Sky Blue Sport News

Friday, January 30, 2009

'Stute Selection!

United manager Roy Walker has to decide on his best line-up for tomorrow's game away to Institute, that is of course assuming that he knows what his best line-up is. Mike Ward remains a doubt for tomorrow's game, but in his absence Davitt Walsh may have a chance to claim a starting role, as the old saying goes, 'it's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good' and Davvy will be anxious to grab his chance no doubt. After the poor showing against Dungannon on Tuesday night the United manager could be forgiven if he made wholesale changes, but we expect him to deviate very little from his starting line-up in that match. Aiden Watson is still serving a suspension, but the manager will have to make a decision concerning his namesake, former club Captain, Albert. The Sandy Row man is fit and well again and is anxious to get back in the United first team. New signing from Ballyclare Michael Smith looks certain to retain his place and the same appears to be so for the rest of the midfield. United though must start winning the midfield battles if points are to be gathered, especially at home, as anything away from the Showgrounds is a bonus, With possibly three former players in their ranks and one, John Gregg, managing them, the men from Drumaho will be out to take all three points, but we must have the right attitude and be prepared to fight to the death. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Londonderryaires!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Wicked Show!

Tommy Wright never used it, well at least never from the start of a game, but Roy Walker could do it tomorrow night. What could he do you may wonder? He could show his 'wicked side', the mean strike-force, of Wardy, Kevin and Davitt (WKD). With Aiden Watson missing as he serves a two game ban, a change of personnel has been forced on us and the United manager may give an instant start to new signing, Michael Smith, who made the short journey from Dixon Park to the Showgrounds at the weekend. He can do this safe in the knowledge that the versatile Tommy Wray can slot in at either right midfield or right wing-back, if the occasion arises. Paul Muir, who made his return debut as a sub in Saturday's one nil victory at Newry, may well get a starting role in place of Archie Stewart, who looked a bit jaded last Saturday. While Albert Watson may we fear have to settle for a seat on the bench. If we stick with our three at the back policy, favoured by central defender Gavin McDonnell and gamble on three strikers, that would leave a four man midfield of, Smith, Melaugh, McClean and Colligan, untried we know, but as the old saying goes, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. Three points tomorrow night should leave us with a nice wee cushion between us and the bottom three and maybe, just maybe, we could start a push for a top six finish with a result at Drumaho on Saturday. But hang on a minute, we're getting ahead of ourselves here, let's just take one game at a time, 'so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Stangmorians'!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Keep Faith!

Okay, so we've had a couple of bad results lately and we can't seem to get our Irish cup match played, but we must keep the faith. Our next three games will go a long way to defining our season and we begin tomorrow at the 'Marshes' against Newry City. This is going to be a 'toughie', make no bones about it, they, like us, are trying to define their season by finishing in the top half of the league, reaching the C.I.S. cup final will be a bonus, but don't expect them to be any less focused tomorrow because of it. To the best of our knowledge (we haven't a clue), there are no injury doubts for tomorrow's game and new signing Paul Muir could well be given a baptism or at least a place on the subs bench. Kevin Kelbie, who would have missed Wednesday's rearranged cup match, will be available for United's three matches in a seven day period, two of which ironically involve their longest journeys of the entire season, starting with the trip to Newry tomorrow. Hopefully the Sky Blue faithful will turn out in numbers and cheer the team to victory over former player Gerry Flynn's boys, while on the field we can't afford any passengers, everybody needs to be on top of their game. The players should be refreshed having only played 45 minutes in their last game and 'hopefully' will be full of running in tomorrow's game. So, come on Sky Blues, let's go and do it, let's shag those men from the Marshes!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Double Bluff!

There is a complete silence permeating from all Ballymena officials at present when any enquiries are made as to whether United Captain and Talisman, Kevin 'The King' Kelbie is available for tomorrow night's rearranged Irish cup game at Dixon Park, Ballyclare, kick-off 19-45. Contrary to rumours about free admission for tomorrow night's game, there will in fact be reduced charges of £6 & £4, which average out at £14 for 135 minutes of football for the majority of fans, played on a sub-standard pitch with inadequate viewing facilities, not great value for money in our opinion. This 2nd game of course should've been totally unnecessary, when the referee abandoned Saturday's game, the playing conditions were virtually no worse than when he started it, but we're afraid, he 'bottled' it. The fact that United were leading one nil in no way clouds our judgement, but we know if the home team had been leading by the same score, the game would have most likely continued. United may as already mentioned be without Kevin Kelbie and it would leave us with a dearth of goalscoring personnel, but we're afraid we'll just have to soldier on. The home team posed little threat on Saturday but they will no doubt be fired up for tomorrow night's game and the Sky Blues will need to hit the ground running if they are to progress to the next round and a meeting with the 'hatchet men'. In a strange quirk of fate, if that cup game versus the Crues takes place at the Showgrounds, the teams will meet again a week later at Seaview in the league. But we digress, let's hope the boys focus on the Comrades tomorrow night and then and only then, we can begin preparing for the next phase. So come on Sky Blues, we know you can do it, so let's shag those old Comrades!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Heaven Knows!

