New Era!

With the breaking news that Glenn 'Spike' Ferguson has been named as the new manager, we wonder is this the start of a new era or just one more dot in our history books? Spike was a great player and a great competitor and if he can instil these traits into our team, he might just be the messiah we've been looking for. It's not known who his back-room staff might be but one name that's been mentioned is Lee Docherty. So let's recap, we've appointed a manager who had a record second to none as a striker in our league, his first appointment is man who was a midfield genius and is held in awe in our league circles, all he needs now is to appoint Noel Baile and maybe he can get our slip shod defence sorted out.

In an ironic twist of fate his first official match in charge will be against his former masters, Linfield (the I.F.A.) and the next game is away to his last employers, Lisburn Distillery, in the Irish cup. It doesn't get any easier after that, if United or Glens don't have to replay their Irish cup games, then there's a match on Tuesday January 17 at the Showgrounds followed by a visit to the hatchet men on the Saturday, then maybe he'll have time to catch his breath. We fervently hope he has seen us play recently and if he is the stand tomorrow, he'll maybe get an idea of our strengths (we haven't seen too many this year) and our weaknesses (too countless to mention). We're not hoping for a quick fix but maybe some fresh ideas and basic defending would be good.

Tomorrow's match is Joe's last game in charge and no doubt the D.C. boys will be up for that as a win will take them 8 points clear of us and practically free from the threat of relegation (35 pts to be mathematically safe), a rare win for us would delay that for a week or two. When we were travelling to Coleraine last Monday we heard the news of Gavin Taggart being in the team and not Ally Teggert, our spirits went down we can tell you. It seems Ally picked a bit of a knee injury and we wish well and a speedy recovery. We just hope that he is fit enough to start tomorrow and if Baker isn't fit, we start with Lowry up front along with Cutch.

Our defence which didn't exactly cover themselves in glory last Monday, will probably be the same but we only hope Joe has told them to get the ball out of there, don't start playing any 'namby pamby' football, for it's the road to no town. The referee tomorrow is Hugh Carville and we think he'll play the match as per rule book, not like Andy 'make the rules as you go along' Hunter, well we live in hope anyway. In an ironic way Sparky's sending off could give the three stoogies, Carson, Jenks and Downey a chance to impress the new boss, but he knows Downey's form from when they were team-mates at Windsor Park. On paper it's a match we can win, but our confidence is shot to rags, let's hope we pull out all the stops, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Suffolk lambs!

Windy Hall!

We at Sky Blue Sport are the most optimistic supporters, but 'we have' even to face facts. Ballymena United go head to head with their derby rivals the 'Coleraine' scum, on a hiding to nothing. We had hoped against hope, that caretaker manager, Joe McCall (not our choice by a long chalk, there are more dyed in the wool United men on the staff than Joe), would show some initiative in his one game in charge against Dungannon Swifts, but it was like Roy Walker all over again. Despite the Christmas optimism which seems to come at this time of year, we feel we have to face two facts.

The first fact is we have no 'lead by example' men in the team. You know one of those men like Sammy Frickleton or Paul Malone or dare we say it, Gazza. One of those men who knows what this fixture means to the rank and file United supporter, who follow their team through thick and thin. Win, draw or lose this fixture and it will mean nothing to the overall statistics at the end of the day, but to the supporters, of both teams, even the Coleraine scum (do they have feelings?), it will assume mammoth proportions. Roy Walker, never quite grasped that, he would always referred to the rivalry between Cliftonville and Crusaders, but that is as nothing compared to the rivalry between 'us' and the Coleraine scum.

The second fact is we are not good enough, Cutch has been our true spark in this season and where we would be without his scoring exploits, we shudder to think. As for the rest of the team, Ally Teggart is worthy of his place and in defence Sparky and Cookie Munster, the rest of them are sub-standard, but Roy in his wisdom thought they were good enough. The new manager, when we eventually get round to appointing one (there really is no excuse for this delay, the manager has been walking on eggs for six weeks now), is going to be hampered by the staff at his disposal. The only player that's willing to come to us over the January transfer window is Linfield's Kris Lysnday, but that's not definite as Glenavon is also interested.

So let's recap, we need a goalie, at least two back four players, three midfield players, one of whom must be a leader and a striker to take some of the pressure off Cutch, that's only seven players on the plus side. On the minus side we have got to unload three back four players, Archie, Kane and Woods (Vauls will come good we think), three midfield players, Gavin Taggart, Rory and Jenkins, up front we need to get rid of Baker and Boyd and we have a month to do that, starting the first of January. Meanwhile we have two matches between now and then and if we could conjure up a win tomorrow by some miracle, it would give us hope. Joe McCall could yet go down in history as the man who filled United supporters with a sense of pride, after all, it is the season of goodwill. We live in eternal hope, come on United, let's shag those ewes from Windy Hall!

'Nuff Said!

According to Carling Premiership.com. the referee for tomorrow's night's game between the chicken shaggers and the sheep shaggers, Dungannon and Ballymena at Stangmore Park, Dungannon, is local whistler, Mark 'ham shank' Courtenay. Mister Courtenay is well known to Ballymena fans, for the 'ham shank' fiasco among other clangers and is a totally inappropriate choice for this game. As if that's not enough we still are manager-less and subject to Joe McCall's whims. The Swifts have just re-appointed Joe McAree as manager for the umpteenth time and his side-kick is none other than the man with the 'golden knee', Darren Murphy, that was miraculously cured, when five years ago he was going to have to go under the knife or hang up the boots.

You can understand why we view this match with a sense of trepidation, we got 'honest Joe McCall', Mark Ham Shank and Wounded Knee taking centre stage. We well remember the poem about 'the Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick maker, turn them out knaves all three', 'nuff said. We have no idea about the tactics, or players Joe is liable to pick, in the absence of assistant manager Terry Moore, who proved what a 'rat' he was by deserting the ship with Walker, Joe and first team coach Colin Sewell will have to come up with a team capable of getting a result. But we just hope they're aware they'll get no help from the referee and the Swifts players will be diving all over the place. United old boys, Mike Ward, Craig McClean and She(A)Campbell will no doubt have something to prove as they usually do and United will do well to keep their discipline.

It would been nice if our team could have got a game on Saturday but we do need a game under our belt before we make a trip to that dump at Coleraine to play the filthy scum. Our confidence is shot to smithereens and if we could get a result tomorrow night, it would stand us in good stead as we travel to play the gas-men on Boxing Day. Applications need to be in on Wednesday for the vacant manager's job and hopefully he'll be appointed fairly quickly, if he not in the dug-out when we play the scum, hopefully he will be, when we take on D.C. on the last day of 2011. This game had be moved forward because of a vital important stock car meeting and we were assured '18 months ago' that they were history. But we digress, United need to get something from this match and the first match the 'Sky Blue Sport' team have attended since we were wrongly accused of racial chanted by the Chicken shaggers, come on Sky Blues let's really shag those Tyronians!

Marking Time!

After the 'Roy Walker' era, United find themselves 'marking time' till a new manager is appointed. The board, in their wisdom, have appointed Joe McCall, who was Kenny Shiels assistant-manager and before that reserve manager. We'll not go into detail about Joe's shortcomings, it's not important and anyway our board tend to see things with 'rose coloured' spectacles, in short they have trouble remembering the facts. But enough said, Joe is in charge of our team until further notice, realistically the next four matches, which could make or break our season.

We feel sure Joe will not tinker with the team too much, they were decidedly unlucky not to get something for their efforts on Tuesday night. They were undone by a bad refereeing decision and a clanger from a keeper low in confidence. Joe's hand could be forced if Dicky Vauls is injured, then he'd have to make a decision on whether he plays Woods and Kane, or calls up Rodgers and moves Archie to leftback. Of course Joe has experience of the versatile Sparky and may play him at rightback or in midfield. Based on Tuesday night's performance, he could keep Jenks on the bench and continue with Sparky and Downey in centre midfield. One of the undoubted successes on Tuesday was the form showing by teenager Neil Lowry. Sky blue Sport's Bruce Balmer, came within a whisker of naming him 'man of the match', so we hope Joe remembers him in his plans, a place on the bench at least.

Glentoran come to the Showgrounds tomorrow a depleted team, like ourselves they blow hot and cold, but they usually do well away from home and they usually triumph at the Showgrounds. Gary Hamilton, still the best striker around is absent from their line-out, having 'bought' his contract (he was rumoured to be on £1,500 a week, we reckon the Glens were only too happy to tear it up) and our old friend Richard Gibson we feel sure will try to step up to mark. It will be the job of the United midfield to try and stop the supply to Gibbo and to try to get a telling a ball to the 'goal machine', Cutch, in order for him to add to his 22 goals this season, 17 in the league. We wonder how the team feel about the manager resigning, they should take some of the blame, but it would be a fitting tribute if they come and win tomorrow's game, come Sky Blues, let's show a United front,only believe one more time!

Tight Noose!

The noose is tightening on Roy Walker's neck and only a win will save from from the chop, when United take on the hatchet men in the Irn Bru semi-final at the Showgrounds tomorrow night, kick-off 19-45. The match which will be played to a finish is not a matter of life and death, it's more important than that, it's die dog or shite the licence time. In a match like this it's crucial to get a fair referee, but our luck is right out, Raymond Crangle is the man appointed to officiate, a man born close to the environs of Seaview itself and another who makes up the rules as he goes along. The news is not good about our injury list, with Baker and Boyd still doubtful and Denver hoping for a place on the panel.

Surely Sparky has to be recalled, its obvious Roy doesn't like him, but for the good of the club he has to come into the reckoning. We cannot continue with Kane and Archie, they are fish out of water, we got have a solid back-four that we can rely on. Vauls put on a good show on Saturday, but he was strangely substituted at halftime, replaced by Elvis. It was obvious that we needed to make changes, but surely Archie should have been the one to make way for Elvis, you don't withdraw the best defender you have, in order to keep one on whose form has dipped disastrously. If Baker or Boyd don't make it, we have no choice but to send on Elvis, if just for nuisance value. Just a glimpse of the form he showed us in his first match, would be heaven.

