National League North 2023-24

[Bartonyellow]

Top 2 look like it’s a two way battle for the title - a lot of football to play but they are both doing what they need to do.
Interesting to see how it pans out.

 

[Bottega Don]

Top 2 look like it’s a two way battle for the title - a lot of football to play but they are both doing what they need to do.
Interesting to see how it pans out.

We really need to sort our away form out to keep pace, we're W4 D4 L3 away compared to W11 D1 L1 at home.

What Tamworth is doing is very impressive as I don't think there budget is all that big, seem to just be riding the momentum of last year.

Don't think Chorley are completely out of the fight either, they've been on fire lately with their only loss coming at our place.

 

[Prodigal]

We really need to sort our away form out to keep pace, we're W4 D4 L3 away compared to W11 D1 L1 at home.

What Tamworth is doing is very impressive as I don't think there budget is all that big, seem to just be riding the momentum of last year.

Don't think Chorley are completely out of the fight either, they've been on fire lately with their only loss coming at our place.

Dont really see us challenging for the Title to be honest though except for the game at your place we are playing well at present. I think 3rd is a decent possibility though Tamworth have to come to our place so that will be an interesting game. Long way to go and we have a small squad, be happy personally to continue our run in Trophy and finish in Play Offs.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Arca and gowling have both got the sack

I still think Darlo best chance is re appointing Gray until end of season.

They need some belief and while Gray still won’t be popular for way he left he did get good success there and may rally some hope around the place.

As for South Shields……ain’t a clue that is one weird set up, I don’t know what they are expecting as a club this year, promotion, play offs or just a stable first year.

Seems to me they’d been happy with midtable but Tamworth’s success has really upped the ante there

 

[SpennyfanChris]

Fenton put on gardening leave at Blyth

 

[Prodigal]

Unfortunately torrential rain left the Referee with little option but to call an end to our game with Spennymoor. With close to 20 minutes left to play standing Water was beginning to accumulate on the pitch and after initially saying he would give it 10 minutes to see if the weather improved he was forced to abandon the game with Chorley leading by a single goal.

 

[Bottega Don]

Proper enjoyable day out at Farsley yesterday, love the set up they've got there.

They're a good side, made it really difficult for us. We started off well and took the lead, then the double red card happened and seemed to suck the life out of the game. Farsley were the better team for the majority of the 2nd half until they got another red which effectively ended the game.

Great to end the year top of the league after the last 5 years we've had and the fact we were on the brink of being out of business twice this year.

 

[Pride Of Yorkshire]

Steve Watson new darlington manager

 

[Bluandwite]

Watson did better than the stats suggest with us, he turned us in to a really decent side by the end of the season. Lost only three times in the last two months, all to the top three, two of which of course got promoted. Brought in some effective players on the cheap as well.

The downside was that there was no instant impact, which is what Darlington need. Not somebody who could be described as a huge motivator or anything. It took a while to get going, which is why I thought he might have gone to South Shields instead with them still sitting more than comfortably.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Southport away for curzon tomorrow I find it very interesting half the league decided to ditch a new year day game and make it a Saturday game instead.

Expect this game will let port end their bad run we always do very poor at Southport have never known why.

When watching the highlights was maybe harsh in my full assessment of southport the highlights did show they got men forward at times but never felt like it when watching game.

Also didn’t give our side enough praise we persisted and worked hard and scored 3 superb goals.

Expect us to again play a 3-5-2, expect us again to try for possession and tap tap tap to get ball wide and get ball into box from wide, expect us to do that all game.

It’s why will Southport change from their 8-0-2 now they are at home, surely they will be more offensive

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Southport 0-2 at half time, very even game really pretty much your standard nitty gritty new year day game with little happening but the single big difference here is the Southport defence which have gifted Curzon 2 goals with some dreadful defending.

I know Boxing Day curzon were two down and yet win but it will take some turnaround here because on Boxing Day we were even first half dominating possession and play but couldnt quite finish the moves off, here while Southport better than Boxing Day they ain’t creating enough so far to mount a comeback.

