Rochdale v Crewe Alex

[JJ1532]

Back in action on Tuesday, this time away at Rochdale.

We'll be forced into at least one change from Saturday with Alan Tate suspended. Options for me are to either put Nolan in midfield and play a diamond, put Davis in the middle of the 3 CBs and bring in Guthrie at LCB or bring in Stewart and slot him somewhere in the back 5. I'd imagine Guthrie will be the likely player to draw in. Rest of the team will be pretty much the same barring any injuries.

As for Rochdale, they have really suffered since selling top scorer Matt Done to Sheff U. I for one am glad we won't be facing him after he scored 4 in the 2 games against us earlier in the season. Still got a number of tricky players. Was impressed by Hery when we last met and Henderson and Vincenti are vastly underrated players at this level. Still no Lund I see, but we'll probably see Brandy at some point.

That being said, we face another side with a struggling home record. Its another away game(considering our next 5 away games) that we need to be getting something from, even more so after letting points slip against Doncaster and Barnsley. Not that confident for this one to be honest. Not won in our last 9 midweek away league games, stretching all the way back to November 2012.

I think Rochdale will have too much for us in this one, 3-1 defeat. Haber, Vincenti and Henderson(2) with the goals.

 

[Crewelad87]

Rochdale 1-1 Crewe (Henderson, Ajose) 2,966 (320 Crewe)

Won't be going personally, as like most Crewe fans I'm opting for the FAYC quater final at Man City. Got 4 coaches worth going and many more driving and on the train.

 

[SRNP]

Its free entry to the FAYC so I cant see many being put off going to Rochdale? Im going both as I live in manchester anyway!
I think we could nick this if we play like we did vs Swindon
Rochdale 1-2 Crewe 2677 (203 Crewe fans)

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

We've been woeful up front last three games and can't see it changing here. Feel we may miss Tate but hope Stewart replaces him instead of Guthrie. Reckon Rochdale to nick it by a goal.

 

[Crewelad87]

We do seem to have lost that cutting edge on the last 3 games. Desperately need Ajose and Ness to strike up the form they were a couple of weeks ago.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I've got a good feeling about tomorrow. Saturday's game eased a few worries we were slipping back to old ways. Bit of a worry we've not created any decent chances the last three games but I reckon we'll get something.

 

[Dale4ever]

If we play as we did on Saturday away at the league leaders we will win, we cannot possibly miss as many chances and hit the bar instead of scoring those opportunities for a second consecutive game.

 

[Crewelad87]

Probably getting towards 1000 Crewe at City last night, outnumbered the City fans for sure. Probably be a knock on effect for this one though, i certainly won't be travelling on consecutive nights.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Sounded absolutely dreadful that first half did.

 

[JJH]

Surprised at this - Crewe have been much better of late.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I'm not surprised one bit. We've been diabolical up front lately.

 

[JonBCFC]

Rochdale have found their scoring boots tonight then..

 

[Crewelad87]

Awful, truely awful. Big reaction needed on Saturday or were in big trouble once again.

 

[Dale4ever]

Rochdale have found their scoring boots tonight then..

Well we lost them on Saturday!

 

[TimeyWimey]

Absolutely fucking dire. I give up. See you in League Two, folks.

 

[SRNP]

Really let the fans down tonight, haven't seen a performance that bad since Notts County away last season

 

[dannyc5]

No surprise. We aren't very good. And too many people were far too quick to climb back up Davis' arse after a decent run.

 

[JJ1532]

We are going nowhere under Davis, its as simple as that. We'll probably stay up and then go through the same issues in pre-season that we've had in the previous 2. Everyone at the club is too set in their ways.

We were shocking tonight, utterly appalling. I love getting smashed 3 times in 1 season by Rochdale, love it. We were garbage tonight, the only players to emerge with any credit were Ray and Rachubka. Davis was garbage and almost got sent off after barely half an hour, Inman was pathetic and gave away a penalty, Guthrie also gave away a stupid needless penalty. Stewart was rubbish but was played out of position, Jones also struggled on the RW. Turton and Grant were ok first half, rubbish second half. Ness is really doing my head in of late, always looking for the Gerrard raking 70 yard pass. Also cocked up our best chance on a one-on-one by trying some idiotic chip when he should have drilled it. Moron!

