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...      

Dog face

Bury FC 2 - 1 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

09:00. Waiting. Waiting for Mr. Keane to arrive. Granted, he wasn't due to arrive until 10:30. But I was waiting none the less. Today is derby day. Rochdale vs. Bury. A 12:00 kick off with Premiership referee Alan Wiley calling the shots.

I tried watching TV. I saw an interview with Danny Boyle about the Oscar winning 'Slum Dog Millionaire'. If you have been living under a rock in recent months, Slum Dog Millionaire is about a young man from one of the less desirable parts of the world who gets his break in life through the entertainment industry. Quite where Bury born, Hollywood movie director, Mr. Boyle got his inspiration from is not exactly clear.

It passed a few minutes. After that I had to fall back on pacing. I am a pacer. When I am nervous or excited - or both. I pace. It was pacing that would almost literally lead to my downfall.

While I pace, my dog follows me. Back and forth. Back and forth. Somewhere on lap 200 and something I turned a little more rapidly than my dog was prepared for. We could dwell on exactly what happened next - or on some of the oathes I utterd. Lets just say I arrived in the kitchen a little more quickly than I had planned.

I rounded on the dog who was loitering in the kitchen doorway and started to make my feelings known. It was pointless. Dog's have a trick. The dog face. Muzzle down, eyes up. In seconds the fury had bled away and I was left feeling very slightly foolish.

Anyone who has a dog knows about this. Any amount of shredded clothing, chewed furniture or suspicious puddles can be explained away by the dog face. It works every time. From full blown, hysterical anger to ruffling the fur behind said canine's ears takes less than a minute.

They may be saying 'it wasn't my fault', or 'I didn't mean it', or perhaps - just perhaps 'sorry'. Whatever it is, it works.

At 10:30 and with my composure now fully restored, Mr. Keane arrived.

As today is a special day, something special had happened. For the first time in the 2008/09 season we had a full compliment of the Littleborough Debating and Choral Society: Dale Supporters Section. Myself, Mr. Keane, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Jones and in the shock of the season - Mr. Turner had put aside his numerous media commitments and joined us for the trip to Gigg Lane.

Food:

Cheesburger, fried onions, sweet chilli sauce. £2.20. It did nothing for my diet - but what the hell, this is derby day.

Ground:

The easy thing to do would be to rubbish Gigg Lane. This is the personal preserve of all Dale fans. A pleasure few can resist. Personally, I just find it confusing. It looks like several people were given the task of designing the ground - but were never allowed to talk to one another while they were doing it. There are some good bits - the side and end which have been joined at the corner are tidy. The main stand is good if a little dated.

The Manchester Road End - in which I would find myself today is a bit poor. It doesn't matter where you sit, there is always a iron stancion in your line of sight. Kind of like Old Wembley - but without the charm. In spite of the impeded view, I am pleased to report that Dale completely filled it - along with a large section of the main stand.

Finally, have you ever wanted to relieve yourself into a hole in the floor? Don't waste your money trekking to sub-Saharan Africa or the Indian sub-continent. Get that real third world feeling in the Manchester Road End latrine's at Gigg Lane. A life changing experience.

Action:

Barnet had been a huge disappointment. Dale really should have earned themselves a point. As it was, they walked away with nothing. As if today wasn't important enough already, it was now more important than ever that Dale get something today. The encounter at Spotland earlier in the season had been a tight affair - both sides gaining a well earned point. What might today hold?

The team news was a little strange. Jones continued absence seemed to point to a rare start for recognised central midfielder Clark Keltie - erm - no. Thompson would partner Toner in the middle of the park. Considering his recent run of form, Adam Rundle was a certainty to start on the left - erm - no. Rundle would drop to the bench - Bury old boy Adams would start on the left and Buckley would start on the right. Sometime Bury favourite, Tom Kennedy, would be Rochdale's captain for the day. McEvilly would make way for Thorpe upfront - other than that, as you were.

Mr. Wiley got things underway and the Shakers quickly got into their stride. Jones down the Bury left producing some penetrating runs and useful looking crosses which neither Bishop or Morrell could profit from. Having weathered the initial onslaught Dale, through Buckley, produced some probing runs of their own which had Bury biting their finger nails.

Things settled down nicely and an intruiging contest began to unfold. It was somewhere around here that I turned to Mr. Turner and remarked, 'at least we haven't punched it into our own net this time!'. I really should keep my mouth shut. I really should.

