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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 16:33 22 Sep 2026
There's a lot i agree with there: another factor, the price of utilities such as gas, electricity and water, which have risen either as a result of infrastructure neglect or deliberate policy (by all administrations) and impact on businesses as well as the rest of us (the current conflict in the middle east notwithstanding)
There's more to life than shopping (not suggesting you think otherwise) but i personally have never once felt remotely depressed by our shopping streets [Post edited 22 Sep 16:44]
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Reply | Attendance Saturday
at 13:20 22 Sep 2026
Thanks, and i fully appreciate the problems of fans clashing after these types of fixtures. I've referred to this in my enquiry
Nevertheless, there are certain aspects of the single-gate exit strategy that are entirely avoidable, and should be open to further review in the light of continuing experience by fans |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 12:35 22 Sep 2026
What do you have in mind, when you speak of "changes"?
My point is very much that it's no worse than many another urban centre, but if we retain a mindset that we live in a rubbish place, that's exactly what will result in it remaining rubbish, or getting worse
The nature of retail facilities has, of course, changed considerably from say, 50 years ago. Shedding a tear over that isn't going to make locals change their shopping behaviour. There are also some of the best pubs in the region in the centre, award-winning pubs
People can choose to look at the areas of decay, or use these pubs, restaurants and leisure facilities to help make the centre a better place. I certainly do!
These days, i also spend a good deal of time in a very different part of the country. I can tell you, it's no different there, although there may be a bit more money to spend. It's really not just abaout money though - it's people's attitudes - that's the difference i've found, so i speak out of experience and of course, with conviction because i don't share those negative attitudes, or the typical Rochdale "we're doomed" mindset; that should be clear enough! [Post edited 22 Sep 12:44]
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Reply | Attendance Saturday
at 12:07 22 Sep 2026
I've submitted an enquiry to CAB about the Pearl St exit problem
Not just asking for an explanation, but pointing out the very real safety issues involved and the closing of toilet facilities at the end of the game |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 18:17 21 Sep 2026
A great email has landed from the For Generations To Come initiative by the club
This is superb work, and taking positive steps to celebrate the good things about Rochdale whilst also seeking to make those things that need improvement better
An ounce of positivity goes so much further than the tons of negativity that's surrounded the town for decades
If people want to, they can easily find deprivation and boarded up shops almost anywhere in the country. Rochdale in no exception, but we should no longer be prepared to accept the downward spiral. I've lived through it; it can be, and is being turned around |
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Reply | Attendance Saturday
at 16:46 21 Sep 2026
The main stand was odd. It wasn't just the Sandy end that had unoccupied seats, but a fair number in the Pearl St end, more so than other Saturday games this season
Might well have been that ST holders weren't able to make the early kick off, and the Sandy itself looked no more occupied than usual
Having said that, Dalenet's point about where an extra 2000 might be accommodated is valid
I can't agree with the decision to funnel the entire Pearl St out at a single exit. There were more than enough police at the Willbutts corner to allow more exits to be used. Some less mobile fans were at risk of being pushed and jostled, not through people being thoughtless but through sheer weight of numbers encroaching together. It'll only take one case of someone being trampled on for a potential claim against the club |
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Reply | LANCS
at 14:57 21 Sep 2026
Brilliant, thanks |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 21:26 20 Sep 2026
Let's get this right
Rochdale has one of the best town centres in the country, and there are outstanding areas surrounding the town; the Lake, Healey Dell, the Pennine moors
The main problem with the town is the people who run it down. The negativity is off the scale, and for our yoof to be continuing with that is perhaps a reflection of their parents
Rochdale is a better place to live than Oldham, and by some margin. Town of Culture, our outstanding music festival. winner of Town in Bloom awards, the sixth form college on top of the national league table, the Co-Op... i could go on
Late yesterday afternoon, after a post-match celebratory pint at the Twisted Mule (what a great place that is) i headed into town and there were skirmishes between Dale and Oldham yoof. At the same time, the Steampunk event was ending at the town hall and people with incredible outfits were heading into town, totally bemused by what was kicking off
