Sky Blue Sport News

Friday, January 26, 2007

Red Revenge!

United enter their toughest round of games in the 2nd half of the Premier league when they entertain 3rd placed Cliftonville at the Showgrounds tomorrow. United treasurer Noel Millar, is hoping the ‘reds’ will bring a decent crowd with them tomorrow, in the wake of their winning of the County Antrim Shield on Tuesday past. As we said this is the start of United’s toughest run of games, at home at first to Cliftonville tomorrow and then 2nd placed Portadown next Saturday. On the following Saturday we entertain Comber Rec in the Irish cup, followed by a trip to Windsor Park to take last years champions, at present in 4th place, before a home game against Dungannon Swifts, who at present are just 6 points behind league leaders, Glentoran. United are set to give a first full game to new signing Gavin Melaugh, in right midfield, with 2nd top scorer, Mark Picking, partnering Kevin Kelbie up front. Austen Friel has moved back to Limavady with central midfielder, Stephen Lowry, coming to the Showgrounds and being in the panel for tomorrow’s game. Simon Kelly signed from Eircom league side, Dundalk, must sit out two games as he has been suspended by his previous association, the F.A.I... Darren Fitzgerald may get a place on the bench, but Randal Reid who had flu symptoms last week, looks sure to be rested. Could this mean a recall to the bench for the fit again Paul Brown, the subject of transfer speculation this week? United manager Tommy Wright was unavailable for comment, so it’s anybody’s guess and we’ll just have to wait and see. The stage is set, the 3rd placed team, fresh from their Shield winning exploits are in town and it’s up to us to send them home pointless. We know we have the players capable of doing it, if only they can bring their best ‘game’ out tomorrow. So ‘come on United, let’s shag this Chickenville crap!’

Friday, January 19, 2007

Tiger Tamers!

United go into tomorrow’s game against the ‘hatchet men’ at Seaview with two new signings in their squad. Gavin Melaugh, who made his debut as a substitute last Saturday against the ‘Welders’ in the Irish cup, is joined by 22year-old Simon Kelly from Eircom league side, Dundalk. It’s hoped the young six-footer, who can play anywhere along the back four, or even in midfield, will be a great asset to our squad. United manager Tommy Wright has not ruled making further additions to his panel, but has said that unfortunately Gordon Simms, must be transferred as he is surplus to requirements. With Fitzy fit once more, the United manager refused to be drawn on his starting line-up, but it’s thought that last weeks starting line-up will get the nod from the manager. This in turn will probably mean young David Cushley dropping down to the reserves and United could have the rare luxury of two strikers on the bench, Austen Friel and Fitzy. The other sub is expected to be Melaugh, while new signing Simon Kelly will play in the reserves alongside Paul Brown, who is making a good recovery from his broken foot. We at ‘Sport would like to congratulate Aaron Callaghan in making the stand-by squad for the Inter-league game, selected by Linfield manager David Jeffrey. So United, as we enter ‘Tiger’s bay’ tomorrow, let’s show those ‘cubs’ who’s boss, in short, ‘let’s shag those townies’!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Round One!

Okay here we go, this is it, forget about last Saturday, forget about Tommy signing an extended contract, focus only on one thing, United progressing to the next round of the Irish cup. The I.F.A. have ‘dithered and dallied’ once more and we have no sponsor for the so called, ‘blue riband’ trophy. But that doesn’t diminish its importance for us or for any team involved in it. Harland & Wolfe Welders will be out to turn us over tomorrow, of that we can be certain, but our fate is in our own hands. United manager Tommy Wright has intimated his intention to start with last weeks starting line-up, minus Fitzy who has a hamstring injury, with Randal Reid taking his place. New signing Gavin Melaugh will we believe be on the bench, but Darren Murphy must sit out the game with a thigh injury. Could this mean a recall for either Paul Brown or the more versatile Nigel Boyd, we’re afraid we’re not privy to that decision. But no matter who gets the nod for the panel of 14 players, we expect the United fans to get right behind them from the outset. We all have a part to play, players, management, board members and fans, so let’s give it our best shot. ‘Come on Sky Blues; let’s shag those ‘Brass Monkey’, repair men!’

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

High Times!

After the news today that Tommy Wright has had his contract extended we thought we’d break with tradition and bring out an extra news bulletin, so for what it’s worth here it is…

January 15 2005, League position 7th, final position April 2005, 7th, Kenny Shiels sacked.

Jan 15 2005 P W D L F A Pts

16 5 7 4 20 21 22

January 14 2006, League position 5th, final position, April 2005 6th, manager safe

Jan 14 2006 P W D L F A Pts

17 9 1 7 20 25 28

January 13 2007, league position 9th, final position April, 9th at best (estimate).


Jan 13 2007, P W D L F A Pts

17 6 4 7 20 22 22

In April 2005 and after 5 years in charge Kenny Shiels was sacked as the board rightly decided enough was enough, with the team finishing 7th, the exact same position as they were in January 15 2005.

In April 2006 our new manager took us to 6th, roughly the same position as we were in on January 14 2006 and we gave him the benefit of the doubt as it was his first year, but we were not overly happy as the football was boring to say the least.