Neil McCaffery, who was on-loan from Portadown last season, is badly missed in the United engine room, where Alan Jenks has singularly failed to live up to his billing. Our plight is, we have nobody to step up to the mark, for Roy in his infinite wisdom, farmed them out to junior clubs, when we are crying out for them. If by some miracle the Crues don't destroy us tomorrow night, it'll be left to our two match winners, Cutch and Ally, to try and steer us through. It will be a mammoth task, we'll need a lot of luck, but we're due some, we think, so come Sky Blues. let's shag those tame tigers!

Different Tactics!

Does United manager Roy Walker, have a plan for our team, that includes tomorrow's match at Mourneview Park against bottom of the table Glenavon and the Irn Bru semi-final, at home to Crusaders on Tuesday night. Not wanting to underestimate tomorrow's opponents, maybe Roy would think of playing something like 4,5,1 formation and try to instil a bit of confidence in our side. But maybe the match will not take place tomorrow, as it's freezing hard as we speak, but better for United if it does. So what does Roy do with his team selection, he can't go on with two fullbacks (2 from 3 actually), we have at present, their shortcomings were cruelly exposed last Saturday.

We had thought he could drop Ally back as an emergency leftback, but with the rumour, unconfirmed, that Eamon Murray has left the club, it does limit our attacking options somewhat. Surely Sparky has to come into the reckoning as he is the best club-man we have, in fact dare we say it, the only man who's playing for the shirt alone. We seem to have been saying for this for weeks now, it's time Jordan Baker and Jenks started showing their worth and we're saying it again. The keeper silenced our criticism last week with a near faultless display and if he had had any defenders worth their salt in front of him, we might've got a different result at Windsor. The 'Sport team feel that he needs to be on his toes tomorrow again, as our best combination at central defence, Chris Rodgers and Cookie Munster, need time to gel.

No doubt Roy will start tinkering with his line-up (please spare us Gavin Taggart), just to prove he's the boss, but he needs to consolidate, not make wholesale changes. If he tried Archie at leftback and picked Sparky at rightback, that would be enough, but trying to second guess him is a hard task, one beyond us. The one bright spark is Cutch (who 'scotched' rumours that he wasn't going to retire at the end of the season), if he could get a couple of chances tomorrow, maybe we can sneak the points and we'll just to have to hope for a miracle against the Crues on Tuesday. Did we say a miracle? It's a well known fact that miracles happen everyday, whereas the 'impossible', takes a little bit longer, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Mourneviewers!

Windy Windsor!

United go to the home of the I.F.A. (Linfield), to take on the League leaders and all you can do when your up against the might of the I.F.A., is pray for a good surface (well that's a laugh for a start) and a calm day (the forecast is for strong wind). But that's to be expected, sure the 'fat controller' blows a hurricane we're told himself. We would usually say a 'fair' referee, but when our team play the I.F.A. we know that's not possible, but you just hope for one that has a basic understanding of the rules and not making them up as he goes along, aka Andy Hunter. We are down to get one of the best around (the rest are pathetic), Brian Turkington, who at least keeps up with the play, but tends to see no evil when the elbows are flying from the I.F.A. players.

United manager Roy Walker has intimated in the papers that he tends changing the team around. We sincerely hope he doesn't go for the line-up he selected for the Portadown match, Archie in midfield and if you include Sparky, that gave us a team of six, out and out defenders and no outlet. Portadown, for their part took a while to settle down and if we had been sharper and not give away two atrocious goals, things could be different. We joke about the 'fat controller', but he has seen it all and will react to what line-up Roy picks anyway, so there's no way to second guess him. We at 'Sport are of the opinion that goalkeeper Wayne Drummond is not fulfilling the promise he showed on his first lot of matches, but maybe he's lost confidence in the defence, we know we have.

One player who's not available to manager Walker tomorrow, is centre-half Liam Watson, who has been suspended for a breach of club discipline. The rumour has it, he confessed to being out drinking on the night before the Cliftonville game. At least he has an excuse and if he volunteered this information he is be commended not vilified, if on the other hand he was 'shopped' by one of his mates (and we use the word 'mates' in it's loosest terms), then he deserves everything he gets, including a hangover and in future he should pick his mates more carefully. We welcomed Dicky Vauls with open arms, mainly because he had been released by the scum and we were wanting to see them end with egg on their face, but alas it hasn't worked out and Archie, is looking a viable option, but his lack of pace is a worry.

Ally Teggart showed a welcome return to form and his fellow recruit from Ports, Jordan Baker, is starting to show glimpses of his early season form also. Aaron Boyd looks likely to lose his place for tomorrow's game, he scored a goal last week, but his all round play leaves much to be desired, but in the absence of the hopeless Elvis, he is our only other option up front. United must look to it's two Scotsmen, Cutch and Jenks, for inspiration. Cutch can do more than he is doing, knocking the goals in right ,left and centre, but Jenks needs to do more and assert his authority on the game. Who will partner him, is anybody's guess, the 'Sports team prefer Sparky, but manager Walker seems to prefer Downey and he's getting fitter every game, but we need him fit now.

We expect Roy to keep his two central defenders Rodgers and Cookie Munster, but whether it's Woods at rightback or Kane we don't have the foggiest. Of course Roy might spring a surprise and play both of them, deploying Kane in right-midfield or could bring our secret weapon to bear, the fit again Rory Carson, but like Downey he needs to be really fit. So there you have it, will it be a relatively attack minded formation, or one with the emphasis on defence, considering how bad we are at the latter, we hope not. Whatever team selection Roy and his back-room staff come up with they better know one thing, we need everybody playing their hearts out tomorrow, not some lack-lustre performance which has been seen all too frequently of late, but eleven guys playing as their life depended on it. Give your all boys, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those I.F.A. sheep in their backyard!

Horse First!

Roy Walker left a message on the United official website and 'urged' the long suffering United fans to get 'really' behind the team. Well we have news for you Roy, much as you like to blame everyone in sundry for United's diabolic defensive record, us fans are not to blame. We didn't appoint you, you were thrust upon us, we doubted our board's sanity in giving you the job, but we were prepared to give you the benefit of that doubt, but and we emphasis the word 'but', we have been proved right. The United fan is completely loyal, to the team, he'll never 'turn tail' like your Linfields, Glentorans and Crusaders fans (when things are going against them they support the other team). He'll forgive them almost anything, you'll notice we said 'almost anything', the one thing he can't forgive them is the two disgraceful displays against the Coleraine scum.

You have no idea the depth of feeling that United fans are feeling and the amount of soul searching that goes on in their hearts. You trot out words like 'United' we stand and 'only believe', well there are just words to you. Sky Blue fans are truly United but you and your team of misfits are driving us to despair. We didn't tell you to go and sign the 'dross' that no-one else wanted, we definitely didn't tell you to get rid of our Captain Gazza. Your team has no heart and after the shabby way you treated Gazza, it's to expected. You and all your first team panel should apologise to the long suffering United fans and promise us we will never have to witness that lack-lustre performances as we did in these two recent matches against the Coleraine scum.

Don't be putting the cart before the horse, getting the horse doing it's job with pride (just case any moron should read this, the 'horse' in this instance is the United team) and maybe just maybe, you'll win the respect of the most loyal and devoted fans in this or any other country, the United faithful. The Cliftonville result last Saturday was hard to take, but it was only one result and it's all down to you and your team of 'coaches', where have you be hiding the last few weeks? Rory Donnelly is the hottest prospect to come out of these shores since Norman Whiteside. The Sky Blue Sport team know that, most of the United fans know that, but you and your so called bunch of experts (shit for brains more like it),didn't think fit to try and prevent him playing as vital role as he eventually did.

What can we expect tomorrow we wonder, the Sky Blue Sport team think you're going to go with basic the same team that let you down last Saturday. But let's face it, you have nothing else. In your infinite wisdom you let Mike Smith 2 go on-loan, when we might just need him to back up your slip-shod strike force. Don't expect any applause and encouragement, you've got to earn our respect and when you earn that, we might give your team a little love, but that's a long time in the future. You got to build a few bridges in the next few matches, we don't expect you to win them all, but we do expect your team to try it's eye-strings out, do that and you'll get no complaints from us. Come on Sky Blues, try and earn our respect!

Roy's Dilemma!

United manager Roy Walker is faced with a dilemma in picking the side to face third placed Cliftonville, who have come on leaps and bounds since the Sky Blues beat them at their ground in a 4-3 thriller, back in September. Well if Roy's nerve can stand it, he'll pick the team that started on Weds night at Dergview and hope against hope, they aren't as slip-shod in defence as they were the first 20 mins on Weds night. Or does he go for the line-up that started the Portadown match, a negative team, who if they had taken their chances at not let in two soft goals, should have got something from the match.

The Sky Blue Sport team are all for the old thinking, the best means of defence is attack, or as the immortal Jonesy said in Dads Army, 'they don't like it up em' and we have to get them unsettled. There is a doubt about Eamon Murray's fitness, having missed pre-season and not trained as much as Walker would have liked as last while, but he does give us another dimension in attack and he'll give the Cliftonville defence something to think about. Maybe he can play for an hour like he did on Weds night and hope the match is won by then. Cliftonville have unearthed a young talent in Rory Donnelly and we'll have to keep an eye on him and not forgetting Chris Scannel and Barry Johnstone, both coming back into form.

It was nice to see Ally Teggart and Jordan Baker coming back into form also on Weds night and we hope they continue on the same vein tomorrow. Now a mention about the hottest property in the Irish league, we refer of course to none other than United striker, Gary McCutcheon, the man who's scored 20 goals in 20 matches, 15 in the league, a phenomenal record when you consider our league position. If hadn't been for Cutch's prolific scoring, we'd be fighting for the scraps off the table from Distillery and Glenavon. But we hope Jordan and Ally can take some of the pressure off him, we'll set a target of say 6 goals between them from now to Christmas, that shouldn't be too difficult. So it's all systems go for our second victory at home, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those chickens!

Derg Bru!

