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INJURIES
at 15:28 9 Dec 2025

That means he will miss Morecambe, Hartlepool and probably Brackley by my reckoning.

Strikers problem remains. Pray that Mani stays fit.
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INJURIES
at 11:21 9 Dec 2025

At present we have 2 keepers, 8 defenders, 9 midfield and wide players, and 2 attackers who are fit and available.

The 2 attackers are Mani and Hendo, who has started one league game this season (Brackley). Amantchi goes back in 3 weeks.

Big problem.
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Pitch video
at 11:01 9 Dec 2025

Bromley took 100 days in the Summer to get the new grass pitch ready for League 2 football.

OBI have agreed to have a playable pitch with new drains in 45 days in Winter, with followup procedures in the Summer.

If they can pull this off they deserve a medal.
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INJURIES
at 10:02 8 Dec 2025

You are quite right to be concerned.

Surely the biggest concern is the forward line and goalscoring.

Last season when Mitchell stopped scoring, Rodney came up with a late 8 goal burst and Hendo chipped in with 5 goals(all as a substitute). Now with Rodney and Smith sidelined, Mani stopped scoring and Amantchi just not good enough (and returning to Walsall in 3 weeks) there is a major risk that the goals dry up.

None of the midfielders are in the mould of Keohane, Lund and Sinclair who could provide 10 goals in a season.

Hendo could still play a part but Jim seems unwilling to expose him.

Surely a big loan signing is essential to help Mani. Now would be nice.
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Joe Pritchard
at 17:04 27 Nov 2025

Could I recommend you watch the Pritchard injury video on the website.

We criticise players too easily sometimes. Like many others I liked the look of him before the injury, but the video shows how hard it can be.

Here is a 29 year old pro footballer who started the year with MKDons, left by mutual consent in January, Helped Oldham out till the end of the season but no new contract, joined us on a 1year deal, started 3 league games and then was injured tackling back.

With light training after several weeks on crutches no doubt trying to keep his spirits up.

Pro football is no bed of roses.
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Refwatch - Tamworth v Rochdale
at 14:19 24 Nov 2025

I thought the result at Tamworth was good in the circumstances- weather, pitch, absence of Rodney and ignoring Hendo. Plenty of effort.

The fact is that we don`t have any other real goalscorers.

East, Gilmour, Allarakhia, Tobi, McBride have no record or suggestion of scoring more than a handful of goals between them. Certainly not in the mould of Lund, Sinclair or Keohane. The loss of Tyler Smith is unfortunate, but we really need more power backup up front.
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Dale v Man Utd under 21s
at 22:22 30 Oct 2025

The thing about Amantchi is that he goes back to Walsall at Christmas anyway, so there is so little time and so few outings for him to improve. I think we will need another signing in the second half of the season.
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Refwatch - Woking v Rochdale
at 18:06 27 Oct 2025

They did have good chances, but they didn`t really put full pressure on the defence until the subs came on, particularly Allarrakia.
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FA Cup 4th Q- York City (H) 11th Oct -Match Thread
at 11:35 12 Oct 2025

My CA exams didn`t include adding up. Apologies.
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FA Cup 4th Q- York City (H) 11th Oct -Match Thread
at 11:04 12 Oct 2025

Who was the 7th sub yesterday?

The website says East subbed himself, but who apart from the following?

Moss, Gomez M, McBride, Tyler Smith and Amantchi

With Pettit and Burger not used.
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Refwatch - Forest Green Rovers v Rochdale
at 11:11 5 Oct 2025

Bercoe is only on loan til December. Salford are 5th in Div2 though lost the last 2 games. Could we sign him or at least extend the loan? He would be an excellent addition to the squad.
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Refwatch - Forest Green Rovers v Rochdale
at 11:01 5 Oct 2025

The thing I notice most is that several "partnerships" are emerging in this team.

Whatmuff & EEL
Gordon &Tobi
Beckwith & Berkoe
East & Gilmour
Mani & Rodney

Even McBride & Barlow though rivals for the same role.

These can only come through a good blend of skills and mutual understanding of each person`s game. All wrapped up in a successful team performance. Even with Tobi missing, Moss stepped in well.

I think the skipper has been outstanding this season. I lost count of how many corners he faced yesterday, but he was instrumental in clearing most and that in a packed penalty area. Still don`t like all 11 back.

