Not Guilty!

United manager Roy Walker, obviously clutching at straws, chastised United fans in Saturday's programme for transmitting 'negative thoughts' to the players. We at 'Sport are really annoyed that the manager, who has been treated extremely courteously by Sky Blue fans, should adopt this attitude. In our humble opinion his time would be better spent in trying to find out why this United team can play so well in some games and so poorly in others. There are rumours of a 'gambling' culture at the Showgrounds but as their are about 7 ever present players on-side when these lapses have occurred, it sounds a bit far fetched, but where there's smoke, there's generally fire.

Of course fans have been quite scathing in their comments recently and with plenty of reasons too. Since beating Portadown on January 4, our record has been abysmal to say the least. In that period we've played 7 league games drawing three and losing 4 and all lost at home. Actually given this abysmal record Roy can count himself lucky he hasn't had to sneak out the back door, like many before him. If he knuckles down and finds a way to motivate his team he could still come out of this okay, but make no bones about it, it's going to be tough. As we haven't been able to glean any news from various sources, we can't say if Eamon Murray has recovered from his knee injury, but we sure hope he has.

We had no guile in our team last week against D.C. and we'll surely need some tomorrow night when the 2nd placed Crues come to town. If previous games against them are to be taken as the yardstick, then things look pretty grim for the Sky Blues, but Roy's always saying that we 'fear nobody', tomorrow night would be a good time to go out and prove it. We at 'Sport are trying our damnedest to be remain positive and fly the flag, but we need a wee bit of help from the players, in short lads it's time to stand up and be counted. You've had it too good for too long, it's time to roll your shirtsleeves up and get on with it. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those tiger cubs!

Horse Bolted!

There's an old saying about closing the stable door when the 'horse has bolted' and the news from the Showgrounds this week takes on a similar slant. United manager Roy Walker has signed up three players on 2 year contracts, namely Sparky, Denver and Westy, while occasional scorer, Cutch has signed on for another year. Walker says he took this action after the defection of Nathan, 'sleight of hand' Hanly and Richard, 'big dickhead' Gibson, to Belfast's big two. That means we'll have at least four players plus Gazza next season, what a relief that is. Hopefully the on/off quest for a top six finish hasn't bolted as this is now the defining aim of our season.

With six fixtures to be completed before the 'split', we figure United need 10 points to be in the 'mix' (top six). The easiest way to achieve this is with two wins and four draws, ideally beating D.C. tomorrow and Newry on Friday March 25, while drawing with Crues, Glens, Whites and Swifts. None of these results will be easy to come by, but if we are to progress (improve), this is the kind of form we'll need to show. By a strange quirk we only play one team who are realistically vying with us for the coveted top six place, the Whites and we play them next Saturday. No matter what the outcome of our next two games (D.C. tomorrow and Crues on Tues, both at home), next Saturday's game will be a humdinger. Draws of course are second nature to our team, we have by far the highest number in the league, ten, but wins, they're a different kettle of fish entirely.

In fact next Saturday's rumble, may be the game that defines our season and there will be a wee bit of 'needle' as well after the 'play acting' and 'lie telling' by the Whites on our last trip to Ballyskeagh, in short it won't be a place for the faint-hearted. After that it's pretty mundane stuff with a trip to 'chicken country' (Dungannon), at home to the Glens and finishing with a trip to the 'marshes' (Newry). We are joking of course about the mundane stuff, we are (unless we've missed our guesses by a mile), going to be on tenterhooks for the next month and when has it ever been any other way we ask you. Tomorrow's game will be tough, D.C. are fighting for their existence in the Premier league and we'll need to be both mentally and physically tough if we are to overcome them, but we must prevail.

We're not sure if Archie will make his comeback tomorrow, maybe a place on the bench will be his lot, while Eamon Murray is doubtful with an injured knee, which could mean a rare start for Mo. Aaron Boyd will probably start alongside Cutch, who's only averaging a goal every three games and in fact has only scored one league goal this year (New year's day). That sort of average is okay for a back-up striker, but our main striker needs to average a goal every two games or close to it. Caff, who got better as the game progressed last week will surely partner Captain Gazza in central midfield, with the back four of Sparky, Albert, Lee and Denver. Mikey, who is rumoured to be off to Kilmarnock on trial after the Whites game next Saturday, will continue in right-midfield. Ryan, or should we, in fact dare we, say the improving Ryan Brown, will continue in goals. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Suffolk lambs!

Unenviable Record!

