thseason |
Of our 15 games we have played 8 teams currently in the top half and 7 in the lower half. We have taken 13 pts from the 8 top half teams and only 7points from the 7 bottom half teams. I am encouraged that we are doing relatively well against the teams that are currently in the top half. The lack of a ruthless finisher seems more accute when you look at the form against the lower teams, maybe they defend a little more desperately than we can cope with or maybe our mindset isnt quite right. |  | | |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:56 - Oct 31 with 2589 views | D_Alien |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 18:45 - Oct 31 by HullDale |
We were talking on the way home about Stockdale - he really has impressed so far.. his honesty, integrity and enthusiasm have been much appreciated since he joined. Although he was always onto a winner with post-match interviews etc after the previous couple of years, he still gets honest and relevant points across (when he mentioned Bees, for example, we said how nice it is to have a manager who sees what we see how we see it!) without ever dissing individual players etc.
We also agreed that we hope to get 3yrs+ out of him... if we were to get rid during difficult spells at this point there would be no point in ever recruiting a 'newbie' manager ever again. RS has raw potential, he cares, and if he wants it he could be as vital to the rebuilding of this club as the new BOD are.
On the pre and post match interviews, I'd really like to see more & different questions being asked. I absolutely don't want this to be a 'club bashing' post (as the output / communication / even the social imagery recently has been a real step forward), but the repetition of the questions (previous result / training / attitude / injuries / fans) is clear to see, and at that point I'm not convinced a video interview adds any more nuance than the text versions. I don't know if the answer is fan submitted questions during the week, whether its a 'over to you Robbie - what do you want to say?' with relevant follow on questions, or whether its something different. We have an exciting manager with an exciting squad with a hopefully exciting future for the club - it would be good if what we hear from the manager mirrors that excitement and insight. |
One thing i'm always taking note of is his body language during interviews
On the basis of that, i think he'd agree with you!
I wouldn't see him as someone who'd want to rock any boats by trying to engineer the interviews or manipulate the questions, but as you say, there's only so many times he can say the same thing (in response to the same questions) without folding his arms so many times they become knotted together | |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 19:05 - Oct 31 with 2544 views | mikehunt |
Time to make a cheeky bid for Hendo perhaps? 😀 |  |
| The worm of time turns not for the cuckoo of circumstance. |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 19:46 - Oct 31 with 2407 views | TVOS1907 |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 17:02 - Oct 31 by boromat |
We're about where I'd expect at this stage. Lots of changes in the summer and the additional none footballing matters won't have helped. As you say lots of youngsters as well. I think we have some brilliant individual players it's whether RS can not only get the best out them but also get them all playing consistently as a team.
Before the season I think we were concerned about the defense after last season and although in this league we look good enough, we don't yet look like a confident top 10 team defensively. We seem to be more about going forwards and even without that marquee striker signing we all wanted but probably couldn't afford and with Andrews going back we have still done pretty well and maybe exceeded my expectations.
Going forward I'm hopeful we'll continue to improve as the season goes on, especially as we have so many players that are new to league football.
Biggest concern of mine could also be our biggest opportunity and that's January. We have a lot of players that we could lose in January as there was a few 6 month loans but depending on how things are going on behind the scenes maybe we might have a bit more confidence in how much we can spend on reinforcements.
This season was never going to be about the football but if we're lucky it'll be the football that we all care about most come the end of the season.
Prediction: Outside chance of play-offs as it stands. |
O'Keeffe and Broadbent are the only six-month loans. |  |
| If you don't know why your posts keep getting downvoted, there's no hope for you. |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 19:47 - Oct 31 with 2405 views | dale1968 |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 19:05 - Oct 31 by mikehunt |
Time to make a cheeky bid for Hendo perhaps? 😀 |
No Thanks |  |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 20:53 - Oct 31 with 2236 views | jonahwhereru |
Steady as she goes. The team has come through It’s first dodgy patch. Which for the players with little first team experience is reassuring. For the manager it was essential he came through it. Credit due.
I am hopeful for a decent run up to the turn of the year. Which is very important, as it will determine what happens with Bonsey in the window. If we were going well I would hope he would stay, if we improved his contract. Sadly I would let Broadbent go back and try to recruit an enforcer. Much of the above is also dependant on Beesley staying fit, which history shows is no gimme. If he gets injured he would need two strikers in the window, and alas as a new shareholder I think that may stretch the finances.
Would I have taken being top of the bottom half of the table at this stage, absolutely.
UTDNFS | | | |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:08 - Oct 31 with 2201 views | TVOS1907 |
If we take cup games into account, Dale are unbeaten in 12 of 17 games this season, which can't really be sniffed at.
Yes, I know we have failed to win 12 of 17 as well, but I feel this is a time for positives.
With a manager in his first job and ten new players arriving between 10th July and 31st August, the season is probably exceeding expectations.
Boxing Day will be another good time to take stock, as we will have played everyone else once in the league by then. | |
| If you don't know why your posts keep getting downvoted, there's no hope for you. |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:18 - Oct 31 with 2172 views | D_Alien |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:08 - Oct 31 by TVOS1907 |
If we take cup games into account, Dale are unbeaten in 12 of 17 games this season, which can't really be sniffed at.
