The Hawthorne Effect

Rola Cola Sponsored English League Two
Bury FC 1 - 0 Rochdale AFC

Journey

'The act of observing something changes its behaviour'

                                        The Hawthorne Effect

Being at a bit of a loose end today, I watched some television.  Most of it seemed to be a variation on the theme of 'reality TV'.  The format is simple, take basically ordinary folk, point a TV camera at them and then watch the sparks fly.  It seems to work every time.  I am left to wonder though - are these people really like that?  Do they throw chairs at each other all the time?  Do they argue like that all the time?  Do they even talk like that all the time?  (American's are brilliant at this - they make words up to sound clever and important on TV.  Regard the following sentence: 'Management directed me to initiate a priority non-grata disposalization scenario'*)  Obviously they don't.  No one does.  They are on TV.  You aren't watching reality - you are watching TV, just like when you watch Corrie, 24 or Shameless.  TV changes people.  That is the Hawthorne Effect in action.

* 'My boss told me to put the rubbish out, quickly'.  See what I mean?

A little before six I picked up Mr. McCabe.  He was wearing a hat ...and what a hat!  Imagine Genghis Khan's battle helmet - then imagine a knitted version of that, complete with snow flake details.  Crikey!  A quick trip through Heywood and we caught up with Mr. Keane and Mr. Calman - who were testing the limits of 'all you can eat' at the carvery in The Farm.  With appetite's sated and with Mr. Keane sporting Mr. McCabe's reserve hat (he looked like Charlie Brown) having forgotten his own, we set forth for Gigg Lane.

Weather  

It snowed a bit today - but thankfully it didn't stick.  By kick off time the snow had turned into a thin persistent drizzle.  Hats were still very much the order of the day - even though the temperature had crawled upwards, there were some nervous looking brass monkeys around Gigg Lane tonight.

Food

I didn't bother with the carvery in The Farm - but I did sample a Chicken Balti pie at Gigg Lane.  At almost three quid a pop I almost had an uncharacteristic Jeremy Kyle moment in the pie shop.  Not a bad pie though.

Ground

View blocked by stancions, check.  Weeing in a hole in the floor, check.  Endless chanting of 'FAIL!' by the home fans, check.  Bottles full of 'liquid' being lobbed into the ranks of the away fans, check.  Yep, this is Gigg Lane.

For fans who only acknowledge a rivalry with Bolton Wanderers (not that Bolton are aware of this) a very strong turn out from the Shakers - maybe it was the prospect of getting their fizog on the idiot lantern that drew them out (I did say it changes people) - or maybe it was the memory of having their pants pulled down at Spotland earlier in the season that provoked such a crowd.  Whatever it was there was lots of them.

In response, Dale produced pretty much a full home attendance.  No empty seats and lots of people standing at the front.  2500-3000 by my guess.  Our little group was swelled by the arrival of Mr. Mitchell, his father in law Geoff and a special guest appearance from the clown prince of Spotland - Mr. Turner.  

News

I Will return.  As the transfer window closed, popular ex-loanee Will Atkinson returned to Spotland on loan until March.  On the same day 'Crazy' Frank Fielding returned to Spotland on loan until the end of the season.  Welcome back boys.

Tommy Bolton?  In addition to the return of Atkinson and Fielding, Dale also recruited Bolton forward Temitope Obadeyi on loan until the end of the season.  Mr. Turner has re-named him Tommy Bolton - as his actual name has way too many syllables for himself to pronounce without dribbling.

Gotta Run.  I wasn't surprised when I saw that Adam Rundle had been released - this has been coming for a while.  I was a bit disappointed though.  I've always been a fan of the lad and will always have good memories of his time at Dale.  Best of luck Adam.

Action

Your team for tonight:

GK: Fielding

Def: Kennedy(T), Stanton, Dawson, Wiseman

Mid: Atkinson, Taylor, Kennedy(J), Thompson

For: Dagnall, O'Grady

Bench: Arthur, McArdle, Flynn, Jones, Haworth, Obadeyi, Higginbotham

In August Bury had looked lethargic and outclassed, the win that day was an early spark in what proved to be a very succesful period for Dale.  Dale go into tonights encounter seven points clear at the top of League Two.  However, Bury have developed the habit of grinding out results in recent weeks and this dogged persistence has seen them move into fourth place.  Dale on the other hand, have not begun 2010 very convincingly.  Two draws and a win from three games.  As the floodlight's glare shimmered off the rain and the all seeing eye of Sky Sports focussed on Gigg Lane - it was anyones guess how it might go.

