This Time!

We have nothing new to add this time around about tomorrow's fixture against Chickenville at the hen run. As far as we know Cush should be back and maybe Spike will think that's the only change he needs to make in the absence with suspension of team Captain Alan Jenkins, Thommo could move into his position. We and the vast majority of United fans have been hoping young Peter Duffin gets a start over the last few games, but so far Spike hasn't picked the youngster, just left him on the bench, with an occasional run out as a sub.

We don't think it will be any different tomorrow, as the team tries to target this elusive 51 points, which seems to us to be a pipe dream. The Reds on the other hand can take a firm grip on the Gibson cup with a victory and if the Crues don't sneak a win at the Oval, they'll only need 2 points to be champions for 2013. We look like cannon fodder, but if we have any pride (which we doubt somewhat), we'll try to make them fight for the points, but we are not optimistic. But its a match and we haven't conceded a goal for two games, so come on United, lets shag those Chickenvillers or at least give them a game!

Table Football!

There's a blizzard coming on, how I'm wishing I was home, are the opening words to an old song and it's pertinent here as its snowing outside. Well we are at home, but we'll venture out tonight, if the match at Windsor Park featuring Norn Iron against Russia in a World cup qualifier goes ahead. Like lambs to the slaughter we'll venture out tomorrow when United take on Chickenville at the hen run (Solitude), on the 3g pitch that resembles table football, in our opinion. United welcome back Cush from his one game suspension but must do without the traffic Policeman, captain Alan Jenks. The traffic Policeman, aptly named by Sammy Patterson at Shamrock Park last Saturday, is himself suspended for this game courtesy of five bookings, who will take his place?

We figure its a toss-up between Thommo and Alan D, two non-tacklers and we can only afford one against the league leaders, we learned that the hard way last time we met the Reds. We have stopped the rot in our last two matches, getting clean sheets, but as for going forward, we have no idea. In Alan D we have a player who could swing it for us as he is our best passer by far, but on that surface passing is a lottery. We don't think Dolan will be risked as that surface is unforgiving to blokes carrying an injury and it looks to be Liggie playing a lone furrow upfront again, ably backed up by Ally and Cush. We can't see Spike starting Duffin, he has had ample chance to start the young fellow and resisted the temptation and looks like a 'backs to wall' policy tomorrow again.

With the news that Stephen McBride (Crues), has signed a pre-contract deal with United, it's not hard to guess what our tactics will be next season as well. Omar says the best means of defence is to attack, but we need skilful players to do that and of this moment they are as scarce as hens teeth and in absence of them, we're signing another defender, who can't get his place in the Crues team, but he's good for us also-rans. At least he's coming from a team at the top reaches of our league, Spike's last two acquisitions came from the bottom two teams in our league and they're not setting the world alight, now are they. This is our last match that has any relevance this season, not for us, but for Chickenville.

They can take another grip on the Gibson cup with a victory, hopefully we can put a 'spanner in the works', but its not going to be easy. We need everybody playing as if their life depended upon that game, or their livelihood anyway and some are playing for a contract and maybe that might make them try a little harder. It promises to be a cold and bleak day, but maybe United can lift our spirits with a battling display and we'll need that at Solitude tomorrow. It's a horrible ground to watch a match, stuck behind the goals and everything that happens at the other end is like a blur, but maybe it'll be on the radio and we can get a running commentary or maybe not, but we'll be there anyway, come hell or high water, come on Sky Blues, lets shag those Chickenvillers!

Away Glee!

During Roy Walker's reign at the Showgrounds we didn't have of a good home record, in fact we didn't have a home record, we were abysmal at home. But we did enjoy a modicum of success on our travels and tomorrows away match at Portadown could provide a springboard for getting our season on track once again. The last time we tasted victory was in mid-January over the Glens at the Oval and we at 'Sport reckon it's about time we tasted it yet again. The last time we were at the 'lost city' of Craigavon, we suffered at the hands of Portadown biggest rivals, Glenavon, by a scoreline we want to forget, but maybe that can work in our favour. Portadown manager Ronnie McFall will no doubt try to play down any complacency in his side, but human nature being what it is, the home team will think we are easy meat.

Matches between our two teams tend to be close affairs and it'll be no different tomorrow and if we can cut out the supply to the Ports danger-man, Kevin Braniff, we can stand a chance. Last time the teams met at the Showgrounds in December, Spike earmarked Chrissy Rodgers to man-mark Braniff. In the first half this worked a treat, but in the 2nd half the wily Kevin slipped Chrissy two times and it led to two goals for the visitors, proving he is a player who can hurt defences. Sky Blue Sport reckon Spike has learned his lesson and will not man-mark Braniff tomorrow, but rather try to cut out the supply to him, which we think is a better ploy. We have tried all day to ascertain team news, but to no avail, but assume Dwayne has made a recovery from his injury and will be between the sticks tomorrow.

If he hasn't made a recovery, Stuarty Addis will take his place, but Mark McCullagh looks doubtful and if he is not available Spike has some contenders for his place. He could recall Chrissy at rightback where he has played before or incorporate Vaulsey like he did in a few matches at the start of the season, or go with Tony Kane and promote Gavin Taggart from the bench to midfield. In the absence of the suspended Cush, we would like to see him start Peter Duffin as he looked good when he came on last week against the Glens. If Shane Dolan's groin is still troubling him we don't expect him to be risked and Liggie could be asked to lead the line again as a lone striker. That would leave Spike with only one decision to make, Jenks or Thommo?