United go into tomorrow's night match against County Tyrone's Dergview with a full complement of players, including Wayne Drummond who was an unused substitution in this afternoon's under-21 game. The only absentee is Cookie Munster, who starts a two game ban for his sending-off against Lisburn Distillery, which the referee has deemed was violent conduct. Let's hope United manager Roy Walker doesn't play with an ultra-defensive team like last Saturday's selection at Shamrock Park. When you select five defenders and one defensive midfielder in your team, your attacking options are a bit limited, to say the least. Roy thought we played well in the first half, he should went to specsavers, cause he's obviously blind.

We did create three or four chances in the first half, but we were unable to take them, nothing new there then. He says we were scoring plenty of goals this seasons, but letting in too many at the back and he says we have corrected that. But if you have to play a defensive team, your not going to score too many goals and we probably need 5 or 6 chances to score one goal, so we need to create a lot. Saturday was typical, we created in the end 9 clear-cut chances and scored one goal. But even worse, the goals we let in were 'soft' goals, both could and should have been prevented, so the defensive set-up didn't work, much more pleasing to have a go and maybe rock Portadown back on their heels and they 'were there for the taking'.

Now Roy has said Joe McCall has compiled a dossier on our opponents Dergview, is this the same Joe McCall that was at the Showgrounds under Kenny Shiels, who told lies about George McNeeley who was stand-in manager? Let's hope he's found the lord or something or we'll be in trouble tomorrow night. We need to play our best attacking team, which means Eamon and Ally both getting a start and Sparky starting in midfield alongside Jenks. Although he wasn't good for the last two matches, Baker will probably get the nod to partner Cutch up front and the fullbacks are, perm any two from Woods, Kane and Vauls. The central defenders should come from Archie, Watson and Rodgers and surely they'll be the room on the bench for Elvis and Aaron Boyd, although Boyd was a virtual passenger when he came on last Saturday. But it's all systems go for the semi-finals, it'll be tough, but we got to get going, come Sky Blues, let's shag those Tyrone Dergviewers!

Prayer Meeting!

We definitely like to state here that is not new tactics instigated by United manager Roy Walker. No, it's the only excuse Eamon Murray could get away with and be welcomed back into the fold. Sky Blue fans shouldn't need reminding that Murray's non-appearance last Saturday at Coleraine (that really is a nasty word), threw Walker's plans into disarray and almost single-handedly led to our defeat. Well we're being over-dramatic here, Roy Walker himself admits that he might not have started, but he would definitely been on at halftime. Who he would have replaced is anybody's guess, every player under-performed, he could probably have made a difference in any position. But there was a another Sky Blue stalwart at Ballycastle Road, who would definitely have made a huge difference, Gazza, but Roy Walker thinks he's not good enough, on this showing Roy, the players you brought in (and that includes Liam Watson, who had a stinker in the first half), aren't fit to lace Gazza boots.

But enough about nostalgia, we go into tomorrows tussle with Ports with Cookie Munster available, having served his penance for his sending-off and it'll be interesting to see who Roy picks for his defence. Teletext tells us we have Tony Kane, Dicky Vauls and Eamon returning tomorrow. Kane and Vauls had stinkers in United's previous encounter with the high flying Ports, but who didn't, but unless he's injured, it would be hard to leave Curtis Woods out. We don't know what Roy targeted from these two away fixtures, the scum last week and Ports tomorrow, but anyway we need a victory tomorrow to give us confidence for the long trek to Castlederg on Wednesday and our only real chance of picking up some silverware this season. Surely Roy must surely stick Sparky back into midfield, where he was badly missed last week and we have to hope that Ally was only having a off-day, or maybe he knew there was no pressure on him due to Eamon's absence.

Baker had another poor display at Coleraine (that word really sticks in the craw) and had we anybody else he would be dropped, but we need him to take some of the pressure off Cutch. Boyd, when he came last Saturday was less effective and the man he replaced, Downey, was badly missed in midfield, although his ball distribution left a lot be desired. If fit, Rory could come into the reckoning tomorrow, but Roy would need to be confident he could last the full ninety minutes. We reckon Elvis is history, he's been scoring goals for the reserves, but he's not made the bench in the last few matches. So we guess it's more of the same team, with one or two changes and Roy's vote of confidence in our goalkeeper, would indicate that he has no intention of resting him, unless the I.F.A. request it. So it's all systems go for three points tomorrow, come on Sky Blues, lets shag those Portadowners!

Scum Clearance!

It's time for our annual scum clearance, it usually happens about once or twice a season, where we go to that stinking cesspit (Coleraine Showgrounds) and eradicate the opposition. They'll be stinking even more than ever this time, having beaten the crap out of us at Ballymena, but it's got to be done. Hopefully our lads will will not need an incentive to play well, they should know how much it means to us 'dyed in the wool' Sky Blue men(and Ladies). The good news is that we only envisage one change to our starting line-up of last Saturday, Cookie is suspended, so Liam Watson comes in. Unless Roy springs a surprise and goes with two wingers, Ally and Eamon, but we expect him to stick with Conor Downey on the right.

The United defence will have to watch Leon knight, he's been known to take a dive in the box and we have a less experienced referee, in Ross Dunlop, so we hope he's not conned. Giving United's away form we expect them to win, but only if the ref don't make any silly blunders, aka Raymond Crangle, which led to first dropped points on the road this season. Our centre-midfield two, Sparky and Jenks, should have a field day and Cutch and Baker should celebrate Guy Fawkes with a fireworks display of goalscoring. The only downside we can see, is listening to that bore Alan Simpson, but hopefully we will soon shut him up. So come Sky Blues, let's shag them ewes from Windy Hall!

White Magic!

The last holiday before Christmas, Halloween, is upon us and it seems only fitting that we, the Ballymena United 'we' that is, have the right to expect some magic. To date we've been subjected to so much dross at home that we grown to expect it. But we also have the right to expect our team to 'try' and turn this round and tomorrow would be as good as time as any. Who can forget the way we blew tomorrow's opponents, Lisburn Distillery, away in the first match of this campaign and followed this up by racing into the 3-0 goal lead in our 2nd match here at the Showgrounds against Glenavon, in the first 30 minutes of the match. But alas and alack it's all being downhill since, sure we have performed on the road, but it's the home form we need to address.

Our former manager, Tommy 'never' Wright, has his team pumped up to stop 'the rot', which saw them lose the last 6 matches. But we should have too much fire-power, with leading scorer Cutch and Jordy both on the score-sheet last week, running in to form. But the 'key man' as far as we are concerned, is midfielder Ally Teggart, he has the ability to turn games. Of course our defence have been known to have the odd lapse in concentration and it's not known if Dicky Vauls is fit to resume, which would let Archie move inside to partner Cookie, while Curtis Woods looks like he's going to tie down the rightback slot. Eamon Murray, getting back to fitness would be our choice in right-midfield, bur manager Walker seems to be determined to play Downey there and he's looking sharper with every game.

A win tomorrow would set us up nicely for our next three games on the road, away to scum next Saturday, Portadown the next week and the Irn Bru league cup match away to Dergview on Wednesday November 16. These are going to be the toughest fixtures we have played in a sequence this season, but it'll set us up nicely for the tough times ahead. The manager will probably go with the team that started and finished last Saturday's, if Vauls isn't fit, or he could second guess us as he's done on a number of occasions and pick several different personnel. But we think he'll not want to tamper with his tactics too much, the Whites will be a different proposition from Carrick, but we still should triumph, let's have some of that 'white magic', come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Lisburn Lilies!

Carrick Crusaders!

United make their first trip to Carrick, to play Carrick Rangers, for many a long year, but Carrick no longer play at Carrick, they play at Seaview, home of the hatchet men. Confused, yes we are too. It can only happen in the Irish league, simply tell the authorities that you're going to install a plastic pitch and it won't be ready to December, what December we're not quite sure. Now you'd think that a big professional set-up like the Irish league would have been insisting Carrick make a feasibility study and get the dates set in stone. As it turns out Carrick (due to a technicality), can't have a plastic pitch and will have to re-sow their grass pitch and they and the Irish league have committed a major balls-up which makes us a laughing stock in these British isles, needless to say this was all done in the name of progress.

Now we've got that off our chest let's concentrate on the match tomorrow, at a venue where United tend to come unstuck. The United manager will have to change his starting line-up of last Saturday, due to injuries to Aaron Boyd and Dick Vauls and we've heard on the grapevine keeper Wayne Drummond and defender Liam Watson are both doubtful. If these four are missing the manager will have a headache deciding on his line-up, normally big Denver would be a replacement for Watson, but his views about playing on unnatural surfaces is well documented, but needs must, or there's always Chris Rodgers. Sparky would be a stop-gap replacement but his budding partnership alongside Jenks in centre-midfield needs to be nurtured.

Elvis, who scored a hat-trick for United reserves on Thursday, in a 3-3 draw,away to Portadown , will probably earn a place on the bench, although we could do with him in our starting eleven. It's a toss-up whether it's Nelson or Kerr if Drummond don't make it. Jordan Baker needs a goal to get him started again and the match at Seaview could be the one, we need someone to take the weight of Cutch's shoulders. There's the versatile Tony Kane to consider, he could play alongside Cookie or maybe fill at leftback in a pinch. But whatever Roy decides to do, he better get his team up for it, the Rangers will be up for it and we got to match them stride for stride. So come Sky Blues, let's shag those travelling people!

Memory Lane!

Just for a change the 'Sport team decided to have a day out in Bangor on Wednesday and make a holiday out of it. As we were sitting in a cafe having our lattes, Omar got all excited. He started jabbering and pointing his finger at the door and we all looked and it was a sight to behold. There stood the best striker to ever put on a United shirt, Jimmy Martin, looking dapper, with that cheeky little grin on his face, which masked a look of steely determination when he caught sight of goal. Jimmy scored 44 goals in one season for the Sky Blues and only missed one penalty, for he was the king of the 12 yard kick. He won most of the penalties himself, but he won them with a smile and nobody seemed to bear a grudge against him. That put us in good spirits for the match at Clandeboye Park, but United's play soon deflated us, it was, forgettable.

