Post-Match Thread and Ratings Rochdale 3-4 Southend United

[Firestorm]

Despite a poor first half , it appeared to be be concentration lapses to me, if felt that we worked them hard , particularly at the back. and that helped when we brought the subs on . Fresh legs and plenty of movement against , what appeared to be a rapidly tiring defence allowed the pressing and hassling of their defence to really take a toll.
Without the errors at the back and some of the misplaced passes in the first half , giving dale a bit of a boost we would have been far more comfortable in the last 30 of normal time. The big centre half , arguably one of their best players in the first 70 odd minutes was dead on his feet towards the end (and got subbed in ET) . So lets not be too harsh on Walker , he contributed to that .
It showed that squad depth , with fresh willing runners / pressers on the bench are crucial to support/replace those who tire out lower league defences in the first half .
Rochdale had 3 players out there in double goal figures for the season , 2 at almost 20 , but it appeared that they were their only real goal threat and the work rate of the forward line (and the magnificent KAF) significantly stifled them getting the service they required as the game wore on

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

If I was drunk last night I think I might well have sent Macauley a couple of suggestive DM's. Thank goodness I was sober.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Where on earth do you start?!

Firstly, what an unbelievable match for drama, entertainment and quality. It was a fantastic advert for the National League. I actually didn't think we did a lot wrong to be 3-1 down. A moment of individual brilliance, a fantastic cross and equally good header and a penalty. I never felt like they were steamrolling us at all.

On to the players. Husin really struggled but I'm not going to knock him too much because the number 6 role is not his position. He acquitted himself well against lesser opposition in that role, but against a better side, he was found out. That's not his fault. It may mean recall for Miley against FGR's in that position. KAF was obviously superb like many have mentioned but I thought Hopper was brilliant. His all round performance as a number 9 was amazing. He really showed why he gets picked. His reactions to get up for that goal was fantastic. He also brought a fantastic save out of the keeper before Parillon scored too. Top performance. The subs won us the game and their subs lost them the game. Those are the margins in football.

I just want to point out that it's absolutely no coincidence that our fantastic second half of the season (4th in the form table since Jan) has coincided with having a full squad to choose from. Kev has said countless times the need to have four strikers at the club, so he can swap them around in the second half. With seen the positive impact that has had over the last few months and it certainly showed last night. We simply didn't have that in the first half of the season. We was having to play Bridge up front at one point. If this squad was together from the start of last preseason, we'd be much higher up the table, there is no doubt about it.

I'll finish with Kev and the staff. Anyone that wants to question Kev really needs to read his interview. How on earth he got those players to play matches under those conditions is beyond me. What a man. How the staff carried on is a miracle. What an amazing group of people.

Kev last night, and for the second half of this season, has shown what he can do when he has the tools to work with. We've only seen a professional functioning club and a full squad since the turn of the year, and look at the result. The club is on the up and I fully back Kev to get it right going forward, irrespective of which league we are in next season. We now have a club that we can be proud of, both on and off the pitch. We have our club back. Utb!

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

What a match! Strangely, I never really doubted us, even at 3-1 down. This is the team that doesn't know when it's beaten and the Club that refused to die.

What if Taylor was a little out of sorts, or Bridgey's legs looked worn out? They gave it their all last night - and then some. I hope Macauley Bonne has now convinced even those few remaining who doubted him, what he brings to the team.

Quality knee slide from Charley as well!

So very proud of them all.

I had that feeling, aswell. We were playing some decent stuff and looked like we could up it a gear. KM has had his critics for making changes too late in games, but I thought he got it spot on last night. As soon as it went 3-1, he threw on Parillon and Bonne to give us different attacking options. Once we drove forward there was no stopping us then

 

[wiggy]

oh dear, what about the two massive saves at the end of the first half? he had no chance with any of the goals but when we needed him he came up with the goods. not saying he is an 8 or 9 far from it but 3 is ludicrous

Nonsense, the first goal is a standard use your hands and dive on the ball….he was nearer than the striker but decided to make the shape of a star and stand up, total mistake. Don’t remember these massive saves, standard good height saves yeah.
He is not the answer and thankfully Collin is fit again. It is not all about great saves, anticipation and getting off that goal line stopping things happen is the art and he certainly ain’t got it!

