National League North 2024/25

[BigDaveCUFC]

No he was just at the time a director.

He was founder of the club, the guy who set the club up from scratch and had been about since its birth mostly as owner and chairman until last few years, that’s why the club gave the news big importance on its social media,

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I wonder what will happen to the Radcliffe finances now that they've sadly lost their chairman? Was he financing that big spending?

dont know, someone has been, it will be telling very quickly at this level if players and managers quickly jump ship to other spending non-league clubs.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I was meant to put this in here but seeing Scunthorpe lose their unbeaten run last weekend.

I did wonder if them frankly ditching their whole side in the fa cup, stuttering and then having an extra game midweek contributed.

Am never a fan of changing for the cup, keep runs going when it goes well is my approach.

 

[Bottega Don]

I was meant to put this in here but seeing Scunthorpe lose their unbeaten run last weekend.

I did wonder if them frankly ditching their whole side in the fa cup, stuttering and then having an extra game midweek contributed.

Am never a fan of changing for the cup, keep runs going when it goes well is my approach.

We didn't start with a striker due to injuries which killed us, Butler played a CB in midfield which made no sense too

We were going to lose at some point, fans already overreacting to the shock of no one

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

What BD said - unless we stick Roberts/Beestin up front our striking options are minimal
Maybe time to sacrifice one or two of the 2023 Mercenaries

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Fair enough, small squads always a killer at this level.

A reason we got thumped at Brackley having spoken to people was our manager attempting a different formation so it wasn’t dead reliant on same approach team and style all the time……end result back to one up front and two supporting wide men for the season…….and hope it just keeps steady over the season.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

So fa cup next Southport vs Curzon for us.

I’d imagine that was a draw where Southport went ‘aaw we could have got better’ and Curzon went ‘aaw we could have got better’ but it is what it is.

I think on paper and on pitch currently Curzon have the better side, the results last couple of seasons has proved it and we are more than capable of going to Southport and winning the game.

But Southport is a weird side at the moment, capable of one game playing like a title winner then following it up with two complete duffer performances and seem to lack of sort’ve stability.

I’d class us favourites we will no doubt be how we usually are, try and control ball, be strong at back and use the Spencer as the hold up man to surging wide players……the key is what Southport turns up, the duffer who may roll over or the decent capable side who could easily then win the match.

 

[Swedes]

So fa cup next Southport vs Curzon for us.

I’d imagine that was a draw where Southport went ‘aaw we could have got better’ and Curzon went ‘aaw we could have got better’ but it is what it is.

I think on paper and on pitch currently Curzon have the better side, the results last couple of seasons has proved it and we are more than capable of going to Southport and winning the game.

But Southport is a weird side at the moment, capable of one game playing like a title winner then following it up with two complete duffer performances and seem to lack of sort’ve stability.

I’d class us favourites we will no doubt be how we usually are, try and control ball, be strong at back and use the Spencer as the hold up man to surging wide players……the key is what Southport turns up, the duffer who may roll over or the decent capable side who could easily then win the match.

It could be an interesting game, as we like to try to control the ball too. Our main problems are making stupid defensive mistakes (usually from set-pieces, but the Darlington game showed we are becoming more creative in how we do it), and conceding with the first shot we face. It's frustrating as there is more than enough ability and experience in our side to be compete with most teams in the league.

Based on form and recent record between the teams Curzon are favourites. We play a very different way to what most teams are used to from us in the past, and our only hope is we can keep Curzon from getting the ball off us much and maybe nick a goal!

 

[Bottega Don]

Just a shameful performance from the entire team today. Guiseley wanted it so much more than us and they got the win they deserved.

We look a shadow of the team that were unbeaten at the top of the league a few weeks ago, we don't look like scoring at all

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

To be fair it looks like an absolutely horrific day for come north sides you were not the only one to fall to lower opposition.

Hereford lost to bishop s, Darlington lost to Gainsborough, leamingtin lost at harsborough, Oxford lost to gosport, Radcliffe lost to bury, Chester couldn’t beat Stockton…….pretty much only about 6-7 clubs left in it

 

[Swedes]

Southport 0-1 Curzon Ashton

A tight game as expected, but Curzon probably had the better chances and scored late on with an IBR goal from a tight angle that supposedly took a slight deflection.

