2017/18 National League North

[Harrier94]

Backed York, Brackley, Stockport, Harrogate and us last. Surprise surprise my own team lets me down. I should know better really. A good win for Salford away at Chorley, always a tough place to go. Harrogate have started really well, have they brought a few decent players in? Surprised to see kiddy lose their opening 2 games and I think another defeat in their next 2/3 games and their title chances will be over. As crazy as that sounds. It took 15 league games before we tasted defeat last term and I think 3 in your opening 4/5 games is too much to recover from

We're not utilising Ironside who has been isolated since he signed, he's a striker who's getting no service. We've also brought in a RB who won't be fit until November and only have 2 CB's, Daly is amazing but is having to play both CB positions to cover for the liability that is Tyrone Williams. If we don't sign another CB we won't be getting in the playoff's let alone battling for the title.

Side note Bradley played the second half yesterday and is clearly a class above. Actually ran with the ball, tried shots and got into positions none of our other players do. He also immediately clicked with Ngwatala when he came on so a great partnership could form between those two.

 

[MTFC_07]

We're not utilising Ironside who has been isolated since he signed, he's a striker who's getting no service. We've also brought in a RB who won't be fit until November and only have 2 CB's, Daly is amazing but is having to play both CB positions to cover for the liability that is Tyrone Williams. If we don't sign another CB we won't be getting in the playoff's let alone battling for the title.

Side note Bradley played the second half yesterday and is clearly a class above. Actually ran with the ball, tried shots and got into positions none of our other players do. He also immediately clicked with Ngwatala when he came on so a great partnership could form between those two.

I genuinely do not have a clue why you chose to let Keith Lowe go? He's been absolutely brilliant for us so far.

 

[Harrier94]

I genuinely do not have a clue why you chose to let Keith Lowe go? He's been absolutely brilliant for us so far.

Daly has been the perfect replacement for Keith Lowe, it's Jordan Tunnicliffe who we're missing, Ty is nowhere near up to his standard.

 

[DOLF87]

Backed York, Brackley, Stockport, Harrogate and us last. Surprise surprise my own team lets me down. I should know better really. A good win for Salford away at Chorley, always a tough place to go. Harrogate have started really well, have they brought a few decent players in? Surprised to see kiddy lose their opening 2 games and I think another defeat in their next 2/3 games and their title chances will be over. As crazy as that sounds. It took 15 league games before we tasted defeat last term and I think 3 in your opening 4/5 games is too much to recover from

We brought in 7 players from league rivals and they all seem to be quality additions, for once. Thewlis came from Gainsborough and is looking like he might be our top scorer. We let him go the season before but he was only alright then. Belshaw from Tamworth looks decent in the sticks, plus we resigned Ainge as a striker after he was put up front in the second half of last season and scored 20. Still not properly been tested yet though. Stockport away next Saturday to see what their true potential is.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

AFC Telfwolves 1-3 Brackley Town.
W.I.P. Telfwolves huffed and puffed for a bit, and then we're turned over by a classy Brackley outfit, who will be a contender for the championship. Hopefully, this joke of a bank-rolled club will be stopped in it's tracks by the ground grading committee. Again, no away fans travelled as each goal met with absolute silence.

Still bored of hearing some people laying into Brackley as being ‘a joke’, ‘too small’, ‘bankrolled’ and somehow not worthy of being in this league. It’s a little club, representing the smallest town in Conf North / South (except North Ferriby now). Its crowds have always been around 200–250, so to get to around 350 last year on average was really good. A little bit of maths for you Idsall Buck – if Telford has a population of 150,000 and Brackley has a population of 13,000 QED your support should be well over ten times ours. It isn’t. It is more like 5 times. How many Bucks fans made it to Brackley last season on a Tuesday night – 10 men and a dog I remember. There were away fans there last night including me – but I didn’t feel particularly comfortable identifying myself as such in the slightly aggressive atmosphere I find on my visits to the NBH these days. I also don’t think it is acceptable to personally slag off opposing managers when standing behind them as I heard yesterday. I don’t think it is acceptable to shout homophobic abuse as I’ve heard previously at the Bucks Head. I don’t think anyone knocking around Conference North should be boasting about the size of their club – as if you’re in this division by definition you’re tinpot. Brackley’s owner is dipping his hand in to help with the wages I'm sure, and if you want to dislike us for that reason, you’ve have to dislike virtually every league club, and a heck of a lot of non-league clubs too. I don’t know our budget – it will be competitive, but not big.

I suppose what really flummoxes me about football is why some fans are unpleasant about other teams / clubs at this level. I don’t dislike any of our opponents – good luck to them all even Salford who’ve found themselves in a fortunate position. Particularly disappointed to hear Brackley slagged off by a Telford fan having grown up in Telford myself and stood on the terraces of the Bucks Head for 15 years of my life before moving away, and still wishing them nothing but success.

