Sky Blue Sport News

Friday, October 28, 2005

Blue Heaven!

United manager Tommy Wright has an unfamiliar dilemma tomorrow, with an almost completely fit squad of players, big Tam must decide who to leave out. United Captain Gary Smyth looks certain to make a return and I would also expect young left-back Craig McClean to reclaim his position. That leaves Boydie and Kieran Donaghy trying to oust Albert Watson and the impressive Stephen Collier, who would relish the task of facing his former team. The manager must also decide whether to bring back former Linfield player Phil Charnock who has reported fit once more and if he does, who partners him in centre midfield. Stuart King may just hold down the wide right position and the manager could persevere with young Andy Rosbotham, who has not set the world alight so far, or bring in Boydie in a wide left role. Vinny Sweeney will be given another chance to make the striker’s role his own and we expect Rory Hamill to partner him. United fans will be hoping former Sky Blue favourite, Oran Kearney, won’t have his shooting boots with him, as it would be annoying if he should score against them. The United team will have to be that tomorrow if they are to glean something from this game. Only if everybody works for each other and only if we are United in our cause, can we hope to succeed. So come on Sky Blues, let’s ‘shag those townies’, let’s send them back to old dirty Belfast, with their tails between their legs!

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Wright Attitude!

With Kieran Donaghy set to miss his first ever league game for United tomorrow, manager Tommy Wright must decide whether to bring in Albert Watson or Gordon Simms. After the inept display by the ‘whole’ United team last week, the manager will be hoping things will improve drastically, when United visit Holm Park for their first fixture in Armagh for a couple of seasons. United’s record at the ‘dead centre’ of the cathedral city, is nothing special, but three points must be gleaned tomorrow, to set United up for the next couple of games. We at ‘Sport wonder if the United supremo will bring in the fit again Dominic Melly and give the ineffective Vinny Sweeney a game in the reserves. He also must decide if there’s any point in keeping Kevin Kelbie in the starting line-up, as he has failed to impress so far in this campaign. Last week we implored the lads to get their ‘collective’ fingers out and of course they didn’t take a blind bit of notice. This week it has to be ‘up and at ‘em’ and remember what old Jonesy used to say in Dad’s Army, ‘they don’t like it up ‘em’, so let’s stick it up ‘em, eh lads!  

Friday, October 14, 2005

Charnock Services!

Phil Charnock, who signed a four month contract with United on Tuesday night, will make his debut for the Sky Blues in the tricky away game at Loughgall tomorrow. With Stuart King fit once again, United manager Tommy Wright will have to decide who plays where at Lakeview Park. Will he be brave enough to give young Andrew Rosbotham the nod in the wide left position and keep King on the bench? He also must decide whom he pairs with Charnock in midfield, will it be Haveron, who has been less than impressive so far, or will either Gareth Scates or Aiden Watson get the nod. Rumour has it, that Stephen Collier, who impressed in Monday night’s friendly against a Derry City select, may well retain the right-back slot on Saturday. This may mean Kieran Donaghy’s unbroken run in the team may come to an end, or will big Tam slot him in as sweeper with either Gary Smyth, Gordon Simms or the fit again Albert Watson as his partner. He also must decide whether to stick with McFrederick in goal or bring in Kieran McLaughlin, who also impressed in Monday night’s friendly. Up front we’re afraid his options are very limited and it looks like Hamill and Kelbie will retain their starting roles. That only leaves the wide right position to be filled and surely Dominic Melly must come into the reckoning if he is fit, as Vinny Sweeney has been anything but impressive of late. Hopefully the Sky Blue choir have already got a ‘welcome song’ for Phil Charnock, but if they haven’t and he manages to score or create a goal tomorrow, they’ll definitely think of one!  

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Handy Andy!

Phil Charnock, as announced ‘exclusively’ on Sky Blue Sport, made a quiet debut for Ballymena in a friendly game last night at the Showgrounds. A spokesman for the United board denied reports that the match was being played on the ‘quiet’, but there was in reality little or no announcement of the match taking place and the paltry crowd reflected this. For the record, United won one nil, thanks to an Andy Rosbotham free kick which went through the ‘Derry wall’, excuse our pun. The match against the City fringe players was played at a fairly lively pace and United’s back up keeper Kieran McLaughlin, made a couple of smart saves to give his team a victory. Phil Charnock had a good first half, like any ‘class’ player, he seems to have a lot of time and space and can lay the ball off rather nicely. His two attempts on goal in the first half we put down to rustiness, his first a shot after a knock down header from a corner was easily blocked, while his second from a 30 yard free kick sailed miles over the bar. United’s summer signing, Gary Haveron, who played at centre back had easily his best game since joining the club, while debutant right back Stephen Collier was also impressive. United are still struggling up front, with Rory Hamill fighting a lone battle as Kevin Kelbie continues to struggle. All in all it was a worthwhile exercise, but surely a bit more media participation would’ve brought along a much better crowd. We can only hope that Derry City didn’t demand too much of an appearance fee, as the crowd there wouldn’t do much more than cover expenses!

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Daring Derry!

Derry City are breezing into town tomorrow night to play United in a friendly, it’s hoped the Eircom league pacesetters will bring a full strength squad to the Showgrounds. The match will allow Showgrounds supremo, Tommy Wright, the opportunity to run his eye over Englishman Phil Charnock, who was on Linfield’s books last season. It will also allow some of the United fringe players to have a game in an effort to impress the manager and maybe give some of the injured players a much need game before the visit to Loughgall on Saturday. The match kicks off at 8pm we are told and United will be hoping for a half decent turnout for what should be an interesting game. It would be nice to report that we had unearthed a striker, but after all this is reality and they’re as scarce as hen’s teeth. So we’re afraid we’ll just have to soldier on in the meantime, well at least until January anyway. Hopefully it won’t be too late by then, so somebody has to start scoring goals and tomorrow night would be as good a time as any. So we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed, that maybe Rory Hamill will at last come up with the goods!