A word for Bercoe, whose positional play was excellent throughout and he does get forward well.

Mani was well held, but I don`t think he will meet any better Centre Halfs than Ryan Inniss, all 6`6" of him. FGR badly lacking attacking strength.
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Refwatch - Rochdale v FC Halifax Town
at 10:55 3 Oct 2025

Ethan E-L is 32 years old and in my opinion is playing the best football since his Shrewsbury days.

Devante Rodney is 27 years old and again is playing his best football since he came to us.

Does this make them so important that they need to be treated as fragile?

They are seasoned professional footballers playing at the height of their skills in a successful side. They both have had fitness issues but I feel sure they want to play every minute.

Hendo is 40 and Mani Dieseruvwe is 30 years old, and he is certainly playing his best ever football. Surely none of them need to be wrapped in cotton wool so early in the season.

I accept Jim sees them every day, but with the substitutes we now have in the squad, he can afford to ease them during a game if necessary.
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Refwatch - Rochdale v FC Halifax Town
at 14:55 2 Oct 2025

You are right to mention the pitch problem.

We should be fighting for every point before the weather worsens. We`re already 1 match behind. How will Jim go on if we end up with more postponents meaning he has to play even more midweek matches? How will that affect players who already need to be rested -apparently?
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Refwatch - Rochdale v FC Halifax Town
at 10:46 2 Oct 2025

If you follow Jim`s reasoning after the match, and accepting his judgement on the Rodney situation, surely the sensible thing would have been to start with his best 11 from the previous game and make any changes to that in the second half.

Manni and Dev complement each other so well. I can`t recall such a perfect pairing for quite some time. Handling both strikers with very different attributes will always be a problem for any defence.

By the second half hopefully we would be in front, particularly against a mid table team like Halifax . and then try the 2 number ten`s or whatever formation justified the scoreline.

As already reported here, we have now given away 6 points by not playing our strongest lineup. I think he is now suffering from the surplus of midfielders, as predicted by several of us, whereas what we needed was defenders or attackers. Amantchi has been very disappointing but at least is only on loan.

I have watched all the top title contenders now thanks to DAZN. I think we are the best team, though I still expect York to be the main threat. We must push on with points. Forget the long term, Jim. Take a match at a time.
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Refwatch - Carlisle United v Rochdale
at 16:58 26 Sep 2025

There is no need for Jim to go for defence against Carlisle.

Gordon and Beckwith will need to keep a tight grip on Linney and Armstrong in the early stages but we are a good attacking side now and with Manni, Rodney and McBride and with the new Eastie pushing forward we should be able to score goals. It will be intimidating-they took 1500 to York and they will be smarting.

York frankly took them to the cleaners with measured skillful play, but they will be a different team at home with something to prove.
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NL Cup v Blackburn u21s
at 14:53 18 Sep 2025

I meant Amanctchi`s attitude as he walked off the pitch. Must have been one of the slowest walks for a 6`3 athlete ever. Clearly wasn`t happy and quite prepared to show it.
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NL Cup v Blackburn u21s
at 09:51 18 Sep 2025

I notice the Walsall manager has said he is not happy with Amantchi`s minutes. Unless he pulls off a sterling display on Saturday, maybe action is required along the lines you suggest. Jim is sensitive to his players` attitude and can`t be too impressed.
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NL Cup v Blackburn u21s
at 11:12 17 Sep 2025

Of the 8 players fighting for a first team slot, excepting Myles and Hogan who have very specific support roles and the 2 injured players, this is how I see it from performances to date.

Good so far. McBride, Moss.
OK. Pettit, Burger, Humbles, Gomez-Mancini(may be injured), Griffiths
Not proven. Amantchi

I would say McBride with 3 goals from 2 starts may be pushing Barlow (1 goal in 6 starts) for his position as a backup striker.

From his body language last night when subbed by a 40 year-old Hendo he was not happy. However Hendo did more in his brief appearance than Amantchi in the rest of the match. He reminded me of Mitchell at the end of last season when he didn`t want to be here.

Berkoe looks an ample replacement, but maybe not a central defender. Could push Allarakia.
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Henderson
at 09:50 16 Sep 2025

I think "attack is the best means of defence" is not in Jim`s playbook.
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