Leader Albert!

In the opinion of the Sky Blue Sport team, Albert Watson should be restored as team Captain, Gary Haveron is a great guy, but he's just not cut out for the job. But Albert has proved he has the knack and he also has an important role to play in the development of young Aaron Stewart. The son of Alfie Stewart he may be, but he still has a few rough edges and who better to hone them than the man who 'whipped' Johnny Flynn in to shape. Young Johnny was transferred to premier English league side, Blackburn Rovers, where he continues to make progress, but he started out under the guidance of United Captain Albert Watson. Is Albert about to found another dynasty in the shape of young Stewart I wonder? The short answer to that query is that it's too early to tell, but there were some encouraging signs during the 2nd half of Tuesday night's defeat away to the Glens. Tomorrow though is a must win game and United must succeed without the services of Davitt Walsh, who missed training on Thursday night with flu symptoms. If all the remainder of players are fit, the manager could do worse than start with the finishing 11 players who played with a fair amount of confidence, without creating too many openings. So its all systems go for United tomorrow, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Downies!

Don't Know!

We haven't clue as to United's line-up for tomorrow night's game, after last Saturday's display most of the team deserves a rest. But we must keep the faith and the players need to dig deep into their survival instincts and somehow get us a result from this game. How they do it we don't know, manager Roy Walker tried the defensive route on our last trip to the Oval and we found out how disastrous that was. So maybe the old cliché about the 'best means of defence being attack', is our best option. The only certainty is that the Sky Blue Sport's team will be there in full force, so come on United let's if not 'shag those townies', at least give them some cause for concern, you owe us at least that much!

Rave On!

We're back, okay we were never actually away, but we just had some personal issues to sort out and here we go once again with our suitcase in our han.... Ignore that statement, it's something completely different and in many ways that's what we expect to see from United tomorrow. Firstly we expect a vastly different line-up to that which fought so valiantly on Tuesday night, Kevin Kelbie & Neal Taggart should return to the attack, as it's a case of horses for courses and nowhere is that more evident than at Seaview. The tight shore road pitch doesn't lend itself to close passing football and no-one knows that better than United's manager, sure didn't he go down in history as the man who guided unfashionable Crusaders to two league titles, but now his first task is to get United back on the right track. This will be no easy task against the 'high flying' Crues., the 'hatchet men' have got off to a brilliant start and suffered their first defeat away to Linfield last Saturday, but by all reports gave a good account of themselves, so United will need to be on top form if they are to 'stop the rot' and take a very rare three points at Seaview tomorrow. The back four and keeper Sean O'Neill deserve another go (barring any injuries), while the 'Cush' surely deserves another start in wide midfield. The unlucky loser here looks likely to be Aiden Watson, as Gavin Melaugh and Gary Haveron look certain to hold the centre midfield role. Mark Picking could be a surprise selection at right midfield, as he might give the Sky Blues more attacking options than Davitt Walsh or 'Wardy'. Or will the manager be so bold as to employ the much heralded (well heralded by Sky Blue Sport at least), W. K. D. attack its head, these are drastic times and they call for drastic measures. Whatever the line-up one thing's certain, United need a result from this game tomorrow, anything else and Roy Walker will have no hair left at all! So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Townies!

'Stute Decisions!

United manager Roy Walker has promised a major shake-up to his starting line-up for tomorrow's game at Drumahoe, against Institute. He has intimated that at least two players are getting the 'chop' in the back four. Craig McClean, who made his 100th appearance for the club last week, is expected to make way for either Liam Mullan or Liam Hogan and in a surprise move, former team captain, Albert Watson, could be omitted in favour of Aaron Stewart. The fit again, Gavin Melaugh should return to the action at the expense of Joe McDonnell, who at times runs about like a 'headless' chicken. The manager's only other big decision is deciding which strike force to start with, as last season's top scorer, Kevin Kelbie, must surely rate a starting role. Kelbie it seems must wait at least another 4 months before taking up the game as a full-time player, when Linfield's valuation of the United player fell well short of our board's expectations. United keeper Neal Blaney will no doubt come under close scrutiny as he has dropped a few 'clangers in his first 3 league games and with young Sean O'Neill waiting in the wings, another slip-shod performance could definitely cost him his place. Weather permitting, tomorrow's encounter which kicks-off at 2pm, should prove a good contest between the Sky Blues and the home side, who always raise their game for this fixture. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Londoners (sorry, Londonderriers, if their is such a word, although according to our spell check their isn't)!