The main difference between the two sides was Curzon were able to stretch play, whereas we were very one dimensional and easy to play against. We won a lot of first balls when attacking but rarely any second balls, and when we did we were slow on the ball and lacked any cutting edge. There was no shortage of effort from our players, but it's obvious the squad is lacking in any pace or dribbling ability, and this limits how we play. We're a soft touch and I worry what Brackley will do to us next Saturday.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well I wanted to get to it but it isn’t easy as I had kids to watch sadly, but watching the highlights and reports it sounds like the normal for a Curzon game.

You did well first half, created a few chances but we defend very very well and I’d say apart from the couple of close range headers (you could have done better with) nothing looked too troubling.

We are always in it and dangerous on break but for large spells take too long or too many touches to be too dangerous then at some point we have a 20-25 minute spell when it just suddenly clicks and we look bloody dangerous and for us just a question of can we score in that period when we create a few chances.

Although the goal seems a funny one I’d 100% said that was a fluke cross gone into the net at first but then you look at the power behind it and wonder if it was meant and if so it’s a wonderful finish.

Would like bury away next round

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Clueless performance to lose to Gainsborough. They parked the bus, and we had neither the wit nor wherewithal to break them down. Only once did we attempt to get round the back of them, and that led to our goal. Far too happy passing the ball around our back three like a poundland Pep side. Toby Lees pass completion rate was probably insane. First time i've been upset with Watson and Mitchell, but they did nothing to change the course of the game. They are also ruining Maskell, who was widely thought to be one of the most promising forwards in non-league, but is being made to look a pedestrian carthorse as we create nothing for him week upon week. He needs a partner up front. Yes, Main being out so long hasn't helped, but against a poor Gainsborough side, why we didn't use Nelson alongside him from the start I don't know. 2 goals in 2 games off the bench, confidence high, and we don't throw him on until half way through second half. And everyone knows Declan Howe is their only real threat, so to leave him completely unmarked 6 yards out at a corner having just taken the lead was criminal. We then gift them the winner by being ridiculously complacent at the back with 5 minutes to go.

I know upsets happen, but this really didn't need to with a bit of application and nous. For a club in our position, the cup is arguably more important to us than the league. We can't afford to get promoted. We'll take it if it happened but it would likely ruin us for years. A decent cup run could help us immeasurably. To toss it away so half heartedly is just annoying.

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

How do you make things really hard for yourself perhaps getting your centre back sent off after two minutes could do it, the lads really battled hard to limit Stockton to very few shots on target although they did have about a hundred lumps into our penalty area which we defended superbly. Then step up young Burke who is now the only fit centre back we have due to injuries and now a suspension stepped up to head home a corner to put us in the next round.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Another excellent away win today 1-0 at Buxton.

Keeping the pressure on Scunthorpe and steadily keeping going

 

[Bluandwite]

Farsley came and parked the bus and we couldn't get through, simple as that really. Bit flat and looked a tad jaded after playing virtually an entire game with ten men on Tuesday as well.

 

[Bottega Don]

We're a completely different team since before the FA Cup started.

We look terrible, don't deserve to be top. Team looks slow and falls asleep too much at the back.

Think Oxford had two shots today and scored them both, first one looked miles offside as well.

Don't think we're going to be competing at the top this year unless we change things quickly.

 

[Swedes]

Southport 0-0 Brackley

Nothing happened. No real chances of note for either side. No particularly bad tackles. Even the referee was ok. It was dull, and the only good thing is it was our first clean sheet of the season.

We are now 3 consecutive games without scoring, have won one league game out of our last 8, and continuing to play a 541 formation at home. Discontent is creeping in now.

 

[Prodigal]

Well, that is 4 points from the last 6 thrown away by last minute equaliser! After the South Shields last kick equaliser we managed to give away a very soft penalty in the 8th minute of the 7 added against Warrington yesterday. The Ref was very poor, we had a player sent off for 2nd yellow, no arguments but Ref failed to send off Warrington defender for last man foul, oh well, still up there challenging.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Rumours of big issues at Farsley not sure how true but rumours of players not paid a pitch not even started with and limited income.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

10 games in and it’s a very interesting league at present.

Scunthorpe had dominated but they are wobbling and it does look like title isn’t a forgone conclusion for them but I’m not sure who else really is the main challenger.

Curzon and Alfreton have probably done exactly as expected, kept a lot of their sides and carrying on from last season in their same form and style…….bit for me both need an alternative approach to a game if they wanted to challenge top, both will be solid, but both will maybe draw too many for top.