Inman is done for me, not produced for too long now. Try and get rid of him in the summer, for a guy that tried his best to sign for us, he has been beyond a joke, huge waste of money and faith put in him by Davis.

But the clown of the night have to be Steve Davis. Playing fine with the 5 at the back, but gets itchy feet about wanting to switch to 4 at the back for some reason. Might have worked had he not played 4 CBs and 5 CMs in a 4-2-3-1 system. He and/or Baker get these stupid ideas about moving players into weird positions and often they simply don't work. Jones at RW? Stewart at RB? Guthrie at LB again? Ajose upfront by himself? Insane, the managements tactical incompetent tonight set the tone for the abysmal performances by the players.

Yet again we post the same stuff about needing a big reaction on Saturday. Getting sick of the management making the same mistakes and not solving the same issues over and over again.

 

[JJ1532]

Oh, forgot to mention, fair play to Rochdale. They have smashed our bunch of clowns 3 times this season, which doesn't say much, but they do seem to play some good attacking football and on a shoestring too. I mean, when the league leaders admit to having to alter their game to combat Rochdale, it says a lot. Henderson and Vincenti are 2 of the most underrated players in the league, Henderson especially. Quality player. Got a number of other good players there and its good to see them doing well under Hill.

Blows our fans arguments that you can't do well with little funds out of the water as well. However, are any Dale fans concerned by that attendance tonight? 1,700 home fans? I know its a cold, wet and windy Tuesday night in early March, but even so, that was a pretty poor showing wasn't it?

 

[UTS]

1,700 home fans tonight and 1,700 home fans against Sheff U. Tinpot Dale need to get down to their natural level

 

[Dale4ever]

1,700 home fans tonight and 1,700 home fans against Sheff U. Tinpot Dale need to get down to their natural level

Run along now, get back to your own forum.

 

[Crewealexfan123]

It is difficult to describe just how bad last night was. Its almost like we had gone the full circle and time had moved back to August.

First of all we really payed the price for some very poor management. Davis clearly saw Tates red card as an excuse to play the tinkering card, play 4 at the back that's no problem but to play 4/5 players out of position during the process is the equivalent of waving the white flag.

Slightly disappointed JJ has already mentioned inmans performance because he was my next criticism. Pay him up please.

Can our fans begin taking the hint that the budget is nowhere near as bad as Davis and the board make out. They blame our crowds for our budget but last night we played a team that had 1700 home fans and they have better players in their ranks and probably pay better money. That just doesn't add up. alternatively where is the money that we were willing to give Uche had he srayed? More like Davis is preparing the excuses if the worst comes to the worst.

Last night just made me realise how important Uche was. He made our fragile defence look anywhere near decent because he simply kept the ball up front long enough that they were never pressured. Last night the ball was coming back everytime we went forward and inevitably got shown up.

Big game Saturday.

 

[Crewelad87]

It is difficult to describe just how bad last night was. Its almost like we had gone the full circle and time had moved back to August.

First of all we really payed the price for some very poor management. Davis clearly saw Tates red card as an excuse to play the tinkering card, play 4 at the back that's no problem but to play 4/5 players out of position during the process is the equivalent of waving the white flag.

Slightly disappointed JJ has already mentioned inmans performance because he was my next criticism. Pay him up please.

Can our fans begin taking the hint that the budget is nowhere near as bad as Davis and the board make out. They blame our crowds for our budget but last night we played a team that had 1700 home fans and they have better players in their ranks and probably pay better money. That just doesn't add up. alternatively where is the money that we were willing to give Uche had he srayed? More like Davis is preparing the excuses if the worst comes to the worst.

Last night just made me realise how important Uche was. He made our fragile defence look anywhere near decent because he simply kept the ball up front long enough that they were never pressured. Last night the ball was coming back everytime we went forward and inevitably got shown up.

Big game Saturday.

I suppose the difference is the amount we have to spend on our academy. But I certainly don't buy these claims by Davis about there being no budget for a new player, as already pointed out Uche went back along with the wages we were paying him.

As JJ says we won't go anywhere under Davis, we may scrape survival but if we don't change in the summer (which we won't) we will have the same problems next season with Davis dull tactics, conceding bucket loads of goals and the same old excuses.

Hopefully we bore our way to safety as that's what Davis does best and make big changes in the summer including the manager. But this is Crewe so that will never happen.

 

[UTS]

Run along now, get back to your own forum.

