Marksing Orders!

Jamie Marks time at Ballymena has expired and he has moved to Portadown just beating the transfer deadline. Jamie has, if you’ll pardon the pun, been marking time at United for the last two years. Jamie made only 42 appearances as a Sky Blue in that time, scoring only two goals in the process, not much of a return for earning a decent wage. But that’s all water under the bridge so to speak and we at ‘Sport wish Jamie well at his new club. As Jamie moved out yet another player moved in when manager Wright signed former Cliftonville and Institute goalkeeper, Kieran McLaughlin. This news will come as a jolt to Willie McFrederick, who had just forced his way into the first team, now he not only has to challenge Greg Shannon for the keeper’s jersey, he’ll have to contend with McLaughlin as well. The United defence still looks a bit ‘creaky’ and was exposed once more at Newry last night. New signing Kevin Kelbie looks a bit ‘raw’ up front, but we’ll now see what manager Wright is made of, we’ll see if he can work the magic and turn him into a lethal striker. Gary Smyth who missed last night’s game through injury should be fit for the next game away to Glenavon in eleven days time. Unfortunately we won’t have a match report for that game as Bruce Balmer is off overseas after the World cup match with England and won’t return until two day’s before the first league match. In the meantime we will try to keep you updated in all that’s happening at the old Showgrounds.

Marsh Pride!

With the news that United manager Tommy Wright has signed former Glasgow Rangers apprentice Kevin Kelby, we at ‘Sport are wondering if this is a ‘masterstroke’ by the United manager, or a ‘panic buy’, coming as it does just two days from the transfer deadline. Once again we are told that Kelby is not an ‘out and out’ striker, but a midfielder or striker, in other words yet another player like Sweeney and Hamill. On the plus side is the fact that big Tommy turned an average player, Kevin Ramsey (us United fans know how average he was), into one of the most deadly strikers in the league, during his spell at Limavady United, so let’s hope he can do the same with Kevin Kelby. We at ‘Sport would urge United fans to give young Kevin time to adjust to the pace of Irish league football and time to find his ‘niche’ in the United set-up. We realise we need an instant fix, but it’s more important to have our team ‘gelling’ at the start of the league, yes getting to the knock out stages of the C.I.S. cup would be nice, but getting off to a good start in the league is of tantamount importance. So after getting all that off our chest what are our chances of progressing in the C.I.S. cup? Mathematically we still have a chance, but we need at least a draw tomorrow night when we visit the Marshes to take on Newry City and then if we only manage a draw, maximum points away to Glenavon and at home to Portadown. No it is not impossible but it will take everybody playing at the top of their game, no lapses in defence like there have been in all three games so far this season. But a defeat tomorrow night would be fatal, unless Glenavon take something from their game with Portadown. There are really too many ‘variables’ and all we can do is our very best and if we do that and still miss out, then so be it. Do the ‘Sky Blue crew’ have a song with Kevin Kelby’s name in it already? If not, hopefully they soon will have, we suppose they could always go with ‘he’s blue, he’s white, he’s f—king dynamite’ or would some other ex-Sky Blue striker take offence, in the end, who cares?

(W)Right Decisions!

New United manager Tommy Wright, has decided rightly or wrongly (forgive us the pun), to change his defence for the home game against Glenavon tonight, kick-off, 07-45pm. Whether this is the correct procedure to halt the Sky Blues run of defeats, is anybody's guess, but at least the 'big' man is not afraid to make a decision. The United defence have not played that badly, conceding three goals in two games, but it is the manner in which they conceded them that is worrying for the United boss. To say that all three goals were pure defensive errors, would be to hit the nail on the head. All of them could've been prevented and all of them should've been prevented. After two games it's plain to see that goalscoring is not going to be any easier than last year, so therefore it's imperative that we keep our goals against down to the bare minimum. That should surely mean a recall for club captain Gary Smyth, but at whose expense we wonder. Will it be Albert Watson or Gordon Simms, or is it yet another scenario, three at the back, with Boydie and Donaghy as wing-backs. The midfield hasn't exactly set the world on fire now has it, so maybe there's a case for giving a couple of them a kick up the backside. Striker Paul McDowell must surely get a place on the bench, if not a starting berth, as Rory Hamill continues with his 'flattering to deceive' form. Maybe a couple of days of keeping the bench warm will give the Coleraine man the motivation he needs. We are not advocating full scale changes, but it's obvious that the present squad are not delivering the goods, so a little pruning now might just allow them to blossom into winners. Our defence will have to be on their toes even more so tonight, as ex-player Shea Campbell, will be out to put one over on them. Come on United, let's send the Craigavon men home, in 'mourning'!

Steele Blues!

United manager Tommy Wright continues to dip into the transfer market by signing two players over the last couple of days. First to come into the Showgrounds fold was under 19 International, midfielder Johnny Steele. The Larne player joins two other first teamers from the East Antrim Town, Gary Haveron and central defender Gordon Simms. Also joining the Sky Blues was former Linfield full-back, Stephen Collier. Manager Wright then put Jamie Marks and Eddie Hill on the transfer list. The United manager has a full panel to select from tomorrow, but is expected to give last week's squad a vote of confidence, although he may find room on the bench for Captain Gary Smyth, who has served his one match ban. Tomorrow's game sees the visit of the man Sky Blue fans love to hate, motormouth, Roy McCreadie and the return of last year's keeper Goosey Robinson. No doubt 'Goosey' will have his usual banter with the fans, but will be out to derail the United juggernaut, nothing we're sure would give him greater pleasure. Let's hope we have a better turn-out than the small crowd who turned up at Portadown last Saturday and let's cheer the Sky Blues to victory!

First Blood!

