Blue Riband!

It's that time of the season once more, the time when you put aside most of your worries, it's the magic of the 'cup'. With a minimum of five games facing them United couldn't have drawn a much tougher opening round, at home to Glentoran. Quite a lot of the other Premier league teams are no doubt delighted that at least one top six team is going out at this stage and it'll be a financial disaster for them as well. The Glens have just come back from the 'brink' of oblivion, as the 'Winding up' order taken against them by the Inland revenue was dismissed on Thursday past, thanks to a mystery benefactor who allegedly ploughed £450,000 pounds into their coffers. It's perfectly plausible to think this might give them the edge in tomorrow's encounter, but it is a cup match and anything can happen.

The make-up of United's team is a closely guarded secret, but barring any injuries we expect our strongest possible line-out to be on view. Gavin Taggart,if fit will be vying for a start in centre midfield with Nathan Hanly and if Ryan Berry has recovered from his illness, he may grab the wide right berth against his former team. Another player hoping to start against his former team will be Andy Smith, but it's not known if he'll be partnering top scorer Cutch (who signed an extension to his contract this week), or Gibbo. Cutch limped out of United's last game at home to Portadown with a hamstring injury, but if he's fit he'll definitely get the nod. With Eamon Murray, 7 goals and Gazza automatic selections, the only really tough decisions Roy Walker will have to make will be concerning his defensive formation.

Does he give a vote of confidence to the four guys who performed so well in a hard physical encounter against Portadown or will he tinker with it a little bit, maybe bringing in Colligan, who's long throws could heap pressure on the ageing Glens defence. Our gut feeling is that barring injuries he'll stick with his M.A.D.A. Mikey, Albert, Denver and Archie, ably backed up by keeper Dwayne Nelson. With the infamous 'ham shank' referee Mark Courtenay in charge there could be a few 'thrills and spills', but hopefully no more controversy, we can well do without that. It's going to be tough, it's going to take guts and it's going to take skill, but we can do it, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those East Belfaster's!