 

[Whispering Bob]

Noor didnt look good at the end - could hardly move and ice-pack on his knee (hopefully just an impact injury)

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Magnificent win for you folks, the 3 ex Col U boys all did well for you and showed their worth, Bonne is a inspirational class player but won't score lots of goals, Hopper ditto but what a worker and a great headed goal in this match. Goodliffe yes he was done by Rodney for the 1st goal, but despite a dodgy half for him and most of your defenders he kept on urging the team to do well and that towering header assist for the 4th was typical Ben, well done to you all.

 

[shrimperjon]

Nonsense, the first goal is a standard use your hands and dive on the ball….he was nearer than the striker but decided to make the shape of a star and stand up, total mistake. Don’t remember these massive saves, standard good height saves yeah.
He is not the answer and thankfully Collin is fit again. It is not all about great saves, anticipation and getting off that goal line stopping things happen is the art and he certainly ain’t got it!

i will accept he could have done better with the first goal but he did little wrong for the rest of the game. He is there to make saves and did and at crucial times. No chance with the second or the penalty so i just think giving him a 3 is unfair on all the good he did. He was getting pushed and shoved at every set piece but still had the confidence to come and get the ball. the one he dropped late on any other time would have been a foul which it was. You have such an agenda against goal keepers. You say about Collin but were you at Wealdstone and Fylde where he made 2 howlers? thats why the are in this league and not playing higher but even the best make mistakes

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Having virtually a fully fit squad has made a big difference at the end of the season. Cant remember too many times over the last few seasons where subs have had any impact. The three signings in January - Hopper, Leon and Goodliffe have all been instrumental too. Good characters as well as players.

 

[Cricko]

 

[ROB]

any idea how many tickets we will get for FGR - heard its will be very limited (only 15%) - just looked on the FGR website and they have virtually sold all seats in the main stand, there goes that idea !

 

[hlane17]

Watched this earlier, apparently we have clout that Dale don't. Our club was as good as dead a year ago!

What a muppet this guy is, if I was a Rochdale fan listening to that I'd be pulling my hair out.

Also put some respect on us, we didn't win through 'clout' we won through sheer ****ing determination and never saying die.

 

[OldBlueLady]

any idea how many tickets we will get for FGR - heard its will be very limited (only 15%) - just looked on the FGR website and they have virtually sold all seats in the main stand, there goes that idea !

Just over 600 I believe.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

We wouldn’t have been one down with any other keeper

You must really know alot about playing it goal ... Please, tell us more about how a keeper should have done better in that situation, 8 minutes in to a game...

 

[wiggy]

You must really know alot about playing it goal ... Please, tell us more about how a keeper should have done better in that situation, 8 minutes in to a

Refer to the match highlights

 

[danbowen]

Anyone know if its true that FGR are only giving us 500ish tickets? Away end capactity is 1200.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Anyone know if its true that FGR are only giving us 500ish tickets? Away end capactity is 1200.

If they do that (they won't), there will be a lot of Essex accents in the home ends..

 

[KiwiRob]

Two things - I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think Charley Kendall has got the potential to really be star for us. I think his attitude and swagger suits playing in front of bigger crowds and he could really emerge next year.

Secondly, I actually think it’s important we keep Macauley Bonne for next year. He’s clearly a leader in the dressing room, his passion is infectious and he seems to have the knack of being involved in moments that matter.

Bonne also has a very good footballing brain. That first time, driven low cross which was turned in by Leon Parillion last night was like a dagger through the heart of the Rochdale defence.

 

[Supershrimper]

If they do that (they won't), there will be a lot of Essex accents in the home ends..

Not unless you have bought in the home end before. They are only allowing sales of those with an account with purchase history in the home end at present.

I'd imagine they will have it set so that if you have only ever bought tickets against Southend then the account may be blocked from purchasing in the home end.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Bonne also has a very good footballing brain. That first time, driven low cross which was turned in by Leon Parillion last night was like a dagger through the heart of the Rochdale defence.

He had a similar move for the equaliser v the Dale at RH back in February which led to Hogan scoring an OG late on. Thought the ball stroked upfield for MB to run onto from GSM was rather good too.