SAD Disorder!

At this time of year so many people are affected by SAD disorder, which is a form of depression brought about by the winter months and those old dark dreary days. But for United fans it is brought about by our teams continued failure to even match the Coleraine scum or give them a game. Last Saturday we had the perfect opportunity, when Coleraine, obviously feeling the effects of their Setanta cup match on the Monday, were a shadow of the team that snatched victory in the Irish cup. But they were were still too good for our bunch of plodders and Spike and his backroom staff will have a hard job turning them round for our next five matches, but turn them round they must. With the news of Ross Black's release and not in possession of the facts, we must assume that Spike's happy with the form of Ruddy and Vaulsey, both of whom were diabolical last Saturday and before some 'smart Alec' jumps on the bandwagon and declares Ruddy was playing out of position, not so, he played there when we entertained the Crues at the Showgrounds in November. Maybe Vaulsey was acting on orders giving Tomelty of the scum so much room and Ruddy seemed to be everywhere, but where he was supposed to be, but what do we know.

That brings us to tomorrow's match at Mourneview Park and tomorrows opponents, Glenavon, who like ourselves have flattered to deceive. Their manager Gary Hamilton has been widely quoted as saying their performance last week will not be tolerated and he's looking for a reaction against us. We too seek a reaction, but we don't hold out much hope, if Fergie is going to continue with his insistence of playing Thommo and Captain Jenks on the same team, we will have an uphill task. When it was mooted that we were going to sign Thommo, the 'Sport team were asking the question of where is he going to fit in to the scheme of things. He wasn't a wide right player, or a ball-winner or tackler, in short he was almost a replica of Jenks. Jenks is great about directing, if you watch him in most matches, when the opponents are attacking, he's pointing the finger and not picking anybody up himself. Thommo meanwhile is standing in 'no-man's land, threatening to close people down but never actually getting there, that's not what we need, we need everybody committed to the cause and returning tomorrow having served a two-match suspension, is the very man, David Cushley. Oh how we missed him against the scum, he really is our talisman.

In the absence of Ally who's troubling by a knee ligament injury, we will have to put up with Cush's corners which are usually too long, but if we had a striker worthy of the name he could use these to his advantage. Well in truth we have a striker who has played with Cush, Gary Ligget and surely he should know about his corner kicks. We don't expect him to know when Cush is likely to have a pop at goal, nobody knows that, we expect even Cush doesn't know, but he is a potential match winner and maybe Liggie can feed on the scraps provided by Cush. The whole back four had a stinker last week, but we expect Ruddy to replace Vaulsely and then it's perm any two from three of Chrissy, Maher and McCullagh. Archie came through 45 minutes in the reserves on Tuesday night but we expect him to get a place on the bench at best, but what do we know. Tony Kane, who had been playing well recently had a stinker a week ago, but he is our first-choice rightback and if he's fit we would expect him to get the vote. Is it too much too ask that the team turn up and try to play football, or are we stuck with this drivel they served up over the last two weeks. Come on Sky Blues, get a little pride back and shag these Lurgan men, in short go and do the business!