By theimps.tk
July 27 2009

Darlington are one of the few clubs who have taken a step backwards in recent months, mainly due to financial reasons, but let's face it, they'll effectively start the season on six points because of the two wins they'll get over Lincoln this season. If there's one thing they should not bother scheduling fixtures between Lincoln City and Darlington. It's a fixture that Darlington virtually always win and City's winless run against the Quakers stretched back to November 2004, although City should have won in April 2007 but Junior Mendes' shot was deemed to have not crossed the line despite touching the back of the net. The last two years have seen Darlo do the double over the Imps, but Darlington are now a far different kettle of fish than they have been in the past.

It's been a case of out with the excellent and in with the mediocre. Financial problems have seen Dave Penney take his managerial experience to Oldham and took several players with him, such as Pawel Abbott. Jason Kennedy went to Rochdale, Alan White to Luton and Ricky Ravenhill to Notts and the replacements haven't exactly been inspiring. Dean Windass is getting older and won't be able to play many games and the rest of the team is has-beens and never-weres, Lee Thorpe for example.

In terms of the overall squad, the only player who really stands out as an excellent player is Steve Foster, but their defence looks worrying sparse, whereas they have an abundance of midfielders and forwards, but very few defenders.

Another thing that will certainly not work in Darlington's favour is that he has never managed at this level, meaning he won't necessarily have a working knowledge of League Two that the majority of the other managers in the division do. He also has a record of losing far more than he wins. Only Bolton Wanderers (second spell) and Middlesbrough have the pleasure of more wins than defeats, the others being Bolton (first spell), Swindon, Derby and Bradford. Pre-season results haven't exactly been good, the full strength Newcastle side the lost 6-1 to Leyton Orient on Saturday, managed to beat Darlington 7-2 at the Whatdyacallit Stadium.

Although I don't expect Darlington to even slightly struggle, they are not anywhere near as good as they were under Penney and are prime for midtable mediocrity. A side with real ambition would not sign Lee Thorpe, a striker who has only scored 40 League goals in the seven years since leaving Sincil Bank.

14th : Darlington no longer quaking

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 27/07/2009 00:52

theimps.tk
27/07/2009 00:52

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Aryan_imp
27/07/2009 07:49

In with the mediocre, but still predicted to finish above us ...... speaks volumes doesn't it?

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davidimp
27/07/2009 18:38

Have sacked their entire staff today!
May not the season and will play the season with 23 teams!

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davidimp
27/07/2009 20:01

Quote:

davidimp
Have sacked their entire staff today!
May not the season and will play the season with 23 teams!

On their OS they are saying its a 'misunderstanding' with administrators hmm................
What a farce a of a club!

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Dave Imp
27/07/2009 20:23

oh dear sounds like trouble up north East.

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