Alternative comprehensive rochdale match report

Firstly apologies if any of this has already been mentioned on here, but ive not been online over the weekend.
Secondly why this is an alternative report, is that i decided upon a change for my viewing pleasure of watching the reds and sat behind the goal with the rochdale fans.
As having had to sit pitchside for the york game it reminded me how much i hate the view of a game side on and thus decided it safe enough to sit with the opisition for this game.

Upon mingling with the dale fans pre-match it became apparent that quite a lot of them considered it a scalp if they were to beat us and considered us a 'big' team, which i found quite amusing considering we have spent all our history fighting against been labeled a small team!
A lot also were very impressed with our following and said it was the biggest there for a while.
Also there was no animosity towards the reds at all, which i expected with it been billed by some of our fans as a revenge game against hill and the ex-players, they were just treating it as another game.

1st half -The reds lined up in a 4-5-1 formation and from the outset it was very clear that the gameplan was to invite pressure, then hit them on the break. Now this is where it becomes very much an opinion of whether you are a half full/empty person, as defensively we didnt soak up the pressure at all and dale had plenty of chances to score, but on the other hand we did break well and also had plenty of chances to score. To be honest 4-4 would actually have been a fair reflection of the first half!
Dale looked very much like we did when hill had his succesful spell with us, before the injuries/sales, a good passing team with plenty of skill and interchanging of positions. Although at times we struggled to deal with this, what did impress me was the team work rate and carrying out of the tactics, everyone 'put a shift in' and also seemed to know their role within the team.

2nd half - We sat back even deeper and really invited dale onto us, winnall was totally isolated at times and our only attacking outlet seemed to be to play in cole down the wing. This tactic actually did stem the tide of dale attacking more than the 1st half as it squeezed the space and the resorted to bringing on the 'big man' up front and playing of the scraps. This tactic was well spotted by wilson and prompted the change of briinging brown on, to move bree into midfield.

Summary - Again depends upon whether youre half full/empty. Our tactics were very defensive, yet we didnt stop dale creating a lot of chances. On the other hand we also created a lot ourselves and our team ethic and 'sticking to the plan' was very impressive.
It was very much an 'away team' performance which the smaller premier clubs use against man city/chelsea etc.
Personally i think danny decided that he was very much after a positive result, rather than a performance to entertain. While it may well be acceptable away from home when the support is nearly always positive, i doubt whether the oakwell crowd would accept similar tactics.
Also we still dont have any real pace in any position in the team (other than cole who isnt ours) , was surprised this wasnt addressed in the summer. cant play 'tippy tappy' in every game, as teams will and have bullied us out of that. we need a threat of speed.

Player ratings - Disclaimer:- rochdale's stand isnt as steep as the ponty end, so looking at the far 18 yard box, was very much a case of guesswork as to which player was doing what. So i can only give ratings based on a 75% view!

Gk- Turnbull 8/10 - Made a number of key saves 1st half, in perticular an outstanding one-on-one save. Also stuck to the team game plan and wasted time at every opportunity, which anoyded the home fans!

lb - nyatanga - 6 - did well seeing as he not played there for a while. tried to get forward when possible. solid when defending.
lch - cranie - 6 - good in the air, got caught out a lot position wise 1st half. tightened up marking 2nd half.
rch - ramage - 6 - see craine!
rb - bree - 6 - did well against a much taller winger, but not a stand out performance.

lm - treacy - 5- still looks unfit and overweight, which to be fair is unacceptable two months into the season. has had plenty of time to lose the weight and regain fitness, but obviously hasnt. talented but wasting it at the moment.
lcm - hourihane - 6 - not at his previous best, but then again he had been playing so well it was obvious he would have a slight dip now and again.
cm - bailey - 7 - really 'put a shift in' in sticking to wilsons teamplan of closing down at every opportunity.
rcm - berry - see bailey! looks much more comfortable in a midfiled 5 rather than a 4
rm - cole 9 - MOM - to say he is a cf playing out of position, his team ethic was superb. always tracked back to help bree out and then nyatanga when he changed to the left after treacy was substitued. was always an outlet attacking wise and nearly always created something. tellingly the dale fans were all talking about him during the game and noticed very quickly he was our danger man.

cf - winnall - 7- was very isolated times, but also put in a very unselfish shift for the team. always on the move and committed. was very unlucky not to score a couple 2nd half also.

sub - rb - brown 6 - was brought on to help combat the ariel changes dale made.
sub - hemmings 6 - took up winnalls role for the last 10 mins

if youre still reading then well done! i know i waffle quite a lot, but i like to read indepth reports of games i cant get to, so think it only fair i do the same when i can get.

coyr

 

0-0 was it? It's just there's no mention of our goal. That could go some way to explaining why Ramage only got a six! I thought he was brilliant, even if he didn't score, which he did.

 

Good summary that mate. Cheers

 

Ha ha fair point! All that waffle and I forgot to mention the goal!

 

Superb report that - unbiased and fair, although I would have given your back 4 a slightly higher mark for keeping Done and Henderson quiet most of the game.

 

Reports good but some of the ratings are way off IMO.

Turnbull - 8
Bree - 7
Ramage - 8
Craine - 7
Nyatanga - 7
Treacy - 6.5 - Worked hard to cover the fullback - Slipped a cracking ball in for Hourihane one on one.
Hourihane - 6 - Didnt have much influence on the game. Missed and grate chance and had penalty well saved.
Bailey - 5.5 - Again didnt really influence the game. Very classy footballer but still looks 4-5 games from being up to speed.
Berry - 8 - Oustanding, especially 2nd half when Hourihane and Bailey were struggling to make a mark.
Cole - 8 - Dangerous throughout and helped out defensively.
Winnall -7.5 - Growing on me with every performance. Just needs to add goals.

 

you are welcome, glad it was informative

 

i always try to be fair, if we are good or bad. i read one of your forums last night (the one 'whitey' goes on) and all your fans comments were fair and informed, makes a refreshing change from most clubs rose tinted glasses!. good luck for the rest of the reason, bar the last match obviously!

 

Perhaps it was my unelevated view that made me give lower marks for some, as couldnt tell them from others?!

 

Enjoyed that, good read pal. The summary around glass half full etc is also bang on imho.

 

lets hope the glass is more fuller tonight!

 

Wemb-er-lee


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I'm surprised you could give such a detailed report at all from your view. Or was the bus parked in front of the goal at the other end?