It's the shite people who bring their kids up to sing like kneejerks "We already know" - they know f*ck all, but Oldham shite people know even less than f*ck all
Just stop it, kids. If you want to live in a shithole, try some of the London districts, except you wouldn't survive two minutes in those places [Post edited 20 Sep 21:30]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 14:29 20 Sep 2026
Agree on that last point, we're very much a work in progress and whilst Watson might've felt obliged to continue with playing out from the back inherited from JM (which our owners stated they were looking to do when recruiting, and Watson himself seemed to favour) the evolution since then has been towards the reality of what that meant in L2 in terms of physicality
What goes on in training... and also what conversations Watson may have been having with those at the helm so that everyone's on the same page.. yes, work to do, but i certainly get the impression it's happening |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 11:26 20 Sep 2026
He wasn't proving anyone wrong when JM tasked him with that style of play, since no-one had questioned whether he could adapt to it or not under previous regimes
When EEL returns, he'll find it's a different team. There's been a great deal of confusion around how we should be playing among the players themselves which has translated into poor performances and results, and the intense criticism that's come Watson's way. That's what he's having to overcome, and doing so has required bringing in someone like Flint
It's possibly easier to learn something rather than unlearn it, which is what i was alluding to with EEL and that applies also to all those who Watson inherited from JM, whilst bedding in new players too. The confusion was arising through the players who were having to unlearn (i.e. taking the easy, pass back option more often than not) which often made our play as boring as hell, even given the huge excitement generated by last gasp goals and hanging on at Wembley to eventually win promotion |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 10:53 20 Sep 2026
Absolutely right about how Flint stopped playing the ball to midfield where the player was facing his own goal and immediately under pressure; sometimes the pass didn't get there at all, putting us under huge pressure
That's something that EEL will have to learn to stop doing as and when he returns, and having someone like Flint alongside him (presuming Maguire doesn't also make himself an automatic choice) will help him
The short ball into midfield, if there's a man in space with a clear through route, can be very effective. It's the doing it for the sake of it that Flint knew instinctively wasn't working |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 10:11 20 Sep 2026
The difference that Flint makes in his leadership with those around him in defence only puts into further stark contrast what was lacking before... |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 17:33 19 Sep 2026
When the players were gathered at the Pearl St to take the post-match plaudits, Flint stayed towards the back, aloof from it all
I love that. He was chatting with one of the backroom staff, watching the younger players do their thing
He may have been told to play it out from the back, and does so when it's an option, but not like a robot. Having put a couple of short passes into midfield astray, his experience told him to stop doing it. Towards the end, he took the ball in our box and hoofed it into the stand. I love that too [Post edited 19 Sep 17:34]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 17:08 19 Sep 2026
17th at full time across the L2 fixtures
Said that if we lost our next two games (after the forum) Watson would be really struggling
Good point at Walsall, three today and bragging rights, however fortuitous
Will be interesting to revisit some of the "we're doomed under Watson" comments at Christmas
Can't resist an aside: watching Final Score and saw Halifax took a 1-0 lead on 90+4... then Sutton equalised on 90+5. Reminiscent of our game against York. Seems like an age ago now, but back where we belong, and we're staying [Post edited 19 Sep 17:10]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 15:50 19 Sep 2026
Had similar thoughts
We still try to play it on the ground but with more intent. The times we overplayed it we conceded possesion in dangerous areas, then went more direct, the ball over the top for our second a good example
I'd like to think that once fit, and providing we're making progress, EEL will have to wait his turn rather than an automatic choice
Given Maguire's history, unlikely he'll see the rest of the season out (once starting) but it'd be interesting to see EEL alongside Flint, an even more experienced CB and how that plays out in terms of leadership [Post edited 19 Sep 15:52]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Oldham Athletic
at 14:59 19 Sep 2026
Flint is exactly what we've needed, doesn't need to try to be a playmaker like EEL and once Maguire is match fit he'll be more solid too
Came on for Wilson at the right time, in fact all the subs were well-timed and major contribution to us seeing the game out
The goal will give Brown confidence and you can feel the whole team starting to lift the cloud they've started under [Post edited 19 Sep 16:55]
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