United manager Roy Walker, who endeared himself to United fans in his first season in charge, with a winning start against our greatest rivals the Coleraine scum, is now staring down the barrel of a fifth defeat in a row against those 'stinking gas men'. This situation has been brought about by our players giving lack lustre performances in these the most important games of the season. We fully realise that we are going to lose occasionally against them, but to lose five in a row, now that's just a wee bit over the top. All can be put right tomorrow, no matter who takes the field as Archie is still out and Gazza still carrying this mystery injury. These two men would be a huge loss to any team, but to us they're even more as they are our backbone and without them we are vulnerable. But if our attitude is right we can still overcome these setbacks, but if we don't, it would be advisable to have the ground 'open up and swallow' the players as walking to the tunnel will be a nightmare.

Of course this can all be avoided if we can get back to the positive attitude that has helped us so far this season and surely we need Mikey in right-midfield, where he can channel the ball into the path of Cutch and whomever his partner is. If Andy Smith is to play surely he must be a striker, with Taggart fit once more and Rory ready to resume after a reserve game under his belt, Andy isn't needed in midfield anymore. We at 'Sport of course don't think he ever was and feel it was just a ploy to have him in the team, but it was a ploy that we paid a heavy price for. The United manager did some pruning at the end of last season, releasing a few players who he thought weren't good enough, two of them that spring to mind (we'll call them A&C), would be the kind of guys to have in tomorrow's team and you know they'd give 110% for the cause.

But we don't have those two boys and we just have to get on with it with what we have. Cutch needs to get back to scoring goals, why did he not go on and score against the scum after rounding Davey 'fat' O'Hare in our last meeting, instead of passing is beyond comprehension. Strikers don't pass, well only if there confidence is shot to pieces, hopefully that's not the case here. Eamon Murray seems to have his mind somewhere else, they'll be plenty of time for dreaming come April 30, now's the time to get on with it. Caff, who started so brightly against Linfield, is way below par and has got to get it together sooner rather than later, or is he just a Portadown saboteur (joke). Lee Colligan is still not back to his best and surely has to start tomorrow or else it will be too late. We're afraid we're stuck with Ryan Brown in goals, he's not getting any better, but hopefully he won't get any worse either. So Sky Blues, this will probably be the last decent gate for a wee while, so come on and give a good account of yourselves, come on with pride and let's shag those 'stinking gas men'!

Arched Doubt!

Yes folks we start off with some bad news, the 'backbone' of our team is extremely doubtful for tomorrow night's game, Archie is rated as only 40/60 for the game. But then again those boys down in Castledawson are made of real stern stuff and where there's life, there's hope, but hope is all there is. The same could be said of United's chances of finishing in the top six come the end of March, its looking extremely doubtful. We at 'Sport were of the opinion, that we needed at least 4 or 5 points from our last 3 league games. Having done the hard bit, taking a point of both Linfield and Cliftonville away, we sadly fell down against our dear neighbours from the Bannside, the Coleraine scum. This was a game destined for a draw until Leon Knight demonstrated the full 'Oran Kearney diving manual' to it's full potential.

Rather surprisingly referee Brian Turkington (who had booked a scum player early in the game for 'diving'), this time ruled in favour of the most surprised man on the pitch, Leon Knight and the rest as they say is history. But of course a draw was no earthly use to us anyway, but if we wanted to win it and surely we did, why did we select the team we did. It was nice to see Roy show faith in on-loan striker Aaron Boyd, but where was the 'local' boy in our ranks who would 'die' rather than lose to the Coleraine scum. Alas the only locals, Denver Gage and George, 'son of goosey' Young, were sat on the bench, while that other 'adopted son', team Captain Gazza, is carrying a mystery injury which means he can't start. Get one thing straight Roy, we can tolerate losing 4-0 to D.C., we can even live with a lack-lustre performance in the C.I.S. against the Crues, but we won't stand still for capitulation against the Coleraine scum.

On paper we should be able to blow them away and with the proper team selection we have no doubt we 'can blow' them and a few others away. We don't need Andy Smith running about like a 'headless chicken' remonstrating to all in sundry because somebody failed to read his mind and who the hell could anyway. If Andy can't cut it as a striker, he'll never make it as a midfielder either, it's against his nature. Caff too, after one good game against Linfield, looks out of his depth, but maybe he needs time to settle in, we'll give him that. We need Gazza back, but only if he's fit and if he's not, get him fit. Denver should come back in for Archie and Sparky after his suspension should be restored, at least that'll mean a couple of locals starting which is something of a bonus.

