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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 18:18 13 Nov 2026
That’s a decent shout. It would mean East missing out unless he plays deeper again with Gilmour.
Would also make Paterson’s role doubtful. And Taylor’s when he returns from injury (is he still with us?) |
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 17:52 13 Nov 2026
And I see the point about him adding quality.
Prior to this signing I doubt anyone would have argued that we needed additions before January with the plethora of options in midfield. The manager commented on his issues with the current squad size.
That’s the contradiction. But as stated, if it plays out that we win more matches and move up the table, with the squad then able to build on that in the new year, it’ll be fantastic.
Watson will be also be glad to see the positivity around the signing. It vindicates his decision making. |
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 17:40 13 Nov 2026
There are, in my opinion, ‘buts’. Don’t expect everyone to agree but they’ve been detailed.
Much the same as any other subject over the years. Good players/bad player. Bad managers. Very successful managers.
Out of interest, what would be everyone’s team and subs tomorrow with Allen’s arrival? |
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 17:02 13 Nov 2026
If I could watch Allen and Henderson for the rest of the season, that would be enough entertainment for me. Vision, movement, awareness. It’s the small things that stand out.
However, there’s having an awareness of the bigger picture and how it impacts the whole squad longer term. Let’s see how it plays out. The best case scenario is that we start winning games with whoever is in the team and the whole squad feels the benefit. Maybe Allen will stick around in that scenario too.
In the meantime, it’s bought Watson some time as it’s hard to demand a manager isn’t up to it whilst backing short term signings like this. |
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 16:34 13 Nov 2026
Yes he is.
It was the contradiction about squad size issues. We can’t criticise the likes of Bury for collecting players in the past without offering the same sort of constructive criticism when we do similar.
Scenario:
Allen plays every week on his short term deal, gets a move to the championship in the new year. Players like Pettit/East have limited game time and look for moves themselves.
By January we could be looking for new midfielders again without those we have getting a real chance. |
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Reply | Jamie Allen
at 16:27 13 Nov 2026
Obviously a fantastic footballer, but we already had five midfielders including two who have battled back from injury to get back involved again.
You can’t complain about how big the squad has become one week and then make decisions which impact those already waiting for a chance to prove they can contribute.
Again though, watching Allen play was always a pleasure. A player who could see the picture before he even got the ball. |
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Reply | FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity
at 22:13 11 Nov 2026
Remembered from the summer… This was the squad before the Bradford game:
GK
Ramming (on loan), Waller, Spaven
Defenders (inc full backs):
EEL, Beckwith, Maguire, Moss, TAR, Bilongo, Wilson (on loan), Sherring.
Midfielders:
East, Gilmour, Pettit, Francis. (Jenkins long-term injury)
Forwards (inc. no.10s/wide players)
Dieseruvwe, Rodney, Henderson, Hayes, Hannant, Silcott-Duberry, Smith, Brown (on loan)
3 keepers, 8 defenders, 4 midfielders, 8 forward players.
A squad that wasn’t too big. Obviously injuries then hit. This is where we are at present:
GK
Waller, Spaven, Ramming (injured)
Defenders (inc full backs):
EEL, Beckwith (injured) Maguire (injured) TAR, Bilongo, Wilson (on loan), Sherring (injured), Tasker (on loan), Flint.
Moss (long-term injury)
Midfielders:
East, Gilmour, Pettit, Francis, Adeeko. (Jenkins long-term injury)
Forwards (inc. no.10s/wide players)
Dieseruvwe (injured), Rodney (injured) Henderson, Hayes, Hannant, Silcott-Duberry, Smith (injured), Brown (on loan), Middleton, Paterson.
Current fit players:
2 keepers, 6 defenders, 5 midfielders, 7 forward players.
Again, a reasonable squad size.
Yet when (if) those not yet announced as out long term are back it will look like this:
3 keepers, 8 defenders, 5 midfielders, 10 forward players.
We can’t keep adding to that without movement out first. |
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Reply | FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity
at 13:23 11 Nov 2026
It was the point saying midfield has to include Paterson if he’s fit. He could only play as the 10 in the current formation, not as a traditional midfielder.
The problem around that is back to the issues about how open we are across the pitch, that 10 role has been one of the reasons. The distances are far too great. It would only work effectively, in my opinion, with a player such as East there - a proper midfielder who can drop into a three when we haven’t got the ball.