United go into tomorrow's game against the 'hatchet men' Crusaders, with some good and some bad news. The good news is Chris Rodgers was able to train on Thursday night and the bad news is Jordan Baker wasn't. This news will maybe necessitate the manager making at least one change from his starting line-up and if Baker doesn't make it, surely Aaron Boyd must get the nod. Roy seems determined to play Conor Downey, whether he's fit or not and he we must say he looked like he was getting back to form on Wednesday night, but still woefully shy of match fitness. The plastic surface at Seaview, doesn't tend to make for a pretty spectacle, but we best get used to it, for we there next week again. Results seemed to go for the team that takes their chances and minimise their mistakes, both of which we're crap at.

But given that 'never say die' which we've demonstrated in our last 3 matches away at Cliftonville, D.C. and Glens, we must have a chance. The Crues swept us aside in the first round of matches at the Showgrounds and we are definitely due a good result against them, but will it be tomorrow? We must keep the faith and we know their keeper is, to say the least, eccentric, so we should peppering him with crosses and sooner or later he will make a mistake. But we must be vigilant at the other end, with Timmy Adamson leading their attack, we can't take any chances and they have that old warhorse Davy Rainey as back up. Stuart Dallas is another who needs to be watched but he'll have his hands full trying to mark Sparky and Ally. We can do it, take the three points, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those paper tigers!

Sand Castles!

According to this weeks Ballymena Times, Roy Walker and his management team (we imagine that contains, assistant manager, first team coach, goalkeeper coach, kit-man, physio, Alfie Stewart and any other hangers-on), have noticed that we are shipping a lot of goals. Now admittedly we've been following this teams fortunes for a long time and we can't solely blame Walker for the team's tendency to go asleep at the back. But what we can't forgive him for is trying to 'pull the wool' over our eyes and pretend that this manifested itself over this season. When Kenny Shiels left us we had one of best goalies in the league and along came Tommy Wright and the rot set in (Tommy's getting rid of Goosey is well documented). So it's been six years that our defence has been shipping goals and Tommy Wright couldn't fix that in his time (3 years) and so far Roy Walker can't fix it either.

We don't have a solution for the problem either but the panic buys at the deadline, Watson and Vauls are not the answer. Sky Blue Sport has been critical of Archie, but we saw on Saturday we were rather worse without him. Maybe Roy has to pick a settled defence, say, Kane, Rodgers, Archie and Vauls and play them for a match or two to see if they can get an understanding between them and the keeper. But he also needs to think with his head not his heart about the midfield. Kane was made the scapegoat on Saturday, but he had no cover in front of him, if we have to play Conor Downey, he's better inside, not on the wing. Up front we need a target-man, not someone who goes in half-heartedly like Elvis or wins one in ten headers like Baker. Surely there's someone in the first division we could get on-loan and ship Baker or Costello out to make room.

Of course Roy or his assistant(s) need to go see such a player, no use asking around, like we did with the last two goal-keeping flops, knowing our luck we could come up against someone who fits the bill tomorrow night at Bangor. Now for tomorrow night's game, we'll have to make one enforced change, due to Big Denver's sending off, but it should be a straight swap, bringing Archie back in . We see no great panic to change the team round, he could even pick the same starting 11, minus Denver, for at the end of the day we missed 3 sitters in the 2nd half, admittedly it would have been a travesty of justice if we had rescued a point, but what has justice to do with football. Hopefully Bangor won't pose the same problems as Portadown, but they won't be a pushover either, we're in for a battle, but we can win it and get into the next round, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Copeland islanders!

Betting Scam!

Just heard the England result, a draw and 'baldy' Rooney sent off and we got a tip today, purportedly from Baldy's dad, that the match would end in a draw, but he give us the wrong score, crafty Scouser! Now we've got a tip for you, United are going to beat Portadown tomorrow, by two clear goals, how do we know, we heard on the grapevine. Well it is the law of averages, we been crap at home in this the first round of matches and the law of averages says this is about to change and knowing our luck it will change tomorrow. In the next phase of the league, match 12 to 22, we have 4 games at home and 7 away. So the law of averages says we're going to win all our 4 home games and lose or draw all our 7 away games.

Now for tomorrow game, we don't have a clue to the manager's thinking, he surprised last Saturday, by leaving Watson on the bench (rumours that he was suffering flu symptoms persist) and dropping Sparky and playing the 'fat' Conor Downey. We know Downey is his man, but he surely needs a man with real stamina and Sparky fits into that mould very nicely. We have no time for favouritism, we need the best team on merit that we can find and Sparky, giving the long injury list that we have, is the best option and a man with real heart for the club. Elvis, seems destined to play a bit part at the club, one game in eight, seems to be the criteria, so Roy has to decide whether to leave him out or not. We think he'll persevere with him, he's not a good target man, but we haven't got anybody else.

With three ex-Portadown players in our ranks it's a safe bet they will get extra attention from the Ports fans, no doubt our fans will reciprocate on a certain Chris Ramsay, we hope as in the old saying, we are crowing at the end. Baker, has been quiet of late and we are sure he'll want to show Ronnie McFall and the Ports fans what they're missing and Ally, is due another match winning performance. But the one man who can really inflict the most damage is birthday boy, Cutch, what a 33rd birthday that would be if he was instrumental in helping United to a first home victory, over the man who released him over a year ago. So it's all set for a good match, United need to fear nothing, everybody is expecting us to lose, but we can win it, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those apple pickers!

Sky Blue!

United manager Roy Walker has been talking in the media about having the team turn out in their away strip, among other things. Let's scotch all this nonsense once and for all, our colours are Sky Blue, white and a wee bit of red, the idea of turning out in any thing else, would be tantamount to anarchy. The solution to all our problems lies not in the colours that are worn on match days, not the dressing rooms being too nice and not 'negative comments' from the Sky Blue supporters. We, at 'Sport, would go so far as to say the Sky Blue supporters were far from negative, if they were negative they be voting with their feet yet they turn up on match days hoping against hope to see the team turn around it's fortunes.

We believe, nay we know it's all about confidence, when we played our first home game this season against Glenavon, we had not played well but were three goals to the good. When Glenavon got back into the match with a goal that should've been a by-ball instead of a corner, you could see the collective heads drop. Contrast this to last Saturday at the Oval, when we went 2-1 up and Liam Watson had to come off, Glentoran equalised and we could've capitulated, but we didn't and went onto to win it 4-2. That's the difference, we 'never say die' in our away matches and we need to create this attitude at home. Sure decisions are going to go against us, but we need to be able to rise above the circumstances and then and only then, will we lay this bogey to rest. It's Roy Walkers job to manage this football team and managing doesn't mean picking a side or deciding tactics alone, he has to get the best out of them as individuals.

He took a brave decision last Saturday restoring Elvis to the team and it paid dividends, whether he plays tomorrow is anybody's guess, but his attitude and the teams attitude was right last Saturday and the right attitude will win the day. Liam Watson, who had to be replaced at the Oval last Saturday, is as far we know fit and we believe Roy will pick the same team again, barring any injuries, which means Sparky continuing in centre-midfield with Jenks, who showed us what we been missing last Saturday. The Glens had no answer to his probing runs and the same again will do very nicely. Jordan Baker, has been quiet of late and his tussle with former United leftback Craig McClean should go a long way to bringing him back to form. The scene is set, our season is balanced on a knife edge, we know we're better and this, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those chicken farmers!

Oval Hovel!

United put their 100% away record on the line (3 wins out of 3), when they make the trip to that dilapidated ramshackle of a place that they call the Oval. It seems Glentoran are resigned to staying there, there's no talk of leaving, no developer waving a fat cheque to get them to move. Or was that the 'deal' when this surprise benefactor gave them a donation to pay their debts? We'll never know for sure, but in light of some of the shady stuff that goes on behind closed doors, maybe that's as well. But the upshot is, Glentoran moving house is way on the back burner, the 'breakaway' league to force the I.F.A. to abandon filling Linfield's coffers as they have been doing from time immemorial, is as like the dust of the ground, blown away.

Now to the serious stuff, we wonder why United, who freeze when at home, have a 'never-say-die' attitude away from home? In the 3 matches to date we scored 11 goals and conceded 6, so on the basis of that it's fairly safe to say we might be in for high scoring game tomorrow. Glentoran, not too hot at home this season, seemed to have put that right in the last 2 matches, scoring 13 and conceding just 1. As for the make of the United team, we actually don't have a clue, but surely Conor Downey must be left on the bench. The Oval, for all it's shortcomings, is still a big pitch and we need players to be fit and mobile enough and run their heart out, Downey doesn't come into that category.

We had hoped Rory Carson was going to play himself in to contention but when he limped out of Irun Bru league cup tie on Tuesday after just 20 mins, we take he's not fit enough to play tomorrow. Eamon Murray, who had a fairly good match after coming on as sub on Tuesday is another who doesn't look fit and for that reason we can't see him in the starting line-up. We'll be surprised if Roy doesn't pick the same team, or maybe one change, that disgraced themselves so badly last Saturday. How Roy, who 'Sport believed was a proud man, could continue to be the boss of this bunch misfits after Saturday's display, it beggars belief. We have no doubt that he got a word of encouragement from some of our 'high ranking' board men or man. These misguided individuals/individual, may think they have the interest of United at heart, but we believe they are deluding themselves/themself.

We have no axe to grind about Roy Walker, we don't think he should be given the job in the first instance, but we were prepared to give him a chance. Now after over 3 years we realise he can't cut the mustard and while he has the backing he won't walk way, but for the good of the football club, his time's up. The result tomorrow may make the men in power feel justified but it's the other two matches we have at home against the joint-league leaders and our bogey team Dungannon Swifts, that'll be 'the straw that will break the camels back' and that is too horrible to contemplate. In our last three league games at home, our manager never came out of his box in the last 20 mins and that means he had given up and that's no good for us. We need manager that's fighting our corner to the bitter end, in short we need a change!

Quiet Please!

It's almost like being back at school being a Sky Blue supporter these days, if you read our manager, Roy Walker's, comments in the programme, our negative talk is directly linked the teams abysmal home record. So Sky Blue Sport is asking each and every individual United supporter to 'houl your wheest', we think that's the way to spell it, but if it's not, in plain English, 'shut your bake'. We understand that football is a vociferous sport at the best of times, but in the interests of not wanting to upset the team, you'll have to keep quiet. If you really must voice your feelings, direct them at the chairman and the vice-chairman, they are the ones encouraging Roy Walker to stay put.

