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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 06:36 29 Jan 2026
Something else that is worthy of mention is the technical ability of our players. Against Southend I was watching the first touch when they receive the ball in tight spaces, the control and movement. It's on a higher level than the National League and it's something that has definitely improved this season, that's down to the hard work on the training ground.These players are actually improving and the manager and his coaches have to take a lot of credit for that. It takes bravery and self belief to play like that, especially in big games and against quality opposition like Southend.
The affection the fans have for these players is something i haven't witnessed in 50 years of supporting the club, it surpasses the Keith Hill teams i think and that's no disrespect to them. Players who wear their heart on their sleeve and have a real relationship with the fans. This hasn't happened by accident though, it's been at the very core of McNulty's masterplan to bring back the soul of the club and repair the terrible damage caused by others. Amazing work by Jim.
The players also have confidence in the new pitch, i don't think the importance of having a quality pitch can be underplayed and we saw it with the winning goal on Tuesday, precise passing, close control in a tight space and players not second guessing the playing surface. Pritchards movement, close control, coolness and speed of thought was brilliant to see, pure class that. He's a proper footballer Pritchard. So yes, some passages of our play might not fit in with how everybody enjoys watching football ( you'll always get that) but in general we are playing some fabulous stuff, especially when we kick it up a gear.
The club is getting stronger and stronger both on and off the pitch and it's brilliant to see. [Post edited 29 Jan 7:57]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 18:15 28 Jan 2026
Do you also remember when BBM guided us through the worst set of home results in the clubs history, some of those performances were horrendous. That's the period when he should have been sacked, we also lost to Stckport in the cup at that time at home, they where non league i think. We had a good team that season also. Bottomley rewarded him with a secret contract for his abject failure, he also booted Henderson out of the club. He's still got his backers though. [Post edited 28 Jan 18:27]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 17:25 28 Jan 2026
Something else that also needs to be considered in the interest of fairness is the perspective from the managers side. Managers careers live or die on results, winning games of football. If McNulty had us playing open sexy football but we where losing games or drawing when we should have won we'd all be shouting for his head. He wont be bothered about the entertainment value, just winning football matches and you can't blame him for that. He's got a philosophy and style of play that works, we don't all have to love it but he has to be respected for what he's doing at the club. Fans see things differently, our job isn't dependant on winning games of football. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 15:08 28 Jan 2026
It's winning football, nobody can argue with that. Would i swap the football for a cut and thrust swashbucking, all action style but see us losing more games and battling to get in the play off? No i wouldn't, it is what it is and we all prefer different things but results trump everything at the end of the day. He's doing fantastic and is a improving young manager, a modern day coach who is smashing it. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 13:13 28 Jan 2026
In respect of the league positions not changing last night win or lose then i suggested the players could use a bit of reverse psychology and view it as such ( take the pressure off a bit). With ours being the only fixture we weren't dropping places in the league.You're being to literal interpreting my post. [Post edited 28 Jan 13:16]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 13:07 28 Jan 2026
This is where the frustration comes for me and it's often reflected in my posts on the forum. Everything is meant as constructive criticism because i like to see us playing with freedom, talented players being allowed to express themselves. I understand it has to be with in the framework of the team and tactics come in to play but i find the modern day version of football a bit boring and lacking passion...very few tackles, taking a man on, shooting from distance etc. It's not just Rochdale, it's most teams, modern day coaches have taken the emotion, unpredictabiliy and individual skill out of the game. I see players who play to the system, that trumps their natural ability at times.
Sometimes i watch a game and wonder what we are trying to achieve when we are passing the ball sidewards between the defenders and the opposition are camped deep in their own half with no intentions of coming out to engage them. Then if they are confronted they turn back and funnel it back to the keeper and then rinse and repeat..footballing hokey cokey i call it. I know some fans enjoy it but it frustrates the life out of me. The fact we are winning a lot of these games does compensate though and we're doing great in that respect. The games changed. [Post edited 28 Jan 13:45]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 12:32 28 Jan 2026
I actually think the team are capable of going up another level and we are playing within ourselves a bit and managing games. I don't think we've seen the best of this squad yet, there's more improvement to come. I've got every faith that we have the players in the building to win the league. I'm a big believer in us constantly trying to be better every day because as we've seen before, consolidation quickly leads to regression. We definitely aren't over achieving, we have a lot of bloody good footballers and a talented squad. [Post edited 28 Jan 12:35]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 11:54 28 Jan 2026
Yes, they're a smug, arrogant, entitled bunch aren't they..like big kids really. Still smarting from that good hiding Latics gave them in the Play Offs. Congratulations on your Play Off Final win by the way, you thoroughly deserved to win them. [Post edited 28 Jan 12:01]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 11:45 28 Jan 2026
I've been a critic of EEL in the past but since his return from injury he has been a model of consistency. The whole defence has been great and Perry is a fabulous young player, a real talent. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 11:33 28 Jan 2026
Somebody was explaining to me last night how a draw against the teams chasing us is a good point because they haven't made ground on us and have one less game to play. He had completely ignored the fact that we are in a battle with York to win the league and winning games is the priority, not drawing them. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 10:45 28 Jan 2026
The league table is now starting to look interesting as some teams approach the final third of their fixtures. Looking at our games in February it's almost like knock out football for us, everytime we beat one of BW, FGR, Carlisle, Scunthorpe it becomes very difficult for that team to catch us up when you look at the points differential and our games in hand. Drawing keeps them at arms length but that seriously plays into York City's hands, that's what they want us to do. The onus is on us to win and last night was like a dagger to the heart of those associated with York City, we need to do that again and again.
So the mentality of thinking that a draw against those clubs isn't bad is completely wrong in respect of wanting to win the league. I'm assuming McNulty and his coaches and also the players are fully aware of that. The sole focus in every game is to win it, a draw is two points dropped. The late goals at Solihull and last night are like Gold dust. The chasing pack apart from York are vying for a play off spot or a third place finish now i think and that means they are probably going into their fixtures with more pressure than us as their games start to diminish. [Post edited 28 Jan 10:56]
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 07:41 28 Jan 2026
Gilmour is becoming more and more instrumental in our performances in the same way as Gary Jones was over the years. Tenacious and aggressive and he drives the team on, he's also popping goals in. I see a lot of similarities and that's the highest accolade i can give him. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 23:14 27 Jan 2026
One thing that did add to the feel good factor was the condition of the pitch, it looked and played fantastic. The game would have been postponed this morning if the old pitch was still in place. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 23:08 27 Jan 2026
They looked tired from the first whistle tonight but its no wonder, they've been up and down the motorway over the last few days. They travelled up today from Southend. A flat performance from them with no spark and when your opponents are all over you like a bad rash the minute you get the ball your energy levels are really tested. They are a very well organised team but overall we deserved the three points. I think Maher is a good manager, his teams play good football. |
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Reply | Refwatch - Rochdale v Southend United
at 22:51 27 Jan 2026
Well he did it, a signature win at home for the manager and i think he deserves to take the plaudits for it.He outsmarted one of the best managers in the league tonight. It appeared to me as though McNulty sacrificed our natural game a bit in order to negate Southends threats, a Southend team that gave York the runaround a couple of weeks ago and outplayed them on their own pitch. Bringing Moss into the team was a smart move, it worked. A big shout for Berger also, he put a great shift in. At times it was a bit attritional to watch and we created very little really, both keepers rarely tested. The win was built on being organised and solid and it's our most important home win since we dropped out of the EFL. These players are the real deal. [Post edited 28 Jan 6:07]
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