On 19 minutes Simon Ramsden attempted a fairly ill-considered back pass to Fielding. Alert to the opportunity, the Shakers Bennet chased the ball. Fielding attempted to kick the ball clear. 99 times from 100 this would have worked. Sadly this was the '1'. Fielding's attempted clearance cannoned off Bennett, shot up into the air, over Fielding's head and dropped slowly, oh so slowly towards the Rochdale goal. A scrambling Kennedy could do nothing to prevent the inevitable. 1-0 Bury.

The home fans went mental. The Rochdale fans groaned.

Minutes later Bury could have been two to the good. A glancing header from Morrell clattered the inside of the post and bounced back into Fielding's rather relived hands.

Pleasingly Rochdale didn't give in. They could point to a Joe Thompson's header late in the half which needed to be carved off the line by Sodje - while the Bury keeper, Tyler, was little better than a spectator.

During halftime we were treated to an encore performance from a troupe of dancing girls. They had strutted their stuff in the run up to kick off to much ribald derision from the Dale fans. Their encore was met with disinterested silence. Things were not going to plan - Dale had to improve significantly to turn things around and the Rochdale faithful knew it.

As half time ebbed away and whilst we waved cheerily to the Bury fans, Mr. Turner and I turned our minds to a great and deepening mystery. Mark Jones. Specifically, where the hell is he? After all the pomp and furore surrounding his signing at the start of the season, I have seen him play just once. Mr. Turner was as mystified as I am.

If you have seen Mark Jones, please let us know where he is and what he is up to. It would be comforting to know.

Mr. Wiley once again got things started and Rochdale set about their task. For the first fifteen minutes or so the game was played pretty much exclusively in the Shakers half. The corner count rose steadily, McEvilly replaced Thorpe and Rundle replaced a decidedly lack lustre Adams - but in spite of the undoubted pressure Bury were under, they held firm. Sodje and Cresswell turning in an annoyingly competent performance in the centre of defence. A header slightly over the bar from St. Adam and a shot narrowly wide of the post from the Shaker Maker were the best of Dale's chances.

As Dale huffed and puffed Bury were finding the time and space to break out and cause some problems of their own.

On 84 minutes they became serious problems. An intricate passing move saw Bury waltz through the Rochdale defences and a clever pass from Bishop set up Jones to finish past Fielding from just inside the Dale area. 2-0 Bury.

The home fans went mental. The Rochdale fans voted with their feet.

With time tricling away there was a strong shout for a Dale penalty as a sprawling Cresswell patted the ball back to Tyler in the Shakers goal. Mr. Wylie saw things differently.

But - it wasn't quite over just yet. Deep into injury time a long ball forward found the Shaker Maker lurking on the edge of the Bury area. Tidy control, a deft turn to wrong-foot his marker and a rifled finish past a static Tyler. 2-1.

Too little, too late. Ten seconds after the restart Mr. Wiley blew his whistle.

The remaining Rochdale fans rose to applaud Dale off the field, surprisingly the whole team and management were walking towards the Manchester Road End applauding right back. Their expressions were familliar. Muzzle down, eyes up. The dog face. I may have been disappointed, perhaps angry, maybe even slightly embarrased - but I suddenly had the urge to ruffle the fur behind their ears.

It works every time.

Summary:

The journey back to Rochdale was a long one - through a horrendous traffic jam. An hour and forty five minutes in total. During which I had plenty of time to reflect on this afternoon's procedings.

Did the team selection make a difference? No. Had Thompson's header gone in, he would have been a hero.

Was the first goal a fluke? No. Bennet saw an opportunity and went for it.

Was the referee to blame? No. All in all Mr. Wiley did a decent afternoon's work.

Bury won today because they defended well and took their chances when they came. Rochdale didn't.

Turner Watch:

Mr. Turner is working on a movie script. It revolves around a young man from one of the less desireable parts of the world who goes on to have a surprising influence on world events.

7/03/09

St. Crispins Day

Bury FC 1 - 1 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

The shortest away trip of the season.

Mr. Keane pitched up outside my house at 12:30 with Messers Turner, Mitchell, Jones and Keane jr already installed in the HMS Zafira. A quick trip through the de-militarised zone (Heywood - in which both Rochdale and Bury are a small town: depending upon you allegiances) and we arrived at the Village Hotel for a refreshment stop.

Due to a minor encounter between a pub team from Salford and some southern dandies the bar was packed. We were relegated to the great outdoors.

Suitably refreshed we re-boarded the HMS Zafira and pressed onward to Gigg Lane. As we did so we noted from a roadside sign that Bury is Britains best large town in the prestigious 'Britain in Bloom' competition. So, not a small town in Heywood afterall then. Having said that, chanting 'you're just a large town in bloom' would probably not work.

Weather:

A perfect English spring day. Warm and sunny with occasional cloud.