Think they maybe can only hope for a goal early to spur them on but can see this going 3-0 than 2-1

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Won 3-0 couldn’t have been any easier really, Southport fans must be worrying major games for them coming up.

Weird how they were worst team in league then suddenly hit top 4-5 form then now suddenly back worst team in league form

 

[Swedes]

Won 3-0 couldn’t have been any easier really, Southport fans must be worrying major games for them coming up.

Weird how they were worst team in league then suddenly hit top 4-5 form then now suddenly back worst team in league form

When we were in form we were compact at the back and counter-attacked with pace. Now we've our two best centre backs injured, our manager shoehorning in his signings ahead of players who were doing well, and out style of play has become slow sideways passing with a cumbersome target man starting every game and not looking a threat.

Easy win for Curzon, I can only remember one shot on target for us and that was an easy one for Cam to save from 30 yards out. We look like we are sliding back into trouble again.

 

[Bluandwite]

We were dreadful today, worst performance in years and Calum has said as much in his post match interview. People had to stand around in half a storm and queue up for two hours to get tickets for that the other week as well.

 

[Railway Blue]

We were dreadful today, worst performance in years and Calum has said as much in his post match interview. People had to stand around in half a storm and queue up for two hours to get tickets for that the other week as well.

Yes ~ listened to it on Mixir and you could tell quite early that we weren't going to score in a month of Sundays. We can never shake of this slump in form we have at Christmas time. Just 1 win and 5 points from 4 games. 4 consecutive home games and a chance to consolidate in the play-offs now. Trouble is there's no goals in us at the moment.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Scunthorpe v Tamworth should probably decide who wins the league, can only see a home win.
Probably a few twists and turns but I can’t see anyone other than either of these winning it.
Hereford in good form but too far off to trouble.

 

[Bottega Don]

Scunthorpe v Tamworth should probably decide who wins the league, can only see a home win.
Probably a few twists and turns but I can’t see anyone other than either of these winning it.
Hereford in good form but too far off to trouble.

I don't think it will be that important of a game, it won't decide the title winner.

We still need to fix the way we play away from home to ensure we are right up there, we just don't play with the same confidence or freedom.

We also have the added issue of a transfer embargo due to historic debts, we could have issues if anyone gets injured for a while.

 

[Bartonyellow]

I don't think it will be that important of a game, it won't decide the title winner.

We still need to fix the way we play away from home to ensure we are right up there, we just don't play with the same confidence or freedom.

We also have the added issue of a transfer embargo due to historic debts, we could have issues if anyone gets injured for a while.

But it’s still 1 from 2. I just can’t see anyone else having the consistency to overhaul the gap. Tamworth more likely to implode as they do not have the squad depth.

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

But it’s still 1 from 2. I just can’t see anyone else having the consistency to overhaul the gap. Tamworth more likely to implode as they do not have the squad depth.

How’s Sam Hughes doing with you he came through our academy at Chester , hope your looking after him.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I think a lot depends on how well Tamworth keep it going……certainly agree it is really a two horse race.

The pressure is 100% on Scunthorpe, they need promotion, with their finances the consequences of not getting promotion could be unthinkable.

Not saying there isn’t pressure on Tamworth, theirs is a little different more so on the ‘might be their only chance’ type, they may never be as close for years…….but I think the fanbase pressure will be higher at Scunthorpe because it is expected to be won, it’s more ‘hope and keep going’ from Tamworth.

Think if Scunthorpe could develop a gap, maybe even 6 points to ease that ‘must win’ each week pressure they will push on but if Tamworth keep right on them and that pressure racks up…..who knows.

That last quarter can be mad, with about 6 games of season I was claiming Kidderminster had no chance and didn’t even put them in posts for the final run, yet they suddenly hit this ridiculous form, the entire top 9-10 teams crumbled, they got it and won it.

 

[Railway Blue]

I think a lot depends on how well Tamworth keep it going……certainly agree it is really a two horse race.

