2017/18 National League North

[BigDaveCUFC]

Good confidence boosting 6-1 demolition of Midland Premier side Long Eaton tonight. We really do look very good. Not known this level of optimism at the club before a season for years. We are totally unrecognisable from the awful side from last season.

We definitely look good be dark horses. Ryan Jennings is something else too. How the hell did he struggle to get in the Curzon side last year and not make the grade at Wigan? Superb player. Buzzing for Saturday! BRING IT ON!

While lets be honest here, Curzon are a small club and players are on smallest budget in league and thus will have some limits......Curzon are also probably from what i seen one of the best passing sides in the league, certainly one of the sides which tries the hardest to get ball on ground and play.

it can backfire, they can give ball away, make amateur mistakes because its a side trying to play numerous short balls with not as high a quality to always do this.......but that gets drilled into most of the team all season. Hard to get into our midfield at times and we did have Alex Brown and Ryan Hall in midfield last season who would easily have fit into any of the top 5 teams.

but players can just go elsewhere and suddenly suit the formation, set-up and play of side they join....Warburton went from 20 goal a season player here, to useless clump at Salford last season, then back to us for second half and suddenly instantly back to 20 goal striker......Adam Morgan who had failed everywhere suddenly came here and for 2 months looked as good as Rowe who was smashing them in on a massive wage at Fylde.

It is the one big bonus of this league.......anyone does have a chance because you can sign 5-6 players who didn't do much elsewhere, but they can suddenly come good at your club and a much brighter season than on paper happens.

 

[DarkSithLord]

While lets be honest here, Curzon are a small club and players are on smallest budget in league and thus will have some limits......Curzon are also probably from what i seen one of the best passing sides in the league, certainly one of the sides which tries the hardest to get ball on ground and play.

it can backfire, they can give ball away, make amateur mistakes because its a side trying to play numerous short balls with not as high a quality to always do this.......but that gets drilled into most of the team all season. Hard to get into our midfield at times and we did have Alex Brown and Ryan Hall in midfield last season who would easily have fit into any of the top 5 teams.

but players can just go elsewhere and suddenly suit the formation, set-up and play of side they join....Warburton went from 20 goal a season player here, to useless clump at Salford last season, then back to us for second half and suddenly instantly back to 20 goal striker......Adam Morgan who had failed everywhere suddenly came here and for 2 months looked as good as Rowe who was smashing them in on a massive wage at Fylde.

It is the one big bonus of this league.......anyone does have a chance because you can sign 5-6 players who didn't do much elsewhere, but they can suddenly come good at your club and a much brighter season than on paper happens.

Thanks for the reply Big Dave. Your right. Case in point being Joe Ironside. Could not hit a barn door for us went off to Nuneaton scored 18 goals and got a big move to Kidderminster. Some players just click in some teams as you say. We will see how he gets on within the rigours of the league season.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

For anyone wondering, our under 21's/development squad were beaten by Wigan last night, not our first team, as reported by many people.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Thanks for the reply Big Dave. Your right. Case in point being Joe Ironside. Could not hit a barn door for us went off to Nuneaton scored 18 goals and got a big move to Kidderminster. Some players just click in some teams as you say. We will see how he gets on within the rigours of the league season.

Your ex player Paul Marshall has hardly featured for us pre-season DSL. Unsure if down to not being a first choice, fitness or injury.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

So FINALLY the fixtures......whats your view for Saturday.

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

 

[wilsontown]

Salford vs Darlo surely the one to watch here. Our game will give some clue as to whether we deserve the bookie's odds that we're getting.

 

[DarkSithLord]

So FINALLY the fixtures......whats your view for Saturday.

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

Salford v Darlo is a big one at the top.
Some big games down the bottom I think on Saturday too
Curzon v North Ferriby
Gainsborough v Leamington
Southport v Boston

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

For all it is probably true its terrible really how we're splitting the league up already on day one.

