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Reply | Pitch video
at 11:14 9 Dec 2025
Bromleys pitch wasn't already fully grown like ours i don't think. There was also consultation and planning encompassed in that 100 days. It sounds like they are confident of completing the job unless bad snow and frosts set in. Irrespective of what happens this season we are going to end up with a fabulous new pitch, something that we could only dream about eighteen months ago. It's been a great first half to the season and the pitch would have needed doing in six months time anyway. Two games at Accrington is a small price to pay as fans, although i accept it's a difficult situation for some.
The worse case scenario that i can see this season is a brand new pitch installed and finishing in a play off place. I think we would have all settled for that at the start of the season. It could even be better than that, staying positive and not feeling sorry for ourselves is key. [Post edited 9 Dec 11:29]
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Reply | Th'Ashes Down Under
at 08:04 9 Dec 2025
We also have Archer and Stokes who need 'managing'. The cynic in me wonders if the central contract is in fact viewed as a financial comfort blanket by our cricketers. Poor performances, loss of form, break a finger nail and they still get paid. There is no incentive to rush back. As Bob Willis once said..' if i had waited to be 100% fit and pain free i would never have played'. |
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Reply | Pitch video
at 19:10 8 Dec 2025
A lot of work involved in this, it sounds like the pitch will be fully completed over the summer but fit for purpose from the end of January. I'm assuming there will be a contingency plan in place should we have a lot of snow in January and the contractors don't hit the finishing date. It is what it is, there has obviously been a lot of planning gone into this, some things are out of our control though and extreme weather such as the Beast from the East is one of them. It's a difficult situation for everybody involved with the club but the end result will be worth it. The pitch consultants are OBI sports, recognised as world leaders when it comes to this sort of stuff.The Ogdens are doing this properly, we're very lucky. [Post edited 8 Dec 20:22]
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Reply | Th'Ashes Down Under
at 13:06 8 Dec 2025
I think Stokes is a poor captain. I think he's a reactive captain and doesn't anticipate things, At times he doesn't even react, as we've seen with his field placings. He let's games drift when we are fielding and let's his emotions cloud his judgement, over bowling himself is one example. His reluctance to change our approach to Test cricket has brought us to where we are now...out batted, out bowled, out fielded, out thought against a under strength Australian team. Then you have the arrogance, he and his players like playing bazzball and they aren't accountable to anybody, not even cricketing greats. I'm not disputing Stokes a fantastic cricketer on his day but he's not impressing me as a captain. He's not the only all rounder to struggle when it comes to also being the captain, Flintoff was another. The problem now though is if Stokes is relieved of the captaincy he'll probably retire from Test cricket and we'll lose a great cricketer. I'd ask Root if he'd consider having another stint as captain. [Post edited 8 Dec 13:11]
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Reply | Th'Ashes Down Under
at 12:04 8 Dec 2025
Good observations those. International bowlers who can't bowl consistent line and length, it's a joke really. We're crying out for a Jimmy Anderson, he'd probably still bowl better than this lot. Then we have Stokes captaincy, his field placings are laughable. Australia batsman spent all day accumulating runs behind the wicket and Stokes just didn't respond. His batting has been poor also. |
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Reply | Th'Ashes Down Under
at 11:41 8 Dec 2025
They should sack Keys, McMillan, replace Stokes as captain and stop awarding central contracts. Too many players in their comfort zone and being rewarded for failute. A massive shake up is needed and it needs to start at the top. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 15:40 7 Dec 2025
I don't think there's been any gambling involved. There was a statement from the owner i think who stated that there had been advanced discussions over the summer regarding actually relocating to another area of the Town. Those discussions prohibited the pitch work taking place prior to the season starting. A suitable site couldn't be found so the idea was shelved. It would have made no sense to spend well over a million pounds on a pitch to then rip it up and move to another stadium. I don't believe the club have just winged it this season in respect of the pitch. [Post edited 7 Dec 15:43]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 15:19 7 Dec 2025
Sometimes injuries can force the hand of the manager and result in a settled starting eleven. Players who perform well deserve to stay in the team, i'm referring to Pettit and Pritchard when i say that. The fear of Rodney now being sidelined alongside Smith has now come to pass. McBride has a role to play but it's not as a goal threat. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 12:32 7 Dec 2025