They're both the same type of players, good at going forward, not much on tackling and we think it be too big a risk to play the two of them tomorrow. But Spike could have other ideas, or he may elect to play Alan D in midfield or be bold and play Jimmy Mac up front alongside Liggie. We got away with a scoreless draw last Saturday, by playing defensively and trying to hit on the break, but with the firepower Ports have at their disposal, with Braniff, Twigg and Murray, we figure that won't do tomorrow and we'll need another string to our bow if we are to get a result. Portadown has an outside chance of reaching the top six, but we figure they need to win their next three games, if we can halt them tomorrow, it could just kick-start the rest of our season, come on Sky Blues, let's shag those apple pickers

Tunnel Time!

United manager Spike finds himself between a rock and a hard place with just 3 games to go before the split, starting with the visit of Glentoran tomorrow, who we haven't beaten at the Showgrounds since 2007. But Glenn could've been forgiven for hiding this week after his charges let a 2-0 halftime lead slip last Saturday, but what does he do, he sets his non-performing team a target of beating last years total, 50 points, with only 8 games left. The way this team have been playing recently it'll need a minor miracle to realise 8 points from the remaining 8 games, never mind 16. What happens if United don't achieve this target, which in our opinion is quite formidable? Well Glenn has intimated that they'll be some players leaving(2or3)and maybe that figure could be doubled or even trebled, they will be no need for an escape tunnel, they'll go out the front door.

With Johnny Taylor fully fit again and Cookie Munster free from suspension, we expect Spike to start with them in central defence and Archie could get the nod at leftback where Ruddy has been less than impressive of late. It's time for Spike to be ruthless and sort out our midfield, he's been trying to accommodate, Alan D, Jenks and Thommo but it just isn't working and he needs to pick his best one out of the three of them, we thinks it's Alan D and slot him alongside Sparky. It would be a bold move to drop our Captain Jenks, but he hasn't been performing for us lately and Thommo doesn't look fit. Having sorted the centre midfield pairings, he has to take another bold step and start young Peter Duffin and Cush as his two wide men to get round the back of the Glens defence and hopefully provide some ammunition for his strikers.

You'll notice we said strikers and we think he must start Dolan and Liggie in tandem, no use signing them if we are not going to play them together. Cush is our leading goalscorer with 8 goals, we need Dolan and Liggie to take some of the weight off Cush's shoulders and a goalscoring midfielder wouldn't be amiss either. It'll be a huge task for us tomorrow to get anything out of this game, the Glens generally win at a canter at the Showgrounds, but we got to believe in ourselves. We know it isn't going to easy, but if we stand United, we can do it, come on Sky Blues, lets shag those Ballymacarat sheep

Golden Silence!

The silence has been deafening from the Showgrounds hierarchy in the wake of United's humbling 7-0 hammering at Mourneview Park last Saturday. The 150 loyal United men who made the trip, could have forgiven the United team if they had been outplayed by their hosts, Glenavon, but they were not. The team just capitulated and gave the home team a three goal start and left themselves with a mountain to climb. Any readers of our deliberations on this web will know our abhorrence of quick free kicks, quick throw-ins and short corners. This United team use these ploys in abundance, but they usually come back to bite them. If we had a plan that included short free-kicks, quick throw-ins and short corners, they could be a ploy, but is patently obvious that we don't have a plan, when in the majority of times the recipient looks surprised to be getting the ball and hasn't a clue what to do with it, except in most cases, giving it away to the opposition.

Rant over, we have positive news on the injury front with Johnny Taylor and Archie in the panel for tomorrow postponed match when DC are the visitors. It's not known whether either of them will merit a starting role, but it would be nice to see them named on the bench, but maybe it's too early for Taylor. Archie on the other hand was on the bench last Saturday and although he didn't get a run out, he must surely come in for consideration tomorrow. Striker Shane Dolan plays his first game against his former club and United need to look to him to lead by example, he scored in his first 2 games for the Sky Blues, but since then he picked up an injury and hasn't looked as impressive since returning to full fitness. Cush had to come off at Mourneview last Saturday, when he was subjected to some vicious fouls, largely ignored by referee Tim Marshall and we got another referee of the same ilk tomorrow, in Andrew Davy. It's not known whether Cush is fit and if he is, perhaps Spike should rest him, but we think if he is fit, play him, he is the man who puts bums on seats.

The word among United fans is that they are getting fed up with all the defeats and not fretting about missing this match. Where are they coming from? In two short months the season will be over and then we will be in limbo for ten weeks, until we come back refreshed in August. So we say, get your arse down to the Showgrounds tomorrow and try to give the team some encouragement and maybe we can put last Saturday's debacle behind us. The team have to stand up and be counted, we don't need any shrinking violets, we just need good honest men who have the right team ethos, trying their eye strings out for the rest of the season. They'll be hiccups along the way, that goes without saying almost, but if they are United in their quest and really playing for the shirt, winning is within their grasp. We will need a mammoth effort from our defence which all at sea last Saturday, surely they couldn't be that crap two matches in a row or could they? Well that's as maybe, we have to have faith that Spike and his team of baldies know their stuff, so come on United, let's shag those Suffolk ewes!