Hogmany Bonus!

United striker Kevin Kelbie has given the Sky Blues a massive New Year bonus by penning a 2 year extension to his contract, Kelbie is the third player to commit himself to the United cause, following Mark Picking and Craiggers McClean who both signed a 2 year extension a couple of weeks ago. No doubt others will follow as the United manager tries to build a formidable squad to push the bigger clubs in the Carnegie Premier league. They don't come much bigger than tomorrow's opponents, Glentoran, but United may be able for once to match the men from the East. The Sky Blues stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games against Newry City last Saturday, gleaning 26 points from a possible 30, no mean feat for a team written off after losing 4 of their first 5 games in the Premier division. Despite their mounting injuries, Gavin Melaugh being the latest casualty with a leg injury, United's big first team panel is starting to pay dividends. The manager has plenty of options at his disposal for tomorrow's game as Craiggers has recovered from the bout of flu which caused him to miss the Newry game. If McClean does return he can move Haveron to centre midfield or move Lowry to centre and restore Mark Picking to his usual right-midfield role. If instead he wants to go for a more attacking option, he simply has to start Davitt Walsh up front with Kelbie. The United manager was non-committal on whether he would be seeking to extend Walsh's contract beyond its January expiry date. He also refused to confirm an interest in striker Andy Smith, whose contract with Portadown is due to expire in January as well, but he did say he was always interested in quality players. United Captain Albert Watson, who plays his 196 game for the club tomorrow still hasn't signed his contract extension, but the United manager remains hopeful that he will soon. So Sky Blues, the ball is in your court so to speak, let's shag those so called 'wise' men, in fact why don't we give them ' hell boy', 'Kell boy'!

Halfway There!

United reach the halfway stage of their Premier league campaign tomorrow, when they entertain Newry City. It will be a return to the Showgrounds for former defender Gerry Flynn, who manages the border club and former striker Tony Anderson, whose only senior goal for United was a 50 yarder against Cliftonville, remembered fondly by us all. Hopefully the only Flynn who'll be celebrating tomorrow night will be United's current one and defensive kingpin, young Johnny. A win is vital for the Sky Blues tomorrow if they are to keep up with the leaders and keep alive their hopes of a Setanta cup place next season. After tomorrow's game United face 5 of the top 8 teams, including the top 3, in the Premier league, plus a cup match away to tomorrow's opponents all in the space of seven weeks. This will be our make or break time and the strength of our first team squad will be sorely tested over the coming weeks. We aren't aware if David Cushley will have recovered from the 'horror' tackle inflicted on him at Coleraine, but are of the opinion that United will revert to a 4,4,2, formation, which should mean a start for Fitzy, while Stuarty King will have to settle for a place on the bench in order for us to accommodate Gary Haveron and Craiggers McClean in the same team. The rest of the team we expect to be on the usual lines, which means the fit again Mark Picking will continue to occupy the subs bench. So its all systems go for 3 points, 'come on Sky blues, let's shag those men from the marshes'!

Mister Presents!

It's that time again, Santa Claus is hitching up his sleigh, he's on his way almost as we speak and all we want for Christmas is 'to chase the Coleraine B------ds (love children), down the Ballycastle Road, but even more importantly take the 3 points on offer, so for our sakes we hope Santa comes a day late. Boxing Day is the biggest day of the year for 'dyed in the blessed wool' Sky Blue fans, trophies we can live without, but victories over the 'Scum' from the Bannside are a must. United should go into the tie with a near full strength squad, minus Aaron Callaghan, who has decided he wants to join another club, we at 'Sport wish him luck, on the evidence of his displays in a Sky Blue shirt, in our opinion we hasten to add, he's definitely going to need it! The ploy of playing four centre-backs didn't work greatly against Institute last Saturday and hopefully the United manager will have another formation in mind for the visit to Ballycastle Road on Wednesday. If Garth Scates isn't fit, the United manager could do worse than to slip Gary Haveron into centre-midfield, where he has performed well in the past and to restore Craiggers to the leftback slot. Or in a really bold move go to the 4,3,3, system he used so effectively in the 2nd half of our game at New Grovesnor, when we swept the Whites aside. It would mean dropping Fitzy, who let's face it continues to disappoint up front and playing either Lee Patrick or Picking alongside Haveron and Melaugh, that is of course assuming Scates is unavailable. We at 'Sport are disappointed that the one 'dyed in the wool' Ballymena man (well Cullybackey man actually), Nigel Boyd, a veteran of many derby games is not figuring in the squad, as we're sure he could emphasis the importance of this fixture to his team-mates. In the words of Liverpool legend Bill Shankly, this game is not a matter of 'life and death', 'it's much more important than that'! So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those 'stinking' gas men!

Dealers Choice!

