2016/17 National League North

[CFC4LIFE]

Sefton Gonzalez has looked very troubling for us IMO

 

[Alty Pieman]

There was some sort of animosity there in the programme. As if whoever wrote the article had a huge chip on their shoulder about something.

Curzon beat us to the title fair and square that season - and I think 99% of Darlington fans will admit that. Up until last night we'd only played them twice (losing both times 1-0 (A) & 4-0 (H)). With no incident on or off the pitch. The only thing that occurred before we were soundly beaten 4-0 at home was Flanagan running his mouth off on the NPL Podcast show, calling one of our players (who incidentally won NPL Player of the Year) over-weight and lazy.

Their ground was really nice, and the pitch was like a carpet. Shame that they struggle to attract the numbers. The infrastructure there doesn't get the support it deserves.

Ashton United were the same with us when we played them. A huge chip on the shoulder on some of their players and their coaching staff. Must be something in the water down there.

Dont assume its everyone at a club, this kind of thing is often caused by over zealous press people looking to create a story, usuually based on some previous argument or incident from a previous game. Thankfully, our press guys are first class and very fair with their reports and views.

 

[JJ1532]

Their ground was really nice, and the pitch was like a carpet. Shame that they struggle to attract the numbers. The infrastructure there doesn't get the support it deserves. Ashton United were the same with us when we played them.

The competition in that area of Manchester for fans is ridiculous. On the north east to south east side of Manchester, you have: Manchester City, Oldham, Stockport, Ashton United, Curzon Ashton, FCUM, Droyslden, Stalybridge, Hyde and Mossley AFC all within a few miles of each other. That's not even taking into account Man Utd, Salford, Bury, Rochdale and Alty who are all in easy reach of Ashton-under-lyme. That area is totally saturated for clubs, its no wonder some end up getting low support.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I felt as though Darlington were a cut above Curzon for large periods of the game. The game should have been killed off.

We took the lead, and then had a number of chances to make it 2-0 in the first half, with Beck being denied with a fine save from Curzon's goalkeeper.

We started the second half well and made it 2-0 after Gillies had rattled the post with a shot. The resulting corner was turned in by Burgess.

Curzon then hit back, with nothing to lose and committed bodies forward. Made it 2-1 quickly after. But then after then we had chances to make it 3-1, with Gillies & Purewal having shots well-saved and Beck sliding in and missing a chance that went wide.

As what always happens in these types of the games is the away team sits back. Curzon committed a lot of players forward and almost scored but your forward missed an absolute sitter. Justice done as a point definitely wasn't deserved.

I'm pleased we've finally done one over Flanagan, who I've found to be quite disrespectful to our manager and players recently and in the past. Interesting write-up in Curzon's programme too about our supposed big-budget and "throwing wads of cash at it" during our 13/14 season, when Curzon won the title.

I think certainly chances wise you were a cut above and agree entirely you should have been 3-0 up at half time. I still think alot of your first half was our errors than your dominance and game itself was pretty even.

Problem for us was we got ball, went forward, found a pass.....messed up that pass, gave you ball with most players forward and out of defensive position and that gave you space to attack with especially out wide which you used effectively, but has we been less sloppy that game wouldv'e been tighter than looked.

You deserved win for me also a nicked point would be harsh, but we just needed to start smarter.

Cannot say on the chip on shoulder stuff as only followed Curzon this season, but doesn't surprise me, its a normal thing with small sides in league, think its sometimes a tactic to generate a 'us against the odds' mentality

 

[appletablepenny]

Fylde literally are scoring when they want

 

[appletablepenny]

Half time, yay

 

[appletablepenny]

That was quite a tonking. I think Fylde gave up early in the second half.

 

[Harrier94]

Easy win for us. Nuneaton really don't look that good, we weren't threatened at all and we should probably have won by more. Waite finally had a decent game but looks like he was trying to show Nuneaton what they were missing in not keeping faith in him. Onto Stalybridge now.


Also a special guest at the game tonight.

