Darlo Uncovered

Joseph s wrote:As said in one of my previous posts, I've watched a lot of NL football down the years. I think the league is more difficult than some predict. Itll be really difficult and Yes Spennymoor are the team to beat, but are beatable. I've seen it happen on a couple of occasions.. It seems the difficulty is that if you can put a run together or say.. 10 games unbeaten at any time in the season, it jumps you up a few places in the league, cos on any given day, any team can beat any team in the NL. And for those of you who've never heard of some of your players..... Ive seen some of them, mostly the Teesside based ones.

Chris Porter - been around the league a bit, very solid, good hands and good distribution.
The Purewal twins - played in this league for Bishops but stepped up to Evo and did really well. Good energy, both v fit lads and have good ability.
David Dowson - energy to burn, hassles defenders, runs channels well and can finish. I saw him at Durham last year and he was outstanding. I think he scored a hat trick that day in the Evo stick.
Chris Emms - again, been around, v comfortable playing on the right or in behind a striker. Massively talented, when on his game is almost unplayable. Was injured at Spennymoor but still won this league. Has played higher up for Blythe and has great delivery.
Steven Harrison - in my opinion, best right back I've seen in this league. Comfortable on the ball, likes to go forward, has won the NL and Evo with Durham.
Jamie Clarke - has got a bit of stick on this forum for his age. But has been top scorer at every club he's played for in this league, and the Evo stick, pure finisher. Scored the winner at one of his former clubs Spennymoor a season or so ago. I watched him last season for Ashington in the fa cup against Guisely from the BS, he scored the winner..

So yes it will be tough, the league is tough, but there's some quality and experience in there that know how to win games at this level. And I'm sure Martin Gray won't stand for much less, if he's anything like he was when he was playing!

tinshedender wrote:Top, without a doubt.
There is a lot more than assembling the most expensive squad.
Playing at home in a small ground with near capacity attendances will scare the crap out of
away teams and be like having an extra player for us.
What other club and supporters in the country have ever been through what we have had to endure. Now it's pay back time.
The supporters are motivated, the club is motivated, and the team will be motivated.

MikeinBlack wrote:Could scare the crap out of our players too - how often did we cock up at the arena whenever we got a 'bumper' crowd?

Christophano wrote:

MikeinBlack wrote:Could scare the crap out of our players too - how often did we cock up at the arena whenever we got a 'bumper' crowd?

A "bumper" crowd of ~6k in the 25k stadium will be different to 2k capacity though.

StevieMardenboro wrote:I hope we do well but I don't agree with Quakerz that a year of consolidation will cost us support.
We have been through hell. Those of us still with Darlo aren't going to be put off by another s*** season. Think given that the players have been thrown together and most belong at this level it is very unlikely we will win the league. As long as we are competitive, breaking even financially and getting better on the field i honestly wouldn't mind a few seasons at this level. Perhaps a pop at the FA Vase aswell Just so long as we get back to the football league in my lifetime!

tinshedender wrote:MikeinBlack, if all supporters were like you we would probably be relegated.
The idea is to go to a home match to support your team.
This can be done in a variety of ways, singing ,chanting,shouting ,applauding, booing the
opposition,and taking the p*** out of away supporters if they have any, to name a few.
You can even cheer and jump up and down when we score.
This has the effect of lifting the team you support.
It works in every division, from Premiership to the South Park Relegation League.
And the fuller the ground the better it works.
Come along and try it, it might bring a smile back to your face.

MikeinBlack wrote:

tinshedender wrote:MikeinBlack, if all supporters were like you we would probably be relegated.
The idea is to go to a home match to support your team.
This can be done in a variety of ways, singing ,chanting,shouting ,applauding, booing the
opposition,and taking the p*** out of away supporters if they have any, to name a few.
You can even cheer and jump up and down when we score.
This has the effect of lifting the team you support.
It works in every division, from Premiership to the South Park Relegation League.
And the fuller the ground the better it works.
Come along and try it, it might bring a smile back to your face.