Yes, I know we have failed to win 12 of 17 as well, but I feel this is a time for positives.
With a manager in his first job and ten new players arriving between 10th July and 31st August, the season is probably exceeding expectations.
Boxing Day will be another good time to take stock, as we will have played everyone else once in the league by then. |
Turkey stock? | |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:24 - Oct 31 with 2147 views | TVOS1907 |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:18 - Oct 31 by D_Alien |
Turkey stock? |
Talking turkey, more like. | |
| If you don't know why your posts keep getting downvoted, there's no hope for you. |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:28 - Oct 31 with 2133 views | D_Alien |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:24 - Oct 31 by TVOS1907 |
Talking turkey, more like. |
That'll be gobbledegook then | |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:36 - Oct 31 with 2108 views | HullDale |
Just been chatting to Chaff and where we got to with the squad going into Jan is:
Coleman
O'Keeffe (loan till end of Jan)
White
McNulty
Taylor
O'Connell
Dooley
Morley
Beesley
Newby
Grant
Dorsett (loan till end of season)
Keohane
Broadbent (loan till end of Jan)
Graham
Done
Odoh
Andrews (loan till end of season)
Cashman (loan till end of season)
Lynch
Kelly
Brierley
Going with the 5 loanees in a matchday squad, I'd expect (hope in some cases!) to see:
O'Keeffe - sign permantly, maybe on an 18 month deal
Dorsett - not inspiring confidence but RS obviously sees something there... keep on loan
Broadbent - I'd let him go back unfortunately... there is a player there but I haven't seen enough for him to keep any of our permanent players out week in, week out
Andrews - keep until the end of the season if he fully recovers... good backup for Beesley
Cashman - keep until the end of the season, especially if CoK signs
If we do that, and can bring in a hard barsteward CDM and a 1/2.5 to 1/3 goalscorer, I think we can have a stronger than expected second half of the season. | | | |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 22:08 - Oct 31 with 2020 views | 442Dale |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 21:36 - Oct 31 by HullDale |
Just been chatting to Chaff and where we got to with the squad going into Jan is:
Coleman
O'Keeffe (loan till end of Jan)
White
McNulty
Taylor
O'Connell
Dooley
Morley
Beesley
Newby
Grant
Dorsett (loan till end of season)
Keohane
Broadbent (loan till end of Jan)
Graham
Done
Odoh
Andrews (loan till end of season)
Cashman (loan till end of season)
Lynch
Kelly
Brierley
Going with the 5 loanees in a matchday squad, I'd expect (hope in some cases!) to see:
O'Keeffe - sign permantly, maybe on an 18 month deal
Dorsett - not inspiring confidence but RS obviously sees something there... keep on loan
Broadbent - I'd let him go back unfortunately... there is a player there but I haven't seen enough for him to keep any of our permanent players out week in, week out
Andrews - keep until the end of the season if he fully recovers... good backup for Beesley
Cashman - keep until the end of the season, especially if CoK signs
If we do that, and can bring in a hard barsteward CDM and a 1/2.5 to 1/3 goalscorer, I think we can have a stronger than expected second half of the season. |
Surely if you were chatting to Chaff there would have been more focus on the amount of bloody forwards Ole has on the bench? |  |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 22:11 - Oct 31 with 2007 views | TVOS1907 |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 22:08 - Oct 31 by 442Dale |
Surely if you were chatting to Chaff there would have been more focus on the amount of bloody forwards Ole has on the bench? |
Or about cagoules. | |
| If you don't know why your posts keep getting downvoted, there's no hope for you. |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 22:13 - Oct 31 with 1999 views | HullDale |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 22:11 - Oct 31 by TVOS1907 |
Or about cagoules. |
I've not dared to mention united since last sunday  | | | |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 13:28 - Nov 1 with 1611 views | James1980 |
Based on current ppg we will end up on 61 points which last season was the tally for 11th and 12th place which would be admirable considering all the off field issues that we are hopefully going to have seen off. Add to that the inexperience of manager and squad a top 12 place will be impressive.
Mansfield's form concerns me and if it continues and COK carries on performing well with us I'd be surprise if Nigel Clough did let him join us till the end of the season on loan or permanently. (assuming NC is still their gaffer). | |
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| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 13:41 - Nov 1 with 1574 views | seasidedale |
| With roughly 1/3 of the season gone... on 13:28 - Nov 1 by James1980 |
Based on current ppg we will end up on 61 points which last season was the tally for 11th and 12th place which would be admirable considering all the off field issues that we are hopefully going to have seen off. Add to that the inexperience of manager and squad a top 12 place will be impressive.
Mansfield's form concerns me and if it continues and COK carries on performing well with us I'd be surprise if Nigel Clough did let him join us till the end of the season on loan or permanently. (assuming NC is still their gaffer). |
I think that O’keeffe is on the transfer list at Mansfield (unless that has changed recently) | | | |
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