battle of dyrrhachium POD for Alexios I

As the title says, the POD idea involves Alexios deciding NOT to launch an immediate attack upon the Norman armies of Robert Guiscard outside of Dyrrhachium in 1081. In 1081 Alexios certainly had an effective army at his disposal (including divisions of the Tagmata and other "native" Roman units). If he does not risk a pitched battle and instead blockades the Normans within their camp using skirmishing tactics (as was advised by George Palaiologos, the Doux of Dyrrhachium) it seems highly likely that he could have defeated the Normans without losing the core of his army (as in OTL).

If Alexios does not fight such a disastrous battle in 1081, would he have stronger forces availible to defend the Empire from the Penchengs and re-conquer Anatolia? Would he be strong enough to not make the desperate requests to Pope Urban II that triggered the 1st crusade?

Anna Komnenes' work is such a goldmine for potential PODs!
 
Blockading the Normans may not work any better (as the Normans are likely to try to break out), and it ties Alexius and his army up for an extended period.

That's not to say it would be worse than OTL, but it has its own effects that have to be weighed.
 
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