Chorley have surprised me because they seemed to lose a lot in the summer so fair play to them, Chester are the form side after an awful start but the question with that start is was that down to players being out, players not used to being together as a unit or that they are capable of poor spells….not sure.

Kiddderminster, Darlington and tackles have underperformed and don’t look able to challenge for title.

Lots of contenders for play offs but I don’t know who is going to be stable consistent performer this season.

I do think this for Curzon may be their do or die chance for promotion, I don’t think it’s a weaker league but I think it’s much more even than previous seasons and that gives someone who maybe would aim for 6-7th a chance of top if they can find that edge.

 

[High Peak Blue]

Chester are the form side after an awful start but the question with that start is was that down to players being out, players not used to being together as a unit or that they are capable of poor spells….not sure.

I think a combination of a couple of diffcult games to start (Spennymoor away first game followed by Brackley) as well as not quite clicking properly to begin with. A bit of a hangover from last season when we struggled to score for a long time.

We seem to have got over that, but still seem to struggle against the 'park the bus' teams. Farsley had no ambition other than to get the ball out of their own half yesterday and we couldn't quite get past the 11 men in their half.

 

[Bottega Don]

We look nothing close to title contenders at the moment. Our manager makes too many subs destroying the flow of our game.

We may turn it around of course but at the moment we look terrible.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Southport 0-0 Brackley

Nothing happened. No real chances of note for either side. No particularly bad tackles. Even the referee was ok. It was dull, and the only good thing is it was our first clean sheet of the season.

We are now 3 consecutive games without scoring, have won one league game out of our last 8, and continuing to play a 541 formation at home. Discontent is creeping in now.

Our radio commentator said Southport looked a 'really poor side' this year. Is this fair?

 

[Swedes]

Our radio commentator said Southport looked a 'really poor side' this year. Is this fair?

We've had worse sides at this level than we have now. We're just lacking any pace, are out or form, and are playing quite limiting formations as that is all we can do with our current personnel. There have been games where we have been on top but not taken our chances, then got punished. Also, not many teams will play keep-ball and pull Alfreton apart the way we did on the opening day.

The best way I can put it is our performance wasn't that far behind yours on Saturday. I'm not sure what game your manager was watching if he thought you deserved to win it. A draw was kind to both teams!

 

[Prodigal]

Well, we made hard work,of that but finally got over the line against a very hard working Nnedham Market. Very good strike from Craig Hewitt won us the points though it could and should have been comfortable but for Needhams keeper who was in great form making 3 or 4 exceptional saves. Ah well a win is a win, up to second now.

 

[Swedes]

Southport 3-0 South Shields

South Shields did lots of sideways passing and had a few shots from distance in the first half. We scored with our only shot of the half after they failed to clear a throw-in and Tom Moore lashed one into the bottom corner from just inside the area. During the second half Shields looked even more inept, and we picked off their high line once for Danny Lloyd to round their keeper and walk the ball into the net, then again for Marcus Carver to hold off their centre half then on a high ball then lift it over their keeper and into the net. A comfortable performance against a poor full-time team.

 

[Quakerz]

Southport 0-0 Brackley

Nothing happened. No real chances of note for either side. No particularly bad tackles. Even the referee was ok. It was dull, and the only good thing is it was our first clean sheet of the season.

We are now 3 consecutive games without scoring, have won one league game out of our last 8, and continuing to play a 541 formation at home. Discontent is creeping in now.

No goals, 5-4-1 at home, dull football - reminds me of Clowning for us last season.

 

[Quakerz]

Southport 3-0 South Shields

South Shields did lots of sideways passing and had a few shots from distance in the first half. We scored with our only shot of the half after they failed to clear a throw-in and Tom Moore lashed one into the bottom corner from just inside the area. During the second half Shields looked even more inept, and we picked off their high line once for Danny Lloyd to round their keeper and walk the ball into the net, then again for Marcus Carver to hold off their centre half then on a high ball then lift it over their keeper and into the net. A comfortable performance against a poor full-time team.

Shields have been pumped about 3 times already this season, surprising considering their full time budget.

They should in theory be top 6.

 

[Swedes]

Shields have been pumped about 3 times already this season, surprising considering their full time budget.

They should in theory be top 6.

I think the problem is being full-time at this level means having the worst full-time players, whereas part-time teams have the best of the part-time players. Buxton and Kings Lynn may also fall into this category. I won't include Scunthorpe in it as they at least have a level of prestige and history that may attract players rather than full-time status alone.