On a footballing point – Brackley looked good last night, whilst Telford looked a big clueless after a good opening 15 minutes. Does baffle me a bit why so many clubs change so many players each year given that August is the busiest month of all for league games in the season (7 matches - as many league games as Oct and Nov put together). A lot of clubs take the first few weeks to find their form and formation – by which time 1/6th of the league season has passed by.

 

[Swedes]

Surprised to see kiddy lose their opening 2 games and I think another defeat in their next 2/3 games and their title chances will be over. As crazy as that sounds. It took 15 league games before we tasted defeat last term and I think 3 in your opening 4/5 games is too much to recover from

I remember about 5 years ago Kiddy lost their first five games of the season. They finished in 2nd place by 2 points. Never rule anything out so early on, especially with that club!

 

[Andy Harrier]

I remember about 5 years ago Kiddy lost their first five games of the season. They finished in 2nd place by 2 points. Never rule anything out so early on, especially with that club!

Yeah, if I recall correctly, we were bottom of the league 10 games in that season and while that was a bit of a freak year and it's unlikely to happen again, it's not all doom and gloom yet, despite the meltdown on our forum. There are issues that need addressing and we've got to try and get a new centre back in. Williams looks out of his depth or completely lacking in confidence at the moment. He should have been sent off in the first half last night for two bookable offences, both caused by him trying to make up for his own errors.

 

[DL5]

Darlo 4-3 Gainsborough FT

 

[Inactive]

Highlights from last night's game between Leamington & Tamworth

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Still bored of hearing some people laying into Brackley as being ‘a joke’, ‘too small’, ‘bankrolled’ and somehow not worthy of being in this league. It’s a little club, representing the smallest town in Conf North / South (except North Ferriby now). Its crowds have always been around 200–250, so to get to around 350 last year on average was really good. A little bit of maths for you Idsall Buck – if Telford has a population of 150,000 and Brackley has a population of 13,000 QED your support should be well over ten times ours. It isn’t. It is more like 5 times. How many Bucks fans made it to Brackley last season on a Tuesday night – 10 men and a dog I remember. There were away fans there last night including me – but I didn’t feel particularly comfortable identifying myself as such in the slightly aggressive atmosphere I find on my visits to the NBH these days. I also don’t think it is acceptable to personally slag off opposing managers when standing behind them as I heard yesterday. I don’t think it is acceptable to shout homophobic abuse as I’ve heard previously at the Bucks Head. I don’t think anyone knocking around Conference North should be boasting about the size of their club – as if you’re in this division by definition you’re tinpot. Brackley’s owner is dipping his hand in to help with the wages I'm sure, and if you want to dislike us for that reason, you’ve have to dislike virtually every league club, and a heck of a lot of non-league clubs too. I don’t know our budget – it will be competitive, but not big.

I suppose what really flummoxes me about football is why some fans are unpleasant about other teams / clubs at this level. I don’t dislike any of our opponents – good luck to them all even Salford who’ve found themselves in a fortunate position. Particularly disappointed to hear Brackley slagged off by a Telford fan having grown up in Telford myself and stood on the terraces of the Bucks Head for 15 years of my life before moving away, and still wishing them nothing but success.

On a footballing point – Brackley looked good last night, whilst Telford looked a big clueless after a good opening 15 minutes. Does baffle me a bit why so many clubs change so many players each year given that August is the busiest month of all for league games in the season (7 matches - as many league games as Oct and Nov put together). A lot of clubs take the first few weeks to find their form and formation – by which time 1/6th of the league season has passed by.

I wouldn't call Brackley Town a joke! One of the best clubs in this division.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Strange game tonight. Scored 4, should have had 6 or 7, and yet never comfortable. Very poor defensively. Gainsborough were good going forward but even worse defensively. We will have to tighten up for Saturday.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Darlington 4 Gainsborough Trinity 3

What a bizarre game, couldn't fault it for entertainment wise. I'd have been gutted if i was a Trinity supporter, but once again just like last season our leaky defense was all at sea.
Gainsborough had far too much space and shocking marking allowed them to get back into the game when we were comfortably winning 3-1.
We've got to get it sorted out, definitely won't get away with against Alfreton, we were much more organized at Salford on Saturday.
But I suppose at the end of the day it's the points that matter.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Fixtures coming up this weekend:

Blyth vs Tamworth
Boston vs Spennymoor
BPA vs York
Chorley vs Curzon
Darlington vs Alfreton
FCUM vs Kidderminster
Leamington vs Southport
NFU vs Brackley
Nuneaton vs Gainsborough
Stockport vs Harrogate
Telford vs Salford

 

[JE93]

Fixtures coming up this weekend:

Blyth vs Tamworth
Boston vs Spennymoor
BPA vs York
Chorley vs Curzon
Darlington vs Alfreton
FCUM vs Kidderminster
Leamington vs Southport
NFU vs Brackley
Nuneaton vs Gainsborough
Stockport vs Harrogate
Telford vs Salford

There's not that many exciting games in there. Stockport v Harrogate is probably the pick of the bunch to see if Harrogate's good start can continue.

