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TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Swindon Town
at 18:59 2 Oct 2026

I'm glad you disagree... but you're missing the point

McNulty's system was based upon his own unique personality, which ultimately proved successful

Watson... anyone else... just wouldn't be able to "continue" that. Having a system comes with something far more subtle than mere tactics - it's about people, probably first and foremost

SAF is featured in today's news, with insights into his entire career. He achieved what he did because of his personality. There's also a documentary been shown recently called The Three Kings, about Busby, Stein and Shankly and how they all knew each other and achieved what they did. They also needed to break the mould

Watson is gaining my respect, for being his own man. The Ogdens have stood by him and that just adds to the respect i have for them

Watson's own way of doing things is slowly but surely - against great adversities - starting to come together

I'll go further. The system that got us out of the NL needed breaking, we really just about made it at the end - through the players having bought into Jim McNulty - but he'd gone

Watson had that to deal with first, so trying to continue with that system just would not have worked. The board brought Watson in based upon him having the same kind of footballing - and human - values, but he needed to make it his own
[Post edited 2 Oct 19:03]
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NFR Burnham mentioned The Cooperative movement
at 12:42 2 Oct 2026

https://forgenerationstocome.o
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TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Swindon Town
at 11:16 2 Oct 2026

This is all perfectly true, and it would appear there's the green shoots of comprehension by the fanbase at large at the task Watson inherited

Asking him to "continue with Jim's style to begin with" would be like trying to impersonate your new girlfriend's ex whilst she got over him
[Post edited 2 Oct 12:30]
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NFR Burnham mentioned The Cooperative movement
at 18:24 1 Oct 2026

We're all justifiably proud of the independence of thought and action which the Rochdale Pioneers embodied, James

You're right, in that it shouldn't be forgotten and the same spirit still exists to this day, now embodied by the Ogdens, and indeed, many of our own fans, evidenced in recent times.Our MP, a Dale fan (not a pretend one) has been promoted to a junior ministerial role by Burnham - the first time this has ever happened

I'm just not sure we need to be "endorsed" by anyone
[Post edited 1 Oct 19:07]
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NFR Burnham mentioned The Cooperative movement
at 17:48 1 Oct 2026

He should be more informed about how a majority of fans might view his comments which appear to support the corruption which allowed Man City to dominate the game for the past 15 years

There were threads on here about the "funding" when the current owners took over
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J.Bird
at 21:49 29 Sep 2026

Along with the team, 7 pts clear already and unbeaten

Unfinished business from last season, hope they go all the way this time
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Dale Released Players - new clubs?
at 16:49 29 Sep 2026

Ah, thanks

I was looking at his Wiki record and that appearance can't have been included
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Dale Released Players - new clubs?
at 14:49 29 Sep 2026

He also featured for England at both U18 and U19 level, scoring at both levels

Despite around 90 appearances as a professional, he's yet to score
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Conference 26/27
at 21:19 27 Sep 2026

In terms of being a crazy day, that's up there with the craziness

Can't think of any other shootout where no forward took a penalty. Of course, we didn't need all five, but in retrospect, it was a masterstroke by Jim McNulty. The pressure of scoring on a forward is higher than for a defender/midfielder, and in that All Or Nothing situation, pressure is the key factor

It worked, that's what matters. It was mentioned after the match, but easily overlooked in the euphoria
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Oldham
at 17:43 27 Sep 2026

What is it about our near neighbours?

Or perhaps the question should be: what makes us more immune from their fan-tasies? Latics could easily go the way of bury. In the end, perserverance under pressure (as per our history) counts for a lot

That's also why i'm taking to Watson, and good to see him able to do interviews on the front foot
[Post edited 27 Sep 17:44]
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LANCS
at 14:01 27 Sep 2026

The final day of the season, and Lancs finally finding some batting form, albeit against a Durham attack that's probably "on the beach"

Currently 366-6, Bohannon 177*

At least we won't finish rock bottom for the first time in our history
[Post edited 27 Sep 14:02]
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Oldham
at 11:56 27 Sep 2026

That in itself is lunacy

Can you imagine Dale fans turning on the Ogdens if they said they couldn't splash out on big money signings or higher wages? In fact, that's exactly what their philosophy is, and aren't we glad about that
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Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
at 20:45 26 Sep 2026

The danger might be rushing players back too quickly, but the options are limited
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Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
at 18:49 26 Sep 2026

That stoppage had me thinking he'd done serious damage

It was a stretched challenge, Moss being whole-hearted and i too was surprised when he was able to carry on

Perhaps, in retrospect it might've been better if he hadn't

Massive blow. That Watson is producing results after the injuries we've incurred says something about his resilience and ability to inspire his players

I think we'd all have settled for our current position at the start of the season
[Post edited 26 Sep 18:51]
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Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
at 17:12 26 Sep 2026

Momentum
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Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
at 15:54 26 Sep 2026

I'm convinced there's some sort of unusual arrangement in place. His selection is following a similar pattern* to last season, when similar questions were raised as to why he wasn't being included

He finished the season strongly, so perhaps that has some bearing on the matter; retaining match fitness without being unduly exerted early doors

*if you feel the need to check back, don't let me stop you
[Post edited 26 Sep 16:00]
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Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
at 15:39 26 Sep 2026

No idea, but it'd help explain your query about why he's not making the matchday squad, despite his prowess as demonstrated for the umpteenth time last Tuesday

What's your theory about why he's being omitted?
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Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
at 14:45 26 Sep 2026

I was - of course - referring to "selection"
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Refwatch - Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
at 14:10 26 Sep 2026

I'm convinced he's negotiated some kind of agreement with the club so he's not always available for selection
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Drinking at the match
at 13:14 24 Sep 2026

You can't remember it because there's never been one, and Spotland isn't an exception. The only time i've ever watched a game live with a drink in my hand was in one of the Dale boxes which was hired for a special family occasion (and it was like watching on a wide-screen tv with the sound turned down low)

Yes, rugby and cricket have drinking in often tightly-packed stands. The Western Terrace at Headingley springs to mind, but the emotions generated (apart from very rare and short periods) are less potent. There's also no fan segregation... now that'd tell any thinking person there's something different about football crowds from the aforementioned and other sports

In addition, trying to attract a wider demographic would be much more difficult with drinking in stands, whilst i doubt there's any real fan who doesn't turn up because they can't take a drink to their seat
[Post edited 24 Sep 13:22]
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