This year we are in 9th in January 13 2007, if history is to repeat itself and it probably will, we will finish in 9th position in April, as estimated above. Could someone please explain to us the logic in rewarding our manager, who has so far delivered sweet F.A. (Fanny Adams), with a 2 year extension to his contract, for a season in which we have so far gone nowhere but backwards?

If you want to draw an analogy with 2004/05 season, we lost to Kilmore Rec in the County Antrim Shield first round and this year we lost to Dundela in the 1st round of the same competition. We thought the manager should’ve been sacked for that alone in 04/05 season, we also thought the manager this season, should have been at least warned that his one bad result had gone and any repeat would lead to termination of his contract. Last Saturday we witnessed the worst defeat we have ever had to endure as Sky Blue supporters and now we see our board has rewarded our manager with an extension to his contract. The United supporters sing a song the first line of which goes, ‘In the town where we were born, we all take heroin and live on farms’. We thought the bit about ‘heroin’ was just an ironic joke, but now we’re wondering if it isn’t. Could the United board be having something slipped into their halftime cuppa? That would explain why they are throwing good money after bad on a manager who appears to have no football brain whatsoever. Take for example the one position that Tommy Wright, professional International goalkeeper should know about, goalkeeper of course. Tommy’s first action when he came to Ballymena was to discard the best keeper the club has had since Robbie Beck, namely Goosey Robinson. Then through Tommy making one or two gaffes we were left with Willie McFrederick, who although a fair shot stopper, never left his goal-line for crosses or back passes and was blamed for at least half of the team’s goals against column last season. This year Tommy has discarded Willie in favour of Paul Murphy, who let’s face it, is useless as a shot stopper, reasonable with crosses, but a nightmare with back passes. So if Tommy can’t get that position right what chance has he of sorting out our sluggish defence, inept midfield and punchless forward line? Thank god the new Premier league is going to be by invitation; otherwise we wouldn’t be in it!

Friday, January 05, 2007

Double Time!

United manager Tommy Wright is expected to give a vote of confidence to the 11 players who finished the match against Glentoran, where we have the chance to do the 'double' over the Lugan Blues. Definitely out of tomorrow’s game is midfielder Aiden Watson who has a broken wrist. Darren Murphy is rated as doubtful for the game against one of his former clubs, while Randal Reid who had to have five stitches in a head wound, courtesy of an elbow from ‘player of the month’, Gary Hamilton (who claims goals he doesn’t even score), may possibly make the bench. Hopefully new signing Gavin Melaugh’s clearance will have come through in time for the Glenavon game, yet another example of the inefficiency of the Irish F.A., while Austen Friel may be recalled to the panel of 14 players. Whatever team takes the field they had better be aware that Tuesday night’s game is done and dusted and it will be a wasted exercise if they don’t show the same commitment and desire in this game. Stuarty King is a case in point, coming off the bench on Tuesday night he probably had his best game since signing for the Sky Blues, but we at ‘Sport were left wondering was it because we were playing Glentoran. Stuarty makes no secret of the fact that he is an ardent Linfield fan and when better to demonstrate this than in a game against Linfield’s fiercest rivals, Glentoran. Hopefully we are being paranoid and Stuarty will play a major role in tomorrow’s game, but we think it might be just as well to have Boydie in the panel, if Darren Murphy isn’t fit, for back-up. Aaron Callaghan, who twice messed up for Glentoran’s first goal, first with a sliced clearance and then hitting the ball off Albert Watson for the own goal (outrageously claimed by Hamillton), will be another player under the microscope tomorrow. The under-21 International has to say the least been unimpressive since his move from Limavady and will soon need to find his best form if he’s to keep his place in the United line-up. So it’s over to you boys, the stage is set, let’s leave those Lurgan men in ‘Mourneing’, in short, let’s shag them!

Monday, January 01, 2007

Let Me-laugh!

Ballymena United manager Tommy Wright looks set to give an instant debut to new signing Gavin Melaugh in tomorrow night’s game at home to league leaders Glentoran, kick off 19-45. Melaugh, who spent two seasons at the Oval, before moving across town to join newcomers Donegal Celtic, was released by the West Belfast side, in a cost cutting exercise. We’re afraid we have no idea on the make-up of the United team, but believe that the new boy will get the nod in midfield, but who makes way is anybody’s guess. Stuarty King, who continues to disappoint, would seem the obvious choice, but it could be either Aiden Watson or Lee Patrick. The only midfielder sure of his place at the moment is joint top scorer Mark Picking. Mark will be anxious to atone for the ‘sitter’ he missed at the Oval in the reverse fixture back in September and we wish him all the luck in the world. Kevin Kelbie who came off the bench at the Oval last season to score against his former club, looks set to be on the bench again for this fixture and may get a chance to repeat the dose. No matter what happens tomorrow night, United’s league position won’t change, but a win would give them a cushion over the teams below them and move them closer to arch rivals, the Coleraine scum. Hopefully they’ll be a good crowd there to cheer them on, so ‘Come on United, let’s shag those townies!’