We think Roy wants to leave, just like Tommy Wright wanted to leave, but our board (or should we say the money men), threw even more money at him and he repaid their generosity by walking out on us anyway. We hope they didn't offer Roy any more money, we haven't a clue what he's on, but he's doing nothing to earn it, so he's worth nothing. He brought in at least 12 players in the summer and on Saturday's showing, not one them is fit to lace Gazza's boots and he was shown the door. He can't even get the players to turn up for training, the other night 12 turned up and 3 of them were keepers, we think that he's lost the respect of the players.

If you're going to tomorrow night's game remember keeping quiet, not a sound, even we score a goal, cause that might be seen as a negative response, just say 'jolly good show' and if there should be some misplaced passes, just 'hard luck old chap', instead of the usual, 'useless c--t', remember a 'c--t' is a useful thing and we don't want any confusion with our players. As for team news we haven't a baldy, needless to say well need to make changes. The whole back four had a stinker on Saturday, the midfield with old man Jenks (Is he really only 34) and the 'fat' Downey, were non-existent and while Ally tried in the end he just saw it was fruitless.

Mike Smith didn't seem to know where he was playing and Baker was away with the fairies and why doesn't Cutch at least challenge for the ball. The number of times we hit high balls up front and Cutch just let the centre-half rise unchallenged, it was embarrassing. We know he's not big, but Leon Knight's not big either, but he won't let the defender get off with any free headers. Elvis scored two goals for the reserves and surely he must be worth a recall, but it's a central midfielder we're really struggling for. There's Sparky, but he's more of a workhorse, no we need someone like Noel Anderson or Philip Carson, but them boys are history now, we got to struggle with an overweight injury prone guy and an old man that can't cut anymore in Scotland. We usually like to end with a positive note, saying 'let's get stuck into the opposition' but we feel we must urge supporters to be quiet and only believe and the sugar-plum fairy will bring you a treat in the morning!

Cold Home!

This may seem like a strange headline and it has nothing to with the 'Sport team returning to the cold and the wet of Norn Iron (home). We are in fact urging United to make the Showgrounds a cold place for visiting teams and make sure they don't rob of the points and where better to start, tomorrow, for the annual trip of the 'scum', caul rain. Results so far at home have been disappointing to say the least and we need to address that situation promptly. The rumours have it that we'll definitely have a new goalkeeper in our team, Wayne Drummond and we wish him well, but because of the nature of this league, not to mention the opposition, his credentials will be examined closely and any weakness punished most severely, Wayne, you have been warned.

Manager Walker hinted in the press that he intended to continue with Archie and Watson as is two central defenders. None of us was at the Cliftonville match, but we watched it on video and all we can say is, all three goals could and should've prevented. The first one is down to two players we don't think are good enough for this league, Gavin and Archie. Gavin, played an atrocious header back to his keeper which fell woefully short, Archie as the covering player should went and tackled Chris Scannell, instead he allowed him a free run on goal, in other words he done nothing. The second goal come from one of Omar's pet gripes, letting crosses in, but then we have been doing that for many a year. The third goal is so ridiculous it's laughable, as the 'best keeper in the first division', came for a ball he should've left alone. But rather alarmingly the 2nd and 3rd goals came immediately after we had scored which downright amateurish.

But manager Walker seems reluctant to drop either of his two 'golden boys' Archie and Gavin, so it seems we're stuck with them, come hell or high water. Barring injuries we expect Kane and Vauls to be the fullbacks and Jenks and Ally looked to be two positive starters in midfield and Cutch up front but who gets the other three positions is up for conjecture. Ah but remember we said we couldn't see him dropping his Golden boys, Archie is in the back four and therefore Gavin gets the nod in midfield. Sparky, after he opened the scoring last week, must surely get a start and that leaves just one position to fill. The candidates, are Baker, Mike Smith, Conor Downey, Eamon and big Denver. We would like to see Jordan Baker getting the nod, but who could guess what's going through Walker's mind, on the evidence we've seen in the matches with Carrick and the Crues, the answer is nothing!

We are at the crossroads and we need to make a positive turn and sending the scum packing, anything else is unthinkable. The forecast is for wet and windy weather, so mistakes will be punished no doubt and the team that makes the least will triumph, we need to be that team. We must be on our guard early on, for the referee is our old friend Davey Malcolm, who has his own interpretation of the rules and he likes to enforce them with an iron rod. But if we stick to our task, watch out for Leon Knight's dives (Oran's been giving him a few tips no doubt) and not let crosses in willy nilly, we can do the job. So come Sky Blues let's shag those scummers bummers!

Sunny Days!

Greetings from sunny Spain. where the temperature is 23 degrees, warm but not so warm as it is in Roy Walker´s brain we´d imagine, as tries to pick out a team to get the Sky Blues back to winning ways. We would suggest having every single player state their case, that´s if they are dedicated to the cause. We only have 8 days left before the ´biggest game´, against the Coleraine scum and we havent a clue about our strongest side. Defeats to Linfield (2 of them),Crusdaers, Carrick Rangers and even a draw from 3-0 ahead to Marty Quinn's men, will be nothing compared to a deafeat to the gas men.

Not only the gas men, but the gas men led by that diver Oran Kearney (some so called United fans don't believe he 'dived', but they're just sticking their heads in the sand as usuual), believe us 'you' haven´t heard booing yet. Roy needs to play his strongeset team tomorrow (today actually), that includes two strikers and a plan for getting the ball and playing football. This tactic of thumping the ball up and hope somebody gets it just isn't working, for a start we don't have the combative midfielders who are prepared to go in and get the loose ball. Play to your strenghts and have the courage to drop Archie, his defensive lapses can't continue, so what if Alfie snubs you, his tactics are no better than your own. Because of a glitch we weren't able to publish last night (the rumour about us all being drunk, is nearer to truth than we like to admit), so it's coming today, better late than never, so come Sky Blues, let's shag those Chickens!

Crunch Time!

United manager Roy Walker has set out his stall in saying his charges are going go all out for a win in the one of two minor competitions. His reputation will be on the line at the Showgrounds tomorrow night when the I.F.A. pay a return visit for a County Antrim Shield tie and if they get a ref that makes up the rules as he goes along, they'll be hard to beat. Lets face they're are hard to beat anyway, with the I.F.A. bankrolling to the tune of at least half a million pounds a season, no wonder they're head and shoulders above anyone else. United will have to do it without their Captain, Jenks, injured and there's a doubt about new signing Liam Watson. The two boys that were otherwise employed last Saturday, Cookie and Ally, should more or less step into the team. Ally was definitely missed and maybe with him in tow we can give the I.F.A. something to think about.

Surely we can count Elvis to play a bit better, he's had a 5 game break, he's been on the field, but he hasn't played since the first match of the season. Our striking options are somewhat limited, as Baker and Boyd, continue to struggle with injuries, Baker, calf and Boyd broken arm. The only real back-up for Elvis and Cutch, is Mike Smith or Sparky, it's safe to say the cupboards bare in that respect. The 'injured' Conor Downey is going to take a week or two getting back to full fitness, which leaves with a dearth of midfielders. If Watson is fit he could be moved up to the engine room, but failing that it'll be Sparky and Taggart (Gavin) and maybe Ross Black. Dwayne should keep his place in goals and Tony Kane and Dick Vauls should be the fullbacks. Sky Blue Sport will have no match report on tomorrow night's game and the Cliftonville match on Saturday, as Bruce Balmer is away to Estonia with the 'green and white army' and then taking a few days holiday. So come on Sky Blues, let's really shag those Villagers!

Damning Indictment!

Anyone that believes in these things, there is a 'damning' statistic about Roy Walker's three years in charge of Ballymena. In that time United have dropped 110 points at home, that an average of over 36 points per season, or to put it another way, of the 19 home matches we play in the league each season, we lose 12 and win only 7. Roy Walker must take the brunt of the blame for this sad state of affairs, he is after all the man in charge, but equally to blame is our board of directors, who appointed him and keep him in his job. He signed two defenders in desperation a week ago, but despite conceding yet another 4 goals in two matches since, he hasn't seen fit to try them, is he waiting for some divine intervention, if he is, were afraid he's going be disappointed.



Already this term we've dropped 8 points in 3 matches and conceded 8 goals in the process and we're afraid we can't see any light at the end of tunnel. We have a home game to Linfield tomorrow and although they are not the all conquering outfit they once were, we're afraid they will be too strong for us. Roy must make two changes to his starting line-up as the Cookie Munster and Ally Teggart are unavailable, which makes his inability to make a substitution last Tuesday hard to comprehend. Even if Liam Watson wasn't match fit, he could've been pushed up front and maybe make the Carrick defence work for their money. We hate to say but the 'Elvis Costello' experiment has turned out a bit of a flop, one match out of five is nowhere near good enough, so surely he needs a spell in the reserves to see if there's anything there, or if he's a big lazy wastrel.



If Roy is reluctant to play either of his new boys, why not recall Denver Gage, he'll give you 100% commitment, that's more than can be said about some of our other defenders. Tony Kane, clear of suspension, should surely feature and you can pick either Rodgers or Archie to partner Denver. Ross Black, should continue at leftback, while the fit again Sparky is surely a better option in centre-midfield than Gavin Taggart, alongside the under-performing Jenks or the fit again Conor Downey. Eamon Murray, although not back to his best yet, is still the best left winger we've got and providing Rory Carson, hasn't gone on-loan to Ards, he should fill in at right-midfield. That leaves 'little and large', Cutch and Baker up front and they should be able to exploit Albert Watson's lack of pace, but only if they have the mindset to do it. We know it's going to tough, but when it's tough, the really 'tough' get going, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those villagers!

Distant Memories!

Carrick Rangers pay their first visit to the Showgrounds for many a year and their visit will no doubt revoke old memories of happier times. Sky Blue Sport has been unequivocal in it's condemnation of this league we have now and hanker for the good old sixteen team league of a few years ago, not this repetituous dross. All the 'Sport team miss visiting Larne, Ballyclare and Carrick to watch a match and have a bit of craic with the locals. So we bid the players and supporters of the 'Gers welcome and hope they go back to 'Fergus pointless. What sort of team United's going to have tomorrow night, we really don't know.



