Darlo Uncovered

Having finally cut our links with Tommy W I think we should start looking ahead - Styche was an occasional star in a dull team - but it's no good depending on one guy. I suspect A A will be more likely to take a wider view of how to put a team together.

Very good news. This could really get a buzz going and the board have been so professional with the transition. All very heartening - a shame about Blyth though but alls fair in love and the National League.
Armstrong is an admirer of Thompson so we might see an attractive attack minded team.

I would agree with Gramps about Brighton although I got to like Chris H. when he was at Newcastle and didn't deserve the sack there - to be replaced by awful Alan Pardew - but take out the cup run and it's been a bad season for them. The climate down in Notts. is quite bad because Flitcroft has done...

I would agree about Brighton although I got to like Chris H. when he was at Newcastle and didn't deserve the sack there - to be replaced by awful Alan Pardew - but take out the cup run and it's been a bad season for them. The climate down in Notts. is quite bad because Flitcroft has done so well wit...

Was anybody at the epic quarter-final league cup at Derby in 1967 when we came back to 4-5 and nearly equalised? It might have become an urban myth but I've seen a Derby evening paper report saying we were unlucky. Joe Jacques scored and Les O'Neil bossed the Derby defense.

All of the above are worth remembering. One I would add is a 4-3 win at York it was only a Freight Rover tie but Darlo gave York the lead twice then played them off the pitch with Gary McDonald in his prime, Dave Currie and Paul Ward dominating a team who were a league above us. Dave Booth turned ou...

Recalling big crowds at Feethams made me think about boxing day 1966 at home to Middlesbrough I was at Spratts corner with a pal when the barriers around the pitch collapsed under the pressure and we stood for the rest of the game with hundreds of others around the pitch. We were surrounded by beery...

We also won there in late '85 3-0 in one of Gary Pallister's early games when the team started turning things round that season. It's been painful at Notts County this season but I tell people once your team starts winning at a lower level it doesn't seem so bad - does it?

Martina Gray. Billie McKewan. Jane Platt. Gail Platt (with Little David as no. 2). Penny Dave. Fran Gray. Byril Knowles. Quite a team I'd say. Didn't we nearly appoint Viv Busby once? Wasn't there a gaffer in our 1920's heyday called Gurley? Quakers folklore is a place of wonder and we've blazed a t...

Thompson - not consistent but good enough enough times and outstanding more often than not. Good enough for league 2 ?

Parkin can't run anymore - he'd be worse than Bernie Slavin

I liked the mention of Cheri Lunghi and don't forget Wendy Craig is Darlo 'through and through'. But seriously why not? It's time it happened and Quakers could generate a lot of interest. All the dressing room stuff could easily be worked around and it wouldn't hurt for White to mind his manners and...

Better the t**t you know then? Martin Gray is beginning to hang over this club like a spectre or a pusher with something you know you shouldn't touch. I've agitated for his return before and believe that there'd be a few more forgiving fans if he got the team winning again but there's something real...

I think a few people -myself included - are feeling a bit awkward about the critical and sometimes unkind things we posted about TW now that he's left. Are people now feeling they were wrong and it would be a good idea to have him back? I don't think so but let's be realistic about who we can get as...

Andy Toman is an interesting choice - what is his experience of management, did he do a bit at Hartlepool? I'm not sure that musical chairs with other managers at this level is a good idea but if we're after a local bloke the field looks a bit bare. Toman lives up north presumably but what's his rec...

In the end nothing became him like the manner of his going. He might benefit from being someone's number two for a while a sound tactical sense might develop on top of his other attributes. I don't think the players got him the push though - it must have been hard to feel confident in your manager a...

Mention of Sven reminded me of his demeanor at the England v Brazil quarter final. He sat virtually throughout while Phil Scholari was up and down geeing his team on. 1-2 flattered us - some of our lot's performances this season have been as lacklustre as England's second half that day. If you play ...

Yes - I think Monday was probably the last straw for a few people. We could beat Leamington in style but it shouldn't change anything now. A bit sad really.

Good journalism there - helping us to see what's difficult to face. I've waxed and waned over Tommy all season basically because he's like-able and he has turned out a few - too few - good performances but generally followed by real stinkers. He is popular and given any encouragement the fans will r...

I watched him play in that team. Billy Elliot managed to get a half-decent side going after a decade of middling to poor stuff. There was an epic full-house beating of Pools on boxing day 1980 and a definite hint of promotion that season but the club had to sell him - to Hull - and Speedie of course...

He could learn from his experience, most of us do eventually but if he stays what do we really want ? I would say the last thing we want is promotion because it would break the club financially. A better showing certainly - which is what we're getting at the moment, albeit after 18 months of very va...

I enjoyed Eddie R's comment about Ainges's clearances - from where I stood in the second half he seemed to be looking one way and sending it another, no wonder he's stopped scoring but at least it seemed to confuse Boston. Some say that it's only two wins (and clean sheets) but let's enjoy while we ...

Why not? If he can turn out a team to play like that - I've always said he had it in him somewhere. Loved watching Thompson showboating towards the end. A decent side well beaten at their place - two great goals - lovely weather - good ale - trains tun on time. Maybe the tides turned like the Witham...

Boston will go for it tomorrow and if we play with 'freedom' they'll get among the goals. I think Wright and White should try and get some clean sheets because I'd say that's where our weakness has been this season. Tommy was a good attacking player and White knew about defending so maybe they just ...

I think it's quite simple really. As the dust settles and you think about the performances - some of them good like Bradforrd, York, Kidder and Chorley - but some awful, with the same players more or less, you have to conclude Tommy's out of his depth. The half-time switcheroo's have been noted befo...

I agree that you shouldn't call Tommy that bad name. I called him a berk once but I was out of order - thick too but I wouldn't now. I've changed my mind about him a number of times but I couldn't call him fickle because he's stuck at it when no-one else would. Results will tell for him but I think ...

My first game for a few weeks and I thought we certainly matched Chester who are on the fringes of the play off's, and actually dominated the second half without looking really dangerous up front although there keeper pulled a few excellent reaction saves off. Thought we missed Elliott in midfield ...

Really impressed by the optimism and faith on the threads, if these vibrations reach the players we should get something tonight.

Interesting that we cobble together a win and talk turns to poor players ... like Mehmet Ozil!. His quaker critics can't have seen him play. Part of this daft assessment is probably based on watching too much moderate stuff down the leagues, it's hard to see how good good players are sometimes. Thom...

In some ways it would be better playing Stockport away; we would probably raise our game and they might have promotion paralysis. Nuneaton have nothing to lose as they're going bust, again, and they could go for their only(?) double of the season. This is the big one in my view because if we don't c...