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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 21:46 25 Apr 2025
Prior to Parkin (first term) we'd been the "same old Rochdale" for literally decades
Any transient advances went in a flash (Danny Bergara) whilst some gave it large but ended up becoming small beer (Dave Sutton)
Parkin introduced the first real sustained level of professionalism into the team (even if his overall tenure at the club was 'dubious') and whilst our home games weren't great watches for some of the time, it was appreciated that the general direction was on track and gates suddenly started to rise beyond the baseline that'd become our norm
I keep coming back to this point about gates, and sustainability. I do so not to denigrate anyone but to make the point that for the Ogden programme to succeed, they need to be grown. It's not going to happen unless McNulty has a mind-numbing transplant from what we've seen over the past two years
Edit: apologies, but that's probably denigrating McNulty - but not on a personal level, he's been a good servant to the club [Post edited 25 Apr 21:50]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 21:22 25 Apr 2025
We shouldn't even have to be discussing these things, given our league position
The fact that we are (not just a few of us) is enough to suggest there's something badly wrong
I wish it weren't so, but wishing won't make people enjoy what's being put in front of them. Toleration - which is what seems to be the best it can be described as - isn't what the club was saved for |
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Reply | Gallipoli Day ..
at 21:16 25 Apr 2025
You need to read a bit more deeply
His experiences during the Boer War, and subsequently as commander of a unit on the front line in France were the making of him. He was loved - genuinely - by those he commanded in WW1 since he took care over their general wellbeing (which was largely ignored by most of those charged with command) therefore enabling them to fight effectively
The mistakes he made in those arenas as a politician informed him when taking up the burden of PM in 1940 - he learned from them
I suggest you learn a bit more, too [Post edited 25 Apr 21:17]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 21:02 25 Apr 2025
What "success"?
Okay, i get all the three-year-plan-this-year-playoffs business
The only success would be to either win a trophy (failed when it was at our mercy) or promotion
If we're promoted, your argument would be vindicated, to some extent
If not, my argument - that the ultimate aim of the Ogdens is for the club to become self-sustaining - has moved further away in terms of enthusiasm for attending let alone recruiting new fans
I'm taking the longer term view, and there's nothing - no stat, no vibe, no evidence - that suggests the Ogden's goal has been advanced this season
Promotion would, of course, enhance our finances but it's not just about the cashflow. The Ogdens recognise this when stating that self-sustainability is the object regardless of status. That last part is important
The initiative launched this week regarding Dale Futures is fantastic. It's to be hoped that educational support for young people will have a knock-on effect on attendance at games. If they turn up and spend 90 minutes thinking "wtf am i doing here?" - see TS's comment about Aaron Wilbraham - then it's a shocking waste of potential
Having saved the club, our new owners simply can't afford to waste the main product - onfield entertainment - on a manager too rigid and ultimately unable to change the attraction of what fans expect when watching football
I'm sorry if that sticks in your craw. It sticks in mine too, hence my counterpoint to your points [Post edited 25 Apr 21:06]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 14:56 25 Apr 2025
When i say i hope there's been conversations taking place behind the scenes, i'm not speaking about replacing McNulty (although it may come to that, eventually) but rather about the approach to key games which were well marketed but had the home crowd silenced after 10 minutes.
On more than one occasion, it's been suggested the "penny had dropped" - Eastleigh being an example. Then, we had Fylde and back to square one
Someone at the club has got to get a grip on this, and the person who has the most skin in the game is Cameron Ogden, on behalf of his family. The reality of trying to sell the club when many regulars are bored to death (overall) is something he just has to address. Like you, i wish him luck |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 14:16 25 Apr 2025
I know what the score was against Eastleigh
The very fact that fewer turned up is actually more significant, since it indicates a level of disillusionment - not just about the Spennymoor performance, though that seemed to be the last straw for quite a few
I get that you're not one of those who feel that way, and there are others who no doubt take a similar view
Again... what actually counts is the virtual impossibility of growing our gates with the type of football played, hence my original point about marketing. And again... if you can use those points you raise to encourage people through the turnstile, i wish you the best of luck |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 12:54 25 Apr 2025
I've not heard the term "disaster" used by anyone
Those stats, whilst of some interest, sit alongside "possession" when the stat that really counts is - how many more people are we bringing through the turnstiles?