We got a victory last Friday night at Suffolk, but the defence looked at sixes and sevens still. Surely the two new signings have to come in to reckoning tommorow night as we have the double header with Linfield next up. So you see there is no time to waste, we need to get our act together sooner rather than later. One of the biggest flops on Friday night was the ploy of playing Jenks and Gavin (Taggart), in centre-midfield, they never gelled. It might be an idea to move Ross Black into centre to partner Jenks, with Dick Vauls coming in to leftback. We would also like to see Liam Watson getting a run out tomorrow night, if not a starting role, at least coming on as a sub.



If fit, we envisage no change in the other positions, Eamon and Ally on the wide positions and Cutch and Baker up front. But who's going start as goalie, is Kerr to be recalled or will Dwayne get another game to prove himself. Its a hard decision to make, but a crucial one, we must have the right man doing the job. There's three points up for grabs, its not going be easy, but we must surely have too much power the 'Gers. So come on Sky Blues, lets shag those homeless bums!

Missed It!

Yes Bruce Balmer had to admit he failed to mention that 'miss', with a free header by Gary McCutcheon, in last Saturday's match with Crusaders. Stephen Alexander 'missed' it also in his match report (well we say match report, but it really is a vehicle that lets Roy Walker have his say). Needless to say Roy is blaming 'all in sundry' for 'his failure' to spot that this United defence have been leaking goals like nobody's business for nigh on three years. We've no doubt the situation has been exacerbated by the loss of Albert Watson to Linfield and the disgraceful 'sacking' of team Captain, Gary Haveron, but for petes sake Roy, get your head out of the sand.



We at Sky Blue Sport warned you that you needed a 'general' to marshal your defence, we haven't got a general and we haven't had one for a number of years. We had hoped that Jenks was to be our general, but we haven't seen any evidence of that. We heard on the grapevine that we're looking at yet another keeper, could it be that 'best keeper' in the first division last season's is not good enough, well that would be ironic. Although not confirmed yet (The Ballymena United F C website hasn't been updated), the 'great' Aaron Black experiment has gone down the plughole and the player has retired (reports he has joined Larne Tech O B, haven't been confirmed as yet).



As for the two defenders that signed for us, Dick Vouls and Liam Watson, we cannot honestly see them making much of an impact, at least not for a few matches. I'm sure D.C. will not want Watson playing tomorrow night at any rate, or is he so underrated they just don't care. If Vouls plays, do we want to have a good game, or just to show promise, how many times have we seen a player have a good debut and turn to be a flop (and no we weren't thinking of Danny Crainie here). As for the make-up of tomorrows team we don't have a clue, the only man in the back four who was anything like the thing, Tony Kane, has to serve a two match ban and is not available for selection.



With the news that Eamon Murray is available, get him on, push Jordan Baker upfront, he's not as good in the air as were led to believe, but he's the best we got. Tell Cutch if he misses another a 'free header' or tries another lob, he'll be stuck on a rowing boat and have to paddle his way back to Scotland. Elvis you'll have to leave on the bench, to see whether he's any use coming on as a sub and get Rory Carson on the right-wing where he can do some good, because he's lost inside. You maybe could try Ally Teggart inside, after the promise he showed the first two matches, he's kinda went off the boil, but then who hasn't. It's not the end of the world, we can get out of this mess, as long we're United, so come Sky Blues, lets shag those Suffolk sheep!

Defensive Errors!

We at 'Sport had been emphasising the point in the last few seasons, but it's fallen on deaf ears. We reiterated the point in the close season when Roy was finalising his squad, but on the evidence on the first two games it hasn't been heeded. We are hopeless at defending set-pieces. We've conceding four goals on our first two matches and three come about at our inability to defend set-pieces. In the last two games they've been 2 corner kicks and 1 free-kick, but we still haven't mastered the marking of throw-ins and seem content to let the other team have a free hand. But there's one thing we are more guilty of, we allow crosses to come in. No wonder we can't find a reliable keeper, he must have his head turned seeing crosses flash by wily nilly. We don't know what the answer is, our management don't seemingly even know what to do about, but something got to be done and done quickly, the situations going to get worse.



Manger Roy Walker has intimated that they'll changing in his defence because of events last Saturday which saw us ship 3 goals after going 3 goals up. But the long and the short of it is, we were being outplayed and Roy could have done something about it, but he didn't. Elvis Costello was having a 'stinker' and every time the ball went up to him he just gifted Glenavon possession. In fact he was so bad we were practically a man down before Aaron Black's sending-off, but Roy dug in his heels and kept him on. Admittedly we got a raw deal by the histrionics of Glenavon player Niall Henderson, who conned the referee as to extent of his injuries, by rolling and yelling like a stuck pig, but Aaron did commit the foul, there's no doubt about that.



Tomorrow our opponents are Crusaders, if you think it was tough last week, it's going be tougher when Crues players like Timmy Adamson and Coates will no doubt seek to exploit us at set-pieces. Reading between the lines we expect Roy to drop, Kerr, Ross Black and Cookie Munster while bringing in Dwayne, Kane, and Denver. We think he'll let Elvis keep his place, putting his crap performance down to playing against his former club, but reading in the programme an article by Michael Scott about Glenavon, he states Elvis to be 'hot and cold', not something we want to hear. Rory Carson might get a rare start in Sparky's position, but he's really better on the wing, but we have nothing else. Well we must hope for the best, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those toothless tigers!

Returning Hero(es)!

Tomorrow afternoon at the Showgrounds the Sky Blue fans will witness the appearance of a former hero, in Glenavon striker Kevin Kelbie. But on the plus side, we'll also get a chance to see the 'heroes' that took us to summit of the Premier league and maybe if we can get a win, will keep us there for at least another week. Its really early days, but there were signs last Saturday that this team means business and we're are not going to be depending on one man getting the goals and there's plenty more to come. Kevin will no doubt get a rousing reception from the United fans, it's only to be expected, but our own team deserves a good reception too and hopefully they'll deliver on the field.



We're only guessing as to what team Roy's going to pick tomorrow but it looks that he'll definitely have to make two changes to the team that started last Saturday. New rightback Tony Kane must serve a one game ban for his harsh sending-off at New Grosvenor and Conor Downey was unable to train last night with an ankle injury. The 'Sport team is somewhat reluctant to make predictions, but feel a good option is to move Sparky to rightback, Archie to centre half and bring in Ross Black at leftback. Of course we tipped Ross Black to get a starting role last week and we were completely off the mark, but feel that is the only logical solution, but realise Roy may have other ideas.



Who will fill Downey's position if he's indeed ruled out and the manager wants to continue with his tactics of playing three strikers? One option would to move Ally Teggart inside and restore Eamon Murray to the line-up. Or he could bring in Rory Carson to play alongside Jenks or Aaron Black, who scored a goal in the reserves 4-2 win on Tuesday night. He may be reluctant to play Elvis Costello against his former team and give the nod to Aaron Boyd instead. But the considered opinion is he will not want to drop a man that was instrumental in our victory, despite missing a penalty. Elvis is our leader and hopefully we'll send Glenavon home pointless and Kevin goalless, so come Sky Blues, let's shag them (Lurgan) spades!

Twenty-five Minutes!

There's an old Johnny Cash song that goes, 'They're building a gallows outside my cell and I got twenty-five minutes to go, and the whole Towns waiting for to hear me yell, with twenty-five minutes to go.' Now United manager Roy Walker has got 25 players in his squad and the whole town is waiting to see him deliver or to fall flat on his face. But will he pay ultimate penalty this time, losing his job, or are we getting complacent and thinking that bottom half in the league table is as much we can expect anyway. Roy has publicly stated that he hopes we can pick up a trophy like the League cup, or the County Antrim Shield this season, but if we don't, will he tender his resignation, we at 'Sport don't think so. But away with the negative thought process, let's get positive and see we can get away to a winning start for a change.

What the formation going is to be we don't have a clue, but wonder if Roy gave us a heads-up to what he was thinking in the last two friendlies, away to Larne and home to Ballymoney United, with an attacking 4,2,4. The Sky Blue Sports team can't remember the times when 4,2,4 was a regular ploy and can only remember one United 4,2,4 line-up in the last twenty years. That happened under manager Alan Frazer when we turned on the style away to the scum in a knock-out cup match, with Deckers McGreevy and Paul Muir in midfield and we won with plenty to spare. Somehow we can't see our present manager Roy Walker having the nerve to try that formation away to the Whites tomorrow, anyway Alan Jenkins and Conor Downey haven't the young legs of Deckers and Muir. But what is the line-up going be we wonder, but here's what we think, for what's it's worth.

We are undecided if it's new signing Aaron Kerr, or the reliable Dwayne Nelson in goals. Kerr looked decidedly jittery in the match against Larne and didn't start against Ballymoney, which makes us doubt whether he'll start against the Whites, going on body language alone, we'll go for Dwayne. We stick our necks for the fullbacks, Tony Kane and Ross Black, definite starters, but our central defensive pairing is going be harder to anticipate. Walker has been impressed by Chris Rodgers, but he also picked Archie for vice-captain and we can't see him pairing the two of them for this match, too much inexperience. Far more likely to go with Davey Munster and Archie, with Rodgers and Denver on the bench. Three certain starters in midfield, if fit, should surely be Ally Taggart, Alan Jenkins and Conor Downey.

The other midfield berth is up for grabs and we see as a straight tussle between Rory Carson, Sparky and Eamon Murray. The manager might decide to select Jordan Baker in that position, but we feel the side would have a better balance if the final midfield role was between Rory, Sparky and Eamon. The strike force should pick itself, Cutch and Elvis. We will be surprised if these two don't deliver the goods as long as they get the service. Jordan Baker may have to settle for a place on bench, but somebody has to miss out. So for the first time this season we will give the rallying call, 'Come on Sky Blues let's shag those lily Whites'!

Changes! Changes!