The pressure is 100% on Scunthorpe, they need promotion, with their finances the consequences of not getting promotion could be unthinkable.

Not saying there isn’t pressure on Tamworth, theirs is a little different more so on the ‘might be their only chance’ type, they may never be as close for years…….but I think the fanbase pressure will be higher at Scunthorpe because it is expected to be won, it’s more ‘hope and keep going’ from Tamworth.

Think if Scunthorpe could develop a gap, maybe even 6 points to ease that ‘must win’ each week pressure they will push on but if Tamworth keep right on them and that pressure racks up…..who knows.

That last quarter can be mad, with about 6 games of season I was claiming Kidderminster had no chance and didn’t even put them in posts for the final run, yet they suddenly hit this ridiculous form, the entire top 9-10 teams crumbled, they got it and won it.

We didn't crumble and comfortably finished 3rd. The only think that stopped us being contenders was a dreadful start (less that a point a game for the first 10) which we've repeated this season.

 

[Bartonyellow]

How’s Sam Hughes doing with you he came through our academy at Chester , hope your looking after him.

Good player. First spell better before he got his injury, but I do like him. You did a great job nurturing him and you can see that he is well grounded.

 

[SpennyfanChris]

Crazy Christmas/New Year for North East Clubs in the North with Managers -

South Shields - Julio Arca and Tommy Miller leave on the 27th December 2023 after their loss to Blyth Spartans, Elliott Dickman has taken over on Interim basis

Darlington FC - Josh Gowling leaves Darlo on Boxing Day after their defeat to Scarborough, On 31st December Darlo appointed Steve Watson, then 2nd January 2024, Terry Mitchell becomes Steve's Assistant Manager

Blyth Spartans - Graham Fenton was put on 'gardening leave' on the 27th December 2023, then Blyth announced 2 days later (29th) that Jon Shaw will become First Team Manager (Jon has hung up his boots because of this)

Spennymoor Town - On 30th December, Spennymoor announced that interim Manager Lewis Dickman departed the club, then on the 2nd January 2024 - Graeme Lee has been appointed the new manager of Spennymoor after leaving Marske United

 

[AndyPark]

We've launched a mid-season BoostTheBudget for the manager with a target of £30,000 to be raised by 19/01/24.

We've raised £14209 at the time of typing, this is on top of the other £162,000 we raised in the summer that was spunked away badly by Alun Armstrong.

We truly are unbelievable fans at this club.

 

[TonyM]

We've launched a mid-season BoostTheBudget for the manager with a target of £30,000 to be raised by 19/01/24.

We've raised £14209 at the time of typing, this is on top of the other £162,000 we raised in the summer that was spunked away badly by Alun Armstrong.

We truly are unbelievable fans at this club.

That is a great effort and current rivalries aside I hope it works out for you, we have heard nothing from our owner about his own 'boost the budget' scheme that was launched at the start of the season but my guess is it is nowhere near what you have raised this month let alone in the off season

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Farsley at home today, don’t know if I can make today but for some reason it’s on national tv so may watch if unable to go.

Just need to show our players that ridiculous injury time of our last game should inspire them to go for it today.

We had a great Christmas, they didn’t but they had an in form Scunthorpe and we had an out of form Southport so not really fair to determine from this.

We have a solid run of easier home games now and we really need to capitalise on them if we want top 7

 

[Bottega Don]

We will be without our striker and league top scorer for the next three games due to suspension.

He and a Farsley defender were sent off for headbutting each other last week.

Farsley's defender appeal gets accepted, ours gets rejected. The consistency is baffling.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Fair play farsley so far they are the better side and giving us abit of a runaround, we have not held possession enough in spells to get going.

Post helped us out but really farsley deserve a lead although we have had two or three opportunities and could have scored.

 

[Bottega Don]

Had a feeling today would be the day our home winning run ends.

Tamworth back in control now

 

[Quakerz]

Had a feeling today would be the day our home winning run ends.

Tamworth back in control now

Don't worry, we'll beat them next week with our 1-7-5 home record, it's a home banker.