 

[Prodigal]

Totally outplayed Bradford PA tonight, but for poor refereeing would have been more than 3-0. Finally got the result our play has deserved.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

League seems already to be shaping up, some sides looking really in trouble already.

Only weird one is Altrincham.....cannot see their manager lasting long

 

[appletablepenny]

Coming from behind to draw at one of the favourites for the title a week after getting a draw at our gaff (which would possibly have been a win had bad gamesmanship not backfired on you) and you are still not upbeat?

See above

 

[Alty]

Yep. That's my bubble burst. Fucking hell.

 

[B2TF]

Yep. That's my bubble burst. Fucking hell.

Alty mate, what the fucking hell?????

 

[Clem Fandango]

We beat Worcester 3-2 but trust me that is not a fair reflection of the game. We controlled it, hit the post and their keeper pulled off two great saves. Only time they looked dangerous is when they introduced Lee Hughes and they nicked a couple of late goals. He's suspended soon for 3 games so they'll struggle even more. Other than 2 or 3 players for them it honestly looked like we were playing a midtable Southern Prem side in the cup. Unless they change things fast, which considering their off the field problems ain't gonna be happening soon, Worcester are bang on for the drop.

Crazy that at Salford we were saying that Hopper doesn't look good enough, he's scored 4 in 2 now! Darlo on Sunday should be a good game.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Brackley 2-3 Alfreton (Armson 63,87) (Bradley 36,Westcarr 58, Allan 62)

We were far from impressive in truth last night but managed to collect the 3 points mainly thanks to a large helping hand (quite literally) from the Brackley keeper).

We were poor first half. our hoof ball tactics just not working at all. Brackley did the majority of the running and missed several chances. Harding managed to get free down the left just before HT when he feed Nyoni who cross was spilled by the Brackley keeper to Dan Bradley who did the rest with a classy finish. 4 goals and 2 assists so far for Bradders. At the beginning of the first half Brackley continued to waste chance after chance and was punished as once again their keeper first allow a Craig Westcarr to go straight in before a few minutes later he was stranded in no man's land when trying to claim another corner and Tom allan headed home for 3-0. Brackley reduced the arrears less than a minute later when they were awarded a dubious penalty which former Nuneaton man James Armson dispatched.

Evan Garnett was introduced from the bench with 10 to play but wasted a glorious chance to make the game safe with his first touch slicing wide with the goal at his mercy. And it almost proved costly as Brackley and Armson puled another back before we just about held on to record a hard fought win.

 

[SamScfc]

Neil Young has literally learnt nothing from last season with us it seems, two 19 year old keepers used already apparently and an 18 year old striker on loan.

I said he'd be a hood appointment for Alty and thought he'd been unlucky with us but I was wrong it seems.

As for us we got a good point against the 2016/17 champions, first half we were poor apart from maybe the odd attack and Halifax went deservedly ahead with Denton scoring against us again. Second half Gannon went to 3 at the back and it changed the game and we could have nicked it, but we more them matched them.

Still think we need a tactical re think as we get exploited down our left to easily as Duxbury is pretty average and he gets no help as we don't really play with wingers, plus our defence isn't great, it looked a lot better when Meppen-Walter went back there, would like to see him stay there and being Rule in, who Gannon doesn't seem to rate unfortunately.

 

[Josh Butler]

Boston 3-0 Tamworth- Att 965 (33)
3-0 flattered us. A much improved performance albeit still looking shaky at the back. We scored early from an error and then Tamworth had 4 close shaves to score. We then got a penalty and a Tamworth red card but it was well saved and Tamworth still looked a threat with 10 men but 2 quick goals midway into 2nd half sealed it.
We're getting there, but think Chorley may still be a bridge too far, especially with a couple more injuries. I'll be on the bench soon!
Hopefully we can go on some sort of run to get ourselves back into play and drag the crowds up. Lowest for 18 months tonight. not a lot of positivity around the place right now.