United manager Roy Walker has used the 'proverbial brush' and swept clean, in fact he has made wholesale changes to the United squad, bringing in no fewer than 11 players. The Sky Blue Sport team are divided on whether these changes will knit together and form a team to alleviate United's trophy famine which has been going on for 22 years. But the Sky Blue Sport team is in unanimous agreement in condemning the releasing the United's talisman, Captain Gary Haveron. Gazza has been the beating heart of this United team for six years and the 'Sport team is definitely in mourning at his departure, we think it is a mistake, but only time will tell if we are wrong. Having witnessed five pre-season friendlies the 'Sports team has taken on itself to 'rate' the new signings as we see them.

Firstly goalkeeper Aaron Kerr, suffice to say we are not impressed, but on the plus side he's seems to be okay with the back-pass, but definitely a worry with his shot-stopping as evidenced in the match against Larne on Wednesday. We decided to to give him a 5.

The new right-back Tony Kane, has a hard job to follow in the footsteps of not only Mike Smith, United have been blessed of having a long list of successes in this position and some abject failures. Marco Carlisle is one of the successes, Joe Gray is only one of the abject failures. Kane started off well, scoring from a free kick at Ballyclare and followed this by an abysmal miss in the match at Larne. We decided to give him 6.

One of the first signings Roy made was left-back Ross Black and we have nothing but praise for Larne man's capture. He's a powerful and gifted player, the sort to stand no nonsense and has a terrific shot, just what we been lacking and not afraid to mix-it. We decided to give him 8

As for central defender Davey Munster, the jury is out on the big stopper who seems to blow hot and cold. He was impressive in the 2nd half against Ards, but not so against Ballyclare or Larne. Maybe it's too early to judge him but we'll give him a 5

Chris Rodgers has impressed both Omar and Sammy when he's been on the pitch but we would like to see him against sterner opposition in order to judge him, but we decided he's worth a 6

Midfield has been revamped and we we're going to start with the impressive signing, Alan Jenkins. The ex- Morton player comes with great credentials, but has only made one appearance in the match against Ards, as he's nursing an injury. It's hard to rate a player on only one appearance and he is for intents purposes Gary Haveron, so he has a lot to live up to. We decided to give him a 6

Ex Portadown player Ally Taggart has been impressive and when he gets to know his forwards likes and don't likes, he'll get better and better. He opened the scoring against Larne on Wednesday with a delightful quick free-kick and then missed three chances which were all makable. We decided to give Ally a 7

Another impressive signing is the former Linfield, Cliftonville and Newry player Conor Downey, a player with a lot of skill and not afraid to mix-it, whether he'll an asset or a liability is anybody's guess but he's competitive and that's no bad thing. We decided to give him a 6

The enigmatic figure that is Aaron Black is more harder to rate, he has an impressive CV, having starred wherever he's been, but injury prone. If United can get him fit and playing every week, no doubt he will a tremendous asset. He's a player with lot to prove, let's hope he fulfils that potential, we decided to give him a 5

Roy believes he's got his dream striker, 6 foot 2, eyes of blue, in Jordan Baker, another ex-Portadown player and he certainly knows where the goals are and he should be perfect foil for the other ex- Portadown marksman, Cutch, no doubt United's 'little and large'. If he could hold the ball up so that Jenkins & co can get up in support, he will provide a very worthwhile asset indeed. We look forward to see him perform, we decide to give him 7

Now for last and by no means least, James (Elvis) Costello , the 'Sports team are unanimous in heralded this man as the messiah we have waiting for these long many barren years. Strong, resourceful and knows where the goals are, hopefully he'll be a Sky Blue legend, dare we say it, in many years to come. With that in mind we don't want to put too much pressure on him, so we give a 7

Hopefully we'll be way off the mark with these ratings and the boys will prove us wrong and silence our criticism. But we have seen false dawns before today and hope this is the 'real' thing. Come Sky Blues!

New Team!

United manager Roy Walker has been true to his word, being active in the transfer market,making a further three signings, bringing the total of new faces at Showgrounds up to seven. The latest recruits are Jordan Baker and Alan Teggart both from Portadown and the injury prone Aaron Black, from our close friends, the Coleraine scum. Black, Sky Blue Sport understands, has being signed on 'pay as you play' contract, because he was plagued with injuries over the last year. The competition for places in the starting line-up should be fierce and we are sure the existing members of the first team squad will feel pressure to perform instead the complacency which was evident last season.

Baker has been reputed to be the enigmatic striker, 'six-foot two, eyes of blue', United have long coveted. The saying goes 'many have tried, but few have been chosen', but Roy hopes to have got his man this time. This in turn will be put pressure on the Cutch as his stats making interested reading, a goal every 4 games, this ratio needs to improve if he is going remain the main striker. Defensive wise we feel Roy needs a one addition to his squad, a sweeper. It was obvious last season that there was no 'general' in our defence, organising things, some of the marking at corner kicks was juvenile to the extreme, we need that sorted.

We earnestly hope we have the keeper situation sorted, Roy says 'he was the best keeper in the first division' last season, we wonder we have heard that before? We hope he, or one of staff went to watch to confirm Kerr is comfortable with back-passes and not rooted to his line with those cross balls. We know he played a couple of games two seasons ago but we were going a through goalkeeping crisis and at the time Ryan Brown would look like the find of century. Omar says there have been many successful United keepers in that the past, the trouble starts when you ask to name them, we hope Aaron Kerr is the number one in the list when we ask him to name them two months into new season.

Painful Season!

Tomorrow we play our last game of the season in the hope of getting our highest ever finish under Roy Walker of a lofty 8th, however there is still the chance of finishing in the same place as the last 2 season, 10th. We play our fellow underachievers Gleanavon, who could leapfrog us if we lose. All in all, a most depressing season, promised so much, delivered so little, but still we live hope and and not much a faith, but hope for the best.

We have no team news but expect the team to be the same as Tuesday's game against liars of Dungannon, we just hope that we play with two up front. With a lack of goals a leaky defence and a terrible home record we have to hope for a sudden change in fortunes tomorrow. Sky Blues Sport's Bruce Balmer, went A.L.W., I citing 'I'm fed up with this crap', lets hope his enthusiasm returns of the summer months, the rest of 'Sports team remian intact, so for the last time this season, 'come on Sky Blues, lets shag those spades'!

Pants Fires!

Two games to go in another disappointing season for Roy Walker and United,though there is still the hope of our highest league finish under Roy, as we sit in the dizzing heights of 7th. Tomorrow we play the Tyrone liars with the hope of being able to record one of our best set of seasons results against them. A possible two wins a draw and a defeat against the Swifts and a chance of finishing 6th in the league would be seen as a small progress.

With the away stand not being opened again due to a lack of fans and only £1200 brought in on Saturday with over £400 paid on officials, we really are seeing the cost of not finishing in the top six. Not only no fans, directors speak forked tongue, 'liars, liars, pants on fires', in short, liars.

The team will probably be the same as started on Saturday as we have no real squad to pick from, lets just hope we are not as wastefull in front of goal as against Newry as the Swifts will make us pay for the missed chances. Hopefully Roy will have recovered from his training ground injury and be there to lead his team as we look for our 5th home league win of the season. So come on Sky Blues lets shag those Tyrone liars.

Sinking Ship!

It's been said that only 'rats' desert a sinking ship! Does that mean then that United are deemed to be a sinking ship as the rats are departing in droves. From Sky Blues Sports perspective 'rats' like Wesley Gregg (why we would ever employ someone from scumland is beyond us)and Andy Smith have probably done us a favour. Gregg, we assume had some impact on team selection, which is at best has been 'baffling' and at worst 'insane'. As for Andy Smith, we at 'Sport can never forgive him for two penalty misses last season, firstly against the 'scum', when we were in the ascendency and then handed the initiative back to them and lost and against the Glens when they had given themselves a life-line and a goal for us would have clinched the win, Andy of course, missed again. Yes we doubt either will be missed and to Gregg's replacement Terry Moore we wish good luck, even though it won't be a hard act to follow.

Eamon Murray, who promised so much, but in the end delivered so little has 'hinted' all along that he was bound for Australia in the summer and not sure whether he was returning. It now has been rumoured that Lee Colligan is going with him or at least going to Australia in the summer at any rate, both Lee and Eamon have blossomed at United. Mikey, has been on the radar of quite a few clubs since coming to prominence in a Sky Blue shirt and we can't really be surprised if he wants to move on, but like the other two it was 'us' who gave him his chance, loyalty in football is poor. Albert, such a stalwart at United for the last 9 years may decide to move to Linfield and if he goes, he goes with our blessing, he owes us nought.

This means that United will have to build an almost completely new defence for next season and in some ways that may not be an entirely bad thing as we have leaked 51 goals so far this season and 9 of them in three games against Donegal Celtic, who currently occupy 11 place in the league standings. Will manager Walker and his assistant Terry Moore try out a new combination defence in the closing games starting tomorrow? Would it be an idea to try out Gavin Taggart as sweeper as he's quite happy at making back-passes (just our little joke). Maybe it's time for us to attempt to get our defence into a 'you shall not pass' mode as our forwards (3rd lowest scorers in the league), continue to pass up chance after chance.

United are crying out for a striker, Gary McCutcheon, who promised so much and delivered so little, 12 goals from 40 appearances, has been extremely disappointing and we need someone who, not only promises, but can, deliver the goods. If we have to 'pay' over the odds for this player, whoever he is, it will be money well spent. Six more goals in close game in which there were quite a few would have seen us safely into the top six, big games against the top teams, instead of the meaningless drivel we're now facing. Sky Blue Sport is not without it's 'rats' as Bruce Balmer has deserted the cause this week and we'll be relying on Rusty Ray for our match report. We're a day early with our preview, but we haven't got a clue who Roy and Terry are going to select anyway so it doesn't really matter. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Suffolk ewes!

Final Scour!

United go into tomorrow night's game against the Coleraine scum knowing this is our last chance to give the scum a good cleansing. They are of course long overdue a good pasting but unfortunately the United team spirit is at such a low ebb, a massive injection of pride will be needed in order to right recent wrongs. With United already slipping back to 9th position in the league table, courtesy of Glenavon losing to Dungannon Swifts tonight, the Swifts now move ahead of us, by a slender single point. We can go a long way to alleviating the situation by recording a win at the home of the gas men tomorrow night.