In the interest of fairness, he's more or less nailed it with our away performances this season. We've had some very big wins. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 12:30 7 Dec 2025
I hope that happens, it's a relief that they've finally started the work. It will be interesting to hear why the water wasn't draining through the pitch. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 12:04 7 Dec 2025
Yes agree with your last point. The pitch kicked us in the teeth for a final time yesterday as a parting gift. I drove past this morning and the heavy machinery is on the pitch gaining revenge for yesterday. [Post edited 7 Dec 12:12]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 10:08 7 Dec 2025
The abandoned game yesterday was caused by the rain and it wasn't a big surprise. The issues before the Ogdens came on board rumbled on long before he was appointed as manager. I'd argue Simon Gauge etc still did a decent job in supporting McNulty under very difficult circumstances and good players were brought into the club.That was a difficult time for Jim but for the last eighteen months i don't view him as a manager working under duress, not when compared to most managers in this league. I understand his frustration with the pitch but we all feel that. He's had a lot of support over the last eighteen months. Nothing goes smoothly when you're a manager at any club, i hooe his disdain doesn't spread to the changing room, its not what players need to hear. [Post edited 7 Dec 10:11]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 09:42 7 Dec 2025
'As the Rochdsle manager this is the car crash of management that i've been exposed to at the club so i shouldn't be surpised at today'. Poor Jim.
As fans and a club we've also been exposed to some shocking managerial decisions by him that have cost the club big time so maybe we're quits on everything, playing the blame game is easy Jim. Stop feeling sorry or yourself and look forward to what's ahead. [Post edited 7 Dec 9:48]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 09:35 7 Dec 2025
The last eighteen months have been under the stewardship of the Ogdens, apart from the pitch what has happened in that time to make McNulty feel so hard done by? He's been provided with a great squad of players and a new coaching team. The issue with the pitch is being addressed and he knows that. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 09:29 7 Dec 2025
He said the clubs a car crash and insinuated nothings changed with a daft grin on his face. For the last eighteen months he's been backed by the Ogdens. The previous custodians of the club ( Simon Gauge and the Directors) didn't have the resources to install a new pitch. He made it all about him in his post match interview, harping on about feelng like he's managed 30 clubs or something. How he asked for games to be moved on seven occasions last season...now they've been moved he's not sure how things will go on Accringtons great pitch. He's picking up a good wage, he's not doing it for no reward. There was nothing tricky about yesterdays events, it rained hard and the pitch couldn't handle it, nobodies fault. |
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Reply | Th'Ashes Down Under
at 08:23 7 Dec 2025
Yes, the financial rewards are good also. As a collective they've been a embarrassment in these first two tests to be honest. It's the spectators i feel sorry for, they haven't even made it a contest. Lost two test matches in just over five days. [Post edited 7 Dec 8:35]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 07:58 7 Dec 2025
I hope the Ogdens don't, they've done a great job over the last eighteen months, it's no accident we now have a top of the table squad of players, they've funded that and supported the manager. They're also installing a state of the art pitch and renovating areas of the stadium. To use the phrase 'car crash' in reference to the club is disrespectful. Yesterday was disappointing for everybody but it doesn't reflect the state of the club. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 07:16 7 Dec 2025
The Southend managers post match interview is worth a listen. He stated that the referee was concerned about the weather and mentioned it before the game started. The game became silly as it progressed and he was also quick to praise our club and groundstaff for their efforts to get the game on and completed. He didn't refer to our club as a 'car crash' and belittle it as our own manager did in his self absorbed defeatist interview. I accept it's my own fault for listening to his interviews. The referee was right to call the game off, the ball wasn't bouncing and was struggling to roll with probably a good 20 minutes still left to play. Yesterday was just one of those thngs, nobody was to blame. The pitch problem had been addressed and expensive plans put in place by our owners, derision and ctiticism wasn't needed by a club employee. Somebody who has been fully supported by the club over the last eighteen months. [Post edited 7 Dec 7:45]
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Reply | Th'Ashes Down Under
at 07:03 7 Dec 2025
Amazing what happens when you bat correctly and value your wicket. The horse has bolted though because this lot always know better and don't have the appetite to graft for their runs. |
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