Defender Dean!

Dean Pooley a 21 year-old central defender has signed for Ballymena until the end of the season, with an option to extend his time. Englishman Dean, whose former clubs include Millwall and who played for Bohemians last season, gives United manager Tommy Wright a bit more defensive cover, following the departure of Johnny Flynn and to a lesser extent, Aaron Callaghan. Another factor which prompted the United manager to act was the failure of team Captain Albert Watson to sign an extension to his existing contract and it looks increasingly likely that the Whitehead man will leave United in the close season for pastures new (Windsor Park by all accounts). The United manager is hopeful that International clearance will come in time for Dean to get a place on the subs bench in tomorrow night's league encounter at Shamrock Park, against Portadown, kick-off 19-45. As to the United line-up for tomorrow night's game, it's anybody's guess, but must surely mean a return to the 4,5,1 formation which had served us so well, with Gary Haveron earning a recall to midfield, where his battling skills were badly missed in the United engine room last week at Solitude. Mike Ward's injury sustained early on in the Reds game, is not as serious as at first thought, but we believe the United manager will allow the player at least another week of rest and then give him a reserve game before the visit of Linfield in a fortnights time. Out of favour Stephen Lowry may earn a recall to the United bench, or maybe even a starting role, after scoring twice for the reserves last weekend. With an Englishman, a Scotsman and a couple of Irishmen in their ranks, we just need a 'Taffe' now to complete the set. One thing though that is sadly missing from the United ranks, is a born and bred Ballymena native, they, as they say, are as 'scarce as hens teeth'. Still nobody or no team's perfect and we'll just have to run with the guys we have and we need to get a result tomorrow night. Portadown will be a tough nut to crack, as they suffered the same heartbreak as ourselves in their last game, losing in the last minute at Solitude. But nonetheless it's all systems go for the Sky Blues, so come on United, let's shaft those Shamrocks!

Red Wreckers!

Cliftonville are unbeaten in the league this season, while United haven't lost a league game since they played Linfield on Saturday October 20. With that in mind the safe 'bet' for tomorrow's game is a draw, but then again a draw isn't much good for the home team, so maybe it's our turn to put one over on them. On our last two meetings the results could have gone either way, but the Reds just sneaked it by the odd goal, tomorrow would be a good time for us to reverse that trend. Now that Davitt Walsh has agreed to a new contract that will keep him at the Showgrounds for two and a half more years, might our manager think of going back to a 4,4,2, formation and playing Walsh and Kelbie in a twin striking role. The 4,5,1, tactic used in the last 2 months has proved effective, but it is at the end of the day a negative approach and it puts pressure on our players to put the chances away, which let's face it, we haven't been doing in our last four games, three draws and a penalty shoot-out loss bear testament to that fact. We at 'Sport are also of the opinion that Stuarty King is in need of a rest and we have after all got the most 'exciting' 17 year-old in Ireland available to take his place (our manager's words, not ours). Mike Ward should get another run out in right midfield, with the instruction to support the front two at every opportunity, while our centre midfield partnership should be Melaugh and Haveron, which means a place on the bench for Garth Scates, the back four of Wray, McClean, Watson and Kelly are all automatic choices. With this formation we think there'd be no stopping us, so come on Tommy, let's go shag those Chickens, North, South,East or West, Sky Blue football is the best!

Johnny's Jackpot!

United's 18 year-old central defender, Johnny Flynn passed his medical today and has signed a three and a half year contract with English Premier league side, Blackburn Rovers. The west Belfast youngster, who starred for United's reserve team last season during their first ever championship success, has already made 14 first team appearances and has helped United chalk up 14 unbeaten games. Young Johnny has to be commended for his attitude, yes he is full of raw natural talent, but it's his attitude that has been apparent since moving up to the first team, as he takes everything on the chin and just gets on with the job in hand. We at 'Sport wish Johnny well, we know he'll do us proud and if we don't get to say goodbye tomorrow night, 'we know we'll meet again some sunny day'! Speaking of tomorrow night's game, with manager Wright accompanying young Johnny to Blackburn (a nice gesture from the United manager), we are unsure of what the United team might be for the cup replay. In fact given the torrential downpour which has ensued today, we cannot be sure that the game will even take place. United ended the game on Saturday with 3 strikers on the pitch and we are left to wonder if our manager would favour starting the game with 2 strikers at least, in a bid to secure the tie. Davitt Walsh came off the bench to score the equaliser on Saturday and notch his 11th goal of the season from 16 appearances, 5 as sub, an incredible scoring ratio. Even though the Letterkenny man has as yet not signed a contract for the Sky Blues, he surely must've got Tommy Wright's attention. New signing Mike Ward must also have given the manager food for thought, as he made a positive start and it was his shot, pushed onto the bar by the Crues keeper, that led to United's first goal and there were those of us in the ground who thought it had crossed the line anyway. Barring any serious injuries we would expect United to start along similar lines, as on Saturday, but maybe with the versatile Ward or Walsh in place of the disappointing Fitzy. Whatever line-up takes the field, we just hope they haven't been too distracted by recent events, let's go and finish the job lads, let's shag those marshies!

Gary's Ton!