United need to field their strongest starting 11 and if that means playing Boydie from the start, then so be it. Scoring goals has once again been our downfall, or should we say the 'lack' of scoring goals has been our downfall. With the gas men also missing out on the coveted top six position, no doubt they will be out to prevent United from gaining the upper hand, but gain it we must. No-one could fault our fans if they failed to make the journey to Ballycastle Road tomorrow night, they have been let down so many times in the past, but we still expect them to turn up for this one. With our fans behind us anything can happen, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those stinkin gas men!

If But!

Or should that be but if? We are like Roy Walker and the Sky Blues, we haven't got a bloody clue. Can United, with a 4-0 win and defeats for Coleraine and Distillery, claim an unlikely and undeserved sixth place? If the United manager had addressed the two problem positions that United have had since he took over, poor to average goalkeeper and below average goal-scoring ratio, we would surely have had the coveted sixth place weeks ago. Instead he chose to sign a keeper he obviously never watched, or at least we hope he never watched, because if he had watched him, surely he would never have signed him. He then released Kevin Kelbie without offering him any terms and signed Gary McCutcheon who only averages a goal every three games, if this is progress we can't see it.

But maybe we're being premature here, maybe Roy has an ace up his sleeve, some young striker he's going to unleash on the unsuspecting Newry City defence tomorrow. We think not, surely his selection of Mr negative himself, Gavin Taggart, for the game away to Dungannon just about sums up our attack minded management. Taggart's philosophy seems to be, 'why make a forward pass when you can pass it back'. Caff, having served his suspension on Tuesday night will be available for selection, if the manager wants to select him. Surely we're at the stage where its 'win or bust' and we must come out with 'all guns blazing', admittedly a positive result will only count if other results go our way, but if we must fail, let's fail with a bang.

Even the prospect of four home games if we are doomed to the bottom six would be of scant compensation, given these two big factors. Firstly, except for Glenavon, not one of the likely candidates for bottom six (Newry, Dungannon and D.C. are definitely in there), can bring anything but a mediocre crowd. Secondly our home form is so crap we'd be lucky, nay very lucky, to get more than two points from our home games. Much better to be in the top six and only at home to Cliftonville and Linfield, two draws in these games and seven points from the other three will do very nicely. OK, so we're dreaming, but it doesn't cost nothing, so why shouldn't we. Let's hope our dream is still alive after tomorrow's game at the Marshes. So here we go, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those canal boys!

Swift Decision!

United are in dire need of a win at Stangmore Park Dungannon tomorrow night, but a close win won't do, as our goals against column is none too good. Just winning at the home of the 'chicken' supporters will be tough enough, but the need for goals is paramount if we are to gain a top six place. Three points in their last two games would secure a top six finish for Portadown, while the Coleraine scum are catchable but their goal difference is superior to ours, hence the need for goals. The scum's last game is against D.C. who are involved in a relegation dogfight with Newry and they could have a big influence on who makes the top six. It's still all up for grabs but since our defeat on Saturday we must get two wins from our next two games and score highly or we will need a favour from someone else.

United will go into the game without on-loan midfielder Caff who is suspended, but with central defender Albert restored to the fold after serving his suspension on Saturday past. Ex-Linfield player Paul McAreavey looked fairly impressive when coming on as a sub and he may get the nod in place of Caff, where his tough tackling and competitive approach may be significant. Whatever permutation the United manager chooses in the end they will need to be up for this game and need to improve their goal-scoring ratio to chances created, which at the moment is pretty poor, create ten openings, score just two goals, it just won't do. Sky Blue Sport won't be there as we continue to boycott the home of the liars, so United will have to manage without us, but we'll still be rooting for them, that's for sure, so come on Sky Blues, go shag those chicken stuffers!

Muddy Waters!

We've been on the Carling web site and studied the proposed fixtures when the split occurs. All we can say is it's as clear as mud, we can't make head nor tail of it and feel it's like trying to explain the 'offside rule' to the uninitiated. The best scenario is if Lisburn Distillery finish 5th and we finish 6th, otherwise it will be pandemonium. Only the I.F.A. could make such a simple task so complicated and why the panic, surely they could've waited another couple of weeks, instead of going off half cocked as usual.

But on to more important things, United take on Glentoran tomorrow, having dropped to eighth in the table and surely 3 points are a must if United still harbour thoughts of entering the top six. Archie came through a midweek reserve game unscathed and should fill in at central defence for the suspended Albert. Also missing from the United starting line-up, are Andy Smith, Aaron Boyd and Westy, while Eamon Murray failed to train on Thurs past. If Lee Colligan is fit to resume at left back, Captain Gazza, should be released to his midfield role alongside Caff. Barring the unavailability of Murray the rest of the United line-up should be the same as that which started at new Ballyskeagh. So it's all hands to the pump, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those east Townies!

Chicken Run!

United undertake what should hopefully be their last Chicken run this season or with a wee bit of luck any season for at least a year. It´s our understanding that United still haven´t been paid by the Swifts for the signing of goalkeeper Sean O´Neill. Surely by this stage even the I.F.A. will have little option but to deduct points from the Swifts, which would then plunge them into relegation trouble, we at ´Sport won´t mourn their passing. In fact it would be poetic justice as far as we are conserned, as the old saying goes, ýour lies will find you out´.

There´s no need for us to go over the old ground about what lies we are talking about and Sky Blue Sport will continue to boycott the Stangmore Park fixture as we have done since the concocted story about our supporters, but Rusty Ray may be there. But enough chit chat, United must keep focused on the task ahead as they strive to secure a top six finish. Unfortunately our fate isn´t entirely in our own hands as other teams need to drop points as well as us winning them. But all we can do is our best and if we do that as a team, we at ´Sport believe it´ll be enough.

Hopefully United will have a full panel to select from as Archie and Lee will be badly missed as United face three potential ´finals´ in the next fortnight, while the two trialists should return. The game of course may not take place tomorrow as snow is forecast and yet another postponement could mean a midweek trip to Dungannon for the Sky Blues. If this happens, which it could, it´d be better to get the game played sooner rather than later as we wouldn´t want it to be a vital game for us, would we? We have enough on our plate without worrying about the vagaries of the weather, or whether the game is played sooner rather than later.

Albert, will need to be on his toes once more, as he was last week. Never have we seen Glenn Ferguson as quiet as he was last Saturday, in fact Albert had him spiked! His adversay tomorrow, Timmy Adamson, needs no introduction to United players or fans as he generally leaves a big impression on both. With fans it´s with his goalscoring, while with players it´s generally with his studs and he always gets away with it. But maybe his luck will run out tomorrow, maybe for once it´s the turn of the good guys, so come on Sky Blues, let´s shag those Chicken farmers!

Hanging On!

Believe it or not we're still in with an outside chance of a top six finish, but it's no longer just up to us, we'll also need somebody to give us a wee leg-up as well. Having said that, there's an old saying about 'helping yourself' and that's what we have to start doing. Ten points might be enough to help us sneak into the top six, but 12 would be even better, but we'll still need a wee bit of help from other clubs. So it's vital that we get back to winning ways tomorrow at Ballyskeagh, this was always going to be a crucial fixture for us, but now thanks to our recent slump it's probably the 'biggest' game of the season. If that in itself wasn't enough there's also the wee bit of unfinished business from our last visit to this footballing wilderness, when we were falsely accused of abusing an injured Distillery player, who in the end wasn't badly injured at all.

No doubt Tommy 'never' Wright, who walked out on United with hardly a 'by your leave', won't even consider an apology's necessary, but we will remind him. United fans will be cheered by the news that flying winger Eamon Murray should be fit to resume, but on the 'flip side', Archie, Aaron Boyd and Andy Smith are all out injured. In the absence of a striking partner for Cutch we believe United should go for a 4,5,1 formation, which looks negative on paper, but can also be an attacking formation. Gazza, who had a horror in defence, against the Crues, should be pushed into central midfield alongside Caff and George Young. With Murray on one wing a start could either be given to Mo or Ryan Berry on the other. The back four should be, Mikey, Lee, Albert and Denver and of course Cutch up front, but Murray and Mo/Berry, encouraged to get up along with him when possible.

This formation of course will confuse Tommy Wright, if nothing else and hopefully by the time he figures it out United will have the points all wrapped up. Sounds good doesn't it, but it'll hardly be quite that simple, although it is basically a simple game. Simply score more goals than your opponent and you will be the victor, it's only human tinkering that makes it complicated. Our defence will have to be strong as well for the Whites are a big strong side, while former United player Dessie Loughrey, will do us no favours as referee. It's going to be tough, it's going to be rough, but it can be glorious and definitely victorious, so come on Sky Blues let's shag those Lambeggars!

Not Guilty!

United manager Roy Walker, obviously clutching at straws, chastised United fans in Saturday's programme for transmitting 'negative thoughts' to the players. We at 'Sport are really annoyed that the manager, who has been treated extremely courteously by Sky Blue fans, should adopt this attitude. In our humble opinion his time would be better spent in trying to find out why this United team can play so well in some games and so poorly in others. There are rumours of a 'gambling' culture at the Showgrounds but as their are about 7 ever present players on-side when these lapses have occurred, it sounds a bit far fetched, but where there's smoke, there's generally fire.

Of course fans have been quite scathing in their comments recently and with plenty of reasons too. Since beating Portadown on January 4, our record has been abysmal to say the least. In that period we've played 7 league games drawing three and losing 4 and all lost at home. Actually given this abysmal record Roy can count himself lucky he hasn't had to sneak out the back door, like many before him. If he knuckles down and finds a way to motivate his team he could still come out of this okay, but make no bones about it, it's going to be tough. As we haven't been able to glean any news from various sources, we can't say if Eamon Murray has recovered from his knee injury, but we sure hope he has.

We had no guile in our team last week against D.C. and we'll surely need some tomorrow night when the 2nd placed Crues come to town. If previous games against them are to be taken as the yardstick, then things look pretty grim for the Sky Blues, but Roy's always saying that we 'fear nobody', tomorrow night would be a good time to go out and prove it. We at 'Sport are trying our damnedest to be remain positive and fly the flag, but we need a wee bit of help from the players, in short lads it's time to stand up and be counted. You've had it too good for too long, it's time to roll your shirtsleeves up and get on with it. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those tiger cubs!