Dolan Doubt!

Greeting from cloudy Spain, yesterday was bathed in sunshine, but today it was like those cold days we had in June where we said 'chilly for June' except this is January and its cold, but not as cold as back home. What have we been able to ascertain while gleaning the sports pages and the United forum pages, you may ask? Well nothing positive, Archie had another set-back, Cookie is still limping and Denver is not match fit. Added to that Shane Dolan remains doubtful with a groin injury, which takes about 4 to 6 weeks to clear up completely, so he's probably looking to the cup match at the earliest. He could play tomorrow night but in our experience he could aggravate the injury and be out for the rest of the season. Better to miss the next three games, rather than do himself further damage, we'll need him in the battle at the Showgrounds in the Irish cup against the Coleraine scum and for the push for a top six place in the league.

When the next 5 fixtures were finalised, we set a target of 8 points, two wins, two draws and a defeat. We only have 3 points on the board, buts its still possible and we need to get something out of this match tomorrow night. A loss would be catastrophic for us we think, a draw will put pressure on us, but a win, as unlikely as that may seem, will give us a confidence boost for the next 3 matches, two away and one home. Gavin Taggart, should have served his two match suspension for what Davey Malcolm decided was serious foul play (that man is not fit to referee a cock fight) and it should give our midfield a bit of steel which has been lacking these last few games. Spike seems to be playing the Linfield way, no wingers, a 4,3,3 system, with everybody attacking and defending as the case may be. That may have worked for the IFA team, where everybody was super fit and prepared to run their socks off for the cause, but this is Ballymena, our traditions are different, we may aspire to be a top team, but it's going to take time.

We think Fergy had better have a plan to beat the DC in tomorrow's game and to consolidate and get at least a draw for next weeks rearranged match at Stangmore Park, before taking on the mighty Linfield at Windsor Park on 2nd February, a match where we can spring a surprise if we are up for it, or at least get a point. But we are getting ahead of ourselves here, it'll be a tough match against DC tomorrow night. Our old adversary Packie McAllister, will have his boys up for it, but we have to come out as if we mean business, not that wish-washy form we sometimes exhibit, evident against a whole stack of teams including tomorrow's nights opponents, we need to go for broke at the start and we need to put away our chances. A tall order we know, if we are hoping to be a team to be reckoned with now, we got start behaving like a team to be reckoned with, so come on United, lets shag those Suffolk ewes!