No doubting Paterson’s pedigree but when it comes to the issue Watson mentioned about having too big a squad. We need to offload people in January. |
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Reply | FA Cup - A Bit of Positivity
at 20:19 10 Nov 2026
Playing EEL and Flint together in a back four would leave us exposed to pace. It could work in a three but even then it’s a question of whether either can play anywhere but centrally.
Paterson isn’t a midfielder. Could play as the 10 but has shown little to show he offers anything more than Henderson. Watson commented about the size of the squad, but signing Paterson when we have plenty of other options just muddies the water further. We have to get people out in January.
Hannant doesn’t play centre forward. Getting Dieseruvwe fit and seeing if he can prove doubters wrong before January is something we can hope for. For now, Henderson would be the alternative to Brown. |
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Reply | Jim McNulty
at 16:15 8 Nov 2026
Feel for Cray, they’ve deserved to win.
Stockport will know they got out of jail didn’t create much until the home side tired, but they’ll point to sticking to the plan. |
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Reply | Jim McNulty
at 15:23 8 Nov 2026
Or the first half v Spennymoor. |
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Reply | Jim McNulty
at 14:54 8 Nov 2026
Two down in the first half at Cray Wanderers. Keeper sent off.
At least McNulty had Whatmuff available on the bench…
Cracking second goal. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 23:28 7 Nov 2026
As noted earlier, results will indeed impact attendances, it’s the hope mentioned in the original post on the subject that we’ve already managed to gain a larger loyal fanbase this season. Supporting a football team comes with good and bad, sticking with them during the bad is that loyalty in action.
It won’t happen immediately of course. But if we are to be in a relegation battle, whoever the manager is, we’ll need as many fans as possible to help out.
Think sometimes it’s best not to presume the choices of others, or whether they’ll turn up each week. It’s got to be hoped as we build towards that 5000 target that they do. Otherwise it’s a target with too many conditions attached, making the move towards sustainability harder to plan for.
Plus, everyone starts somewhere. Can only speak for myself and those I know who started going in the dire days of the early 80s, a small example maybe, but everyone kept on turning up week after week despite the poor offering out on the pitch. We may have gained many new fans, we can only guess at how many are already new supporters.
Of course, there’s also a recognition around cost implications. However that would also be the case if we were top by five points. It’s a personal opinion, despite my own real misgivings about the tactical ability shown so far this season, but I really do hope people can see past that and continue to build the club together. [Post edited 7 Nov 23:30]
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 20:14 7 Nov 2026
Building afanbase towards that 5000 will require some resilience when things go badly. If people haven’t been so much, they may find that by continuing to attend during bad spells actually makes the good times that much better.
There are loads of us who could point to that. It’s part of being a supporter. Sticking with the club no matter what (of course life can get in the way at times!). Winning and losing will come in equal measure.
Other clubs have done it, no reason we can’t. Of course there will always be some casual fans who pick and choose games based on results, it’s getting that loyal supporter base up from 2-2500 to 3-3500 and beyond, irrespective of where we are in the league table. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 20:05 7 Nov 2026
The reply was specific to that game. Nobody doubt how poor Sherring has been. It was identified very early on, the problem has been Watson has had to pick him recently. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 19:08 7 Nov 2026
Acknowledge that. But when it comes to building a fanbase it’s also about building resilience during the bad times and hoping that, as more people become fans year on year, their support doesn’t waver so much when we hit bad spells/seasons.
Because when those times inevitably occur, loyalty will ensure they stick around.
Project 5000 can’t be a “…when we’re good” situation. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 18:42 7 Nov 2026
Irrespective of the result and performance, it’s to be hoped fans will stick with their team as much as possible - the definition of loyalty. Of course results impact attendance, but as has been said elsewhere when it comes to the current situation, we didn’t put in all that effort last season to risk ending up in the bottom two this time around.
Supporters will have their own part to play in that, every point will matter and everyone on and off the pitch can help achieve that. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale (FA Cup)
at 17:43 7 Nov 2026
Good win that and with players returning Watson will be hoping his luck has changed.
Still the main issue is we have got to find a way to get a side on the pitch that is able to control the ball and subsequently games |
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