We do really need to get a win vs NFU if we can, had a very hard summer, lost our goalie, our captain, our top scorer and our most creative player.......one unlucky pre-season.

yet still slightly positive as i think we'll have a very strong defense and if that happens we should be fine, that we shall have to see.

but we have 2 horrible away games after this one, a Stockport side.....confident for a change of doing well and then a Chorley side who we utterly humiliated at end of last season and will want to give us a kicking.

we got to have a good chance though, playing a NFU side which seems to have been last-gasp build together over a month and highly tipped for relegation.

 

[Fyldefan]

Caspar Hughes has been released by us today because he placed a few bets on football. He would be a superb signing by any team in this league. Would of been a starter for us and it's a big blow losing him. The lads class. Hope he ends up somewhere decent. Only 24 as well

 

[wybantam23]

Pre season over and done with, not exactly set the season up for much hope as we've been hammered in all but a few games.

Stephen Brogan resigns for the season, Ross Burrows on loan from Halifax and we've signed Kyle Dixon and Jack Barlow.

Season could go either way, I imagine the first month will be mainly losses with the team still gelling but got some decent individuals, hopefully they can play well as a team.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Caspar Hughes has been released by us today because he placed a few bets on football. He would be a superb signing by any team in this league. Would of been a starter for us and it's a big blow losing him. The lads class. Hope he ends up somewhere decent. Only 24 as well

Here we go Salford will be on the sniff that's for sure, especially if the lads class.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Salford vs Darlo surely the one to watch here. Our game will give some clue as to whether we deserve the bookie's odds that we're getting.

I just hope we show a bit more passion this time round than the 5-1 annihilation in April.
I know we had nothing to play for other than pride, but still 5-1! Ouch.

Yeah a lot of the odds will shorten or even get bigger come Saturday tea-time, especially the clubs that get of to a flyer and impress the bookmakers.

 

[Josh Butler]

Salford v Darlo is a big one at the top.
Some big games down the bottom I think on Saturday too
Curzon v North Ferriby
Gainsborough v Leamington
Southport v Boston

Give over Southport Boston Relegation six pointer haha. Southport in turmoil. Think we'll get involved towards the right end this year

 

[DarkSithLord]

Give over Southport Boston Relegation six pointer haha. Southport in turmoil. Think we'll get involved towards the right end this year

Haha. I think you will do better than last season but finish around midtable 11th - 14th. Some good additons at Boston such as Ashley Hemmings but I think other sides have strengthened further.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

Kiddy Vs Chorley should be good, hoping that gornell will get going nice and early

 

[Woodworm]

Prediction time


Saturday 5th August 2017

3pm Alfreton Town v Blyth Spartans

3pm Brackley Town v FC United of Manchester

3pm Curzon Ashton v North Ferriby United

3pm Gainsborough Trinity v Leamington

3pm Harrogate Town v Nuneaton Town

3pm Kidderminster Harriers v Chorley

3pm Salford City v Darlington

3pm Southport v Boston United

3pm Spennymoor Town v Stockport County

3pm Tamworth v Bradford (Park Avenue)

3pm York City v AFC Telford United

 

[David Curries Mullet]

We seem to have added Scott Fenwick and Brad Fewster to our squad. Now have 6 forwards.

 

[CFC4LIFE]

We've signed Matt Irwin on a season long loan, don't rate him at all from his displays in pre season, will probably replace branagan which is very annoying and confusing

 

[wilsontown]

We seem to have added Scott Fenwick and Brad Fewster to our squad. Now have 6 forwards.

Fenwick did nowt for us but will obviously score against us when we play, and I would imagine would do well at this level. Fewster played for us on loan in our League 2 relegation season and he was great - excellent attitude and a real poacher's instinct in front of goal. I understand he's had some injury problems but if he keeps fit that's a great signing. In fact, those signings have got me a bit worried.

 

[Prodigal]

We've signed Matt Irwin on a season long loan, don't rate him at all from his displays in pre season, will probably replace branagan which is very annoying and confusing

Just shows how opinions vary, he is bigger, kicks better and in my view was very impressive against Wrexham, very pleased with the signing, will strengthen our team considerably in my view.

 

[Minstermen central]

We seem to have added Scott Fenwick and Brad Fewster to our squad. Now have 6 forwards.