Roy has said he's of a mind to start with the same team against the Glens as he doesn't think they could be as poor as they were against the scum. What is the wee man thinking about, not only could they be as bad, they could be even worse. What he needs to do is threaten them all with the sack if they don't get their act together. We (United fans), are paying your wages and we demand a massive improvement on the 'dross' you gave us last Tuesday night. There's no other word for it lads, it was shit, sorry about that, but it had to be said. We need you to give us 100% effort, we also need you at times to go beyond that, if you're not up for that or as the old saying goes, 'if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen'. Hopefully you're made of sterner stuff and you'll want to live and fight for many more days, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those wise men from the east!

Scum Game!

It's that time again, time to wash away the scum which gathers even in the cleanest places imaginable. Of course the 'scum' in question here is our old adversaries the Coleraine 'scum' and they're even dirtier than ever. Not that we at 'Sport were Davy Platt fans, but he was treated rather shabbily even by 'scum' standards. Well technically speaking they don't have standards, they are after all scum. In his place they've taken on that 'diving past master' Oran Kearney, no doubt he'll have the scum players well trained to dive even if there's contact or not. For that reason our boys will have to be very careful with their tackles as they will go down at the slightest touch.

United may have a defensive problem for tomorrow nights game as Sparky (Mr Versatile), is serving a one game ban and if Albert hasn't recovered from the ailment which afflicted him on Saturday, we may have to go with Archie and Denver as our central defenders. Both are perfectly capable but still a bit raw but when the going gets tough, the tough get going. With Sparky missing, Gazza should hopefully return to partner Caff in centre midfield and Eamon on the left. After his scintillating debut when he came on as a 2nd half sub, we wonder will Roy give a starting role to Aaron Boyd, or continue with Cutch and the inept Andy Smith. Ryan Berry, probably our best player in the first half on Saturday, may then get a start in right-midfield.

If Roy is bold enough to start with the on-loan Boyd, Berry may have to settle for a place on the bench, as Walker appears loath to drop Andy, but for why nobody knows. Ryan Brown will no doubt continue in goals (there is no-one else), while Lee and Mikey should fill the fullback roles. However Lee's selection hinges on whether Albert's fit or not and he needs to be fully fit as it's going to be a tough match. The scum have slipped back a few notches lately, but as we well know, form means nothing in these games, it's all about taking your chances when they arise and it's the one thing we have been failing to do of late. We need another big effort from you boys, we need a big vociferous crowd behind us driving us on, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those ewes from Windy Hall!

Last Stand!

United make the last trip this season to the 'carpet' that passes for a playing surface at Solitude, the home of Cliftonville, hoping for a much better outcome than our last trip there. On that occasion we got a drubbing, there's no other way to describe it and it's true to say we deserved it as we failed miserably to compete on the day. Admittedly the surface is not conductive to good football, but it's still no excuse for our slip-shod performance on the day. The news on the grapevine is that big Denver doesn't think he can give of his best on the artificial turf and that may initiate a change to United's starting line-up. Archie or Gazza look like the likely replacements for Denver, with possibly Colligan reverting to his leftback role if Archie gets the nod.

If Archie moves inside, Gazza will surely be recalled to centre-midfield alongside Caff who showed enough at Windsor to retain his starting place. Murray may switch to the left-midfield slot, with Sparky moving to rightback and Mikey to right-midfield. Rumour has it that on-loan striker Aaron Boyd may get a starting role but we at 'Sport think it more likely that he'll get a place on the bench. It's not known if Paul McAreavey will be on the bench tomorrow or not but one man who definitely won't be there is former Sky Blue, Ruari McClean. Ru turned down the chance to switch from 1st division Institute, saying he wants to stick with them until the end of the season as they have been good to him. He may have cause to 'rue' his decision as United need players to step up to the 'plate' now and if those who step up grab their chance, Ru may find himself left out in the cold.

One of the players in that category is George Young, who in our humble opinion showed enough when he came on at the Oval in the cup replay to warrant a start at Windsor last week. Unfortunately for George, Roy Walker didn't see it that way but we feel it'll only be a matter of time before young George makes the breakthrough. Reserve striker Matthew Boyd, who only came on for the final 13 minutes, is another who looks as if he might have something to offer and it will be interesting to see how he progresses between now and the end of the season. With both ourselves and our opponents Cliftonville out of all cup competitions, tomorrow's game should be a humdinger but hopefully United will prevail in the end. This is our last stand, we must make the best of it, so come on Sky Blues, let's shag those cavemen!