For us at home to alfreton. We've already shown this season we've not lost our scoring touch. But as with last season keeping them out at the other end is our issue. That said I will be hoping for a win. Alfreton seem a bit jekyll and hyde in their performances. I though the same of their transfer business over the summer. Some very good players and some very average. I'll stick my neck out for a 3-1 home win infront of circa 2,000 at Blackwell Meadows.

 

[MWS]

Tomorrow's match vs Harrogate should be a good one. They have invested well in their playing squad over the summer and started with 2 wins, 6 goals and none conceded.
Opening day defeat to Spennymoor wasn't ideal but we came back strong against Curzon on Tuesday with a comfortable 3-0 win.

Not sure if Gary Stopforth's international clearance has come through yet so may not yet be available. Even so, I'd expect the same starting XI on Saturday as Tuesday night. Our new look strike force should give the Harrogate back line a good test.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Chorley on sat and not going this year as rail service a mess.

To be honest I am looking to Monday, like midweek Chorley away is not going to define our season, we go with little pressure and just will see what happens.

We embarrassed them last season and won 3-0 so have a chance, clearly our style suits playing them, but we have lost Ryan hall who destroyed them in that game......will have to see.

Am more hopeful after watching highlights of midweek at Stockport. During game I felt we only created nothing chances and defended poorly on the goals, but watching back we created many good chances but finished poorly and should have scored......plus two of Stockports goals were well works and good finishes.

Just shall have to do same but finish better

 

[DarkSithLord]

Think tomorrow will be a realistic indication of where we are.
Can we replicate our performance from last year?
Wouldnt be surprised if it was a similar game from last year to be honest. While we are vastly improved at the back compared to last year still we are vulnerable. We were poor on Tuesday but its Boston away... we NEVER do anything there and we got our tactics wrong. Darlo are likely to try more of a passing game rather than bullying us of the park which may play to our strengths Our 3rd trip to Darlington tomorrow. yet to lose and each trip in a different stadium. Looking forward to it. Not going to panic if we lose. But looking at being a bit more competitive and trying to not concede really poor goals.

 

[Prodigal]

Big Dave, looking to hopefully get a result against Curzon on Saturday, we are usually just plain awful when we play you. Very unfortunate to lose against Salford on Tuesday to a deflected effort, but we are still struggling to find the net ourselves. Curzon always seem to play very well against us but hopefully we have learned a lesson from past games.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Big Dave, looking to hopefully get a result against Curzon on Saturday, we are usually just plain awful when we play you. Very unfortunate to lose against Salford on Tuesday to a deflected effort, but we are still struggling to find the net ourselves. Curzon always seem to play very well against us but hopefully we have learned a lesson from past games.

Hope it ends up a good game.....maybe our approach just suits playing your lot. I think it will be tough after midweek, your lot really need to win the game after midweek. I think we shall just hope to give it a good go and see if we can get something.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Think tomorrow will be a realistic indication of where we are.
Can we replicate our performance from last year?
Wouldnt be surprised if it was a similar game from last year to be honest. While we are vastly improved at the back compared to last year still we are vulnerable. We were poor on Tuesday but its Boston away... we NEVER do anything there and we got our tactics wrong. Darlo are likely to try more of a passing game rather than bullying us of the park which may play to our strengths Our 3rd trip to Darlington tomorrow. yet to lose and each trip in a different stadium. Looking forward to it. Not going to panic if we lose. But looking at being a bit more competitive and trying to not concede really poor goals.

Theirs no ifs, ands, or buts about it we've gotta come up trumps tomorrow and win this game.
Last years was a cracking match from what i remember a fully deserved win by you guys.
I think we went 4-1 down and had a mountain to climb to get back into the game, but wasn't to be.
If Wednesday night's team turns up and play like they did that night, especially in defense we'll be in a spot of bother I'm afraid to say. But hopefully should be a decent match.

 

[Harrier94]

Boston v Spennymoor off due to Spennymoor's bus breaking down.

 

[Harrier94]

Darlo 0-1 Alfreton

Edit 1-1

 

[Harrier94]

We're 1-0 down.

BPA 0-1 York

 

[Harrier94]

Chorley 0-1 Curzon

Telford 0-1 Salford

 

[Harrier94]

Nuneaton 0-1 Gainsborough

Blyth 0-1 Tamworth

 

[Harrier94]

FCUM 1-1 Harriers Sonupe OUR FIRST GOAL!

 

[Minstermen central]

2-0 York and no Parkin

 

[Harrier94]

Blyth 1-1 Tamworth

 

[Harrier94]

Stockport 0-1 Harrogate

 

[Harrier94]

BPA 0-3 York

Chorley 1-1 Curzon