Larne man Gary Haveron, in only his third season at the Showgrounds has already notched up a hundred appearances for the club and has become a vital cog in the United machine. United's next 3 league games will have a big bearing on their season, at home to the Crues tomorrow and then a double header away to the so far unbeaten Cliftonville and Portadown. At this stage last season United had gleaned 22 points from their 17 games and were in 9th position and that's exactly the position they finished in last season. This season after 17 games we have 33 points and are in fourth position, a vast improvement, but if we are to finish at worst in the top four this term, these next three league games may well prove crucial, at least in our opinion anyway. We don't have a 'baldy' as to the make-up of the team for tomorrow's game and would never try to second guess the United manager, but have a feeling they'll be few changes from the team that earned a draw away to Newry City in the Irish cup last Saturday. Even if team Captain Albert Watson makes a 'miraculous' recovery from the 'mystery bug' that has laid him low for the last 2 weeks, we expect Simon Kelly to retain the number 5 shirt for tomorrow's game. This should also mean Gary Haveron will retain the Captain's armband for his 101 appearance, which is a small tribute to his professionalism and 'never say die' attitude, especially when he found himself out of favour with the United manager. Gary has never given anything less than 100% commitment and is now reaping the rewards of his, at times 'herculean' efforts, we at 'Sport would just like to say, 'long may it continue'. So come on United, let's teach those boys from Tiger's bay a few manners, in short, let's shag those Townies'!

Second Chance!

United have a second chance to progress into the next round of the Irish cup at home to Newry City tomorrow night, kick-off 7-45. This in our opinion, is a game that shouldn't have been necessary given the many chances United in general and Stuarty King in particular, missed at Newry last Saturday. History is not on our side either as we've lost Irish cup replays in the last two seasons after 'missing' our chances in the first games. But win it we must and we will, surprise! surprise! have to do it without team Captain Albert Watson, who has cried off once more. Are we at 'Sport the only people who detect 'skulduggery' at work here? Albert missed the Glenavon match due to a back injury and now he has missed two cup games due to a mysterious 'chest infection', or is it a fear of being cup-tied? United manager Tommy Wright believes the United Captain to be genuine and we reluctantly must accept his statement too, but we still have a nagging doubt. As for tomorrow night's line-up, barring injuries only one change is envisaged with Garth Scates returning after serving a one match suspension, with Lee Patrick expected to lose out. Davitt Walsh, still hasn't signed a new contract and may make way for new signing Michael Ward on the United subs bench. With Mickey Collins back in the Newry team, United can expect another physical game and we hope that referee Davey Malcolm takes a firmer grip than he did in the first game. The ball is in our court and it's up to us to go on and win the tie and win it we can as we'll have a starting 11 who all want to play for the Sky Blues and that's as it should be, so come on United, let's shag those 'boys' from the Marshes!

Emergency Ward!

We just heard the news that United have signed former Dungannon Swifts midfielder/striker Michael Ward from Glentoran. We are at a loss to understand our managers thinking re-this signing, as Ward has played mostly on the right side of midfield for the Glens and we have an abundance of talent vying for that spot already. But then again. none of the Sky Blue team have ever won, or come close to winning, a 'manager of the month' award, so we have to hope our manager knows what he is doing. United have reportedly got a full squad of fit players for tomorrow's Irish cup game away to Newry City. The one player missing from the squad is Garth Scates, who must serve an automatic one match ban, having reached the dreaded penalty points mark. Having no knowledge of the United manager's thoughts we can only surmise and speculate on his possible starting line-up. With Albert Watson fully fit again (we cannot possibly comment on reports that he emptied his wallet), Gary Haveron should be released from defensive duties and we expect him to slot into Scates place in midfield. The United manager, we think, will stick with a five man midfield, so that should mean a place on the bench for Davitt Walsh. The downside of this formation leaves top scorer Kevin Kelbie ploughing a lone furrow up front and we believe United require the pace and guile of David Cushley and Stephen Lowry on the flanks to compliment the Scottish striker. This would be harsh on Stuarty King, who has played a vital part in United's last four games, but when the going gets tough, then it's time to make tough decisions. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Marshmen', let's begin another epic journey!

Tommy'll Tarry!

Sky Blue Sport would like to knock in the head all this speculation about United manager Tommy Wright considering a move to Norwich City as goalkeeper coach. Hasn't the Ballyclare man come home to be close to his family and friends? So there's no reason for him to consider a coaching job, which let's face it as precarious a job as you can find. A new manager comes to the team and the first thing he does is get rid of the coaching staff of the former manager. Now if he had been offered the 'manager's' job that might have given him food for thought, but that is somewhere in the future. As for tomorrow's game at home to manager-less Glenavon, we haven't been unable to ascertain any team news, so we'll just have to speculate once more. With a clean bill of health, no injuries as far as we know, we at 'Sport expect the victorious starting eleven from the win at the Oval on new Year's Day, to be given the nod. Having said that the manager may want to revert to a 4,4,2, formation, bringing in Walsh, which would mean someone stepping down. The favourite, in our humble opinion would be Mark Picking, as he wasn't at his best on Tuesday or maybe the manager will restore Stephen Lowry, who came on as a sub to such a devastating effect on Tuesday, splitting the Glens defence to set up Kelbie for United's fourth goal. Whatever permutation Big Tam settles for United need to do a professional job and maintain their present winning run. Surely Glenavon and their caretaker manager, former United boss Alan Fraser, would take great pleasure in ending the sequence. But with an Irish Cup match away to Newry up next, United must be favourites to take all three points tomorrow. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Lurgan layabouts and maintain our league position, we know you can do it, so prove it!