When card players are unable to agree on what game to play, they sometimes compromise and go for 'dealers choice', in other words, the 'dealer' picks the game. So it is with football and the 'dealer' in this instance is the team manager, the team selection and the tactics employed are all down to him. United manager Tommy Wright finds himself with a happy dilemma for tomorrows game at home to Liam Beckett's Institute. Big Tam has only one player from his first team squad unavailable, long term injury victim, Aiden Watson. The eleven players who won so convincingly against Lisburn Distillery on last Tuesday night, in a 2-0 victory which lifted United into the 'dizzy heights' of fourth place, are almost all automatic choices for tomorrow's game. We at 'Sport are led to believe though that the United manager would like to revert to a 4,4,2 formation, which leaves him with the difficult choice of who to omit from Tuesday's starting line-up. It would seem to be a choice of selecting two out of three, from, Cushley, McClean and Haveron, a big decision as someone is sure to be less than pleased when omitted. Meanwhile spare a thought for Simon Kelly and Mark Picking, both restored to full fitness but unable to force their way into the starting eleven. We at 'Sport are given to understand that contrary to reports, only Craig McClean and Mark Picking have agreed new deals and this may also have a bearing on who starts tomorrow's game, but then again maybe not. Davitt Walsh and Fitzy are both vying for a start alongside Kevin Kelbie up front, but who gets the nod is anybody's guess. So it's all systems go for the Sky Blues in tomorrow's game, the 'Stute are a potential 'banana' skin, so come on United let's shag those London(derry)ers!

Lights On!

Lights, camera, action, is the cry when film-making, hopefully there will be lights tomorrow night at New Grovesnor and if there's lights, there will definitely be action, as for cameras, that's anybody's guess. Neither United or the Whites are high profile enough to be guaranteed cameras from the local TV companies, although the fact that they are battling for fourth place, might make a difference, but we at 'Sport won't hold our collective breaths. After the news today that United have not got a home draw in the Irish cup and must travel to play Newry City at the Marshes, league points are even more of a premium. We have been unable to ascertain whether Tommy Wright will be making many changes to Saturday's line-up, our source has dried up for the present, but we envisage very few ourselves. We in fact expect United to have an almost identical line-up as they had for the 'abandoned' game 18 days ago, although Fitzy may retain his place as Walsh may be given even more 'rest'. David Cushley will no doubt feel a little aggrieved if he's left out, but it is after all horses for courses and with that in mind we fully expect Johnny Flynn to return to the team. This will in turn release Gary Haveron to play in left midfield and barring any injuries United's other players should keep their starting places. Having said that, the United manager may have a completely different game plan for tomorrow night's game, which in many ways is like a cup match, a win would take us up three places and keep our unbeaten run going, which in turn would give us a massive confidence boost with the holiday fixtures looming ever closer. So it's all systems go for the 3 points, so come on United, let's shag those Lambeggars!

Suffolk Sojurn!

United travel to that wondrous place in West Belfast, Suffolk, the home of Donegal Celtic, known locally as 'the' D.C.. The best one can hope for in a journey into the heartland of Nationalism, is a dry day, as rain cover is limited to say the least. Terracing is also pretty scarce and points are hard to come by, but having said that, it's a match United will be expected to win. Easy it will not be, as never mind local pride, the D.C. are fighting for their existence as a Premier league club. United are forced to make one change, Davitt Walsh carried off against Larne last Friday night is going to be missing for a couple of weeks and United manager Tommy Wright needs to replace United's top marksman. We at 'Sport hope the United manager is going to go for an attacking side and with that in mind we expect Fitzy to be given the chance to resurrect his United career. Paul Brown and Randal Reid will no doubt be waiting in the wings, or the subs bench, along with last week's heroic substitute David Cushley. Mark Picking, who along with Craigers McClean just penned a new contract should also make the bench, leaving the manager with lots of attacking options. We must spare a thought for Simon Kelly who has missed United's last three games, through injury and suspension and with Johnny Flynn performing so heroically alongside United Captain Albert 'the tank' Watson, it's hard to see how he can get back in the team. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Suffolk Hippies!

Double Trouble!

United manager Tommy Wright, with an almost fully fit squad at his disposal, is calling on his two top strikers, Kelbie and Walsh, to get back to what they do best, scoring goals, when United entertain bottom club Larne tomorrow night, kick-off 1945. The United manager has no illusions as to how hard the 'Harbour Rats' will make it for the home team in the Antrim Derby, but he also believes United have the firepower to blow the Larne yins out of the water. He told Sky Blue Sport he would be having a good talk with his players before the game, but didn't envisage too many changes to his starting line-up. Big Tam said he wasn't surprised when Mickey Collins opted to join the 'Gerry Flynn' revolution at Newry Town. He also hinted that he had a couple of 'irons in the fire' as regards signing players during the January transfer window, although he hoped his present squad would convince him over the rest of this month that he didn't need to get his feet too wet. He hopes to have a back-up keeper on the books shortly, as cover for Paul Murphy during the enforced absence of young Sean O'Neill. So with a plethora of players at our disposable it's all systems go for the visit of Larne, 'So come on United, let's shag those Harbour Rats'!