Food:

No meat and potato pies. However, the chicken balti alternative was pretty acceptable. However. £2.40!

Ground:

Gigg Lane. What can I say? It is not the worst ground I have been to. That just about covers it.

For this visit to Gigg Lane the authorities had elected to locate the Dale fans in the the opposite end to normal. As I strolled in at 2:15, I understood why.

There were already approaching 1000 Dale fans in Gigg Lane.

I looked over my shoulder to see a solid wall of Dale making their way in behind me. I took my seat and watched as the flood of Dale continued unabated. Our allocated end filled up rapidly and Dale fans began to fill up part of an adjacent stand. Just before 3pm it was announced that kick-off would be delayed by 15 minutes. Aparrently, upwards of 500 Dale fans were still trying to get into the ground.

My guess would be that there were more than 3000 Rochdale fans in Gigg Lane today. Phil Spector would have been impressed by the wall of sound.

Action:

So it comes to this. Rochdale vs. Bury. A win today for Dale would keep the dream of automatic promotion alive. Reading various message boards revealed that Bury would like nothing better than to stall Rochdale's plans - afterall, according to one informed Bury fan 'Rochdale should know their place'.

Whatever that means.

At 3:15, procedings finally got underway. In a boiling cauldron of noise Dale and the Shakers charged.

This was proper derby football. Energy, passion, commitment. Every ball contested, no cause lost. For all the effort expended it was (as these encounters often are) a very even contest. Dale had a couple of good chances - Bury had two excellent chances which were only denied by the athletic reactions of Lee in the Rochdale goal.

Then on 30 minutes the whole complexion of the contest changed.

A strong challenged by Stanton on the gazelle like Bennett saw Mr. Jones of Cheshire produce a straight red card. Baffling. It was a foul, it probably merited a yellow card - but, a red card, I don't think so.

The effect of the dismissal was curious. Bury seemed to back off and with the extra space Dale were able to hold the ball more effectively. As can be the case, 10 men can play more efficiently than 11. The half wound down without further major incident (aside of the incomprehensible booking of Gary Jones) and as Mr. Jones indicated the interval - 0-0 was all we had to show for an entertaining and action packed first period.

Half time was spent in a desperate search for information on Hereford and Stockport's results. Stockport were losing, Hereford were winning. Dale had to get something from this game to maintain any hope of making the final automatic spot and hope Hereford slipped up and Stockport could not recover.

Seconds away - round two...

The second half began cautiously for both teams. Bury never fully committing to their attacks, Dale containing and breaking where an oppotunity presented itself. However, on 56 minutes Bury finally made their man advantage pay.

In what seems like a rare trip away from Spotland these days, Bury's Nicky Adams pounced on Bishop's flick on and fired past Lee. 1-0 Bury. Not quite the try-before-you-buy we had in mind - we look forward to seeing more of Mr. Adams next season. Even he couldn't resist a smile moments later as the Dale faithful sang 'Bury, you're Rochdale's feeder club'.

With the goal advantage Bury attempted to reinforce their lead in a semingly endless stream of attacks. Dales ten men were stretched almost to breaking point over and over again - but managed to hold out.

On 78 minutes Mr. Jones intervened again. A second yellow card saw Bury's Futcher heading for the dressing room after apparrently head butting McArdle.

With the sides now even again, Dale were able to venture forward more frequently. A few decent chances followed but Bury stood firm. It seemed it would be Bury's day.

On 90 minutes Mr Jones once again intervened. Gary Jones was chopped down inside the penalty area and he had no hesitation in indicating the penalty spot. St. Adam stepped up and confidently converted the spot kick. 1-1. A riot almost ensued in the Dale end as Bury fans charged the fences. Honours even. Probably fair - but there was more...

With just seconds remaining a high ball forward caused a mix up between Provett and Sodje as USS Howe challenged for the ball. Sodje headbutted Provett in the confusion - both ended up prone on the grass. USS Howe had the simple task of rounding Sodje and Provett and slotting the ball into the empty net. Mass Hysteria descended on the Dale fans! Until they saw the linesman's flag waving - that is. In spite of the obvious facts of the matter - he was indicating a push by Howe. Wrong - but there you are.

Summary:

A keenly contested game full of incident with both teams contributing fully. A proper local derby - great to watch.

And just for those who couldn't come to Bury today:

Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

William Shakespeare

Possibly a little more eloquent than Mr. Hill's 'alleged' pre-match comments on Facebook. Perhaps...

Stockport lost, Hereford won - the play-off's it is then.

Turner Watch:

Didn't get chased by men with swords this time. Result!

26/04/08