The 2015/16 National League North Thread

[SamScfc]

We've got a tough opening month which includes Boston, FCUM, Telford, Nuneaton, Stalybridge and Fylde. Will be a good test for us to see how good we are.
Gainsborough away on my 21st though, that is shite.

 

[Ellis]

Our fixtures are shocking.

 

[Solihull Mooron]

Starting the season against £ylde. Good test to start the season!

 

[DarkSithLord]

Already looking to our game at Bradford PA as former player Massiah McDonald who left us to join them has already labelled our chairman a "C**t on twitter!

Bit Gutted we are gonna have to wait till Feb to play FC United though!

 

[Solihull Mooron]

Yes, we don't play Fcum until Feb either.
I look forward to going to your place just after Christmas.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Garry Flitcroft has left Chorley for family reasons. That will be a huge blow to them.
A bit of news involving Stalybridge as well with Danny Gregson (who only joined them from ourselves a few weeks back) leaving them for a fitness coaching role at Fleetwood. They have also signed Adam Farrell from Telford which is a great signing.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Marlon Harewood has signed for Nuneaton Town

 

[Solihull Mooron]

I think that's a good signing, it will be interesting to see how many goals he scores.

 

[Habbinalan]

My 'National League North' table prediction
1 £ylde
2 Chorley
3 Moors
4 Stockport
5 Tamworth
6 Alfreton
7 Bpa
8 Boston
9 Fcum
10 Hednesford
11 Telford
12 Harrogate
13 Worcester
14 Brackley
15 Gloucester
16 Nuneaton
17 Curzon
18 Corby
19 Stalybridge
20 Lowestoft
21 Trinity
22 Ferriby

Anyone else?

When I look down that list, it looks a lot more competitive than my memory of recent seasons. That said, I'll be surprised and disappointed if the Trawlerboys are flirting with relegation - depending how they do on their travels, I can see them managing a mid-table finish or better.

http://www.onefootballforum.co.uk/i...on-friendlies-2015-16.5698/page-8#post-192741

 

[Ellis]

Stockport have signed Kayode Odejayi.

Connor Hughes from Tranmere probably going to be announced soon.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Stockport have signed Kayode Odejayi.

Connor Hughes from Tranmere probably going to be announced soon.

From Hyde you mean Ellis?
Yeah I mentioned these two in the rumours thread last night, two cracking signings if the Hughes one is true.
Add a fox in the box, a central defender with a bit of pace a solid back up goalkeeper and we should be in for a very decent season.

 

[1884 Belmont]

I think Stockport have got the potential to win the Conference North. Baggie and Robinson, if firing, will be very good at that level. Kayode is an absolute unit, big and strong and deceptively quick. Goes through patches, but if he's confident he could get 10-15 goals at that level (he got 8 in L2 last season in an appalling side), which for a target man is a healthy return. Get a 'poacher' next to him and he links up the play pretty well too. Ironically, though, he's pretty poor in the air.

 

[Ellis]

From Hyde you mean Ellis?
Yeah I mentioned these two in the rumours thread last night, two cracking signings if the Hughes one is true.
Add a fox in the box, a central defender with a bit of pace a solid back up goalkeeper and we should be in for a very decent season.

Yes. Meant Odejayi from/released from Tranmere. The Hughes signing would be very good. Just need a solid CB to partner Lees/O'Hanlon and a proven poacher/goalscorer now.

 

[Southern Shayman]

Can't see Stockport winning it personally - too many other very strong and settled sides.

Also don't think Young is quite the God that Chester fans see him as (very good yes, but not the level they see). The North is hugely more competitive now than it was last time he was in there.

I reckon they'll finish 3rd or 4th with Fylde winning it.

 

[SamScfc]

I can't see us winning it either, our 11 is very good, it has to be one of the best in the league; we've definitely got the best keeper in the league, I'd be surprised if we didn't have the best centre back in the league, Bell-Baggie will be one of the best wingers in the league and our other midfielders are good, I'm not sure how many goals Colley, Holsgrove and Odejayi will get though.

Our problem could be depth, I think we need another centre back, a utilty defender and a striker. I imagine we'll line up something like

GK: Hurst (Tyson)

RB: Morton (Rule, Lees)
CB: O'Hanlon (Morton)
CB: New signing (Lees)
LB: Roberts (Duxbury)

RM: Bell-Baggie (Evans, Robinson)
CM: Ledsham (Robinson)
CM: Rule (Churchman)
LM: Evans (Robinson, Garvin)

ST: Odejayi (Baggie, Evans)
ST: Colley (Glover, Holsgrove)

Tyson is only on trial, Baggie and Evans aren't out and out strikers and Glover is transfer listed. Not 100% sure that's how we'll line up obviously but our first 11 is very good as I've said, it's just the depth that could let us down and is what I think could end up with us finishing in the play offs.

 

[Ellis]

I can't see us winning it either, our 11 is very good, it has to be one of the best in the league; we've definitely got the best keeper in the league, I'd be surprised if we didn't have the best centre back in the league, Bell-Baggie will be one of the best wingers in the league and our other midfielders are good, I'm not sure how many goals Colley, Holsgrove and Odejayi will get though.

Our problem could be depth, I think we need another centre back, a utilty defender and a striker. I imagine we'll line up something like

GK: Hurst (Tyson)

RB: Morton (Rule, Lees)
CB: O'Hanlon (Morton)
CB: New signing (Lees)
LB: Roberts (Duxbury)

RM: Bell-Baggie (Evans, Robinson)
CM: Ledsham (Robinson)
CM: Rule (Churchman)
LM: Evans (Robinson, Garvin)

ST: Odejayi (Baggie, Evans)
ST: Colley (Glover, Holsgrove)

Tyson is only on trial, Baggie and Evans aren't out and out strikers and Glover is transfer listed. Not 100% sure that's how we'll line up obviously but our first 11 is very good as I've said, it's just the depth that could let us down and is what I think could end up with us finishing in the play offs.

