Darlo Uncovered

At the moment its just text on ITV and Channel 4 - the BBC ceefax stuff will go when they switch off the analogue signal I think - not surre when that is but 2010 I thought. Truly is the end of an era - with the digital text you have to navigate away from the programme you're watching/listening to, ...

I read that Christine Bleakley is being porked by Frank Lampard.

December 14/15th sees the end of teletext. Digital just ain't the same - it takes longer to load for a start, will miss pg 401 for getting all the latest footy news. I'll never forget the night I innocently put text on to find Darlo were the top headline:

'Asprilla to make shock Darlington move!'

Can't believe Johnny Leah is still only 30 - how the hell did Hodgy find out about a 20 year old midfielder from Welsh non league?!!

Martin Carruthers, he was usless, bringing him in, i thought he'd be a decent player for us, but he was sh**e. Weren't there some rumours about why Carruthers had to be sold?? Was there, i thought he was released, i know he went on to play for Southend United, but god knows where he went after that...

AndyPark wrote:Martin Carruthers, he was usless, bringing him in, i thought he'd be a decent player for us, but he was sh**e.

Weren't there some rumours about why Carruthers had to be sold??

Russell Kelly - 96/97 season - lanky midfielder. A Platt signing who I think got a goal at home to Rochdale. Seem to remember he went to Dundee or somewhere???

Paul Holsgrove! He was hump! What about James Beaumont, young lad Hodgy signed from Forest (I think) in his third spell, think he only played once as an 89th minute sub! Not seen any mention of Loukas Papaconstantinou yet either - one game against Mansfield about ten years ago, he kept a clean shee...

another couple from that season - steven baker the full back who played for boro, ended up at scarboro i think and who remembers that lump of sh**e that somehow played in the play-off final - i'll let you have a guess at who i mean...oh and its not phil brumwell, altho he'd fit that criteria - this...

Seem to remember a left back in 97-98 called Alan Gray? Hodgy got him as a potential replacement for Barnard, and from what I remember he did OK, but for whatever reason we got rid after only a couple of games

Neale McDermott (Terry Mac's son) think he had around 3 games for us. I can remember his only start at Orient and being absolutely speechless at how sh!t he was. Still to this day (and yes, this season's numerous candidates included) the worst player I've ever seen in a Darlo shirt. Two more that I...

James Speare is a very good call - I can't understand why Hodgy felt it appropriate to give a league debut to an 18 year old in a Pools local derby game!! I can vividly remeber in the warm up my Dad saying 'This keeper looks dodgy' - as he changed his gloves about 3 times, and was still doing so whe...

Mark Hope(I think?) and Wesley Byrne - both played in 96-97 away at Fulham(6-0 defeat!) I think both were trialists, and funnily enough weren't invited back after that abortion of a game

How about:

Michael carter - 18 year old striker - one game, scored on his debut in 98-99 season. Never played again and released in 2000. Must have wondered what he did wrong!!

Thought the bloke who presented it was a bit smug, and seemed to be bezzy mates with John Still and appeared to take delight in our cack performance. Anyone else think that John Still is like Francis Rossi but without any hair whatsoever?

Think Kev Richardson played for us pre season in 00-01 - a mate of Hodgy's I believe

Never gonna happen, although i reckon a nip slip is possible

Left Harrogate earlier this year after having endured a similar experience to Penney - i.e budget disappeared. I believe he got Harrogate out of relative obscurity into the play off places for 2-3 years running. You might laugh - but it is management expeirence, and everyone has to start somewhere. ...

Will definitely be a local name, much like Platt & Hodgy were.

I think Raj would like Martin Gray but doubt he'd leave Penney.

I think Lids & Maddo personally - I wouldn't be at all surprised to see us have a upturn in form these next 2/3 games under the two of them

For whatever reason, Hodgy did always seem to get the crowds down to the ground. Penney despite his relative success, and ability to attract great players did not.

Ball is a good shout, may well be able to snag us some good young loanees in - but I think we'd need to give him assurances about transfer money in Jan

I agree there's loads of other managers out there - but how many could you look at and say:

a) They would be interested in Darlo - the worst team in the entire football league
b) They have proven experience of dealing with a relegation battle successfully

I should add that I'm not Hodgy's biggest fan - but on paper he has done well in these type of relegation battle situations. It appears to be dealing with the pressure of managing quality teams and promotion that he can't handle. Lets be honest at the moment we need saving - end of

Its going to come up sooner or later, so I'll start it now. Hodgy for manager - what do people think? In Hodgy's favour - he has got us out of difficult situations in the past when others have left us in a mess - i.e 96/97, and 03/04 and in our current situation(A HUGE MESS), he is possibly the best...

Is it bad to plug something Darlo related that I've got on ebay? Sorry if so, but thought someone on here may like it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :MESELX:IT

Is Knight as bad as Paul Newell?