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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? 05:59 - Apr 28 with 1883 viewsTalkingSutty

Does anybody else feel it, or is it just me? What a turnaround in one year, from the depths of despair to clinching a play off spot. Today is a happy Monday and the mood inside the club must be transformed when you think of what's gone on over recent years, a desperate battle to save the club and pay the bills. I'm happy for the club staff and those in the Boardroom, the club has now been stabilised and it's on a upward trajectory, our league position proves that. The league position dictates everything that happens at any football club, especially the mood around the place. Play off tickets will be going on sale soon..how good does that sound after the terrible journey we've had to endure since the Bottomley saga? The cleansing of the club wasn't a option, we wouldn't have had a club now had that not been done. Messy business but worth it.

Jim McNulty and the players have achieved what they set out to do this season, reached the play offs, they need congratulating for that. There is no pressure on them now, we are capable of beating anybody on our day but the opposition are amongst the best eight teams in the league so we can also lose. Let's be brave and just go for it see what happens.

Then we come to the word that every manager hates.. expectancy. What's the expectancy for the next two seasons should we fail to win promotion this time? I think it's exactly what we've seen this season, to qualify for a play off place but possibly a top three finish if possible. It's unrealistic to expect us to win the league at the start of any season and that's too much pressure for any manager and set of players to cope with.

So, season tickets go on sale today and if you have the good of the club at heart there is no valid reason now not to buy one, unless youre financially strapped. Football is all about opinions and we all have them in regards to football managers, style of play and various players but the bottom line is, Jim and the players have achieved what was expected this season and deserve to be supported going forward. With a few more quality editions we are only going to get better next season.

So thanks to the involvement of the Ogden family the tanker has now been turned around and the infrastructure of the club has been strengthened with quality staff recruited. The heavy burden has been lifted off Simon Gauge who suddenly looks ten years younger and we are now set to sail towards a much brighter future. The Town needs a good news story and thats what we are now seeing thanks to the Ogden family and everybody involved. Today feels like we've finally turned the corner and the cloak of despondency can be discarded. The new era has finally started.
[Post edited 28 Apr 8:41]
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 09:07 - Apr 28 with 1544 viewsfrenzied

Theyve done much better than I expected at the outset.

I expected another mid table finish with hopefully a decent cup run.

Both our cup exits were frustrating.

We’ve nothing to lose now and the experience of a play off scenario will help the players..win or lose.

The summer will bring the usual changes in personnel.

But I’m not disappointed what we have done so far on and off the pitch
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 09:43 - Apr 28 with 1422 viewsDale_4_Life

Dale have had an excellent season and it could end in mind blowing fashion.

We really should be looking forward to a Wembley cup final but lessons learned.

The fact we can finish 4th tomorrow is incredible and then we go into a play off scenario where winning 3 games is not beyond us especially if we carry on the recent form.

This is the time for supporters to get prepared for what will hopefully be a home play off eliminator game on Thursday 15th May.

Up the Dale.
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 09:46 - Apr 28 with 1417 viewsDale_4_Life

Compared to April 2024 YES there is a lot to like about Dale and what is in front of us.

It also looks like the club have made the right off field commercial appointments and they need to really step up now and drive RAFC forward.
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 10:02 - Apr 28 with 1369 viewsJames1980

Not necessarily on here, but in the past comments have been made about the club showing lack of ambition, which considering the parlous state of the finances was somewhat unfair. However now there is a much stronger financial foundation, would breaking the bank to sign some marquee players be show 'ambition' and encourage additional season tickets sales.

'Only happy when you've got it often makes you miss the journey'
Poll: When Hendo goes should the number 40 shirt be retired?

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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 10:20 - Apr 28 with 1316 viewsDalenet

Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 10:02 - Apr 28 by James1980

Not necessarily on here, but in the past comments have been made about the club showing lack of ambition, which considering the parlous state of the finances was somewhat unfair. However now there is a much stronger financial foundation, would breaking the bank to sign some marquee players be show 'ambition' and encourage additional season tickets sales.


I think we need to be respectful of the new owners James. Demanding that people spend their money for our enjoyment is the kind of thing Premiership fans do. I am grateful that we have a family in charge that is prepared to 'invest' in the infrastructure so that we become self sustaining. They have a lot of pitch work to do in summer, and investment in training facilities and commercial capacity at Spotland.

If we manage to do okay on the play-offs, and don't let ourselves down, season ticket sales will come. It has been pleasing to see a big uplift in match day ticket sales over the past few weeks.
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 10:33 - Apr 28 with 1284 viewsJames1980

Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 10:20 - Apr 28 by Dalenet

I think we need to be respectful of the new owners James. Demanding that people spend their money for our enjoyment is the kind of thing Premiership fans do. I am grateful that we have a family in charge that is prepared to 'invest' in the infrastructure so that we become self sustaining. They have a lot of pitch work to do in summer, and investment in training facilities and commercial capacity at Spotland.

If we manage to do okay on the play-offs, and don't let ourselves down, season ticket sales will come. It has been pleasing to see a big uplift in match day ticket sales over the past few weeks.


No disrespect meant but I am sorry. A model of long term sustainability is the sensible way forward was just thinking a stellar in terms of lower/non league signing(s) could inject an additional buzz.
[Post edited 28 Apr 11:31]

'Only happy when you've got it often makes you miss the journey'
Poll: When Hendo goes should the number 40 shirt be retired?