Been there, seen it, done it - doesn't always work at Darlo (or every club for that matter). Simply saying that Darlo have a record of under-performing in front of big crowds.
Our players are from the same ilk as the opposition in this league so will be just as out of place as they will be in front of close to full grounds, and if we don't do well the crown will certainly get on the guys backs and that could have a detrimental affect on them, don't you think?
I don't like the implication that I am any less of a fan than anyone else, by the way, just because I think the big crowds may not be as much as an advantage on the field as you do.
I terribly want us to succeed but am conscious that we are not the best team (on paper - Spenny anyone?) and not the most wealthy (Spenny again?), we haven't made our target yet and don't have rich benefactors so will have to build as we go along - hopefully.
I will be happy if we gain promotion, but we are by no means the best equipped for that task in this league and if it doesn't pan out well, then we will I'm afraid be stuck here for a long time.
Fingers crossed though - stranger things have happened.

Joseph s wrote:Try not to listen too much to what others outside your club are saying... Cos trust me, they all want to be you!!

DarloOnTheUp wrote:

Joseph s wrote:Try not to listen too much to what others outside your club are saying... Cos trust me, they all want to be you!!

I've been on the nonleaguezone forum and I just got the impression that they hated the fact that we're being seen as the "big boys" of the division and were trying to bring us down a peg or two, similar to how you'd react against someone you perceive as being too arrogant.

In the league predictions thread it just seemed as though most of them were omitting Darlo from the top 3 (or even top 6) on purpose, to make a point. There's a lot of bitterness towards us.

DL5 wrote: We may struggle to adapt to the part time structure and mentality where to the players football is not top priority.

Quakerz wrote:

DarloOnTheUp wrote:

Joseph s wrote:Try not to listen too much to what others outside your club are saying... Cos trust me, they all want to be you!!

I've been on the nonleaguezone forum and I just got the impression that they hated the fact that we're being seen as the "big boys" of the division and were trying to bring us down a peg or two, similar to how you'd react against someone you perceive as being too arrogant.

In the league predictions thread it just seemed as though most of them were omitting Darlo from the top 3 (or even top 6) on purpose, to make a point. There's a lot of bitterness towards us.

This is exactly what has happened and a lot of them decided we were arrogant and all sorts of other things "just because". Darlo fans in fact went out of their way to show respect on there only to have it thrown back in our faces.

I no longer worry about upsetting anyone on there, some are upset by default. What needs to get said will get said, when required.

tinshedender wrote:MikeinBlack could I refresh your memory regarding your assertion that Darlo don't perform in front
of big crowds.
Wembley ring any bells.

tinshedender wrote:MikeinBlack could I refresh your memory regarding your assertion that Darlo don't perform in front
of big crowds.
Wembley ring any bells.

Vokuhila wrote:I still don't know too much about the Northern League, but top three I reckon.

It's good to know that we can fire up DRASTIC and other acronymed schemes if we do need something extra to push us towards promotion.

AIDO wrote:Easy answer .... 1st .... For a hundred and thirty odd reasons really but the obvious ones are: everyone connected with Darlo are totally motivated towards finishing top after what we've been through, our success starved masses crave for it, our ambition to return from whence we came will give us an advantage, and we will, eventually or otherwise have the better players.

Can hear the NL faithfull calling that arrogance and disrespect .... nonensense. It's called reality and inevitability and err ... oh yes .... It is our destiny, and once the momentum really cuts in, nothing will stop that.

Consolidation is not an option. Nobody in the current Darlo hierarchy will have that word anywhere on their agenda for 2012/2013 or 2013/14 season for that matter. That is certain! The other aspect to consider is: The Darlo team that will finish the season will probably not be the same one that starts. The Darlo team that lifts the trophy, will be even better! My opinion lads .... and I'm sticking to it .... !

Hilly wrote:

tinshedender wrote:MikeinBlack could I refresh your memory regarding your assertion that Darlo don't perform in front
of big crowds.
Wembley ring any bells.

Let's be honest mate that was more the exception rather than the rule, however this is practically a new team (who probably won't have played in many games with over a 1,000+ watching) so lets just see how they get on.