Rochdale (Fortress Hive) The Dale Light Robbery Match Thread

[Norfolkbee]

Comment on Rochdale message board re Deano;

"What a miserable fecker he is. Not a motivational man is he? And he doesn't want to be in the FA Cup although he recognises that the fans might. Bet he is great at a party".

If you don’t find a biblically angry Irish man motivational then I don’t know who will do it for you

I always think there is a hint of the Van Morrison about Deano.

[jamiefrbees]

Whatever you might think about his approach, it's evident the players buy into it.

The way some of our players have celebrated goals this season. And I don't mean the scorers, but those not involved in the goal. Everybody wants this a lot. Togederness.

I know if I had a demanding and passionate boss, who ultimately believed in me as a player, I would bleed for him too and do my best to iron out any flaws in my game / win his approval.

[let_it_bee]

It's certainly a rather unique style of football management - not many I could think of over the years who would publicly chastise their players, including insinuations about injuries (presumably implying the player should be doing more to avoid injury or to recover quicker). But the results speak for themselves and, as has been said, their doesn't seem to be any general lack of motivation in the camp - quite the opposite. Surely you'd have to prefer Brennan's style to that of some of the more wooden and passionless managers we've had to endure in recent years.
For us oldies he's the nearest thing to Barry Fry since - Barry Fry.

[Nudger70]

I was sat behind Steve Evans before couldn’t think of anyone more unpleasant. Never out of work though.

[becbee]

Just seen that Ian Henderson, the guy who scored Rochdale's goal 5 minutes after coming on as sub, will be 40 years old next January.

[rudebwoyben]

Just seen that Ian Henderson, the guy who scored Rochdale's goal 5 minutes after coming on as sub, will be 40 years old next January.

Looking at the National League highlights, he ran the game for Dale after coming on. I’ve always rated him, he’s a very clever footballer.

[jzsbee]

Coker's interview was great.

Another weird edit of the highlights - is it done by AI? Misses build up especially for replays and missed a key moment with Rochdale hitting the bar.

Nicke unlucky not to get at least one more. Stead needs to find a way to despatch a proper shot to goal - shots are often scuffed.

One thing that I have noted is we are not as strong at set pieces as we were last. Pritchard and Collinge made a big difference with important goals. Good that we are scoring from open play

Coker is a proper character! Great performance from him too and he seemed delighted he got the goal.

We sit in the East Stand by all the players' families and it just so happened that Coker had a very large contingent at the game who rightly went nuts when he scored, fantastic for them to see him score such a great goal and at that end as well. We had a nice chat with his parents!

[let_it_bee]

I was sat behind Steve Evans before couldn’t think of anyone more unpleasant. Never out of work though.

Must admit I hadn't realised he'd left Stevenage. Always felt they deserved each other. Despite his successes, never would have wanted him as our manager. Clearly, there's a difference between passionate plain speaking (Brennan) and sheer nastiness.

[BEEGONE]

I was sat behind Steve Evans before couldn’t think of anyone more unpleasant. Never out of work though.

Must admit I hadn't realised he'd left Stevenage. Always felt they deserved each other. Despite his successes, never would have wanted him as our manager. Clearly, there's a difference between passionate plain speaking (Brennan) and sheer nastiness.

7 promotions as a manager, would have been great at Barnet. Works best with small clubs.

[DerekRocholl]

Whatever you might think about his approach, it's evident the players buy into it.

The way some of our players have celebrated goals this season. And I don't mean the scorers, but those not involved in the goal. Everybody wants this a lot. Togederness.

I know if I had a demanding and passionate boss, who ultimately believed in me as a player, I would bleed for him too and do my best to iron out any flaws in my game / win his approval.

Not sure it is evident they all buy into it. His track record of getting improved performances out of players joining the club seems pretty mixed to me. Kabamba and Oluwo stand out as players who seem to have developed well under Brennan, others like Beard,Wynter and Kanu seemed to regress and others just seemed to stand still.

[BeeArmy22]

Whatever you might think about his approach, it's evident the players buy into it.

The way some of our players have celebrated goals this season. And I don't mean the scorers, but those not involved in the goal. Everybody wants this a lot. Togederness.

I know if I had a demanding and passionate boss, who ultimately believed in me as a player, I would bleed for him too and do my best to iron out any flaws in my game / win his approval.

Not sure it is evident they all buy into it. His track record of getting improved performances out of players joining the club seems pretty mixed to me. Kabamba and Oluwo stand out as players who seem to have developed well under Brennan, others like Beard,Wynter and Kanu seemed to regress and others just seemed to stand still.

That's a crazy thing to say. We went from one of the worst squads in the league to one of the best with a budget not comparable to the top 7 teams. That's the very definition of improving players massively.

[StephenM]

Surely what you're describing is good squad building. Signing better players and improving players are two separate things. I don't get to games so can't comment on whether he has improved individuals but there is a clear distinction between the two.

[simples169]

You have to admire DB`s passion and heart to get the best out of this team for the players supporters and chairman.
He certainly expends more energy on the touchline than some players at times.
Better to have a coach barking out instructions and guidance than one who says nothing.

[WestHampsteadBee]

Whatever you might think about his approach, it's evident the players buy into it.

The way some of our players have celebrated goals this season. And I don't mean the scorers, but those not involved in the goal. Everybody wants this a lot. Togederness.

I know if I had a demanding and passionate boss, who ultimately believed in me as a player, I would bleed for him too and do my best to iron out any flaws in my game / win his approval.

Not sure it is evident they all buy into it. His track record of getting improved performances out of players joining the club seems pretty mixed to me. Kabamba and Oluwo stand out as players who seem to have developed well under Brennan, others like Beard,Wynter and Kanu seemed to regress and others just seemed to stand still.

I'd say the following have thrived under Dean:
Ephron Mason Clarke - that first 6/7 games before he went peterborough, he was a different player.
Ryan De Haviland - League one move after signing for us and not looking ready for first team football until development under Dean.
Laurie Walker up until he hit his ceiling
Dale Gorman (was terrible for Yeovil, far improved under Dean)
Harry Pritchard (by his own admission has his best time in his career under Dean)
Callum Stead (signed from Semi-pro and come on heaps and bounds this season)
Ben Coker ( we were told he was finished yet is still getting great numbers for us)
Zak Brunt (developing massively)
Nicke Kabamba (record speaks for itself)
Jerome Okimo
Ade Oluwo
Danny Collinge (signed from a relegated Dover team)
Mark Shelton (released and hated by Oldham fans for his performances)

Players like Grimwood, Rye, Glover, Wilkinson, Francis, Hobson will all no doubt develop under Dean's management.

There are players that havent thrived under him, and look where they are now. I would say only Marvin Armstrong is thriving since leaving a Dean Brennan team.

[Itsmeerc]

Another point I think it's worth making when it comes to DB's manner is that we only see his matchday self. It's speculation, but I think we can assume his day-to-day, training pitch demeanour, i.e. the person the players spend 90% of their time with, is different, or at least far more rounded, to what we get on matchdays. As someone who talks constantly about togetherness I think we can also assume he doesn't spend all week berating the players.

I think that context is important as ultimately, it appears that the majority of players want to play for him and want to run hard for him. Key players over his tenure (Walker, Pritchard, Kabamba) signed new deals under him. And about half of our squad from 22/23 were players he'd previously managed. That all suggests to me that the "full package" of DB works for the players. You don't get that with players who don't want to play for you