The ST numbers have held up well and formed the bedrock of our steady gates throughout the season; however, the Eastleigh fixture was something of a watershed and those not turning up even when their seat was paid for months ago wasn't just due to the eventual loss against Spennymoor, but the sheer waste of opportunity by trying to win a cup tie "playing by stats" - for want of a better way of putting it
If citing those stats will get more people through the gate, go for it... best of luck |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Hartlepool United
at 12:22 25 Apr 2025
In terms of marketing, the club have been severely hampered by the Spennymoor game which was extensively marketed, with the club praised on that account
We weren't 'unlucky' to concede that late, late goal. No amount of marketing right now would make any difference - in fact, it'd be derided by the majority of non-regulars who'd turned up for the semi-final
This is why i was hoping some conversations were taking place behind the scenes, but the Fylde game suggests not |
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Reply | Gallipoli Day ..
at 12:11 25 Apr 2025
It did tarnish his political reputation at the time, so he put on a uniform and went to fight on the Western Front, where he proved to be very effective |
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Reply | Gallipoli Day ..
at 11:04 25 Apr 2025
Incredible bravery
Pin the story up on the dressing room wall
And in the manager's office |
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Reply | Dale futures
at 12:19 24 Apr 2025
Brilliant indeed, and a very welcome opening up of the initial vision the Ogdens brought to Dale around this time last year. It also ties in with their previous initiatives involving science education in local schools
I'm sure the council will be supportive of this, but from another perspective it's not a bad thing to be taking this forward with an independent spirit which will enable Dale Futures to make a real impact without interference in decision-making
Once the 'dead hand' of bureaucracy becomes involved, it can hinder rather than promote and - let's face it - keeping any political aspect out of this is essential
[Post edited 24 Apr 12:21]
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Reply | Season Ticket Prices Frozen 25/26 season
at 21:33 23 Apr 2025
It's to be hoped the new CAB will be thoroughly consulted about all this
I referred to the "wisdom of the crowd" the other day, and it applies equally regarding allocating sections of the ground, for both sets of supporters
Getting things wrong can be partially excused due to inexperience, and there are no perfect solutions that'll please everyone, but if those who attended for donkeys years and have seen it all before aren't consulted, there would be no excuses
It'd be good to get some feedback from CAB on this
[Post edited 23 Apr 21:34]
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Reply | Season Ticket Prices Frozen 25/26 season
at 15:39 23 Apr 2025
I think it's highly likely the club, rather than believing that keeping prices static will increase sales, simply have no handle as yet on how fans will react and so are playing safe
The ultimate goal, as stated, is self-sustainability. To even begin with that, we need more people, a LOT more people through the turnstiles. Attendances have mainly held up well but the writing was on the wall for the Eastleigh game
I'd really like to think that "discussions" have been had behind the scenes following the Spennymoor debacle - the ideal opportunity to expand our horizons thrown away through lack of courage by the manager, and reflected in the Eastleigh turnout
Then came the sad news about Joey Thompson, but now it's time to refocus behind the scenes and this early announcement likely reflects the way the wind is blowing among the majority of fans in terms of disillusionment [Post edited 23 Apr 15:40]
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v AFC Fylde
at 11:15 23 Apr 2025
As we.limp over the playoff line, the lack of enthusiasm is palpable
The increased attendance on Monday might well have been down to people wishing to pay their respects to Joe Thompson
Having a club, thanks to the Ogdens, shouldn't feel like this |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v AFC Fylde
at 09:31 22 Apr 2025
I did wonder what Wilbraham made of it
He's cut his coaching teeth already (Shrewsbury). Some other intent - than the half time draw - for being there would just be wishful thinking... |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v AFC Fylde
at 23:12 21 Apr 2025
Aaron Wilbraham doing the half time draw was a reminder of what we're missing
Considering JM was a team-mate, you'd have thought he'd recognise from the outset of his coaching career what was needed but it's as if he has some kind of psychological block that over-rides the bleeding obvious, or at least until it's too late |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v AFC Fylde
at 19:34 21 Apr 2025
But as per my vantage point in the Pearl St, how many in the ground would've just heard that and groaned at the lack of class? Manhandling at corners happens all the time |
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Reply | TVOS Preview - Rochdale v AFC Fylde
at 18:40 21 Apr 2025
You'll also have been disappointed with the Sandy launching into "Going down" midway through the second half. I guess they felt the need for some kind of oneupmanship since the team were looking unlikely to provide it, but the response from the Fylde faithful of "Staying down" put them in their place |
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