There aren't many clubs smaller than Bury, but Rochdale are certainly one of them. I class you in the same bracket as Dagenham (who had a higher gate) Accrington and Morecambe. You are massively punching above your weight and the whole club relies on Keith Hill. Without him you are nothing.

 

[DaleyLama]

Very poor crowd, not totally unexpected but sadly that's us that is. In some respects it was a die-hards night for our lot, lost a few games, sold our striker, slipped down to the bottom third etc etc etc. In other respects it is truly sad that we could only get 1700 home fans for a League 1 game.

Anyway, onto the game.

Crewe looked shaky at the back from the off and played on the break, with pace up front. They had the best chance of the game which thankfully for us was spooned wide rather than lifted over our advancing keeper.

Last ditch tackles (fouls) led to free-kicks in and around the box, all saved well by their keeper. The defence looked young and naïve and so it turned out, with a school-yard error of a penalty given in when a simple back heel induced a dive in tackle when standing up was obviously the right thing to do. 1-0. It came at a time when we looked to be getting frustrated with our inability to break Crewe down. The penalty shook Crewe a little and we pressed for more in the dying minutes of the half.

Then the real game change happened. Crewe went 2 up top giving Jamie Allen the freedom of Spotland in midfield. He bossed the game from there on in. Bunney got 2 and won a second penalty (another poor defensive decision) and the pass for the last one by Allen was a bobby dazzler.

Crewe did play a bit of football up front but poor finishing (Ajose) left them with nowt to show at all.

The less said about Davis Jnr the better.

 

[Crewelad87]

There aren't many clubs smaller than Bury, but Rochdale are certainly one of them. I class you in the same bracket as Dagenham (who had a higher gate) Accrington and Morecambe. You are massively punching above your weight and the whole club relies on Keith Hill. Without him you are nothing.

No way are Rochdale in the same bracket as dag & red, Accrington and Morecambe. More like Bury, York and Mansfield.

 

[UTS]

Rochdale, a team that averaged 2,200 in 2013.. I'd liken them to Crawley (who have played more 3rd tier seasons than Rochdale)

I'd say we are in the correct bracket, Mansfield, York, Exeter etc... But not Rochdales!

Take out the last 4 years and what have they ever achieved? They've still never won any silverware. They are quite literally at the peak of their history this season and can't even scrape 2,000 home fans. Bury averaging over 1,000 more (home fans only) and we are a league below.. They certainly aren't in the same bracket as us.

 

[Crewealexfan123]

I suppose the difference is the amount we have to spend on our academy. But I certainly don't buy these claims by Davis about there being no budget for a new player, as already pointed out Uche went back along with the wages we were paying him.

As JJ says we won't go anywhere under Davis, we may scrape survival but if we don't change in the summer (which we won't) we will have the same problems next season with Davis dull tactics, conceding bucket loads of goals and the same old excuses.

Hopefully we bore our way to safety as that's what Davis does best and make big changes in the summer including the manager. But this is Crewe so that will never happen.

Nope the club are in far too comfortable a position to ever consider doing anything like that. Survival in this league is seen as good enough to continue what we do. My main criticism is the attacking football we had a reputation for is completely gone and left with tactics that are franky boring and the reason why at least 3 of my friends have stopped going.

 

[Dale4ever]

There aren't many clubs smaller than Bury, but Rochdale are certainly one of them. I class you in the same bracket as Dagenham (who had a higher gate) Accrington and Morecambe. You are massively punching above your weight and the whole club relies on Keith Hill. Without him you are nothing.

And yet we are still better than you.

 

[Dale4ever]

Rochdale, a team that averaged 2,200 in 2013.. I'd liken them to Crawley (who have played more 3rd tier seasons than Rochdale)

I'd say we are in the correct bracket, Mansfield, York, Exeter etc... But not Rochdales!

Take out the last 4 years and what have they ever achieved? They've still never won any silverware. They are quite literally at the peak of their history this season and can't even scrape 2,000 home fans. Bury averaging over 1,000 more (home fans only) and we are a league below.. They certainly aren't in the same bracket as us.

Remind me again why you've got better crowds... Is it because you've sold cheap season tickets? Thought so. Get back to the league two forum, concentrate of getting into our division, playoffs is a lottery so you don't want to chance that surely. Spent a lot of money too, surely anything other than autos is failure for you guys.