Mr. Penn got things underway and something like a pitched battle ensued.  Bury flew at Rochdale like men possessed - there was no signs of the lead footed side who had visited Spotland in August. The chewed up Gigg Lane pitch did little to assist either team, passing became an uncertain and risk laden operation which the Shakers seemed to master much the quicker. However, in spite of the crushing pressure the Shakers were trying to apply, Dale stood up to the assault - although seldom really broke the seige.

Considering the amount of the ball Bury were enjoying they only generated one authentic effort from Stephen Dawson which Fielding parried quite comfortably.  Dale could only point to a wild effort from O'Grady which cleared the East Stand - probably never to be seen again.

It had been pretty breathless stuff which Bury had got much the better of, but without generating any serious threat.  As half time arrived Dale could feel slightly fortunate that no harm had been done and that they had a chance to reconsider their options.

At half-time the feeling was that perhaps the first half had been part of a bigger plan - remember that it had been 0-0 at Spotland at half time.  Perhaps the plan was to draw the Shakers sting and attack in the second half?  Perhaps.  What was worrying was that there was no real sign of the free flowing, passing football I have come to expect from Dale.  The pitch wasn't great - but Bury were managing and although the Shakers were closing down Rochdale with gusto - surely that meant there were gaps to exploit elsewhere?  Well, Dale weren't finding them tonight.  Which was ideal - because several thousand people had tuned in to watch my team play pretty indifferently.  Or was it because they were watching that Dale weren't hitting their stride?  The Hawthorne Effect in action?

Bury hit their groove again after the break - but once again failed to seriously trouble Fielding.  It wasn't until around the hour that Dale began to assert themselves - the arrival of Obadeyi for Thompson gave Rochdale an outlet down the right and the Shakers strangle hold was broken.  Minutes later Dawson had the chance to put Dale into the lead - but his barely contested header flew straight into the midriff of Wayne Brown who held the ball expertly.

...and then the moment of the game for Dale.  With around fifteen minutes left some lax defending by Buchanan allowed Obadeyi to see just enough of the ball to dispossess the Bury man.  Buchanan ended up on his backside on the byline, Obadeyi drove towards goal, powering a low cross into the box.  Loitering on the edge of the six yard box was Chris O'Grady.  I have seen this situation time and time again - the result is predictable - net bulges, everyone goes mental, job done. 

That is not what happened.

Under pressure from Sodje, O'Grady contrived to divert the ball wide of an open goal.

A couple of minutes later Dale were behind.  A Stanton challenge ricocheted off Barry-Murphy, flipped up into the air and grounded in the path of an unmarked Ryan Lowe.  Fielding made himself big, Lowe was unphased and rifled the ball past him.  1-0 Bury.

Haworth and Higinbotham were thrown into the frey for Dale - but it was just too late - even four minutes of added time made no difference.

Speak Your Brains

Your cast for today: Mr. Keane, Mr. Calman, Mr. Turner, Mr. McCabe (plus knitted helmet) and me.

• 
  
  Dale stay top - the lead is now four points.
• 
  
  The standing ovation from both sets of fans for for the detachment of soldiers - complete with marching band - was a remarkable sight.  Whatever your views on the war - these lads deserve everyones support.  Tonight they got it in full measure. 
• 
  
  Referee Penn had an interesting approach tonight - Mr. Keane felt that he let it flow - I felt he abdicated responsibilty in a game that was quite lively on occasion.  Sodje was very lucky to stay on the field.
• 
  
  Full credit to Bury - they had a point to prove and they made it well.  Bossed most of the game and took their chance when it came.
• 
  
  Temitope Obadeyi (or Tommy Bolton) seems very handy indeed - he looks like a really good signing.
• 
  
  The temptation could be to blame Chris O'Grady for the result - how quickly people forget what the lad has done since he arrived.  Watch the Premiership - you can watch lads earning millions do the same thing week in - week out.
• 
  
  When the TV man next comes a knocking, hide behind the sofa Mr. Dunphy. Exactly what happens when you point a TV camera at Rochdale AFC is beyond me - perhaps there is something in this Hawthorne Effect thing?  The stats don't lie though.  From the last ten televised games featuring Dale - they have won just one.  Mind you - that was a good one...