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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 12:44 - Apr 28 with 1060 viewsTalkingSutty

Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 10:33 - Apr 28 by James1980

No disrespect meant but I am sorry. A model of long term sustainability is the sensible way forward was just thinking a stellar in terms of lower/non league signing(s) could inject an additional buzz.
[Post edited 28 Apr 11:31]


To get out of this league quickly we have to keep looking to sign better players than we currently have, the playing budget has to be maximised by constantly trying to increase the quality. If you look at the team that played on Saturday and added four or five quality players you are going to be there or there abouts. The focus needs to be on scoring more goals, a goalscoring midfielder and a proven goalscorer is needed, more than one forward really because i think we will be left with Rodney at the end of this season. Rodney blows hot and cold, he's also injury prone so we will be threadbare when Hendo and Mitchell probably leave. I'm hoping McNulty and the club are already pro-active and will snap up players before other clubs step in.
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 13:02 - Apr 28 with 996 viewsTrev

Assuming we fail to get promoted this season, I think us winning the league next season would be the biggest achievement in the club's history. Progression would be a similar season to FGR, comfortable in the play offs without ever having any concerns regards dropping out.

Mcnulty would need to improve for us to achieve that and hopefully he has learnt some valuable lessons this season. Next season will be even tougher and expectations will rise, can he handle that?
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 14:13 - Apr 28 with 883 viewsDale_4_Life

Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 12:44 - Apr 28 by TalkingSutty

To get out of this league quickly we have to keep looking to sign better players than we currently have, the playing budget has to be maximised by constantly trying to increase the quality. If you look at the team that played on Saturday and added four or five quality players you are going to be there or there abouts. The focus needs to be on scoring more goals, a goalscoring midfielder and a proven goalscorer is needed, more than one forward really because i think we will be left with Rodney at the end of this season. Rodney blows hot and cold, he's also injury prone so we will be threadbare when Hendo and Mitchell probably leave. I'm hoping McNulty and the club are already pro-active and will snap up players before other clubs step in.


Totally agree on we need to score more goals...

Its been great in recent weeks but 2/3/4 goals needs to be the new normal.

Dale played 44 and goals 68. This is get into play off territory most seasons.

For reference below.

2025

Barnet 94 goals
York 93 goals

2024

Chesterfield 106 goals
Dale 69 and finished 11th

2023

Wrexham 116 goals
Notts County 117 goals

2023

Stockport 87 goals but a goal difference of +49
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 14:22 - Apr 28 with 855 viewsTalkingSutty

Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 14:13 - Apr 28 by Dale_4_Life

Totally agree on we need to score more goals...

Its been great in recent weeks but 2/3/4 goals needs to be the new normal.

Dale played 44 and goals 68. This is get into play off territory most seasons.

For reference below.

2025

Barnet 94 goals
York 93 goals

2024

Chesterfield 106 goals
Dale 69 and finished 11th

2023

Wrexham 116 goals
Notts County 117 goals

2023

Stockport 87 goals but a goal difference of +49


Yes we need to score another thirty goals next season, i hope that's what McNulty is focusing his recruitment on. We have to be more ruthless in front of goal to capitalise on the amount of posession we have in most games. That's been our weakness this season.
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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 14:40 - Apr 28 with 784 viewsJames1980

Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 14:22 - Apr 28 by TalkingSutty

Yes we need to score another thirty goals next season, i hope that's what McNulty is focusing his recruitment on. We have to be more ruthless in front of goal to capitalise on the amount of posession we have in most games. That's been our weakness this season.


I guess recruitment will depend on which league we are in next season. Also the league of any players with time left on their contracts we are targeting. For example if Jim has been tracking a player in NLN or NLS that plays for a club in playoff position.

'Only happy when you've got it often makes you miss the journey'
Poll: When Hendo goes should the number 40 shirt be retired?

0
Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 14:54 - Apr 28 with 758 viewsdingdangblue

I really hope we can do it. The odds are stacked against us purely based on history. 1 play off win in 7 games is awful really. Yes it is in the past and you shouldn't really look back and create new history but its hard being a Dale fan because we've never been to any play off final and won. Until it happens it is a massive monkey on our backs. I really hope Jim and the players can do it. If any club deserves its day in the sun its us after so many days in the doldrums.

Its a BRILLIANT goal to cap a BRILLIANT start by Rochdale - Don Goodman 26/08/10
Poll: Are fans more annoyed losing or not playing Henderson centre forward?

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Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 15:10 - Apr 28 with 737 viewsTalkingSutty

Twelve months on...the return of the feel good factor? on 14:54 - Apr 28 by dingdangblue

I really hope we can do it. The odds are stacked against us purely based on history. 1 play off win in 7 games is awful really. Yes it is in the past and you shouldn't really look back and create new history but its hard being a Dale fan because we've never been to any play off final and won. Until it happens it is a massive monkey on our backs. I really hope Jim and the players can do it. If any club deserves its day in the sun its us after so many days in the doldrums.


I think bravery could be the key ingredient. The best way to not only deal with nerves but to also inflict them is to attack these games from the start and keep attacking throughout. Engaging with York or FGR in a game of cat and mouse won't work, attack them and get the home crowd on edge. If they outscore us fair enough but I'd back Bird, Rodney and Henderson against any team in the play offs. Nerves play a big part and if you're forced to defend you make mistakes, this should be our approach rather than trying to hang on and manage the game.
[Post edited 28 Apr 15:12]
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