Big Tommy Wright will be hoping to draw first blood when United make the trip to Shamrock Park tomorrow for our first game in the C.I.S. cup. A result tomorrow is of vital importance, if United are to have any chance of progressing to the knock-out stages of the competition. A one nil defeat is not a result, it's a setback and it'd be a setback we could ill afford. United go into the game minus, Tim McCann, Fitzy and Jamie Marks, all injured, while team captain Gary Smyth and new signing Paul McDowell, are both serving suspensions. The United captain should be available for selection for United's next game at home to Newry, while McDowell must wait until his former team, Glentoran seconds, complete two competitive games. Portadown are rumoured to be 'sweating' on midfielder Mickey Collins, who is nursing an injury, but we've heard all these stories before and will only believe it when we see it. Can United come away with a victory, we ask ourselves? Portadown did start off slow last season, but with Vinny Arkins and Gary Hamilton reaffirming their allegiance to the club, the United defence could be in for a torrid time. We at 'Sport are of the opinion that the first twenty minutes are vital, if we can hold them at bay for that length of time, then we might just have a 'wee' chance. So, we need everybody performing at the top of his game tomorrow and we need the Sky Blue faithful to be there in large numbers to give the lads their undying support. Let's make it a good day out in Portadown tomorrow, let's 'shag' those Orchard county sheep!

Last Chance!

Tonight is the last chance for United's 'fringe' players to make an impression on United manager Tommy Wright and his coaching staff, when the Sky Blues first team pay a visit to Bangor. The playing staff were given a night off training last night, after their somewhat jaded showing in the away friendly at Ballyclare Comrades on Saturday past. We at 'Sport were of the opinion during Kenny Shiels's management tenure, that United played far too many pre-season friendlies and we're wondering if Tommy Wright has fallen into the same trap. Surely a couple of friendlies against top class opposition would stand the team in good stead, rather than the six or seven against what can best be described as 'second class' opposition. More questions were asked than answered last Saturday and United still look rather light upfront, where Vinny Sweeney missed with yet another 'free' header. Admittedly we missed a stack of chances in the first half, but we were doing that last season also, so maybe nothing's changed. Still only time will tell and the United manager has tonight's game to get it sorted, before the 'real' thing begins with a trip to Portadown this Saturday. United's reserve team is also in action tonight away to Chimney Corner, so fans may feel their presence there would be better. We're sure the hard working committee at the Antrim club would appreciate a good turn out, but unfortunately this is unlikely as it clashes with european football on the 'box'. Just a word in passing about the 'team we love to hate', Coleraine, how did they ever allow themselves to get into such a big debt is beyond comprehension. For once we sympathise with their fans, but the men in 'suits' who allowed Coleraine to go down the plughole, should not be allowed to forget their part in it's downfall. Let this serve as a warning to all Irish league clubs, keep the purse strings tight, otherwise you could be in the same boat!

Dick Off!

Mark Dickson the leading marksman for Larne last season, turned down United for a second time in twelve months and looks poised to sign a two-year deal that will tie him to Larne. We at 'Sport are not sorry, as it is our belief that Dickson is a player with few ambitions and wants to be the big 'fish' in the small pool. United are on the look-out for players who want the very best and Dickson definitely doesn't appear to come into that category. We are also of the opinion that Dickson, fine player though he may be, is not the 'final piece' in the Tommy Wright jig-saw. We are we believe still looking for the target man upfront and those are as they say, as scarce as hen's teeth. Former United manager Kenny Shiels allowed at least three possible candidates to pass him by, but hopefully big Tommy won't let the grass grow under his feet. In the meantime, new signing Vinnie Sweeney will have to carry the load and who knows maybe he can continue a United tradition, where in the absence of a striker, a man moved in as a stop gap, made the position his own, only time will tell. United continue their friendly games with a trip to play second division side Ballyclare Comrades tomorrow afternoon and wind things up with a trip to Bangor on Tuesday night. On Tuesday last a first team panel swept aside Saturday morning league outfit Randalstown Sky Blues by four goals to nil, scorers for United were, Rory Hamill 2, Gary Haveron and Eddie Hill. Last night a team made up entirely of fringe players, lost 3-2 to Intermediate league side Connor, with Reid and McQuitty on the scoresheet for United. Let's hope the Sky Blues can get back to winning ways tomorrow, as the old saying goes, 'winning can become a habit' and it's a 'habit' we definitely need to acquire!

Too Soon!

'It's too soon to know' go the words of the 'Roy Orbison song' (apologies for our use of 'highlight' commas) and just for information purpses, 'Roy Orbison' (there we go again), was a singer of yesteryear. So in our humble opinion (not that Bruce Balmer or Omar would admit to being humble), it's too soon to judge how United have progressed under new manager Tommy Wright. So far we have not been overly impressive in our friendly games (we resisted the temptation to emphasis friendly, but it was tough we can tell you), but at the end of the day, they are only to allow our manager to run his eye over our entire playing staff. We fought out a one all draw with Coagh United on last Friday night (or should we say Friday last, our grammar is not the best we know, Mister Gourly must be turning in his grave), the same Coagh United whom we just managed to dispose of by the score of one nil in the Irish cup and we're sure we don't have to remind Sky Blue supporters how nail-biting that encounter was. It was nice to see new signing Paul McDowell score the equaliser for United (Ballymena), in this game, hopefully this will be the first of many in a Sky Blue jersey for the former Glentoran player. Then on Saturday our reserves with the addition of Boydie and Gary Smyth beat Raceview Rangers one nil with Randal Reid getting the all important goal, during the club's open day. With a trip to junior club Randalstown Sky Blues tomorrow night, followed by a trip to intermediate side Connor on Thursday night, let's hope the Sky Blues 'juggernaut', keeps rolling along!