I'd swap out Ledsham for Robinson, I think. But on the whole that is only a good goalscoring striker away from a very good team.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I can't see us winning it either, our 11 is very good, it has to be one of the best in the league; we've definitely got the best keeper in the league, I'd be surprised if we didn't have the best centre back in the league, Bell-Baggie will be one of the best wingers in the league and our other midfielders are good, I'm not sure how many goals Colley, Holsgrove and Odejayi will get though.

Our problem could be depth, I think we need another centre back, a utilty defender and a striker I imagine we'll line up something like

GK: Hurst (Tyson)

RB: Morton (Rule, Lees)
CB: O'Hanlon (Morton)
CB: New signing (Lees)
LB: Roberts (Duxbury)

RM: Bell-Baggie (Evans, Robinson)
CM: Ledsham (Robinson)
CM: Rule (Churchman)
LM: Evans (Robinson, Garvin)

ST: Odejayi (Baggie, Evans)
ST: Colley (Glover, Holsgrove)

Tyson is only on trial, Baggie and Evans aren't out and out strikers and Glover is transfer listed. Not 100% sure that's how we'll line up obviously but our first 11 is very good as I've said, it's just the depth that could let us down and is what I think could end up with us finishing in the play offs.

Yeah Evans and ABB can both play on either side, Holsgrove out wide and Garvin in central midfield, so lots of different options and versatility. Young talking about a centre back being next on his list, I wonder whether this Hughes rumour will turn out to be true.

 

[Luke Imp]

Boston have got Julian Bennett on trial. He retired from the FT game last week but wants to stay PT.

On paper, it'd be a good signing for them and he's still only 30.

 

[Ellis]

Boston have got Julian Bennett on trial. He retired from the FT game last week but wants to stay PT.

On paper, it'd be a good signing for them and he's still only 30.

Only played 5 games of football in the past 3 seasons though.

 

[Andy Harrier]

We have loaned young defender Tyrone Williams to Hednesford until January. Hopefully it will be a good opportunity for him to get a lot of game time at a good level.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

http://stockportcountynews.com/national-league-north-preview/

Preview by moi.

 

[Steelmen]

new to the league & new to the forum

glad to be back up North & away from those long trips down south.

There are a fair few new grounds for us to visit this year & the most important question for me is ...

which grounds do you guys reckon do the best grub?

 

[DarkSithLord]

new to the league & new to the forum

glad to be back up North & away from those long trips down south.

There are a fair few new grounds for us to visit this year & the most important question for me is ...

which grounds do you guys reckon do the best grub?

Welcome mate!

 

[Harrier94]

Worcester have signed Ashley Vincent following his release from Shrewsbury

 

[Southern Shayman]

new to the league & new to the forum

glad to be back up North & away from those long trips down south.

There are a fair few new grounds for us to visit this year & the most important question for me is ...

which grounds do you guys reckon do the best grub?

That'll be Worcester! Ground sharing with Kiddy

 

[JE93]

new to the league & new to the forum

glad to be back up North & away from those long trips down south.

There are a fair few new grounds for us to visit this year & the most important question for me is ...

which grounds do you guys reckon do the best grub?

See you have Tommy Wright in charge. Was a Darlo favourite from his time as a player. Never imagined him as a manager though.

 

[Aberstone]

Welcome to the forum Steelmen.

I assume the FCUM vs. Stockport fixture is all ticket?

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Welcome to the forum Steelmen.

I assume the FCUM vs. Stockport fixture is all ticket?

Yep
Our 500 ticket allocation was sold out as soon as they went on sale last night, with a number of people who queued missing out.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Bradford PA 2 (Michael Potts 18,35) Alfreton 2 (Thanoj 66, Ironside pen 90+5

Well where do i begin with today??!



Incredible game as we ended with NINE MEN + another after the final whistle! and Bradford PA 10 in believe or not a game which was far from Dirty. Illustrated by the fact it took over an hour for the First booking after that however its safe to say the Ref lost control completely.

First half we were totally fucking wank. Absolute dog shit. Despite a good start where John Johnstone had two one on one chances with former Red John Stewart but fluffed his lines on both. After that we created absolutely nothing and were awful and went in at HT 2-0 down. We came out Second half and Bradford PA just took their foot off the gas and allowed us a foothold in the game. Which we took as a beauty of a FK from 25 yards from Thanoj gave us a life line.

Then the First Red as Sam Berry dragged down Walshaw and was rightly given his marching orders. Then one of the craziest final 10 minutes I have seen as former Shayman Simon Ainge crashed a free header against the Underside of the bar for Avenue before Tom Allan was sent off with 3 minutes left for ad he sent Walshaw sprawling when through clear on goal.

Then somehow incredibly we launch one final hopeful ball forward to Ironside who was shit all game and with sheer will and determination he chases down a lost cause and a stupid challenge from Pursehouse takes two feet from under him for a PENALTY.

Ironside gets up and slots home the spot-kick himself with the final kick f the game to give Alfreton the most fortunate of draws in the definition of daylight robbery.

Then tempers fray in a massive fracas in the middle of the Pitch after the FT when Dan Bradley, injured in the Pre Match warm up and not in the XI get himself sent off along with Luke Dean to round off an unbelievable game.

I have never seen such a underserved draw in all my life then today.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Interesting to note that all 3 of the losing playoff sides lost today, it's definitely a stronger league overall this year.