The big question on the lips of Sky Blue fans, is not about the relegation struggle, but whether United can somehow put together a decent cup run. Almost exactly 20 years ago, United came to Dixon Park in the 2nd round proper of the Irish cup, they had already accounted for Distillery (now Lisburn Distillery),in the 1st round and if memory serves me correctly, raced into a two goal lead at Dixon Park. The home team however fought back and the match ended in a draw which meant a replay at the Showgrounds. It snowed heavily most of that day and night of the replay and the referee abandoned the game at halftime with United leading 2-0. When the game was subsequently played United ran out easy winners by a score of 5-1. They also went on to lift the 'cup' beating near neighbours Larne in a largely forgettable final. We're not sure whether this is a good omen for tomorrow's game or not, but United were drawn away from home in every round that year and this campaign is beginning with an away tie. Any body who thinks this is an easy game had better get a reality check, this is going to be a hard brutal game, but it's a game we are capable of winning. It's hard to say whether we can do it in one game or if a replay will be necessary, but we really need to be up for it. As for team news, surprise! surprise! we haven't got any, but barring injuries we expect a similar line-up to that which started last weeks game at home to Cliftonville. It's not known if we will go with the 3 at the back system, or switch to a 4,4,2, but whatever system we employ, we are going to need 11 battlers or our cup run will be drastically curtailed. United manager Roy Walker admits to having a poor record in the cup and it would be nice if we could rectify that situation, but first we've got to avoid the potential banana skin of the Comrades. Mike Ward has at last discovered his scoring touch and maybe he'll be the man to carry us through tomorrow, while new signing Paul Muir will have to wait to make his debut as he is carrying a hamstring injury. So come on Sky Blues, let's be up for the cup, let's shag those 'ruddy' Comrades!

Friday, January 09, 2009

Paul Call!

The call has gone out for a Paul, first it was former player Paul Muir, who looked set to resign for his home-town team, now it's the turn of Linfield 'hard man' Paul McAreavey who is deciding whether to become a Sky Blue or not. Assuming United have no injuries or suspensions, we expect neither of these Pauls to figure in the United team for tomorrow's game at home to Chickenville. United suffered a heavy defeat from tomorrow's visitors in what turned out to be the first game of the season, so tomorrow there's not only 3 points up for grabs, there's a chance of exacting some retribution, but we'll settle for three points. It won't be easy by any means, but a defeat would put us back into the relegation dogfight, whereas a win would give us a wee breathing space and set us up nicely for the Irish Cup match at Ballyclare next week. Craig McClean could be a surprise selection in tomorrow's game and if former Captain Albert Watson suffered no reaction from Wednesday night's reserve outing, he may make the panel if not the bench for tomorrow's game. Incidentally the reserves beat Linfield Swifts 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the George Wilson cup final, a real credit to new manager Alfie Stewart, just six months in the job. So the Chickenville fans roll into the 'high' country tomorrow, their team play in red, so let's send them home with red faces, come on United United, let's shag those Chickens!

Friday, January 02, 2009

Coming Round!

United began their last series of eleven games before the 'split', at Windsor Park yesterday and now play fourth placed Distillery at the Showgrounds tomorrow. The visitors should be fresh as their game away to the Coleraine scum was called off while United will require all their fighting spirit to get back on song. Whites manager, Paul Kirk, who once played for United, said after the infamous 'Lamb shank' game last season, 'what goes around, comes around' and hopefully he'll be proved correct tomorrow. In their two previous meetings United have lost out by the odd goal and in my opinion they deserved a share of the spoils in both games, so if there is any justice (which there rarely is), United could probably snatch all 3 points, which they sorely need. United's injury list is not getting any shorter and it's hard to see how our young players, who looked 'out on their feet' at times yesterday, are going to raise their spirits for this 'bruising' encounter, but raise them they must. Craig McClean and Albert Watson were visible on the pitch before Thursday's game and McClean may be added to the panel for tomorrow's game, while Albert is scheduled to play for the reserves. In this competitive league, every game is like a cup match, so United will need the services of players like Albert and Craig if they are going to, at worst, steer clear of the relegation trap-door, with injuries and suspensions looming in the coming weeks. Aiden Watson we believe has reached the dreaded 30 penalty points after referee Burns harshly cautioned him yesterday and will have to sit out 3 games, a big blow to United's hopes. But that is in the future, let's cross that bridge when we come to it. So let's begin anew, let's get back to our good form, so come on Sky Blues,let's shag those Lambeggers!