 

[Raymondo316]

Salford City have released their ground expansion plans and announced they aim to be in the Football League by 2020

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-uniteds-class-92-ready-8622277

 

[Alty]

Salford City have released their ground expansion plans and announced they aim to be in the Football League by 2020

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-uniteds-class-92-ready-8622277

I'm sure this will end well.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

They will end up in FL because there is simply too much money behind it.

But they do really need another 5-6 years maybe more before getting there as the entire set up needs changed, plus they need to sort the acadamy (the whole point of their takeover)

I just ignore the whole media aspect of them as I find it the usual insult that everyone else is worthless unless tied to the all conquering prem

 

[appletablepenny]

I dunno, getting the old "bankrolled village pub team" to the football league isn't as easy as it sounds.

Recent history shows a number of clubs who got to the National League eg Eastleigh, Gateshead, Hyde, Histon, Droylsden, Farsley, Ferriby, Solihull, (Fylde may well do it this year), but the next step is a huge one. Do you see Eastleigh / FGR / Solihull / Ferriby / Barrow going higher anytime soon?

By my reckoning, the last 8 sides promoted to the FL were ex-league clubs (maybe not Newport)

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

A slow rise is what they need, the set-up will take a good few years to get ready.

But Salford have billions behind them, not just a rich local businessman happy to lose afew hundred thousand a year. Those teams usually will rise.

 

[JJ1532]

Yeah, but how much of a toss does Peter Lim give about little old Salford? He has Valencia, which will surely come 1st in his priorities. He's only doing this to help his mates out. To me it seems silly to keep sinking money into this non-league club that realistically will top out as a league one/two side at best. I understand the class of 92's reasons, but not sure why Lim agreed to bail them out when it was clear they were in over their heads.

 

[Harrier94]

Lee Fowler released by Telford already. He seems to indicate the club weren't aiming high enough.

 

[Harrier94]

And we've signed Ryan Croasdale, a midfielder ex Preston, Sheff Wed who also played for Tamworth and Stalybridge on loan.

http://www.harriers.co.uk/news/arti...an-croasdale-to-aggborough-ranks-3258950.aspx

 

[Darlofan97]

They will end up in FL because there is simply too much money behind it.

But they do really need another 5-6 years maybe more before getting there as the entire set up needs changed, plus they need to sort the acadamy (the whole point of their takeover)

I just ignore the whole media aspect of them as I find it the usual insult that everyone else is worthless unless tied to the all conquering prem

The Academy idea was a whole smoke-screen for the take-over.

No sooner when the owners said that they wanted to invest in youth did they sign Danny Webber on £800 per week and sign half a team from Ramsbottom.

The whole Sadiq El-Fitouri situation was a PR stunt too. Young right-back who got released by Manchester City, then signed for Salford. "Apparently" the Class of 92 duo were "impressed" with Sadiq in training and engineered him with a move too...Manchester United. Yes, that's right, he couldn't get a game at Salford but ended up signing for Man Utd. A PR stunt to reach out the United's huge fan-base in the area, to try and improve attendances.

 

[B2TF]

They want to play in the Premier League in a home stadium full to the brim with 25,000 fans. And where are those fans going to come from if not from the surrounding clubs? They're certainly not going to find 25,000 new football fans out of thin air. This is the nub. There are already far too many clubs chasing too few fans. Clubs like Salford can only succeed by creaming off support from established clubs, damaging them in the process. For what? To satisfy the egos and occupy the retirements of 3 ex-pros who made a good living from the game and who perversely view the enterprise as "giving something back". Time to put an end to this nonsense and make the Salfords and Forest Greens stand or fall on their own merits- like all the REAL football clubs have to do.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Great start from Darlow, reckon another promotion is on the cards?

 

[appletablepenny]

Alty sign two - Adam Sumner from Fylde and Nyal Bell on loan from Gateshead. Probably both start tomorrow!

 

[AnimoEtFide]

Alty sign two - Adam Sumner from Fylde and Nyal Bell on loan from Gateshead. Probably both start tomorrow!

Two debutants a game is quite low for Neil Young. Maybe he has learnt something from his time at County after all