Fenwick will not deliver but Fewster is a brilliant signing,league standard and best striker in this league.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Yet another additon for us. Our 18th of the season. Goodness me we have a big squad this year by our standards! 23 now.

Striker Malachi Lavelle Moore now signed.

Most well known for this goal during his spell at Ilkeston FC which was contender for Non league Goal of the season 2016/17

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/coalvilletown/teams/121202/match-centre/1-2189327/videos/88954

 

[Darlofan97]

So as mentioned above we have signed Scott Fenwick, as well as right-back Jordan Richards (24) after being released by Hartlepool. Played around 60/70 games for them in the FL. I suspect he will be back-up for Marrs with Hunter covering for Brown & Collins in the centre.

We do also have a couple of players on trial who we are looking to sign, one of them being Fewster. Whether he does sign or not is a different matter.

We have let Arran Wearmouth go out on loan to West Auckland, and let 2nd choice goalkeeper Peter Jameson go to Blyth Spartans for a fee. It does look like we have retained Wilczynski from last season, which is good as I believe he is a better (and younger) goalkeeper than Jameson.

So a case of 2 in, 2 out today with a player from last season (who we all thought was leaving) being retained as back-up 'keeper.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

How many and which clubs in NLN will be full time this year?

Are they 'proper' full time too i.e. paying full time wages - or are any doing the 'paying failed league club youth players a pittance so they can pretend they are still full time footballers model' like I believe teams like Dorchester tried to do in the past without much success?

 

[DarkSithLord]

How many and which clubs in NLN will be full time this year?

Are they 'proper' full time too i.e. paying full time wages - or are any doing the 'paying failed league club youth players a pittance so they can pretend they are still full time footballers model' like I believe teams like Dorchester tried to do in the past without much success?

7 I believe. Salford,Kidderminster,Harrogate,Nuneaton,Stockport,York,Southport.

Soon to be 8 with Telford training 4 times a week this season with a view to going full time next year

 

[Darlo On Tour]

How many and which clubs in NLN will be full time this year?

Are they 'proper' full time too i.e. paying full time wages - or are any doing the 'paying failed league club youth players a pittance so they can pretend they are still full time footballers model' like I believe teams like Dorchester tried to do in the past without much success?

I went down to Brackley Town last season fantastic game. I thought we were pretty fortunate to come away with a 2-2 draw, and I was very impressed with the Brackley performance.
I thought you's were one of the best teams that we played last season

 

[AnimoEtFide]

7 I believe. Salford,Kidderminster,Harrogate,Nuneaton,Stockport,York,Southport.

Soon to be 8 with Telford training 4 times a week this season with a view to going full time next year

We're not full time.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Yeah think it is a couple less than you say DSL, although its very hard to track in this league, I am not sure Kidderminster are full time either, and god knows with Nuneaton who i believe are full time but seem to give the impression of a club anything but.

Certainly Salford, Harrogate, York and Southport.......but then is also some very big spending part-time teams also down here.

What i am surprised with is the total lack of hope Harrogate seem to get from people in regards to promotion considering they also threw full time and money at it this summer.....can understand the lack of hope in Southport with their total mess behind scenes and half-ar*ed 'throw together a team' approach this summer, but is the harrogate manager really that poor??

 

[KHFC_Shaun]

We are full-time and will continue to be for however long Gordon is running the club.

I thought it was us, York, Nuneaton and now Salford & Harrogate who were full-time. Not sure on Southport?

As for todays game, we are starting the season with two full-backs who i'm not too impressed with. Keane has looked shaky defensively all pre-season and isn't a patch on ZFA and Austin is a right-winger, who seems to be making a transition to full-back. Its worked once against Worcester, but his positional sense is poor. At centre-half we have Williams, who is improving, but I am amazed that we haven't signed another defender ahead of the new season.

 

[Prodigal]

Agree with your list KHFC_Shaun, pretty certain that Southport who are in total disarray are part time. Let's hope we can exploit your concerns and bag the three points this afternoon. Looking forward to the game, let's hope it is a good one.